Geena & Holden Winterset, Iowa

Guys, did you know Winterset, Iowa was so stinkin' beautiful? In the flat farm land of Iowa I think sometimes when we see hills, valleys and mountains, we don't know what to do with all the beauty!

TAKE A LOOK!

This wedding was such a special event for so many reasons, but mainly because we get to brag on our ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE Wedding Planner, Heather. Remember her? Heather worked closely with Geena & Holden in the pre-planning stages AND she took on this event SOLO! WHAAAAA??

The vendors RAVED about her, the couple couldn't have been more grateful for her. And boy, we couldn't be more proud!

By Heather Helgren

Holden and Geena’s wedding was nothing short of a fairytale. When I drove around the many bends and hills of the Winterset, Iowa countryside, I knew that it was going to be unique.

The best element about this wedding was the venue. It was a sweet, beautiful acreage with vast valleys and scenic views. The barn wasn’t perfect, and that is exactly what I loved about it. It complemented not only the couple’s vibes, but also the wedding party’s.  I knew this when I noticed that the groomsmen chose to camp right outside the Air BnB in a small tent. I loved that. They didn’t mind “roughin’ it” just a little bit. So when I walked into the barn for the first time, with the dirt floor, exposed wooden beams and dusty windows, I thought to myself, “this is perfect.”

Even when I met Geena, I knew that she had a simple elegance about her that radiated natural beauty and grace.

I admired her right away.

Her intimacy with her family further confirmed why she loves Holden the way that she does.  She chose to wear her mother’s wedding dress, and she was positively stunning.

Holden’s relationship with his family and his groomsmen was something to be admired as well. I mean it with all my heart when I say I honestly loved working with the wedding party and their families. They were extremely encouraging and had “go with the flow” attitudes that wedding planners don’t find that often. They always approached me and asked what they could do to help.  When I looked stressed out or about to lose my mind, they would joke with me and be my comedy relief. These people were selfless, helpful, and even had a sense of humor that could make the hardest of hearts crack a smile. The wedding wouldn’t have been the same without them.

Another unique element about the Rasmussen wedding was the culture that they incorporated into it. It was important for Geena’s family to express their heritage by presenting a bride piñata and groom piñata during the reception. Laughs erupted the entire barn as the blindfolded bride attempted to break the groom piñata, and the blindfolded groom tried to break the bride’s using a broomstick. Even the bridesmaids and groomsmen took at few swings at them! The joy and cohesiveness within their friends and families is clearly unbreakable (pun intended).

I loved this wedding. The vendors were wonderful and talented (Up In Smoke BBQ was phenomenal!), the scenery was beautiful, and the guests were supportive and encouraging. It’s weddings like these that make me grateful to do what I do. It’s weddings like these that make the hours of sweat and problem solving all worth it.

I am thankful to be working for Mostly Becky, and I am even more thankful for the people that I meet along the way.

-Heather Helgren

And AS ALWAYS this beautiful day would not have been possible without the hard working vendors we had the pleasure to work alongside. Thank you for all you do! 

Bridal Wear- Dornink Bridal

Tent- A to Z Rentals

Portable Restroom- A King's Throne

Chairs & Tables- Breeding True Value

Linen- Party Depot

Photography- Alexander Michl Photography

Venue - The Barn at Lone Oaks Farm

Wedding Planning & Coordination- Mostly Becky Weddings & Events

Catering- Up in Smoke BBQ

Gabrielle

When I started my wedding planning and project management business over 9 years ago I dreamed of the day when I would travel all over the world, have multiple hubs in most major cities in the U.S. and a team that spread nationwide! Well, friends today is that day! We have officially hired our wedding assistant here in the Richmond, VA area! Gabrielle is the coolest chick! When we met her, she had purple hair! I mean, we love a girl who loves what she loves and doesn't care who knows it! 

Gabrielle is confident, kind, attentive, and responsive. When we spoke on the phone for her initial interview we knew almost immediately that we wanted her on the team! But, due to distance we had to wait a few months to meet in person. When we had the pleasure to meet, she was early, knew exactly what Starbucks drink she wanted and all the those attributes that leaked through the phone were even more present in person. We knew she was meant to be! 

Gabrielle, more commonly known as, Gabby loves rabbits, sushi, the color purple (if you couldn't tell with her current hair color),  and CUTE CLOTHES- I mean who doesn't? Her favorite place to travel to is Florida! Lucky for us, we plan weddings there too! :) If she could have any purse it would be a Kate Spade- Um, great taste!! And she cannot go a day without her friends! 

We are so honored to call her a partner in this crazy business we work in! 

Look at JUST how cute she is!! 

Gabby, welcome to the team! We JUST LOVE that you are here! 

Make sure to keep up with her here! 

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XOX

5 WAYS YOUR WEDDING COULD GET YOU ARRESTED! →

Wait, what? Is getting arrested something I should be worried about when planning my wedding? We hope not!  Which is why we are here to help you avoid some of these small ideas that can turn bad quickly! 

