Chelsea Seekell Photography

Real Weddings :: Nolan & Jessica

0 · Apr 29, 2015 ·

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

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

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

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

Farewell 2014

0 · Dec 31, 2014 ·

I was not going to do a year end post, I mean, do people even read these? I don’t think it’s an original idea and I’m not sure that there’s a single person out there that truly cares what my year looked like. But earlier this week I was going through some goals, figuring out how to get where I want to be in 2015 and it really did inspire me to think about where I started in January of 2014 and how my business has evolved over the course of a very short year.

Even though 2014 was The Day’s Design’s second official full wedding season, I was still a little unsure of myself and did not have high expectations. But the thing about having low expectations is, it’s not hard to exceed them — which I did, 10x over. I gave myself a boost of confidence this past year and know that I am worthy of an amazing 2015, which is looking really busy and cannot wait to celebrate with the sweet couples I have booked this year and the ones I am yet to meet.

I hope my journey inspires someone out there to keep moving forward and following their dreams, it’s not easy but if you’re passionate about doing what you love, then it’s so worth it. Without further ado, I’ll take you on a walk through my year.

January

I got the brilliant idea to put together a Valentine’s bouquet and model it myself… in the middle of a blizzard. Thanks Heather for freezing along with me!

February

Rachel, with Sincerely Ginger Weddings, and I collaborated on a gorgeous winter inspiration shoot in my favorite place ever – Leland, Mi! It was so sweet and full of wintery romance and rumor has it, Style Me Pretty will be featuring the shoot in it entirety next month! Photography: Eliza Jean Photography.

Later that month my Valentine’s bouquet was featured on on Burnett’s Boards. You can see the feature here.

March

Cabin fever officially set in and I found myself getting antsy and itching to use a little creative energy. In remedy, Ashley Slater Photography and I teamed up to put together a little tutorial on how you can make your very own gilded floral crown.

April

This month was special for two reasons. First off, Heather Cisler and I teamed up once again to put together a fabulous fairytale inspired photo shoot.

And secondly I made a HUGE business changing decision and took a leap into adding floral services alongside planning and coordination. All I can say is, what took me so long!? This passion was hidden deep within me and a creative freedom has been unleashed and I will never look back. Bring on the blooms!

May

I stepped away from weddings and floral work for a moment to be a part of something a little different, but equally amazing. Kellie Hetler has a heart for service and put together the More Than a Face campaign, which is designed to help high schools girls to find their inner worth and realize what a difference they can make. Each one of these women was so beautiful and unique – I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part and bring a little extra style to this shoot.

Shortly thereafter I packed my bags and headed for the mountains of North Carolina. I wasn’t prepared for how this experience would change my life. I realized how to create, how to better see things and found a deep appreciation for my surroundings and finding beauty in the everyday. I climbed mountains both literally and figuratively and walked away with friendships I will cherish forever. Kelly Perry of Philosophy Flowers is an absolute delight and the true definition of a floral artist. The rest of the Team Flower ladies are an equal treasure. If only we could travel back in time, I would relive those moments of and over again, sure to find something fresh and new every time. Photography: Heather Payne Photography.

I rushed home from my workshop to share my experience with those I cherish most, my family. I picked a few foraged blooms and we ventured out to the apple orchard to have our family photos taken with Kellie Hetler. I love these sweet moments.

June

June started out on a rather cold note. I was part of Bloom the Workshop, hosted by Ashley Slater Photography and Michaela Noelle Designs. While I remember how great is was providing beautiful blooms to such an inspiring group of women, I also remember how cold it was that day.

And then came the first wedding of the 2014 season… an intimate ceremony in the woods with an ode to Alice in Wonderland. This was a fabulous way to kick off the wedding season and was featured on Style Me Pretty last month. Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography.

July

July was a month of rest. I had a busy August ahead and took the first part of the month for a little relaxation and the second half and full on wedding prep — but there’s never any pretty pictures to share from that!

