Did someone say pizza and tacos?! Yes, you read that right – Carrie and Vikram had their wedding catered by food trucks offering tacos (with all the extra guac!) and every type of pizza imaginable! Sound like a dream come true? Read on to know more about their big day!
Carrie and Vikram were married at the beautiful Gallaher Mansion in Cranberry Park located in Norwalk, Connecticut on August 25, 2018. The Tudor-style mansion was built in the 1930’s and features 20 rooms, beautiful wood paneling, French doors and a grand stone back porch where they hosted their ceremony. The mansion also features a large white tent adjacent to the back porch where their actual reception and dancing took place.
Carrie and Vikram first contacted me in February of 2018 (little did we know at the time that they live in my neighborhood!) as they realized the venue did not provide a wedding coordinator and they were concerned about who was going to oversee their vendors, ensure their decor was set-up how they wanted and also manage the logistics on their big day. We all decided that my Month-Of Management package was the best fit for them.
The long winter days passed by and we were back in touch early in the summer to start talking final details. The month-of package is a great fit for couples who are confident in managing the pre-planning details and selecting their own vendors but really want a professional on-board in those final weeks leading up to the big day to confirm everything and ensure the day runs smoothly. This is exactly what I did for Carrie and Vikram. I sent them a few worksheets to fill out and began to reach out and introduce myself to their vendor team and put together a final plan. This includes confirming set-up needs, a VERY detailed timeline (I think theirs was about 5 pages!), floor plan of the space, important songs for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and so much more!
The weeks passed by quickly as they always do in the summertime and before we knew it, August 25th had arrived! Carrie started the day of at the Images of Prospect salon for hair and makeup with her girls while Vikram and the boys hung out at the hotel before arriving at the venue for photos around 1:30pm.
The couple decided on doing a First Look before the ceremony which took place just outside the grand mansion. Carrie looked stunning in her white dress with her cascading red hair and simple bouquet. The rest of the bridal party and family joined them in the gardens shortly after to finish up as many photos as possible before guests started arriving for the ceremony.
The mansion’s sprawling stone veranda is the perfect place for a wedding ceremony. Their guests were seated in chairs along the top of the veranda while the bride and groom stood at the bottom of the steps with the large lawn as their backdrop. Being #dogparents, they of course wanted to incorporate their furbaby into their wedding day. Their gorgeous husky mix, Lana, also made her way down the aisle to watch her parents tie the knot in the front row.
After the two said their “I Do’s”, my team and I helped clear the ceremony chairs off the veranda and guests enjoyed an open-air cocktail hour on the porch. Their reception kicked off an hour later with bridal party introductions before Carrie and Vikram made their grand entrance and shared their first dance to “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. The father/daughter dance was up next followed by a couple of important toasts before guests were invited up to the food truck display.
The rest of the evening was a mix of upbeat party songs, lawn games and cupcakes provided by Forever Sweet Bakery. Things wrapped up around 10:30pm and guests boarded the shuttle to head back to the Marriott and continue the celebration. Carrie and Vikram were such a pleasure to work with and I am so glad I was able to help them celebrate their love and devotion to one another. Thank you again to both of you choosing me as your wedding and I wish you both a lifetime of health and happiness! Perhaps our paths will cross again walking our dogs around our West Hartford neighborhood!
To find out how AJSE can help you plan your big day, send me an email or give me a ring! And as always, Happy Planning!
Love,
Alyssa
VENDOR TEAM:
Venue: Gallaher Mansion
Planner: Alyssa Jean Signature Events
Photographer: Dreamscape Studio
Catering: Big Green Truck Pizza & Bodega Taco Truck
Bar Staff: Two Pour Guys
Hair & Makeup: Images of Prospect
Cupcakes: Forever Sweet Bakery
DJ: Mark Bernacki
Officiant: Veronica Wallace