Real Weddings

Real Weddings :: Racheal and Steve’s Treehouse Soiree

1 · May 2, 2018 ·

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

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

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

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

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

Real Weddings :: 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.

Wheat Toned Wedding :: The Inspiration

0 · Oct 16, 2017 ·

Every wedding day begins with a plan. I make my plans visual, summing it up on one page in hopes to capture the full picture that is in my mind. I always start with this this summery or mood board. This sets the tone and gives us a grounded place keeping our planning on track, especially in this creative industry when our minds can begin to wonder.

For this wedding, we took cues from the scenery around us. There were fields of wheat and grasses, autumn was showing her true glory and the venue was overflowing with rustic charm. Shelby and Paul wanted a casual, outdoor autumn experience. The palette was to be kept very neutral with touches of oat grass, wheat, cotton, autumn foliage and fruit lining the tables’ cotton table runners.

I put this mood board together before ever having visited the venue. When I arrived for my first site visit, I was in complete awe of how special Misty Farms really was and couldn’t wait to dig deeper into the design plan. The barns were from the 19th century. If nothing else, that would make me week in the knees. Farmers have been living off of and loving this land for decades and it’s beauty is unscathed. Even better, when I got the album back from the Ashley, there were more scenery pictures than I’ve ever seen her present me with before, meaning I wasn’t the only one that saw that wonder of this autumn day and I hope many more eyes will appriciate the charm of this area for generartions to come.

I get butterflies in my stomach just looking at these landscape photos so please excuse me if you think these photos are in excess but I simply cannot help myself. I can practically hear the leaves crunching and the smell the fresh frangrance of earthy autumn. I will share their entire wedding later this week so you can see how our mood board translated into real life, and personal and one of a kind experience designed specifically for Shelby and Paul.

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

More of their gorgeous autumn day coming soon!

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

0 · Aug 29, 2017 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Featured :: Jarvie & Hank’s Tuscan Sun Wedding on The White Wren

0 · May 12, 2017 ·

Jarvie is a city girl with heartstrings tied to Northern Michigan. Hank’s heart is linked straight to Jarvie. His passion for her is evident in the small smile creeps across his lips while she speaks, the stolen glances he casts her way while she’s not looking and the strong silence that stood beside her as we eagerly planned the magic of their wedding day.

Jarvie once told me that she wanted her wedding to be just like the one at the end of “Under the Tuscan Sun.” After watching that movie, I realized I never once noticed the bride’s bouquet, what the centerpieces looked like or the color of the table linens. It was all about the mood, the hospitality, family and closeness that was portrayed. There was so much laughter and joy, it was the conclusion of a fabulous journey with even better things to come. This is also how I would describe Jarvie and Hank’s wedding day. A picturesque setting with thoughtful details and celebration in the air as all the guests around them knew that this was just the beginning of their amazing life ahead.

Although I’ve previously shared this beautiful celebration on my blog, it’s absolutely worth seeing it again and today it’s featured on The White Wren.

Happy Friday!

Real Weddings :: Cassie & Jim Wed at Two Hats Ranch

1 · Mar 31, 2017 ·

Every now and then I browse through trend reports and glance at what the “experts” are expecting to be big new fads for the upcoming wedding seasons. I read one such article not too long ago that mentioned that the influx of animals into weddings and wedding photography was going to be huge in 2017. And I thought, what an interesting but sort of fun, trend. Then I realized how ahead of the curve my brides actually have been on this note. I had a zoo wedding awhile back, in which the goats tried to eat her bridal bouquet. There was a gorgeous celebration at Misty Farms where I was greeted by a sheep on my first visit, a cat sat on my lap and the bride rode bareback on a horse (this one’s coming to Style Me Pretty soon, so stay tuned for that!). Finally, there’s the one I’m sharing with you today at a whitetail deer ranch, complete with all sorts of horses and hunter’s delights in the woods of northern central Michigan.

