Business Planning

Bloom the Workshop :: Recap

0 · Jul 14, 2014 ·

I used to think that learning should take place in school. I thought that to get a good education, you needed to attend a good school or college. At least that’s what was always preached to me, so why shouldn’t I believe it? I was taught that in order to succeed in life, you needed a bachelor’s degree and possibly more. And if you didn’t invest in your education, you were destine for failure.

My thinking has shifted away from what my 18 year old self once thought. I definitely had those “why do I need to know this?” moments in school, but for the most part just sucked it up and went to class every day believing that this is what would help me achieve my goals and get a good job. In fact, the thought never occurred to me that perhaps I could teach myself a thing or two, or I could learn from other business people or attend small workshops.

I now think that it’s determination more than anything that will help you succeed in life. I learned language skills, basic business principles and various other things in college which I’m sure impact me more than I realize. I believe that college teaches you how to interact in the “real world”. However pushing yourself and being open to new ideas and learning from one another is HUGE. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals and people who inspire you – you will absorb so much.

About a month ago I was able to play a small role in bringing Bloom the Workshop to West Michigan. I supplied some super pretty blooms and did a little behind the scenes work for Ashley and Michaela and helped bring their creative vision to life. They are the type of people I like to surround myself with. And the best part is, they want to inspire, they want to teach and they want to see you succeed. I was able to watch them teach 30 ladies about business, blogging, social media, styling, design, photography and life. And I left inspired. I wasn’t even an attendee!

So while I want to share with you some of the pretty that took place that day, I also want you to consider investing in yourself, your creative side and your business. There’s always something more to learn.

One of my favorite parts of the workshop was how interactive it was. Ashley and Michaela didn’t give give the attendees a bunch a information and send them on their merry ways, but they also planned a time to put that information and new skills to the test. The afternoon consisted of a styled shoot portion, which believe it or not, is a great way showcase work in many industries, not just the wedding inspiration shoots we’re so accustom to seeing. From styling papers to models to flowers and beyond, participants photographed and played with different designs, poses, locations and lighting.

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography / Styling: Michaela Noelle Designs / Floral Design: The Day’s Design / Venue: Hydrangea Blu Barn / Wedding Dresses: Bridal Gallery / Chalkboard signage: Add {Vintage} / Mugs: Ashley & Malone / Calligraphy: Jessica Albers / Tassel Garland: One Stylish Party / Place Setting & Chair Rentals: The Rental Company

Want to attend a creative workshop? Bloom is coming back to West Michigan this September and rumor has it registration opens tomorrow. More info here.

Wet Weather Weddings

0 · Jul 10, 2014 ·

If you’re planning an outdoor affair it’s likely that the thought of rain has crept into your mind. Or at least it probably should have. This summer seems to be extra wet, and while I love not having to water my garden and how my lawn is remaining green, it does stress me when it comes to wedding planning.

I’m guilty of saying “the show must go on” and just going for it – I can talk a big game. So we get a little wet, we’re not going to melt. Brides with umbrellas are cute. There are some fabulous opportunities for unique photos. I can look at the glass as half full, for sure.

And I simply adore outdoor parties.

The start of wedding season for The Day’s Design was a drizzly one despite the weatherman’s positive outlook on the day. In fact, we later found out that just a few miles away, they didn’t even receive a drop of rain. That’s crazy Michigan weather for you.

We stayed optimistic throughout the setting up process. We kept moving and utilized our tarps and other coverings. And we pulled though. But it wasn’t as easy as glamorous pictures are sure to show. The heat and humidity cause your clothing to simply stick to you. Papers were soggy and limp. My rain boots rubbed on my toes. There were bugs. And every time we thought the skies were clearing, fresh droplets were released from the clouds. How the bride remained staying so fresh and beautiful is beyond me.

I don’t share this to complain about the wedding day. I simply would like to point out the comfort or perhaps discomfort you and your guests might endure should you decide to move forward with an outdoor ceremony on a rainy day. I wish to express the importance of having a backup plan – although I do understand how hard it can be to utilize that, unless the day is calling for monsoon conditions. But grounds become muddy and even after the showers have stopped, the canopy of trees above us still produced sprinkles every time there was even the slightest breeze.

You should also consider the policies other vendors have regarding rain. Some equipment cannot get wet – cameras, sound systems, etc. And how will the rental company feel if their upholstered lounge seating is returned saturated? Are you risking damage deposits and extra fees? Are there wedding details you’re going to have to give up if the rain doesn’t let up?

Even with the weather, it was beautiful start to the summer 2014 wedding season– the way the light shown through mist in the woods that day was breathtaking. I can’t wait to share more peaks from Kelly Sweet Photography. And after seeing this picture, I’m not sure I would change a thing – including the weather forecast.

Team Flower Workshop :: The Bouquet

0 · Jul 8, 2014 ·

It’s funny looking back at my time in North Carolina. I felt like I was surrounded with beauty every single moment of the day, the number of flowers so easily accessible to us was slightly overwhelming and the gorgeous mountainside scenery really did steal your breathe away. Then I received the pictures back of my work and realized that I really only made two portfolio arrangements. But that was enough friends, they are two of my favorite pieces ever.

There was an entire day focused around personal flowers. From boutonnieres to bouquets to flower crowns, I love them all. I think we should make wearing fresh flowers a part of our everyday fashion, don’t you agree? By far, the bridal bouquet is always my favorite decor item of the wedding. It crosses the line of being an accessory and a decoration and is always by the bride’s side. It holds the most photographed flowers of the day and I want the bride to love it forever.

When creating a bridal bouquet, I often find myself standing in front of a mirror, envisioning myself in a white gown and carrying this lovely bunch of blooms. It was so fun to see that others do the same, there was a mirror available for just this purpose. I chose of of the most vibrant magenta peonies I have ever seen, along with a paler, tree peony friend and orange kumquats. This is was spoke to me and I built my bouquet around them adding smoke bush, mock orange and tulips. And the icing on the cake was the long, elegant, flowing silk ribbons that cascaded down from the flowers letting the colors live on a little longer.

And then we all climbed the largest hill (or mountain — not sure of the correct term here!) I have ever climbed, in the middle of a cow pasture, and handed our blooms off to the beautiful bride model Kelly had waiting for us. Even to watch the reaction on her face as she took the bouquet from my hand was enough to make my heart go pitter patter.

