floral design

Real Weddings :: Racheal and Steve’s Treehouse Soiree

1 · May 2, 2018 ·

Getting married in the trees, suspended above the city. Doesn’t that sound romantic? I’ve worked at the Bissell Treehouse before and after being back for my third time, I still have to say I’m in awe of this space. It’s a clean and modern slate just waiting to be personalized.

I began working with Racheal and Steve almost 18 months prior to their wedding date. When you start planning so far in adavance, it seems as though the day might never come. It’s like a never ending coversation with friends, you keep dreaming and chatting and then suddenly out of nowhere, the grand day actually arrives.

The ladies began getting ready at Racheal parent’s house by the water. Delivering flowers in the morning is always one of my favorite parts of the day. The anticipation in tha air is thick and everyone is giddy with excitment.

I remember one of the first times I ever drove threw Grand Rapids, my mother telling me of it being nicknamed Little Jeruselum, and how breathtaking all the majastic church steeple were. I was only about 8 year old, but I still feel that way today as I drive over I-196 through downtown and see them standing proud. Of course at that time I had no idea that I would one day call Grand Rapids home much less be planning weddings in one of these holy places.

And now we’ll whisk you away to a reception amoung the trees. Soft touches of dusty blue and muted citrus tones are sprinkled amoungst the vibrant green foliage. Boxwood bars, custom signage and chesterfield lounge furntiture was all brought into the space creating an air of elegant relaxation as family and guests dance and celebrate the night away.

Real Weddings :: Justine & Devin’s Glamorous Gala in Downtown Flint

0 · Aug 29, 2017 ·

I’ve been wanting to share this wedding for some time now. But every time I sit down to tell the story of Justine and Devin’s the words elude me. I don’t where to start.

I could start with the tale of a girl who has triumphed over the less fortunate happenings in her life. She forever holds my admiration. Or I could tell of a boy who’s wanted to marry a certain girl since the 6th grade, which is probably the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t really know where the love story began, but I’m certainly glad to be a part of it.

You may remember my sister’s Cinderella inspired proposal, which was one of my favorite days ever (you can see it here). Devin really is her Prince Charming, welcoming her daughter and her into his heart as a true gentleman.

As this wedding touches me on such a personal level, the job of narrowing down photos and pieces to share is nearly impossible, so I decided it was actually worth 2 posts. Anyone who’s gotten married knows there are two parts to the wedding day. There’s the pre-wedding – the time spent pampering yourself with your closest family and friends, focusing on the joy to come and preparing to commit yourself to one another forever. While this time can be beautiful and relaxing, there’s also an electricity in the air and everyone around can feel it.

Part 2 of the wedding day is the post wedding celebration. There ceremony takes places. Vows and promises are exchanged and suddenly everyone can celebrate. There’s a cloud of, well I hate to call it stress but for lack of a better word, stress, that lifts and there’s even more joy, if you even thought that was possible.

Today, I’m telling of the prewedding. Thinking of the flowers that were placed, the moments spent zipping a bride’s dress and Great Grandma’s pearl necklace that was worn by my mother and myself on our wedding days, and now by my sister as well. There’s the first moment that a groom see’s his bride and know’s that she’ll forever be by his side.

It’s as though I could share something significant about each and every one of these photos, however I do think that would disrupt the overall flow of this post. But even now going through all of these, I can feel the anticipation rising. Even though they decided to see one another prior to the ceremony, you’ll see when I share the rest of the wedding – part 2 of the day – that nothing was lost and the emotion and significance of the ceremony was all there. This was just the teaser, the celebration is yet to come.

Real Weddings :: Olivia & Carter Wed at Monterey Valley

0 · Feb 8, 2017 ·

I’ve gotten to know Olivia over the years as we’ve collaborated on several photography projects as she’s the most gorgeous model. But there’s nothing quite as sweet as working on a real wedding.

Since she had been exposed to so many pretty projects, Olivia had a great eye and knew exactly what she wanted. Simply blush blooms, vintage gold details and a rustic barn setting. It was perfect.

The only down side to a wedding in mid July is the lack of peonies. Their availability is few and far between. Those that you can find had a hefty price tag and we just couldn’t make them a reality until Carter stepped in. About a month before their wedding I received the most romantic of requests from Carter, as he had learned of Olivia’s desire for peonies and he wondered if there was any way he could surprise her with an arrangement for in her dressing room. Of course I obliged and was even able to sneak a few extra blooms for the arrangement into Olivia’s bouquet.

So as the sun shown down on a hot Friday in July, Olivia and Carter became Mr & Mrs – surrounded with gorgeous countryside, the love of family and friends and of course, beautiful blooms by their side.

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Venue: The Barn at Monterey Valley | Cake: Pastry Chef Dana Lucas of Clifford Lake Inn

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Friday Flowers :: Shelby’s Autumn Bouquet

0 · Jan 27, 2017 ·

First off, I need you to take a look at this gorgeous scenery…

Mistry Farms Ann Arbor | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

These are the views that would surround Shelby and Paul’s guests, making them fall in love with this wedding day even more. And as a designer, I couldn’t imagine creating something that could complete with this natural beauty.

