flowers by The Day's Design

Friday Flowers :: Airemiss’s Flower Crown

0 · May 14, 2016 ·

Yes, I am a day late in this post. However, we can pretend it’s still Friday, I only got 2 hours of sleep last night so it feels like one continuous day and we’re going to stretch the rules of this Friday Flowers post. It’s wedding season, it all blurs together anyway.

I’m pulling this one out of the archives because even though it’s nearly 2 years old, it’s still one of my favorite weddings. There were nine people who celebrated in the misty rain, in the middle of the woods. It was pretty romantic location as far as wedding ceremonies go.

I designed a really awesome tabletop and some beautiful florals throughout the decor, but one of my favorite pieces was Airemiss’s flower crown. It was so simple and yet it’s still one of my favorite crowns that I’ve ever made.

Her favorite flower is a white rose. That is what she requested her bouquet be made of but she wanted it assembled in a way that made it feel like it could have been just gathered and tied together right there in the woods. White roses don’t exactly grow wild in Michigan’s woodland settings, but I think we managed to capture that essence quite well.

When it comes to creating a flower crown, I think about 4 main things.

The environment which it will be worn in. Should it be clean and chic like a city setting or contain tidbits from the surrounding fields?
The outfit it will be worn with. Obviously I don’t want colors to clash and then again should it be polished and chic or more boho and carefree? Romantic, whimsical – what’s the overall feel of the attire?
The hairstyle it will be worn with. Will it partially be tucked into a bun? Should it be worn to one side? Long hair? Short hair? Do we want the blooms or the hair to show more?
Other flowers in the scene. This would mostly pertain to a bouquet or other fashion accessory but could also think about the environment, if you’re in an apple orchard, I’m probably going to try to include a few of those dainty pink blossoms. But even more importantly I do strive to make sure it looks amazing paired with your bridal bouquet. The two definitely need to pair well together.

So taking those 4 points into consideration, this halo of flowers was born. It was to be worn in the woods, so a little wild would be alright. It would be worn with a white Vera Wang wedding dress, which had white roses trailing up the front. Those parts were pretty straight forward. Next I had to consider the bride’s sweet little pixie cut. I couldn’t place an enormous flower on her head that would completely take over. I felt like she needed more of a headband of blooms, bold and stylish but not overwhelming. Finally, it had to match her white rose bouquet.

The main ingredient I chose was white majolica spray roses. These sprays are one of my go-to’s that I use time and time again. They’re like a safety net for me. But I love them. They have the tiniest tinge of pink and they open so beautifully to reveal their centers. I feel a little bit like a traitor loving South American roses this much, but I’ll get over it. They’re just so ruffly for being “standard” and were the perfect size for this crown.

Myrtle is a symbol of love and a Hebrew symbol for marriage. It was significant to be Aphrodite and Demeter in Roman mythology. It was very important to Airemiss that it be included in her flower arrangements and I couldn’t think of a better place to include the green than around her head.

Just a couple springs of agonis were added in to add a little extra color and depth. It’s actually a type of willow myrtle, so I felt like it was a very appropriate compliment to the crown.

The final ingredient was fresh lavender. I love including lavender whenever possible. At our old house, I planted some lavender in my tiny garden and it produced blooms all summer long, I wish I still had this plant. The lavender for their wedding came from my garden. It’s fragrant, earthy and sweet, adding just a touch of color in a very subtle way.

If you’d like to see the entire wedding day again, you can see it here. Have a great weekend!

Real Weddings :: Ryan & Jen

0 · Nov 20, 2015 ·

Peonies, black and white stripes, gold accents… and that’s just the start of Ryan and Jen’s stunning day. Jen is so stylish, chic and GORGEOUS, making her day beautiful was a piece of cake. And I love how even though their celebration took place in a classic club location, the way it was photographed almost makes it seem like they eloped into the woods – with 22 of their closest friends (the largest bridal party I’ve seen to date), but when you’re as sweet as these two, it’s easy to see why they’re so popular, they just radiate love.

Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Reidsma!!

Photography: Katy O’Dell Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Thousand Oaks Golf Club | Bride’s Dress: Bianka Bridal

Real Weddings :: Tim & Christina

0 · Jun 16, 2015 ·

I have something that I like to refer to as my Wedding Bucket List. This basically means that there are certain vendors that I long to work with, venues that I’m dying to design in and floral combinations that make me so weak in the knees that if I were able to actually hold them in my hands and create with them my heart might actually leap out of my chest because it cannot hold the excitement.

