event design

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

0 · Apr 21, 2016 ·

There was a wedding I worked last summer at a beautiful new venue. It was owner operated and so I would also call her the venue coordinator. We talked about a ton of plans before hand and she had quite a few “particulars” that were musts on her lists to keep her venue in pristine condition. She had extra staff around and she would often reference that “they” will take care of various things. She was also very involved with the overall flow. Nothing crazy out of the ordinary for a venue coordinator. However, it got to a point in the evening where things just weren’t proceeding as they should and I needed to take matters into my own hands. Something that “they” were supposed to do hadn’t happened yet. So I inquired about when it might be taking place. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment as I’m still filled with fury just thinking back, she stopped and turned, then barked at me “I don’t know! I’m not the wedding planner!!” She walked away, my blood was boiling and I didn’t speak to her the rest of the night (because obviously the silent treatment is the mature approach from me). And I did “their” job myself.

Other than the fact that her reaction was so out of line, the reason I was so upset about this is because I wasn’t the wedding planner either. I was just hired for day-of coordination. I didn’t know EVERYTHING. And this is why I beg couples to share as much information as they possibly can with me.

How to Work with a Wedding Planner | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

The title of this article is “How to Work with a Wedding Planning”. I’d like to take time to explore this from both a vendor and client perspective. These questions come up all the time – what’s the relationship between bride and planner? Who do we communicate with? Who are services contracted through? Does the planner completely take over the wedding?

Before I can answer these questions, I need to start by laying some groundwork. We need to understand the various levels of service that you can hire someone like myself for. I think why the venue owner reacted the way she did was due to a lack of understanding. She didn’t understand what the bride truly hired me to do, or what the difference is between a coordinator and planner.

I’m hoping that with this little series we can clear up some of the misconceptions and learn how we call can work together.

Now, it might vary some depending upon who you hire, but for me, I offer several different options and this is what each of these services include.

Floral Design

If I’ve been hired for floral design only, I’m going to make some gorgeous arrangements. However, I’m not going to design or setup any other pieces of the wedding and I’m not in charge of any planning services. I’m simply going to decorate with the supplies that I brought along and then I’m going home for the day. Aside from possibly a quick chat with the photographer or adding a few blooms to the cake, I won’t have communications with the other vendors. This service is pretty unique to me, most planners don’t offer full floral design and if they do, it’s only with clients who have hired them for planning as well, which makes it more of an add on service. But I love flowers and will arrange them for weddings no matter what.

Event Design

Event design flows really well with floral design. Think of this as hiring me to take charge of anything that’s aesthetically pleasing. Some items that fall into this category would be linen selection, room layouts, invitations and other paper products, working with the cake designer, helping select bridesmaids colors, backdrops, place settings and sourcing some of those specialty rental items. However, this doesn’t include assistance with logistics, timing, etiquette or really any non-visual pieces of the wedding day. I scheme, I design, and I set everything up pretty and make sure that the special vendor’s I subcontracted are doing their part but then I’m on my way before the show really begins.

Day-of Coordination/Event Management

Sometimes one is hired just to manage those logistics. Some planners have strength in the visual elements and some are more suited to managing the flow of the day. While most planners will do either, I think it’s important to understand the strengths of whose been hired. Why did you go to that planner? Is it because they have awesome communications and flow with other vendors? Or is it because you love the look of their portfolio? And why does their portfolio look like that? If they’ only coordinated and had nothing to do with the design, then it can’t possibly be expected that every wedding they coordinate will have “that look”, because the planning of most of those visual elements most likely took place before they were involved.

So if someone is contracted to manage the day, expect them to do just that. They typically jump in about the last month or so of planning and tie up the loose ends. They make sure that everything the bride has put in place actually happens and are the go-to person on the wedding day and the final days leading up to the wedding. Questions from other vendors can be filtered through them, therefore eliminated 50 different texts/emails/calls to the bride on the day before the wedding and we can narrow that down to 1 from her coordinator, who will be in fact her right hand man on the day of. Typically this person is the first person onsite and the last one to leave at the end of the evening. They don’t generally do much setup or decorating, a few tasks here or there such as placing table numbers or escort card displays but for the most part, their job is to oversee and make sure that everyone else is doing their job.

