D&R chose Projekt Draußen outside of Munich for their summer wedding at the end of July. Despite a forecast of rain and storms for the entire week, the couple was able to enjoy their wedding with their guests on the large terrace and garden under bright sunshine and 30-degree weather.
The special thing about the location is not only its secluded position in the middle of greenery and directly by a stream, but also that couples have complete freedom in designing their event. This is a luxury on one hand, but it also means more planning effort because a caterer and service staff need to be organized, which is usually included in most venues.
During the detailed planning and scheduling of the wedding day, the couple quickly realized they needed someone not only to oversee the setup of the location while they were at the registry office, but also to coordinate the many service providers on site. That's how I became the wedding day coordinator for this beautiful celebration!
We spent the entire morning decorating the location and setting it up just as the couple had envisioned: a colorful and relaxed summer festival. There were string lights, garlands, high tables, seating areas, a candy bar, and shady spots under umbrellas. While a small part of the wedding party attended the ceremony at the registry office, I welcomed the other guests with a cool drink before the reception officially started with the arrival of the bride and groom.
Against common sense and due to the good weather, we decided in the morning not to set up tents for the dinner. The bride wanted to dine under the open sky and accepted the remaining risk of rain. Just as the main course was served, I looked at the sky and saw only dark clouds. A quick check on the rain radar and it was already too late: a summer thunderstorm was rolling in.
Together with the service staff, I quickly coordinated the move indoors - not an easy task with nearly 70 guests. The guests also helped carry tables, chairs, and food to the dry area. Since the guests hadn't yet eaten their main course outside, we had to continue the service seamlessly indoors. After a brief (very brief) discussion between myself, the caterer, and the service staff, this was no problem. I saved the decorations from outside and set them up again inside.
These are exactly the situations where a wedding day coordinator is worth every penny. I was soaked after everything - but at least the bride and groom were not. They were able to relax and enjoy the meal with their guests, and the incident was quickly forgotten. Since the indoor venue was also meant to be the dance floor, the service staff and I gradually rearranged things after dinner to make room for the party. The advantage of the rain: all the guests were already inside, and the party could start right after dinner!
What I haven't mentioned yet: around 8:30 PM, we ran out of ice. No problem, as I was able to take care of it quickly without bothering the bride and groom. I called the nearby gas stations and had bags of ice reserved, which a taxi then picked up and delivered to our location. I'd never had this happen before 😂
Thank you, D&R, for your trust! I learned a lot at this wedding and will be checking the rain radar and ice status hourly in the future ;)
Thanks also to Johanna for the photos.
Marie