I love small and intimate weddings. While I absolutely understand the need for something on the larger scale, small really capture my heart. There were just under forty guests who gathered at the family owned ranch. Chairs were placed in the woods as guests were greeted in southern style with sips of refreshing sweet tea. Vows were exchanged under an arbor of foraged greens while the bride’s father sat with her bouquet on his lap, which was a moment I simply loved.

From there, guests mingled inside the ranch as the rain started pouring down. Dinner was served on a covered patio with bistro lights, seersucker napkins and lots of candles and lush blooms. I shared some of the behind the scenes of this wedding earlier this week here. The results were a perfectly casual, yet joyful air to the entire day with laughter and love lasting long into the night.

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Cassie and Jim :: The Inspiration

0 · Mar 27, 2017 ·

Wedding at Two Hats Ranch | The Day's Design | Emilee Mae Photography

Photography: Emilee Mae Photography

Cassie and Jim approached me a mere six weeks prior to their chosen wedding day seeking my expertise. They had a venue, a photographer, she had her dress and a date chosen but that was it. It was up to me to wrap up those final details. Some might find this scenerio stressful, but I really like short engagements. There’s less to to second guess decisions and I’m forced to make and plan and stick to it.

One of the things I loved about working with Cassie and Jim is how easy going they are. They had full confidence in my planning abilities and left the details to me. The venue chosen was their family’s white tail deer lodge, Two Hats Ranch. It was full of earthy, browns and wooden details with barn doors and clean rustic appeal. This was the design start point.

From there, I focused on what seemed natural to not only the surroundings, but also to them as a couple. Her family has Texas roots and they’re rarely seen without either cowboy hats or boots, but most likely the men are wearing both. There are horses on the property and antlers everywhere. Wildlife is abundant.

We incorporated gingham, seersucker and linen fabrics all in nod to those southern origins. Guests were greeted with a signature sweet tea. And as a last mintue descision, we swayed from our orginal vision just a touch adding some soft pink tones into the design which then lead us to adding some floral linens, which softened the very masculine space.

Cassie & Jim Mood Board | The Day's Design

Image Sources (top to bottom, left to right): Photography: Taylor Lord Photography via Brides | unknown | unknown | Photography: Fondly Forever Photography via The Wedding Chicks | Photography: Kacie Lynch, Bouquet: Tourtelle Floral via Burnett’s Boards | Photography: Birds of a Feather Photos via Style Me Pretty

This was merely the mood board setting the tone for the celebration. Later this week, I’ll be sharing the full results of how we brought the day to life.

Real Weddings :: Mattie & Nick, Married in May

0 · Dec 2, 2016 ·

Wedding colors seem to come in waves. And about three years ago we were in the middle of a purple movement. I got bored of the color really quickly as there seemed to be very little variation in shade, design and I even had two weddings in a row wearing the same bridesmaids dresses. This royal Grimis hue was not causing my creative juices to thrive.

When Mattie and I began discussing her color scheme, I had a couple of flashbacks with she started talking about shades of amethyst. But then she added dove grey and moody mauve and I got really excited. She had this really sultry, in depth vision of pairing dramatic pewter and black accents against a classically soft spring color palette of lavender and lilac. I certainly shouldn’t be surprised that Mattie had such impeccable tastes, she’s a wedding planner herself and has some gorgeous work in her portfolio (check out Spark & Wildflower). I made the personal flowers and a topper for the cake and left the rest in Mattie’s very competent hands. I simply loved how beautiful this wedding turned out.

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography | Floral Design (personal flowers: bouquets, buttonholes, flower crowns and cake topper): The Day’s Design | Reception Venue: Baker Lofts | Invitation Printing: Crop Marks | Envelope Liners: Greyberry Design | Bride’s Dress: Bianka Bridal | Bride: Mattie Burke of Spark & Wildflower

And reminisce back to their engagement photos last fall here.

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Always an Original

0 · Oct 21, 2016 ·

I finally broke down and wrote myself a blogging schedule or editorial calendar, if you’d like to get technical. I have so many beautiful weddings just hanging around on my hard drive, waiting to be blogged. I’m trying to gain control. This is week one of the schedule.

