Celebrations

Real Weddings :: Hallie & Eric

0 · Jan 21, 2016 ·

I love the planning and designing, the dreaming and getting to know each and every one of my brides. Often there are day trips to distant destinations, drinks over design plans and yummy bakery treats (I know, I have a rough job!). I’m always so eager for the wedding day to actually arrive and then see the fruits of my labors and watch a bride’s dreams come true. Seeing flower recipes on paper is nothing compared to holding the blooms in your hands and gingerly adding yards of flowing lace to a finished bouquet. And yet it’s always a little bittersweet as this will be the end of scheming, late night emails and vintage treasure hunts.

On a balmy day in mid July, my journey with one such bride ended – only so she could begin a new one with the love of her life. From the moment I met Hallie, I knew that her wedding day would be fabulous. She had chosen a horse farm in Ludington to host both her ceremony and reception and she hoped to bring along lots of vintage, rustic and girly touches. Dusty blue was the primary color inspiration, allowing shades of pink to naturally introduce itself through the floral palette and patterns on the vintage china. We aimed for softness, without being too pastel and added rustic details alongside timeless touches of silver and lace. You may remember their dusty and vintage inspiration board which I wrote about last week.

Her roses were flown in from California and paired with some goodies naturally found in our back yards. Sweet pea added just the perfectly subtle pop of pink and the carnations I used stole my heart. Please trust me and let me use carnations – sometimes they hold the most unusual and glorious hues. Not to mention, they’re a completely sturdy flower that humidity barely takes a toll on.

Dear Hallie & Eric – I hope what they say is true and rain is good luck on your wedding day, the heavens let down some nasty storms that morning, as we all weathered through it. You two deserve so much happiness and it was an absolute pleasure being a part of your wedding day.

Inspiration Board :: Dusty & Rustic

0 · Jan 13, 2016 ·

Dusty and rustic, that sounds like quite the combination, doesn’t it? But I promise it was gorgeous – just like dear Hallie. Hallie and I schemed about all things vintage, wooden and full of charm. She adored dusty blue tones and luscious pops of pink. We aimed for softness, without being too pastel. She loves bows, lace and lots of girly enchantments which contrasted nicely with the rustic vibe of her barn venue.

Before bringing the day to life, we of course plotted and schemed and dreamt up an amazing mood board to help us define exact what their celebration would look like. I know some people find it somewhat pointless, but to me I think it’s an invaluable tool. Hallie (like most brides) had 169 pins on her Pinterest board and while they were all beautiful, there was such a range and plethora of ideas that it really needed to be focused and narrowed. You can read more about why I insist on creating an inspiration board here.

We sought to combine her favorite things, making sure that the design remained balanced between glamorous and aged elements, old and new and fit perfectly with her something blue.

Dusty Blue & Rustic Mood Board | The Day's Design

Image credit (top row left to right): Photography: Paper Antler via Ruffled Blog | Dusty Miller stock image | Photography: Greer G Photography, Floral Design: Kim Starr Wise via Snippet & Ink | Photography: Weddings by Nicola and Glen, Floral Design: Euphoric Flowers

(middle row left to right): Invitation via Wedding Paper Divas | Romantic Antike Garden Rose stock image | Wood boxes via Accent Decor

(bottom row left to right): Photography: Lauren Kinsey, Floral Design: Bloom Floral Design | Queen Anne’s Lace stock image | Linen via La Tavola | White Majolica Spray Rose stock image

I’ve been hording the gorgeous results of Hallie and Eric’s beautiful celebration but will be sure to share them very very soon.

Shelby signature

2015 :: The Highlights, Goals & Lessons Learned

0 · Dec 31, 2015 ·

At lot can happen in just 365 days. Sometimes it hard to believe we’re even the same person that we were when the year began. From a business perspective, the growth I’ve seen has been unbelievable – both in clients and in personal strengths. I feel like this year was the year that I finally found my way. I’m feeling more confident than ever and excited to look back on the steps I took to get me there.

But it wasn’t just from a professional standpoint that I experienced change. There were lots of individual adjustments in life this year as well. I considered splitting my review up, posting from both a business and personal outlook, but there’s so much overlap and it’s hard to really figure out where each one really begins. Anyone who owns a business I’m sure can relate.

I began the year pregnant. I’m not one who enjoys pregnancy, so for me that wasn’t exactly a highlight. But of course then little Willa June was born and everything changed. It’s hard to even imagine what life was like before she came along. Gretta has adjusted well and it’s as though she’s always been a part of our family.

I was a little nervous about the start of wedding season. I had played with a few flowers for my maternity shoot back in January, but prior to that, my sister’s wedding in November had capped off my 2014 season and I was a bit apprehensive to get back into the swing of things. And then of course there was the additional pressure of having two children in tow.

I like to start the season with an inspiration shoot. It’s just seems to help get the creative juices flowing and if I’m a little rusty, my mistakes are made on my own accord and not at the expense of one of my brides. So Ashley and I headed to the beach – she was itching to create something pretty as well after a long winter. The shoot was moody and ethereal (and freezing – 39 degrees in May!), and the results were just as I had imagined it and I realized I just need to get out of my head create. I achieved another goal with this editorial, having it featured on Magnolia Rouge.