Last June I received a phone call from the lovely Christina and she started telling me about her wedding this upcoming fall at The Willowbrook Mill in Northport — had I heard of it? Seriously!!? Not only had I heard of it, it was at the top of my list! For me this venue has so much history and meaning, I remember going there as a little girl back when it was an ice cream parlor and listening the Da Yoopers sing The Second Week of Deer Camp and dancing with my grandma as the song played on a beat up old jukebox. Now years later the building has been recreated and is a beautiful wedding venue and combines everything I love about Northern Michigan. And it meant I got to travel up north, working in pretty much any venue in Leelanau County is a dream come true for me.

As the planning went on, I knew this was a girl after my own heart. It wasn’t just the rustic wood floors, the glamorous sequined linens or their love for the most stunning California grown garden roses that made me fall in love with this couple, but their love for one another, the way they cherish their family and how God was at the very center of their marriage celebration – that is what truly made this one for the books.

From the bottom of my heart I wish Tim and Christina all the happiness in the world. Thank you for allowing me to be such a grand part of your celebration, designing a day of love.

Something Blu Shoes | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Getting Ready Photos | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Northport Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Love Letter | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Groom | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

First Look | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Bride and Groom First Look | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Boutonnieres | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Autumn Wedding Party | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Blush Bridesmaids Bouquet | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Flower Girl | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Letterpress Wedding Invitations | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Weddings at Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Leland Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Grand Exit | Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Classic Get Away Car | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Fishtown | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Garden Rose Bouquet | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Fishtown Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Vintage Wedding Car | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Autumn Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Leelanau Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Willowbrook Mill Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Calligraphy Table Number | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Pinecone Place Card Holder | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Head Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Wedding at Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Wedding at Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Phtoography

Sequin Cake Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Cake Cutting | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Head Table Garland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

First Dance | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Vintage Wedding Limo | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

This wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty last month, you can see it here.

1 Recipe… Endless Possibilities (Part 2)

0 · May 15, 2015 ·

I think today calls for another dose of cheery blooms. So I’m sharing what I learned from Kaci with Damsel Floral Co about creating a more traditional, or formal style bridal bouquet (here’s the post from last week talking about looser, more asymmetrical bouquet styles).

We stayed true to the original nature of this project, further proving that just because we’re using the same flowers, it does not mean we’re going to yield identical results. In fact, far from it. There’s so much to factor into the equation but the major influence is the designer’s eye and personal preference. This is an art form, you wouldn’t expect 2 painters to paint the exact same painting or two sculptors to sculpt the same statue. It’s all in the eye of the beholder. And no two flowers stems are the same.

To create a more traditional bridal bouquet, we’ll start from the inside and work our way out. Pick a cluster of blooms that will be the central focal point. In a circle pattern, startarranging around that focal point, one blossom at a time. Keep the stems in a tight and in a spiral pattern.

As you work, startadding a few textural tidbits and accent flowers into the bouquet. This will soften the overall look and add more visual interest. Once the bouquet is complete and has reached the right size, perfect it by adding a few more greenery touches and even out any gaps making sure the bouquet is aesthetically pleasing and balanced.

An extra tip: Pay attention to the natural curves of each flower’s stem. Blooms with straight stems fit better towards the middle of the bouquets and those with a slight curve or angled flower head make better border flowers.

My final results.

And Kaci’s beautiful bouquet… while I struggled a touch, she whipped this up effortlessly.

I loved seeing all the completed bouquet (minus one we had to disassemble due to running out of flowers!). They were all so different even though we had used the same ingredients.

Photography: Hetler Photography | Floral Design: Damsel Floral Co and The Day’s Design

Featured :: Style Me Pretty Michigan

0 · May 14, 2015 ·

Talk about sweet surprises, I knew this day was coming but I didn’t know when. So when I saw this gorgeous wedding pop up in my feed it just took my glum morning and turned my busy frown up side down! I LOVED this wedding. And I know that I’m not supposed to play favorites, but this one totally has hold of my heartstrings and seeing it again today on Style Me Pretty makes so so excited for all the lovely in store for this coming wedding season.

