grand rapids wedding planner

Branding :: Mud

0 · Jun 23, 2017 ·

Mud. From the earthy, wet fragrance to the magic that grows within it, there’s something fascinating about mud. It’s definitely underappreciated and so often taken for granted. But this is the canvas from where all of our sweet little blossom grow. This is the place where roots dig deep and stems grow tall. This is where it all begins.

As I have been working with Ciarra, of Silver Fox Calligraphy, on some of my new branding, we started with the flower. I had her create a delicate little forget me not, as a reminder of the perfectly periwinkle colored blossoms that would take over my grandma’s lawn each spring, as well as much of Northern Michigan’s other woodland areas. We didn’t exactly create my various branding pieces in logical order, because from that flower I realize that some of my other elements felt “off”, they just weren’t at home with one another.

So she reworked my logo design. I began describing what I wanted, not really knowing what I wanted. I used words like elegant, organic and whimsical. I wanted sophistication and simplicity. Ciarra created some magnificent pieces of art, I can only imagine the hours she spent with nibs and watercolors in her hand bringing my vision to life. In the end, there was one thing missing and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Then I realized, my logo need to be the color of mud. It’s not charming or chic or any of the other words that I think I should use to describe my wedding style, but it’s the beginning. It’s unpretentious and raw. The soil is where is where the seeds start, where the weeds grow and the most pure canvas for God’s artwork to be displayed.

Botanical Stationary | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

Photography: Cory Weber Photography | Stationary Design & Calligraphy: Silver Fox Calligraphy | Design & Styling: The Day’s Design

I’m keeping it quiet until I get a couple of the bugs worked out, but you can take a little sneak peek at the new and improved, The Day’s Design website here which shows off my new logo and lots of new flowery goodness that I’ve been holding back.

Happy Friday!

You can also read part 1 & 2 in this branding project here and here.

Sharing Thanks

0 · Nov 26, 2014 ·

It’s Gretta’s birthday today (can you believe she’s 2 already!? Flashback to her 1st birthday here) and I’m busy making cake, wrapping a quick present and packing to head out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday but in the midst of it all I’m going to totally be cheesy and cliché here and share a few of the things I have to be thankful for.

No doubt this has been a year of trials and struggles, I feel like a broken record as I’ve said that about the last few years in general. There’s been loss and heartache, ups and downs and challenges for sure. I cannot deny that life is full of struggle. I am hardly the eternal optimist.

Never the less, I am thankful for this space where I can share little tidbits and advice, tips on wedding and life planning, creating beautiful blooms and parts of my heart. I am thankful for you who continue to read the random thoughts that I choose to blog about. I’m thankful that you don’t criticize and critique me too much.

I’m so thankful for all the couples who have hired me to be a part of their 2014 celebration. I finished my last wedding of the season this past weekend (yes, I know I said that at the end of October but I snuck one more in there – more on that later!). I’m ready for a time of rest and refresh until next year which will undoubtedly be my busiest yet, it’s looking seriously fabulous and I can’t wait to celebrate with my 2015 couples!

And I’m thankful for my family. They’re crazy, and often annoying and pushy and intrusive and completely loving, supportive and the greatest people ever. The definition of family is constantly changing for me as people seem to come and go out of my life. There’s the pain of loss but on the other end, we also celebrate the joy of new life.

This joy will be celebrated again in 2015. We’re excited to announce that our family of three will soon be four, with our newest addition set to arrive mid-March. And we’re thankful for that.

So may you all be blessed and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Lastly, I cannot forget all the vendors who have supported my creative talents and ventures, including the incredibly talented Kellie, of Hetler Photography, who took the above photos and who has had constant faith in my abilities. Thank you!!

Simple: Defined

0 · Oct 23, 2014 ·

What makes a wedding simple? I find myself circling around this term again as yet another bride has used this word as a description of her ideal wedding.

I spent almost 15 minutes fluffing and re-fluffing, and making sure a tablecloth at last Saturday’s wedding fell with the perfect drape. I wanted it to look as though it had just been thrown in place with such grace and ease. But the fact is that simple and effortless look took a lot of time and care.

As an adjective, Dictionary.com offers 7 different definitions for the word simple. Seven!! That doesn’t seem “simple” to me. Let’s narrow this down a bit, let’s focus on just a couple of those definitions.

Easy to understand, deal with, use

Weddings for the most part are easy to understand. Most people have a general understanding of what is to happen during the wedding – there’s a bride, a groom and at the end of the day they became a united couple, usually with some sort of celebration or reception after.

Easy to deal with? Well, that point could be argued a bit. That can depend on family dynamics, individual desires, as well as multiple other factors. Some find planning a wedding stressful, some find it fun but I can almost guarantee that at some point during the process, even if just for a fleeting moment, the person planning is not finding their day easy to deal with.

