Katie Grace Photography

Real Weddings :: Ryan & Jessica’s Equestrian Celebration

1 · Feb 21, 2018 ·

Country weddings can be low key and elegant, simple, rustic and still beautiful all at once. Bright white spaces can be filled with color and smelly old horse barns can make the most stunny reception venues. This wedding proves all of that.

Jessica has freelanced with me for the past 3 wedding seasons, and last year it was her turn. She chose to get married in March, which made me so happy because late winter and early spring are amazing times for flowers. Obviously we weren’t utilizing many local options but the Japanese and speciality flower markets are out of this world. The ranunculus in her bouquets, where nearly as large as peonies.

Her family owns a horse farm and spent the months leading up to Jessica and Ryan’s nuptials renovating the upper level, white washing the walls and making over the space to be the most perfect “at home” wedding possible. Jewel tones and greenery popped against the muted canvas and soft shades of smokey blue were the perfect accent. Plus we can’t forget about the church, which was filled with more flowers than I’ve ever put in one santuary before – and I want to recreate this scene again and again.

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography | Ceremony & Personal Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Ceremony Venue: Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan | Reception Venue: Rusty Spurs Equestrian Center | Invitations: The Woolberry Press | Cake: Pastry Chef Dana Wilmer Lucas

I also wanted to note, because Jessica is so fabulous, she designed the entire space herself as well as tackled arranging all of her own centerpieces. I simply jumped in for a little designing consult and to tackled the ceremony florals and the personal arrangements… plus hauling all of the ceremony arrangments to the reception site to repurpose (which was not an easy task!)

Congratulations on almost 1 year of marriage! I wish you both all the love and happiness.

Real Weddings :: Melissa & Tim’s Three Oaks Celebration

0 · Sep 29, 2017 ·

This is a wedding day that I was secretly hoping would never come. Not that Melissa and Tim don’t deserve each other or that I could ever image sending anything other than well wishes their way, but rather because I knew that once this wedding was over, I would miss Melissa and I’s monthly, and then weekly phone calls. I would miss scheming behind Tim’s back to line up a several surprises and I would simply miss planning this wedding.

Melissa and Tim have a contagious joy. Everything they do puts their other half at the forefront of their mind. This wedding day was filled with sparkling details, industrial romance and champagne. But it’s Melissa’s thoughtfulness, and the meticulous care that was placed in the little details that will have the most lasting impression on my mind. Champagne is Melissa’s signature drink, it welcomed guests before the ceremony and flowed the entire evening through. The table numbers doubled as notebooks for guests to share their best marriage advice, which will then be read on the corresponding year of marriage. Melissa DIYed drink stirrers, as a surprise for Tim, who collects them. The list of incredibly thoughtful ideas runs on.

We wanted the entire day to feel very romantic and soft against the contrasting backdrop of Journeyman’s industrial space. We incorporated layered tones of blush, champagne and ivory textures and accented it in rich greens to pop against the warm neutrals. The venue is a very large room and can accommodate both a ceremony and reception setup simultaneously, which was our plan. However, we did not want the wow of being ushered into a glittering room after cocktail hour to be diminished by guests’ wondering eyes curiously intrigued during the wedding ceremony, so we hired The Rental Company to create a draping wall, which would serve not only as the ceremony’s backdrop, but also as a room divider.

After the ceremony concluded, we quickly moved the chairs over to the guest’s tables, clearing the space and making way for cocktails and mingling. Upon the conclusion of cocktail hour, the draping was pulled back, revealing long harvest tables mixed with round seating, a expansive space for dancing and an 8 piece band.

The best surprise though came at the end of the night, Melissa took a cue from one of Tim’s favorite pastimes, and surprised him with live karaoke—which blew Tim and all the guests away. The bride joined the band on stage, serenading Tim in song and the mic was then opening to others wanting to participate.

This wedding is also soon to be featured on Wedding Day Magazine, so stay tuned for that. Melissa and Tim, I’m sending all the best wishes you’re way and hope you have a lifetime full of happiness.