However, I’m already breaking my plan because as I was scrolling through pictures, these images stuck out and I had to laugh to myself.

Shayla and John are one of the most loveable, kindest and delightful couples you will ever meet. They’re the type of people who instantly add a ray of light to a darkened room. And while I wasn’t there to witness the moment, I can just imagine what was happening in these pictures – I’m certain that Kellie was telling them to be serious and not smile. But that’s not natural. That doesn’t represent them at all.

I’ve never seen a time when sweet Shayla didn’t have an expression of joy on her face. And while I can imagine John being slightly more serious, a conversation doesn’t go too far without his lips forming a curve either.

While I love a portrait with a solemn pose and calm expression, in this instance it just doesn’t seem natural. Shayla had to hide her laughter and John was caught with a couple humorous looks on his face as well.

Photography: Hetler Photography

I was quickly reminded that we all should just be ourselves. Do what you do and whatever feels natural. Be one of a kind and always an original. That’s how to always guarentee the best results.

There’s your Friday pep talk friends, may the little reminder carry you onward to a great weekend.

PS – Stay tuned for the rest of Shayla & John’s wedding which I’ll be sharing next week

Zoo Wedding

0 · Aug 24, 2016 ·

August 23rd has historically been a popular date for weddings. My parents were married 41 years ago on that date. We have good friends who were wed on that date a couple years ago. And last year, I was part of this rustically modern, rose gold infused, rainy yet perfect, party at the zoo.

This was my first daytime wedding and I really loved it. Carrie and Brian were wed at noon, followed by cocktails and games on the covered patio, lunch in a modern ballroom suspended in the trees and then desserts, mingling and live music by Lindsey Lou and the Flatbelly’s.

At approximately 11:30 that morning, I heard my first crack of thunder. That’s not a happy noise a half hour prior to an outdoor wedding ceremony. But one of the best part of hosting a wedding at The Bissell Treehouse is how you still get the feeling of an open air, lofty and wooded space with the protection of an awning. The slight drizzle turned into pouring rain, droplets made their way through the trees, the thunder boomed and Carrie walked down the aisle. I think it was probably the most romantic rainstorm of all time. The trees sang a chorus as Brian and Carrie pledged their love to one another.

And I’m so excited to share that this wedding was also featured in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of The Knot Michigan – which is on newstands right now!

Real Weddings :: Becca & John

0 · May 19, 2016 ·

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

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

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

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

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

Real Weddings :: Ryan & Jen

0 · Nov 20, 2015 ·

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

Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Reidsma!!

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

Style Me Pretty Bouquet Breakdown

0 · Nov 5, 2015 ·

A couple month’s ago one of the awesome ladies from Style Me Pretty reached out asking if I’d mind breaking down and sharing all the ingredients to Christina’s lovely autumn bouquet (you may remember Tim & Christina’s wedding was featured on their blog here last spring). It was so special being asked, as I feel like Tim and Christina’s wedding was a break out moment for me and I will forever think of their wedding day with the warmest memories. I had done other floral arranging, I done other weddings but I knew in my heart of hearts that theirs was something special. They entrusted an incredible amount of faith in me. Their wedding wasn’t only going to be the start of something incredible and new for them, but it was going to be the start something big for me as well.

I was right.

This was my big break and the largest scale event that I had tackled to date. My love affair with flowers grew. And it continues to grow. I stretched my wings and did something scary and reaped huge rewards. I proved myself worthy – not to the world – but to myself. So when I was asked to describe this bouquet and the flower it… it was hard to know where to even start. Their wedding was a beautiful finale to the end of the 2014 wedding season.

It was my first time using Peterkort Roses. It’s a bit nerve wrecking any time you use a new supplier. Simply put, I had nothing to be nervous about. Their roses do not disappoint. As always, I had set aside my favorite blooms as I was processing and unpacking flowers. Special blooms for a special bride. Her bouquet was one of the last projects I tackled late that Friday night. I think that was my biggest bucket of “favorite blooms” I have ever collected.

