Samantha James Photography

6 Wedding Trends on the Horizon for 2018

0 · Dec 28, 2017 ·

I’m still in awe of the fact that there are only 3 days left in 2017. So naturally, my mind has starting reflecting on the past year and thinking ahead to 2018. There’s something so refreshing about January, I feel like it’s full of possibility and its own sense of wonder and sparkle. By February, I’ll be singing the winter blues, but right now, I’m feeling hopeful for the New Year and thinking of things to come, which includes upcoming wedding trends.

Now with that being said, I’m not going to try to predict the future. I don’t have a crystal ball and I very much believe that couples should aim to host weddings that truly represent their relationship with one another and their own unique style. Nevertheless, there are always certain elements of décor and in the planning process that I find myself recreating over and over again throughout the season.

Based on clients I have booked for the year and conversations I’ve had with future brides, this is what I think we’ll see in 2018. I might be completely off base with my ideas, I purposefully have not read another blog’s décor or wedding trends predictions and so these are just 100% my gut instincts (maybe we’ll circle back at the end of the year and see how I did!)

1. Bye Bye Blush

Since 2014, blush had been the number one color referenced by brides. While I don’t believe that it’s going to leave us entirely, I am hearing talk about mauves, plums and other purple tones. There’s lots of talk about neutrals stills, but they seem to be less specific in tone and more concerned about an overall feeling or mood which leaves room for layering and lots of rich colors.

Blush Wedding Flowers | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

2. Hello Purple

I actually starting writing this post before Pantone announced the color of the year will be Ultra Violet. So I’m feeling really confident in my prediction that we’ll see those hues that I mentioned in my first trend alert. However, I personally will steer away from such a shockingly bright tone and stick with the more calming end of the spectrum, keeping lavenders, periwinkles and soft purples with lots of depth and color variations in my work.

Plum Weddings | The Day's Design | Ashley Slater Photography

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

3. Greenery will be King

The past couple years have I have incorporated conspicuous amounts of greenery into my designs and it seems like this trend is continuing on. It’s such an impactful way to bring the outdoors into your space. However, I would love to work on some fresh takes with you, thinking beyond just greenery runners.

Greenery Wedding Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

4. Focus on the Experience

More than focusing on the décor or specifics of the event, more and more I find couples focusing on making sure that the overall experience of the day is thoughtful and full of celebration. It’s more about creating an environment that will welcome, a flow that makes sense for both the couple, family and wedding guests and just making sure everyone has a great time, is their #1 priority for the day.

The Wedding Experience | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

5. Incorporating Elements from the Past

I’ve heard so much about vintage weddings in the past 5 years. Anything from china to mismatched mason jars and rustic “junk” have all become really sought after items for your wedding day. Last year I feel like I finally saw a shift away from that and I think it will continue. Now that’s not saying that rustic is “out” or we won’t see any more vintage weddings. I think we’ll still see lots of elements from the past.

However, I imagine that there will be a shift in the way that they’ll be incorporated. I find that many brides, and people in general, like to add a sense of nostalgia and tradition to their celebrations. Because of that, I think we’ll see traditions and vintage pieces incorporated in much more meaningful and subtle ways. Wax seals instantly take you to eras gone by. Grandma’s necklace to wear on your wedding day. Heirloom ring boxes (like the one belove, which I’m completely obsessed with). Wine and whisky barrels and chippy accents will still be used, but paired with modern and tasteful items that do a better job of representing a couple’s personal style. What I think is disappearing is the blanket phrase that I once heard so many brides say, “I’m having a vintage wedding”. But we’ll definitely be keeping a few timeless pieces from the past.

Vintage Ring Box | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

6. Focus on Simplicity

I feel a minimalist movement approaching. It’s in life, schedules, belongings and it’s going to seep into our wedding work as well. I predict lots of white space, arrangements that are open enough to “let a bird fly through” (a little phrase I picked up from my time at Little Flower School) and focusing on the details that will really be appreciated. I don’t think that texture and organic designs are leaving, I think they were simply opened the doorway to a more minimized wedding attitude. This more modern approach can be translated into a variety of venues and wedding styles, color useage will be key, and I like the idea of lofts and open, blank canvases and of course keeping nature at the forefront of my inspiration.