My legs burned and I may or may not have stepped in a cow pie, but it doesn’t matter because I would easily endure these “hardships” for any of my brides, sacrificing my own clothing for the most picture perfect moments, lighting and blooms. Because that’s what a wedding planner does – in that moment it’s not about me, it’s about making someone else’s wedding day dreams come true.

You can read more about the Team Flower Workshop in yesterday’s post here. All photos by Heather Payne Photography, they’re film and they’re amazing. But more on that later 😉

Team Flower Workshop :: Philosophy Flowers, Boone NC

0 · Jul 7, 2014 ·

It seems I’ve been on the road a lot lately — quick trips to Holland, wedding planning in Northport and Maple City and then the every day travels throughout Grand Rapids. And while I love traveling, sometimes it’s just good to be in the comfort of your own home office (where’s there’s actually internet and phone service readily available!)

But by far one of my favorite trips this spring was down to Boone, North Carolina where I had an unbelievably amazing flower experience with Kelly Perry, Heather Payne and so many lovely new flower friends. As crazy as it might sound, the experience was life changing. It brought on a whole new appreciation for my surroundings, love of nature and showed me what new bonds and friendships can be formed over something as simple as the love of flowers.

If you haven’t noticed already, beautiful blooms are becoming a much bigger part of The Day’s Design. I have teased myself with the idea that I could be a floral designer for years now, but I now know more than ever that I won’t be happy without a big bouquet in my hand. Flowers have surfaced emotions that I didn’t even know existed. And when I got these pictures back from the workshop, I cried. Ridiculous, right? Who cries over seeing their work on film? Apparently, I do.

So here’s just a glimpse of the magic that took place down in North Carolina this spring. There’s lots more loveliness coming and I’m sure this won’t be the last time you hear me reference my ‘new flower friends’ or the charming Kelly Perry.

Flowers: The Day’s Design / Photography: Heather Payne Photography / Backdrop: Kathryn Godwin

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you the bouquet I created for the workshop!

Preferred Vendor:: Once Wed

0 · Jun 27, 2014 ·

Oh my stars have I had some excitement happening over here! The last couple months have simply been amazing — from attending flower workshops to making flowers for Bloom the Workshop — I’m living on a beautiful high! Plus wedding season officially starts for The Day’s Design TOMORROW!!

As an added bonus (as if I needed something else to be excited about!), I met Lauren from Once Wed at Kelly Perry’s workshop and this sweet girl invited me to become part of the Once Wed preferred vendor guide. Eek.. how exciting is that!? So now it’s official and you can see my listing on their beautiful blog.

I would also recommend you check out my new flower friend’s gorgeous new business, Stone House Creative. I can’t wait to see the magic Lauren’s sure to create.

More Than A Face

0 · Jun 5, 2014 ·

Eleven years ago I graduated from high school. Sometimes it feels like that was a lifetime away, such distant memories of days gone by. And yet other times it feel like just yesterday I was being picked last in gym, not invited to the party and afraid to give a speech during class. Memories flood my mind of wandering the halls alone during lunch and people telling me that these were to be the best days of my life. Needless to say, that didn’t give me much hope for the future.

In case you didn’t perceive it from my previous paragraph, I was not a popular girl in high school. I didn’t have that charisma that just makes everyone want to be near you, I didn’t have the high end fashions and I was not athletic. On the other side of that, I wasn’t a complete dork either. It was as if I was just somewhere floating in between, always trying to figure out where I belonged.

I am sorry to say that this appears to be a lifelong battle. I’m still not one of the “cool” kids. The difference now is I have the confidence to be who I am. I’m secure in my standings and outlooks on life, family and faith. I am okay with choosing to hang out with my mom instead of going to a work party. Coworkers come and go, my mom has always been there.

Back in April Kellie (of Hetler Photography) approached me about a project she was working on and without a second thought I said yes, absolutely I wanted to be a part. She had put together an idea to encourage one another and spread love and belonging through the halls of West Michigan’s high schools. More Than a Face is a campaign near to not just her, but also my heart because I think as women – either young or old – we need to be reminded that there is more to us than just a face. We all have dreams, ambitions and goals. We’re each unique and special. Life would be pretty boring if we were all exactly like one another.

“Society tells us a hundred different ways that our value is on the outside. My face. My body. My outfits. My GPA.

At Hetler Photography {and myself included} we say Enough. We are more than what’s obvious. Look deeper. Each has her unique gifts, strengths, weaknesses. Her own REAL beauty.”

My role came in the form of creative assistance, styling, props and a few wardrobe suggestions. But no matter what these girls wore, they were going to be gorgeous because each one truly had a heart of gold.

So meet the girls of More Than A Face 2015.

Mackenzie:

This beautiful blonde attends West Ottawa High School and plans to study physical therapy in college. She also loves to shop and is dedicated to Young Life with a passion for teaching others about God’s love.

Alayna

She plays lacrosse, values her family and strives to stay true to herself. She seems like a pretty well rounded girl to me. And she’s also wearing her dad’s letterman jacket, how cool is that?

Hailie:

This Grandville girl understands the heart of the mission and is also a huge dose of fun! She loves to make people laugh, encourage others and she hopes to be a film producer someday.

Brianna

She posed the question “Why can’t everyone love everyone?” Hate has been in the world since the beginning but we are all responsible for our own actions, so spread as much love as possible. After high school her plans are to share some love in the fields of social work or criminal justice. What an inspiration!

Selena

Selena is living proof that you should never judge a book by its cover. While she may look like a girly girl, she might surprise you with a hunting trip and then turn around and win a hula hoop contest!

Jenna

Jenna claims to be a perfectionist and a slob all the at same time – I can totally get on board with that! She doesn’t have her life all figured out but she knows to put her value in Christ, He’s got a plan out there for you, He just hasn’t shared the whole thing with you yet.

Can I just say that being a girl is a ton of fun!?

Photography: Hetler Photography / Creative Assistance & Styling: The Day’s Design / Hair & Make-Up: Helena DeYoung Hair Outreach / Venue: Getty 4 Drive-In / Videography: Inspiration Video / Head Wraps: Pixel & Hank

You can read more about Kellie’s senior rep program and More Than a Face here and here. I highly recommend Kellie for all photo needs (and who knows, maybe I’ll even come along!) And to see more on this shoot around the web, just search #mtaf2015.