Kelly Sweet captured the romance with absolute perfection and the video from Coastline Studio is not to be missed. Northern Michigan, I can’t wait to come back home!

Here’s the feature which shows full vendor credits and I’ll also be sharing more in the future… this is a beautiful blog post in the making.

Real Weddings :: Nolan & Jessica

0 · Apr 29, 2015 ·

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

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

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

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

Comparing Florists :: The Experience

0 · Apr 2, 2015 ·

The last part of this series (even though this is hardly the end all, be all of floral design) is experience. And experience can be approached in two different ways. There’s the client experience and then there’s the experience level of your wedding professional.

First off, let’s talk client experience. I have found that florist approach the initial client consult in several different ways. If they have a storefront, then a meeting at the shop might be in order. But as it’s becoming increasingly common for boutique designers and independent florist to set up home studios, sometimes it’s a cup of coffee with your local barista that fits the bill or perhaps even a phone consult to make that initial connection. Others may even keep communications strictly through email and other virtual means. There’s not a right or wrong answer to this, it’s really what’s best for you, as the client. Which way to do you like to communicate? Would you rather just email a link to your Pinterest board and then have a florist provide a quote? Do you want to see, feel and touch objects in the flower shop? Or does a lengthy chat over a cuppa joe sound more like your cup of tea (hehe, pun intended!)

Personally, I like to meet all of my clients in person, whenever possible. This goes for both planning and floral design clients because I want to feel your passion. I want to know what the next few months working alongside you are going to be like. I want to see which flowers make your eyes light up and see the glow that spreads across your face as you giddily chat about your fiancé. I want to get a feel for your likes and dislikes and sometimes there are nonverbal communications and clues that I can’t perceive via virtual communications.

Beyond that, I work closely with my clients. I want to know as much as possible about the events surrounding your day and what your wedding hopes and dreams are. Some floral designers (myself included) offer additional services such as delivery, set up, full event design, event management (or day-of coordination) or even full wedding planning services. Other’s stick strictly to the floral basics. So consider your floral needs and whether it would better suit you to have one person providing all these services for you. Or perhaps that’s all a bit too fancy and all you need is a quick quote, some blooms in a vase and you’ll return the rentals and tear down yourself. That’s perfect too, if that’s the experience that you choose.

Then there’s the floral designer’s experience. Some basic questions to ask – how long have they been in the wedding or floral industry? Where else have they worked? What trends have they seen and are they up to date on the types of flowers and style you’re seeking? Who have they studied under or did they go to “flower school”?

When it comes to flowers, for the most part I’m self-taught. That might have scared me when I was a bride talking to a floral designer. But I’ve been in hospitality for over 12 years now with the past 7 being focused specifically on weddings. That means I bring a fair amount of wedding knowledge to the table. I’ve been in business since 2011 and have watched it flourish and grow while definitely making a few mistakes along the way. I soak up knowledge from whatever sources I can and have committed to attending at least one workshop or class-type experience a year because I refuse to give up on education. I’m a lifetime learner, for sure and have been enchanted by beautiful blooms ever since I was a little girl. With each flower order I receive, I make sure there’s at least one new flower variety for me to play with and learn from. For me, learning in this non-traditional way works and I hardly feel inexperienced.

Other designers have a wealth of floral knowledge, but they might not know as much about planning or customer service. Perhaps they have a specialty – be it large scale arrangements, foraged and textural design or the most beautiful bridal bouquets you’ve ever seen. Is their work well rounded? Where are your priorities with their experience? The fact that they can make the most fabulous arbors isn’t going to benefit you if you’re not having one at your ceremony site. Have they been published on every major wedding blog and magazine and hopefully your wedding will be too?

This can also circle back around to pricing. Expect to pay a bit more for someone with oodles of formal training at 20+ years in the floral industry. I’ll call them floral powerhouses or brand name florists. You might save a couple dollars by hiring a newbie or someone lesser known. You may or may not be making a sacrifice, just depending upon who you hire. Sometimes designers are lesser known simply because they do a smaller volume of weddings each year, they choose to keep their businesses small and are very selective about the clients they take on. This may actually improve your client experience, even if it means they don’t have as much floral experience. But on the other side of that coin, a florist who does lot in volume a year might not give you the same amount of personal attention, but they make up for it in pricing. From a business standpoint, they don’t need to charge as much because they take on 5 weddings a weekend whereas someone such as myself will only do one. But that’s why I am able to provide a more personalized experience.