It was dark and quiet in my Grandpa’s garage. The rains fell on the red tin roof and the wind was roaring outside on that cold October night. But what I remember are the flowers, the awe, and how I loved each and every stem that I placed.

Friends, here’s the bouquet (captured by the ever amazing Kelly Sweet Photography) and here’s the recipe, you can read more about it all these magical romantic roses over on Style Me Pretty.

7 Stems of Helga Piaget Garden Roses
5 Stems of Romantik Antike Garden Roses
3 Stems of Champagne Roses
2 Stems of Talea Roses
3 Stems of Pink Majolica Spray Roses
2 Stems of Pee Gee Hydrangeas
2 Stems of Peach Stock
Italian Ruscus Foliage
Variegated Pittosporum Foliage

Enjoy!

Prettier than Planned

0 · Oct 12, 2015 ·

Photography: Katy O’Dell Photography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sometimes things just turn out prettier than planned.

How to RSVP for a Wedding

0 · Aug 26, 2015 ·

This might seem like a silly post. Everyone knows how to RSVP for a wedding, right? It seems so obvious. But oddly enough, it’s been one of my biggest battles this year – gathering the guest count!

Photography: Bradley James Photography

So here we go – whether you’re a bride sending out those precious invites or just something planning (or not planning) to attend a summer soirée, here’s what you need to know about that little card inserted within the invitation, commonly known as the RSVP card.

To start, I strongly believe that RSVPs should be done through the mail. You’re not saving yourself any time by accepting them via email, Facebook messages, text, etc. You already receive enough emails regarding your wedding and you’re not always near someplace to track the RVSP if you collect those via phone/text. Purchase the cute little card that matches your invitation. Then make sure that it’s address to where ever you’d like these little RSVPs to arrive – your house, your parent’s home… whoever is going to be responsible and keep them in a safe place. Put a stamp on it. Make it easy and convenient for your guests.

Near the top of an RSVP should be a date. This is the date that it is due to be returned by. Place it in the mail prior to this date. This is so the bride and groom can collect final counts for not only the caterer, but the number of tables and chairs that need to be rented, the number of centerpieces needed, the number of programs, menu cards, favors and desserts. And after that data is all processed, they can then begin the daunting task of table assignments. If you RSVP late, your run the risk of being unfed and shoved at the “reject table”.

Under that date is a line. That line typically starts with an “M”. It looks something like this:

M______________

I cannot count the number of times that I’ve been asked about this “M”. That “M” is just a starting point, it might stand for Mr. or Mrs., Miss or Madame – fill in the rest of the blank however you’d like the be addressed. Some modern invitations eliminate the “M” and just leave a blank line or perhaps they say “Guest Names” which is really specific for you. Whatever it says, make sure that somewhere on that card is your name and the names of those who will be attending with you. If you do not put your name on the card, they cannot track who the RSVP came from and you will be bothered later with a phone call wondering why you have not responded to the wedding invite.

Entrée selection. This might be listed on the RSVP card but it might not. It just depends on what is being served and whether or not the guest has a choice. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to say that the guest is being given a choice of entrée. That means you must choose one – one for each guest RSVPing. So that means if there are 4 names on the card, there should be 4 entrees selected. Bonus points for letting us know who is eating which entrée (initials or something similar is extremely helpful), otherwise you might be playing the switch-a-roo game later.

We changed our minds. It happens. But realize that this is an inconvenience. If you’re no longer attending, the bride and groom may have already paid for your meal, set an extra seat, paid the calligrapher to create you a tag, etc. If you decided to attend afterall – the bride and groom now have to get in touch will all of these various people and make sure that they can squeeze you in at a table somewhere. To be a good guest, make a decision and stick with it.

Everyone must RSVP. That’s right, EVERYONE. If you received an invitation, it included a card with an envelope that already had a stamp on it. Don’t waste that stamp, send it back to the bride and groom. Even if you’re the mother of the bride or best man, don’t assume that they know you’re coming. The bride and groom might not be the ones tallying up the RSVP cards – they may have delegated that to a bridesmaid, sister or wedding planner who will not know to assume that you’ll be there. And they definitely won’t know what you want to eat or how many are in your party.