Now as a vendor working a coordinator, understand that they may not have all the answers right away – they only have information the bride has given them. And sometimes sucking information out of the bride is a challenging task, from finalizing guest counts to knowing who receives all of the corsages and boutonnières, there are a lot of the pieces of the puzzle to be managed. We coordinators at times have had to deal with brides who haven’t found it necessary for us to have “all” the information, which is a really tough place to be in and sometimes make us appear less than adequate at our jobs.

Full Service Wedding Planning

This person is hired to assist with the entire process. There’s not much that’s off limits – from design, to vendor selections, clothing, rsvp tracking and turning out the lights at the end of the night, this is your all-encompassing package.

The full service wedding planner will spend over 200 hours planning a wedding. The wedding weekend itself may contain a couple 12+ hour days for her and her assistants. There will be so much behind the scenes work that goes unseen, it’ll just magically happen and the day will (hopefully) be perfect.

If the wedding planner is also the floral designer, add another 100 hours of labor onto a big wedding. I know it sound excessive but this is not a job for the weak and weary.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the planner isn’t there to take away from their fun in wedding planning. The bride and groom are usually still involved and there are details that the planner cannot handle – inviting guests, dress fittings, music selection, seating charts, cake and food tasting – just to name a few. Most planners stay in the know on all these subjects, but there’s a chance that a bride or groom may change their mind and forget to notify the planner. It’s not a fool proof system that everything will remain worry free just because there’s a wedding planner. Communication is key to this relationship.

This post got a little wordy, but if you’re still with me – that’s step 1 to working with a planner for both clients and vendors. Bottom line, you need to know who was hired and what services they have been hired for. This will determine the rest of the working relationship. Stay tuned for part 2 of this 4 part series.

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Wedding Planning Services

0 · Jan 8, 2016 ·

Wedding Planner Services | Job Description | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

Somewhere between pretentious corporate event planner and “I planned my sister’s wedding so now I’m an event planner” – on the side, is where you’ll find me… with a bouquet of flowers in my hands. I am a small business owner and boutique wedding planner, specializing in one of kind celebrations. I have a degree in event planning – or as close as I could get (Bachelors of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management with an emphasis is Event Planning – yes, that’s a mouthful). I plan, design and floralize weddings for a living.

However for me, business isn’t really about the title, it’s about being able to do what I love. While The Day’s Design didn’t necessarily start with flowers, it was born out of my love for design. Pulling together all the individual details for a wedding and forming one cohesive event makes me so happy. I love finding the perfect napkin that matches your invitation that pairs perfectly with your bridesmaids dress.

FLORAL DESIGN

But often the element that speaks loudest in that design scheme is the flowers and since I am so passionate about this aspect too, they naturally became part of my service offerings. They are a tangible component that everyone can see. The floral selection for any event says a lot about a person and the impact is huge. This is what draws most people to my work. And then we bond because they fancy blooms almost as much as I do.

I can’t seem to quench this thirst for floral knowledge. Colors, varieties and bouquet shapes fill my imagination…

WEDDING DESIGN

At times, the conversation ends with flowers, but more often it continues on, circling back to that design discussion and dreaming of all the decorative possibilities from escort card displays to making sure each place setting is arranged with a perfectly graceful ribbon draped on top. My sketch pad is full of doodles from blooms, to ribbons to invitations and the possibilities are endless. My creative mind is always on a wild quest for more. We’ll fashion an entire mood board and sketch out designs for the day. Together, we’ll visualize all the various details, big or small, and the roles they play in the overall tone of your wedding. If you hire me to design your wedding, I’ll be a part of every aesthetic facet working with your other creative vendors and then onsite that morning making sure that everything is perfectly placed and spotless. I may even help your photographer style a few photos if our paths should happen to cross and your timeline allows.