Branding :: New Website Launch

0 · Jun 26, 2017 ·

In 2014, I attended my very first floral workshop with Kelly Perry of Philosophy Flowers. She became the sweet voice of encouragement that believed in me, and pushed me to believe in myself. I nervously signed up for her Team Flower Workshop not really knowing where I was heading, but understanding that there was a void in my life and in the flowers that were being presented to my brides. I wanted to capture the garden, to put it in a vessels and allow it to add joy to a table. I wanted to allow clematis vines to trail from a bride’s hands or loosely encircle and arbor. I had visions of what it was like planting flowers each summer with my mom, but couldn’t quite figure out how to translate that into my event designs or how to bring that to life on a wedding day.

Photography: Heather Payne Photography

The Day’s Design is turning 5 years old this September, and this will be my fourth summer with floral design as part of my service offerings. That decision to learn more about flowers changed my world. It made me appreciate nature, my surroundings and see the beauty of Michigan in a whole new light. However, as much excitement as I feel when I find a rose with the most perfect muddy – champagne hue, the real excitement comes when I see the tears of joy in a bride’s face when she looks at her wedding flowers and knows that today will be the best day of her life, and I was privileged enough to be a teenie tiny part of that.

I think a huge part of moving forward is reflecting back and understanding where we came from. I’m not dwelling in the past though, but using it to build the future. I’ve been sharing a little behind my rebranding process and it has made me a little nostalgic. It’s also made me appreciate a lot of people that have helped me along the way. I’m eager to celebrate 5 years of business. In the meantime though, I’m excited to share my new website. My business has evolved much since those early days of burlap and lace. There are beautiful new projects and weddings that I’ve been holding back and there’s a dose of freshness, which I think beautifully represents who I am and what The Day’s Design is today.

I’d also like to send a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey, from new flower friends, to both Northern and West Michigan’s amazing community of wedding planners. Plus, a little extra love to those photographers whose images you will find on my new site – Ashley Slater Photography, Cory Weber Photography, Katie Grace Photography, Kelly Sweet Photography & Samantha James Photography. Hire them, they’re amazing! And don’t forget to go look at my new website!!

Using Local vs. Seasonal Flowers :: Part 2

0 · Apr 7, 2017 ·

Recapping back to the first part of this post, local flowers are always seasonal but seasonal flowers aren’t always local. I think there’s a lot of confusion within those terms as many designers use them interchangeably (I’m guilty too!) Here are some ways that I would further like to differentiate, why I don’t rely solely on local blooms and how I use flowers from around the world, plus right here at home in my designs.

Local is Risky (and you might not get what you want)

“You can’t always get what you want… but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.” Any excuse to quote classic rock, right? I’m pretty sure the Rolling Stones were talking about flowers when they wrote this song.

I’ve never actually seen anyone post about this. I touched on a little in part 1 of this post, but think it’s a really important point to make. If you’re getting married in June for the purpose of including peonies in your bridal bouquet, that’s wonderful. Hopefully I can find another $5 roadside stand or similarly priced local grower. But that really was a fluke incident and a stroke of luck on my part. However, if we have a cold spring they might not be ready until the end of June. If it gets warm really early, then we could have peonies the first week. Northern Michigan can be 2-3 weeks behind southern Michigan’s growing season. So when you’re done gambling on the weather and trying to figure out all of that math, realize that locally, right here, where I am, I have about a 2 week window of my own peony blooms. Hopefully that aligns with your wedding date. If not, I’m going to have to find something else or hope that someone else’s bushes are on a different blooming schedule.

Secondly, there are few large production flower farms in Michigan. Those few that do exist are definitely not near me. While farms around the country may also deal with weather affecting their crops, when I source through a wholesaler they have a network of farmers supplying their roses, or whatever bloom I need, so if it isn’t available from one grower, they have many backup sources.

For these reasons, I never promise certain flowers but always do everything within my powers to get you the most amazing blooms.

Michigan grown dahlias from Field & Florist & foraged berries

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography

Where do Local Flowers Come From?

