Wedding Planning & Advice

How to Create a Blushy Mauve & Blue Celebration

0 · Mar 5, 2020 ·

Colors I’m seeing a lot of this year aren’t too far off from what I’ve been working with in previous years. Still lots of blush, which seems to morph a little more into mauve and blue. Lots and lots of blue. Now living by the lakeshore, I’m not sure that blues will ever completely fade away. And I’m completely okay with that.

Obviously there are hundreds of different ways to go about using these colors. Bridesmaids dresses, table clothes, napkins, ribbons, soft seating, flowers… the list goes on. Often I think one of the biggest struggles when trying to piece together the various parts of your event decor is understanding what’s actually available from shops or rental places near you. We see lots of inspiration image floating around in magazines and online, but sometimes it’s just one tabletop or dinner party being shown. Figuring out how to recreate that on a larger scale, when you have 20 guest tables can be a bit more challenging. It might look really cool to have a bunch of handmade custom vases from a local artist on the table (and I completely support shopping local!) but at $25-75 each or more, that’s not always easily achievable for an entire celebration.

The other challenge is knowing how to balance the colors. How to make it make it feel like a peaceful, serene and utterly romantic wedding day (which is how I personally percieve this color comb0) rather than just splashing these 3 colors in every which direction. Chosing an item simply because it fits with your color scheme isn’t always the best idea. Things can start to feel polka-dotted or overwhelming… and planning a wedding is overwhelming enough!

My goal is to show off pieces in my inventory, or available from companies that I regularly work with, to bring the event vision to life.

We’re starting with a pastel or neutral linen. I’m suggesting a patterned one, but not too bold. Then pairing it with a simple white napkin. Depending upon how busy the reception space is, you could replicate this look on all the tables or even invert the design, creating some tablescapes with solid linens and using the patterened napkins. Overall though, I love the look of a textured or slightly patterned linen and the way it enhances the overall look of the reception. If I had to place a first place vote, it would be using this patterened linen that says blush, but also leans mauve. It’s a little classic without being old school The texture is classy and earthy all at the same time.

Vases and vessels are not always the statement pieces of a room. But for this look, I’m suggesting using a bold navy and slate tones which will add in the blue to our color scheme. The blue glass vases will give a classic, timeless appeal but pairing them with the slate blue ceramic ones will give it a modern edge. Of course this only translates to budvases in my personal inventory, I’d most likey just use a simple white or gold vessel for my more classic compote style centerepieces.

Next I want to layer in modern gold flatware, for a couple reasons. First off, I love the way it ties in with the gold on the navy glass vases. Secondly, gold flatware always feels fresh, like an extra layer of thought was put into the place settings, but not in an overly fussy way because it’s functional. Functional details don’t feel over extravegant because they are necessary. You have to use plates and flatware, you might as well make them beautiful.

Now that we have our table base, let’s talk flowers. I want fluffy romance. Lots of texture pairs well with this in soft tones. Fresh whites with kisses of mauve and blush.

If we want to explore the color use into attire, let’s use a little blush and a little navy. Yes, we’ve seen it before but that doesn’t make it any else beautiful.

wedding party photograph: Kelly Sweet Photography

From ballroom, tent to barn… this color palette is so transitional. I hope you love it as much as I do!

5 Flowers for the Month of Janauary

0 · Jan 15, 2020 ·

The landscape is grey and white. There’s billowing snow all around. Perhaps you can see a few evergreens or some of last summer’s weeds still poking up through the snow, but beyond that, January is a pretty barren month here in Northern Michigan.

But thankfully, there are still flowers growing in other parts of the world. Flowers that can quickly bring a little bright spot into our day or remind us that warmer months will return. In truth, January is when the flower markets really seem to jump to life – Japanese and Dutch products show up with some of the most unusual colors and shapes. The year I went to New York and visited the flower markets in January was unbelievable, I should have planned better because I simply wanted to try and buy them all.

Back to today, and the flowers I have in my studio right now. I’ve chosen 5 that I’m loving at the moment, sticking a little more to the basics, and hopefully inspiring any of you who might find yourselves in a creative rut or perhaps scared to plan any events in the winter months because “there aren’t any flowers this time of year”.

Spray White Allium

A truly white flower against a strong green stem, this bulbs begin showing up in the wholesale markets around this time of year and are available throughout most of the spring. The full flower is about 2-3 inches in diameter and covered in clusters of smaller flowers. I love these as fun accent flowers giving some lacey texture to an arrangement, or I’ve also incorporated the smaller, individual flowers into wrist corsages and other wearable flower pieces.

Dried Bougainvillea

I’ve coveted these little blooms in other designer’s work for years. I see it growing up fences and charming stone buildings. But, it’s not available in Michigan and does not have the tolerance for shipping, until now. This delicate little guy has been dried and is now the perfect little textural tidbit for an arrangement. The shape of the flower and overall look when placed in an arrangment is similar to a sweet pea, but we don’t have to worry about freezing them in the chilly January air and the color is more creamy, rather than a true crisp white. It warms up a winter arrangement, while still complimenting the landscape outside.

Hellebores

Also referred to as a Lenton Rose, these little guys are one of the first ones to spring to life in the garden. I’ve heard of them popping up and blooming through the snow, although I’ve personally never had that experience in my own garden. They are a great winter flower option though, not only because of the season, but also the subtle color they add to an arrangement. They’re mainly found in shades of pink, purple, green and white. The a single bloom usually contains more that one hue, creating a natural ombre effect and I simply love any flower that won’t define itself as just one color. Second bonus point for this little bloom, the colors are usually more on the antique scale which will appeal to those of us who like color, but not when it’s loudly screaming in your face.

Kochia

This is a new one to me, I saw it on my wholesaler’s list and thought I’d give it a try. I loved the texture and silvery color. Silvery green foliages are extremely popular, definately in the winter months, but really the entire year through. I’m always on the lookout for new ones to replace the ever popular dusty miller which everyone seems to love, but I personally have very little luck with. This is more delicate and textural adding just a touch of silver to an arrangement and making a really great, sturdy and linear, frosty option.

Quicksand Rose

My favorite of the standard roses, the quicksand rose. She’s hardy, dependable and opens up beautifully. She’s the perfect neutral, blending with pinks, white, beige and more golden hued flowers. Its the subtle way that she takes control of an arrangment that really makes me love her even more. She’s popular any time of year, although her availablity becomes a little more scarce during the summer months, due to the high demand.

This list could have carried on for awhile, but for now, those are 5 of my favorites. I’ll be sharing how I combined them into an arrangement and a tablescape later this month. Plus if you recieve my newsletter, you’ll get bonus content including an exact flower recipe and video. If you’re not on that list, you can joing HERE.

Happy Flowering!

Living Coral

0 · Jan 23, 2019 ·

Last month, Pantone announced the 2019 color of the year – living coral. Prior to starting my career in the wedding industry, I had never heard of such a thing. I always knew there were trends in colors for home decor, weddings, etc. but had never know that there was a force out there announcing and dictating the “it color” for each year.

In years past, we’ve seen colors like serenity (pale blue) and rose quartz, greenery and marsala. Pale blue and blush have been extremely popular in wedding work and also in home decor. I remember the following season after serenity and rose quartz were announced, Target launched a gorgeous new line of goods in these shades and somehow made me covet having a pink house. Although that’s a combo that really must be tackled carefully, otherwise you’ll think you’re at a gender reveal party. We all know that greens and greenery have been huge, I’ve had numerous weddings that have forgone bloom in favor of their leafy partners and faux greens and emerald has made an appearance in home decor with oodles of succulents and planters and some more boho, earthy greenhouse vibes being right on trend.

So historically, this announcement of the color of the year does matter. Does it mean that every wedding we see from here until 2020 is going to be coral? No. Does it mean that salmon and apricot hues are going to take over our living rooms? No. But I still think it’s going to impact what we see happening around us.

On that note, I want to share a few of the ways I’ve used this vibrant hue (or a variation of it) in the past. Keep in mind that color is subjective and that a single bloom can vary in shade and vibrance dramtically, so these are all flowers that are in the apricot, peachy, salmony, sherbert, watermelon, terra cotta and general coral color story. Each season has it’s own start blooms, so I’ll divide them up that way.

Winter

The giant ranunculus were the stars of these photos with poppies coming in a really close second for being my favorite salmon/peach/coral winter flower.

The above are a mix of professional and candid photos. Professional imagery by Gabby H. Photography and Hetler Photography.

Spring

Not pictured, coral charm peonies which are amazing in the spring but I barely get to use them. The ranunculus stick around until spring and I love adding some greenhouse finds like hanging fuschias and coral bell foliages.

The above are a mix of professional and candid photos. Professional imagery by Arielle Peters Photography and Kelly Sweet Photography.

Summer

Those dahlias are from Summer Dreams Farm in Oxford, Michigan and they’re simply the best! Romantic Antike roses are availible pretty much all year but I love them even more in the summer when I can source them from sources grown in the United States rather than importing them.

The above are a mix of professional and candid photos. Professional imagery by Cassie Rosch Photography, Cory Weber Photography and Emily Jane Photography.

Autumn

I just love the way that coral blends with all the yummy autumn foliages, making the leaves themselves almost appear pink. Distant drum roses (I source mine from Grace Rose Farm) have such a unique color combo and pick up the colors around them making them the perfect delicate bloom to mix in.

Professional imagery above from Kelly Sweet Photography and Samantha James Photography

Is there more coral ahead this year? I haven’t had many requests yet by name, but none of these weddings really specified they wanted coral specifically in their palette either. It just happens to be a versitle tone that adds a little does of cheer to any bouquet, no matter what the season.

All floral arrangements were created by Shelby of The Day’s Design (that’s me!). See more of my work here.

