As a wedding supplier, (singer) who is present with the couple and their guests on the wedding day, with each special date, comes a new anecdote or lesson to learn from it. While performing at last weeks wedding, it became apparent to me the importance of your "I do' crew. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, your "I do" crew is either your wedding co-ordinator, venue staff, close family, bridesmaids or groomsmen. Basically, the people who you've chosen to rely on for the logistical happenings on the day, while you the couple, celebrate your day with ease.
Laura and Chris, the newly weds in question, had a beautiful tipi wedding in the gardens of a gorgeous golf club manor in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. The couple themselves had actually re-located to Australia after travelling together, and seemed to bring back the sunshine for us on perhaps the final day of our UK summer. Which you may think, hooray, actual sunshine on their wedding day.
What could the issue possibly be with this?
Un-expecting of just how glorious this day would be. In the build up to their day, a schedule between myself, the couple and the venue staff had been pre-arranged. The afternoon was to go as follows. As the guests enjoyed the final moments of their outdoor drinks reception, they would filter into the tipi, take their seats for the wedding breakfast, celebrate the newly weds entrance, watch the couple cut their cake, and then enjoy their grub. All while I, the singer, serenaded in the background to create that perfect romantic ambience. However, as members of the British public and rightly so. The sunshine was just too irresistible. And this is the first instance in where the "I do" crew, came through.
Inside the tipi was a beautiful circle table, draped in cloth, holding host to the couples 3 tiered wedding cake. Perfectly situated next to the top table, with the image of celebration in the tipi room as the bride and groom performed their ceremonial slicing. As the original seating time approached quickly but with guests still gathered on the garden. Not wanting to drag the entire wedding party inside unnecessarily early. An on the fly decision was made. "Why don't we cut the cake outside?!". As I prepared my final sound checks ready to start singing in a matter of minutes according to timesheet. A fleet of venue staff, black tuxedo'd groomsmen and bar boys, in a chuckle-vision style fashion, proceeded to move the table to the entrance of the tipi. The wedding party then enjoyed the desired picture perfect moment. With the unexpected benefit of catching a tan too.
With this new adjustment of happenings, it yes, had a knock on effect onto when I, the wedding singer should start my first set and the order of our original plan. But these exact situations are why communication is key between the team. Where some suppliers and singers could find this alteration of schedule distressing, for myself this wasn't the case. And this is purely down to the wedding crew. In this case, my main points of contact were the venue co-ordinator and the groomsmen/elected master of ceremonies (MC). Having introduced themselves to me prior to the wedding and on the day, we were happy to liaise with each other and check in. So when said sunshine cake idea occurred. I was given the heads up and held off, so that the couple and their party could celebrate the cake cutting, and I wasn't singing through my setlist, early. Rather than panicking, or getting the old ego in a huff because things weren't as arranged. I remembered, and this is a lesson not just for myself as a supplier but to you, the couple too. "You've just gotta go with the flow". So long as everyone's kept in the loop, then everything can still be as amazing as we hoped. Plus, sometimes it's the unexpected wedding day moments that make the best lasting memories! (Those cake cutting pictures will come out beautifully within the natural sun light and those stylish shades, a Hollywood-esque accessory to the bridal and groom's outfits!
This stellar communication then continued throughout the afternoon. New timings were improvised and okay'd with the venue, our MC double checked that all of the right songs were in line for the couples entrance, and we even had spontaneous song requests for the bridesmaids entrance. All made possible with communication. When we say communication, we're not talking about in-depth, military discussions. Or for that matter, bossy, stressed out snapping. At the end of the day, weddings are supposed to be fun. Yes, we're all hear to do a good job and deliver the best professional service for the newlyweds. But keeping it friendly when perhaps things aren't going to plan, or at least being able to portray a friendly persona, goes along way. Flapping, wont help anyone. But just constant check ins, updates and even "thumbs ups" (especially from myself as 90% of the time I'm singing..see below as I react to James our MC checking in with me, mid song. Seconds before all of the guests entered the room aka showtime).
As part of your designated "I do" crew. Our main goal should be to provide the best day for the couple in a way that seems seamless. It doesn't bear thinking how unnecessarily chaotic and frustrating the opposite could become. (I've heard horror stories from other suppliers who haven't been as lucky as I). With so many cogs in the wedding day wheel, everyone needs to be on the same page. With the satisfaction of a happy wedding couple our ultimate goal and consequently, pay off.
Seeing first hand the benefits of such great team work, the advice and lesson bestowed upon you (and myself), based off this particular wedding day experience, would be:
To choose your "I do" crew wisely.
Whether it’s your master of ceremonies groomsman, wedding co-ordinator, photographer, venue staff, mum or maid of honour. It’s so important to have a fabulous team surrounding you on your wedding day who know how to correspond productively, which moments matter and how to make sure that they run smoothly. By choosing the best team, those key and sometimes unexpected wedding day moments may not happen as originally planned. But will appear to happen, as if by magic!
All the best, Abbi-Kaye (Viva la Vintage) x
If you want to read more about some of my honest on-the-day wedding experiences from the POV of a working wedding singer...
Check out my other blog posts!
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