This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Madeline Simmons from Elliston Vineyards!
Courtesy of Madeline Simmons
Join us in welcoming Madeline Simmons to our blog today – she will be telling us a bit about herself and her role at Elliston Vineyards! Founded in 1890, Elliston is a boutique winery located in the hills of Sunol that has specialized in weddings and special events since 1982. Their other specialty is, of course, wine! With over 125 years of winemaking, it’s no wonder that their hand-crafted wines are now a tradition rooted in history. Home to a winery and tasting room, Elliston’s mission is to provide excellent, unique and ready-to-drink wines with flavor and approachable pricing.
Madeline has been an event planner at Elliston for four years, but her love for the events industry developed in college as she earned her Hospitality major – in fact, her internship requirement is what brought her to Elliston during her senior year and she loved it so much, she never left!
Madeline was kind enough to share a “worst case scenario” moment she faced and how she and her team overcame it:
I coordinated a wedding last year, where they had a family friend make the wedding cake, they showed me photos and it was a beautiful three tired cake. The day-of the wedding, the baker didn’t have the proper set up to transport the cake here, and on the way here, the cake fell over in the car! Of course, she was very upset when she arrived, as an entire side of the cake had all of the frosting taken off and smudged. Luckily, the florist had some extra flowers, so we smoothed out the icing the best we could, and added some extra flowers to the cake to hide the mess. When all was said and done, I turned the cake so that the smudged side wasn’t visible, and no one ever knew!
However, as with most event planners, it’s not about fixing mishaps. Madeline’s love for the wedding industry is defined by her love of being a part of a couples’ big day, from start to finish. “There is so much work that goes into a wedding, and usually the whole family gets involved in the planning,” she shared. “Seeing everything come together the day-of is so satisfying, and there’s nothing better than having a happy bride and groom!”
Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.