How to Carry a Bridal Bouquet

2 · Jul 18, 2018 ·

So many of my posts here are born out of a rant. Things that drive me crazy with weddings, décor or the world. This one is no exception. Because there is something graceful and romantic about the way flowers should linger in a bride’s arms. They should be held gingerly and with love. They are an accessory to the overall attire of a bride and a focal point in one’s bridal portraits. When I am presented with inspiration photos or a stunning bouquet captures my attention online, the flowers definitely do a lot of speaking but it’s not only that, it’s the way it’s held, photographed and treasured. So when I see my flowers (which are my art – my heart and soul has gone into designing each and every piece) captured in an unfavorable manor I am immediately hit with a wave of sadness, wishing I could be the stylist on each and every wedding day making sure every detail is perfect.

Since that’s not a realistic option and most people aren’t quite as dramatic about their blooms as I tend to be, I’m simply going to share my word of advice here, lending some guidance. I always want the flowers to look incredible in person, but when your wedding day is over, the memories will eventually fade and your pictures are what you have left to reminisce upon. So let’s make sure that they’re every bit as amazing as your real life memories.

Stems Tucked in Towards the Body

First things first, make sure stems are tucked in towards the body and the faces of the flowers are facing out.

In the above picture, the bouquet is being held vertically, so the stems are parallel to the body. While this doesn’t make the photo “ugly”, it could be so much better because this isn’t the angle that the bouquet was designed to face.

Above our model simply tipped the bouquet forward bringing to flowers to the of attention. The stems are tucked in closer to her body. My bouquets are intensionally created with very short stems, making this much easier to accomplish.

Make Sure the Ribbon is Over You Hands

Long trailing silk ribbons are really popular right now. I love some of the hand-dyed options, like this one from Silk and Willow. However, I’m saddened when the beauty of these ribbons is hidden behind the bride’s fingers. Most times, I’m fairly certain that it’s unintentional, however I want to point it out just the same.

See how our model’s hands are crinkling the bow and blocking the ribbons? Below I’ll share a few ways that we still photographed the bride’s ring, but also capture the ribbons and flowers in a more favorable position.

Let the ribbon loosly flow over your fingers, showing off is delicate nature.

Play with Different Positions to Hold it In

I know I contradict myself often when I talk about flowers. I have been known to mention taking really good care of your bouquet, making sure it’s handled gently and given lots of water throughout the wedding day. I think this puts people in a panic, like they can’t set it down and touch any part of it besides the stems. Flowers are delicate and parishable, but they can handle being used a little. So don’t be afraid to really “hold onto” your bouquet. And here are some of my favorite ways to do so.

I love this one because the bouquet is slightly tipped to the side, with the stems still hidden. It gives a a different vantage point and elongates the lines of the bouquet.

Here the bouquet is completely vertical, almost making it appear as though it’s a cascading bouquet.

Resting the bouquet on your hip, either in front of you or behind you is a really comfortable way to hold the flowers during your portraits and gives the pictures interest making them seem artsy, but not unnatural.

I love the nonchalant feeling of the bouquet being tossed over the bride’s shoulder. It especially gorgeous here because it’s almost hard to see where her bouquet ends and her hairpiece starts.

No matter how you choose to hold your bouquet, my biggest take aways from this post are hide the stems – you’re paying for flowers! Show off your gorgeous ribbons and do what feels comfortable.

Three Wishes Inspired by Venues

0 · Feb 7, 2018 ·

I’m still holding firm that if you put good wishes out into the world, good things will come your way. Or at least it can’t hurt.

I had starting this three wishes series as a way for me to get inspired and share those inspirations with you. I have lots of wishes, most of which will never come true, and that’s perfectly alright. It’s still fun to dream. Lately, however, I’ve felt completely uninspired. I’m not sure if it’s winter that seems to be bearing down on us or the fact that I haven’t made a bridal bouquet since October. Sometimes I think it’s really hard to stay inspired when we’re all just hunkered down on the sofa, wrapped in blankets and simply hoping that I won’t have to leave the house today. This is the time that I begin to dream of faraway places…

….and places that are a little less distant, where I might really like to work and design events.

Greencrest Manor

This French Normandy style mansion, with it’s trailing ivy and extensive gardens has captured my imagination. I had the opportunity to be a part of the Bloom Workshop hosted there last September and am hoping that someone gives me the chance to return.

This venue really hits all of my favorite marks. It has a grand staircase that’s enough to take one’s breathe away. It’s overflowing with early 20^th century woodwork, tile and charms. The gardens and the architecture look like something from the European countryside and I’m in disbelief that such a place actually exists here in my own state. It was such a brief time spent at this venue, I’m just hoping I have the good fortune soon to go back and bring with my buckets of flowers galore.

From Bloom the Workshop | Photography by Stephanie Abbitt Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design

The Old Art Building

On a slightly less grand scale is the Old Art Building. If you’ve been reading this journal for any length of time at all, then you probably already know why my heart is drawn to this quaint little spot on the Carp River. From the outside, it’s manicured lawn and cottage charm are enough to stop right there. But then, you step in the door and feel the rush of decades of artists pouring their souls into the place. the scaling windows and stone fireplace add just the perfect blend of ambiance and natural light. The softly whitewashed walls splattered with old paint, each spill telling a tale of it’s own, this might just be my favorite part.

My own wedding reception took place in the space. I couldn’t imagine and more perfect location. However, I have yet to have the occasion to work another event there. I have stopped in and even hosted a editorial styled shoot in the space, all while yearning to design another real wedding in this space.

Foreign Destinations

There are so many places outside of my home state to explore, and I am eager to embrace them all. I’ve traveled with buckets and blooms in tow before and would love to do it again. I’m seeking adventure and know there are so many places that I have yet to experience. From the mountains of the Carolinas to the old world charms of Europe, I’d love to plan an event at a Southern plantation or travel half way around the world to explore the flower markets of France.

If you’re planning a destination wedding, hiring a local florist can be a great benefit – they know the area, what’s available and most likely have their routine down pat. However, bringing in a fresh set of eyes, someone whose style you know and trust, can bring a fresh new life to the space. It can give you a peace of mind and a comfort from home. I was recently chatting with a bride who reminded me of such a great point, a point that I know but sometimes as you’re in the flow of business and chugging along you forget some of your ‘selling points’. She says (I’m paraphrasing a little here), she doesn’t want to hire a florist for her wedding that was sort of close to her style and ask them to step outside of their norm, creating something they were uncomfortable with but what more fitting with her vision. She’d rather hire someone from an outside area, that she’s 100% confident in their style and work. Makes sense, right?

Not every designer out there has the itch to travel or will work outside of a certain range of their studio space. But many will, myself included.

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

What venues are you dreaming of? Where do you want to travel to? And how is your wedding planning coming along? I still have openings for 2018 and am starting to book 2019 dates as well. Let’s chat.

Marriage Study :: 5 Stages of Love

0 · Jan 22, 2018 ·

I recently learned that one of my brides is getting divorced. I my first reaction was very judgmental, I felt like they must have just given up. They were only married for 2 years, how could they possibly think that was long enough to even try to give their marriage a fair try?

Of course I don’t know the day to day happenings in their lives, what arguments or situations may have lead them to this point. It is certainly wrong of me to judge. I’m not living in their shoes. But I was raised and stand by the belief that divorce simply is not an option. However, persistence is.

If you Google the 5 Stages of Love – you’ll find article after article detailing the 5 phases that relationships cycle through. These certainly aren’t original thoughts of mine but I can’t help but wonder if others knew more about these stages and knew what to expect as their live together merge, that maybe this would help as trouble is certain to arise.

Falling in Love

This seems easy. Everything is bliss and butterflies and seems like the most exciting part of a relationship. Everything is new and fresh and we aren’t annoyed by quirky habits. There’s a hormonal rush and passion is alive. It’s a feeling that we’re sure will last forever and we cannot imagine living without the other person.

I can still remember the night that I first realized I loved my husband. It was a night spent at my apartment, just the two of us talking about our hopes and dreams and what we wanted out of life. We had been dating for a few months and it was like a scene from a romantic movie – the moment that two characters look deeply into each other’s eyes and they just know. The reason we watch those types of movies is because sometimes they’re true or at least we hope they are. I spent years searching for this moment. Life can really be a fairytale, right?

Becoming a Couple

Most people wed during the falling in love stage, so it’s during the first couple years of marriage that they truly become a couple. Lives are merged and two truly become one.

Other couples date a little longer and might “become a couple” might actually take place prior to the wedding. When exactly this phase of love happens isn’t important, what is important is the trust and comfort that’s found in this relationship. There’s security and a deeper sense of who each other is.

After two years of dating, we got married. We purchased and home and moved in together. We began blending everything. Our collage décor, mismatched dishes, routines and schedules. There’s much that happens during this time. And I blissfully thought that this was going to be amazing. I finally had a house of we could call home, after 7 years of living on my own, moving from boring apartment to apartment, now we’d have something that we could remodel and make ours. I thought this would be a great bonding experience and something we’d be proud of, because it would be ours.

Disillusionment

This stage was unexpected for me. I have a feeling it might hit a few others as a surprise as well. In fact, when I Googled the 5 Stages of Love caption after caption appeared about couples getting stuck on Stage 3. I can absolutely see this happening.

Apparently this is when it all comes crashing down. One might start questioning everything, does he love me? Did I marry the right man? Why isn’t he talking to me? What did I do? These feelings might slowly start creeping in or perhaps a switch just flips in your relationship.

For us, this was about year 4-5 in marriage. I don’t really remember why it started or what made me start to question everything about my marriage. What I do remember is the numbness and so many tears. I remember feeling as though I simply had a roommate. I felt underappreciated and stuck. While we fought some, sometimes it was more of a lack of communication that drained me. We would only say what absolutely had to be communicated and nothing more. We now had a daughter, and there was talk of having another but I was terrified. We were now a family, shouldn’t we be happy? I never really thought that quitting was an option, but I was exhausted and desperately wanted to feel better. I thought the rest of my life might be summed up by simply tolerating each other rather than actually feeling love.