Have you figured out what’s important to you about your floral designer? I really think it all comes down to a gut feeling and finding someone who you feel comfortable and can connect with. Do you have other questions about what to consider? I’d love to hear them and can absolutely expand upon this.

And in case you missed Part 1 (Pricing) & Part 2 (Passion) you can read those here and here.

She’s Here!

0 · Mar 13, 2015 ·

7 lbs 3 oz and 19 1/2 inches long, Willa June was born at 9:27 am yesterday. Gretta thought you should know that she’s officially a big sister and I’m now Mama to 2 beautiful girls.

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Styling & Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Calligraphy: Kaitlin Parisho Designs | Chair: Cameos & Cardigans

A Winter Maternity Session

0 · Mar 6, 2015 ·

I didn’t have maternity photos taken when I was pregnant with Gretta, and I’m not sure if I completely regret that but do know that there’s a missing piece of documentation in my life. I will never have that visual memory. I’ve never thought of myself as very photogenic so I just didn’t entertain the thought too much. I applaud those women who carry pregnancy with such beauty and grace, because that’s simply not me. However with this pregnancy, I decided to go for it. So back in January, Ashley Slater and I snuck outside for a little wintery photo session to commemorate this time in my life. I really set forth to see the beauty in this moment and try to find that every season has a reason to celebrate. It’s what I preach, it’s time to act on that.

As a bonus, I surprised my husband with these for a little Valentine’s gift. These were totally worth facing the frigid temperatures and now I have some beautiful new artwork to freshen up the baby’s nursery. And if you know me at all, you know that any photo session wouldn’t be complete without some beautiful blooms and a little styling.

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Florals & Styling: The Day’s Design | Calligraphy: Kaitlin Parisho Designs | Chair: Cameos & Cardigans

Simply Blue Weddings

0 · Mar 2, 2015 ·

Home is where the heart is. Do you believe in that sentiment? Have you ever longed to go home – even though you’re sitting in your own house, apartment or whereever else you might currently reside?

I live in Grand Rapids. I suppose I should call it home. But my soul is wondering free somewhere near the shores of Lake Michigan and it is without doubt that I can say if one where to search for my heart, they would find it in Lake Leelanau. Every time I make the 3 hour journey north, I feel like I’m headed home. It’s for this reason that I love networking with the local wedding vendors, feel a flutter of delight every time I get an inquiry for a Leelanau destination bride or can hardly convince myself that I should charge a travel fee since in reality my clients are doing me a favor and allowing me to come home. I have access to a studio location in Lake Leelanau, I have coolers and work space and so naturally I advertise my services to the Northern Michigan bride.

A couple weeks ago I was fortunate to play a really small part in the relaunch of Simply Blue Weddings. My dear friend Rachel, of Sincerely, Ginger Weddings, is the proud new owner of the fabulous blog which caters to the “up north” bride. Her and Margaret have refreshed the space, bringing new life to the Northern Michigan resource and reminding us why we love it so much. The new blog site launched yesterday, but some us who have experience and passion for working with Northern Michigan couples got the party started a little early, and last month had a coffee and conversations date in Traverse City – which I had the honor of providing blooms for! It was so fun meeting some of the faces that I “know” through social media, of who’s work I might have been drooling over for awhile but have never truly mustered up the courage to say “Hello.”

Photography: Northern Art Photography | Event Planning: Sincerely, Ginger Weddings | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Venue: Kirkbride Hall

The region has so much to offer, if you’re considering a Northern Michigan celebration, let’s connect! And in the meantime, go check out the brand new Simply Blue Weddings.