I knew this would be a day spent in the sun, with all of creation singing with glory. Cowboy boots, wheat grasses and cool fall tones inspired me. Autumn’s textures were abundant and I wanted Shelby’s bouquet to fit right in with this breathtaking backdrop.

Fall Bridal Bouquet | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

This bouquet was filled with lots of goodness. Roses are always a standby in my recipe making, I chose to us Vendela Roses for their slightly off-white and creamy appearance. I paired them with White cloud garden roses, which often have just a tiny kiss of pink or at least a warmer white hue. Shelby had specifically requested cotton, which I was happy to deliver and added in some tallow berries to accent the woodiness of the cotton stems. I always like to add at least one linear item to the design and chose tuberose for this bouquet. Again, it has a white appearance but the ends fold into a mauvy blush tone adding a little depth to the muted palette. We had talked a lot about using wheat throughout her wedding design, but wheat just didn’t have the right movement, so I opted for pampas grass which would give a similar color but swayed nicer in the wind. I then added a couple of grasses that I plucked from the side of the road which had a similar size and scale to the wheat. My bouquets always require a pinch of green, especially since I knew there would still be plenty in our stunning autumn background, so I added snow on the mountain, which would serve to act as a bridge we transitioned from the greens to white. Lastly, I added in one single hydrangea. It was trimmed from a plant that I had bought earlier in the season and it served a couple of purposes. One, it filled a whole that was daunting me during the design process. Two, it added a little more depth the pale color palette. And three, I knew there was an amazaing hydrangea bush on property with similar tones and I had high hopes that the bride would be photographed in front of it. She was.

Autumn Bridal Bouquet | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography Fall Bridal Bouquet | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Oh the places the bouquet traveled that day, it was such a dream.

Autumn Bouquet Recipe | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

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

Real Weddings :: Jarvie & Hank’s Leelanau Wedding

0 · Jan 9, 2017 ·

I know I promised this wedding would be posted Friday. But something that I have learned is life is unpredictible and so is your internet service when you live in the country. I’m trying to cut myself a little slack in 2017 and not get so up tight about little hiccups such as this. Plus this wedding is definitely worth the wait.

If you know me at all, then you know that Lake Leelanau holds the key to my heart. So for that reason alone, I could dub this wedding one of my favorites of all times. But then I get to add in a beautiful vineyard, gorgeous watercolors and calligraphy and stunning film photography and this wedding alone just about made my year. Not to mention how incredibly fun, authentic and just wonderful people that Jarvie, Hank and their families really are.

The story started a little year prior to their wedding, we began searching for the perfect location to host their Northern Michigan celebration. It was my first tour of Aurora Cellars and right away I knew it was special. Thankfully, Jarvie and Hank recognized it too. We took a chance on a tented space that was just a sketch and a farmhouse that was still pink.

Throughout the planning process, the theme stayed the same. There was a focus on simplicity, with a clean and organic feel, a Northern Michigan vibe with a Tuscan twist, however still wanting all of their Chicago friends to feel right at home.

A slight kiss of pink accented the mainly white day, so we brought in some California roses and luscious pink peonies and displayed them as many places as possible. Jarvie found she had a hidden love for calligraphy, so Graceline was hired to address everything from her save-the-date envelopes to her custom invitations and all the signage in between.

June 18^th arrived with a sun beaming bright in the sky and the smiles were contagious throughout the vineyard. The guests were greeted with refreshing lemonade and ushered through the vines to the ceremony site. Cocktails and Aurora’s divine wine waited near the farmhouse on the lawn. And dinner & dancing took place under a pristine white tent.

And the evening ended with a most glorious Leelanau sunset. I would plan every wedding on the peninsula for that reason alone.

If you’d like to see more behind the planning of Jarvie & Hank’s wedding, you can see some of the inspiration and details that when into the design here.

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A Winter Glamour Shoot

0 · Dec 9, 2016 ·

The reasons behind creating a piece of art vary from time to time. Sometimes it’s to stifle a creative itch. Sometimes its the cure for boredom. At times, it’s simply to experiment with a new flower or design. And at times, it’s just for beauty’s sake.

During the slow winter months, dreams of miraculous blooms dance in my mind. I long to touch petals and play with the green of leaves. I eagerly wait in anticipation for that first little pop of chartreuse to appear on the grey trees. And I always forget how overcome with busyness I was in the previous summer season.

There was a moment of quiet last winter. A moment when I was asked to contribute to a glamour shoot happening at Kellie Hetler’s studio. She has the biggest heart and was seeking to pay it forward, offering a free glamour session, complete with hair and makeup, to a few deserving women. We also brought in a bridal model to stand in front of a simple backdrop I fashioned with a few winter vines.

I met some really amazing women, all with their own stories to tell that day. It just reminds one of how precious life is, how unique we all are. And how we should never take life for granted.