5 Stages of Love | The Day's Dream Journal | Cory Weber Photography

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

Real Love

Keep pushing on. That’s what we did. One day we connected, and a switch flipped in our relationship. Suddenly, we felt really connected and dare I say, happy? For us, I can literally pin point 1 day in July when the disillusionment ended and I felt love again. That’s not to say that I still don’t have days when I’m less than enchanted by my husband, but there’s a peace that’s within me knowing that we can make it through anything.

Sometimes I’m saddened by the fact that I know I’ll never feel the excitement of a new relationship again. But having a real love is totally worth never feeling those flutters again. And that’s not to say that I don’t still get excited by my husband, there’s still fun, surprises and excitement – sometimes it just takes a little extra work to keep things new.

Commited Love that Changes the World

I can’t comment much on this stage, I don’t think we’re here. I would say our relationship is comfortably sitting in stage 4 right now. However using your love to change the world sounds like a pretty amazing idea. Not that I think we can change the entire world, but perhaps we should think on a smaller, more local scale. How can we help our community? How can we work together for the greater good?

Here’s what I don’t know. I don’t know what’s on the road ahead for us. Part of me feels like we’ve got a lot of married life ahead of us. While I think we’ve finally figured out how to work together and we’re in a really good place, I think there could possibly be another dose of stage 3 that creeps in. But I know we can work through it and come out stronger on the other side. I certainly don’t expect it to be smooth sailing from this point on. I’m realistic enough to know that we’re two separate people with two separate identities trying to do life together, so at some point there’s bound to be conflict.

My words of caution – know that stage 3 WILL come and be prepared. But you CAN preserve. Of course it’s scary, not knowing when or where it will start or how it will end. But we need to build each other up and encourage one another. Have a good support system and be committed to working through your struggles knowing that a love even better waits on the other side.

for more reading, some here are some of my sources for this article – menalive, david wolfe and this one outlines the stages slightly different, yet the main point is still the same love at first fight

6 Wedding Trends on the Horizon for 2018

0 · Dec 28, 2017 ·

I’m still in awe of the fact that there are only 3 days left in 2017. So naturally, my mind has starting reflecting on the past year and thinking ahead to 2018. There’s something so refreshing about January, I feel like it’s full of possibility and its own sense of wonder and sparkle. By February, I’ll be singing the winter blues, but right now, I’m feeling hopeful for the New Year and thinking of things to come, which includes upcoming wedding trends.

Now with that being said, I’m not going to try to predict the future. I don’t have a crystal ball and I very much believe that couples should aim to host weddings that truly represent their relationship with one another and their own unique style. Nevertheless, there are always certain elements of décor and in the planning process that I find myself recreating over and over again throughout the season.

Based on clients I have booked for the year and conversations I’ve had with future brides, this is what I think we’ll see in 2018. I might be completely off base with my ideas, I purposefully have not read another blog’s décor or wedding trends predictions and so these are just 100% my gut instincts (maybe we’ll circle back at the end of the year and see how I did!)

1. Bye Bye Blush

Since 2014, blush had been the number one color referenced by brides. While I don’t believe that it’s going to leave us entirely, I am hearing talk about mauves, plums and other purple tones. There’s lots of talk about neutrals stills, but they seem to be less specific in tone and more concerned about an overall feeling or mood which leaves room for layering and lots of rich colors.

Blush Wedding Flowers | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

2. Hello Purple

I actually starting writing this post before Pantone announced the color of the year will be Ultra Violet. So I’m feeling really confident in my prediction that we’ll see those hues that I mentioned in my first trend alert. However, I personally will steer away from such a shockingly bright tone and stick with the more calming end of the spectrum, keeping lavenders, periwinkles and soft purples with lots of depth and color variations in my work.

Plum Weddings | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

3. Greenery will be King

The past couple years have I have incorporated conspicuous amounts of greenery into my designs and it seems like this trend is continuing on. It’s such an impactful way to bring the outdoors into your space. However, I would love to work on some fresh takes with you, thinking beyond just greenery runners.

Greenery Wedding Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

4. Focus on the Experience

More than focusing on the décor or specifics of the event, more and more I find couples focusing on making sure that the overall experience of the day is thoughtful and full of celebration. It’s more about creating an environment that will welcome, a flow that makes sense for both the couple, family and wedding guests and just making sure everyone has a great time, is their #1 priority for the day.

The Wedding Experience | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

5. Incorporating Elements from the Past

I’ve heard so much about vintage weddings in the past 5 years. Anything from china to mismatched mason jars and rustic “junk” have all become really sought after items for your wedding day. Last year I feel like I finally saw a shift away from that and I think it will continue. Now that’s not saying that rustic is “out” or we won’t see any more vintage weddings. I think we’ll still see lots of elements from the past.

However, I imagine that there will be a shift in the way that they’ll be incorporated. I find that many brides, and people in general, like to add a sense of nostalgia and tradition to their celebrations. Because of that, I think we’ll see traditions and vintage pieces incorporated in much more meaningful and subtle ways. Wax seals instantly take you to eras gone by. Grandma’s necklace to wear on your wedding day. Heirloom ring boxes (like the one belove, which I’m completely obsessed with). Wine and whisky barrels and chippy accents will still be used, but paired with modern and tasteful items that do a better job of representing a couple’s personal style. What I think is disappearing is the blanket phrase that I once heard so many brides say, “I’m having a vintage wedding”. But we’ll definitely be keeping a few timeless pieces from the past.

Vintage Ring Box | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

6. Focus on Simplicity

I feel a minimalist movement approaching. It’s in life, schedules, belongings and it’s going to seep into our wedding work as well. I predict lots of white space, arrangements that are open enough to “let a bird fly through” (a little phrase I picked up from my time at Little Flower School) and focusing on the details that will really be appreciated. I don’t think that texture and organic designs are leaving, I think they were simply opened the doorway to a more minimized wedding attitude. This more modern approach can be translated into a variety of venues and wedding styles, color useage will be key, and I like the idea of lofts and open, blank canvases and of course keeping nature at the forefront of my inspiration.

Minimal Wedding Design | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

I’m really excited to see all that the coming year has in store for weddings and I have still have openings for both floral only and design/planning clients so if you’re planning a 2018 celebration, let’s chat!

Three Wishes Inspired by Wedding Design

0 · Oct 18, 2017 ·

Sometimes I think we need to put our ideas on paper, share them with the universe and hope that maybe someday our wishes will come true. For me, these wishes come in many forms but today I’m thinking mainly of the wedding schemes and designs that I have in my head that no one has let me create for them yet.

I’m going to share these ideas – brides you better not steal them and hire another designer, I will be crushed! I’m sharing these ideas to inspire, get us all out of our creative comfort zones and to think about the world of weddings in a way beyond what Pinterest has to offer.

September’s Patina

You know that gritty, aqua and seafoam shade that real copper begins to take on as is gets better with age? It’s one of my favorite concepts that I’ve ever wanted to design an event around and I’ve been inspired by it for years now and no one has let me bring this vision of mine to life. I want to use raw and organic textures, shimming copper and old antiqued treasures together. I want to make seafoam napkins pop in contrast to almost orange foliage and garden roses with autumn leaves. I envision textured linens with the earthy fragrance of fall in the air. I could build an entire idea around copper foliage and yellowing leaves, omitting the burgundy and blush tones that we’ve seen so much in current autumn trends. If I were to get married again, right now in the fall, this is how I would make it happen.

Organic Stripes

I love stripes. I think they’re bold yet timeless. They’re crisp and clean and yet can be whimsical and create amazing movement in a design. I’ve rarely come across a striped piece furniture or fabric that didn’t make me stop and linger for a least a minute, so just think of the impression if could have on your guests? I also love things that provide lots of contrast and make audacious statements. So not only do I want to do a striped wedding, but I want to do one with extremely organic and loose florals. I want sticks and twigs incorporated into the design to add more lines, making it geometrical, but in nature’s true form. I see doing all of this with a muted palette, lots of earthy, tone and tone hues of oatmeal, charcoal and then maybe pulling a more saturated pop of color from the venue or the natural surroundings of the day.

Above I used some stripes in a tablescape I designed for Shoot Simply Workshop with Emilee Mae Photography, but I’d love to use them in an actual wedding design.

Queen Anne’s Dance

Last august I was so inspired by the fields and fields of Queen Anne’s lace that took over the landscape. I love each delicate blossom and the bounty of blooms was unbelievable. They’re so whimsical and I see them so often incorporated into rustic events as a secondary or accent flower, but I want to design a wedding or perhaps even just a photo shoot, with this being the only flower. I see rows of them gracefully dancing down an aisle border. Little flower frogs atop long guests tables with clusters of lacy blooms. I could even see trying to create some sort of white and fluffy hanging installation to drape over the bride and groom’s heads. Again, I’m seeking contrast so I want to take Queen Anne away from her rustic, countryside roots and do all of this in a modern, loft type setting, maybe even throwing in some ghost chairs or other acrylic accents.

Those are three ideas that have been on my mind lately. I thought it could inspire you or maybe even encourage you to let me design your wedding?? This is going to be a new series of posts that I start, 3 wishes – whether they’re venues, flowers, vendors… or just other ideas that I can’t seem to get out of my mind. Maybe someone else is secretly holding onto this same wish.

Wheat Toned Wedding :: The Inspiration

0 · Oct 16, 2017 ·

Every wedding day begins with a plan. I make my plans visual, summing it up on one page in hopes to capture the full picture that is in my mind. I always start with this this summery or mood board. This sets the tone and gives us a grounded place keeping our planning on track, especially in this creative industry when our minds can begin to wonder.

