Unveiled
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH TARA POLLIO FLORAL-EVENT DESIGN
As a bride, you're supposed to be relaxed and radiant, letting others sweat the details of your big day so you don't have to. By the time you and your guests walk into your wedding venue, the "magic" has happened. The pieces of the puzzle are perfectly in place - but how did it happen? In the following pages, one of Vermont's most experienced and respected wedding pros - Tara Pollio, owner of Tara Pollio Floral-Event Design - offers a "backstage" glimpse into the planning, creative decision-making, and plain hard work that went into creating a "winter wonderland" reception for the wedding of Lindsay Barnes and Maxwell Wilcox last February at Magic Mountain Ski Area in Londonderry, Vermont. We hope that seeing what they did - and how - will give you not only some great ideas for your big day, but also a new respect for the pros who somehow make sweating the details look like fun.
THE BEST-LAID PLANS--AND A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK
"Each bride is different; each venue is different," says Tara Pollio. "Each piece of the puzzle needs to flow together to create a seamless event." Here, the location presented some logistical challenges. Because the ski area was open to the public until shortly before the reception, all the wedding vendors had to come together on a strategy for transforming the base lodge within just a couple of hours.
Hours of searching online - and on foot - yielded cases of western pine--cones, bags of faux snow, and snowflake decorations in all shapes and sizes. With the raw materials in place, the details came together - faux-birch-wrapped columns dripping with crystals, stairs glowing with hurricane candles and "snow." The lodge's overhead fluorescent lights wouldn't do - installing dimmers, amber----up-lighting, and whimsical snowflake fixtures helped create a softer glow.
To build their winter wonderland inside, Pollio and her team went out into the deep snow in snowshoes to collect 28 birch trees and 10 pines. Each tree was wired tightly with twinkle lights and attached to beams, posts, stairwells - even suspended over the dance floor! With a storm brewing, overseas flower deliveries had to be monitored closely. Fortunately, the snow stalled and flowers arrived unharmed and on time.
Heading back to the mountain after setting up at the country church where the ceremony was to be held, Tara found that a car accident was blocking the route for the buses to carry guests there. After a quick call to the caterer and the rest of the team, Plan B was put into action - holding the ceremony at Magic Mountain. Tara grabbed the flowers from the church, and with an hour less time to prepare, she says, "Everyone stepped it into extra-high gear."
Be flexible to change. Everyone wants to see your wedding go exactly as planned, especially your vendors. Sometimes weather or other unforeseen obstacles get in the way. Trust your professionals to handle the situation and don't sweat the stuff you can't control. If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, plan on rain - if it is sunny, you will be thrilled rather than disappointed.
Be realistic. Many times I am given a photo from a book or magazine of a bride's vision. It may be your dream - but does it work with your location or venue? If you want a formal, "fluffy" wedding, don't pick a barn. Work with your environment and surroundings. See if there's a way to adapt your vision to the reality. Your professionals are sure to have advice for you - make sure to keep an open mind.
Be clear. If there is something you absolutely can't live with or without, communicate it to your vendors. If you don't like pink, no problem - but don't wait until the wedding day to say so! Be clear on your particulars.
Have fun! This is it, the day you've waited for. You've done the work, made your decisions. Now let your vendors carry out the plan while you sit back and enjoy the ride.
While Tara Pollio is a one-of-a-kind talent, pulling off a wedding like this one inevitably requires the help of some similarly talented colleagues. The following wedding professionals also contributed their passion and skills.
Catering: Thyme Tables Catering
Floral & Event Design: Tara Pollio Floral-Event Design
Linens: The Linen Shop at Occasions
Venue: Magic Mountain
Wedding Coordination: Janet Dunnington
Wedding Photography: Fran Janik