Photo Credits (left to right, top to bottom): Ashley Slater Photography | Ashley Slater Photography featured on Magnolia Rouge | Ashley Slater Photography, Design: Michaela Noelle featured on Inspired by This | Kelly Sweet Photography | Hetler Photography | Ashley Slater Photography, Dress: Spring Sweet featured on Magnolia Rouge | Ashley Slater Photography, Calligraphy: Kaitlin Parisho | Ashley Slater Photography, Invitation Suite: Wildfield Paper Co featured on Magnolia Rouge | Kelly Sweet Photography

I officially started the wedding season in May with 2 beautiful celebrations. Both brides had complete trust in me and gave me lots of creative freedom. I was able to choose blooms that I loved, worked with vessels they loved and had lots of local and foraged ingredients. Blush and pale pink color palettes were a reoccurring trend for me in 2015. I learned that while I am completely capable of doing multiple events in a weekend, it’s not a trend that I will continue. I’d much rather give each bride her own individual day and full attention.

Once again I was honored to be a part of Bloom the Workshop. I can’t say enough to really convey how lovely Ashley and Michaela are. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the very first Bloom they held over a year ago and in May I floralized their 3rd full day workshop to held in West Michigan. Michaela always dreams up a gorgeous tablescape and I love working with other creatives to help bring their visions to life.

A couple years ago, I had set a goal that I’d like to be featured at least 4 times a year on a major publication. The shoot with Bloom was featured on Inspired by This back in August, and was feature #4 for the year. While this isn’t my main focus of business by any means, it makes me feel pretty good to check this off my business goal list.

Photo Credits (left to right, top to bottom): Jamie & Sarah Photography | Bradley James Photography, Plates: Debby Does Dishes | Ashley Slater Photography | Clary Pfeiffer Photography featured on Style Me Pretty | Jamie & Sarah Photography | Jamie & Sarah Photography | Clary Pfeiffer Photography featured on Style Me Pretty| Clary Pfeiffer Photography featured on Style Me Pretty | Bradley James Photography, Invitation: Minted

In July, I received my very first order from Rose Story Farms. To some this might seem like a really strange item to highlight, however, if you’ve ever held one of these delicate little blossoms in your hands, you’ll understand their beauty. My love local blooms will always exist, but when they’re not Michigan made it doesn’t get much better than California grown. The chartreuse green of their little leaves just makes me so delightfully happy.

I worked out of a hotel room for the first time. Again, strange thing to highlight but it was an interesting experience, to say the least. It was at the same time that I experienced leaky containers, bouquets that were fastened with faulty tape, scorching heat and a whole wave of other obstacles. Give your florist a hug and tell your wedding planners thank you. They may have bled, drove across the state or stayed up all night making things happen that you’ll never be aware of because they’ll never tell you. My strength and endurance have been tested more than once this year and I’m stronger person and wedding planner because of it.

Thinking back, I remember the day that I longed to have one of my weddings or inspirations shoots featured on Style Me Pretty. It seemed like such a distance and lofty goal. In 2015, I was featured on their blog 3 times and I feel like someone should probably pinch me.

Also on my list of goals is to be see my work in print, in an actual magazine or a place that I can physically hold in my hand. Last month I received the news that not one, but 2 of my weddings will be featured in The Knot Michigan next spring. I am so honored to think that once upon a time I was just a college graduate with a little dream to be a wedding planner. And now here I am, living this dream and being recognized by some of the biggest names and publications in the industry. The icing on the cake – it was my bride’s fantasy to be featured on The Knot too, it’s so special that I could help make that a reality for her as well.

But it’s not just the recognition, I definitely don’t do what I do for fame or hoping someone will give me a huge pat on the back. The people I’ve meet along the way is the most rewarding piece of the journey. I love my brides, my vendor friends and some lifelong relationships have blossomed from working in the wedding industry.

Autumn brought with it more engagements, golden hues and many colorful celebrations full of love and the most amazing couples. And lots of dahlias. I truly hope to do more fall weddings next year as the scenery in Michigan is simply breathtaking that time of year. And I’d even like to add a couple of winter celebrations to my 2016/2017 calendar.

2015 was The Day’s Design’s third full time wedding season, the year Gretta turned 3 and will be the last year in our current home. It was the year of designing flowers in my dining room, storing them in my garage and keeping the rest of the treasures in my basement. It was the year that we tested my Tahoe’s strength, air conditioning and storage capacity. Moving forward is a sign of progress and a little bittersweet.

There’s a part of me that thinks I should have kept a tally of how many times I bled, how many times I wanted to give up, the hours of sleep I lost, the times I wanted to do a happy dance and high five (only to realized I work most days alone), the number of times I witnessed “the moment”, the walks up and down the aisle, the steps I take on a wedding day, the trips to venues, caterers, flower markets, greenhouses and down the road foraging for treasures. I need to keep track of it all so I can remember. So when 2016 rolls around and I can’t hardly function because I’ve pulled an all nighter before one of my fabulous brides’ big day – all I’ll have to do is see the expression in her eyes as she sees her groom staring back at her so in love. I want to remember why I love this job so much and never forget. My mother has mentioned on several occasions that there must be an easier way to make a living. Of course she’s right, but they’re not my passion, my drive or what I want to be doing. This is right where I want to be.

