Clothing store to wedding reception in just three hours….
A few months ago, I sat down in a pizza shop with the most adorable bride and her sweet but overall concerned mom. They were planning the wedding of a lifetime but were concerned about how they were actually going to execute it all. Like most brides, Jamie wanted to enjoy her wedding day. Like most mothers, Peggy wanted her daughter to have a fantastic day without worrying about the details of the setup. Unlike most brides and moms, Jamie was planning her wedding reception to happen at a local clothing store in Pittston, PA.
On that same day a few months ago, I walked into a clothing store called Boden on South Main Street in Pittston. It’s truly a cute store, I must say. The catch with this store is that it was built to be an event space for locals parties and events. When the clothing store moved in, they didn’t quite anticipate the success it would have. Anyway, I was tasked with turning this amazing store into a reception for about 160 guests in about three hours time.
We arrived this past Saturday at 3pm to find guests still shopping and the store mostly in tact. Deep breath… We got this.
The first thing that needed to happen was to remove the clothing which Boden was very quick to do.
Once the clothes were out, it was time to set the furniture and start making things happen. Maggpie Vintage Rentals supplied their amazing farm tables and Big Top supplied most of the remaining rental items. The caterers were lead by the groom’s dad and everyone showed up ready to make this transformation happen.
Cole Nine Design was a great addition to the team as they took care of the window garlands and front window display while A&M Floral Express provided the all-white flower centerpieces.
Side note… one of my team members, Jessica is SO detail-oriented and whenever I put her on the job of setting up the favors I know it’s going to turn out awesome! I love what she did with these homemade wine bottle favors.
Finally, after about 2.5 hours of a crazy set-up, we were ready to roll!
And to top the night off, Sweet Pepper and the Long Hots band was there to rock the night away. But, the best part is when they were taking breaks, the groom and his band took the stage!
I truly can’t thank Jamie, Dave and their families enough for including our team in on this adventure. It was a pleasure to be a part of this project and I am SO proud of what we accomplished! And did I mention, we all turned it back into a clothing store by 12pm the next day?!
All photos by Michael Pangilinan Photography
Kind words from the bride:
“Where to start? I was planning a wedding at a venue that had never hosted a wedding before, where I had to transform a clothing store into my reception venue within a few short hours. My mom and I met with Danielle and right from the start I knew that Danielle would be our greatest asset throughout the process. She makes you feel like you are the only client she is dealing with; she responds to questions/concerns quickly, keeps your team organized, and ensures that every detail is covered. Throughout the process Danielle gave me that extra boost of confidence that everything would be okay. She was honest with me, yet always reassuring. On my wedding day, I drove by the clothing store that Danielle and her team would be turning into my reception space in just three hours. I knew that she had everything under control and because of that I could RELAX and ENJOY my ceremony and that’s something you can’t put a price on. Everything looked perfect and Danielle and her team made the event go seamlessly. I never thought I could be a “relaxed” bride, but Danielle made that possible. I can’t thank her and her team enough for allowing Dave and I to enjoy our day! She is truly an invaluable asset!”
Kind words from the Father of the Bride:
“Danielle, as father of the bride I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the transformation when I walked through those doors that evening. I also had some concerns throughout the planning process, however you reassured me that everything would turn out fine.
When I stopped in around 3:45 pm to drop some things off, I saw you and your team in action and said to myself, she’s got this under control and will deliver as promised. When I got home and told my wife that everything is going to be terrific you can relax.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you and your team for an outstanding job. Thank you for making this special day truly amazing.”
