First Glance - a Special Moment

Let us first define “First Glance” as the first time the Groom sees his Bride in her wedding gown.

We help the couple find a quiet, private place where they can share their inner most thoughts and express their heartfelt feelings toward one another on one of the most memorable days of their lives … and even a glass of champagne or sparkling grape juice prior to their ceremony.

Our staff at Hermann Hill always gets excited when we see “First Glance” on the timeline for an upcoming wedding as many of us are hopeless romantics.  After you view hundreds of ceremonies from a wedding coordinator’s perspective, you notice a trend for the couples who include a “First Glance” as part of their pre-ceremony planned activities.  Brides frequently say this is a great “stress reliever” as well as a much needed private moment to collect thoughts, exchange a few words of comfort, and have a glass of champagne – all in preparation for this most important day.

Our bride today reflected those thoughts when she said:  “It was so much fun – just the two of us drinking champagne in the Gazebo and it was so relaxing.  It helped remove the jitters I had about walking down the aisle”. 

What are your thoughts about including a “First Glance” on your wedding day?


Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator
Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Special Need Guests at Your Wedding

One of the great things with having a fully ADA compliant facility here at Hermann Hill Wedding Chapel and Pavilion is that it makes it easy to accommodate wedding guests with special needs.

Brides frequently tell us they received special compliments on how well our staff assisted those guests requiring a little extra attention. 

When planning a wedding, make sure you let us know if we need to reserve more handicap parking, meet your guests at the lower level and escort them to the elevator, or assist someone going through the buffet line. 
Are there guests on your list who may require some special care or assistance?

Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator
Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

What do wedding rehearsals actually accomplish?

After the initial tour of Hermann Hill’s Wedding Chapel and Pavilion and a planning session, many brides allow their Herman Hill Wedding Coordinator to handle their wedding details.  Communication prior to the ceremony is generally by email and all the bride needs to do is show up on the day of her wedding -stress free!

Other brides like to have a lot more hands on and schedule a rehearsal during the week prior to their wedding.  It is common for some members of the family and wedding party to be unavailable for a rehearsal due to work and travel schedules. 

So – what is actually accomplished at a wedding rehersal? 

Rehearsals help the wedding party view a “big picture” of your ceremony and give the bride and groom an opportunity to judge if the songs they chose are too long or short for the various ceremony segments.  When small children are a part of the ceremony, it provides them with an opportunity to see what they will be doing and know exactly where they are going.  Rehearsals also identify some potential seating issues, officiant mistakes and give the wedding party a sense of where they will stand.  About two-thirds of our couples include a Rehearsal in their wedding planning.

Do you think you will schedule a rehearsal for your wedding?

Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator
Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Missouri Wedding Officiant: Why meet for a consultation prior to your ceremony?

Some couples want a civil ceremony while most want a religious ceremony. At Hermann Hill Chapel in Hermann, Missouri we have officiants on our staff who strive to perform any type ceremony you would like. Whether you plan to bring in your own officiant or use one of ours, we encourage you to have a consultation with them at least one week prior to your ceremony as there may be several issues that may require time to resolve, which may include the following:

• wording of your vows
• religious references in your ceremony
• use of personal information as part of your ceremony
• involving blended families in the ceremony

We have had extraordinary ceremonies with blended families where officiants made everyone present feel this ceremony was inclusive and appropriate. But for an officiant to do these things, it takes time on both the part of the couple and the officiant performing their ceremony.

Pairing our Hermann Hill brides with an officiant who shares your vision for the ceremony that fits your needs has proven to make your ceremony unique and memorable.

Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator
Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings

Missouri Wedding Photography - Shots Before Your Wedding

When we ask brides to reflect on their wedding day at Hermann Hill and tell us what they enjoyed the most, they will frequently answer “spending time with our guests was the most fun”.

One way to guarantee more time with your guests is to do the majority of your photography before the ceremony so that the delay between your ceremony’s conclusion and the start of your reception is minimal.

Favorite locations for pre-ceremony photography with Herman Hill brides include our waterfall, local Hermann wineries and historic sites, our Gazebo and your Riverbluff Cottage.  Your guests will thank you for the extra quality of time they were able to share with you during your reception.

Have you thought about how much time to devote to photography on your wedding day?  Talk with us and let us share our experiences with you.

Glenda Kraettli, Wedding Coordinator
Hermann Hill Missouri Weddings