Photography: Hetler Photography | Floral Design & Styling: The Day’s Design | Makeup: Beauty by Katy | Hair: Diane of Cutting Edge Hair Studio | Sequin Dress: Badgley Mischka via Rent the Runway

Have a safe & warm weekend!!

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4 Things You Need to Know about the Whimsical Wedding Bouquet

1 · Sep 13, 2016 ·

I love a loose, asymmetrical, garden style and sometimes even unruly, bouquet. Letting flowers be unbound and fanciful makes me ridiculously happy. Yes, I believe that there’s a time and place for structure but for the most part, I’d rather live my life wild and free which is how I want my flowers living theirs as well.

Most brides I come in contact with are right on board with this philosophy. They too have an appreciation for texture and natural design. But it’s not only flowers themselves that are nontraditional, it the approach to the entire bouquet as a whole. There are a few contextual details you need to know before holding that luscious bouquet in your hands.

Dahlia Bouquet | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

The Stems

Less structure to a bouquet also means less structure to its stems. The arrangement as a whole is shaped like an ‘X’. Generally, if I want flowers to be hanging down more on the right side, the stem will them be angled more to the left. And vice versa. So when you look at the linear outline of the bouquet a cross, x or even teepee pattern has been created. Because of this, most of my bouquets will stand on their own, which I personally love.

On the downside, it can be a bit more challenging to contain those stems into a vase. I very rarely utilize the clear, cylinder vases that florist so often deliver their bouquets in. My bouquet generally don’t fit and I must find more creative options.

The stems also aren’t wrapped all the way down, but only at the crossing point of the ‘X’. And in order to keep the blossoms and streaming ribbons the main focus, I normally keep the stems very shortly trimmed.

Red Bridal Bouquet | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

To Have and to Hold

As far as the approach to holding a bouquet of this nature, let’s go back to the ‘X’ reference and discuss the spot at which the stems are wrapped. At this location, I place 2 or possibly 3 layers of tape and then cover it with ribbons. The bouquet is very sercure. This wrapped point is also your handle. Stems should be held loosely in your hand to keep with their more whimsical intention. If you hold them further down the stems and squeeze, the shape of the overall design is drastically altered and your bouquet will appear tighter and more petite.

Autumn Wedding Flowers | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

Perfectly Imperfect

Sometimes it’s the imperfections in life that make things most beautiful. There may be a missing leaf, a petal with a different shape or color tone or one stem that simply insists on pointing opposite direction of the rest. Nature isn’t perfect so I have learned to leave well enough alone. Every bridesmaid bouquet may not be 100% identical. There may be a leaf that some little bug took a nibble of. But there’s a reason I incorporated that branch. Perhaps that was the best shape, the color was a rare find or the texture was simply unmatched. I find beauty in one of a kind, imperfect finds.

Of course I strive to keep a certain sense of continuity and would certainly never use an intentionally diseased or crumbled piece of foliage, just remember to look at the picture as a whole verse analyzing each and every little bit of an arrangement – because trust me, I already have.

Asymentrical Bridal Bouquet | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

Moving Blooms

Movement is key when creating one of my bouquets – both in a design sense as well as the fact that flower will actually move. From a design standpoint, movement means creating natural pathways for your eyes to lead from one area of the bouquet to another. Sometimes these pathways lead up, or dramatically to the left or right or possibly even trailing downward. Blooms in these area aren’t as supported by other branches or flowers, which means they will wiggle, bounce and shift. The pictures I’m often shown of inspirational bouquets don’t depict how petals will blow in the breeze or the way a stem subtly bounces as a bride makes her way to her loving groom.

Sometimes this movement takes brides and her maids by surprise. They become fearful of their bouquets and are unsure of the longevity of their blooming life. Be aware that the transformation throughout the day is part of the beauty of the process. From each angle, the flowers look different and take on a different shape and flow. A flower might bend little more at the end of the night than it did at the beginning of the day. But that’s part of what makes it so special. Things don’t forever, treasure them in the present moment.

I always recommend that you schedule your day so a photographer can capture your blooms early, or perhaps while I’m still in the area handing them out to your lovely ladies. I also try to do a quick little tutorial on how to carry the bouquet for the bride and her maids before leaving the site. And of course the key to keeping the flowers fresh and beautiful is water and keeping them in a vase for as much as the day as possible.

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Cinderella’s Proposal

0 · Aug 17, 2016 ·

My little sister just got married. But before the merriment of “I do’s” there is a story to be told. It’s a lovely story, a tale of two people who have fallen in love. It’s a story of friendship and longing. It’s story of patience and dreams that do come true.

A little birdie whispered in my ear that a certain someone was going to propose. The first step was finding the perfect ring. I found myself honored enough to assist with the jewelry shopping. He chose a ring with the style name honored our grandmother, Margaret, and then had the design tweaked just a touch to make it fit my sister’s tastes. It is a light blue sapphire (her birthstone) in a yellow gold setting and diamond accents. It is stunning.