Inspiring a Brand

0 · May 13, 2014 ·

I want a brand inspired by the beautiful things that surround me every day. I love natural elements and think that nature provides the best color palettes. But it’s not just nature that surrounds me, its family, love, my home and those who I hold dear.

I love walking into a venue or space and feeling completely overwhelmed with its beauty – it can be a bank, a ballroom or a walk in the park. Inspiration is everywhere. I have an extremely hard time defining my style because I love it all! And personal details make my heart go pitter patter.

I was asked to pick 3 words to either describe my brand or how I’d like my brand to be perceived. However, this has truly proven to be a difficult task. I adore garden inspired parties with relaxed blooms and casual elegance. But black tie affairs with lush gowns and overflowing florals get me pretty geeked as well. And if you want to talk unique venues in urban spaces or lofty environments, well I can dive right into that conversation too! Modern, retro, vintage, woodsy & natural and yet classic? I can’t pick!

I do however, have some design staples or rules that seem to always apply to my events.

Include a natural element. Even super modern and clean events should include something from nature, just to soften and add some realness to the space and prevent it from feeling too stark. Some examples might be natural wood, leafy greens or even flowers. Burlap, bamboo and other natural fibers are also great choices.

A touch of black will add depth to the space. While not everything in my portfolio has something black in it, I do think this a good rule of thumb to remember. It doesn’t have to be something big, it can be as simple as the writing on your menus, but just that slight touch will add a little edginess to the overall design.

A girl can never have too much sparkle. Or maybe you can – sometimes less truly is more. But either way, I like to incorporate something shiny into all of my designs, I just can’t help myself! I think the contrast sequins or glitter provide against a raw and natural birch bark is amazing! And glitz kind of makes me weak at the knees! Isn’t this why we adore chandeliers hanging in trees so much??

And I’m a little bit fancy. I don’t really care much for mundane and ordinary things. So I add a pop of fancy and unexpected. While I definitely love my tattered and torn blue jeans, collection of heels is pretty rocking too. The two combined just make me saw “wow”.

Remember this shoot I put together last summer with Bradley James Photography? I tried to capture all of the above and while my style is in constant evolution, I think this does a pretty great job of telling my story.

Organized Chaos

0 · May 7, 2014 ·

Today my desk is filled with a miss matched jumble of design proposals, flower orders, coffee cups and parties all over my mind! Frankly, today is a struggle keeping it all straight. Ever wonder what it’s like being inside my mind? Just imagine 2,8xx Internet browsers tabs open all at the same time – only in paper form, scattered across my desk! (I’m sure you’ve heard that quote before, but there’s so much true behind it!!)

The real problem is, I have deadlines approaching for proposals, which I’m super excited about, but more presently on my mind is yesterday, when I had this amazing site visit at a barn venue that I just can’t stop thinking about. And then on top of that, this morning brought a chat with another venue for a project that’s going to be equally amazing. So I have random thoughts and ideas that I need to chase and then scribble down on the nearest pieces of paper possible (before I lose it), but then I tell myself to go back to my focus. And then I’m distracted with another thought – it’s a viscous, never ending cycle!

I tell myself that I live in organized chaos, or maybe it’s disorganized, who can even tell anymore?! But this is how I know I need to focus on the design portion of my job – because even though it may seem hectic, it also makes me feel alive. I am giddy when I get to work on design sketches and floral orders. And then making it all come together, well that’s like one big puzzle and I’ve always loved the challenge of an organizational puzzle!

Picture by Bradley James Photography

How to face this battle:

Focus (as much as humanly & creatively possible) on one project at a time. Clear your desk of all other distractions and notes. And when you finish with that one project, you then have my permission to move onto the next, and so on and so forth. There’s a great sense of accomplishment by scratching a finished piece off of your to-do list. So simply prioritize and move your way down the list. Sounds super easy, right?

Okay… I just had to pop in and give myself a little pep talk, now I’m back to work and going to try taking my own advice!!!

Flowers are Coming to The Day’s Design!!

0 · Apr 30, 2014 ·

I am so grateful and beyond excited for the opportunity to follow my PASSION for flowers and offer romantic, garden style blooms to my design services. This May, my travels will take me to North Carolina to attend Philosophy Flowers’s workshop where I hope to hone some of my floral skills. Flowers make me feel alive and I want to be surrounded by them as often as possible.

Flowers and design go hand in hand, so this seems like a natural step for me to take. It’s becoming a rather requested service of me. And you’ve no doubt seen my floral work throughout my website, in inspirations shoots and even at my own wedding. In fact, you may have thought this was a service I already offered, which it is, but on a very small scale. Putting together a few blooms for a birthday party, brunch or simply brighten someone’s day is a little different than creating a design with hundreds of flowers, moving pieces, aisle décor and centerpieces for a wedding.

So when it comes down to it, fear has held me back and I’ve been scared to book a whole wedding’s worth of floral. There are so many more details to consider than just hand-tying a few blooms together. And what if I fail? This is someone’s dream day that I would be crushing!

In light of this, right now my basement is being reworked, plans are being plotted and floral recipes are being created. If all goes well, full on large scale floral services will be officially be added to The Day’s Designs offerings soon… like really soon, I’m talking to brides about blooms this summer and fall! Eeekk… I’m so excited to actually be typing those words!

What does it mean for you, my current and future bridal clients? It means that you will have yet another resource for beautiful blooms. It means that the person designing and coordinating logistics with also be hands-on with florals and ideas can easily come from one person and one place, without having to communicate your vision over and over again to countless vendors. It also means one less vendor to worry about on your wedding day. However, you by no means HAVE to use my floral services. I know there are so many amazing florists out there, and if one of them strikes your fancy, I highly encourage you to work with them. No hard feelings, I want your day to represent you and make your vision come to life. I will also be taking on a limited number of floral only clients, so bring on the flower love!

I can’t wait to share more about my adventures of adding blooms!