It’s a…

0 · Feb 27, 2015 ·

Yesterday marked my 37th week of pregnancy and I’m officially full term. If you follow me across social media you might notice that I’m not very vocal about it. I did make an announcement back in November, however these things are often quickly forgotten… unless of course, you’re the pregnant one! It’s not that I’m not thankful or excited or any of those things, but I just don’t get the warm fuzzy feelings that are people generally find normal from most expectant moms. I find pregnancy and the pregnancy process a little strange and almost borderline creepy – there’s something growing inside me! I try not to think about it. The goal is to keep this space a positive, loving and optimistic one, so it doesn’t always seem appropriate to share what’s really on my mind. Like Mom always said, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

But the truth is, we’re having another little girl. She will be here in less than 2 weeks time. And we’re really excited. Gretta was moved into her new “big girl bedroom” last weekend, and Baby Girl #2 will take over the nursery space. We’re still busy at work with the home reno projects, which we’re hoping (fingers crossed really really tightly!!) will just about be wrapped up this weekend. I don’t know what people do that don’t have parents like mine. Seriously, my dad has worked his hiney off in our nightmare of a bathroom and my mom has been a laundry and baby room warrior.

Meanwhile, I’m here wrapping up some really pretty details for 2015 brides and getting ahead of the game, in hopes of taking the next month to find the new norm and balance in life. I’m not sure that any of us are truly prepared for what life has in store for us but things always seem to work out. I’ll still be checking email and staying in planning mode, just on a little slower pace. So I appreciate your patience and understanding.

There are still openings in my 2015 wedding season for both floral design and planning clients but if you’re considering working with me the spots are filling up fast! Have a great weekend friends and be sure to check back next week as I’m going to share the rest of my maternity shoot with Ashley Slater Photography, with some gorgeous calligraphy pieces from Kaitlin Parisho Designs. It’s pretty, you won’t want to miss it!

Wedding in the Woods

0 · Feb 20, 2015 ·

I love Michigan. Beautiful lakes, gorgeous views and my forever home. But sometimes the weather can be just a tad unpredictable for me. Today the windchills are hovering somewhere around -15°, I can’t really tell you how cold that it because I simply refuse to leave the house. Flashback to June. June is usually a warm and fairly mild month. Perfect for weddings. But this particular day in June was hot, muggy and drizzly. The weather unpredictability never seems to stop us from planning outdoor celebrations, but sometimes I think it should (but that’s just my logical side talking… who really wants to be trapped indoors??).

Airemiss and Kykeo originally planned a grand scale wedding celebration. But as it often happens, during the planning process they began to feel overwhelmed. And then throw in a couple of other inconvenient life circumstances and they decided to ditch they’re lavish plans all together. This doesn’t mean that they had to give up style or having a special wedding day. It just allowed more room to get creative.

A simple ceremony in the woods was the plan. They love Alice in Wonderland, so that furthered their woodland theme. Aire was a dream bride, other than wanting an ode to Alice in Wonderland and white roses in her bouquet, she allowed me to create and surprise them with a fabulous setting for them to sit and eat cake after they officially said ‘I do”. And of course, no celebration would be complete without a fabulous photographer, so thankfully Kelly Sweet was there to capture the memories (and gorgeous misty light) from the day.

This wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty back in November. You can see it here.

Happy Friday, stay warm friends!!

Just Create

0 · Feb 12, 2015 ·

Yesterday one of my favorite bouquets I’ve ever created was featured on Style Me Pretty, along with a whole other slew of talented ladies who love to create beautiful blooms, with beautiful hearts. It was a reminder of spring, of the vibrancy, the color and the much needed refresh we all need in our life after a long, cold winter.

Flowers have intrigued me for as long as I can remember, although it wasn’t with the passion for education and growth that they do now. When I was a little girl, I remember planting wildflower seeds around the perimeter of our above ground pool and waiting for them to bloom. The poppies always stand out in my memory the most. While it takes a while for those sprouts to grown, if you never plant the seeds, you will never see the fruits of your labor.

Kelly Perry, the creator of the Team Flower workshop, also shared our flowers on the Team Flower blog. It’s funny how two blogs can share the same content but connect with the subjects in a whole different way. To one, they’re just a bunch of beautifully captured images which audiences love to see. To another, they’re a story, a conquest and a beginning.

I was thinking about this beginning, the way we start our creations. Sometimes it can be paralyzing to start. We always want to put our best foot forward and aim for perfection, but like Kelly mentioned, it’s risky. It’s comforting to know that someone else also just starts arranging, not really knowing where the results will lead. And we can’t please everyone.

