Navy & Silver Summer Wedding

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Amy Rubins

I just received a disc of beautiful images from one of my favorite photographers, Laurie Schneider of Laurie Schneider Photography so had to share a couple of my favorites from this beautiful summer wedding.

Our bride got ready at the St. Paul Hotel which was conveniently located across Rice Park from the ceremony and reception venue, 317 on Rice. Marnie Girard, the Director of Catering was a dream to work with and before our wedding was over, we found ourselves finishing each others sentences. We truly were on the same page that day. Guests enjoyed dancing the night away to the Tim Sigler Band, who kept the dance floor filled. All the wedding professionals we worked with and coordinated the day with provided superb products and services. Here’s a complete list:

Linen Effects provided the gorgeous linens and silver chaviari chairs. Laurie Schneider was our photographer. Crocus Hill Trio provided ceremony and cocktail music. Bellagala provided lighting and sound for the ceremony and dance as well as hair and make-up services and Levy Restaurants provided catering, bartending and desserts. One of my favorite details was the ice sculpture wedding cake which represented a life-size wedding cake since a dessert display replaced a traditional wedding cake. This was artfully carved by Chris Swarbrick of Ice Occasions. I hope you enjoy some of these details from one of our summer weddings.

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Protect Your Investment

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Amy Rubins

Most couples have no idea they can protect their investment (wedding deposits) with a simple and inexpensive purchase…wedding insurance, but it’s true. Just this week, we helped a destination client purchase wedding insurance that will reimburse them should the wedding be canceled or postponed due to any number of reasons, including weather. For a mere $300 we completed their insurance application, made payment via credit card and voila in less than 5 minutes, received a 13-page insurance policy through Travelers Insurance.

Should a blizzard paralyze travel, delay arrivals or completely shut-down a wedding venue, all sums of money paid will be reimbursed. If one of the principles (bride, groom or parents become ill or require some kind of hospitalization and the wedding needs to be postponed, deposits would be reimbursed so the wedding can be rescheduled at a later date. This also applies during hurricane season in the tropics. When the average wedding cost is pushing $35,000 in most parts of the US, why would one risk such sums of money without having protection? Even local weddings need protecting should a venue go out of business or worse, have a fire, flood or wind damage. If the venue is uninhabitable on your wedding day, wedding insurance will reimburse all payments you would stand to lose. The only thing wedding insurance doesn’t cover is cold feet. There are a number of companies who underwrite this coverage. My two favorite are Travelers Insurance and WedSafe. If you need any help with this, feel free to contact me.

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Award-winning Wedding Planning

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Amy Rubins

2014 is starting off with two coveted industry awards for our team at Fete Perfection. We are only one of three wedding planners in Minnesota to receive The Knot’s Best of Weddings in 2014. In addition, we received the Couple’s Choice Award from Wedding Wire for the 5th year in a row. Awards like these are not paid awards or advertising gimicks. Instead they’re awarded to wedding pros who’ve provide excellent services to their client’s, who have in turn, submitted glowing testimonials and rated their services provided in a number of categories. Categories like value, promptness, quality of service, professionalism and flexibility.

Here’s a sample review from our last couple in 2013: “Amy and her team are an absolute joy to work with! My hubby and I were married December 14th in St Paul at 317 on Rice Park. We had a big wedding party and we paying for the wedding on our own so Amy was great to maximize our budget and organize everything down to the final detail. Hearing other friends who have gotten married, Amy’s services truly go above and beyond. She thinks of things that make the day so enjoyable for the bride and groom so you actually can participate and relax! Her connection in the Minneapolis/ St Paul area show how much she he respected in the business and has the experience to back it up! She is responsive,always checking in on you, and great and keeping things on track. She organizes the bridal party and family and ensures all the vendors are taken care of. She is willing to talk or meet at a moment’s notice!

I tease my sister’s in law that my wedding gift to them will be Amy because I could not imagine planning a wedding without her help and guidance!”

Thank you to The Knot and Wedding Wire for these awards, but more importantly, thanks to our wonderful couples for taking time to review our services and for choosing to work with Fete Perfection.

I like to begin or end our posts with a photo from our past weddings so here you go:Having Fun in Puerto Rico

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Engagement Season & Consultations

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Amy Rubins

Photography by Andrew Vick PhotographyIt’s engagment season again. One of my favorite times of year as I get the chance to meet newly engaged and very excited couples. It’s fun to sit down with them and start making a connection. It’s also fun to listen to their ideas, view their Pinterest Boards and to figure out a way we can work together.

