The Day's Journal

Finding beauty in the everyday pieces of life

barn wedding

Wheat Toned Wedding :: The Inspiration

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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.

Neutral Autumn Wedding

Image Sources (left to right, top to bottom): via Better Homes and Gardens | Photography: Geneve Hoffman, Floral Design: Beautiful Days Events via The Sweetest Occasion | Floral Design: Kelly Lenard via Brides.com | grasses: unknown | pumpkins via French Country Cottage | wood bowls | flowers: unknown

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.

 

Misty Farms Ann Arbor Wedding | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater PhotographyNeutral Autumn WeddingAnn Arbor Wedding | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater PhotographyAnn Arbor Wedding | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater PhotographyAutumn Barn Wedding | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

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!

Real Weddings :: Hallie & Eric

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

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

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

Photography: Bradley James Photography  |  Wedding & Floral Design, Day of Coordination: The Day’s Design |  Venue: Iris Hills Weddings & Occasion |  Rentals:  Grand Rental Station  |  Catering: Rykes |  Cake: Julie Sheehan  |  DJ: Complete MVP  |  Officiant: Keith Littlepage of Forever I Do  |  Vintage China: Debby Does Dishes  |  Late Night Snacks: Lakeside Weiner Wagon

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

Shelby signature