“Local” is a very generic term, meaning it could mean Michigan grown, West Michigan grown or they were grown right here in my town (which isn’t likely because as I previously mentioned, there aren’t any large flower farms near me). So, this question will be answered differently by each and every florist. Certainly, there are local flowers farms accessible across the country. I’ve gone to u-pick gardens and sourced blooms small amounts from various farmer’s markets. Some local growers even sell to wholesalers, who in turn, then sell to florist providing them with local flowers.

My approach is slightly different. It was born out of necessity and I wouldn’t say is the normal thought process from a floral designer or flower shop. My nearest, local wholesaler is an hour drive away. When you’re on a time crunch for a wedding, that two hours (there and back) adds quickly. For this purpose, I have many of my flowers flown in and Fedex sets them right on my doorstep. However, that never satisfies my floral needs for a couple reasons. First off, because I was unable to hand pick the bunches myself, sometimes colors are just a little off. Which leads me in search of a replacement. Sometimes as I start designing, I realize I need more texture. And sometimes the product arrives in poor condition so I have to find something else, quick.

So my local flowers, often come from Lowe’s nursey or Menard’s garden section. I’ve been known to cut up hanging baskets in a pinch. And often I find the most perfect tidbits growing in my own woods. The truth of the matter is, I started doing this just to get me out of a pickle here and there, but have found that this creates my favorite pieces. I’m now addicted to adding nursery plants to my arrangements and wander the greenhouses and nurseries just for fun. I’m able to add colors, textures and unique details that I wouldn’t find otherwise. My floral proposals often reference “seasonal flowers” in addition to the ruffly roses and staples that I know will be available. But really I could replace that term with local treasures or nursery plants.

This little number is filled with roses from my California wholesaler along with foraged autumn olive and begonia clippings from a potted plant.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

Foraged Flowers are Free Flowers

If I’m able to pick flowers or greenery for free, it should be really cheap to work with a florist who takes this approach, right? Sorry to say, this is not the case and here’s why. Foraging takes a ton of time. As does sourcing flowers from various local farms because chances are, unless you shop at a wholesaler market, you won’t find all your floral needs in one place. So either I have to allot enough time in my own personal schedule for special treasure hunts and foraging adventures or I have to pay an assistant to do it for me. I did that once, it was all going well until she saw a snake. Game over and I had to go do it myself. Because of all the extra time, care and planning the benifit of using foraged gems is the variety, the texture and how creations became truly unique. It’s not used as a cost saving technique.

Incorporating foraged ferns into Crissie’s bouquet made it feel right at home in the woods of Northern Michigan

Photography: Samantha James Photography

I’ve used the terms local and seasonal flowers so often that they almost seem cliché. Its trendy right now and so everyone is doing it, even if they’re just grabbing a few local blooms via their wholesale markets. However, my hope is that this will help you understand where flowers really come from and why they cost so much. Regardless of how you get them, love and care is taken in crafting each recipe, each bouquet and in delivering them to you on your wedding day.

Real Weddings :: Olivia & Carter Wed at Monterey Valley

0 · Feb 8, 2017 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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Cinderella’s Proposal

0 · Aug 17, 2016 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday Flowers

0 · Apr 8, 2016 ·

I put a ton of emphasis into selecting the right flowers for each and every event. I give my brides a few visuals and ideas of what varieties I plan on using, but in the end, plans change. Sometimes I get inspired by something else. Sometimes the color, size or movement is just off in the bloom that I choose. And sometimes I kill flowers. Yes, it happens.

I love to take the time to focus on each and every bloom that passes through my hand. But when it’s wedding crunch time, I have to admit that often the focus is more on just getting it done rather than making it perfect. It’s for that reason that I make the most visual pieces first. And I do like to save the pieces that I’m most excited for until the end, this way I ensure I will stay excited throughout the entire creation process rather than becoming too weary of flowers. However, I’m very cautious about this approach.

I think it would be really neat to be able to tell the bride the story behind each and every blossom. Yet anyone who’s been a part of a wedding knows that this is completely unrealistic, the bride clearly has other things on her mind that day – even if I do not.

So I quickly hand off the bouquet, finish my delivery and then start plotting out my next event.