Today’s Fairytale Inspiration | Model Call

0 · Apr 8, 2014 ·

If you haven’t noticed by now, I love doing styled photo shoots. They’re these creative fantasies that roam around in my head that absolutely must be set free. They provide a challenge, something to prove to myself that “I AM awesome” and “I can do that”. Yes, I give myself pep talks on a daily basis. It’s also a way to try new ideas, pair new items together and work with fabulous vendors. There’s a freedom of expression that I’m allowed, which real wedding don’t always provide. And if one of these new ideas doesn’t quite pan out, it wasn’t a real wedding and my improvisation skills have definitely been honed.

And then there’s also the fact that during slow seasons, I’m bursting. I HAVE to create something or I just think my brain might literally explode if I don’t get my hands on flowers and tablescapes!

So that’s my little segway into this next part… I am in need of a couple models. In my relentless journey to explore new lands, I am creating an inspiration shoot which will take place in exotic Owosso, MI, on April 22^nd. Heather Cisler and I are looking for a couple to play the roles of our fairytale prince and princess. Married, engaged, dating – your status doesn’t really matter, as long as you can look like you’re in love! This is going to be an uber romantic, early morning shoot but I promise to bring coffee and maybe even breakfast!

Interested in being a part? Email myself at hello@eventsbythedaysdesign.com or Heather at info@heathercislerphotography.com and feel free to send a picture because it’s always nice to put a face with the name. I can’t wait to hear from you!!

Photo by Heather Cisler Photography, naturally.

Planning Your Dreams

0 · Apr 7, 2014 ·

When I gave my business a name back in fall of 2011, I had this ridiculous notion that by somehow having a name and business cards, people would begin to take me seriously and business would just come to my doorstep. Ha… what was I thinking???

Fast forward 3 years now and I have such a greater understanding of business, life and dreams and how they’re all intertwined. Summer of 2012 was when I really began to put myself out there and make this dream my career and by fall 2012 it became abundantly clear that if I wanted to really make this work, I could no longer also work a full time job. Leap of faith = quit my full time job.

Now all of this is fine and dandy, I had a plan – a real life business plan, I had goals and a little bit of a path cleared out to make it happen. I even had a 5 year dream in place of where I’d really like my business to be.

However, if you never change anything, you’ll never grow and make these dreams a reality. It’s great to have a plan, but you also have to follow that plan. This is where I am now. I’m sitting here telling myself that eventually “this” is how I’d like my business to be. And eventually I’d like to add such-and-such additional services. It’s been over a year since I’ve been voicing thoughts and ideas out loud with no action to move forward. If I keep doing exactly what I’m doing right now, these ideas will never happen. Umm… reality check please!

Same rules apply for so many aspects of life. In your job, in your relationships and where you want life to take you. Sure there are unexpected bumps along the way, but if you never change anything in your present, how can you just expect that the future will be brighter? You have to work for something bigger. Set goals and accomplish things.

So it’s Monday and time for a fresh start. I’m pushing forward and going to MAKE my dreams come true! What are you doing today?

And the gorgeous blooms above were put together by yours truly and photographed by Ashley Slater Photography, thanks love!!

At the Heart of Business

0 · Apr 3, 2014 ·

There’s a line at the beginning of Dirty Dancing where Mr. Houseman is bragging a little about his daughters (if you’ve never watched Dirty Dancing – you can stop reading this right now, we are no longer friends!)

“My Baby is going to change the world”

“And what are you going to do?” (referring to Lisa)

“Oh Lisa is going to decorate it.”

Seems pretty shallow and materialistic, right? Baby is going into the Peace Corps, and Lisa will decorate. Sometimes I feel like Lisa. I sit around all day looking at pretty inspiration, flowers, dresses and linen samples. I dream up cake ideas and research invitations options. Am I simply feeding an attitude of discontentment and always wanting more? Am I contributing to this sour mindset that seems to drive the wedding industry causing people to spend insane amounts of money on ONE day? And does what I’m doing actually matter?

It’s the motivation behind what I do that actually matters. So yes, what I’m doing matters. But the key is not to lose focus on what makes you get out of bed each day, makes you talk to another bride and then add some gorgeous blooms to a vase. I am certainly not trying to get rich and I want people to be a peace with their spending decisions.

Meet Gretta. She’s the reason I need to pay the bills, work from home and find balance between wedding work and life.

Photo by Ashley Slater Photography

But even before she came into existence, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the wedding industry. So what’s so special about the wedding industry, you ask? Everything – it’s magic. As a little girl I dreamt up endless wedding scenarios for myself, purple flowers, sheer tents, little white chapels and dresses with puffy sleeves (hey, I’m a product of the 80’s!). My mother and aunts kept me surrounded by paint swatches, fabric samples and all things interior design. So naturally, creative energies surrounded me, they bring me home. There’s nothing wrong with adding beauty to your surroundings.

However, as I’ve grown, it’s also this concept of “home” that drives me. My family is amazing, crazy, but amazing. Not everyone gets to be a part of something like my family and I feel sad for them. If you’ve ever watched While You Were Sleeping, that crazy, overly involved, obnoxiously loud but always has each other’s back type family is the closest I can come to describing mine. This mashed up conversation totally hits home. So in the same way, I want to help create the start of family. I love being a part of the wedding celebration because it’s the beginning of something new, a new family, a new journey and it should be a happy (somewhat stress free) one. Being a part of that is awesome!

And after my own wedding, I knew the importance of my job even more. I was one stressed out, frazzled bride who was barely able to enjoy her wedding day. I simple cannot handle the thought of you making the same mistake. The beauty in the wedding day is the vows, love and commitment shared with family and friends.

It’s easy to become obsessed with the publicity, competition, Facebook fans and making each event better than the one before. But sometimes we need to step back, stop the comparison, and focus on what matters most. This is the heart of my business.

Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Coordinator

0 · Mar 18, 2014 ·

This scenario has replayed itself several times in the past couple weeks and I’m starting to see a little pattern here. First a perspective bride contacts me and asks about pricing, availability and general services and business information. We happily chat about her dream day and it looks like I might have a potential wedding to add to my lineup. Then she chats again with her venue and Venue Coordinator. It’s at this point that something happens and she decides that she does not want to move forward with booking my services.

While I know this isn’t new information to be found out there on Mr. Internet, I do think we need to gain a little perspective on this situation. It’s my unhappy guess that the venue coordinator ensured said bride that all off her needs will be met and that my services are not needed. Why do you need a wedding coordinator and a venue coordinator?