For this wedding, we took cues from the scenery around us. There were fields of wheat and grasses, autumn was showing her true glory and the venue was overflowing with rustic charm. Shelby and Paul wanted a casual, outdoor autumn experience. The palette was to be kept very neutral with touches of oat grass, wheat, cotton, autumn foliage and fruit lining the tables’ cotton table runners.

I put this mood board together before ever having visited the venue. When I arrived for my first site visit, I was in complete awe of how special Misty Farms really was and couldn’t wait to dig deeper into the design plan. The barns were from the 19th century. If nothing else, that would make me week in the knees. Farmers have been living off of and loving this land for decades and it’s beauty is unscathed. Even better, when I got the album back from the Ashley, there were more scenery pictures than I’ve ever seen her present me with before, meaning I wasn’t the only one that saw that wonder of this autumn day and I hope many more eyes will appriciate the charm of this area for generartions to come.

I get butterflies in my stomach just looking at these landscape photos so please excuse me if you think these photos are in excess but I simply cannot help myself. I can practically hear the leaves crunching and the smell the fresh frangrance of earthy autumn. I will share their entire wedding later this week so you can see how our mood board translated into real life, and personal and one of a kind experience designed specifically for Shelby and Paul.

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Venue: Misty Farms in Ann Arbor | Wedding & Floral Design: The Day’s Design

More of their gorgeous autumn day coming soon!

Justine & Devin :: The Inspiration

0 · Aug 15, 2017 ·

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared an inspiration board on here. It’s not because I haven’t been creating them, because I certainly have. They’re an amazing tool to help keep your planning on track. Sometimes the process of wedding planning can become so overwhelming and there are so many ideas out there, and directions that decor and styles can take and after a year or more of preparation for your big day, the final results can deviate so much for where you orginally wanted to be – this can be either really good or bad. I like to think of these as modern magazine clippings all compiled onto a one page summary of your day.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

On the other hand, Justine and Devin were engaged in May and wed in August (you can see their super romantic proposal story here). It was quick, and there was very little room for debating all the various design options. So we created a mood board to help set the stage and made sure that everything stayed on track with the initial concept. If something felt out of place with this “summary” their wedding day, then it was vetod and we moved on.

There’s a beautiful ballroom in downtown Flint that would play host to the day. It has thick white trim, orginal early 1900s grey and white tiled floors, marble accents and gold chairs. This was our canvas for creating. The next layer of design was the bride’s desire to add dusty blue touches and glittering sequin bridesmaids gowns. Elegant and glamorous where key discriptive words, and since she’s my sister I know her sense of style pretty well, which meant I also knew we needed to add in some frills and girly charms.

This is the condensed version of our design, as the actual design plan went on for 5 pages detailing every aspect of their glittering wedding day. There was much focus on flowers and end results were too good for words and I’ll be sharing the entire day soon.

Image sources (top to bottom, left to right): Photography: Heather Payne Photography, Bouquet: Philosophy Flowers via Team Flower Instagram | Quicksand Roses | White Majolika Roses | Gold Chiavari Chair | Helga Piaget Roses via Peterkort Roses | Photography: Heather Payne Photography, Floral Design: Philosophy Flowers via Team Flower Instagram | Minted Invitations | Faith Roses | via ModWedding

You can also see an expanded Pinterest board that helped inspire their celebration here. The results of their beautiful wedding are coming soon!

3 Tips for a Successful Marriage

0 · Jul 25, 2017 ·

Last month Josh and I celebrated 7 years of marriage. I was asked what the secret is. I don’t really think there’s a secret to making a marriage last but if I had to sum it up, I might use words like stubbornness or persistence. You have to refuse to give up, even when the going gets tough.

Before we were married, we did premarital counseling. In all the wedding planning blogs and timelines and lists of things to do after you become engaged, this little step rarely makes the list. Someday I’d really like to expand upon this subject, because it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. In the meantime, there are three things that I remember our counselor telling us to do regularly to increase our chances of a successful marriage.

Tips for a Successful Marriagen | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

Listen for 20 Minutes a Day

20 minutes of uninterrupted conversation per day is essential. It’s also nearly impossible and anyone with kids will agree. We don’t sit there with a stopwatch or anything, but we both make a point to listen to one another and share what’s on our minds each day. Communication is key to success.

Date Once a Week

7 years ago I remember thinking what an easy concept this sounded like. Once a week, we go out or stay in or do something together. Put the phones away and just spend some quality time. But through the years, it’s gotten much harder. We have busy schedules, he works full time and has passions on the side, I own a business, we have two kids under the age of 5, babysitters are expensive and often hard to come by, there are home improvement projects in the works and the list goes on.

For us, date night often is the equivalent of putting the girls to bed a half hour early and then eating dinner together, just the two of us. We might watch a movie or play games, we rarely even leave the house for our dates anymore. But that’s what works for us. And we might not actually do this once a week, but we do try to make some sort of an effort on this front. Scheduling it ahead of time so we have something to look forward to is also really helpful.

Get Away Once a Month

The last piece of this quality time equation requires you as a couple to disconnect from the outside world for 24 hours. Whether it’s an overnight stay out of town or you send the kids to grandma’s for the day, our counselor recommended planning a getaway once a month. This one is by far the hardest and we rarely follow this suggestion. We have our nights away from the girls here and there and definitely take advantage as much as possible, but we don’t’ stick to this rule. However, it think it’s still worth mentioning and maybe someday we’ll be able to get back on track with this tidbit of advice.

If you didn’t notice the pattern, spending quality time and communication is key. A marriage can’t thrive without meaningful interaction and understanding, along with the persistence to stick to these guidelines and never give up on one another. While I’m certainly not an expert on the subject, I think if your partner always remains a top priority, your chances of success are greatly increased.

How Hiring a Wedding Planner is like Having Your Very Own Chef

0 · Jun 7, 2017 ·

You can plan a wedding without a wedding planner. You can even do it without a designer or day of coordinator. As someone who does this for a living, I will tell you that you don’t have to hire someone like myself to have an amazing wedding experience. But until your wedding day actually approaches, I think it’s hard to understand the difference between the various levels of planning services and how much value they really do add to your day.

I am married to a chef. I also have many years of experience working in various restaurant environments prior to starting my career in the wedding industry. And I like to eat. So food analogies come pretty natural to me and there are some excellent parallels between hiring a professional chef and hiring a wedding planner. Though the scale of events is much different, my hope is to help you compare and grasp a greater understanding the services you’re hiring out or deciding to do on your own for your wedding through the following illustration.

In this scenario, instead of a wedding, we’re going to pretend you’re planning a dinner party. There will be an elaborate 5 courses to the meal and we want them all to be special and delicious. Think magazine worthy spread. Our end goal is for you to serve a fabulous feast that’s timely and perfectly presented, all while still acting as host and enjoying the pleasure of your guests’ company. The only problem is, you’re never planned a menu like this before and while you love food, you consider yourself an amateur gourmand, at best. The idea of writing or finding recipes and sourcing the right ingredients is daunting, not to mention having to prepare your home and set the table, while also getting yourself ready. In order to make all of these things happen, there are a couple different routes you can take to make this a vibrant, fun and delicious party.

Let’s start with the easiest route, you can hire a professional chef who has done this before. Based on your preferences, this chef will create recipes, go shopping, source ingredients, prepare said ingredients, know the appropriate cook times, place all the food on plates and make the presentation picture perfect for your guests. He and his team will do the dishes and clean up at the end of the night and probably take care of about 20 other tasks pertaining to the meal that you’ll never know about. As host, you’re able to focus on pampering yourself pre-party, and on your guests during the evening. Just like that, you’ve hosted a fabulous party which you were actually able to enjoy. This is similar to hiring a full service wedding planner. We’ll help you take care of it all, eliminating stress and allowing you to focus on the most important detail of the day, the person you’re marrying.

Secondly, you can hire someone to assist with part of the meal planning. Perhaps you have some great ideas and know you want to serve Nana’s famous banana cream pie. The chef may provide you with some of his professional recipes and offer menu suggestions, but it’s up to you to do much of the prep work. Sourcing the ingredients falls under your jurisdiction and if you can’t find a specific item, you may have to make a substitution and hope everything will turn out okay. Prior to the party, you’ll be the one shopping, chopping vegetables, marinating the meat and baking Nana’s pie. The chef will come in and prepare the evening’s meal using the ingredients you’ve prepped. Chef has guided you through the process and you’ve used mainly his recipes, but outcomes might not be exactly as either of you had intended since things could have been interpreted slightly different. These “different” results aren’t necessarily better or worse, just not exactly how the chef would have envisioned, but it’s your party and your happiness if the most important final result. In the same way, if you hire a wedding planner for only partial planning services, they’ll assist you in creating an action plan and recipe, but it’s up to the bride or groom to actually source those ingredients (or vendors). Guidance is available but clients are tackling and problem solving more details on their own. On wedding day, the planner is there to make sure everything comes together as smoothly as possible and there’s a happily married couple at the end of the night.

Or maybe you have some great recipes and consider yourself a pretty darn good cook. You even have a couple of friends who have offered to lend a hand with some of the party preparations. But there’s still the realization that you could use some professional help the day of because you do want to enjoy the party and be present with your guests. So hiring a chef to come and cook the food on event day seems like the best option. The chef is working strictly from your recipes and instructions, mixed with a little of his own intuition. As with the other scenarios, problems surely will arise. Perhaps you forgot to buy salt or way over bought fixings and now have enough asparagus to eat for the next 2 weeks straight. My husband can pull 5 random ingredients from the fridge and put together an awesome meal. However, not all chefs are that creative and able to make impromptu substitutions to make that meal a success. When you hire a day of coordinator, this is the role you’re asking the planner to assume. The coordinator is responsible for carrying out someone else’s planning, organization and vision with very little beforehand knowledge. This is often a risky approach but it can work great when all the right pieces are put into place.