Each spring I like to put together an inspiration shoot. It helps me to dust off my flowering skills and stir up some creative juices. But as of late, I have found them to feel rather “empty”. It seems like putting together these mock parties is wasteful, even frivolous. And I was stuck looking for an idea.

The knowledge that Devin was going to propose was not new to me. In fact, it was a secret that I had tucked away for nearly 6 months as my sister was searching for a new apartment, moving forward with her life and doing pretty much the opposite of what every newly engaged woman should be doing – all while we were off shopping for the perfect jewel. But I kept quiet, my lips were sealed. As I was mulling all of these things over and helping my soon to be brother-in-law brainstorm an amazing proposal, the idea struck me that we could combine both my inspiration shoot (which I had no ideas for) and his proposal (which he was also trying to make extremely memorable).

One of my sister’s all time favorite movies is the 1965 version of Roger & Hammerstien’s Cinderella – and if you’re not familiar with that version, stop reading this and go watch it. It’s simply the best version of Cinderella known to man. He had taken her to see a live version for her birthday, they had watched the movie together and it seemed like a very appropriate source of inspiration.

Under the guise of a small inspiration shoot, I asked my sister to model for me and proceeded to get her all dolled up. She had a pampering salon day at Cheeky Strut, she picked out a beautiful gown at Spring Sweet and we made her feel like a princess, she needed a real life Cinderella moment. Now if only she had a pair of shoes…

Spring Sweet’s store closed and we made Justine walk down to the main store level to find her shoes. The trip just so happened to take her down a beautiful wooden staircase which Spring and I adorned with blooming branches and greens. On the treads of each step were gold calligraphy letter from Lief Design spelling out Will You Marry Me? “10 Minutes Ago” from Roger’s and Hammerstien’s Cinderella started playing. And at the bottom of the stairs stood Prince Charming, holding her shoes and an engagement ring.

And don’t miss the video which I shared a couple weeks ago. Their proposal story was also featured on The Wedding Chicks last month. I can’t wait to share pictures from the wedding!

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.

Real Weddings :: Becca & John

0 · May 19, 2016 ·

August has been on my mind a lot lately. It really is a beautiful month to get married in, although it’s also a reminder that summer all too soon will be coming to an end. Becca and John got married in August. It was the most picturesque day. The heat of summer was all around with the breezes to Lake Michigan there to keep it in balance.

St. Joseph played host the celebration, with the nuptials being held at his parent’s beachside residence that ended up only being partially completed by the big day. But in the end, it didn’t matter that everything wasn’t perfect. It didn’t matter that construction schedules ran behind. What mattered was their love. It was on this same property that he had proposed to Becca one year prior, in the town where both had spent the summers of their youth, so in the end, it really was perfect.

It was a Jewish ceremony with a custom made birch chuppah. It was brought to my attention that the four open sides of a chuppah represent open doors and hospitality. Becca and John’s home will always be a place of welcome for friends and family. I love the tradition of being married under a chuppah all the more now. And theirs was extra special as it was adorned with Becca’s grandfather’s pray shall. Don’t forget to add just a little sentimental value to your wedding day.

After the ceremony, the celebration continued at The Heritage Center, where guests were wined and dined and danced the night away. A live band, a cupcake truck and a sparkler exit complete with a pedicab driven by the best man for the getaway vehicle of choice. Warm summer nights like these will live in our memories forever.

You can also see this wedding featured on Style Me Pretty here.

A Creative Voice

0 · May 3, 2016 ·

Wedding Design | Naked Wedding Cake | The Day's Design | The Cakabakery | Weber Photography

Photography: Weber Photography | Cake: The Cakabakery | Floral Design: The Day’s Design

Last week kicked off the start of my wedding season. I haven’t unpacked all my boxes yet from the move, my studio space isn’t anywhere near being set up and it was my biggest wedding of the entire year. I had knots in my stomach for days.

So last Tuesday morning, instead of trying to organize a little more or prepping my flower buckets for the impending blooms, I decided to color some terra cotta pots with chalk. They just looked too fresh to house my little cactus friends and they needed a little “distressing”, if you will.

I was rather enjoying myself when suddenly I realized how ridiculous this was – I had a to-do list 3 miles long and I was coloring pots. Pots that 90% of the wedding guests probably wouldn’t see and who knows if I would receive any appreciation at all for my efforts.

I started thinking about all the silly little details that I have stressed about throughout the seasons – I’ve added gold leafing to planters, spray painted animals the perfect shade of rose gold, I’ve visiting slews of nurseys and greenhouses in hunt for the perfect connector flowers. I’ve shopped high and low for white ceramic pots, silky ribbons and copper charger plates. I’ve painted, built, crafted, diy-ed, hunted, gathered and blown my floral budgets to bits all because “good enough” is never enough for me. I’m constantly seeking my version of perfection and knowing that I can do more.