Not elaborate or artificial, plain

I would wager this is the definition that most people think of when they tell me that they’re looking for a simple wedding. Think back to that perfectly flowing linen and how much time it actual took to perfect. Sometimes a plain wedding might mean a simple flower crown rather than a stuffy, traditional veil. Perhaps you’re thinking of a table overflowing with candles rather than packed floral arrangements. However consider how “unsimple” this really is. For the floral designer, you wearing a veil is much easier. Likewise, placing one flower arrangement on a table can be much easier than washing dozens of candle holders, hauling them to the reception site, keeping the flames lit and then taking them down and packing them up again at the end of the night. Consider who you want the wedding to be simple for.

Not ornate or luxurious, unadorned

Luxurious is a word that can have many definitions in itself. But I think one of the main misconceptions here is that if a wedding isn’t luxurious, filled with sky high floral arrangements and oodles of draping, it doesn’t feel stuffy and over the top, then it is simple and possibly lower budget. However, luxury comes in all shapes and forms. Sometimes it can be earthy and rustic. Sometimes it can be natural and easygoing. A luxury is really just something that isn’t one of life’s basic necessities, meaning that a wedding reception itself is really a luxury.

So what is it about your celebration that you really want to keep simple? Hiring awesome vendors to help you will simplify the day for you. Choosing an open, outdoor venue keeps the mood casual and unassuming. However, please remember that expensive blooms can be arranged in a causal way. Extra details, while “simple” are still extra work. Keeping your style informal does not mean it going to be any easier planning. Fussy doesn’t always mean expensive and inexpensive doesn’t mean carefree.

The tablescape pictured above seems unpretentious, informal and yet chic. It took lots of planning and was not easy dragging it into the countryside setting. Yet some might consider this a “simple” set-up.

Check back tomorrow and I’ll share more of this shoot. Photo by {Jenn Anibal}.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

0 · Oct 6, 2014 ·

I adore my photographer friends. The amount of artistic talent, stamina and imagination it takes in their profession is truly admirable. It is because of their camera knowledge and skill that my work is able to shine and I appreciate each and every one that works with me and shares pictures from events that we have worked together.

I also read several photography blogs on a somewhat regular basis. While I personally have no desire to be a photographer, I like to see their perspective of the wedding industry and always take note on how I can better myself as well. It is not uncommon for me though, as I’m skimming through their blogs to come across a post or comment about their work being either credited improperly or someone else using their work as their own. In addition, with the increasing popularity of Instagram (which is probably my very favorite social media), I often see rants about how important it is to credit their pictures on this platform as well.

While I feel that they have every right to get into a tizzy over this issue, I can’t help but want to cry out and share my side of the story. What about the other artist? Shouldn’t they be credited properly too? After all, it’s their bouquet in the picture, their dress, their makeup, their hairstyle or calligraphy… and the list can really go on and on.

I do everything I can to properly credit people’s work. I get a little upset when I see a picture of a really lovely floral arrangement that I’ve created captioned with only a photographer credit – which happened again just this morning as I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. And I personally struggle with calling the person out on it or not, especially when the caption on the photos is about how lovely the bouquet is. Why is the photographer always the main focus? Is it because their voice is so much stronger or is it something else.

So where do we draw the line? Should every picture we see on this grand old web be captioned with 20 different vendor credits? Or do we just pick the main one and people can dig for more? Why do I see so many photographer’s wedding posts stating the location of the wedding, but nothing else? I want to know who catered it, who her dress is by and who created that fabulous cake. This is our portfolio, our “word of mouth” marketing and how we make ourselves known throughout this world wide web. Shouldn’t we all give credit where credit is due?

Pictured above: me — fixing her veil and making sure her hair is perfect so Heather Cisler Photography has something gorgeous to photograph 🙂

Wedding Color Palettes

0 · Aug 7, 2014 ·

Photo by Eliza Jean Photography

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

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

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

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

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

Inspiring a Brand

0 · May 13, 2014 ·

I want a brand inspired by the beautiful things that surround me every day. I love natural elements and think that nature provides the best color palettes. But it’s not just nature that surrounds me, its family, love, my home and those who I hold dear.

I love walking into a venue or space and feeling completely overwhelmed with its beauty – it can be a bank, a ballroom or a walk in the park. Inspiration is everywhere. I have an extremely hard time defining my style because I love it all! And personal details make my heart go pitter patter.

I was asked to pick 3 words to either describe my brand or how I’d like my brand to be perceived. However, this has truly proven to be a difficult task. I adore garden inspired parties with relaxed blooms and casual elegance. But black tie affairs with lush gowns and overflowing florals get me pretty geeked as well. And if you want to talk unique venues in urban spaces or lofty environments, well I can dive right into that conversation too! Modern, retro, vintage, woodsy & natural and yet classic? I can’t pick!