Finally, you could choose not to hire help. If you’ve hosted a large dinner party recently, then you can appreciate how much time and planning it takes to make everything just right. You also might have felt like you spent more time in the kitchen than with your guests. When you act as host and guest of honor, it adds an extra level of busy to the event. You’ll be the go-to person in case of any problems that might arise, you’ll feel very intimately involved in the party and all you’ve accomplished and you (or your family) will also find yourself as part of the cleanup crew upon the evening’s conclusion. It’s a balancing act that may or may not be the right choice for you. This holds true for wedding planning as well. On the wedding day, things may go really smoothly, or you may feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions, barely able to enjoy the celebration – much less mingle and spend time with your guests and the love of your life.

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Calligraphy: Silver Fox Calligraphy | Florals/Design: The Day’s Design

Much like there are so many amazing foods in the world, there are so many extremely talent wedding vendors to choose from to make up your recipe. Having a little inside knowledge about who pairs well together or will best compliment your style is priceless. However, if you’re someone who loves to be in the kitchen, maybe hiring full service help isn’t for you. At the end of the day, it’s your wedding and you know your guests and yourself best. Have fun and remember you’re marrying the love of your life and that’s the most important outcome of any wedding celebration.

Hotel Walloon

0 · Mar 29, 2017 ·

Last month I had the opportunity to visit Hotel Walloon for the first time. I’ve heard whispers about this magical little village, nestled between Petoskey and Boyne City, it’s a destination for summer dreams. We were greeted with snow squalls. But the charm and hospitality that waited just beyond the front door instantly warmed us.

I love classic homes and architecture and all the details that fill a space with a sense of nostalgia. I would choose to live in an early 1900s crumbling bungalow over a shiny new mansion any day of the week. I look for details that make a place feel authentic and remind us of day’s gone by. When I stepped inside Hotel Walloon for the first time, I thought I was walking into a renovated little piece of history. Aftern chatting with the general manager, I was absolutely shocked to find that the hotel is less than two years old. It was filled with endless amenities but also the little touches that make a space feel loved. The patina on the bar mirror, the elaborate craftsmanship in the woodwork that will surely stand the test of time and the tin look of the ceiling tiles.

Hotel Walloon Bar

My phone is filled with pictures of the baseboards, the ceilings, the bead board, the shiplap, the perfectly brass hardware and Italian chandeliers. I could gush about the flawless décor for at least a few more paragraphs. But beyond the beauty of a space, when I visit a destination I like to feel welcomed. I have a background in hospitality and I know all about “wowing” your guests and the customer experience. I have an unfortunate tendency to be overly critical when it comes to how I’m treated by the hospitality staff at a venue, hotel or dining establishment. But here, I cannot find anything to be improved upon.

From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted with a warm fire and European style check in. Appetizers, cookies, coffee and treats were made readily available throughout the day. Fine chocolates were placed on our pillows each night and a guest was left wanting nothing. There’s naught more I could ever want from a hotel stay. It wasn’t just the hotel itself, but the people that made you feel so welcomed.

Hotel Walloon Lobby

Hotel Walloon Staircase

Their event coordinator, Allison, was gracious enough to give us a tour of the entire space and this has now become my dream wedding location. I’d like to add it to my venue bucket list and I know it would be the perfect setting for the most perfect nuptials. Just imagine, renting out the entire 32 room hotel – filling the space with your most loved family and friends. A ceremony could be held on their lawn overlooking the shimmering blue waters of Walloon Lake. And then dancing the night away on a patio beneath the stars. I’m still dreaming of a humble 2 night get away in the dead of winter with my husband. A wedding warmed by the summer sun surrounded by all of those whom I hold dear would be better than any fairytale I’ve ever been told.

Hotel Walloon Patio

I still have a few openings for floral design and full wedding planning for 2017 and am beginning to book 2018 weddings as well. If you’re thinking of married at Hotel Walloon (or anywhere in Northern Michigan) we should talk!

An Ode to Calligraphy

0 · Jan 25, 2017 ·

I’ve had dreams of many creative ventures. Some of them are fleeting, romantic notions and others have lead me to where I am today. Often I like to bite off more than I can chew, telling myself that I am more creatively adept than my natural abilities truly reflect.

It came to my attention that earlier this week we recognized national handwriting day. My first thought, “What a silly thing to celebrate”. But then I realized that this was a really beautiful thing to pay tribute to. This in my book, is a slightly more important than national donut day (which I can also easily get onboard with) or even some of the “Hallmark holidays”. This is history, art and the written language. This should be held in high regards.

Cursive writing has always fascinated me. Growing up, we had a close family friend who had the most stunning penmanship. Just to see her writing my name got me ridiculously excited. And she wrote this way every single day. It was so natural for her. I think this was probably the starting block for my love of beautiful writing.

For years I tried to emulate her talents. I’ve doodle and played with different forms of the same letter for much of my life. I used to write my name over and over and over again just to see how I could make it more striking.

Since I entered the wedding industry, my awareness of calligraphy and its beautiful form of art have been at the forefront of my mind. It makes me incredibly happy when a bride seeks out a gorgeous calligrapher for her invitations and designs. There’s a level of elegance and a timeless air that greets each guest. And romance soars.

So back to me dreaming of many creative ventures, one talent that I was convinced for a while I could someday possess is calligraphy. I have fairly decent handwriting, I love flourishes and modern scripts and somehow I convinced myself that calligraphy couldn’t really be that hard. After countless Youtube lessons, a mini session with the fabulous Molly Jacques (through Bloom the Workshop) and lots of smeared ink, I have finally concluded that I’ll leave this to the experts.

Photography: A shley Slater Photography | Invitations Suite & Calligraphy: Graceline Calligraphy | Styling: The Day’s Design

But doesn’t necessarily mean you need to do the same, I am forever going to be an advocate of handwritten addresses, even if so many invitation companies are now offering printing services free of charge. There’s something soothing about tracing a pencil across a crisp piece of white paper that typing cannot begin to compare. Curate your own pen and even if only for the sake of proper communication, learn how to write legibly. Sometimes it’s the smallest touches that add the most pleasure and let others know that you truly care. I think my friend Ciarra at Silver Fox Calligraphy says it best,

“To me, calligraphy should not be about what etiquette dictates, or what will make your stationary seem luxurious. It is about adding a beautiful thoughtful touch, to add soul to your stationary”.

The above invitation was from Jarvie & Hank’s Lake Leelanau wedding, you can see the entire celebration here.

Jarvie & Hank :: The Inspiration

0 · Jan 5, 2017 ·

Greenery, calligraphy, winery. The three key words that best describe the wedding day of Jarvie and Hank – which will be in my journal tomorrow. But before I share the wedding in its entirety, I’d like to give a little behind the scenes of what went into the planning and design of the day.

Lake Leelanau Wedding | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

Jarvie is very clean and classic. She’s elegant and has a sophisticated yet fun air about her. The couple resides in Chicago, but have Michigan roots as far north as the U.P. Decorative elements that were really important we lots of fresh greenery (she loves garlands), beautiful and soft calligraphy and simplicity.

We wanted it to feel very classic and not too rustic, even though part of the day would take place near Aurora Cellar’s farm house. But the farmhouse itself has a very modern and almost minimalistic feel with amazing lighting inside, so it blended all of the various concepts we had in our head quite well. It gave accommodations for sleeping and getting ready, it was a perfect backdrop for cocktail hour and the entire day could be located on the same property without guests tiring of the same scenery.

Below you’ll find the mood board that we used to start pulling together some of the visuals of the design. You’ll notice when I publish the entire wedding tomorrow, that we didn’t copy any one of these details, but rather used them as a guide and inspiration. This gave us an anchor point and when we started to get a little overwhelmed by options, we could always fall back and see what best fit our original vision.

Working with what the venue already provided was a perfect starting point. Harvest tables, white lawn chairs and bistro lighting were all included in the rental. These are bonus items that made us love the space even more. But Jarvie really wasn’t a fan of extremely long tables in perfect little rows as it doesn’t encourage conversation. So we got creative and came up with a floorplan that ensured that no two tables would be pushed end to end and all of her guests could easily mingle. Simple white plates were topped with textured eggshell napkins to add contrast against the dark tabletops and very subtly layer in another shade of ivory and white.

The main tasting room has a Tuscan feel, and while it wasn’t a direct host of the wedding day, it did host the rehearsal dinner and guests would be passing by it. To tie in both this Tuscan and farmhouse setting, we added white ceramic and terra cotta pots for the centerpieces and cake table. And tried to pull in other touches that would feel like an authentic Italian vineyard with olive branches and grapevine used throughout the design.

And of course flowers are always my favorite part of the décor. June in Northern Michigan means local peony season and one simply can’t go wrong with a big, beautiful peony. But as we were focusing on that vineyard, Tuscan, and even slightly Napa vibe – I wanted to bring in some California grown garden roses. And they were so pretty, multiple heads on one branch, the slightest hints of butter and blush and then a few blossoms in the perfect shade of a ballet slipper. So many textures and ruffles. A few accents of olive branch and bay leaf were added and then we foraged local grapevine (not from the vineyard!) and the rest of our foliage was native to the area.

I mentioned Jarvie’s love of garlands and in a perfect world, she would have loved to see lush greenery lining the entire length of each 8 foot harvest table. However, they also wanted a family style meal. Meal service of this style means that lots of plates need to be placed on the table and your table scape needs to be able to accommodate this. So we opted for 3 smaller floral centerpieces that could easily be moved slightly when platters were placed on the table. We added her greens in other places, on her ceremony arbor, draping on the bars and into the rehearsal dinner décor.

