Above & Beyond

WORDS: PHOTOGRAPHY

The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast Wedding Manager making dreams come true.

 

 

It comes as no surprise that Mimi Hutchinson eloped. When you are one of the best in the business, spending 24/7 making couples’ dreams come true, it makes perfect sense the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort event wedding manager snuck away to a secluded island for an intimate celebration.

Mimi, 26, laughs when she recalls her beloved husband thought he would never actually get her down the aisle.

 

 

 

“We were engaged for two years and I think he thought I would never get married because I spend so much of my time going above and beyond to help other couple’s create their special day,” says Mimi, who has been in the wedding and events industry for over seven years.

Two years later, Mimi landed her dream job at the picturesque Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort last year and has immersed herself in creating memorable experiences for couples.

“I feel absolutely blessed to work at this venue, we are the only five-star beachfront resort on the Gold Coast.

 

 

“The Sheraton is a very classic and we have beautiful lush green gardens that include the South Island, North Island and South East Lawns which host our gorgeous ceremonies,” she explains.

As the daughter of an English pilot and Forumla One racing journalist and a French-born mother who was a chef, Mimi was born in Australia, however was lucky to travel with her parents all over the world through her childhood.

She says she ‘fell into events’ after leaving school and her parents always instilled in her a hardworking ethic.

 

 

She says she ‘always admired how an event comes together’, after leaving school she went straight into the hospitality industry to learn operations,  through to management of an event.

“I’m also very creative and the reason I love being involved with weddings so much is because I love to be able to pull the day together and see the couple’s dream come to life.

Being able to turn a couples vision and dream into a reality there is no better feeling!

 

 

“I am also very fortune to be able to develop a beautiful relationship with my couples,  I am there every step of the way, I co-ordinate everything and almost certainly attend the ceremony on the day,” says Mimi.

From the moment we meet to coordinating their ceremony on the day,  it is  important to me to be there throughout their journey.

She says the hotel’s motto is closely aligned to her own way of thinking — ‘we go above and beyond’.

“I love doing something extra, we work very closely as a team with everyone from the porters to the staff at the other dining outlets at the hotel all understanding and involved in ensuring we give an experience to the couple that they won’t forget. 

“A wedding is such a big occasion in people’s lives that we want to gain their trust and have them know that every detail is given special attention and we offer exceptionally consistent customer service,” says Mimi.

 

 

Couples who are considering holding their wedding at the Sheraton will meet Mimi at their first appointment and she will be by their side every step of the way.

“I’m extremely ecstatic that we’ve got an amazing banquet team. Our executive chef Ewald creates phenomenal menus and the attention to detail is amazing.”

“We are a very multi-cultural hotel and host guests from all over the world so we can customize menus according to individual tastes and requirements,” says Mimi.

It is important to the Hotel to be able to accommodate the best we can to cultural traditions and customs.

While some couples still have their hearts set on a traditional wedding, Mimi says couples are breaking traditions more and more and having fun with their styling.

“When couples come to me they have definite ideas about their big day but tradition isn’t as apparent. Couples are choosing to sit with their guests or just having the bride and groom on one table and mixing things up with entertainment, centerpieces, installations, savory cheese wheels wedding cake and donut walls!

“We are also seeing more couples celebrating a second marriage. Some want elaborate weddings while others don’t want the va va voom. We have brides who range from all ages. Weddings are a celebration of love and seeing the strong and passionate love between a couple who have found their partner the second time round is very touching,” she says.

Lindsay-Anne Dunsmore and Isaac Thompson (pictures featured), who tied the knot at the Sheraton late last year, says the hotel went above and beyond their expectations.

“Mimi was absolutely lovely to deal with our day was beyond perfect and everything went so smoothly without a single glitch,” gushed Lindsay, who celebrated with 60 family and friends.

“I was in awe seeing it all put together and come to life. Mimi has such an amazing attention to detail and is super organised as well as having incredible expertise.

“We are so glad we chose to have our wedding at The Sheraton for so many reasons. We got so many compliments from our guests on how fantastic the whole event and venue was. We absolutely loved every second of the day and night and we wouldn’t change a single thing.”

For Mimi, the feedback is the best part of her job.

“To hear how happy couples are makes it so worthwhile, what more could we ask for?”

The Sheraton has three premier reception areas; Horizons can be booked for a minimum of 50 or more guests and a maximum of 140 guests (with dance floor). The Pandanus Venue can be booked with a minimum of 50 or more guests and a maximum of 140 guests (with dance floor). The Ballroom venue can be booked in conjunction with a minimum of 200 or more guests and a maximum of 450 guests (with a dance floor). Smaller weddings can also be hosted at the hotel in the intimate Oyster Bar and Grill restaurant with a maximum of 40 guests seated and 60 for cocktail style.

  For more infomation call 07 5577 0190 
Email [email protected] www.sheratonmiragegoldcoast.com/weddings