I do however, have some design staples or rules that seem to always apply to my events.

Include a natural element. Even super modern and clean events should include something from nature, just to soften and add some realness to the space and prevent it from feeling too stark. Some examples might be natural wood, leafy greens or even flowers. Burlap, bamboo and other natural fibers are also great choices.

A touch of black will add depth to the space. While not everything in my portfolio has something black in it, I do think this a good rule of thumb to remember. It doesn’t have to be something big, it can be as simple as the writing on your menus, but just that slight touch will add a little edginess to the overall design.

A girl can never have too much sparkle. Or maybe you can – sometimes less truly is more. But either way, I like to incorporate something shiny into all of my designs, I just can’t help myself! I think the contrast sequins or glitter provide against a raw and natural birch bark is amazing! And glitz kind of makes me weak at the knees! Isn’t this why we adore chandeliers hanging in trees so much??

And I’m a little bit fancy. I don’t really care much for mundane and ordinary things. So I add a pop of fancy and unexpected. While I definitely love my tattered and torn blue jeans, collection of heels is pretty rocking too. The two combined just make me saw “wow”.

Remember this shoot I put together last summer with Bradley James Photography? I tried to capture all of the above and while my style is in constant evolution, I think this does a pretty great job of telling my story.

Organized Chaos

0 · May 7, 2014 ·

Today my desk is filled with a miss matched jumble of design proposals, flower orders, coffee cups and parties all over my mind! Frankly, today is a struggle keeping it all straight. Ever wonder what it’s like being inside my mind? Just imagine 2,8xx Internet browsers tabs open all at the same time – only in paper form, scattered across my desk! (I’m sure you’ve heard that quote before, but there’s so much true behind it!!)

The real problem is, I have deadlines approaching for proposals, which I’m super excited about, but more presently on my mind is yesterday, when I had this amazing site visit at a barn venue that I just can’t stop thinking about. And then on top of that, this morning brought a chat with another venue for a project that’s going to be equally amazing. So I have random thoughts and ideas that I need to chase and then scribble down on the nearest pieces of paper possible (before I lose it), but then I tell myself to go back to my focus. And then I’m distracted with another thought – it’s a viscous, never ending cycle!

I tell myself that I live in organized chaos, or maybe it’s disorganized, who can even tell anymore?! But this is how I know I need to focus on the design portion of my job – because even though it may seem hectic, it also makes me feel alive. I am giddy when I get to work on design sketches and floral orders. And then making it all come together, well that’s like one big puzzle and I’ve always loved the challenge of an organizational puzzle!

Picture by Bradley James Photography

How to face this battle:

Focus (as much as humanly & creatively possible) on one project at a time. Clear your desk of all other distractions and notes. And when you finish with that one project, you then have my permission to move onto the next, and so on and so forth. There’s a great sense of accomplishment by scratching a finished piece off of your to-do list. So simply prioritize and move your way down the list. Sounds super easy, right?

Okay… I just had to pop in and give myself a little pep talk, now I’m back to work and going to try taking my own advice!!!

Where to Draw the Line

0 · Apr 24, 2014 ·

Earlier today I was reading a post about money saving ideas for weddings and planning on a budget. I realize everyone has their own ideas, and it seems that all “rules” have been thrown out the window. I myself am guilty of encouraging couples to do whatever pleases them and making the celebration truly their own, representing a happy start to their marriage.

But how far is too far? When is an idea unique and quirky, and when is it just downright tacky? How do you battle the frivolous and the budget conscious?

I was nodding along to the entire article, which made points about prioritizing and focusing on 3 things that you find the most important, and considering the sacrifices you’ll make if you hire a friend verse a professional to do certain tasks, such as videography among other services. I can completely be on board with these ideas. My jaw did not actually hit the floor until I saw a comment at the end suggesting the best way to save money is to have a potluck style reception. Yes, in fact, this person was suggesting that you ask your guests to bring a dish to pass. I’m not even sure where to begin with a response to that. To me, you have crossed a line. I cannot fathom this nor comprehend how to word this with even a little dignity and etiquette on a wedding invitation.

I would classify this as too far. But perhaps, others find this normal? Do they?

Photo by Bradley James Photography

So here are some thoughts you might want to consider when you’re considering these more innovative and out-of-the-box wedding ideas:

What’s the motivation?

Is your unique idea a true representation of you or your family? Are you serving pizza because it’s a super cheap option or because it’s a tradition in your family to eat pizza every Saturday night (not to mention, everyone love pizza, right?!) Are you using sequined linens because you love all things glitter or because Sally did at her wedding and your wedding has to be better than hers? Did you just see the idea on Pinterest and think it was cool or is it actually your personal decorating style?