Often you’ll find me straddling the line between madness and brilliance, trying to find my creative voice in this industry. I would like to announce that I think have finally found it. I finally know what it is I want to create. I have found my style, my niche and my flair in what seems to be an oversaturated market. It’s taken years to get here and it wasn’t easy. But it’s this line that I’m willing to cross that makes me unique and the realization that I might not do things the way others do or even in a way that would be considered “correct”. But it works for me. I’m willing to cry tears of exhaustion to put a smile on a bride’s face. And I will shop my heart out.

Why should you hire an event designer verses just a florist? For all those reasons above. It goes beyond centerpieces, beyond garden roses and bouquets. It’s not about wholesale South American roses verses local wildflowers. It’s about you. It’s about using my create vision to capture the essence of you as a couple, as a client, as a bride. From signage, to invitations, to linen selections, table runners, seating options, room layouts, mariachi bands, favors, lighting, flowers and knowing when to add an extra sprig of greenery to your cake, I’m here every step making sure this celebration is a reflection of this remarkable couple in front of me on their wedding day.

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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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3 Tips for Planning Rustic Weddings

0 · Apr 12, 2016 ·

I originally wrote this post a couple months ago as part of my monthly guest feature over on Simply Blue Weddings. It was titled “3 Mistakes Couples Make When Planning Rustic Weddings”. But after it when live, I felt bad. I had just posted something really negative and it bothered me.

So today, I’m sharing it here on my personal blog, but I’ve reworked it a bit, shedding a more positive light on the subject. Here are some things you should do to make sure that you’re rustic celebration is just as fabulous as you always dreamed it would be.

Quicksand Rose | Rustic Wedding Planning Tips | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Styling & Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Calligraphy: Wondrous Whimsy

Properly Define Rustic

What does rustic mean to you? In the wedding industry, it seems any celebration that doesn’t take place in a formal ballroom (and even some that do) can easily be defined as rustic. However, these seem to be three different type of “rustic” bride that I most normally come across.

There’s shabby, vintage and sometimes even a little dirty “rustic”. This bride includes décor choices that you might generally associate with a barn wedding. Perhaps horse saddles, wooden crates, vintage table numbers and burlap accents.

Then there’s outdoorsy rustic. Think almost woodland wedding or even more nautical style. Birch bark, tree stumps and mossy touches might be mixed in. You could also incorporate antlers, sand or outdoor activities that the couple enjoy together. This is where natural lovers rejoice.

Finally, there’s the girl who describes her day as rustic elegance. She dreams of a touch of sophistication paired with wide open spaces. Think gold flatware against a raw wooden table. Everything stays sleek and refined while complimenting a slightly more relaxed mood.

And of course there’s a hybrid of any of the above which makes every day extremely unique.

Choose the Right Venue

Michigan is home to a countless number of barns, wineries and other outdoor spaces that lend themselves so well towards this style of gathering. With such a plethora of earthy spaces, I think that’s why we tend to assume that everyone getting married with a loose bouquet of wildflowers is search of that casual vibe. However, we mustn’t forget that there are many hotel ballrooms, elegant restaurants and rental halls that also can host amazing events. And not all of them pair well with burlap, wooden crates or nautical rope décor. Make sure that your venue provides the right backdrop and sets the perfect tone for you wedding day.

Don’t Assume that Planning will be Simple

I hear it all the time, I want a simple wedding day. Don’t we all? Does anyone want their day to be an overly complicated nightmare?? The fact of the matter is, regardless of the style or theme of your wedding day, you’re still inviting guests, they still need invitations, chairs, tables, linens, food, centerpieces, transportation and about a 100 other details that go into the planning of a successful event. Oh and you thought it would cost less because it’s a rustic wedding? While there might be a few details that become more casual and you could possibly skip out on the draping or extremely tall formal centerpieces, but that greenery garland and beautiful compote centerpiece is still cost money. And the price tag on your flank steak is the same whether you serve it in a fancy ballroom or on a tented hillside.

I love working in casual elegance as well as grander ballrooms. I think that’s one of the reasons that I love what I do so much, I get to meet a variety of people, working in different atmosphere and am never limited on my creativity. Each wedding as is individual as the couple planning it.

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Looking for more wedding planning tips? Read my guest feature over on Simply Blue Weddings the second Thursday of each month.

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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Featured :: Nautical Lake Michigan Wedding on Style Me Pretty

0 · Dec 11, 2015 ·

On the sand in St Joseph, Becca and John said I do. From the flowers to the ribbons to the setting, the entire day was picaresque. Lake Michigan will always hold a piece of my heart, no matter how far my travels may take me. The soft tones and nautical touches were some of my favorites from this past wedding season. The fact that the celebration remained unplugged made nature’s beautiful shine all the more. And today you can see the entire celebration featured over on Style Me Pretty.

A World without Flowers

0 · Nov 18, 2015 ·

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

Do you ever feel small? There’s this world out there that’s full of hunger, heartache, tragedy, anger and defeat. And then there’s me, siting here warm in the comfort of my own home stressing about minuet details such as flowers and home decor. Hardly a world crisis. It makes me feel little and worthless.