Cheers friends! Have a happy 2016!!

Featured :: An Autumn Engagement on Ruffled Blog

0 · Dec 17, 2015 ·

The days are shorter, the air is cool and the world is taking on a golden brown hue. We welcomed September rains, brought out velvet touches and are savoring evenings by candlelight and now have added tinsel to our shopping lists. It’s a clear sign that engagement season is officially upon us. When I saw Wedding Paper Diva’s dreamy invitation suite with its fairytale-like lake scene the whole story of the romantic early autumn proposal jumped to life. With mixed metallics and touches of grey blue, we imagined a lakeside story filled with sequins and wheat grass, where rustic meets elegance and love was surely to thrive. The perfect place to start to the journey to “I do”.

Olivia and Carter made the perfect models as he had proposed to Olivia less than a month before. The chemistry between this gorgeous couple was so natural. Clifford Lake Inn was the perfect host, which it’s refined rustic decor and understated lakeside charm. And Sam (of Bradley James Photography) captured the mood of the shoot with absolute perfection. Today you can see the entire feature over on Ruffled Blog.

The Sand & the Sea

0 · Dec 16, 2015 ·

December’s weather here in Michigan has been a little abnormal, to say the least. The amount of foggy and rain filled days have been unheard of and I’ve hardly had the need to put on my winter coat. This morning, once again, I woke up to a thick of cloud that hung in the air. It’s such a dense and gloomy feeling.

It actually made me think back to this day in May. The temperatures were oddly similar although this spring day was far windier. Ashley Slater and I had been dreaming up a beach shoot. We wanted it to be natural, ethereal and chic all at the same time. We wanted to combine a classic black tux and a streamline wedding gown with driftwood and other neutral touches found on Lake Michigan’s glistening shoreline. We dreamt of a very sun kissed, yet earthy and grounded day with the decor seeming as though it had been washed ashore from a shipwreck.

However, as it so often happens, the weather changed our plans. One of the biggest lessons I have learned it to just roll with it and let the story be a part of your day. Since this was a styled shoot, we had the option to reschedule when the weather was chilly and less than ideal. But we moved forward despite the misty and fog. And one of my favorite outcomes of the day was the moody tone that the beach set. The sky mirrored the muted watercolor lines of Wildfield Paper’s custom paper goodies. The whitecaps and the wind whipping through Caitlin’s hair were perfection. We decided not to fuss with curls, a tie and other formalities. It turned into a wild, barefoot and carefree celebration.

This shoot was also featured on Magnolia Rouge, you can see the post here.

Featured :: Nautical Lake Michigan Wedding on Style Me Pretty

0 · Dec 11, 2015 ·

On the sand in St Joseph, Becca and John said I do. From the flowers to the ribbons to the setting, the entire day was picaresque. Lake Michigan will always hold a piece of my heart, no matter how far my travels may take me. The soft tones and nautical touches were some of my favorites from this past wedding season. The fact that the celebration remained unplugged made nature’s beautiful shine all the more. And today you can see the entire celebration featured over on Style Me Pretty.

Real Weddings :: Ryan & Jen

0 · Nov 20, 2015 ·

Peonies, black and white stripes, gold accents… and that’s just the start of Ryan and Jen’s stunning day. Jen is so stylish, chic and GORGEOUS, making her day beautiful was a piece of cake. And I love how even though their celebration took place in a classic club location, the way it was photographed almost makes it seem like they eloped into the woods – with 22 of their closest friends (the largest bridal party I’ve seen to date), but when you’re as sweet as these two, it’s easy to see why they’re so popular, they just radiate love.

Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Reidsma!!

Photography: Katy O’Dell Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Thousand Oaks Golf Club | Bride’s Dress: Bianka Bridal

Style Me Pretty Bouquet Breakdown

0 · Nov 5, 2015 ·

A couple month’s ago one of the awesome ladies from Style Me Pretty reached out asking if I’d mind breaking down and sharing all the ingredients to Christina’s lovely autumn bouquet (you may remember Tim & Christina’s wedding was featured on their blog here last spring). It was so special being asked, as I feel like Tim and Christina’s wedding was a break out moment for me and I will forever think of their wedding day with the warmest memories. I had done other floral arranging, I done other weddings but I knew in my heart of hearts that theirs was something special. They entrusted an incredible amount of faith in me. Their wedding wasn’t only going to be the start of something incredible and new for them, but it was going to be the start something big for me as well.

I was right.

This was my big break and the largest scale event that I had tackled to date. My love affair with flowers grew. And it continues to grow. I stretched my wings and did something scary and reaped huge rewards. I proved myself worthy – not to the world – but to myself. So when I was asked to describe this bouquet and the flower it… it was hard to know where to even start. Their wedding was a beautiful finale to the end of the 2014 wedding season.