Will it make your guests uncomfortable?

While your wedding day might be all about you and your love, it doesn’t hurt to make your guests happy too. That super cheap wedding venue without AC might look good on paper, but when the thermometer hits 90+ in the middle of July, you might be singing a different tune. You don’t want the most memorable part of your wedding to be the negative. Situations can also make people feel uncomfortable. I personally feel awkward when I’m attending a wedding that I know nothing about, inside or outside venue, formality levels, etc. And being asked to bring a dish would simply leave me scratching my head and make me feel really uneasy, what in the world should I bring?!

Will it be fun?

People like fun. Your wedding is celebration. Yes, it is a serious commitment that should be honored, but to me, celebrations are a happy time. And happy can easily translate into fun. How are you going to celebrate your wedding date? Make it special and have fun!

These are just a couple ideas to consider among the long list of craziness that surrounds a wedding. As a wedding planner, I hear and see ideas quite often that leave me amazed – both in a good and bad way. So as you’re stretching your budget, searching for different ideas and considering unique approaches to your celebrations, I simply encourage you to take just a moment to stop and think about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and the effects it might have on those around you!

Happy Planning!

At the Heart of Business

0 · Apr 3, 2014 ·

There’s a line at the beginning of Dirty Dancing where Mr. Houseman is bragging a little about his daughters (if you’ve never watched Dirty Dancing – you can stop reading this right now, we are no longer friends!)

“My Baby is going to change the world”

“And what are you going to do?” (referring to Lisa)

“Oh Lisa is going to decorate it.”

Seems pretty shallow and materialistic, right? Baby is going into the Peace Corps, and Lisa will decorate. Sometimes I feel like Lisa. I sit around all day looking at pretty inspiration, flowers, dresses and linen samples. I dream up cake ideas and research invitations options. Am I simply feeding an attitude of discontentment and always wanting more? Am I contributing to this sour mindset that seems to drive the wedding industry causing people to spend insane amounts of money on ONE day? And does what I’m doing actually matter?

It’s the motivation behind what I do that actually matters. So yes, what I’m doing matters. But the key is not to lose focus on what makes you get out of bed each day, makes you talk to another bride and then add some gorgeous blooms to a vase. I am certainly not trying to get rich and I want people to be a peace with their spending decisions.

Meet Gretta. She’s the reason I need to pay the bills, work from home and find balance between wedding work and life.

Photo by Ashley Slater Photography

But even before she came into existence, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the wedding industry. So what’s so special about the wedding industry, you ask? Everything – it’s magic. As a little girl I dreamt up endless wedding scenarios for myself, purple flowers, sheer tents, little white chapels and dresses with puffy sleeves (hey, I’m a product of the 80’s!). My mother and aunts kept me surrounded by paint swatches, fabric samples and all things interior design. So naturally, creative energies surrounded me, they bring me home. There’s nothing wrong with adding beauty to your surroundings.

However, as I’ve grown, it’s also this concept of “home” that drives me. My family is amazing, crazy, but amazing. Not everyone gets to be a part of something like my family and I feel sad for them. If you’ve ever watched While You Were Sleeping, that crazy, overly involved, obnoxiously loud but always has each other’s back type family is the closest I can come to describing mine. This mashed up conversation totally hits home. So in the same way, I want to help create the start of family. I love being a part of the wedding celebration because it’s the beginning of something new, a new family, a new journey and it should be a happy (somewhat stress free) one. Being a part of that is awesome!

And after my own wedding, I knew the importance of my job even more. I was one stressed out, frazzled bride who was barely able to enjoy her wedding day. I simple cannot handle the thought of you making the same mistake. The beauty in the wedding day is the vows, love and commitment shared with family and friends.

It’s easy to become obsessed with the publicity, competition, Facebook fans and making each event better than the one before. But sometimes we need to step back, stop the comparison, and focus on what matters most. This is the heart of my business.

What Would Happen?

0 · Mar 28, 2014 ·

Think back to the start of your last relationship. When you met him, did you instantly feel sparks? Where there butterflies in your tummy with just the whisper of his name and did you fall to sleep each night with memories of your last kiss warming your lips?

Picture by Hetler Photography

Remember just walking around with a silly grin on your face for no real reason at all? Oh and how you simply couldn’t wait until you could meet again. You want to yell from the rooftops, twirl in the streets and tell every stranger that passes by – you’re in love!

When you have such an amazing relationship you want everyone to know, right? You want to share it with the world!

What if we were that enthusiastic about God? What if we couldn’t keep from smiling because of this great gift he has given us? If we shared our relationship with every stranger that passed by… what would happen? Would joy be contagious, cause dancing, celebration or laughter? Would we start a revolution? Would the world ever be the same?

What would happen?