When I began my flower journey I struggled with the concept of fresh flowers because it isn’t something that would last. I felt like maybe I was wasting a plant’s potential by plucking it’s blooms and placing them in a vase where they would only last a few days. And then they would be forever forgotten.

A shift in perspective from an another designer made me realize that by picking that flower and bringing it inside, I can now enjoy it for numerous hours at a time, valuing the beauty it brings to my table for those few precious days. If I had left it in the field, I may have seen it for a couple minutes as I drove by every now and then – but even attached to it’s roots, it will too eventually wither and fade away. We need to appreciate beauty while it lasts.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to add a little beauty to the world around you. I think we all need that moment of peace and refreshment. Can you imagine what the world might be like if artists stopped creating? What if Monet had never picked up a paintbrush because it was frivolous? Or think of all the great architects, what if they’d never hand carved and crafted anything and all the buildings around us were just square boxes? And what if there were no flowers?

What would it be like if we lived in a world without flowers?

Real Weddings :: Tina & Chris

0 · Nov 4, 2015 ·

It’s now the time of year when I’m wrapping up wedding season, summer days have gone by and I’ve started to embrace that cozy late autumn (and even Christmas!!) mindset. My flipflops have been traded for tall boots and my t-shirts have all been tucked away. At the same time, I’m chatting with brides who are gleefully planning next years weddings and I have to revert back to that springtime frame of mind. I’m starting to look for inspiration but my world – craft and decor stores, wedding blogs, Pinterest – is filled with autumn foliage and donuts (not that I mind a good donut!)

So I’m going to pretend that I’m posting this pretty spring day in hopes of inspiring one of next May’s lucky brides. If nothing else, I’m always happy to reminisce about foxglove and peonies.

Tina and Chris were married at Witt’s Inn in Lowell. It was my first time visiting this charming little barn and beautiful gardens. It’s rustic and what one might picture when they think of a barn wedding, until you look up. Chandeliers. Beautiful rows of chandeliers. That sparkle goes straight to a girl’s heart.

Speaking of a girl after my own heart, Tina hired me to take charge of her floral decor and dropped off 65 mismatched gold, brass and copper vessels for me to fill with blooms of my choice – just somewhere in the blush, pink or coral color story. It was so much fun sorting through each vessel, finding the perfect table mates and making each arrangement completely unique.

So I filled my floral buckets with tulips, roses, ranunculus, lilies, foxglove, peonies, clematis and wild honeysuckle. I foraged a few greens and added some delicate silk ribbons. The way they paired with the soft blush underlay of Tina’s dress was perfection. And everywhere you looked, there was a different bloom, a different arrangement and the prettiest all greenery bridesmaids bouquets.

Dear Tina and Chris, I hope you two have loved your first season together and have many more full of happiness to come.

Prettier than Planned

0 · Oct 12, 2015 ·

Photography: Katy O’Dell Photography

I’m often asked to detail all the flowers clients will see at their wedding – outline for them each little bloom. I don’t do that. And it’s not because I’m afraid of them stealing my floral recipe or divulging my deep dark secrets, it’s really because I don’t know. It’s that unknown that makes for your unsurpassed wedding floral story.

The floral consult process normally starts months before your actual wedding date. At that time I soak in all of your lovely ideas, start thinking about your color palette and suggest a few key blooms that will most likely be in season. The month before your wedding day I’ll revisit these notes. I’ll focus on what product has been awesome so far this season and then really analyze the color story and the overall feeling of your wedding day. I’ll choose the best varieties from across the country, sourcing from often several wholesalers and reaching out to some of my favorite local spots.

The week before your wedding the blooms begin to arrive. Boxes upon boxes land at my doorstep and I begin to unpack. It’s better than Christmas as I pull each and every bunch from its plastic sleeve and compare how the blossoms will look together, really envisioning your bouquets and centerpieces and how beautiful your wedding will be.

And then I get to that one box. The one that sent me peachy orange instead of coral blooms. Sometimes the pink is more purple and less cherry. And sometimes things just feel off.

This is where I get creative. This is where the unknown inspires me. One of my favorite examples of this is the untold story of Jen’s bouquet. When I unpacked her gorgeous flowers I was in love. She wanted a blush and berry palette that would stand bold against her black and white stripe and glittering gold accents. All was in order except for a few bunches, which were half the size of their usual selves. Half the size means half the product which meant I was surely going to run out. I began working anyway hoping that maybe I could stretch it, maybe I had ordered too many somewhere else and maybe something would all work out in the end. It became clear that it would not.

I wanted to get the key pieces put together. Bouquets are of the utmost importance, especially hers. So I worked tirelessly on them. Then on to her bouquet. I put it together once. I put it together twice. I tweaked and rearranged. It just didn’t feel right. Something was missing and after 2+ hours, I took a break.

Taking a moment to yourself is important. Stepping back can help so much. So I set out to solved my shortage problem and found myself wondering the aisles of a local greenhouse. There sat the most beautiful Wine and Roses Weigela bushes. The deep shades of merlot were so rich and perfect they nearly jumped in my cart and drove themselves home. They were the most impeccable addition a designer could ask for. I happily purchased my plants and made my way back.