But I had an idea. I could share the stories here. I could tell where the flowers traveled from, how certain varieties came to be in my hands and some of the thought process that went into the selection. It would be an open and honest discussion of my flower journey. You’d know of my ordering mishaps and maybe even a couple wasteful tales. But I think in the end it would be fun to reflect back and maybe even I would grasp a deeper understanding of myself and how I work through the creative process.

Peony & Pinecone floral recipe | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography

As much as I love local flowers and talk about a lot the advantages of American grown blooms, it’s pretty amazing to think that some of your flowers have traveled half way across the world. A single bouquet could easily represent a number on continents and I’d like to start tracking that. It’s like philosophy, geography and flowers (I think they call that horticulture?) all in one little post.

And because most Fridays I either have flowers in my hands or wish that I did, this will be my version of Friday Flowers. More next Friday 😉

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A Fall Family Photo Session

0 · Feb 24, 2016 ·

Just as the trees were dropping their last few leaves and before the blistery cold came billowing in, I realized there was a moment to be captured.

They say that things change with your second child and I couldn’t agree more. Time slips away faster and the days of being a baby are soon forgotten. The months have fled and I’ve hardly even looked at these pictures. I have piles of things that will “someday” hit the blog, both personal and work projects.

Meanwhile, Gretta has grown to a big sister of 3 years. In one breathe, it all seems so natural as if this is how life has already been. But I’m fearful that it will all too fast just be gone. Willa June turns one next month.

Don’t forget to schedule in a few play days. Have a friend follow you around with a camera as you walk by the river, inspire an impromptu game of peek-a-boo and just remember life as it is. 3 Year Old Toddler Pictures | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Ada Park Family Session | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Riverside Family Photo Session | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Black and White Family Photography | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Autumn Family Photo Session | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Vintage Kids Coats | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Fall Family Photos | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Ada Michigan Photography | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography 8 Month Baby Photos | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Family Photos in Ada Park | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography Thank you to Katie and Lisa of Katie Grace Photography for being that friend and helping us preserve these precious moments.

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A New Adventure

0 · Dec 22, 2015 ·

Photography: Katie Grace Photography

On November 2, a new adventure began for our family. My husband accepted a new job. It’s a great job and excellent career move. However, for the past 2 months he’s been commuting 60 miles back and forth each day. The situation is less than ideal.

The remedy is for our family to relocate, plain and simple. So the adventure is really beginning in the New Year. We finally have our house listed for sale, we have been scouring the real estate market and we are packing our bags.

I’ve held onto the dream of living in Northern Michigan for so long now, and I’m falling just shy. Our proposed destination town is Big Rapids, a mere 12 miles south of what most consider to be the cutoff line to living up north. So close. We’re almost north. At least it’s a step in the right direction.

And as far as business goes, I don’t foresee much change on that front. Only a small fraction of the brides I currently work with are local, and I really do very few wedding right in the city of Grand Rapids itself. I’ll be that much closer to my Leelanau brides and my Southwest Michigan brides will only be a stone’s throw further. The dream is to find a place with a potential floral studio, perhaps a small garden, or I’d at least like to get out of my formal dining room so maybe I could actually host a dinner party once in a while.

Right now I feel like we’re living on a prayer. We’ve had so much interest in our home, but the housing market in that area is a bit… challenging, to say the least. It’s a faith journey, trusting that we’re making the right decision and that it will all work out in the end.

Merry Christmas week – we’ve had 5 showings of our house this week, which is also less than ideal. It’s cutting into my wrapping and family holiday time so if your gift was late or not perfectly wrapped, I’m sorry – I don’t know how Martha Stewart does it all! I hope you’re all enjoying this season of laughter, joy and togetherness.

Holiday Cheer

0 · Dec 3, 2015 ·

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography

I usually love Christmas. I’m a bit obsessed. Sparkly trees, twinkling lights, snow, presents, dinner parties… yes to it all!

But the last couple of years I haven’t really “felt” it. I feel like adulthood has officially checked in and the wonder is gone. It’s December 3rd and I still have pumpkins on my porch. Floral designer fail.