Classic Greenery & Blush Mood Board | The Day's Design

Image Sources (top to bottom, left to right): unknown | Photography: Melanie Duerkopp Photography via Joy Proctor | Photography: Abby Jiu Photography, Cake: The Boutique Bakeshop via Weddings Unveiled Magazine | via Woman Getting Married | via ModWedding | Photography: Pasha Belman Photography, Floral Design: Blossom Events via Southern Weddings | Invitation: Meagan Tidwell

The entire day was very intentional and well thought out. It was beautiful and we could not have asked for dreamier weather. And Jarvie and Hank – they’re such a handsome couple who I wish much happiness for all the years to come.

Should Friends be Vendors at Your Wedding?

0 · Dec 6, 2016 ·

I’m having flashbacks to the time that was a wedding planner, floral designer, did 4 heads of hair and was the matron of honor all on the same day. That’s multitasking at its finest.

As someone who has the professional abilities to do all of these things – even professionally style hair – I can’t say I whizzed through this day flawlessly. In fact, it was really stressful and I definitely thought I was going to lose it at a couple points. This was my sister’s wedding – it had to be perfect! I simply wouldn’t have it any other way. You could also interpret that as, I’ll be hearing about the results from my family for the rest of my life, so they better be good.

Should Friends be Vendors at Your Wedding | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

You may skip quickly to the end of this post to read my verdict, should your friends/family be vendors at your wedding? Spoiler alert, I’m not going to completely answer that question. I think the role you’re asking them to play and the current standing relationship with said friend has a lot to do with the answer. As someone who has been hired as a vendor for family and friend’s weddings as well as a bride who has hired friends, here’s my two cents worth of wisdom.

Consider Your Working Relationship

Some people work really well together. Other’s butt heads a little more. Just because you’re amazing friends doesn’t mean you always see eye to eye. If you think it’s going to be more stress than it’s worth, save both of you some hard feelings and simply explain that you’re hiring someone else so the friend can be fully present and celebrate the occasion rather than working on your wedding day.

Only hire vendors that you feel fully confident in working with and who completely fit your overall vision.

Is this Friend Invited to the Wedding?

We hear the term “friendor” and tend to automatically assume that this would be someone who would naturally fall on the guest list. However, this might not be the case. Maybe you know said person, but clearly you can’t invite everyone you’ve ever met to your wedding. When weddings are really small, I love including vendors that you know and can have sit at the dinner table and converse naturally with. This is nice at larger weddings too, but small weddings are just so much more intimate and that adds another layer of warmth to the day. However, if they are someone who you were going to invite regardless of whether or not they’re hired for the day, then you need to continue reading on.

Will They Miss the Celebration?

If said friend or family member is too busy working, they might actually miss the wedding or at least the celebratory tone of the day. When I was matron of honor for my sister, I said that after 11:00 am, I was strictly a bridesmaid and refused to do more planning or floral duties beyond that point. It didn’t completely work out that way, but I felt I had to at least set a few boundaries for myself or I’d be working all day and night, which I was determined not to do.

If you’re asking a friend to do a more minor task, such as great guests, hand out programs or even officiate the wedding, this can be a really nice and personal touch that still allows them to focus on the vows and ceremony of the day.

Is it Even Possible?

I once had a bride tell me she was considering having one of her bridesmaids be her photographer because that’s what she did for a living. While I’m sure her portfolio was stunning, I strongly advised the bride against this. First off, they would most certainly miss the celebration. And secondly, I couldn’t even fathom how that could possibly work without her cloning herself so she could be in two places at once – behind the camera and in the bridal party portraits. Consider their role both as a guest and as a vendor and how the two will both conflict and actually work quite smoothly together (i.e. – both roles require them to be in the same place and time).

While there’s certainly no way that I could imagine having another floral designer work on my sister’s wedding, I took the overall flow and schedule of the day into deep consideration, knowing that I could begin decorating and setting up the night before and as early as 6:00 am on the actual wedding day. Without the flexibility, it would have been extremely difficult for me to juggle all of the tasks I had on my plate and I would have needed to subcontract additional help or sacrifice sacred time with my family.

Shelby signature

When Should You Carry Your Bridal Bouquet?

3 · Nov 15, 2016 ·

It seems like a pretty straight forward question and answer. As a bride, you have a bouquet and as a floral designer, I’m going to encourage you to have flowers around you as often as possible. But even with something as simple as a bridal bouquet, there are logistics and moments of practicality to consider and moments that you might truly want to have it by your side, even if you hadn’t previously thought about it.

When to Carry Your Bridlal Bouqet | The Day's Design | Bradley James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

Getting Ready Photos

I like to drop off the bouquets sometime during the getting ready process rather than having the bouquets waiting at the ceremony location. I do this for a couple of reasons. First off, many photographers like to photograph the bouquet right away, along with the other accessories. So many of the photographers I work with start the day off with “detail shots” – meaning photographing the bride’s jewelry, veil, shoes and dress before she puts it on. The bouquet normally falls into this category and also adds some extra charm into these pictures. Secondly, bridal party pictures with maids in matching robes and fun styled photos like this have gained so much popularity in recent years and often bouquets are also incorporated in as well. And thirdly, if you’re doing a first look, sometimes locations have been known to change last minute due to weather or lighting or perhaps even running behind schedule. Having your bouquet there and ready for you makes one less detail that needs to be re-coordinated if there should be a timeline modification.

First Look

I am a huge advocate for having flowers with the bride for this moment. And I know not everyone agrees with me on this issue, but so much time, care and money spent on choosing the perfect blooms (or floral designer to choose the perfect flowers) and this is a highly photographed time so I think it’s only right that said blooms should be treasured and held in the bride’s hands. Furthermore, immediately following the first look is usually a small photo session of just the two of you and I really believe you’ll want your flowers accessible for this.

Wedding Party Pictures

Again, this seems obvious but the bride and her maids should have handfuls of blooms readily available for when their time in front of the camera arrives. A couple of helpful hints with this – make sure vases of water are kept nearby and certainly make sure the entire bridal party is aware of all the happenings of the day so they’ll know to keep their bouquets handy for the most important moments of the day. One of the most common questions I hear from the bridesmaids on a wedding day is whether or not they need their bouquet at any particular time and it can be challenging to communicate this especially with larger wedding parties.

The Ceremony

Smack me on the forehead and say “duh!” right now, because we all know the bride carries a bouquet during the wedding ceremony. But the reason I bring this up is because often with modern timelines of the day (i.e. – doing first look and all bridal party pictures prior to the actual wedding), this becomes one of the last opportunities for the bouquet to be photographed however most brides find it the most important and they’re fearful that it will be wilted from all the activity earlier in the day. In all honesty, this time isn’t normally about photographing flowers, and your guests notice your bouquet but don’t dwell on it. This is the time to capture emotion and focus on the sanctity of marriage. This is the time for you and your groom to shine, accessorized by the décor but not overshadowed by it.

Sunset Photos

Yes yes yes! Of course you need to see your flowers shining in that glorious golden light. But if you’re thinking you’re just over carrying the bouquet around all day, I encourage you to take it along anyway. You don’t have to hold it for every single picture, but I think you’ll be glad that you have it within reach for at least a few.

If all of the above holds true, you’ve just held your bouquet out of water for nearly 4 hours or more on what might be a really hot day. Here are a couple of extra tips for you to make sure that your flowers stay at the peak of perfection for as long as possible.

Keep a vase of water nearby, for both you and your maids. Replace the flowers into the vases whenever you have a break from photos – touching up makeup, groomsmen photos, etc. Do not just ditch the bouquets on a nearby table and do try to find a shady spot.
To help with that first tip – have each bridesmaid carry her own vase of water (which I’m sure it was delivered in) or if possible, designated one person to carry the entire box or basket of vases (I always deliver mine in a basket with easy carry handles). Transport that box/basket with you from getting ready location to photos to ceremony. This is a great job for that extra person who really wanted to be involved with your wedding but you just couldn’t find the perfect task for.
Appreciate the beauty while it lasts. Many of my favorite flowers actually shine the brightest in the moments before death. They open the fullest, find the perfect drape and shout romance. Embrace the fact that your bouquet will not look exactly the same at the end of the night as it did upon delivery. And that’s okay, it’s just the beauty of nature.

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Always an Original

0 · Oct 21, 2016 ·

I finally broke down and wrote myself a blogging schedule or editorial calendar, if you’d like to get technical. I have so many beautiful weddings just hanging around on my hard drive, waiting to be blogged. I’m trying to gain control. This is week one of the schedule.

However, I’m already breaking my plan because as I was scrolling through pictures, these images stuck out and I had to laugh to myself.

Shayla and John are one of the most loveable, kindest and delightful couples you will ever meet. They’re the type of people who instantly add a ray of light to a darkened room. And while I wasn’t there to witness the moment, I can just imagine what was happening in these pictures – I’m certain that Kellie was telling them to be serious and not smile. But that’s not natural. That doesn’t represent them at all.

I’ve never seen a time when sweet Shayla didn’t have an expression of joy on her face. And while I can imagine John being slightly more serious, a conversation doesn’t go too far without his lips forming a curve either.

While I love a portrait with a solemn pose and calm expression, in this instance it just doesn’t seem natural. Shayla had to hide her laughter and John was caught with a couple humorous looks on his face as well.

Photography: Hetler Photography

I was quickly reminded that we all should just be ourselves. Do what you do and whatever feels natural. Be one of a kind and always an original. That’s how to always guarentee the best results.

There’s your Friday pep talk friends, may the little reminder carry you onward to a great weekend.