With the addition of the berry colored blooms, Jen’s bouquet fell together in 5 minutes flat. The missing ingredient was found and my day was made.

However, it’s not something I could plan for. Often I just stumble across plants that scream “perfection”. Sometimes the search takes a little longer. Being creative and open minded is what is so enticing to me about floral design. No two bouquets will ever be identical, not two flowers are every exactly alike.

Sometimes things just turn out prettier than planned.

Comparing Florists :: Pricing

0 · Mar 10, 2015 ·

Price – Passion – Experience

I think these are the main three things that set floral designers apart from one another. So I’m putting together a little miniseries about addressing these different ideas and how you should choose your wedding florist… or at least some things to consider during the decision making process.

And since it’s probably the most frequently asked of all the questions, I’m going to start with the subject of price and build from there. But that doesn’t mean that you can skip the rest of the series thinking you know it all because there’s valuable information ahead!

I was asked the other day how my prices compare to those of a typical flower shop when it comes to floral designs. I think this is an interesting question and actually one that I ponder quite often. Pricing is a tricky subject and I don’t like to talk money in general. I just like to create, put together something magical for you and see a smiling face at the end of my day. I don’t want to have to worry about pesky dollar signs.

But the reality of it is, we all seek to find that balance – the price that is fair and affordable for our brides to pay while still making it worthwhile for me to do the work and deliver amazing product.

I have never worked in a “typical” flower shop. I have been taught about pricing from several different sources and use what is considered standard flower markup in this industry. I have seen floral quotes from other florists and there are places where I think I would have projected a higher cost and other areas where my prices might be a touch lower. However, all I saw was a quote, not the actual delivered product so it’s really hard to compare apples to oranges (or visions of sugar plums dancing in my head).

Think about it in terms of food, a subject that many of us are very familiar with. If I’m craving a shrimp dinner, I have several options. I can head to Long John Silver’s or another similar fast food restaurant. I’ll get a basket full of battered and fried shrimp, some fries and possibly even a drink for around $5. Or I can go to a fine dining seafood restaurant. I could pay upwards of $30+ for half the amount of shrimp. Why am I willing to spend more about the fine dining restaurant? How do you compare the two? Shrimp is shrimp, right?

Flowers are flowers, right? Why can I purchase a ½ dozen roses from Aldi for $4 while if I head to a flower shop it’s going to cost more around $20 for that same arrangement?

The long of the short is, there are standards price markups in every industry. I think it’s fairly safe to assume that the quality of shrimp of being served at the high end restaurant is going to be better than that served at a quick service restaurant, it’s not always about quantity but also quality. Therefore we’re willing to pay more because there’s a higher trust factor, the food might be more naturally sourced and prepared with higher quality ingredients. One meal might be served in a paper wrapper and another on bone china. But they’re both restaurants and serve food to fill your bellies.

I am a floral designer and so is the girl working at the flower shop next door. But I can’t say where her flowers are coming from – are they local, sustainable, etc. Our markup might be comparable but what is the starting price? And how does that affect the overall arrangement?

Then let’s think about the little “extras”. As a potential bride, you were given a floral quote with all your needs for the day – the bouquet, corsages and centerpieces just to name a few. But what you might not have asked is how large each bouquet will be. Will it be the pieces be composed of many fillers? What kind of containers will the centerpieces be placed in and how big will they be? My bouquets are usually adored with at least 3 long streaming ribbons – long flowy ribbons are right on trend and I love them. Is this important to you? Are silky ribbons this style included within this other quote or is that extra? I love this Snippet & Ink article which shows even more detail about this and how to compare apples to oranges, because let’s face it, not all flowers are the same.

Don’t be afraid to pick out specific arrangements from a designer’s portfolio and ask about the price. This will give you an idea of what they might have quoted you and how it compares. You don’t want any surprises (unless they’re good ones!) on your wedding day!

Next week, we’ll chat about passion!

Background image beautifully captured by Hetler Photography.

Unloved Blooms

1 · Mar 9, 2015 ·

This photograph showed up in my feed a couple different places last week. It’s really really lovely.

Photography: Alexa’s Photography | Floral Design: Sophisticated Florals by Stephanie | Via: Ruffled Blog

The post was featured on Ruffled Blog last week as well as on their Facebook page. This picture had 667 likes, numerous comments about how pretty it is and was shared throughout social media.

If I’m not mistaken, this is a carnation. A carnation!! I personally have no issues with carnations, if fact, I think they’re really pretty if they’ve been placed correctly in an arrangement with care and attention to detail. However, during the process of designing with my floral clients, I always ask if there are any flowers that they really don’t like or do not want to see in their decor. The number one answer I receive is “no carnations.” And sometimes it’s really hard to sway their opinions otherwise, even though these 667 people love it. I know you can’t please everyone.

“There are no bad flowers, only bad flower combinations.” – Kelly Perry, of Philosophy Flowers. That thought is forever ingrained in my mind. So next time you’re passing by “ugly” blooms, I encourage you to stop and study them for a moment and think about what they might look like in a another light.