August

This was my busy month, but it’s definitely worth my couple moments of being frazzled to see the smiling faces at the end of a wedding nice – so happy, so in love.

First up, a day-of coordination with the ceremony at the blue bridge in downtown Grand Rapids and a beautiful blush and grey reception to follow at the Downtown Market. I haven’t tracked down any pictures yet but think modern, airy space, soft grey silky linens and soft blush blooms.

Next came floral design for a couple who said “I do” at the Bissell Tree House. And in case you’re wondering, Thursday weddings are totally fun! Photography: Joe Matthews.

And then it was off to Northern Michigan for a festive and fun celebration at a llama farm… because who wouldn’t want to get married at a llama farm?! Again, I don’t have pictures to share yet but if you’re looking for a fun celebration – why not get married on a hilltop overlooking Lake Michigan with llamas in the background. Think local wildflowers, a live jazz band and fun dinosaur escort cards.

Then we celebrated one more set of nuptials this month. I feel honored to be a part of any wedding day – it’s a big deal, and these memories are extremely important, but when the bride and groom happen to be a couple of your closest friends, that just adds a whole new level of special to the day. I was lucky enough to provide floral services, and then helped the couple celebrate into the night. Dahlias, dahlias and more dahlias surrounded this love filled day. Photography: Chelsea Seekell Photography.

September

The months of August and September seem to be increasingly popular times to get married. I did a little freelance floral work for not one, but 2 weddings in Northern Michigan with Sincerely, Ginger Weddings. It’s always super fun to collaborate with like-minded, creative individuals.

And let’s not forget Amy & Emyr’s picture perfect day at the Gull Lake Country Club.

Bloom 2.0 brought us back to the Hydrangea Blu Barn for another round of education and fun with Micheala Noelle and Ashley Slater. I love creating flowers and helping with their workshops. Photography: Jenn Anibal.

September also hosted one of my favorite styled shoots ever. I actually hesitate to call it a styled shoot because in reality we invited guests, guests who needed a little extra love and a night to remember just how special they really all. This was the dinner parties of all dinner parties and I’m so thankful for all the vendors who volunteered to be a part. Photography: Ashley Slater Photography.

October

This past summer I received a phone call from the sweetest bride you have ever met telling me how she didn’t have a florist yet for her October wedding. After hearing all the details she had in place for her Northport wedding, I knew I had to be a part. The Willowbrook Mill has been so high on my list “must work” wedding locations that I just about fell out of my chair when she said that was her venue. It was a match made in heaven as I created florals, helped design and coordinated all the details of Christina and Tim’s day.

November

In the name of furthering education, Kaci Muller (of Just Delightful Events) and I got together for a morning of flower talk and coffee and compared notes on how we typically create our beautiful wedding bouquets and Kellie Hetler joined in the fun so we’d have a few pictures to share with you.

I thought my wedding season would officially end with the conclusion of October’s love filled celebration, but surprise… my younger sister decided to push up her wedding date by 6 months and she tied the knot after only a month’s worth of planning. Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography.

December

And then to cap off the year, Katie Grace Photography and I just had to go play with a few of my leftover blooms. I’m going to start making bouquet and floral recipes a more common feature on my blog, I can’t wait!

It really has been a fantastic year! I can’t believe we’re bidding it farewell in just a few short hours. Let’s see what 2015 has in store – I”m ready, bring it on!

A Pair of Rings

0 · May 28, 2014 ·

As I was scrolling through my social media feeds this morning I came across a picture of a bride. Not really a noteworthy occurrence. However, there was something about the picture that struck me. It was a fairly normal shot with the bride’s arms draped around her new husband’s neck in a romantic embrace, it also happened to show off her new jewelry. I almost just scrolled on past. But then I stopped.

Her wedding band wasn’t attached to her engagement ring. It was new, probably the first time she’d ever worn it. They weren’t soldered together or attached. They were just 2 pieces that perfectly complimented each other, sharing a space but keeping their own identity.