Bloom

0 · Mar 27, 2014 ·

One morning I woke up to a completely out of the blue email from dear Ashley, of Ashley Slater Photography. She wanted to work with me sometime. Me? Yes, me! A friendship quickly blossomed between the two of us as we realized our similar interests – weddings, Disney movies, babies and God – it was as if we were destine to become friends.

The amount of friendships that have blossomed in similar such manor since I have taken the plunge into the wedding industry has quite remarkable. In fact, it has been one of my favorite yet most unexpected parts of this journey.

Have you ever read someone’s online profile and just know the two of you would be friends? It happens, almost like in internet dating. Almost.

When Ashley told me about this workshop that she was dreaming up, her excitement was absolutely contagious. And then she told me that she was partnered with Michaela and I just knew something fabulous was in the works and I needed to be a part! I haven’t met this California girl yet, but I’m certain our virtual friendship will become something more when I see her face in June.

Bloom | The Workshop is the dream turned reality coming to West Michigan. And while the only credit I can take is adding some pretty petals to their website, I’m so excited for these ladies and I cannot wait for them to share their creative talents and business strategies with all of you. Yes, you! You – the attendees that I have not met yet, but will see more of my flowers throughout that day. You – sitting there thinking you wish you knew how to photograph and style some gorgeous content for your blog. You – the one who’s thinking they might actually take the plunge and start a blog or another completely awesome creative business. Or you – you who needs a big hug and a team of creatives to lean on as your journey through life.

Registration opened TODAY… go grab a seat! Or read a little more from the geniuses behind the workshop, Ashley and Michaela.

Everyone is “So Excited!”

0 · Mar 13, 2014 ·

Photo by Heather Cisler Photography

Do you ever feel like everyone is just bursting with excitement and you just can’t seem to keep up with all of it? Is everything really “so exciting”? I follow a lot of people in the wedding industry across social media and on any given day there’s always someone who’s trying to build excitement and suspense about some big project that they can’t tell you about yet or something new coming soon, etc, etc.

Why is this? It starting to annoy me… even though I’m completely guilty of this myself.

While usually I love to see others succeed and it definitely feels good to be surrounded by celebration and good news – there are definitely days I just want to scream “I don’t care!”

Here’s the truth. Our businesses are like our babies. We pour our hearts and souls into them. You posted your baby’s first smiles, first steps, first time eating solid foods (or if you’re not there yet – trust me, you will… even if you claim you never want to be one of “those parents”). As a mama and a business owner, I can tell you there are so many similarities its a little ridiculous. So we post and brag about all of our new accomplishments and milestones. It’s big news to us, even if the outside world might just see it as “another blog post” or “another styled shoot” or “a new service offered”.

So next time someone tries to post some super exciting news do your best to be their cheerleader and not roll your eyes. We can do this together… go team!

The Romance Shoot

0 · Mar 12, 2014 ·

Dreaming of warmer weather and some romance? Ladies, I’ve teamed teamed up with some of Grand Rapids’ finest to make you feel amazing, pampered and pretty! Introducing “The Romance Shoot”.

Think whimsical romance, with soft colors and lots of texture in a gorgeous country landscape. Helena DeYoung will enhance your beauty with awesome hair and make-up, and Kellie Hetler will capture it with her amazing photography. Styling and props will be my responsibility with visions of draping curtains, a wrought iron bed, floral garlands and crowns all coming to life. Pictured is just a hint of what we have up our sleeves… although this is definitely the snowy version!

These sessions will take place in the warmth of May and are perfect for boudoir, maternity or anyone else who wants to feel pretty because after all, EVERY girl deserves to feel BEAUTIFUL!

Contact myself or Kellie for more details!

How to Run Your Business like a 4 Year Old

0 · Mar 3, 2014 ·

Last week I had the pleasure of my niece’s company. She’s four and it was a little challenging… okay, A LOT challenging. There were moments of laughter, annoyance and pure amazement, just wondering how her little innocent and overly imaginative mind works (to all you moms with 2+ kids, I applaud you).

And throughout her visit I began to wonder, what would it be like if I ran my business like a four year old?

First off, I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of me. I would do something simply because that’s how I want to do things, and it’s my way or the highway. She wears hairbows with her pajamas, walks around with a laundry basket on her head and is constantly delegating tasks to me (right, wrong or otherwise!) She dances to the beat of her own drum and just does what she loves. May she always stay true.

Additionally, I would not be scared to ask questions. Lots of them. Every five minutes. Knowledge is power friends. Sometimes I feel so scared to ask questions that I never learn what I truly need to know for fear of sounding dumb. But this is learning at its best – and yes, it can be over the top annoying at times but humor her (and humor your colleges, peers and associates – they’re only trying to better themselves). I think people can all learn from one another.