I used to get excited in August when Hobby Lobby would start stocking the shelves with Christmas goodies. My tree was always up Thanksgiving weekend. And Christmas shopping usually started back in September (if not sooner).

While I can check Christmas shopping off my to-do list, the rest of it seems tragic. I look at my house in disbelief and have to hold back tears. There’s pumpkin garland in my living room.

I’m trying to channel my holiday cheer. I don’t normally participate in things like Instagram or blogging challenges – I much prefer to march to the beat of my own drums and not follow the rules. But I’m in desperate need of assistance here. So for the month, I will be jumping on board with Bloom the Workshop’s Instagram challenge. If you’ve followed my work for long, you know that I love both Ashley & Michaela and adore being a part of Bloom and adding my flowers to some of their events. I won’t be blogging every item, but perhaps you’ll find a few inspired posts. However, if you do want to see what I’m up to, do make sure to follow along on Instagram or you can take part in the challenge too #bloomigchallenge.

And in the meantime, if you need an instant dose of cheer, head on over to Bungalow & Olives, my friend Katie is the best Christmas elf and her first snow post is sure to put a smile on your face.

A Note on Gratitude

0 · Dec 1, 2015 ·

As we’re all perfectly well aware, this is the time of year that we’re all supposed to be thankful. I’ve been trying for well over a week now to put together a post on gratitude and thankgiving. I wanted to write something profound and moving. I’ve put together draft after draft and had even committed to posting one last Wednesday and then my website host went ca-poof and the kibosh was put on that plan as my blog was down for an entire day.

My mother used to blame the devil for little acts like that. She wasn’t the type to call that boy “the devil” or give Lucifer credit for mass shootings, etc. It was the little things that she used to say were acts of the devil – things like getting into an argument on Sunday morning making us late to church. He’s sneaky like that and tries to keep you from worship.

So on Wednesday after I spent hours crafting a post about being thankful to our Heavenly Father and sending a few praises His way, this happened and my blog just didn’t exist. My mother immediately came to mind. I’m not sure if it was really his handy work or if perhaps I just wasn’t supposed to publish that draft, I wasn’t completely satisfied with it anyway.

Either way, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am over thinking it. I keep feeling like gratitude should be easy to come by. I have food on my table, a roof over my head, a beautiful family and the list goes on and on. But I’ve been searching for thankfulness and contentment still.

And then I realized I don’t need to search for it, it’s just here. It’s all around me. Why am I working so hard to find a warm and fuzzy feeling? I need to just embrace the feelings that are already in my home. My life is a mess. My business is not perfect. My kids are driving me crazy at this very moment. I will always and forever find things to tweak and change and try to perfect in my life. But I need to embrace the thankfulness in the here and now and stop looking out the windows beyond my own home.

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography

“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” – Dorothy, Wizard of Oz.

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.

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.

Original Recipe :: Peonies & Pinecones

0 · Dec 15, 2014 ·

People tell me all the time how limited they feel when it comes to winter flowers. It’s as if their imaginations just can’t see what’s not in bloom staring at them right in their face, or in their backyards. Perhaps this attributes to the low number of winter weddings, sometimes you just have a hard time finding beauty in all the grey and the muck.

I think peonies are one of these forgotten winter flowers. It’s often assumed that they’re a springtime bloom, so only available during that time. While this is true in Michigan, it is springtime in other parts of the world and today it’s possible to have flowers shipped all around the globe while still keeping the costs low. So let’s beat the winter blues and remember that we can create beauty all around us, we might just have to search a little beyond our own gardens.

Today’s recipe includes a couple springtime favorites (peonies and ranunculus), combined with some winter greens (magnolia leaves, seeded eucalyptus, and foraged cedar greens), a variety of roses which are available for most part all year (amnesia roses, lavender and white spray roses) and then head on out to your back yard for a couple of pine cones – which I think are extra lovely when gilded gold (a little dusting of spray paint should do the trick).

Photography: Katie Grace Photography | Flower Recipe & Design: The Day’s Design

Are there any flowers you’re missing this season?

Katie Grace Photography

Local is Risky (and you might not get what you want)

Where do Local Flowers Come From?

Foraged Flowers are Free Flowers

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