PS – Stay tuned for the rest of Shayla & John’s wedding which I’ll be sharing next week

5 Disappearing Traditions

0 · Sep 27, 2016 ·

Since I’m a wedding planner, people always seem to like to get my take on ideas and trends within the industry. These questions and posts across the internet seem to surface most often right as we’re ringing in the New Year. However, I want to get a little ahead of that game. My season is wrapping up and I’ve witness some really amazing weddings with some of the most lovely couples you’ll ever meet. I’m sad to see the season end. I thought that I’d share a few of the trends or rather absence of traditions, that I noticed in the past couple wedding seasons and I predict these will continue to spur on into the future.

1. Something Old, Something New

I personally love the sentiment of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a six pence for your shoe. This was thought to bring prosperity and fertility. Today, it’s more of a charming little ritual. I’ve only seen one six pence in all my years of wedding planning and she didn’t put it in her shoe.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

2. Unity Ceremonies

In a very traditional wedding ceremony, the mother of both the bride and groom would each light a candle at the beginning. During the ceremony itself, a center candle would be lit using the flames from the candles lit by the mothers. The flames could never again be separated, and therefore neither can the couple. The symbolism is really strong. In recent years and with the rise of outdoor ceremonies, couples have opted for using sand, planting trees or other creative concepts. I even did a wedding with a “Love Fern”. But this year, it seems that unity ceremony has been skipped entirely. Rather than trying to update or take a creative approach to the tradition, couples are skipping it all together.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

3. Objections

I just have to throw this in here – I have never heard an officiant ask if anyone objects to this marriage. Not all weddings are like the movies and I don’t think any couple is open to a dramatic scene.

4. Corsages

We saw a shift a few years ago from pin on corsages for mom and grandma to wrist corsages and now I think we’re going to see another shift. It’s subtle, but it’s happening. I’ve had several requests for small mother’s bouquets, single stems wrapped with ribbon or I even had one bride who plucked two flowers from her own bouquet to present to her mother and new mother in law – which was so sweet. And a small bouquet will last so much longer than a bracelet of blooms, which can often seem cumbersome and tends to get in the way. Grandma will then have a little memento to keep with her for a few days on, just make sure you keep a vase of water close by for her.

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

5. Bouquet & Garter Toss

I’ve only had two brides request that I make them toss bouquets and I have only witnessed one actual bouquet toss this entire season. Some have referred to this tradition as distasteful others don’t like having to single out their friends who haven’t committed to a mate yet. I guess I don’t really have strong opinions on it either way, except sometimes it really can interrupt the party and get a touch awkward – please don’t make the recipients put the garter on each other.

Naturally though, I think we need to understand where these traditions stemmed from. There are a couple thoughts on the garter. The first, removing it is proof that the couple has consummated the marriage. This seems a little raunchy in my opinion so I like the second line of thinking better. Superstition states that keeping a piece of the wedding dress is good luck. To discourage guests from helping themselves to a trinket or swatch of the bride’s gown, the garter was worn to toss and give prosperity to one lucky recipient.

Oddly enough, the idea of tossing the bouquet comes from this same superstition. Again, wedding guests tried to rip a piece of the bride’s dress and as an escape, she would throw her flowers and run away. Since the flowes are perishable items, they also represent fertility and are a sign of good things to come for the person who catches them.

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

I’m a huge believer in tradition. But there are some things that I could do without. Are there tradition that you’re tired of seeing or wish would come back in style?

Why I’m Excited to Plan a Wedding in Flint, Michigan

0 · Aug 3, 2016 ·

I grew up in a small town 13 miles north of Flint, Michigan. While I realize that I’m not “from” Flint – it was not the city on my mailing address or where I went to school – it still has the draw of home. It was my stomping grounds. That’s where I went to Meijer, Target and the mall. The Vehicle City provided a small town girl with the conveniences that weren’t available in a town with an urban population 2,500 people. My Grandpa worked at GM as did many of my friends’ parents. And since most people aren’t familiar with the town of Clio, for the first 18 years of life instead of giving a geography lesson, Flint is where I claimed to be from.

The stories of Flint’s decline are prevalent. I’ve never been okay with the tale of a dying city, crumbling structures and lost history. I cannot stand it when someone tears down a historic home or leaves a stunning old building standing in decay. New is not better! And when it hits this close to home, it’ all the worse. Between the closing of the factories, the increased crime rates and now the undrinkable water, the future of Flint seems hopeless.

But I’m excited to plan a wedding there.

Yes, I am planning a wedding in Downtown Flint. And I am excited. The prospect of bringing something beautiful to a dismal place is a symbol of hope. There is a least one gorgeous venue in the area which holds so much history. William C. Durant is credited for founding General Motors. The Durant Hotel was named in his honor. After years of a vacant existence, the landmark building has been restored. What was once a symbol of prominence and success, is again a beautiful vision of the potential the city still holds. In its heyday, it was known for its luxury accommodations, events and grand ballroom. The building’s smaller ballroom still holds its original spender and will host my sister’s wedding next week.

Once again, I’m going to tell you how excited I am for my sister’s wedding. But this post isn’t about her, it’s about the city that she chose to be wed in. And I’m sure she’s not romancing this declining city the way I am, but I’m still glad she chose to have a wedding near home. We looked at venues across the state, she didn’t hold any loyalties to the area. But in a really, really small way, I feel like we’re helping. Business is staying local. Every dollar counts. I love supporting local and hometown efforts.

It’s also been a welcomed challenge. Do you ever try to look at the world around you in a different way? I’ve been forced to see the beauty as well as the decay. I want to think about what it would have been like to be one of the original residents in the area. I can only imagine an era of carriages turned to horseless automobliles in a scenic city along a beautiful river. Somehow, I feel like we’re telling their side of the story. We’re honoring their history. Just picture the 1920s scene of a lavish woman parading proudly down the street in a proper long gown and a dapper gent on her arm. Next week, that scene will come to life once more.

Wedding in Flint Michigan | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

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All Hail the Red, While & Blue

0 · Jul 6, 2016 ·

We’re now six days deep into July and it’s taken me this long to dig through my portfolio to find a somewhat patriotic, or red white and blue flower arrangement. While these colors might not be every bride’s dream palette, it doesn’t seem like it would be that difficult to find something with a little red in it.

This little challenge of mine has got me thinking, once again, about color. I just can’t seem to get the impact of it off of my mind. Color is everywhere.

Through this searching process, I have realized why there’s very little red, white and blue in my work. Perhaps not that surprising unless you’re part of a military wedding. But the real reason is, red doesn’t inspire me. I don’t choose to add it into my creations. After all, how am I supposed to work with a medium I’m not inspired by?

Of course I’ve had brides tell me that they’re using shades of cherry, burgundy, garnet, marsala and berry in their palette. We’ve always worked together to bring this vision to life in a way that is inspiring and artful to both of us. But just red, count me out.

Perhaps one of my favorite sources of color inspiration was when dear Mary showed me a picture of her maid of honor’s blooming dress. The dress was clearly fabulous but suddenly I was panicked, I would have to use red flowers.

And then she told me how much her and the groom love food. I started dreaming of eatible berries and olive branches and other seamingly obvious ingredients. But then, I started taking a deeper look during my weekly grocery shopping trips and examining the various tones in the produce section. Their wedding flowers were no longer about color, but a feeling and a representation of them. I began to reshape my thought process and take notice of the small details in the everyday world around me. I experienmented with wiring chilis into buttonholes and scheming of how to sneak a few apple branches from my neighbor’s tree. Trips to the farmer’s market, searching through greenhouse herbs, bay leafs, lavender, peppers, artichokes and pomegranates created a palette that wasn’t just pleasing for the eyes but really was good enough to eat. Together, we worked to find something that was beautiful to both of us – and it’s one of my favorite weddings to date.

So if you’re presented with an obstacle in your wedding planning that at first glance may seem less than ideal, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and tackle the challenge. Sometimes you just need to approach things from a different angle and not be so quick to judge a color (or venue, chair, suit, etc).

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday!

And if you want to see my chili pepper buttonhole, pop on over to instagram – it’s red, white and blue perfection!

How to Work with a Wedding Planner :: Part 4 :: The Full Service Planner

0 · May 25, 2016 ·

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

A full service planner plans weddings for a living. Simple enough. For myself, that means that I will tackle any wedding related task that the bride and groom throw at me, and then some. It means I work an unlimited number of hours doing whatever it takes make all your wedding dreams come true. It means that I handled every detail from floral design to event design to day-of management and more (all the tasks listed in parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series). I’ve not so delicately referred to myself as a “wedding slave” to my full service clients, although I guarantee you its much more enjoyable and rewarding than that description would lend you to believe.

However, some planners do limit the number of hours the work or have more restrictions than I do. So don’t assume that this is an unlimited everything option with all planners. Even I have a few boundaries, I have to draw a line somewhere. I think some others are just better at defining that line than I am.

I think this is the post that most of you have been waiting for. Very few people really seem to understand how this relationship works. The bride wants to know if she should talk to the photographer or if I should. The photographer wants to know if she should work on the timeline with me or the bride.

I know some planners are really controlling and they don’t want vendors communicating with the brides without their involvement. It seems like they’re being overbearing. But the reality is, if something goes wrong on the wedding day, it always falls back on the planner. They’re just being cautious.

My personal rule of thumb is if it’s a vendor providing a service, I want the bride and groom to be involved. Photographers and the couple spend an enormous amount of time together, I would never suggest you merely let me hire them without a consultation between the bride and groom. I’ll pair you up with some of my favorites and then the ultimate decision us up to the bride and groom. Same goes for hair and makeup or catering, I know what I like to eat and can tell you some of my favorite chefs, but I’m not going to decide who has the best chicken or steak and I’m not going to tell you how to wear your hair on your wedding day – I’ll just steer you in the right direction.