“Your engagement ring and wedding band should complement one another without feeling too matchy matchy.” Thanks Brides.com.

Sometimes I think after marriage we tend to loose ourselves a bit. Lives get busy, we combine our schedules, our furniture and our worlds. Before we know it, we completely forget who we were before we met “the one”. We become a set, fused together and seldom seen apart. I encourage this, man and wife should be as one. But we also need our alone time to shine. We should remember that each ring individually is lovely and unique even if the designer’s true intent is to create a set.

I couldn’t find the picture again after I wrote this post about it, so we’ll have to sett for this lovely shot by Chelsea Seekell from last summer instead.

Focus on the Controllable

0 · Feb 21, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

In business:

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

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

In wedding planning:

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

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

In life:

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

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

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

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

It’s Wedding Weather! When to get Married in Michigan

0 · Feb 7, 2014 ·

Hey West Michigan! Want to talk about the weather? Does anyone else feel like that’s the only topic being discussed right now? Yes we have snow… thanks for the update. Sheesh!!

When I was younger, any time we were planning an event or family gathering in the winter my grandparents were always the first to chime in and say “depending on the weather.” “The roads could get bad.” “It is January, so you never know!” Ugh… I thought they were so lame and major worry warts.

Last Monday morning as I was driving down the road picking up props and supplies for my “fishy fun” project (search #fellinloveinfishtown on Instgram for some peeks), I couldn’t help but wonder why I was out on the roads. Crazy white out conditions! And my husband’s only response is “the things we do for photos!” True enough.

I have a really poor knack for picking dates for major events. I think it might run in the family. And I realize this is not what you want to hear from your wedding planner, so I’ll just let you pick the date! But what I was really wondering is if weather played a huge role in how you chose the date (or at least the time of year) you wanted to get married? I was thinking this morning about the pros and cons of getting married in each season.

Photo by Heather Cisler Photography

Winter (December – Mid March):

Pros-

Possibility for gorgeous snowy pictures
Less popular months to get married in, more vendor availability
Less conflicts for you wedding guests vacations schedules and social calendars (unless you choose December)
Getting married in December means the whole world is decorated with twinkle lights & greens – which could help your décor budget
You can serve warm beverages and winter comfort foods
Crystals and all things glittery blend oh-so perfectly!

Cons-

Possibly for poor weather – it could be snowy, icy or grey and dismal outside
It’s cold! Outside pictures are going to take some stamina
No greenery or leaves to add color to your wedding photos
You may need a pair of boots to wear under your wedding dress
December brides beware: the whole world seems to be decorated in twinkle lights and Christmas décor, which might clash with your wedding décor

Photo by Bradley James Photography

Spring (Mid March – May):

Pros-

Everything seems fresh and new which is a great feeling to have when starting your lives together
Spring flowers are A.MAZ.ING
Everyone is tired of being cooped up and ready to get outside
Possibility for warm, sunshiny day
It’s early in the wedding season, so vendors are fresh and excited about the upcoming season

Cons-

It can still be cold outside (last spring it was still snowing in May)
Two words: April showers
If your guests have children, be sure to take note of Spring Break schedules
Sometimes everything is still grey and muddy outside, not the lush green visions we have dancing in our heads

Photo by Chelsea Seekell Photography

Summer (June – August):

Pros-

The weather should be warm
More venue possibilities since outdoor spaces are also an option
Lots of flowers to choose from
Kids are on summer vacation, making it travel easier
More daylight hours

Cons-

It could be more expensive, since it’s prime wedding season
Less vendors to availability (unless you book early)
The weather could be too hot… giving you a nice glossy look in your photos
Humidity. Enough said.
Conflicts with summer vacation plans
You may have to also have a backup locations, if you’re choosing to celebrate outside

Photo by Bradley James Photography

Autumn (September – November):

Pros-

Our minds start shifting to warm and cozy favorites, which is a great ambiance to create for a wedding
The changing leaves and color make a stunning backdrop for pictures
Fall décor is easy to come by and has many budget friendly options
You may still have your summer suntan

Cons-

Nights cool down faster
Guest may have used all of their vacation time during the summer
Busy schedules with sports, back to school, etc.
September can be a rainy month
Autumn months are gaining popularity and are no longer considered “off season”

So what month will you be married in? Is the weather influencing your decision? I’m not sure what I would do if I had to plan it all over again, I love them all!