In preparation for our meeting I like to send two questionnaires. One is my Bride & Groom Style Survey and the other is my Budget Priorities Questionnaire. These two documents help me to be very well prepared for our initial complimentary consultation. Basically the Style Survey is a look into the couple’s likes, dislikes, history, engagement story and a peak at their wedding dreams and desires. The Budget Priorities Questionnaire is the business end of our consultation. What elements of their wedding are most important? Is is photography, food, ambience, decor, family & friends or music? Also, what is their expected guest count and budget and who is paying? I need to know early on who the decision makers are in our relationship so I can tailor my assistance towards their involvement as well as the couple.

An initial consultation lasts about 60 minutes. In order to make the most of our time I ask that the couple meet with me and if mom or dad are to be very involved in wedding planning, it’s nice to meet them and gain their trust as well.

I like couples to bring photos of weddings that resinate with them or little snippets of colors, floral, decor or venue looks. Something visual to share, speaks volumes. Lastly, once our consultation is over I will prepare a customized proposal that outlines very specifically everything we will do to make wedding planning an enjoyable, efficient and a fun, memorable experience.

Photography by Marina Caufield Photography

I look forward to hearing from you and congratulations on your engagement. By the way, we are thrilled to be named once again, 2014 The Knot Best of Wedding Planners. There were only 3 winners in Minnesota this year and Fete Perfection was one of them.

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August, Wedding, and Boat ride

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Anna Senrick

After many votes and supportive people throughout Minnesota, August 1, 2013 was a monumental day. I had the pleasure of working with two amazing ladies who have long a waited for a wedding, which finally occurred on August 31, 2013. They joined hands in marriage at the First Universalist Church in Minneapolis with Kelli as their Officiant. The ceremony was elegant and filled with friends to provide the music. The couple recessed dancing the two step down the aisle. From there, everyone hopped on the Minneapolis Queen riverboat and enjoyed a cruise down the Mississippi river. With butler passed hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner, guests filled themselves surrounded by the scenery of the river bank. As some thunderstorms rolled in, the boat stopped in the lock and dam in Minneapolis, something it’s never done before. Perched under the 35W bridge, it was a perfect lit backdrop for the guests to dance on the deck under the stars. Just a wonderful celebration for two women and get married legally, in an equal marrying state.

Vendors
Ceremony: First Universalist Church
Reception: Minneapolis Queen
Video & Photography: Flow Event Group, Rick Gmitro
Floral: Averil
Music: Friends of the couple
Cake: Costco
DJ: St. Cloud DJ, Kevin Coop Childs
Stationery: Sunrise Styling, Anna Senrick
Officiant: Kelli Clement

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Warm and Wonderful Medicine Lake Wedding

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Amy Rubins

I had the privilege and honor to work with a loving family whose priorities and values are clearly love of family. Every meeting was enjoyable and fun and although we had a lot to do in the one year we had together, the details and designs all came together in one spectacular weekend.

The only disappointment was the weather. 2013 in Minnesota proved to be one of the longest and coldest winters of all time. In fact, we broke a record with 18 inches of snow in May, so needless to say, I was happy there was no snow on the ground over Memorial weekend, but it was a chilly breezy day.

Here is the 10 minute video that captures the heart and soul of this family and our bride and groom. Enjoy! Thank you to Phil Ladisa our talented videographer of The Sound Motion.

D + R Get Married

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Venue Coordinator Got Your Back?

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Amy Rubins

There’s been a lot written about the differences between a venue coordinator and an independent wedding planner/coordinator but I like to boil it down to this…a venue coordinator is looking out for their own best interests (the reception venue) whereas an independent planner/coordinator is looking out for their client’s (bride and groom) best interests.

I hear couples say their venue provides a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator so I don’t need to hire one… this drives me crazy. I really wish venue coordinators would stop to think how much assistance they’ll receive from the bride and grooms independent planner and realize it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

Indy’s (independent planners) deal with big picture items such as room set, vendor deliveries, schedules, problems and changes as well as little details such as place cards, favors, escort cards, gifts, guest book, guest arrival among other things. Running and overseeing weddings is a big job, sometimes with complex logistics so why not work side-by-side with the Indy whose been with the couple for close to a year? It can’t hurt can it?

Besides, is the venue coordinator going to help pick out stationery, wedding cakes, linens, floral, centerpieces, decor, manage the budget and guest list, run a rehearsal, oversee the ceremony and provide discounts and complimentary upgrades?

I love venue coordinators who “get it” and actually recommend independent wedding planners. I can’t leave this post without posting a photo of two of our favorite venues that recommends indy’s - Jules Meyer at Interlachen Country Club in Edina and Nicole Aronson at Nicollet Island Pavilion…you guys are the best!

Beautiful Cake from Buttercream and Beautiful Flowers from Bachmans

Interlachen Ballroom with a touch of glam by BachmansNicollet Island Pavilion

Nicollet Island Pavilion

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