Real Wedding- Rachelle and Lane's Farm Wedding

Ashlie Metcalf, WPICC of Harmony Wedding & Event Coordination shares her experience with us of planning the very special wedding of:

Lane Kruger & Rachelle Lawlor. Wedding date: July 26^th, 2015

“I had the honor of standing in my best friend Lane’s wedding this past July. Not only was I asked to stand on HIS side but he and his fiancé also asked me to MC and help plan their wedding.

The planning started from Australia, where they were traveling for a year and living in a van. They rarely had Internet and the time change made it difficult for us talk on the phone. Lane and Rachelle had to book everything “blindly” as they could not view the venue in person or meet the vendors, so I acted as their eyes and ears. They ended up booking the beautiful Earth to Table Farm, a venue near Hamilton, ON.

Everything happened so quickly when they returned to Ontario. There were parties to be had, vendors to be paid, appointments, fittings, cake tastings, etc. Through it all Lane and Rachelle remained calm with a “roll with it” kind of attitude.

Considering how many “hats” I wore on the wedding day, it was very relaxed. My morning started with hair and make up at the Brides house, then off to the hotel to get my daughter, the flower girl ready, and then off to another hotel for photos with the Groom before setting off to the ceremony venue to make sure everything was perfect for the arrival of the Bride.

The ceremony was simple and sweet, I had a proud Mommy moment when I saw my daughter debuting as the flower girl. O.k, I’ll be honest, I was a blubbering fool. The environment was like a family reunion. Games, cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres entertained the guests while the wedding party had their photos taken.

The reception was home to food fresh from the farm, harvest tables, succulent centerpieces and homemade preserves from Labrador City (The Brides hometown). There was a 3 tiered, 3 flavored cake {I didn’t get a chance to sample) as well as a poutine station for the late night and the grooms one and only request- a 5 tier chocolate fountain with all of the fixings.

After the speeches were over it was time to enjoy the open bar, dancing and photo booth. The emotions poured on when the Father Daughter dance and Mother Son dances happened. I don’t know what it is, but when I see the look on the face of a parent dancing with their newlywed child it just evokes raw emotion and I am not ashamed to say I cry during these dances at almost every wedding!

The end of the night was bittersweet as this would be the last time I’d get to see the newlyweds before I moved to British Columbia. I moved from Ontario to BC 3 days after Lane and Rachelle said “I do.”

It was challenging at times to juggle planning my best friend’s wedding while he and his fiancé were travelling on the other side of the world, and I was in the middle of moving my family to the other side of the country, but we got it done, and if I had to do it all again, I would.”

~Ashlie Metcalf, Harmony Wedding & Event Coordination “Planning your Life’s Events in Perfect Harmony”

Kind words from the Groom:

“Myself and my wife were trying to plan our wedding in Ontario, Canada, while we were on the other side of the world. Ashlie’s services were invaluable as she helped us source our venue and screen the vendors, all of whom were fantastic. When we returned to Canada she helped us create and stick to a timeline, ensuring things were not missed or delayed. The event itself was flawless if there were any hiccups we as the couple never heard about them which is a testament to how well Ashile did her job. We would not hesitate to recommend Ashlie’s services to anyone planning an event or wedding.”

Kind words from the Mother of the Groom:

Dear Ashlie,

Your help with Lane and Rachelle’s recent wedding, at ‘Earth to Table Farm’ near Hamilton, was invaluable. We couldn’t have done it without you! Your calm presence, attention to detail and persistence with following up even the smallest concerns made the day go so smoothly. Because my son and his fiancé were out of the country when they got engaged, it was up to you to do the　groundwork for them. Thanks so very much for all you did, from checking out the possible venues and caterers and DJ’s to investigating hotel availability for out of town guests during a very busy ‘PanAm’ games weekend. Keeping the bride and groom on track was a big challenge for you too, I’m sure, as they were busy with their return to Canada after a year away, moving, etc. You made everything easier for them and I know they were confident that you had things under control and they didn’t need to worry about anything. You worked well with them, however, and made sure they were involved in all the decisions. You gave them immense peace of mind -your excellent taste was not only to our benefit but really meshed with everything the couple wanted and needed. Everything went so well on the wedding day and I know it was because of your conscientious overview and foresight – making sure you had everyone in the right places at the right time, making sure the minister, DJ, photographers, etc. were confirmed well ahead of time and that they got their payments… Lane and Rachelle could concentrate on getting themselves ready in a relaxed and enjoyable fashion and really cherish their wedding day. And so could their moms !!

Thanks so much, again, Ashlie – I would highly recommend you as a wedding planner to anyone who asks.

Yours gratefully,

~Lori Harms