It was my first time using Peterkort Roses. It’s a bit nerve wrecking any time you use a new supplier. Simply put, I had nothing to be nervous about. Their roses do not disappoint. As always, I had set aside my favorite blooms as I was processing and unpacking flowers. Special blooms for a special bride. Her bouquet was one of the last projects I tackled late that Friday night. I think that was my biggest bucket of “favorite blooms” I have ever collected.

It was dark and quiet in my Grandpa’s garage. The rains fell on the red tin roof and the wind was roaring outside on that cold October night. But what I remember are the flowers, the awe, and how I loved each and every stem that I placed.

Friends, here’s the bouquet (captured by the ever amazing Kelly Sweet Photography) and here’s the recipe, you can read more about it all these magical romantic roses over on Style Me Pretty.

7 Stems of Helga Piaget Garden Roses
5 Stems of Romantik Antike Garden Roses
3 Stems of Champagne Roses
2 Stems of Talea Roses
3 Stems of Pink Majolica Spray Roses
2 Stems of Pee Gee Hydrangeas
2 Stems of Peach Stock
Italian Ruscus Foliage
Variegated Pittosporum Foliage

Enjoy!

Real Weddings :: Tina & Chris

0 · Nov 4, 2015 ·

It’s now the time of year when I’m wrapping up wedding season, summer days have gone by and I’ve started to embrace that cozy late autumn (and even Christmas!!) mindset. My flipflops have been traded for tall boots and my t-shirts have all been tucked away. At the same time, I’m chatting with brides who are gleefully planning next years weddings and I have to revert back to that springtime frame of mind. I’m starting to look for inspiration but my world – craft and decor stores, wedding blogs, Pinterest – is filled with autumn foliage and donuts (not that I mind a good donut!)

So I’m going to pretend that I’m posting this pretty spring day in hopes of inspiring one of next May’s lucky brides. If nothing else, I’m always happy to reminisce about foxglove and peonies.

Tina and Chris were married at Witt’s Inn in Lowell. It was my first time visiting this charming little barn and beautiful gardens. It’s rustic and what one might picture when they think of a barn wedding, until you look up. Chandeliers. Beautiful rows of chandeliers. That sparkle goes straight to a girl’s heart.

Speaking of a girl after my own heart, Tina hired me to take charge of her floral decor and dropped off 65 mismatched gold, brass and copper vessels for me to fill with blooms of my choice – just somewhere in the blush, pink or coral color story. It was so much fun sorting through each vessel, finding the perfect table mates and making each arrangement completely unique.

So I filled my floral buckets with tulips, roses, ranunculus, lilies, foxglove, peonies, clematis and wild honeysuckle. I foraged a few greens and added some delicate silk ribbons. The way they paired with the soft blush underlay of Tina’s dress was perfection. And everywhere you looked, there was a different bloom, a different arrangement and the prettiest all greenery bridesmaids bouquets.

Dear Tina and Chris, I hope you two have loved your first season together and have many more full of happiness to come.

Featured :: Sand & Sea on Magnolia Rouge

0 · Oct 20, 2015 ·

It’s no secret that I love the water. The sound of crashing waves and beautiful beaches are so invigorating. It really is amazing all the beauty that God has put on this earth around us. Beyond the obviously picturesque days, I love those that are a little darker. Moody, overcast skies are so intoxicating. There’s a calmness as the wind rips through your hair, the sound of the sand dancing across the shoreline and then… bam, another giant swell meets it’s ending upon the shore.

This inspiration was born out of those overcast skies. A little bit of mist hung in the air and the sand was chilled with a dampness. It was not a day to fuss with curls in your hair or to bother putting on a tie. It was a wild, carefree and barefoot occasion – come as you are and let love prevail. And today I’m delighted to share it in it’s entirety over on Magnolia Rouge.

Southern Hospitality Dinner Party

1 · Sep 3, 2015 ·

I love summer. Everything about it just makes me smile. Long days at the beach, toes in the sand, warm breezes, sunshine, melting ice cream cones, bicycles, flowers, family get togethers… and the list really goes one and on. It’s the perfect time of year for entertaining, which is just one more thing I love.

I come from a family who finds any excuse to celebrate. Fussy meals and finding the perfect accessories are in my blood.

It was about this time last year that I was prepping for another party. I had this notion that I wanted to create something special, a fancy late summer meal but I didn’t have a cause for celebration. I was feeling blue and itching to do something. But this feeling crept in long before last summer, it hit me in the dead of winter and I just held on to it. I felt that I needed to do something meaningful, somehow I wanted to make a difference. Can a person make a difference in the world by planning parties? I’ve often struggled with this thought.

It just so happened that my southern doll of a friend, Ashley (of Ashley Slater Photography), proposed that we do a southern inspired inspiration shoot. I love putting together inspiration shoots, but some part of me can’t help but feel that they’re a waste. What’s the point of putting together this gorgeous party and not inviting any guests?

An idea quickly took form. We were going to plan a party. It was going to be chocked full of editorial worthy deals and we were going to invite perfect strangers to just come and celebrate life with us. So that’s exactly what we did.