EVENT MANAGEMENT/DAY OF COORDINATION

Since I am there anyway, event management becomes a natural step for me to take. It’s a little more work for me on the front end of things (with a stellar team of assistants in tow), but so worth it to any bride who is considering whether or not to do everything herself. I’ll help build the entire itinerary for the day, making sure there’s a planned arrival time for each and every vendor. You won’t have to worry about whether or not the cake was delivered or the linens are set on your tables in time for the caterer to begin their part. The bridal party will know where they’re supposed to be and when to start walking down the aisle and I’ll straighten out your train before your grand entrance. Concerns about whether the photographer is in the room when the best man makes his toast or when husband and wife dance for the first time are eliminated as it will all be scheduled and well thought out, flowing as if it were all just naturally meant to happen.

FULL SERVICE WEDDING PLANNING

Then there’s the bride that needs help from the very beginning. The number of inspiring vendors in her area seems daunting and the idea of figuring out a budget is tedious. I become the friend that’s planned a million weddings and a liaison between practical, glam, organic and what your mother wants. I’m the voice of reason and inspiration, guiding the couple through each step of the planning process. Our journey together may begin with a location, a venue, finding the perfect caterer, tasting cakes or drinking champagne after he first proposed. Having a wedding planner doesn’t mean that you lose out on planning your wedding, but rather you have an experienced hand helping you along the way and any dull tasks that you don’t want to do, you can have someone else take care of. Everything stays orderly, on schedule and remains fun, after all wedding planning is supposed to be fun. It’s a celebration!

Regardless of contracted services, each couple is special to me. Each event is one of a kind and deserves its own contemplation and creativity. Being engaged is a once in a lifetime experience and I want to make it the very best for you. But most importantly, I wish all of my clients a marriage far more beautiful than any wedding I could ever help to create.

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Married in a Month :: The Inspiration

0 · Jan 15, 2015 ·

Winter is the season for dreaming. It’s cold, gloomy and I’m stuck in the house because I’m too much of a wimp to try and bare these subzero temperatures. So my imagination naturally takes over. I start dreaming of warmer times ahead, summer blooms and what’s next for The Day’s Design. I start creating inspiration boards and sketching out ideas – some which will happen and some which will never be brought to life. It’s a New Year and time to dream big.

But it’s also time to dream for my clients. I have met some really amazing couples the past couple months and I’ve got lots of goodies up my sleeves for their big days. I’ve been working on lots of proposals and design ideas for them as well and I get pretty impatient when it comes to waiting on making these happen, six months seems like such a long time!

As I’m making these, many people have asked what the process looks like and how I design and convey what’s in my head to these couples. I don’t have a 100% exact step-by-step process because each couple is different, sometimes I get a little ahead of myself and eager and sometimes my brain just doesn’t stay organized and the artist in me takes over – my pencil starts drawing and there’s no stopping it…. even if I’m not to that step in my process yet.

It’s fair to say, however, that almost all of my designs start with an inspiration board of some sort which allows my clients and I to visually describe how we want the day to feel, how colors will pair together and the overall formality levels.

If you’ve followed along my Married in a Month series, this is the inspiration that brought that impromptu celebration together. Casual, simple, natural and colorful were words that the bride (my sister) used to describe her day. Since the wedding took place in November, we wanted to add some fall touches, however the venue was scheduled to be decorated for the holidays the week before. So it took some careful planning to combine these elements and make sure that it didn’t feel like a “Christmas wedding” but rather a festive celebration focused on the couple, but also welcoming the holiday spirit. Here’s what we came up with:

We try to incorporate a little bit of inspiration for each piece of the wedding day – from flowers selections to wardrobe colors and ideas and all the little details in between that will really set your day apart. By making an inspiration board early in the planning process, you have a general direct of where your decor is headed so when it comes to choosing those very first glimpses the guest will see, such as save-the-dates or invites, they already have an idea of what the wedding day will be like and it keeps everything cohesive. It also help to share these boards with all the vendors, especially when it comes to exact color swatches – one person’s interpretation of purple might be a far cry from another’s – there’s plum, lilac, lavender, amethyst, violet, grape… I think you get the idea.