And finally, only the people who were clearly listed on the addressed envelope should be attending. If the outer envelope is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. Then there are 2 people invited, only 2. I don’t care that it’s an out of town wedding and that you have to travel with your 6 kids, those 6 kids were not invited. Don’t hassle the bride and groom, it’s their decision and I’m sure it wasn’t made lightly and there are probably lots of reasons unknown to you as to why your children were not invited. If the children are invited, it will say on the invitation Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Family or it will specifically name the children who are invited. Children who are over 18 or not living in the same household will be sent a separate invitation.

So brides, there’s the detailed info on how to create and send the RSVPs. And guests, make it easy on those brides, they’ve got a lot on their plate – return those cards properly filled out.

Silence on the Social Front

0 · Jul 22, 2015 ·

It saddens me that nearly a month has passed since my last post. I love blogging. I love sharing tidbits, advice and thoughts about weddings and life in general with all my amazing readers. So when busy takes over and I cannot find a moment to clear my head, write a sentence or much less format a post that’s worth reading, I find myself a little depressed.

It all comes down to priorities. I’m still dreaming of flowers, ribbons and foraging for the most perfect accents for each and every bridal bouquet. I am scheming up designs, laying out floor plans, creating flower recipes and timelines. But being a wedding planner is a selfless profession. It takes an enormous amount of dedication to each and every couple. It’s their needs that are put first, not my own. While I try to find balance in as many places as I possibly can, I always know that my clients come first. It’s their once in a lifetime experience that’s important, not my need to share what I’m up to with the world.

To the outside world, when things become quiet on the social media front it appears that we are doing nothing, we’re not busy and have little to share. To anyone in the wedding industry, we know that this is when we’re our busiest making wedding dreams come true.

Here’s just a peak at one of those dreamy days that we were honored to be a part of. Wishing the happiest of marriages to Hallie and Eric.

Photo by Bradley James Photography, from our wedding together last weekend in Ludington.

Real Weddings :: Tim & Christina

0 · Jun 16, 2015 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Groom | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

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

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

Boutonnieres | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fishtown | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Getting Published

0 · May 19, 2015 ·

Last week I had another one of my real weddings published on Style Me Pretty. The wedding itself was a dream and I could look at the pictures (and video!!) over and over again and never tire of them. And having your work featured on such a large platform is forever an honor – even though it may not have been the motivation of working on this particular wedding, it’s always nice when the wedding industry comes along and gives you a pat on the back, recognizing your hard work.

Photo: Kelly Sweet Photography

But let’s turn and look at this from a bride’s point of view. Was your wedding pretty as a picture? Do you dream of millions of people watching you and your man say “I do?” Want to be the envy of the neighborhood (and everyone’s Pinterest board)?

Do you want to see your wedding published? How do we make that happen?

It is okay to say right from the start that it’s your dream have your wedding featured on XYZ blog. You’ve been reading it for years, have 1,000 of pins from them and now that your big day is finally arriving, you want it to be showcased front and center. Sure, your wedding is really about love and commitment, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty. So my first piece of advice is to be up front with your planner, your photographer and your florist. While lots of other vendors are definitely involved, these tend to be the key people in making your vision come to fruition, and getting it featured.

If you have a specific blog or publication that you’re aiming for, share that information. Different blogs feature weddings with different aesthetics. As a bride, you might know that you love everything you see on XYZ blog but not even be aware of why it you like their style so much. Maybe they only feature film photography, rustic weddings or flowers that are very textural and loose. Your planner should definitely be able to help you identify what is so special about that blog.

Then choose vendors that have been published before. They’ve had real weddings published before. Real weddings are much more challenging in that they have to be functional, as well as pretty – things can’t just be morphed for the camera. If they’ve been published on your dream blog/publication then they earn major bonus points since they already know what it takes.

And then you have to trust your vendors. Why are featured weddings so special? The make us covet their prettiness. They make us say “wow, I wish I was there”. Details are unique, the photography is extraordinary and everything flows perfectly together and feels very cohesive.