Before it get into this whole debate, I would first like to remind you that I NEVER want you to spend more than absolutely necessary for your wedding. Budgets are extremely close to my heart, and I understand that not hiring a planner can be a money saving move. Secondly, I have been both a venue coordinator and a boutique wedding coordinator – I just want to make you aware of my experience.

Photo by Eliza Jean Photography

Venue Coordinator:

At your wedding venue there is more than likely a person there with the title Event Planner or Wedding Coordinator. This person works for the venue. They manage every party, event and dinner that is hosted in their facility. They know common room layouts, timing in the kitchen and pretty much have your wedding down to assembly line science. They work with the chef, the bartenders and the service staff making sure that their facilities looks spic and span and service is top notch. This ensures that their venue looks great, receives rave reviews and you’re a happily married couple at the end of the night.

Now here’s where things get a little fuzzy. Each venue is a little different so this is a generalized statement (as is some of the above, since not all venues have their own in-house catering). When you meet with the venue for the very first time, most likely you toured the property/event space, asked lots of questions, were given a packet of information and perhaps even a list of preferred vendors. You were probably told that they’d help you set up {if they have time}, you can decorate the day before {if there isn’t another event booked}, and they will help with all aspects of the event – which you assumed to mean directing vendors, guests and completing set-up {if they’re scheduled to work during those arrival/set-up times}.

Here’s what they might not be telling you. Turnover in the hospitality industry is extremely high; the Venue Coordinator you originally booked with at your venue might not be the same Venue Coordinator that actually runs your event. Did all of your notes get transferred? And can the new coordinator make sense of them? Ask your Venue Coordinator if they’re actually on-site during the event. A surprising number do not actually work weekends and just leave notes in the hands of their Banquet Captains. Again, is the Banquet Captain provided with all the details about your wedding?

{Boutique} Wedding Coordinator:

There’s a sentence up there says “help with all aspects of the event” – but what it really should say is “help with all aspects of the event happening within their facility”. Because that’s the truth. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it’s simply stepping outside of their event space is not part of their job description.

The individual Wedding Coordinator that you hire is going to be your right hand man. True, how involved they actually get might vary depending on what you hired them for (day-of, partial or full planning, decorating, styling, etc.), but they work solely for you. Your Wedding Coordinator will help you with anything you need from the moment you get out of bed on your wedding day until the moment your head hits the pillow again as a married woman. If your transportation doesn’t arrive, she may jump in her Tahoe and go pick up the wedding party. If your photographer doesn’t show up, she’ll go to her list of contacts and find a backup, ASAP! You can go to your wedding coordinator with questions regarding timelines, etiquette, vendor referrals and difference of opinions with your new mother-in-law.

Another bonus? You can contact 1 person to make it happen! Your Wedding Coordinator can handle all of those various vendor relations for you. This means that you won’t have to type an email on your IPhone during your rehearsal dinner because there’s been a change of plans. Venue Coordinators don’t generally get that involved.

If you should happen to host your wedding a location that does not have a coordinator on-site at all then I dare say you NEED to hire someone. Leaving a rental company to show up at an empty space to set up chairs is a nightmare. Just expecting that the DJ or band will know where they should set up is asking too much. Oh the chaos guest could arrive and see!

My biggest piece of advice I can offer is to plan for the unexpected. Something WILL happen. Big or small, something that is not in your wedding plan is bound the take place. Having both a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Coordinator is like an insurance policy, two heads are defiantly better than one!

How to Run Your Business like a 4 Year Old

0 · Mar 3, 2014 ·

Last week I had the pleasure of my niece’s company. She’s four and it was a little challenging… okay, A LOT challenging. There were moments of laughter, annoyance and pure amazement, just wondering how her little innocent and overly imaginative mind works (to all you moms with 2+ kids, I applaud you).

And throughout her visit I began to wonder, what would it be like if I ran my business like a four year old?

First off, I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of me. I would do something simply because that’s how I want to do things, and it’s my way or the highway. She wears hairbows with her pajamas, walks around with a laundry basket on her head and is constantly delegating tasks to me (right, wrong or otherwise!) She dances to the beat of her own drum and just does what she loves. May she always stay true.

Additionally, I would not be scared to ask questions. Lots of them. Every five minutes. Knowledge is power friends. Sometimes I feel so scared to ask questions that I never learn what I truly need to know for fear of sounding dumb. But this is learning at its best – and yes, it can be over the top annoying at times but humor her (and humor your colleges, peers and associates – they’re only trying to better themselves). I think people can all learn from one another.

This little lady sings her own praises and tells me when she’s good at something. For me, this is tough. I’ve always been taught not to be boastful or brag. But if I don’t do any self promotion, then my talents will never be recognized. I can’t just expect people to want to hire me out of the blue without any prior knowledge of my creativity or if I’m not willing to share my strengths. The key here is to keep it humble and always keep in mind where your talents came from.

I would continue to fight for what I want. Without complete understanding of the age difference between her and Gretta (who is 15 months), she was constantly pushing Gretta forward, trying to get her to do what she wanted. And the same goes for the cat. Even though it was an uphill and hopeless battle, it never stopped her. She never saw the situation as impossible, it just meant that she had to try harder, explain herself better and possibly talk louder.

And there would be breaks for playtime. A time to rest is desperately needed. Give your head a break and let the creative process start all over again.

The world would constantly be filled with wonder. Comparison wouldn’t be a thief of my time. Life would remain fresh.

Never underestimate the power of stepping back and looking at the world through someone else’s eyes. You never know what you might see.

All photos of my adorable little niece are courtesy of Bradley James Photography. I simply never tire of their gorgeous work.

Focus on the Controllable

0 · Feb 21, 2014 ·

Life spins out of control pretty fast. Sometimes it seems like just stops and makes a complete 180 from where I thought it was initially headed. And the worst part? It’s completely out of my control!

There are so many factors and variables that I deal with on a day to day basis, that I really have no say in, that it can absolutely drive a person bonkers. Yup, I said it BONKERS!! Business and personal life included: the weather, my clients, no response from an email, that new event planner in town, the fact that it’s raining inside my house (yes, I’m still dealing with that!) I can’t take it anymore!!!!

Solution: focus on the controllable. It’s as simple as that. Why do we spend so much time stressing and worrying about things that we have absolutely, positively no power over?