This is just an inspiration board. That means we’re inspired by these images, many of which were created by other amazing artists. There might be certain elements that I pull from this board, however the goal in mind is not to copy each detail but rather the feeling and the theme that it sets forth. I’ll be sharing the exact results from the wedding in the upcoming weeks so you can compare the inspiration and the results – they really did turn out lovely!

*Disclaimer: Unfortunately when I created this design board I had no intention of blogging about it and am not sure where I sourced all of my images from. I deeply regret not being able to track these down and give each artist their proper due. Please accept my apologies as I will work to correct this in the future.

Featured :: Wedding in the Woods on Style Me Pretty

0 · Nov 17, 2014 ·

I have goals, both in business and in life. I’m not very vocal about these goals even though I’ve heard from numerous sources that voicing them will help you to achieve them. I’m the exception to this rule. I’m the girl who just feels even more miserable about herself when I fail and feels like a fool for having to publically broadcast my failure, which makes me never want to set another goal again. Period.

But one of the silent goals that I have for my little business is being achieved today. It has been a long time coming with lots of hard work and tears and a constant strife to be better and challenge myself more, which I feel is helpful not only to oneself but also to my clients. So here I am – The Day’s Design – published on the front page of Style Me Pretty.

Someone pinch me please!!

Florals + Event Design: The Day’s Design | Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

I cannot wait to share the inspiration and design in its entirety on my blog in the near future but for now, head on over to SMP to see this gorgeous Alice in Wonderland inspired wedding in the woods.

Ribbons :: A Graceful Extension of Design

0 · Nov 13, 2014 ·

Photo by Hetler Photography

Yesterday I posted a little tidbit on my Facebook page about my love for ribbons. When it comes to ribbon on a bouquet for me it’s simple (kind of), the more the merrier and the longer the better. I spend just as much time picking the perfect accent colors, textures and styles for the ribbons as I do picking the blooms themselves. The process might seem pretty straight forward, and maybe I’m just an over thinker (scratch that – I know I’m an over thinker) but it’s really important to me that the ribbons adorning your bouquet are perfect.

You may be wondering what there is to consider, I mean your wedding colors are pink and black so the blooms are pink the ribbon should be black. Simple enough, right? That’s one possibility, definitely one that would add lots of drama. But let’s think beyond just the color palette.

I like to consider what the bouquets will be photographed against. If the bridesmaids are wearing black dresses, you’ll never see the black ribbon up against them. On the contrary, black against the bride’s dress would certainly make a huge statement and will not be missed. When they’re not being held, where might the photographer place them? Are there pretty wood floors or upholstered chairs in the bridal suite, I certainly wouldn’t want my ribbons to clash. Will they be outside against the grass or against a tree… what might the photographer be thinking?

I also think about the overall feel or theme of the wedding. I like to imagine what the ribbon will look like in conjunction with all the other décor elements. If you’re using beautiful hand-dyed silk table runners, plain grosgrain ribbon simply won’t do. Satin is classic, silk is flowy and graceful and suede is an earthy, more natural chose.

Ribbons are so beautiful blowing in the wind so if it’s an outdoor wedding (or if there’s the possibility of lots of outdoor pictures being taken) I always use lightweight ribbons that will look so carefree and elegant if the breeze should catch them. You know those gorgeous flowing veil shots that make us all swoon? Well my heart gets just as happy when I see the ribbons in motion with the wind.

Odd numbers are visually pleasing and since I can rarely decide on just one, most of my bouquets have at least 3 ribbons draping down. Sometimes I aim to combine the styles of the décor, and sometimes I focus more on extending the color palette with a cascading trail of fabric.

Personal touches such as family heirlooms, meaningful trinkets or Grandma’s handkerchief are always sweet touches and make your bouquet extra special and unique. I believe every bride should love her bouquet more than any other piece of the wedding décor, it really does become an extension of you, an expression of your personal style and stays by your side for most of the day.

Accent Flowers

0 · Nov 11, 2014 ·

It’s no secret that I love the art of floral arranging. I can’t seem to get enough of designing with pretty blooms and I sincerely hope that this always holds true and never becomes a burden or a chore because it is my “job”.