We found one perfectly lovely soul who was in need of a little extra love. Samantha of Wondrous Whimsy helped us design a beautifully calligraphic invites which were boxed up and sent out in chain letter fashion. Each person who received on would then take the lead in inviting another lovely lady until all the seats at the table were filled.

Since this was not just a styled shoot, we had a full blown menu prepared by an awesome chef (I might be just a little partial since he’s also my husband).

Southern delicacies such as pickled shrimp, pimento cheese and toast points, chilled green tomato soup, roasted redskin potato salad, corn bread and grilled salmon were all served.

Upon arrival, each lovely lady was allowed to choose a party dress – on loan from the night from Kirribilla. Once dressed, in true Southern style the girls were welcomed with sweet tea or pineapple gin punch – both delicious options. And then on to the feast!

And what dinner party would be complete without a little dessert?! These pies from Ed Dunneback and Girl’s Farm were some of the best I’ve ever had (and did you know that they will make an awesome dessert display for your wedding, eek!!)

Such a fun evening! Thanks so all the vendors involved!

Silence on the Social Front

0 · Jul 22, 2015 ·

It saddens me that nearly a month has passed since my last post. I love blogging. I love sharing tidbits, advice and thoughts about weddings and life in general with all my amazing readers. So when busy takes over and I cannot find a moment to clear my head, write a sentence or much less format a post that’s worth reading, I find myself a little depressed.

It all comes down to priorities. I’m still dreaming of flowers, ribbons and foraging for the most perfect accents for each and every bridal bouquet. I am scheming up designs, laying out floor plans, creating flower recipes and timelines. But being a wedding planner is a selfless profession. It takes an enormous amount of dedication to each and every couple. It’s their needs that are put first, not my own. While I try to find balance in as many places as I possibly can, I always know that my clients come first. It’s their once in a lifetime experience that’s important, not my need to share what I’m up to with the world.

To the outside world, when things become quiet on the social media front it appears that we are doing nothing, we’re not busy and have little to share. To anyone in the wedding industry, we know that this is when we’re our busiest making wedding dreams come true.

Here’s just a peak at one of those dreamy days that we were honored to be a part of. Wishing the happiest of marriages to Hallie and Eric.

Photo by Bradley James Photography, from our wedding together last weekend in Ludington.

Real Weddings :: Tim & Christina

0 · Jun 16, 2015 ·

I have something that I like to refer to as my Wedding Bucket List. This basically means that there are certain vendors that I long to work with, venues that I’m dying to design in and floral combinations that make me so weak in the knees that if I were able to actually hold them in my hands and create with them my heart might actually leap out of my chest because it cannot hold the excitement.

Last June I received a phone call from the lovely Christina and she started telling me about her wedding this upcoming fall at The Willowbrook Mill in Northport — had I heard of it? Seriously!!? Not only had I heard of it, it was at the top of my list! For me this venue has so much history and meaning, I remember going there as a little girl back when it was an ice cream parlor and listening the Da Yoopers sing The Second Week of Deer Camp and dancing with my grandma as the song played on a beat up old jukebox. Now years later the building has been recreated and is a beautiful wedding venue and combines everything I love about Northern Michigan. And it meant I got to travel up north, working in pretty much any venue in Leelanau County is a dream come true for me.

As the planning went on, I knew this was a girl after my own heart. It wasn’t just the rustic wood floors, the glamorous sequined linens or their love for the most stunning California grown garden roses that made me fall in love with this couple, but their love for one another, the way they cherish their family and how God was at the very center of their marriage celebration – that is what truly made this one for the books.

From the bottom of my heart I wish Tim and Christina all the happiness in the world. Thank you for allowing me to be such a grand part of your celebration, designing a day of love.

Something Blu Shoes | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Getting Ready Photos | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Northport Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Love Letter | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Groom | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

First Look | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Bride and Groom First Look | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Boutonnieres | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Autumn Wedding Party | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Blush Bridesmaids Bouquet | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Flower Girl | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Letterpress Wedding Invitations | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Weddings at Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Leland Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Grand Exit | Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Classic Get Away Car | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Fishtown | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Garden Rose Bouquet | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Fishtown Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Vintage Wedding Car | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Autumn Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Leelanau Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Willowbrook Mill Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Calligraphy Table Number | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Pinecone Place Card Holder | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Head Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Wedding at Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Wedding at Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Phtoography

Sequin Cake Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Cake Cutting | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Head Table Garland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

First Dance | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Vintage Wedding Limo | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

This wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty last month, you can see it here.

Featured :: Style Me Pretty Michigan

0 · May 14, 2015 ·

Talk about sweet surprises, I knew this day was coming but I didn’t know when. So when I saw this gorgeous wedding pop up in my feed it just took my glum morning and turned my busy frown up side down! I LOVED this wedding. And I know that I’m not supposed to play favorites, but this one totally has hold of my heartstrings and seeing it again today on Style Me Pretty makes so so excited for all the lovely in store for this coming wedding season.

Kelly Sweet captured the romance with absolute perfection and the video from Coastline Studio is not to be missed. Northern Michigan, I can’t wait to come back home!

Here’s the feature which shows full vendor credits and I’ll also be sharing more in the future… this is a beautiful blog post in the making.

