Culture, Service, & People: Aaron Kendrick

I love people and I love seeing things work smoothly and efficiently.  If I had to think about managing operations and staff at Highgrove in it's simplest form, those two things state it perfectly.
I've realized over time that in any organization, people are one of, if not the biggest, investment to be made.  My philosophy is pretty simple.  Happy people make happy people.  This serves us well in the hospitality industry.  I mean think about it, we are trusted by guests to run their entire event! Something as special as a wedding or important as a corporate event is put in our hands to be created and run seamlessly.  This can't be done without a team of staff that is committed, highly functional, humble and relentless in making things work not just good, but great.

How do we make this happen, you ask?  Simple.  I think about what I would want in a workplace and work hard to create that type of environment for our staff.  I know that as an employee I want to be known and invested in, I want to have clarity and understanding about why we're doing what we do and the reason behind all decisions, I wanted to be treated with dignity and respect, and I want to have fun.  I want to know that my work has a purpose and a point, otherwise we're just completing meaningless tasks!  Of course, this couldn't be done without 'buy-in' from every member of the team.
And I feel the need at this point to say that our staff is amazing.  Each and every member brings a different gifting to the table which makes it exciting to figure out ways to draw out those talents and use them to serve our guests at Highgrove.  This is the work culture that allows us and our guests to thrive.  This is the type of environment that sets the stage for guests to be blown away by a team member's willingness to go above and beyond for them.

Yes it is easier to just come to work and get things done.  But I don't want to settle for that and I don't want to work with people who are willing to settle for that.  Those are the little things that take extra time and energy to put into place and no,  I don't always do it right.  There is a lot of trial and error but in the end it is so worth it.  Guests get over the top treatment and employees have meaningful, purposeful work that is enjoyable, or I'd like to hope so!

My Life As A Bridal Coordinator: Angela Wright

                                                                                                                           Angela Wright
                     

                                           

My life as a bridal coordinator!                     

The unity candle table is on fire.

The cake topper just took a dive down all three tiers.

I am so nervous… I don’t know if I can make it down the aisle…

These are just some of the things that I have had to handle while working as a bridal coordinator at Highgrove…and believe it or not, I love it! Not to say that I love it when crazy things take place during the wedding, but while others may think, “I could never deal with that,” I find it all just part of the gig when working to make a couples’ dream event come true, and a challenge that I love.

I have had the opportunity to coordinate hundreds of weddings over the course of 13 years and meet some of the most wonderful and memorable couples. I have had the chance to cut hundreds of wedding cakes (my favorite part of every event), and watch the exchange of vows and the beginnings of innumerable lives as husband and wife. I love being a part of one of the most important and exciting days in a couple’s journey together and it fulfills something in me to help transform someone’s dream into a reality… making sure that their experience is one they will always treasure and remember.

My first interaction with a couple is usually at our planning meeting, where I get to work through all the important details (such as when you will have your first dance) along with the not-so-important ones (how would you like your napkins folded?). We then get to correspond via email for the next few months while all the last minute details are finalized. Our next time together is at the wedding rehearsal where I get to “direct”-- pretty much telling everyone important to the couple (family, bridal party) where to sit, where to stand, how fast to walk, etc… all in a coordinated ‘dress rehearsal’ for the big day.  This is an exciting gathering with emotions running high as the culmination of all the planning, worrying,  stress, and excitement come together. When the big day finally arrives it is a rush of excitement and anticipation on my end, as well as the couple, as I strive to bring calm and order to the day. From the moment the couple arrives, throughout the ceremony and reception, as all the details are handled and the moments play out, I love taking care of my couples and their families to ensure that it truly is the day they have always dreamt of. And at the end of it all, our wedding planning journey complete, it brings a smile to my face to hear the very things that make my job not really work at all, but something I look forward to and adore being a part of.

I am so excited to be marrying my best friend… I can’t wait to walk down the aisle.

It was all we ever could have dreamed it would be.

This was the best day of our lives.