This little lady sings her own praises and tells me when she’s good at something. For me, this is tough. I’ve always been taught not to be boastful or brag. But if I don’t do any self promotion, then my talents will never be recognized. I can’t just expect people to want to hire me out of the blue without any prior knowledge of my creativity or if I’m not willing to share my strengths. The key here is to keep it humble and always keep in mind where your talents came from.

I would continue to fight for what I want. Without complete understanding of the age difference between her and Gretta (who is 15 months), she was constantly pushing Gretta forward, trying to get her to do what she wanted. And the same goes for the cat. Even though it was an uphill and hopeless battle, it never stopped her. She never saw the situation as impossible, it just meant that she had to try harder, explain herself better and possibly talk louder.

And there would be breaks for playtime. A time to rest is desperately needed. Give your head a break and let the creative process start all over again.

The world would constantly be filled with wonder. Comparison wouldn’t be a thief of my time. Life would remain fresh.

Never underestimate the power of stepping back and looking at the world through someone else’s eyes. You never know what you might see.

All photos of my adorable little niece are courtesy of Bradley James Photography. I simply never tire of their gorgeous work.

Focus on the Controllable

0 · Feb 21, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

In business:

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

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

In wedding planning:

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

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

In life:

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

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

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

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

Creating vs. Pinning

0 · Feb 18, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Planning (and Pinning)!

Valentine’s Bouquet Inspiration

0 · Feb 14, 2014 ·

Back in the snow and gloom of January I had an idea. Valentine’s Day would quickly be approaching and it’s a day that always calls for some gorgeous blooms. However, sometimes these mounds of perfectly placed, symmetrical and classic roses need a little extra love – ferns and baby’s breath can only do so much. The careless air of a wildflower bouquet has always been more my style and frankly, sometimes these typical rose arrangements are a bit sophisticated and stuffy for my taste.

So I thought, why not make bouquets out of these readily available Valentine’s flowers that were my style? You don’t have to have extremely high end blooms to make a pretty bouquet, they just need to be artfully arranged and displayed. My goal was to gather some of these grocery store blooms and create something gorgeous and over the top romantic. These are all flowers that are readily available and can be glamorous if just arranged and displayed correctly. So if your man stops at Speedway on his way home from work tonight, don’t lose heart… you can still have some beautiful flowers!

Bouquet Recipe 1:

3 stems pink spray roses
6 cream roses
3 pale pink roses
3 medium (colored) pink roses
4 cherry roses
3 bakers ferns
1 tree fern
1 sprig cedar (salvaged from my back yard – because I promised everything would be easy to source!)

And don’t underestimate the impact a glamorous ribbon can make… the velvet one here is amazing!

Bouquet #2 has a few more components and is a little fancier. But it still has lots of Valentine favorites including tulips – just to tease you with the thought of spring!

Bouquet Recipe 2:

5 pink tulips
4 stems burgundy mums
2 pink snap dragons
3 medium (colored) pink roses
3 stems pink spray roses
2 cherry roses
2 cream roses
2 light pink roses
3 stems eucalyptus
1 bakers fern

And I couldn’t resist putting together a little floral hairpiece with some of the leftover blooms, which is a certain way to make any girl feel like a princess! Then we added some glitter and sweet treats and then convinced Heather Cisler Photography to come play with me in the middle of a snow storm!

This project was also featured over on Burnett’s Boards earlier this week, which was super fun as well, let’s spread the love all around!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Love & Economics

0 · Feb 12, 2014 ·

Occasionally I turn the TV on while I’m working (since I work from home), especially on those days where my main tasks are a little less entertaining (i.e. bookkeeping!) We live in a cable free home, so my channel options are extremely limited and I don’t find myself distracted by television too often. But yesterday, Steve Harvey was in the background chatting on about Valentines and love, relationships, etc. etc. Then he said something that really got me thinking – “You can’t find Mr. Right until you let go of Mr. Wrong”.

Now, I have no idea what your relationship status is. Whether you’re married, single, dating or kind of hanging out with someone, this statement applies. It also applies in life situations. If you’re spending all your time focusing on one project (the wrong one) you can’t move on to the right one. Time is the key here. Where are you focusing your time? Go back to high school economics; this is a classic case of opportunity costs. Are we missing opportunities while we’re stuck focusing on the wrong man, the wrong job, the wrong _____ (you fill in the blank).

Can I just say how thankful I am that I took a leap and started my own business? I had a really good job previously, but it didn’t allow me to create, have fun or be myself. And if I were still there I definitely wouldn’t have put together this pretty amazing shoot that’s featured over on Burnett’s Boards today. You absolutely need to go see it!

Spend your time wisely and live life fully. I hope you’re enjoying this week of love!