Real Weddings :: Nolan & Jessica

0 · Apr 29, 2015 ·

I don’t know if I believe in destiny or fate, or that there’s only one person in the whole world that you should marry and (finger’s crossed!!) you’ll meet them and timing will be perfect and you’ll fall in love. I do however, believe that God has a plan and know’s exactly what’s going to happen before we even have a chance to contemplate the possibility. I suppose he controls our destiny then.

Nevertheless, I think the way our paths are intertwined is really interesting, and our story of friendship is no exception. Back when I was just an under-aged, beauty school grad, I also had a late night weekend gig at a bar. And so did Jessica. However, we rarely had a chance to speak and although we worked at the same club, I’m not even sure I knew her name – she was just the girl with the most amazing highlights. And she’s always been someone I remembered and who stood out in my mind.

Fast forward a few years and here we are. I met my husband who happened to be best buds with Nolan, who would eventually become her fiance. My husband predicted from the beginning these two were in it for the long haul. And I guess he was right. Anytime I get to be involved in someone’s wedding day is really special to me, but when the bride and groom happen to be a couple of your closest friends it becomes one of the highest honors. It was more than just a wedding, it was a very happy celebration.

In the height of dahlia season, we watched Jessica and Nolan say “I do” at the historic Felt Estates. I handpicked every flower myself with sweet Jessica in mind knowing how important this day was, knowing that in just a few short hours she would marry her best friend, a relationship that I was lucky enough to see from the beginning. And will continue to see for years to come.

Real Weddings :: Heather & Dave

0 · Mar 30, 2015 ·

Often when I big working with couples, I can’t help but relate back to my own wedding and that experience. I channel back to the excitement, the stresses, what we found most important as a couple and the details that I cherished most as a bride. I think about not only what I might have done differently, but also what I did right that just made the day. I remember the emotions and how the day just simply seemed to fly by… especially for a bride who decided to do just about everything herself.

It’s for that reason, that I’m so happy when a couple reaches out in need of a day-of coordinator. I know hiring a full on wedding planner is not for everyone, but your wedding day is a fleeting moment, a flicker in the overall scope of your life but you want the memories to last a lifetime, so let’s make sure they’re good ones.

It was a joy being a part of Heather and Dave’s wedding. Heather told me on one of our very first meetings that one of her biggest concerns is that everyone gets to have a great time. I think an excellent time was had by all. Heather and Dave are that couple who just radiate fun, and it’s contagious. I was able to work at two new venues to me – with the ceremony being held on the Blue Bridge in Downtown Grand Rapids and cocktail hour and the reception followed shortly after at The Downtown Market. This was one of the few events last summer that I didn’t get involved in the overall design, but with Heather’s great taste, I didn’t have to. It was modern, chic and right on trend but the day the still held on to a little romance with bride’s chose of keeping a soft pastel color palette.

Cheers to Heather & Dave, it was a pleasure to be even just a small part of your celebration!

Wedding in the Woods

0 · Feb 20, 2015 ·

I love Michigan. Beautiful lakes, gorgeous views and my forever home. But sometimes the weather can be just a tad unpredictable for me. Today the windchills are hovering somewhere around -15°, I can’t really tell you how cold that it because I simply refuse to leave the house. Flashback to June. June is usually a warm and fairly mild month. Perfect for weddings. But this particular day in June was hot, muggy and drizzly. The weather unpredictability never seems to stop us from planning outdoor celebrations, but sometimes I think it should (but that’s just my logical side talking… who really wants to be trapped indoors??).

Airemiss and Kykeo originally planned a grand scale wedding celebration. But as it often happens, during the planning process they began to feel overwhelmed. And then throw in a couple of other inconvenient life circumstances and they decided to ditch they’re lavish plans all together. This doesn’t mean that they had to give up style or having a special wedding day. It just allowed more room to get creative.

A simple ceremony in the woods was the plan. They love Alice in Wonderland, so that furthered their woodland theme. Aire was a dream bride, other than wanting an ode to Alice in Wonderland and white roses in her bouquet, she allowed me to create and surprise them with a fabulous setting for them to sit and eat cake after they officially said ‘I do”. And of course, no celebration would be complete without a fabulous photographer, so thankfully Kelly Sweet was there to capture the memories (and gorgeous misty light) from the day.

This wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty back in November. You can see it here.

Happy Friday, stay warm friends!!

Just Create

0 · Feb 12, 2015 ·

Yesterday one of my favorite bouquets I’ve ever created was featured on Style Me Pretty, along with a whole other slew of talented ladies who love to create beautiful blooms, with beautiful hearts. It was a reminder of spring, of the vibrancy, the color and the much needed refresh we all need in our life after a long, cold winter.

Flowers have intrigued me for as long as I can remember, although it wasn’t with the passion for education and growth that they do now. When I was a little girl, I remember planting wildflower seeds around the perimeter of our above ground pool and waiting for them to bloom. The poppies always stand out in my memory the most. While it takes a while for those sprouts to grown, if you never plant the seeds, you will never see the fruits of your labor.