So here we go, this is how it’s all going to relate:

In business:

I’m a business owner (if you were previously unaware of this, we have some catching up to do!). I cannot make brides choose certain packages or services. I cannot make them work with myself or any other vendor. I have no say in whether or not they even get married. I also cannot dictate how many others decide to set up shop and also become wedding planners in my market. There is no way to prevent them from snatching brides away from me, undercutting my pricing or even possessing more creative ability than I do.

What I can do is focus my marketing efforts towards to brides I want to attract. I can put my best foot forward and continue to live my dream and hope others will recognize and appreciate my talents. I can hand out lots of business cards and introduce myself to everyone I see.

In wedding planning:

Spoiler alert – something unexpected WILL happen at your wedding. Wedding planner or not, something will not go exactly as planned. It might be something minor, it might be a bigger deal. You cannot control the weather, your guests, traffic, illness and the hundreds of other variables that come into play.

However, you can hire a planner and professional vendors and try to cover all your bases. Make sure you have communicated your desires as much as possible. You can be aware of the weather report and have umbrellas on stand-by. Be smart about the vendors you hire, if they have horrible reviews or you don’t like them, you don’t have to work with them – even if they were recommended by a friend or relative.

In life:

Manage the manageable. Live one day, one moment at a time. Take nothing for granted. I don’t know if a hurricane is going to sweep through here tomorrow and blow my house down (with this crazy Michigan weather, it wouldn’t even surprise me!). But what I can do is prepare and make sure that I’m smart and I build my house of bricks, rather than straw. My dining room might be completely disheveled, but I can keep the rest of my house tidy, just to save a bit of sanity.

Here I go back to this old saying “Do what you can with what you have”. Make the best of the situations and resources you have right in front of you. I mean really, what more can you do? Oh, and take a deep breathe… one must not forget to breath and let life happen.

Have a great weekend! Weather permitting I’m skipping off to Traverse City to meet with a bride, yeehaw!!

PS – And to add a touch of romance, that lovely image up there was captured by Chelsea Seekell Photography for your viewing enjoyment. You can see the whole wedding here.

Steering Away from Negative Town

0 · Feb 3, 2014 ·

Last week was a burst of fun! I played in the snow with some gorgeous flowers and Heather Cisler (while also freezing my tushy off – there’s a fun little preview from her below). I traveled up north with my hubby and baby girl to meet my dear friend Rachel and we collaborated on a little project that makes me giddy all over! I was able to spend time with my Grandpa, meet some new vendors and have a lovely dinner with family and brunch with friends. Plus I put together even more flowers and I ate a donut with sprinkles… sound like the perfect week, right?

And then Sunday came. We had perfect weather for travel (which has not been easy to come by lately) and made a couple of stops to pick up ingredients to make a simple and yummy dinner while we watched the Super Bowl. That was the plan anyway. What actually happened is a whole other story. I opened the door to our home and immediately was greeted by the sound of dripping water. About two feet in front of me was a huge crack in my dining room ceiling which was leaking. Thankfully, it had managed to soak the rug beneath but no other furniture or flooring was damaged. Needless to say, our original plan for the night was shot.

Today I have a giant hole in our ceiling, where the wet and rotted drywall once sat. I also have 3 buckets, a ladder and a huge garbage can decorating my no longer functional dining room. And due to the odd layout of our house, this also means that our main entry is not usable either.

Oddly enough though, I woke up today in good spirits. The sun is shining and life will move on. Then I made the mistake of logging into Facebook. Negative comment, horrible status update, grumbles, complaints and other rants flooded my newsfeed. Yes it is Monday… we all may have the case of “the Mondays” however, move on! This just brings others down with you!!

Logging out. While I did not make any definite New Year’s resolutions this year, I did promise myself that I would steer away from anything that made me feel negative or poorly about myself. This might mean un-following certain people on social media, not comparing yourselves to others – either in personal or business situations, and trying oh-so hard to focus on the positive (like the fact that I’m going to have some amazing pictures to share with you really soon!)

When I feel these negative thoughts creep in I like to turn to writing. Sometimes this is where my encouraging blog posts stem from, I write them for me. Many of them also go unpublished, as at times it might be better if you didn’t know all of the crazy details running through my head. And then I play with flowers. Because who can be sad while playing with something so pretty?

There will be storms to survive. There will be mountains to climb. There will be battles to fight. We’re only in month two of 2014 and these worlds could not be truer. It can only get better from here – I say with lots of hope and anticipation for the future!

Happy Monday!!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it – The Day’s Design Shop

0 · Dec 9, 2013 ·

Drumroll please!! Huge day over here… my Etsy shop just opened!!! What? You have an Etsy shop? That’s right loves!! I’ve been teasing you with little bits about accessories, new things in the New Year and pictures of some gorgeous models and today is the day that I finally reveal what all this is about!

I started making hats and hairpieces, quite by accident really – a hidden talent I never knew I possessed, until one day I was roaming the aisles of Hobby Lobby (as I frequently do) and saw a giant, oversized artificial flower and thought “that’s not a flower, that’s a hat!” And so my journey began. I have found myself surrounded with even more tulle, lace and ribbon that usual and amazing people with breathtaking hairpieces along the way. Now these pieces will be available to you!

Each piece is completely unique and handmade by yours truly. The shop will feature lovely designs that I have dreamt up for your special occasion, but I’m always open to custom orders and ideas that are specific to your needs and events. Of course, I couldn’t just start making hats, I also had to throw a party!! So here’s just a little sample from my “Hats Off to the New Year” shoot put together with Hetler Photography and I promise to blog more about the whole celebration a little later. You can also see the feature over on Oh Lovely Day TODAY, eep!!

A huge thank you to Cheeky Strut for the perfectly glam hairstyles and to Jennifer Houseman for her amazing make-up talents!!

FAQ: What is Event Styling?

0 · Nov 22, 2013 ·

A couple weekends ago I was able to show my grandpa (who barely even knows what the internet is, much less how to actually use it), my website for the very first time. He has heard me talk about my photo shoots and weddings but never completely understood the extent of what I actually do. In his eyes, you just go to the church, stop and pick a couple flowers along the way and get married. Styling and coordination?? Not a concept he understood.