When I stepped off the plane to attend this workshop, I didn’t know where I was headed. I didn’t know who I would meet. I didn’t even know the girl I had agreed to spend the next 2 hours of my life carpooling with (she was awesome, by the way). And beyond this, I didn’t know where this workshop would lead me and the ways it would unleash a passion that was bottled up within, held hostage by fear.

Then I started to create this bouquet. Rows and rows of beautiful blooms were placed in front of me and I was told to go, create. It’s hard to know where to begin, I didn’t have a vision in mind. I didn’t have any limits or parameters. All I knew is that I wanted to make something gorgeous.

I remember seeing that big, beautiful fuchsia peony and I held it in my hand as it spoke to me. It was a starting point. I found some quirky little kumquats and a softer pink tree peony, which also called to me. This was the base, the inspiration. I continued to build upon this, grabbing ingredients that I liked and some that just felt like they belonged – they connected the colors, the story.

Every time I gather flowers for an event I seek to recreate this feeling that I had in that moment. I squeal with excitement when flower orders arrive at my doorstep. And I want to tell your tale while creating your bridal bouquet. It might sound a little deep but I can’t just cluster flowers together and call it a day. I’ve remade bouquets 4 and 5 times, until they’re accurately depicting the account of your celebration and worthy of being held in your hands. And sometimes that’s scary, sometimes I wonder where I’ll find the time or how I’ll ever conquer perfection but I know I have to start somewhere and my amazing clients are trusting me to take that first step.

So when I feel that pressure start to build up and that fear starts to creep in, I have to remind myself to take a step back, let the flowers do the talking and just create.

Photography: Heather Payne Photography

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 :: Abby & Jon :: Married in a Month

0 · Feb 2, 2015 ·

As I’m sitting here today watching the wind and drifting snow… and extremely grateful for my new weatherproof windows (!!), I can’t help but think back to the time of year when the anticipation of snow was high. I couldn’t wait for some white, fluffy frosting to cover our gray world that fall left behind. It was also during this time that I was wrapping up wedding season.

My youngest sister decided not to wait until May, her originally planned wedding goal, but rather she’d like to get married before the holiday season officially hit and so we set about planning a wedding in just about a month’s time. The first venue site visits happened October 25th and by the evening of November 22nd – Abby and Jon were celebrating the fact that they had just said “I do.”

Creating an overall mood and vision for a November wedding can be a bit tricky. While it’s still technically fall, our thoughts have started to shift to a holiday frame of mind. Venues are starting to be decorated, trees are trimmed and yet there are still crunchy leaves on the ground. So we created a vision that felt festive without screaming Christmas, we let the jewel tones of the historic Georgian mansion inspire us and let just let nature be our guild. You can see the inspiration here.

The bride (and groom’s) list of “must have’s”:

color
the bridal party wearing moccasins
simplicity
white lilies (her favorite flower)
chicken, cheesecake and dutch apple pie

With a little vintage, a touch of classic and a dash of boho chic, I present Abby & Jon’s wedding.

Original Recipe :: Delphiniums & Yellow Blooms

0 · Jan 26, 2015 ·

A couple weeks ago I was asked to create an very special arrangement. I was given a loose set of instructions and told to do my thing. So I let my mind wonder and creativity soon took over and I crafted a piece I was truly proud of. But recipes, colors and instructions are open to different interpretations as I very quickly learned upon delivering my floral arrangement. And it’s not to say that any one floral designer is right or wrong, but their vision, style and perceptions of color and floral pairing preferences are all different.

I was asked to create using yellows and white, with delphiniums and touches of lavender. And since it’s winter, we thought evergreens should be used along with some twigs and more masculine touches, this wasn’t meant to be my typical “girly” flower arrangement.

So I began to compose my display using these ingredients –

Ivory roses, Yellow spray roses, Ivory Stock (which is actually a buttery, pale yellow color), Evergreen branches, Delphinium, Sahara Roses and Blue Thistle.

In addition to the above ingredients, I also went on a little winter foraging adventure in search of twigs — I found the most perfect ones, complete with small blue berries — I just had to dig them out of the snow.

With the same loose instructions, another artist was inspired to create with the flowers pictured below — a combination of flowers that had never even occurred to me but again just shows how it never hurts to show some extra attention to detail while being very visual in your descriptions. And the only argument I might make is regarding the snapdragons and carnations, which I consider more of a fuchsia rather than a lavender.

