Eliza Jean Photography

Fell in Love in Fishtown

0 · Jan 22, 2015 ·

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

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

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

Hugs & Cheers for the New Year

0 · Jan 5, 2015 ·

Photography: Eliza Jean Photography

I like to start January off on a positive note. It’s a new and fresh year full of possibilities. But today my heart is heavy and optimism is eluding me as another member of my family went to their eternal home yesterday. It seems the past few Januaries have been challenging, to say the least. Perhaps it’s the Lord’s way of testing me and letting me know it can only go up from here? I don’t really know.

I’ve read numerous year end recaps across Facebook, Instagram and on other blogs. While a couple here and there might make a slight mention of trials in 2014, most of them are extremely positive and almost overly enthusiastic about how great the year was. I almost feel like no one is really real with themselves or perhaps those people just chose not to speak out.

It’s important to know that life is full of complications, sadness and heartbreak. We don’t always choose to share these personal moments of defeat, as it’s so much easier to share the sunshine and celebration than the gloom. Sometimes it’s hard to see the engagement announcements, the shiny new Christmas toys and all the positive wishes for 2015. But if you too are starting the year on a negative note, it’s okay, you’re not alone regardless of what social media might be telling you. We’ll find your time of celebration together.

Hugs and Cheers into the New Year!

Wedding Color Palettes

0 · Aug 7, 2014 ·

Photo by Eliza Jean Photography

There’s this old way of thinking that some brides still fall prey to when it comes to choosing wedding colors. Pick 2 colors that you like and that go together. 2 colors – that’s all you get. For everything. Flowers, linens, dresses, ties – everything!

I don’t know where this originated from the 80’s or 90’s or maybe sometime before – all I can say is it was long before I became a wedding planner and I remember thinking this rule was true when I was a little girl playing dress up. Friends, I think it’s time that we abolish this rule FOREVER!

Actually, I know this rule is on it’s way out the door, no doubt. But I still come across the occasional bride that tells me she’s having these two colors, end of story. So you’re dreaming of a blue and white wedding. That does not mean everything has to be blue and white. I will not dye flowers into an unnatural shade of blue for you. It’s just not meant to be. Consider adding some natural purple blooms, a pop of blue thistle and maybe a couple of white buds with some greenery. Create a color story. Consider not focusing exclusively on the colors themselves, but the overall feeling of the event.

And then consider you’re space. Like it or not, the room, venue, or area you decide to get married in, take pictures in, and dance the night away in will have a HUGE impact on the overall color scheme and the mood that is set with your event. That hideous burgundy carpet – you will notice it. Find a way to make it work and blend with your scheme. Sometime ignoring it will make it stand out even more. It’s like those pictures where one of these things is not like the other…

Trust your designers to make everything flow together and be open to slightly “outside of the box ideas”. They know the touches that make the biggest impact and have an excellent eye for color – or at least I like to think I do! Colors just make me happy and I want you to be happy too!

Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Coordinator

0 · Mar 18, 2014 ·

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

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

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

Photo by Eliza Jean Photography

Venue Coordinator:

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

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

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

{Boutique} Wedding Coordinator:

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

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

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

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

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

I am 29!!!!

0 · Mar 6, 2014 ·

I just had that “Holy crap, I’m 29!” realization. Now here’s the thing, I’ve been 29 now for almost 2 months but suddenly I feel like I’m 29… and next year…{gulp} I’ll be 30.

So what does this mean? I’ve been out of high school for over 10 years. I can’t even pretend that I understand “today’s teenager” or that I can even come close to competing with their technology and pop culture understandings. I sound like an old lady. And while I might try to improve upon this a touch, I’m still going to jam to my oldies radio.

On the plus side, I’m finally starting to get comfortable in my own skin. I have figured out my dream job and while I’m still tweaking it a bit, I’m on a good, solid path. I still love fashion – but fashion my way. I’m a mom. That doesn’t mean I’m going to pull out the “mom jeans” anytime soon, but it also means that I don’t feel like I need to adhere as much to the “Mean Girl” practices of high school. And I’d like everyone to like me but that’s really not realistic. So just stick to your guns and be who you are – I know I’m going to make someone mad along the way, they’ll get over it.

At age 29, I still don’t know everything. Even though when I was a teenager I thought I had most of it figured out. This morning I had to Google what an ampersand is… all I can say is thank goodness for Google, where were you when I was in school?

If only I could have told myself 10-15 years ago that all the weird, quirky and unique traits that I had would come in handy today. Maybe I wouldn’t have tried so hard to bury them and “conform”. Oh the lessons learned!

So here’s my 29 year old self, making some pretty for an event – or at least supervising while Rachel does all the work! Thanks for the laugh, Eliza Jean Photography!!

Eliza Jean Photography

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