Photo by Val Marlene

Drinking and Driving

This is obvious! But, there are small things you can add into your wedding plan that will help not only keep your guests safe, but make navigating through your wedding events a little easier. If you have a multi-location event make sure to reserve transportation for your wedding party. This is not an uncommon practice, plus it is a lot of fun! But, what you may want to consider is do your guests know the best possible way to get home safely? If you can, reserve a block of rooms at a location within walking distance or connected to your reception. This allows guests who maybe don't want to hassle with driving at all the option to stay close by and let loose without thinking about getting home at the end of the night. In the case that staying close by is not an option, look into public transportation, taxi's, and limos. There are so many creative car services these days that can be easy and affordable for anyone. But, because of this it can also be confusing to someone who is NOT familiar with it. Do your research and educate your guests. Post it on your wedding website, add it into your RVSP thank you response. Allowing your guests to have this information ahead of time will be so helpful, especially if your event is a destination! 

Over Serving Guests 

In the past few years brides have become creative with their wedding locations. We have seen less and less all inclusive wedding venues being first choice! If your venue does not provide a bartender who will hold or obtain a liquor licence you may need to do some research on what insurance and liability you are taking on as the event host while serving alcohol. Of course, over serving is never the goal at any event, but it can happen easier when a professional is not monitoring this! Do your research, ask your wedding planner and stay safe! 

Photo by Brooke Pavel

Breaking Capacity on Fire Codes

Most venues will hold this responsibility and only allow your headcount to stay within the fire codes. But, this will be an important responsibility for you as the couple to create and stick to your guest list. If you need help crafting your guest list you can always ask your wedding planner for help. But, for a general rule. 80% of invited guests will actually arrive. Think through your guests list, where they are traveling from, and how likely they are to forget to RSVP and bring an uninvited guest. Although, you cannot predict any of these, your wedding planner can help plan for the instances when your guests surprise you! If your venue does not provide this information to you, ASK! 

Lighting Photo Booth Props on Fire

I know this may sound crazy. But, the wedding industry has taught me a lot and the biggest thing it has taught me is never say never. Yes, this instance has actually happened at an event I planned. Photo booths are sometimes the highlight of your guests night and such a great addition to any wedding reception. But, be careful think through where this is located, what props you plan to have available and always take precaution when serving alcohol. Make sure you have entirely read the contract of your venue to see what liability you take on as the paying couple!  And of course! Ask your wedding photographer or planner for tips! 

Breaking Liquor Licensing

This one can be confusing! So make sure to get a professionals help. Most full-service wedding venues will have this license and help guide you through the plan of your reception while staying within these guidelines. But, if your venue is a private space where there may not be straight forward guidelines, ask your wedding planner for help! They should be able to guide you to the right place for insurance and state laws for serving alcohol. Also, make sure if there are guidelines that seems a little out of the ordinary, run them by your wedding planner so they can help enforce them during the event to keep you and your guests safe. Plus, they can help avoid extra fees that may occur if these are broken. No matter how complicated it gets, remember, don't be afraid to ask! 

Image by Dust Studios

You've hired a wedding planner- What happens now?

You've heard it, hire a wedding planner.

Okay, so then what happens next? We wanted to help you know what to expect from your wedding planner, how to see the difference in a quality & experienced wedding professional compared to someone else on the market. 

They will be responsive to your needs. 

Any wedding professional who has quality experience will work with you. They know enough of the industry to be of help. In conversation with them you will hear their experiences in stories and tips. If your wedding professional is limiting times spent with them, limiting questions, or not offering reviews from trusted sources, be weary. 

Image by: Aly Carrol Photography

Their experience will overflow into conversations. 

Always speak to the wedding planner you are interested in hiring. Websites can be made beautiful, Instagram, and online imagery can be easily persuasive. But, a wedding planner is much more than just pretty pictures! They should be a sounding board for all questions you have. When you ask, their experience should overflow into conversations. And the lessons they have learned along the way are to your benefit. If you are speaking to a wedding planner you like and questions are raised, but no real life examples can be given. I would keep looking!

Image by: Brian Davis Photography

They will be your guide.

Each wedding planner will have their own style. But, they should lead the way. Getting you to the next step. Even if they are NOT a full-service company. A experienced and great wedding planner will be someone who can tell you what to do next, give you estimates on how long things should take, and follow up with you to make sure you are staying on track. If you hire a wedding planner and never hear from them. Think again! 

Image by: Alexander Michl Photography

They will tell you what to expect from other wedding vendors.

No matter if you are looking for vendors or working with ones you've already booked. A good wedding planner should be able to help you navigate what to expect from each of them. If you have questions or concerns with any wedding vendor your planner should know how to handle approach each situation. They will understand the market values and trends and be able to work with you to find or coordinate with each of them. If your wedding planner is not your biggest advocate, find someone who is!

Image by: Brooke Pavel

They will work well with anyone. 

A good wedding planner will always carry themselves with poise. They will first off always respect your wishes, but will easily work well with everyone else involved in your wedding. Including, your one uncle, yeah you know the one. They understand that during this wedding event there are a lot of moving parts, wonderful people, and so many things to get done. They will know how to get the job done and respect the professionalism of each vendor and all your loved ones. If your planner is not getting along with others, I would take this as warning and run! 

Image by: Aly Carrol Photography