They choose a darker shade of delphinium and a brighter yellow bloom, but they’re still within the original description. The pine used was a longer needle, probably white pine and I’m not really sure the one terra cotta rose really fits with the other flower choices but I’m trying not to judge.

Using my recipe, here’s what I created –

While this certainly is not the most beautifully photographed arrangement (I’m so sorry for the icky Iphone photos!) I think it’s important to understand why I ask my clients so many questions about their wedding day and what EXACTLY they’re hoping for. It’s not only because I’m nosy, it’s because I want to make sure our imaginations are traveling on the same road together. I never assume anything and always try to incorporate a few pictures or visual examples of designs.

Fell in Love in Fishtown

0 · Jan 22, 2015 ·

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

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

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

Farewell 2014

0 · Dec 31, 2014 ·

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

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

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

January

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

February

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

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

March

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

April

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

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

May

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

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

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

June

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

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

July

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

August

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

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

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

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

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

September

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

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

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

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

October

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

November

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

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

December

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

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

Married in a Month

0 · Dec 30, 2014 ·

Photography: Katie Grace Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design

Happy Engagement Season! So cheesy, right? But I read somewhere that nearly 40% of all proposals that take place each calendar year happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. And if that weren’t crazy enough, there’s another big burst ready to happen as soon as Valentine’s strikes.

This means that wedding vendors (myself included) are getting bombarded with inquires and people trying to plan their weddings – some for this year, and some for next – because it really depends on the individual as to how much time they need to plan their wedding.

Which brings me to my next point, how much time do you need? I know I’ve touched on this subject before (you can read that post here), but earlier this year I worked with a bride that decided she didn’t really know what tomorrow might bring so, forget the long engagement, let’s get married next month (she also happened to be my sister… eep, that was challenge #2!) . For real.

How in the world do you make that happen!?

First and foremost, develop a plan and stick to it. There’s no room for second guessing yourself or changing your minds. Have a few ideas of what you want your wedding to look like, feel like and the overall formality levels but remain just a little flexible.

Hopefully this spontaneous event is on the skirt or off season for weddings. This will be so helpful. Finding vendors a year out is tricky enough, but a month out? Well that’s a whole new can of worms. Remain flexible and open to recommendations from vendors who might be already booked but know someone with a similar style or budget.

Find a venue ASAP. You have to get invitations or you won’t have any guests. And it’s rather difficult to send out invites if you don’t have a location. Most weddings planned on such a short notice have a smaller guest count and tend to be more casual, so consider what’s really important to you. Will a restaurant or bed and breakfast do? Do you need a place for a DJ and dancing? Can the ceremony and reception take place in the same spot?

Stay away from diy projects. They’re tricky enough when you have 9 -18 months to complete them, but on such short notice you’re just asking to be stressed out.

Find a planner. Seriously. I’m giving you a sales pitch here but they can save you so much wasted time and frustration. If for nothing else, hire them on an hourly basis for consulting and let them steer you in the right direction.

Pray that you can find a dress off the rack. We can’t have you walking down the aisle in your pj’s. However lots of department stores also offer bridal selections, or at least formal white or ivory gowns that can be ordered and arrive within a weeks’ time. You’re going to have to give up the dream of a custom, couture gown. Sorry.

So what do you think, is a quick engagement right for you? At the end of the day, you’re married and that’s the most important thing. You’ve found the man of your dreams now you just have to figure out how to pair the perfect wedding with him.

A Modern Fairytale

0 · Dec 8, 2014 ·

It seems that every winter seems to get a little longer than the last and last year’s never wanted to end. So it came as so surprise that by the time March rolled around I was itching to get outside and do something creative. I wanted to celebrate new life, spring and tradition.

In the early morning dew, our story begins. It’s a love story, a sweet tale revolving around fantasy and the belief that we are in control of our own fairytales. As a modern twist, our bride left a simple note for her groom to meet her at dawn by the river where they will pledge their forevers to one another. So there she waits by candlelight for him to arrive. In the spring of the year, the dawn of the day, they make a new start together.