Kelly Perry, the creator of the Team Flower workshop, also shared our flowers on the Team Flower blog. It’s funny how two blogs can share the same content but connect with the subjects in a whole different way. To one, they’re just a bunch of beautifully captured images which audiences love to see. To another, they’re a story, a conquest and a beginning.

I was thinking about this beginning, the way we start our creations. Sometimes it can be paralyzing to start. We always want to put our best foot forward and aim for perfection, but like Kelly mentioned, it’s risky. It’s comforting to know that someone else also just starts arranging, not really knowing where the results will lead. And we can’t please everyone.

When I stepped off the plane to attend this workshop, I didn’t know where I was headed. I didn’t know who I would meet. I didn’t even know the girl I had agreed to spend the next 2 hours of my life carpooling with (she was awesome, by the way). And beyond this, I didn’t know where this workshop would lead me and the ways it would unleash a passion that was bottled up within, held hostage by fear.

Then I started to create this bouquet. Rows and rows of beautiful blooms were placed in front of me and I was told to go, create. It’s hard to know where to begin, I didn’t have a vision in mind. I didn’t have any limits or parameters. All I knew is that I wanted to make something gorgeous.

I remember seeing that big, beautiful fuchsia peony and I held it in my hand as it spoke to me. It was a starting point. I found some quirky little kumquats and a softer pink tree peony, which also called to me. This was the base, the inspiration. I continued to build upon this, grabbing ingredients that I liked and some that just felt like they belonged – they connected the colors, the story.

Every time I gather flowers for an event I seek to recreate this feeling that I had in that moment. I squeal with excitement when flower orders arrive at my doorstep. And I want to tell your tale while creating your bridal bouquet. It might sound a little deep but I can’t just cluster flowers together and call it a day. I’ve remade bouquets 4 and 5 times, until they’re accurately depicting the account of your celebration and worthy of being held in your hands. And sometimes that’s scary, sometimes I wonder where I’ll find the time or how I’ll ever conquer perfection but I know I have to start somewhere and my amazing clients are trusting me to take that first step.

So when I feel that pressure start to build up and that fear starts to creep in, I have to remind myself to take a step back, let the flowers do the talking and just create.

Photography: Heather Payne Photography

Real Weddings :: Abby & Jon :: Married in a Month

0 · Feb 2, 2015 ·

As I’m sitting here today watching the wind and drifting snow… and extremely grateful for my new weatherproof windows (!!), I can’t help but think back to the time of year when the anticipation of snow was high. I couldn’t wait for some white, fluffy frosting to cover our gray world that fall left behind. It was also during this time that I was wrapping up wedding season.

My youngest sister decided not to wait until May, her originally planned wedding goal, but rather she’d like to get married before the holiday season officially hit and so we set about planning a wedding in just about a month’s time. The first venue site visits happened October 25th and by the evening of November 22nd – Abby and Jon were celebrating the fact that they had just said “I do.”

Creating an overall mood and vision for a November wedding can be a bit tricky. While it’s still technically fall, our thoughts have started to shift to a holiday frame of mind. Venues are starting to be decorated, trees are trimmed and yet there are still crunchy leaves on the ground. So we created a vision that felt festive without screaming Christmas, we let the jewel tones of the historic Georgian mansion inspire us and let just let nature be our guild. You can see the inspiration here.

The bride (and groom’s) list of “must have’s”:

color
the bridal party wearing moccasins
simplicity
white lilies (her favorite flower)
chicken, cheesecake and dutch apple pie

With a little vintage, a touch of classic and a dash of boho chic, I present Abby & Jon’s wedding.

Real Weddings :: Tim & Christina, the Video

0 · Jan 28, 2015 ·

It’s hard to imagine condensing an entire wedding day into just over 3 minutes and yet Coastline Studios has done it with a perfection that captures the absolute heart of Tim and Christina’s relationship. This video transcribes every reason why I’m so in love with my job. It perfectly captures the true essence of marriage and what the relationship of man and wife and a Christ centered bond is all about. This couple and their families were such a joy to be around and made me fall in love with the wedding industry all over again. Every word of this is so heartfelt and sincere – I simply could not imagine a more perfect wedding day if I tried.

Dear Tim & Christina – thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a momentous occasion and what is sure to be the most treasured day of your life.

Fell in Love in Fishtown

0 · Jan 22, 2015 ·

Don’t you just love Northern Michigan? The Leelanau Peninsula is one of my absolute favorite places on earth. There’s something so quaint and simplistic about the area and yet it holds on to a sophisticated splendor that locals and travelers from near and far can appreciate. It’s no wonder that the beaches have received national recognition for their beauty and its bride’s love to plan their summer weddings there.

But life on the peninsula almost comes to a halt as soon as the first snowflakes begin to fall. The Fishtown shanties board up their rickety doors and the world becomes quiet. I think it’s a shame. The magic of the region doesn’t stop just because the weather turns colder. Last winter, Rachel of Sincerely, Ginger Weddings and I dared to dream about what it would be like to elope on the shores of Lake Michigan with ice and snow all around. We imaged the cool beach color palette paired against rustic touches. We loved the concept of freshwater nautical. We thought of the practical-ness of a toboggan serving as the getaway car (and a fabulous cake table!). We imaged what it might be like if the couple were to get ready together, the bride taking a moment to adjust his tie and place his handkerchief. It would be a vision all about the couple, about their romance and a place where love is enough to keep them warm.

