The Inn at Willa Bay - Nicole Ellis

1

Zoe

“What do you think about having the actual wedding ceremony over there, under the pergola?” Zoe Tisdale pointed to the far end of the garden where a white wooden arch framed a million-dollar view of Willa Bay’s deep blue waters. “It’s our most popular choice for ceremonies, but I can show you a few other locations around the grounds if you’re interested in something different.”

“It’s gorgeous,” the bride-to-be said breathily as she spun around in slow circles. “This is like being in a secret garden. Can I take a closer look at the arch?”

Zoe smiled at her. New clients were always impressed when they saw the gardens at Willa Bay Lodge. “Of course. Let me know what you think. I want to make sure everything about this wedding is exactly what you were hoping for.”

While the other woman crossed the expansive lawn to check out the pergola and its adjacent gardens, Zoe took the opportunity to relax a little and enjoy her surroundings. Typical for April in the Pacific Northwest, it had rained that morning, but the clouds had burned off by the afternoon, just in time for Zoe to show her client around. Japanese maples, azaleas, and boxwoods formed a border around the Pergola Garden, the largest outdoor space on the grounds. White wrought-iron benches, dispersed randomly in almost-hidden alcoves off the main lawn, peeked out like treasures waiting for guests to discover them.

To keep the landscaping pristine, the grounds crew would be outside soon to towel off the benches and rake up any leaves that had fallen during the storm. The fragrance of roses hung in the air, mixing with the scent of recent rain and a hint of salt from the bay. If Zoe wasn’t on the clock, she would have loved nothing more than to grab a book from the Lodge’s library and sneak away to a dry seat overlooking the water.

“I love it,” the woman said from behind her, breaking Zoe out of her reverie. “How many people did you say this area can accommodate?”

“About two hundred seated.” Zoe gestured to the lawn in front of the pergola. “For weddings, we usually have two sections of rows with an aisle down the middle. If there’s a chance of rain, we have a canopy that’s large enough to shelter the whole garden.” She stared up at the gray clouds that threatened to obscure the sun, then gave the woman a wry grin. “The weather in August should be fine, but you never know in Washington. We like to be prepared for anything.”

The woman nodded, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet. “It’s exactly what we’ve been looking for. I can’t wait until my fiancé sees this.” She was so giddy that she looked like she might start jumping with glee – something Zoe had actually seen brides do when they locked down their wedding venue.

“I’m so glad you like it. Let’s go inside, and we can start working on a plan.” Zoe motioned to the woman to follow her back into the Lodge.

In Zoe’s office, they discussed most of the major details of the event, including flowers, catering choices, the cake, and music. While the Lodge had its own dining room for guests, it offered clients the option to bring in outside caterers for larger events. Zoe made a note to follow up with her client in another month to check on her progress and see if she needed any other assistance. Although it technically wasn’t in her job description to help clients with all of their wedding details, Zoe had worked as an event coordinator at the Lodge for over nine years, and she’d found that going the extra mile to make sure things were on track early in the process was key to a successful event.

After the woman left, Zoe went into her boss’s office. Joan was seated behind her desk, her reading glasses perched on the edge of her nose as she peered at her computer screen.

She looked up when Zoe entered. “Hey. How did your client intake go this afternoon? Did it ever stop raining so you could show her the gardens?” Joan glanced at the windowless walls of her office with distaste. “I feel like I’m locked in a pit in here. It could be midnight for all I know.” Her eyes widened, and she removed her reading glasses. “It’s not, is it?”

Zoe laughed. “It’s only four-thirty in the afternoon, but it sounds like you need to take a break. Or