Minimal Wedding Design | The Day's Design | Cory Weber Photography

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

I’m really excited to see all that the coming year has in store for weddings and I have still have openings for both floral only and design/planning clients so if you’re planning a 2018 celebration, let’s chat!

An Autumn Editorial with Samantha James Photography

0 · Nov 30, 2017 ·

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the landscape around here changes. A mere month ago, I was driving down roads framed by tones of amber, chartreuse and gold. They all seemed to mimic the sun’s golden gleam and although the days were cool, the scene would instantly warm me.

Now here we are, 30 short days later and there’s not a trace of yellow left to be seen. There are a few leaves that simply refuse to let go, but they’re hues are muddy or silver, a cool contrast to October’s beauty and yet still somehow magical in a much more subtle way. These are the strong leaves, the ones that refuse to give up and give into the inevitable fact that winter is coming.

On the day of this particular project though, it was the warmer hues that inspired me. Gretta and I took a walk down our road looking for the perfect foliage, trying to decide if our focus should be on the canary shades or more on the apricot and pumpkin tones. We found maple leaves that looked as though they were wearing rouge and copper ones that almost appeared metallic. By the end of our walk, our arms were overflowing with branches and we sat to sort out our favorite treasures.

In the end though, we used it all. Brown, honey, rose and all the colors of a golden sunset found their way into our palette. And while the textures were simply magnificent against the empty space and simple white dress, I let color take control of this project. I took even more inspiration from the hues of the stunning distant drum roses from Grace Rose Farm and a few bronze mums that I found at our local wholesaler. Often I try to keep colors subtle and muted, I like a certain amount of elegance and refinement but paired against the white backdrop of this space, I let all the colors flow in letting fall color my world.

Photography: Samantha James Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Wardrobe: Ali Nicole Bridal | Hair & Makeup: Cheeky Strut Salon

Planning a wedding for next fall? I have a few openings left and I would love to recreate something like this or even make design an autumn concept that’s completely new to you. Let’s chat!

Justine & Devin :: The Inspiration

0 · Aug 15, 2017 ·

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared an inspiration board on here. It’s not because I haven’t been creating them, because I certainly have. They’re an amazing tool to help keep your planning on track. Sometimes the process of wedding planning can become so overwhelming and there are so many ideas out there, and directions that decor and styles can take and after a year or more of preparation for your big day, the final results can deviate so much for where you orginally wanted to be – this can be either really good or bad. I like to think of these as modern magazine clippings all compiled onto a one page summary of your day.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

On the other hand, Justine and Devin were engaged in May and wed in August (you can see their super romantic proposal story here). It was quick, and there was very little room for debating all the various design options. So we created a mood board to help set the stage and made sure that everything stayed on track with the initial concept. If something felt out of place with this “summary” their wedding day, then it was vetod and we moved on.

There’s a beautiful ballroom in downtown Flint that would play host to the day. It has thick white trim, orginal early 1900s grey and white tiled floors, marble accents and gold chairs. This was our canvas for creating. The next layer of design was the bride’s desire to add dusty blue touches and glittering sequin bridesmaids gowns. Elegant and glamorous where key discriptive words, and since she’s my sister I know her sense of style pretty well, which meant I also knew we needed to add in some frills and girly charms.

This is the condensed version of our design, as the actual design plan went on for 5 pages detailing every aspect of their glittering wedding day. There was much focus on flowers and end results were too good for words and I’ll be sharing the entire day soon.

Image sources (top to bottom, left to right): Photography: Heather Payne Photography, Bouquet: Philosophy Flowers via Team Flower Instagram | Quicksand Roses | White Majolika Roses | Gold Chiavari Chair | Helga Piaget Roses via Peterkort Roses | Photography: Heather Payne Photography, Floral Design: Philosophy Flowers via Team Flower Instagram | Minted Invitations | Faith Roses | via ModWedding

You can also see an expanded Pinterest board that helped inspire their celebration here. The results of their beautiful wedding are coming soon!

3 Tips for a Successful Marriage

0 · Jul 25, 2017 ·

Last month Josh and I celebrated 7 years of marriage. I was asked what the secret is. I don’t really think there’s a secret to making a marriage last but if I had to sum it up, I might use words like stubbornness or persistence. You have to refuse to give up, even when the going gets tough.