I will do a lot of the leg work for my clients. I’ll make the initial contact and see if my favorite vendors are even available. I don’t want to waste my clients’ time. I’m here to narrow down who’s available and within their budgets, but the final decision is up to the bride and groom.

Once the vendor is hired and all the imperative details have been discussed, I usually take over more of the technical details and final logistics. Likewise, if it’s more of a behind the scenes vendor – we’re just using them for charger plates or linens, I don’t include the bride and groom in on that. It goes back to people that I’m subcontracting to make the wedding come to life (read more from my event design post here). Those vendors can deal specifically with me, I’m here to make the bride and grooms lives easier, not add to the list of people they need to talk to.

Dear Vendors: I want to work together. I feel like we have a common goal – at the end of the day we want a really happy married couple. If I talk to you about a potential wedding and the bride and groom don’t book, please don’t take it personally. If I talked to you at all about it – that probably means that I was rooting for you, they just didn’t think you were the right fit. We’ll work together soon. And I promise I wasn’t wasting your time with a meaningless inquiry. I’m going to bust this myth wide open – wedding planners to not control every vendor that’s hired at a wedding.

Something helpful you can do prior to the wedding season, keep me up to date on your pricing. That helps me match budgets and brides right away. Once they’ve booked, you’ll probably communicate with me a little more. But on matters of opinion, I want the bride and groom involved. Conversations with them are by no means off limits, I just want to be kept in the loop.

Dear Clients: Don’t be afraid to tell me why you like one vendor over another – it might make the rest of the process a little easier. The more insight I can get from you, the better. I need to be notified when you change your mind about things or if you decide to invite extra guests. Communication, communication, communication. I can’t stress it enough. Share copies of your contracts with me so I have full access to all fine print. Remember I am a professional and you have hired me to do a job, however it’s a really fun job and you should be enjoying this engagement period and I want you to enjoy working with me too!

Do you have other questions about working with a wedding planner? I’m happy to help and shed light on the subject however I can.

How to Work with a Wedding Planner :: Part 3 :: The Event Designer

0 · May 16, 2016 ·

Welcome back to our little working with a wedding planner series. If you need a recap before you fulling plunge into part 3, you can read part 1 and 2 here and here. And now moving forward with all the pretty details…

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design

What in the world is an event designer? The term is a little foreign and if you thought it was hard for people to understand the difference between a wedding planner and a coordinator – tell them you’re an event designer. It’ll blow their mind.

Technically, an event designer isn’t a wedding planner at all, they’re a visual planner. Think interior designer, for a wedding. That’s the best way I have to describe it. When people hire me for this, it’s purely cosmetic. Think all things aesthetically pleasing on the wedding day. There really isn’t a clear cut line on what all this entails, it’s more of a case by case plan. But generally speaking I’m going to meet with the bride and groom, discuss feelings, moods, color palettes, favorite flowers and more. Then I’m going to go home and lay in bed that night dreaming about all the fancy details we discussed. And then, my pen is going to hit the paper.

I love sketching out these ideas, playing with flower combinations and coordinating linens to the room layouts. I daydream about ceremony backdrops, café lights and chandeliers. I agonize over vessels for your centerpieces and coordinating votive holders. I’ll make sure that the napkins fold just right and show off the custom stationary we commissioned. The décor options are absolutely endless. I can list off 10 different chair options right off the top of my head and where to get each of them.

So once I’ve done my research on what is actually possibly, works with your budget and isn’t just a wild dream of mine, I put it down on paper and send it to my clients. They approve parts of it and often things get tweaked a touch here or there. But once it’s all to their liking, I get to work sourcing all the pieces to make it happen.

Some of the work I will do myself. I will create massive floral arches, moss and floral photo backdrops and let you rent my taper candle holders. But sometimes I have to outsource certain projects. It could be due to lack of resources, time or even know how. I will subcontract vendors to make this happen. It’s really nothing that my clients need to get involved in, I’ll sign the contract myself and add it to my invoice. I have little clause in my contract projecting me if one of the wedding guests sets fire to a $100 linen or breaks a chair, my client will be held responsible. And I also ask my clients to cover rentals that are over a certain dollar amount but I still work on my clients behalf handling the arranging of those services.

When it comes to the actual wedding day, I’ll be there. I’ll be directing all the vendors that I hired. But I won’t deal with the logistics or help manage your timeline. I’ll be focusing solely on the visual aspects, making sure that every flower is perfectly placed and that beautiful arbor isn’t going to blow over during the ceremony. It’s even possible that I’ll be gone before the bride ever sees the reception and I may not see her reaction to the space in person.

Dear Vendors: if I’m renting from you or working with you as an Event Designer, you’ll probably never meet my clients. I’ll fill you in on the relevant details of the wedding and you’ll most likely hold onto my credit card number. All communications will go through me and I’m technically your client.

Dear Clients: Trust that I’ve found you the best place for your chiavari chairs and all those floral extras are going to happen because I have flower friends who are amazing and willing to lend a hand. I have spent countless hours shopping and researching and making sure everything is top notch just for you. Sometimes that means that the sofa you wanted to rent lands on my final bill, making my service price seem a little crazy. But trust me, I’ll be so worth it in the end.

How to Work with a Wedding Planner :: Part 2 :: Day-of Coordinator

0 · May 4, 2016 ·

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design

As my business has evolved, I usually only coordinate weddings that I’ve also done the florals or some aspect of design for. This wasn’t always the case, I used to do coordination or event management for the day as a standalone service. So I’m writing this post as if you were hiring me for that unaccompanied help – since we really are trying to single out the Wedding Coordinator’s role in the overall vision of the wedding.

This is purely speculation, but I think this is probably the most commonly hired wedding planning service. Couples are given some professional guidance without relinquishing control or loosing too much from their pocketbooks. While they aren’t necessarily contracted to do so, most Day-of Coordinators will give some tips on etiquette share their favorite vendors with you. After all, it’s in there benefit for the couple to hire a photographer that coordinator loves and makes their life a whole lot easier if you don’t hire that caterer who is terrible at communications. I always say, I’d rather that you come to me instead of asking Mr. Google.

The process of working with me as your Day-of Coordinator typically works like this: the bride and groom hire me. Sometimes this is the first thing they do, other times it happens in a panic three months before the wedding. Either way, I won’t really start talking in more depth about the wedding until about 6-8 weeks before hand. We’ll walk through what the couple has planned for the day, how they envision everything, chat about a brief day of timeline, locations for things such as the guest book, placecards and the cake table. If at all possible, I try to visit the venue together. Then I’ll get a complete list of vendors hired by the couple. I’ll address any concerns I have logistically or otherwise and then I’ll get to work.

My first task is filling in the gaps on the itinerary. Details like ceremony and reception start time aren’t up for discussion. But often no one knows what time the caterer is planning on arriving or when the tables and chairs will be set up so the florist can place her flowers (or when I can place the centerpiece if I’m also your floral designer). If no one has told the baker what time she should arrive with the cake, it might end up sitting out all day and we’ll end up with a big pile of melted buttercream. We want to make sure that pertinent events are scheduled during the time that the photographer is contracted to work. Coordination of these details is absolutely necessary and I fill in all those holes, working on arrival times, traffic flow and general order of the day – things that the bride shouldn’t be worrying about while she’s off having her hair and makeup done the morning of the big day.

Dear Vendors: Your first contact with me will be a nice little introductory email asking if you have any concerns, special setup needs or any lingering questions that haven’t been clarified quite yet. I’ll do everything within my power to address those and a couple weeks prior to the wedding, when all these details have been confirmed with each and every one of you, I’ll send along a copy of the finalized itinerary and contact information – important phone numbers, addresses and anything else I think you might possibly need on the wedding day. Yes, that itinerary will be chucked full of information that you might not think you need, but I think over informed is much better than under.

On the actual wedding day, I try to interrupt the bride and groom as little as possible and ask that you do the same. Please be respectful of what they hired me to do and address me first with questions or concerns. I don’t have all the answers, but normally I have a few.

Dear Clients: You can make this process go smoothly by being up front with those hired vendors about my existence right from the start. Give them my email and cell phone number, that’s excellent and telling them that I’ve authorized to make decisions on your behalf is even better. As for me, I ask that you let me know the person that you’ve been in most contact with. I’d like to know all previously arranged details and if you feel inclined to cc me in on emails or forward contracts my way, that’s perfect. This gives me a little leverage when the limo driver shows up a half hour late to pick you up from the church. But so we’re clear on things, I don’t address why things when wrong on the wedding day – we can figure that out later – my goal is moving forward to solve the problem. Please don’t ask me to focus on the negative on your wedding day.

And one more little reminder – the term Wedding Planner and Day-of Coordinator are NOT interchangeable.

In case you missed it, you can read Part 1 of this series here.

Wedding Planning & Advice

Spray White Allium

Dried Bougainvillea

Hellebores

Kochia

Quicksand Rose

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Stems Tucked in Towards the Body

Make Sure the Ribbon is Over You Hands

Play with Different Positions to Hold it In

Greencrest Manor

The Old Art Building

Foreign Destinations

Falling in Love

Becoming a Couple

Disillusionment

Real Love

Commited Love that Changes the World

1. Bye Bye Blush

2. Hello Purple

3. Greenery will be King

4. Focus on the Experience

5. Incorporating Elements from the Past

6. Focus on Simplicity

“To me, calligraphy should not be about what etiquette dictates, or what will make your stationary seem luxurious. It is about adding a beautiful thoughtful touch, to add soul to your stationary”.

Consider Your Working Relationship

Is this Friend Invited to the Wedding?

Will They Miss the Celebration?

Is it Even Possible?

Getting Ready Photos

First Look

Wedding Party Pictures

The Ceremony

Sunset Photos

1. Something Old, Something New

2. Unity Ceremonies

3. Objections

4. Corsages

5. Bouquet & Garter Toss

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