How to be an Amazing Bridesmaid

0 · Nov 11, 2013 ·

As the holidays approach, it means engagement season is just around the corner. Engagement season? Yes!! That magical span of months which bring romantic evenings, warming your toes by the fire and lots of new sparkly bling. Just watch your social media feeds, you’re about to get bombarded!

Maybe you’re one of the lovely ladies looking for that small box under the tree, but if not, that doesn’t mean that it won’t affect you in some way. Perhaps you will be asked another question – “Will you be my bridesmaid??”

She’s your friend, you love her, and you want to party so… “Yes!!” The soon-to-be bride then starts rattling off a list of dates, ideas and itineraries… what did you just get yourself into?

Being an amazing bridesmaid means a bit more than just putting on a dress (which you may or may not like) and showing up a couple hours before the wedding for some extra pictures. Your responsibilities last throughout the engagement period, which may last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years, so be prepared.

Photo by Bradley James Photography

You are now the bride’s backbone and support. You have become a sounding board for all wedding planning ideas. Stay interested and involved, soak up all these wedding planning tips, your turn might just be next!

Being a bridesmaid can also be a costly endeavor. You may be asked to purchase shoes, jewelry and accessories in addition to your dress. The bride may request that you have your hair and make-up professionally done. Tack a nail appointment on top of that. And then prior to any of this, there are showers (possibly multiple), which require planning and gifts and the bachelorette party. You are expected to be present with a present. Oh, and don’t forget about possible travel fees. Make sure you budget accordingly.

Can’t make it to one of these occasions? It is okay, life happens, but the bride needs to know you’re thinking about her. Send your gift with someone else. Call that night to see how everything went. Plan a special lunch date for just the two of you to give her the shower gift. Whatever you do, don’t just blow it off. It might just be another shower to you, but it’s really special to her and so remind her how much you love her.

I like to think of the engagement period as The Princess Months. This is the time in a girl’s life when she gets to act like a princess, and we all treat her like one as well. She can do no wrong (even if she is an absolute bridezilla), just nod and smile and make her dreams come true. Make it really special for her. Have flowers waiting at the bridal shop at her dress fitting. Send her “thinking of you” notes – I prefer snail mail. Or just surprise her with something special. And don’t forget to have fun!!

So make merry with your special ladies as this is a once in a lifetime celebration!!

Real Weddings: Jordan & Kait

0 · Nov 5, 2013 ·

Meet Jordan and Kaitlin…

If high schools sweethearts were to tie the knot on a steamy day in July their day might look like this. A gorgeous ceremony in her grandparent’s back yard in Muskegon – complete with lots of homegrown hydrangeas – would officially unite them. And then they would celebrate and dance the night way in downtown Grand Rapids. Somehow they completely missed the wind and rains that overtook Grand Rapids that day, proving that true love can weather any storm.

Photographer: Chelsea Seekell Photography / Day of Design: The Day’s Design / Flowers: Pickett Fence Floral / Ceremony Location: Private Residence in Muskegon, MI / Reception Location: Eve at the B.O.B / Wedding Cake: Mirabella Confections /DJ: Xtreme Creative Entertainment / Invitations & Programs: Amy O’Donnell / Bride’s Dress: Forever Yours / Bridesmaids Dresses: BCBG / Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Warehouse

I wish you both all the happiness in the world… congratulations!!

Chelsea Seekell Photography

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