Before we were married, we did premarital counseling. In all the wedding planning blogs and timelines and lists of things to do after you become engaged, this little step rarely makes the list. Someday I’d really like to expand upon this subject, because it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. In the meantime, there are three things that I remember our counselor telling us to do regularly to increase our chances of a successful marriage.

Tips for a Successful Marriagen | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

Listen for 20 Minutes a Day

20 minutes of uninterrupted conversation per day is essential. It’s also nearly impossible and anyone with kids will agree. We don’t sit there with a stopwatch or anything, but we both make a point to listen to one another and share what’s on our minds each day. Communication is key to success.

Date Once a Week

7 years ago I remember thinking what an easy concept this sounded like. Once a week, we go out or stay in or do something together. Put the phones away and just spend some quality time. But through the years, it’s gotten much harder. We have busy schedules, he works full time and has passions on the side, I own a business, we have two kids under the age of 5, babysitters are expensive and often hard to come by, there are home improvement projects in the works and the list goes on.

For us, date night often is the equivalent of putting the girls to bed a half hour early and then eating dinner together, just the two of us. We might watch a movie or play games, we rarely even leave the house for our dates anymore. But that’s what works for us. And we might not actually do this once a week, but we do try to make some sort of an effort on this front. Scheduling it ahead of time so we have something to look forward to is also really helpful.

Get Away Once a Month

The last piece of this quality time equation requires you as a couple to disconnect from the outside world for 24 hours. Whether it’s an overnight stay out of town or you send the kids to grandma’s for the day, our counselor recommended planning a getaway once a month. This one is by far the hardest and we rarely follow this suggestion. We have our nights away from the girls here and there and definitely take advantage as much as possible, but we don’t’ stick to this rule. However, it think it’s still worth mentioning and maybe someday we’ll be able to get back on track with this tidbit of advice.

If you didn’t notice the pattern, spending quality time and communication is key. A marriage can’t thrive without meaningful interaction and understanding, along with the persistence to stick to these guidelines and never give up on one another. While I’m certainly not an expert on the subject, I think if your partner always remains a top priority, your chances of success are greatly increased.

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!!

Real Weddings :: Crissie & Mike’s Fern Infused Frankfort Wedding

0 · May 10, 2017 ·

Oh the woods of Northern Michigan. They’re magical, poetic, rustic and elegant all at the same time. They form a picturesque backdrop, allow beams of enchanting sunlight to pop through and form the most natural carpet of ferns and forget me nots on their floors. The dancing leaves host the perfect celebration.

This quiet morning began in the family’s cabin in Frankfort, Michigan. A scenic little drive and cozy cottage perched on a hill. I would have been content to stay there all day with the bride’s two little dogs and delightful family. However, the progression of the day certainly did not disappoint, as the ceremony lead the guests to a chapel in the woods, The Meeting House. Oversized windows letting in the most perfect breeze and rustic wooden benches filled the space, Crissie described it as an enchanted fairy hideaway. An chuppah adorned with Grandpa’s prayer shall and native ferns signified that Crissie and Mike’s home and hearts will always be open to the ones they love.

The day’s festivities then moved a little closer to the lake. Crissie drew inspiration from all her environment, from the ferns of the forest, to the white birch trees to the cool purples and blues of the lake. The tented reception at Elberta Lifesaving Station added touches of art deco and a watercolor display. While they wanted the woods and nature of Northern Michigan to very much be the focus of the day, they also wanted to remind guests that it’s not a completely rustic and unpolished place, but rather it’s enchanting and organic.

So many personal details surrounded this day. Crissie did all the calligraphy herself and hand-painted the signage, place cards and escort cards. One of my personal favorite details were the dinosaur escort cards and table numbers, which surprisingly felt right at home in Northern Michigan. This whimsical little touch was in nod to a conservatory garden in Chicago (where they currently live). This garden has a fern room. It’s explained that ferns are an ancient plant and have been around since the time of dinosaurs. As you make your way throughout the fern room, one can find small plastic dinosaurs hidden among the plants. There was such a huge focus on the ferns for this day that the dinos migrated from Chicago to Elberta and I dubbed this the “Ferngully Wedding”.

This wedding was also featured on Grey Likes Weddings, you can see that feature here and you can read a little more about the inspiration, including the beautiful poem Crissie sent me as her first source of inspiration here.