More Negative…

0 · Feb 10, 2014 ·

“Monday Monday, can’t trust that day.” – Remember that old song by The Mammas & The Pappas? I was thinking about it yesterday morning as I was getting ready for church. I was thinking that I’m ready to change the lyrics to “Sunday Sunday, can’t trust that day.” It seems that Sunday has been a day of surprises for my family lately, and not necessarily pleasant ones.

I may have mentioned this before, but my mother used to say that the Devil always had way of sneaking in on Sundays, doing everything in his power to stop you from going to church and being able to worship. As I’ve grown up, I believe this more and more. He tried hard, but didn’t win yesterday.

It’s funny, on Saturday I stared to write a post following up on my discussion about negativity from last Monday. It was in fact the most popular blog post I have ever written. The purpose of the Saturday’s draft was to dig a little deeper into why negative things impact us so much. And there was also a little update on my current “leaky” situation. And now today I have a new update… that post is old news.

So here we are one week from when I first discovered the drip in my ceiling which lead to the creation of the enormous hole. My previous statement about there not being any damage other than the ceiling needs to be retracted. It appears that new floors might in our future, however not in our budget. In addition, we have sprung another leak. Pretty exciting, huh? My bathroom is now dripping too, and not from the faucet.

The point of blogging about all this? I am not looking for sympathy or pity. Actually, I’m laughing about the situation. It’s kind of funny in its own twisted way. Simply put, A LOT of the things that sneak into my life in the form of negativity have to do with comparison. It is easy to compare yourself to someone across the internet, who seemingly has this prefect life, gorgeous office and booming business. They have a lovely and ideal family, live in the suburbs with 2.5 children, a flashy SUV and no worries. Their Instagram feed is meant to inspire, but actually makes you feel like less of a person since their home is spotless and you just tripped over the dog, 3 toys and spilled your generic brand coffee all over your rug. Trust me, my house is not normally worth taking a picture of. My desk? You haven’t seen it on social media for a reason. I live in the real world with babies and spills and beat up old, second hand furniture.

The point is this: there is so much truth to the saying “comparison is the thief of all joy”. Negativity is all in the interpretation. If it makes you feel poorly about yourself, then I consider that negative – even if it isn’t something that the general public would classify in that way.

Even stranger, all of this was on my mind yesterday morning and then our pastor preached about comparison and finances which really drove the point home. My housing situation could be so much worse, I am lucky to have a home. So today I am grateful for my home, the sunshine and this week of love – in which I’m going to have another featured over on Burnett’s Boards in conjunction with Heather Cisler Photography!

Have a great week friends!

Steering Away from Negative Town

0 · Feb 3, 2014 ·

Last week was a burst of fun! I played in the snow with some gorgeous flowers and Heather Cisler (while also freezing my tushy off – there’s a fun little preview from her below). I traveled up north with my hubby and baby girl to meet my dear friend Rachel and we collaborated on a little project that makes me giddy all over! I was able to spend time with my Grandpa, meet some new vendors and have a lovely dinner with family and brunch with friends. Plus I put together even more flowers and I ate a donut with sprinkles… sound like the perfect week, right?

And then Sunday came. We had perfect weather for travel (which has not been easy to come by lately) and made a couple of stops to pick up ingredients to make a simple and yummy dinner while we watched the Super Bowl. That was the plan anyway. What actually happened is a whole other story. I opened the door to our home and immediately was greeted by the sound of dripping water. About two feet in front of me was a huge crack in my dining room ceiling which was leaking. Thankfully, it had managed to soak the rug beneath but no other furniture or flooring was damaged. Needless to say, our original plan for the night was shot.

Today I have a giant hole in our ceiling, where the wet and rotted drywall once sat. I also have 3 buckets, a ladder and a huge garbage can decorating my no longer functional dining room. And due to the odd layout of our house, this also means that our main entry is not usable either.

Oddly enough though, I woke up today in good spirits. The sun is shining and life will move on. Then I made the mistake of logging into Facebook. Negative comment, horrible status update, grumbles, complaints and other rants flooded my newsfeed. Yes it is Monday… we all may have the case of “the Mondays” however, move on! This just brings others down with you!!

Logging out. While I did not make any definite New Year’s resolutions this year, I did promise myself that I would steer away from anything that made me feel negative or poorly about myself. This might mean un-following certain people on social media, not comparing yourselves to others – either in personal or business situations, and trying oh-so hard to focus on the positive (like the fact that I’m going to have some amazing pictures to share with you really soon!)

When I feel these negative thoughts creep in I like to turn to writing. Sometimes this is where my encouraging blog posts stem from, I write them for me. Many of them also go unpublished, as at times it might be better if you didn’t know all of the crazy details running through my head. And then I play with flowers. Because who can be sad while playing with something so pretty?