While making big, lush arrangements is one of my favorite things ever I think they’ve become somewhat expected when you come to an event. People expect to see the massive urns overflowing with lush greenery and delicate roses at the front of the ceremony. They look for the floral centerpieces and ooh and ahh over the bride’s romantic bouquet. In today’s world, these are “standard” pieces of wedding décor.

Sometimes it’s the simple anybody-can-do-it details that capture me the most. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or over the top but rather tastefully done and even a little unexpected can have a huge impact. Adding a couple leftover sprigs of green to the cake table, having a small simple bud vase with a single colored bloom by the guests book or having a couple of extra flowers on standby to photograph with your accessories or wedding invites. Often these details that we find ourselves swooning over really aren’t so glamourous, they were just staged well and someone knew how to accessorize.

The picture above (so beautifully captured by Heather Cisler Photography) showcases the most gorgeous white ranunculus, which just adds a whole new level of pretty to the sparkly bar set up. The sweet little ranunculus is the most perfect accent flower. At times details like this are thought out and other times, I will completely admit, they were just a spur of the moment inspiration, which again is why you hire artists and vendors who you trust to make your special day even more than you ever imagined. It’s also a great way to add a little extra romance or natural feeling to a party that might not necessarily call for floral centerpieces or showpieces.

My philosophy is simple – every flower should be showcased and loved, leave no flowers behind.

The Best Laid Plans

0 · Jun 11, 2014 ·

Its peony season here in West Michigan. It’s also time for me to prepare for my small part in Bloom the Workshop. How lucky could I possibly be that fate would bring these two happy occasions together in the same week!?

I have one sad little peony bush in my back yard. She’s slow to bloom and doesn’t produce many buds. But each year she comes back and brings me so much joy. And each year I’m stuck with this dilemma, to pick the flowers and bring them inside to enjoy for a fleeting moment in time or leave them on the bush – where I’ll see them much less but their loveliness will live on a little longer.

This year I decided that they would have a special purpose. They would be enjoyed by others and I would bring them along with me to Bloom the Workshop. They would live long after they’re gone in the memories of all my new creative friends.

In addition, I’ve spent my week scouting out the best roadside/garden side/woodland greens and blossoms to add to the ones that will my arriving shortly at my doorstep from my wholesaler. I never order all of my flowers from a wholesaler – I need to touch, feel and explore to make my creations perfect. I had a plan, a picking spot and even a travel route all schemed out.

And then came the rain.

My poor little peonies are sadly smushed to the ground. And while I haven’t exactly explored my other flowers which I was sure to forage – I have a sinking feeling that all their sweet little petals might not be in tack. What’s a girl to do?

I sadly made my way to the farmer’s market this morning in hopes of finding some fresh cut loveliness like I found the week before, only to find the stalls empty. So now friends, I have a mission. And I don’t know yet how this story is going to end or where my travels today might take me. All I know is that sometimes the best laid plans fail but I will not. I promised to deliver some gorgeous arrangements to Bloom and I don’t break my promises.

Above is a little something I put together earlier this week — and I might have snagged the image from Bloom’s Instagram feed. Be sure to follow along with me @thedaysdesign or the workshop directly @bloomtheworkshop

Creating vs. Pinning

0 · Feb 18, 2014 ·

The last couple of days I’ve been a little Pinterest obsessed. I had gotten away from it for a while but it really is a great resource for capturing ideas that you love. Generally as I’m out and about in on the world wide web and I come across a picture, a bouquet or whatever else is lovely, I pin it. And occasionally as I’m looking for ideas for an upcoming project, I go back to those lovelies that I previously pinned because I found them inspiring.

I have had many others comment on my boards that I’ve put together – they love my style! Here’s my problem with that statement. The things that I pin are what inspire my style, they are what I find visually pleasing but they aren’t things that I actually created. So is that really my style?

“I know what I like when I see it, but I don’t know how to create it”. I’ve heard that way too many times. That’s why you brought in an expert – because you don’t know how to create it yourself. Unfortunately, even the “experts” might not be about to duplicate it since it isn’t their work.

