Whether organizing a special performance by Nelly, getting a mechanical bull for the ballroom, or figuring out how to incorporate bling into a wedding meal, it’s all part of a normal day for the Four Seasons. “If it’s not illegal or immoral, we can make it happen,” says Tim Powers, director of sales and marketing.
Each year, about 30 couples exchange vows at Missouri’s only AAA five-diamond hotel, a place that can offer couples everything from bridesmaid luncheons and rehearsal dinners to morning-after brunches and spa and salon services. Practically every element is customizable, director of catering Kelly Rosenblatt says, and to ensure a memorable event, the hotel’s wedding experts work collaboratively with couples. “Our No. 1 job is to take the bride and groom’s dream and make it a reality with as little stress possible,” adds wedding consultant Danielle Minninger.
The wedding team says no request is too elaborate, or detail too small, for them to tackle. Figuring out how to incorporate memorable details creatively is part of the fun of the job, Rosenblatt says. “We often give a nod to a cultural element, or to where the couple got engaged or are going on their honeymoon. One couple had their first date in a movie theater and then got engaged at the movies, so we set up a concession stand at their reception with movie theater popcorn and candy.”
That personal touch applies to the menu, too. “The chefs talk to the couple directly, so they get that one-on-one experience,” Minninger says. After hearing a bride list rosewater as a favorite flavor, the chef prepared chocolates with rosewater to leave in the guest bedrooms.
Overlooking the Mississippi River and with stellar views of the Arch, the Four Seasons provides an iconic St. Louis backdrop. Many couples have taken advantage of that by adding a little extra sparkle to their event—literally. “We can customize fireworks displays, and we’ve done fireworks that have been a complete surprise for the bride,” Minninger says. The Four Seasons also makes honeymoon planning easy with access to 90 hotels around the world. “We can help coordinate with other Four Seasons and work with that property to get a great rate or an upgrade,” Rosenblatt says.
The best compliment, says Minninger, is when a family chooses the hotel for a second wedding. “We once did weddings for two sisters who were complete opposites in personality and decor preferences,” she says. “The second sister wanted to work with us because of the great experience she had with her sibling’s event. Weddings tend to be a one-time event, so when we do a wedding for a second daughter, that is the greatest thank you.”
By Stephanie Zeilenga
Photo by Bill Barrett
Pictured: Wedding consultant Danielle Minninger
[The Four Seasons is located at 999 N. Second St. For more information about wedding packages, visit fourseasons.com/stlouis/weddings or call 314.881.2031.]