In addition, I showed him some of the pictures from my last project. After scrolling throw about 100 photos or so, he finally stopped and thoughtfully pointed to the girl on the left, “That girl, she looks just like they would have dressed in the 1930s.”

My point exactly. Someone had to style her to make that happen. Do you look at perfectly mismatched bridesmaids photos and wonder how that happened? How do they look so effortless, incredibly gorgeous and purposely placed, even though they don’t look the same? And then the flowers stand out flawlessly against all their dresses and the ribbons are the exact same hue? It all flows so completely seamless with the groomsmen attire, the invitations, tablecloths and gives off the perfect amount of causal glam? It’s because someone made that happen! Either professional or DIY, someone designed this wedding.

To put it simply, event styling or design, is interior design for your party. You hire an interior designer to pick out the perfect sofa and paint colors for your home, much the same, you hire an event designer to pick out the perfect pieces for your wedding.

What does it entail? Anything and everything pretty!! An event stylist will help you define your wedding vision, create an overall theme or inspiration board and help find all the elements to bring this vision to life. The exact process might be different for everyone, but I’ll share a little about what it’s like to work with me.

Depending upon when in the wedding process you hire me, things may vary a little, but here’s the gist. Together we’ll sit down and discuss your likes and dislikes, personal style and the overall feel you’re hoping your wedding will have. We’ll talk about inspiration and location. And then we’ll start shopping and designing! Some brides like me by their side the whole way, dress shopping, invitation selection and appointments with the pastry chefs. Other may have already picked out some of these elements or want to reserve special moments just for family. Either way works for me! I am kind of a personal shopping assistant. You’re looking for 12 pink vintage teacups? I’ll find them for you. Need 20 mercury glass vases in various sizes and shapes? I’m on it. Grey groomsmen’s suit with lavender bowties? Found it!

I’ll draw up a design plan, we’ll outline everything needed for your big day – from place cards to dessert displays – you can watch it all come to life. When it comes to setting up, no need to worry, I’ll oversee all those details while you are sitting back getting pampered and pretty.

Sounds amazing, right? I think so too! So let’s start planning your next pretty party!! (My grandpa thinks you should hire me – he’s impressed!!)

The above photo is by the fabulous Kellie of Hetler Photography and is from a super fun holiday shoot, which I can’t wait to share more of!!!

Model Call

0 · Oct 9, 2013 ·

Hi there – it’s been a whirlwind of activity over here and I’m so excited to share a few details regarding my next project! Kellie of Hetler Photography and I are teaming up again to create some beautiful holiday magic. I’ve got some new things up my sleeve and while I can’t share all those gorgeous details yet BUT I can tell you that this well definitely help you ACCESSORIZE for your next party! (Yes, that was a giant hint!)

So if you’d like a little sneak peek while also having a fabulous and fun time hanging with your girlfriends
YOU can be part, we’re looking for models.

Here are the details:

We are putting together a fun editorial styled shoot happening October 30^th. 4 female models would be perfect although we wouldn’t turn away a dapper gent or two, if they wanted to help out. All sizes and shapes are welcome, although I will need to know sizes in advance as we’re making wardrobe decisions. The shoot will take place in downtown Grand Rapids and will last most of the day, so please schedule accordingly. For more information or if you’d like to be a part email me (Shelby) at hello@eventsbythedaysdesign.com.

Grab your girlfriends and we’ll pour some bubbly! Cheers!!

Photo by Helter Photography from our last editorial shoot which is scheduled to be published next month!

Featured: Vendor Interview on Wedding Lovely

0 · Sep 17, 2013 ·

I started this week off with a lovely vendor feature over on the Wedding Lovely blog. Can I say, I’m just a little excited? It’s my first feature, just a little interview with yours truly, but it’s kind of fun to be in the spotlight for a minute, I’m not going to lie (even though normally I don’t really like to be the center of attention).

In case you missed it, you can read about me here. I’m going to share more of those lovely photos seen in the post soon, because that little shoot with Bradley James Photography was pretty darn fun!!

Hope you’re having a great week!

September Goals

0 · Sep 3, 2013 ·

September. The hum of lawn mowers and bees will soon be replaced by the crunching of leaves. The scent of honeysuckle swapped for pumpkin spice and the holidays are right around the corner. I usually await the start of fall with open arms.

I’m just not sure if I’m ready yet this year. Sure I can still hit the beach on a nice day, but somehow the mindset and mood is just a little different. You have to savor these last scarce nice days knowing that there are so few left. (And I love Lara Casey’s post about savoring September which you can read here.)

So how do you do that? To begin, I have a list of things that I WILL accomplish THIS MONTH. I’m really horrible at tackling my to-do lists, but I’ve made my goals very achievable and I’m going to stick to it!

September’s Goals:

1. Focus on what matters most

I have weekend plans with family, lots of space in my schedule to play with Gretta and some time to share with friends

2. Get Organized

My desk is a little chaotic with several projects in the works and finished projects needing to be filed.
My work space and house is also evolving as Gretta has suddenly become a bit more mobile… everything needs to move up, up, UP.

3. Wrap up loose ends

I have so many “someday” projects. You know, those things that you’ll get to someday – those pictures that need to be hung, that drawer that needs to be organized, the chair that needs to be refinished. So, I’m going to start room by room and complete those things, starting NOW.

I sat down last night and looked at my September planner and thought I was going to have a pretty quiet month, and then I realized I just hadn’t written anything down yet! Oops…!!!

Photo by Bradley James Photography

So cheers to lots of projects, lots of pretty and lots of accomplished goals!! Happy September!

One Year Ago

0 · Aug 26, 2013 ·

It was about this time last year that The Day’s Design became an “official” business (paperwork filed, DBA, tax IDs and all that un-fun stuff put in order). I was almost seven months pregnant and waiting to be called back into work after a short and temporary summer lay-off. Around this time I had high hopes and dreams about what this summer would bring, bustling around with numerous brides, designing away and getting ready to wrap up wedding season, all with my perfect little baby girl by my side.

Yup, life was to be just about perfect. My basement studio space would be shabby chic fabulousness and provide lots of space and organization. I would have the best of both worlds being able to work from home and not have to send Gretta to day care – not missing a single moment of her life. We could spend time playing together in the mornings and I’d stay busy crafting and creating while she peaceful slept each naptime.