There will be storms to survive. There will be mountains to climb. There will be battles to fight. We’re only in month two of 2014 and these worlds could not be truer. It can only get better from here – I say with lots of hope and anticipation for the future!

Happy Monday!!

Pep Talks: Hovering over the “Send” Button

0 · Jan 23, 2014 ·

I have chatted about fear before. But that doesn’t mean I have overcome all of mine. So here we are again… I’m thinking about the risks we take every day. They may be large or small, but they still exist. Every time you leave the safety of your own house there’s a chance that something good or bad could happen to you. There’s a chance something could happen if you stay at home too. But most of us don’t stay cooped up, afraid to exit our front doors because we could get hit by a bus or attacked by a swarm of angry bees. We can’t think about all the bad things that could possibly happen to us.

Remember when the weather was warm and we could eat outside? {Sigh} Photo by Bradley James Photography

Earlier this month I had the amazing opportunity to see the Zac Brown Band in concert. Awesome. I highly recommend. As I was standing there watching them perform, a line to one of their songs really hit me, “You may fall down on your face, roll the dice and have some faith”. I have heard the song a hundred times. But for some reason it really resided with me that night. I made a silent vow to myself; I was going to take more risks.

So here I am, twenty days later dreaming about an idea, reaching out to others in the industry and afraid to hit the “send” button. What if they think it’s dumb? Why are we so scared to taking chances? I hate that I care so much what others think!

But I do. Even though I try to tell myself that I don’t, that I need to make myself happy and do what’s best for my family. “Roll the dice and have some faith.” Faith. Faith. Faith. That’s what I need. You don’t know if you don’t ask, right?

What are you scared to fight for? Is it worth the risk?

Happy December

0 · Dec 2, 2013 ·

Happy December!! It’s here the month I wait all year for. It’s time for the magic and warmth that the holidays bring and the feeling of thankfulness that carries over from November. I have so much to be thankful for, despite me not having jumped on the 30 days of thankful bandwagon, that doesn’t mean that I do feel it or recognize what God has blessed me with.

I feel like December is the month for wrapping up the old and starting fresh with the new. Not that there was anything wrong with 2013, but I’m excited for a fresh start and new hopes and promises that 2014 bring. Is there anything you’d like to see more of from The Day’s Design in 2014???

I’m compiling a list of things that I would like to update and some things that will likely remain to the same in 2014. I’m working with consistency, updating the website a tad and a couple fun new ideas that are scheduled to happen even before we ring in 2014. So my goals for December? Live life to the fullest, keep on trucking and enjoy the holidays… even if there is lots of work in the mix!!

Photo by Hetler Photography, xoxo

Sex and the City Wedding Inspiration

0 · Nov 20, 2013 ·

Eeekk!!! Did you see my feature over on Every Last Detail yesterday? I am beyond excited to be published and so happy to finally share all the results from this super girly and glamorous shoot Kellie of Hetler Photography and I put together. So sit back, relax and scroll through all the pretty (and make sure to stay tuned until the very end for an amazing video surprise!!)

Kellie and I knew we wanted to put together an upbeat, modern styled shoot with lots of sparkle. While we love vintage and it is still very popular, we visualized a sleeker event, with lots of downtown glam. As our concept began to unfold, we aimed to define and pinpoint our big city feel. And no city defines big better than the Big Apple! So we began creating an event that Carrie and The Girls would be proud to attend…

To start the day, the fabulous ladies at Cheeky Strut knocked it out of the park with the hair and make-up for our models, bringing all the Sex and the City characters to life.

So many glorious peonies on this tabletop, it’ll take your breath away!

Get a load of these yummy treats! My hubby just happens to be an amazing chef who was able to make these New York inspired dishes for us.

It simply couldn’t be a New York inspired shoot without a big yellow taxi!

And now for one of my favorite parts of the whole shoot – the wedding video!! Inspiration Video blew me away with the results, it still gives me goosebumps!

Photography: Hetler Photography / Event Design & Coordination: The Day’s Design / Floral Design: Modern Day Floral / Hair & Make-up: Cheeky Strut /Stationary Design: Emily Ross Creative / Cake: Mirabella Confections / Venue: The Cheney Place / Videography: Inspiration Video / Chiavari Chairs: The Rental Company / Bride’s Dress & Veil: Bridal Elegance / Bride’s Hat: The Day’s Design / Ice Sculpture: Luba Petrash, Grand Rapids Community College / Catering: Chef Josh Ferguson

We completely immersed ourselves in Sex and the City, watching way too many episodes and channeling our “inner Carries”. But it was just too much fun to resist! Thank you to all the vendors that took part in bringing our vision to life. ( and feel free to pop on over to Kellie’s blog to see her take on all this fun!!)

Real Weddings: Jordan & Kait

0 · Nov 5, 2013 ·

Meet Jordan and Kaitlin…

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

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

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

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