The Rose

0 · Feb 5, 2015 ·

We’ve downplayed the romance of roses. I had yet another bride tell me that she isn’t a fan of roses. While it’s not uncommon for me to hear, it is somewhat disheartening. I can’t use ANY roses in your arrangements? I think we’re sick of seeing tightly wound bunches sadly wrapped in cellophane, thrown together with a couple sprigs of baby’s breath and being advertised as something we should love. However, when I think of all the beautiful blooms that you’re excluding, it’s somewhat heartbreaking. There are so many great varieties beyond the typical South American blooms we associate with the word “rose” leaving so many flowers behind that we’re simply not appreciating.

I love creating with roses. I love pulling the center petals from the little spray roses to reveal the cute little stamens hiding inside. The way a garden rose can transform from a tight, round bud to a glorious bloom layered with ruffles and frills is really exciting. And I want to share this with you.

Picture: Heather Cisler Photography

The yellow rose – a symbol of friendship. I could stay friends with these lovelies all day long. What you see here is an American grown, buttery yellow California bloom paired with a yellow Finesse rose – which is a standard variety but they have a softer, almost ruffly texture on their outer edges making just a touch more fancy. The butter tones accentuate those found in the ivory spray roses on the left and who can resist adding a couple of tulips and ranunculus to the mix!?

Picture: Kelly Sweet Photography

I created this bouquet for a bride who had her heart set on peonies. There’s no doubt that peonies are one of my all time favorites and I’m hopeful for the day that they’re available year around… or maybe it’s the fact that they’re not that makes them so special. Either way, I wasn’t able to accommodate my October bride’s wishes. However, I don’t think either of us were too disappointed by the results.

I had the roses shipped in from Oregon, which made them extra special. The large ivory ones (Helga Paiget) were especially my favorites as some blooms had just a touch of pink accenting their outer petals. And when they opened it was pure magic. Layer upon layer of delicate petals were revealed. They were placed next to the Romantic Antike roses (the coral-y pink ones). Those too are extraordinary in their own way. While closed, they are a beautifully round bud and opened, they flatten out with a swirling petal arrangement that leads to a golden center. Also shown are a few delicately sweet Champagne roses in blush tones and some PeeGee hydrangeas with peach stock.

Picture: Ashley Slater Photography

I’m not sure what what exactly inspired this combination of roses. The Caramel Antikes and the red garden roses (which the grower considered brown) were shipped to me from California (on a side note… I would love to source more roses from Michigan, anyone want to recommend a grower to me?) and the pale blush/beige one of the left in fact is a South American Quicksand rose. I just threw these in a vase together with some chocolate cosmos and grabbed a couple leaves off a bush in my backyard but I loved the results!

Still think roses are boring? If you still don’t like roses, I understand and will not force my preference upon you. But with so many varieties, colors, sizes and design options I really think we should reconsider.

“That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” – Shakespeare

Real Weddings :: Tim & Christina, the Video

0 · Jan 28, 2015 ·

It’s hard to imagine condensing an entire wedding day into just over 3 minutes and yet Coastline Studios has done it with a perfection that captures the absolute heart of Tim and Christina’s relationship. This video transcribes every reason why I’m so in love with my job. It perfectly captures the true essence of marriage and what the relationship of man and wife and a Christ centered bond is all about. This couple and their families were such a joy to be around and made me fall in love with the wedding industry all over again. Every word of this is so heartfelt and sincere – I simply could not imagine a more perfect wedding day if I tried.

Dear Tim & Christina – thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a momentous occasion and what is sure to be the most treasured day of your life.

You Bring Our Hearts to Life

0 · Dec 23, 2014 ·

“We believe in the kingdom come,

We believe in the risen Son,

You bring our hearts to life.”

This is the anthem that’s been ringing through my head this week. And while this isn’t exactly a Christmas song, is it connected to the holiday theme. It’s because of Christmas that we can sing this at all. (You can hear the whole song here.)

Just think, if Jesus hadn’t been born in the manger, there would be no risen Son. There would be no hope, no joy, no peace. Our hearts wouldn’t have life.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the presents and hot cocoa or even write blog posts about how much we miss our Christmas trees (I caved and put one up over the weekend, by the way) – but to me this season is really based on hope. I simply cannot comprehend what it would be life to live in this world without the knowledge that someday I’m leaving and headed to my eternal home. This isn’t forever and the best truly is yet to come.

May you be surrounded with this comfort and joy as you celebrate this Christmas.

The above picture was captured by Hetler Photography as part of our “Hat’s Off to the New Year” shoot last winter. You can see the entire holiday post here.

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.

floral design

The Stems

To Have and to Hold

Perfectly Imperfect

Moving Blooms

Floral Design

Event Design

Day-of Coordination/Event Management

Full Service Wedding Planning

Properly Define Rustic

Choose the Right Venue

Don’t Assume that Planning will be Simple

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