Now we’ll fast forward to today. That studio space doesn’t even exist. Instead my basement looks like a moving truck full of décor exploded, with vases, tulle and supplies scattered in every direction, creating an obstacle course for me to maneuver through each time I need a new supply. My office has been relocated to the living room for convenience purposes and is haphazardly organized and accessorized by a baby gate. Miss Gretta is crawling nonstop, hardly allowing me to sit down and scribble down an idea or blog post, much less all the other pieces of owning a business I need to work on. Despite it all, this summer has been amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing.

But it does leave me wondering, why didn’t anyone point out to me how crazy I was starting a business now??? Shouldn’t my mother have told me I was getting in over my head? (Moms are supposed to warn you about stuff, right?) It probably wouldn’t have mattered much anyway, I was and still am super determined to make this work. It does work, just not in the same way that I had envisioned. But on that note, I have every intention to take the rest of this week off, savoring what little sliver of summer we have left organizing life before the onset of fall, and even sneaking up north for a couple days too!

So loves, have a great week and a happy Labor Day! I’ll talk to you next week!!

And also last year around this time I was busy designing my first photo shoot with Unikke Photography, as I prepared to launch my website. This is just one of the images we created together 🙂

It’s the Weekend!

0 · Aug 16, 2013 ·

Coming home after a few days away is like entering a whole new world of possibilities. Stepping away allows me to clear my head, refresh and refocus. We skipped town for a couple of days last weekend, purposely leaving my laptop cord behind, so we could soak up some sun and Lake Michigan air.

It was pretty chilly last weekend, so our plan didn’t pan out exactly as I’d hoped, but it was still great to get away. Tuesday morning when I stepping back into my office, I didn’t even know where to start… I was simply bursting at the seams with inspiration! It’s one of those times where I have so many ideas, trying to figure out how to get them all out of your head and onto paper, somewhat organized and making sense of it all seems nearly impossible. And the ideas are so scattered, multiple events with various components can leave to an overload of creativity, but I love it! This is what I thrive on 🙂

So this week my desk has been covered with random sketches tossed every which way, I have been elbows deep in piles of tulle, lace, feathers and Swarovski crystals and unpacking my suitcase has been shoved way down low on my priority list!

To some people a strong work ethic includes spending extra hours away from home, not taking vacations and having zero family time – they’re married to their work. For me, its understanding that some time away can lead to new possibilities, more creativity and a healthier overall perspective on life. So please excuse the mess… this busy mama has work to do!

Happy Friday friends!!

For more glimpses of what I’ve been up to, follow in Instagram!

Fear: Part 2

0 · Aug 8, 2013 ·

Just a little recap from earlier in this story, I was feeling a nudge to leave my comfortable job and to spend more time with my family, while focusing more on what matters in life. I acted on that, but perhaps I stepped in the wrong direction… (for more, read part 1 here.)

It seemed everywhere I turned there were signs pointing me in another direction. That spring and summer our pastor preached countless sermons on taking leaps of faith, and not just being contented but also fulfilled in life. I cannot remember the entire message, but one Sunday in particular he spoke about the ABC’s:

A – We get super excited about something new. We are absolutely on fire and cannot wait for our journey to begin.

B – The road becomes a bit more difficult. Challenges arise and the journey seems too long. We cannot see the end of our path.

It’s at this point that many people turn back. They look for a new point A, a new beginning. Inevitably, difficulties will arise again (point B) and so the search for another A also begins and it’s a vicious cycle of never seeing anything through.

C – However, point C brings the fruits of our labor. If we can just push through those difficult times, we can reap the rewards and be fired up once more. The message was aimed right at me, I knew it to the depths of my soul. Point A was over so I left my job and now in my new job had gone through A and B, but it didn’t even seem worth continuing on to C. And I was paralyzed by fear.

So much fear. I didn’t know what I was doing. I had this idea to start my own event design and planning company for years now, but it was such a distant daydream. It was just a hobby, people don’t support their families doing stuff like this! And did I mention, I was pregnant?

And then Pastor Brian said something else: are you willing to fail for God? Wow.

I cannot say that my next actions made any sense at all. I began researching all the wedding planning businesses in the area (and there are A LOT). The market seemed like it was becoming saturated. I couldn’t figure out if this was a smart move in business. But I began writing a business plan anyway.

I have made many of my first moves in fear. I have never been an outgoing person and I hate being the center of attention. I have reached out to other vendors and tried to live reminding myself that they can’t say anything more than “no.” But “no” is a scary word. It gets you questioning everything you do, wondering if you’re good enough, smart enough and talented enough. I keep me reminding myself that I am enough (and if you need a reminder about that, I highly encourage you to read this post by my good friend Kellie – who I would not have met without having started this “scary” business).

I am a control freak and I like to have all my ducks in a row, with a perfect plan in place before I start anything (I’m an event planner, remember??). I am fearful of starting anything without first knowing exactly where I’m going and exactly how I’m going to get there. But lately I feel like I’ve been feeling another nudge…

Countless people in the wedding industry lately have been posting tidbits about anxiety and how “done” is better than perfect. “A year from now, what will you wish you had started today?” Quotes about fear and rejection have been popping up all over my Facebook and Instagram feeds. I’ve already of made a couple of mistakes and wish I would have done some things differently in this little baby business of mine, and I don’t like that feeling. I think it’s that icky feeling that’s holding me back.

What are these feelings holding me back from and where is this nudge leading? Don’t worry, I’m not leaving The Day’s Design, I love this business that I have created, I just have the notion that it could be more. There are more services to offer and more opportunities awaiting, but am I ready for them?

As you read this, I know what you’re thinking, “You felt like you needed to make and different and do something that matters and you chose wedding planning??” It’s okay, I had that moment too! But a wedding is a huge deal! It’s so much more than just a pretty celebration; it’s a recognition of a commitment, not only between man and wife but a commitment to God. I want to be a part of that! I want to utilize the talents He has given me. I want to help create a beautiful start to the rest of each couple’s lives.

So what’s next for The Day’s Design? A step forward. I need my grandma’s faith in me. I need faith in myself. And most of all, I need to have faith in God. I must overcome fear.

The above print and quote is from Lara Casey, such an amazing woman and inspiration. You can find it here.

Business Planning

Footer

Instagram