With all of this being said, it doesn’t mean that you have to have an over the top budget to make it happen. I can’t stress how important it is to have confidence in your vendors and how key it is to hire an amazing photographer. It might seem strange, but splurging on an incredible photographer could actually save you money. They just know how to capture things in a way that takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. $1,000 worth of flowers suddenly looks like $5,000. Sometimes the photographer is truly the only reason (in my opinion anyway) that certain weddings even get published. The event doesn’t necessarily have to be super trendy, just well documented. It’s all in the details.

Make sure you’re timeline allows for extras. You’re going to need pictures of the reception “untouched”. The ceremony site needs to be captured before the guests arrive. There needs to be time to photograph the invitation suite, the bouquet by itself, the cute boutonnières and maybe even a centerpiece or two off of the table. If everything is rushed, it’s far less likely that your stylist and photographer can get creative together a “stage” a couple extra pretty photos (yes your favorite weddings had tacky salt and pepper shakers on their gorgeous reception tables and their boutonnières probably arrived in plastic containers, not on that gorgeous silver tray – it’s all about staging).

Trust your planner/stylist to guide the decision making process. While cheap plastic folding chairs might be fine and serve the purpose, it’s rare that I see them featured on a national publication. Upgrading the chair rentals and going with a more standard linen might be in your best interest to achieve your goal. They know where to best focus your monies to get the most bang for your buck.

Do you want to get your wedding published? Me too! I’d love to work together to make your dream day a reality.

Wedding in the Woods

0 · Feb 20, 2015 ·

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

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

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

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

Happy Friday, stay warm friends!!

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.

Featured :: Wedding in the Woods on Style Me Pretty

0 · Nov 17, 2014 ·

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

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

Someone pinch me please!!

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

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

That’s a Wrap… almost

0 · Sep 24, 2014 ·

I have had a delightfully busy wedding season and have just one more gorgeous fête on the 2014 calendar. Each celebration was so special and unique and I am so honored that so many brides have entrusted me to be a part of their special day. However, I did something during this wedding season which I said I would never do, and I paid the price.

August was a grand slam of a month. When I started my business I promised myself I would limit the number of weddings I took on in any particular month or I might lose my mind. I did not heed my own warning and in the middle of my busiest month – where I not only booked too many brides but also booked two weddings in one week – my grandpa passed away. In an 8 day stretch I had 3 weddings a funeral, 2 trips to Traverse City and I was an emotional wreck.

Moving forward I realized I will endure and how much I can endure, even though I’m still catching my breath. I thought being too busy with weddings was a reality I wouldn’t have face for years to come. It really is an answer to prayer, even if in the craziness of the moment I began questioning every career decision I’ve ever made! So if you’re wondering what I’ve been up to I really can’t wait to share. Unfortunately I’ll have to keep you on the edge of your seats a bit longer as I wait for more photos to arrive. However, I will get back to blogging because there are a lot of ideas in this head of mine I just haven’t been able to write about just yet.

And obviously I have to reveal at least a glimpse of one of my happy couples – this bride was too beautiful for words (and carrying a bouquet created by yours truly).

Photo courtesy of Joe Matthews

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!!

Real Weddings: Kait & Jordan

0 · Aug 20, 2013 ·

On one snow filled day this winter I met Kait and her amazing family for the first time. How do I even begin to tell you how delightful they are?? We spent that blistery morning bundled up and sipping hot cocoa, dreaming of the summer days ahead. To simply put it, I fell head over heels with this girl (and her family) and could not wait to be a part of her wedding day! The day finally came on July 19th. Kait and Jordan said “I do” in her Grandparent’s back yard in Muskegon, while I handled all the decor details here in Grand Rapids. I hope to share more pictures at a later date, but until then, here’s a peek at their wedding video from Aubrie Vela, which is amazing! I almost cried!!

Congratulations you two!!

Wedding videos just capture something that photos simply can’t… and I ♥ them!!

Real Weddings

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