This goes for anyone in the creative industry that is using Pinterest. Loving their pins is an awesome first step. However, don’t book someone just because they can source beautiful inspirations from around the internet. Make sure the events, florals, pictures or paper goodies they create also show off the style that you love. You don’t want them to copy these pins, just create the same essence that made you fall in love with the pin in the first place.

Examine the artist’s actual work and ask to see things in their portfolio that is similar to what you’re seeking. It’s okay to ask for a simple mock up or sketch, let them prove their abilities. Who knows, maybe some of those pins were actually created by them!

Happy Planning (and Pinning)!

FAQ: What is Event Styling?

0 · Nov 22, 2013 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cover Those {Table} Legs!!

0 · Sep 12, 2013 ·

Can we just talk about linens for a moment? I just received three new gorgeous and sparkly new swatches in the mail and I could not be more excited. I have stacks of sample books on my dining room table and sometimes I wander through JoAnn Fabrics just to find new and pretty patterns – most of which, sadly, I will never use. But somehow just knowing they exist puts me more at ease.

So why do I like linens and fabric so much? I believe the perfect linen can make or break an event. I know it sounds silly, but people really underestimate the impact they have in a space. It breaks my heart a little each time I hear a couple say they’re just using the venue’s or caterer’s standard (short), square tablecloths on the round tables. Does a square linen on a round table even make sense? And what about those NAKED table legs??? If it’s a budget issue, then I can completely understand, I don’t want people to spend money they don’t have. And let’s face it, free square linens are better than NO linens. However, when it’s not a budget issue, that’s when I have to hold back the dramatic gasp and keep myself from crying out “WHY??”

There’s a reason we all go gaga over inspiration galleries full of linens dripping with sequins or bursting with bold modern patterns, it’s because they make such a huge statement. This is yet another place to show off your fabulous style. Just like your luscious blooms you so painstakingly selected, they add more texture and design to the space.

These are some of the lines I would love to incorporate into your event some day!!

Just something to think about on the lovely Thursday morning! Enjoy your day 😉

Welcome

0 · Feb 27, 2013 ·

Why hello there, thanks for stopping by! Let me take a moment to introduce myself… I am Shelby, I married my best friend, we have a beautiful baby girl {Gretta} and an adorable cocker spaniel {Polly}. My family keeps me pretty busy, but they’re the most important things in my life.

Photo by Renault Productions

When I’m not spending time with my family (or sometimes even when I am), I’m designing, decorating and surrounding myself with all things pretty. I love any reason to celebrate, but as a hopeless romantic I have a major soft spot for weddings. You know the way you felt after he proposed, the way you wanted to jump up and down and tell everyone you know that you’re going to marry the man of your dreams?! I feel that way every time I speak to a new bride, I actually tingle with excitement with the thought of planning your wedding! I get to do my dream job, and help you plan the day you have fantasized about your whole life.

I have been designing pretty things and putting parties together for as long as I can remember. Since I was young, I was always dreaming up different wedding scenarios for myself, and came to the conclusion that I was going to have to get married about six or seven times (or at least have several vow renewals!) so that I could see all my visions come to life. However, there’s no need to be so selfish, so now I’d like to create your vision.

The last 10 years have been filled with endless parties and wedding celebrations in which I have both served and coordinated, at both private clubs and fine dining establishments. In addition, I have styled countless bridal party’s hair {in my other life I’m a licensed cosmetologist}, and spent champagne filled mornings with families and brides. I also had the amazing opportunity to intern with RSVP Events, and fell in love with the industry even more. Between it all, I have become everyone’s “go-to” girl for all things wedding. So in 2011, I gave my hobby a name and The Day’s Design was born.

And there you have it, knowledge of my history, my life and where The Day’s Design came from. You know all there is to know about me… or maybe you’re we’re just getting started! Thanks for peeking into my world, and stay tuned for many more heart to heart chats, as I’d love to meet you too.

event design

Floral Design

Event Design

Day-of Coordination/Event Management

Full Service Wedding Planning

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