We were also honored to have this inspiration shoot featured on Style Me Pretty earlier this month. You can see this feature here. Want to get married in Leland? No matter what the season, I’d love to help you plan it!

Featured :: Style Me Pretty Midwest

0 · Jan 12, 2015 ·

Last winter Rachel, of Sincerely Ginger Weddings, and I were inspired to create an inspiration shoot based on this scene.

We’re all so familiar with Lake Michigan’s summer views, but the winter is just a breathtaking. We thought about the soft lilac tones which subtly shift from periwinkle, to sky blue until they reach the boldness of a navy nighttime sky. Leland made the most perfect backdrop anyone could ask for and today you can see the shoot in it’s entirety on Style Me Pretty Midwest.

Enjoy!

A Modern Fairytale

0 · Dec 8, 2014 ·

It seems that every winter seems to get a little longer than the last and last year’s never wanted to end. So it came as so surprise that by the time March rolled around I was itching to get outside and do something creative. I wanted to celebrate new life, spring and tradition.

In the early morning dew, our story begins. It’s a love story, a sweet tale revolving around fantasy and the belief that we are in control of our own fairytales. As a modern twist, our bride left a simple note for her groom to meet her at dawn by the river where they will pledge their forevers to one another. So there she waits by candlelight for him to arrive. In the spring of the year, the dawn of the day, they make a new start together.

Mister charming himself arrives with an armful of wildflowers he stopped to pick along the way. A simple breakfast is eaten of fruit and a simple elegant, glittering cake. All details were to remain timeless and classic including a beautiful ballgown and other details in ivory, satin and lace – touches that never seem to go out of style and would be perfect for any magical setting, be it a grand ballroom, an enchanted forest or a storybook castle.

Photography: Heather Cisler Photography | Floral Design & Coordination: The Day’s Design | Calligraphy: Emilime Designs | Bridal Dress: Bianka Bridal | Cake: A Piece O’Cake

You can also see this inspiration shoot over on Artfully Wed, it was featured on their blog last month.

The Monday After

0 · Nov 24, 2014 ·

It’s often assumed that once the wedding is over, the role of a planner is finished. They’re married, everyone partied and now everyone has gone home. For me the day’s following an amazing celebration are a couple of the most dreaded. This is what your wedding planner does after the wedding.

Saturday night – CRASH!! The End.

Sunday – try to conquer the wedding hangover. The struggle is real, even if though this is a non-alcohol induced hangover. Every Sunday after a wedding I always feel like I’ve been hit with a Mack truck and am barely able to pull myself off the sofa. My feet are screaming, my head and body ache and my mind is a fuzzy cloud of blurry yet amazing details from the night before. So I patently wait for a couple of sneaks on social media from the night before and Instagram a few of my own, or at least get the posts ready for Monday since Sunday technically is the day of rest and I try to take the day off.

And then it’s Monday. Monday is definitely not a favorite day of the week for me, but the Monday after a wedding weekend is the absolute worse. First off, there’s the inbox to be tackled. Inevitably while I’m out Friday and Saturday in preparation and planning mode, I get more emails than ever before – new inquiries and networking request, some vendor love, etc. I’m so grateful for these, however the timing could just be a touch better. So scratch a couple hours out of my day for those. Then I need to write myself a to-do list, I’m bound to forget something and should probably have figured out my priorities before I started my day, but hey, late is better than never.

Then I should unpack. Ugh… I despise this part of my job. Without doubt, my Tahoe is always loaded to the brim with extra flowers, vases, dirty linens, an emergency kit and crates chucked full of wedding goodness and possibly a few rental items to be returned. I do not travel light. Once it’s hauled into my house, let the sorting, cleaning organizing and dragging to the basement begin.

Brew more coffee.

Determine what rentals need to be returned first thing. Stop my organizing because I totally missed something that must be returned by 5:00 and it’s probably nearing 3:30 at this point. Throw on some quick mascara and real pants (because I’ve not left my house yet and am still enjoying the comforts of my pj’s). Frantically rush out wondering what else I can do as long as I’m out in the world and dressed.

Upon my return I will be too exhausted to continue my organizing and forgo my project in favor of returning to my inbox and fixing Gretta a snack, since she will no-doubt be starving from our excursion, in which I had to drag her along. Stare at the rest of my non-sorted pile willing it to put itself away. Check social media for the 4^th time today making sure there isn’t a pro photo wondering around the web (or something else fabulous that I missed) from over the weekend.

Promise myself to accomplish more on Tuesday. Tomorrow is another day.

Speaking of things I missed over the weekend – my Modern Fairytale inspiration shoot (with Heather Cisler Photography, Bianka Bridal, Emilime Designs and A Piece O’Cake) was featured on Artfully Wed Friday. Go check it out, it was a double feature week – so exciting!

Happy Monday!!

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