Mister charming himself arrives with an armful of wildflowers he stopped to pick along the way. A simple breakfast is eaten of fruit and a simple elegant, glittering cake. All details were to remain timeless and classic including a beautiful ballgown and other details in ivory, satin and lace – touches that never seem to go out of style and would be perfect for any magical setting, be it a grand ballroom, an enchanted forest or a storybook castle.

Photography: Heather Cisler Photography | Floral Design & Coordination: The Day’s Design | Calligraphy: Emilime Designs | Bridal Dress: Bianka Bridal | Cake: A Piece O’Cake

You can also see this inspiration shoot over on Artfully Wed, it was featured on their blog last month.

FAQ :: Do You Have a Website?

0 · Dec 3, 2014 ·

It seems like everyone and their brother knows something about wedding planning these days. There’s a list of people a mile long claiming to coordinate weddings and have similar such hobbies. But for some people, it’s just that – a hobby.

There’s nothing wrong with this hobby. In fact, planning and decorating is something many people enjoy and many people are good at. However, it’s not something that all people can make a living doing. And it’s often because of these “hobbyist” that I’m not taken seriously as a professional.

Photography: Hetler Photography

What I would love for you to understand is the level of skill and business savvy it takes beyond being able to make a pretty centerpiece and find coordinating linens.

It takes ownership and pride. You have to lay claim to your work and own up to how you make a living. There was once a point where I would kind of mumble something about coordinating a few weddings when someone asked what I did. Now I scream it loud and proud. This is who I am, this is what I do.

It involves being business minded. I hate having to sell myself and my services. But unfortunately people don’t usually book you without any prior knowledge or at least being made aware how you can help them and why the need you.

It takes a commitment to staying in business, even when times are tough. It’s not all ruffles and roses over here. Some months are slow, but I still have to pay for my website, advertising and general business needs. I must be willing to take it all in stride and push forward. I can’t simply give up but rather push myself to be a little better every day.

So commonly I’m asked if I have a website. I think this is a significant sign of seriousness. Facebook pages are awesome because they’re free and they can be easily updated, but they lack a certain level of commitment. People look at you differently when you can hand them a business card and web address. And once they see my website, I’m knocked out of the hobbyist category for good. So making it a good website really counts.

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.

Bloom the Workshop :: September Edition

0 · Oct 24, 2014 ·

Well my extremely talents friends are at it again, this past September they brought Bloom the Workshop back to West Michigan and once again I got to be a part. (You can read all about the first edition here.) I’m not going to share all the gorgeous workshop details or the behind the scenes but rather I’m going to skip right to the good part, the styled shoot portion.

With fall beginning to close in, the florals were inspired by shades of berry and orange, with subtle touches of pink set against a bold black and white pattern. A little modern, a little rustic and completely chic describes the tablescape that Michaela designed. It was my job to adorn not only the tabletop but also provide the models with gorgeous blooms. 2 centerpieces, 2 bouquets a boutonniere and a whole lot of pretty made this shoot come to life at Rockford’s Hydrangea Blu Barn.

Bloom the Workshop | Fall bride | The Day's Design

Photography: {Jenn Anibal} | Event Design: Michaela Noelle Designs | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Dresses: Spring Sweet | Chandeliers & Rentals: The Rental Company | Calligraphy & Invitations: Graceline Calligraphy | Hair & Makeup: Hailey Hollenstien | Table Runner: Mrs. Freund & Co. | Venue: Hydrangea Blu Barn

Those dresses? Aren’t they just amazing, I wish I had the back to pull that off. And the cockscomb in centerpiece number 2 is the biggest piece of locals cockscomb I have ever seen! I can’t wait to see what the these talented girls do for Bloom in 2015!

My Bucket Runith Over…

0 · Oct 21, 2014 ·

Sometimes life hands you a few extra blooms (or perhaps I ordered a few extra due to my extreme paranoia about being out of town and extra far from my usual “back-up” plans), but either way, I have some happy looking buds that still have a couple days’ worth of life in them and sadly they’re spending that life in a dimly lit garage. It’s tragic.

I would love to share them with anyone in need. Whether you’ve got a case of the blues, need to cheer up a friend or are a photographer with a fun photo session in the works within the next day or two, I’d love to create a hand-tied bouquet just for you! You must be local to the Grand Rapids area and able to come pick them up but if this works for you, send me an email to hello@eventsbythedaysdesign.com. I’d love to brighten someone’s day!