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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.

Farwell 2016, Time Refuses to Stand Still

0 · Jan 3, 2017 ·

My mom used to say that the older you get, the faster time passes. As a child who waited forever for Christmas morning, my birthday or out next vacation, I would inwardly always roll my eyes. She didn’t know what she was talking about. A year was 365 days regardless of your age and a day always contained 24 hours. Period.

Yet somehow, my mother was once again correct. I don’t know why this phenomena occurs, it’s really quite peculiar but I’m about 2 steps away from following in her footsteps and telling my girls the same thing.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

This past wedding season went by in a flash, I hardly even remember it. It wasn’t until I went through all my pictures on my hard drive that I suddenly recalled so many gorgeous celebrations filled with the most amazing couples and so much love.

I had a little break down on New Year’s Eve because I realized that I wasn’t ready for 2016 to be over. There were so many things I wanted to accomplish still. I felt like I was still living in the shadow of 2015, and hadn’t even fully embraced 2016 yet. I have yet to improve my skills, make business progress or even finish unpacking from our move. Thank goodness I didn’t share my goals on this little blog, I’d have to hang my head in embarrassment from the lack of accomplishment.

I went back and re-read my year end post from last year (you can read it here) and realized all the goals that I had checked off my list and what a brag board I really had. But most of all, this stuck out at me and still holds completely true:

“Moving forward is a sign of progress and a little bittersweet. There’s a part of me that thinks I should have kept a tally of how many times I bled, how many times I wanted to give up, the hours of sleep I lost, the times I wanted to do a happy dance and high five (only to realized I work most days alone), the number of times I witnessed “the moment”, the walks up and down the aisle, the steps I take on a wedding day, the trips to venues, caterers, flower markets, greenhouses and down the road foraging for treasures. I need to keep track of it all so I can remember. So when 2016 rolls around and I can’t hardly function because I’ve pulled another all nighter before one of my fabulous brides’ big day – all I’ll have to do is see the expression in her eyes as she sees her groom staring back at her so in love. I want to remember why I love this job so much and never forget. My mother has mentioned on several occasions that there must be an easier way to make a living. Of course she’s right, but they’re not my passion, my drive or what I want to be doing. This is right where I want to be.”

Can we just say yes to all of this again? Remember, but don’t keep score. Stay inspired and stay true and never forget why we started in the first place. And let’s do 2017 just a little bit better because time isn’t going to slow down for any of us.

The above photo is from my sister’s wedding, which I’m going to go ahead and say was my favorite wedding of 2016 😉

5 Perfect Gifts for Your Flower Loving Friends

0 · Dec 21, 2016 ·

Christmas is only 4 days away. I can scarcely believe it! I thought I was so ahead of the game this year, I had all of my personal shopping done and gifts wrapped by December 5th. It seemed like I was right on track. But December has once again sped past and here I am, again, trying to send out a few last minute holiday cards and notes of joy. It seems like there’s always just one or two little things that you need to finish…

Photography: Samantha James Photography

So if you’re like me and have a flower loving friend that you’ve yet to find the perfect gift for – fear not, I’m sharing some of my very favorite gifts I’ve ever given or received and I think they’ll love them too.

Flower Books

People who love flowers are very visual and we love books with pretty pictures. Not only are they great for personal reference but they also look really lovely on your coffee table. My two personal favorites are Bringing Nature Home: Floral Arrangements Inspired by Nature and The Flower Recipe Book.

Botanical Prints

I love botanical prints and have so many favorite artists. But I think my favorites are from Wildfield Paper Co. Her work is so real, her attention to detail and the way she uses color just blows me away.

Esther Clark Botanical Calendar

I have some of Esther’s prints hanging in my kitchen and they’re so beautiful. Her botanical calendar is just the same – only there are 12 gorgeous images to fall in love with.

Floret Flower 2017 Planner

With tips for planting, harvesting and growing – this lovely little planner is perfect for those of us who refuse to make everything digital and use an online calendar. Floret Farms also has a book that is now available for pre-order, which would make another great gift.

Florist Tool Belt

The florist tool belt from Wheeler Munroe. This is a life saving product. My husband got me one last year for my birthday and I think it might be my favorite present I’ve ever received. I stopped wasting so much of my time going “where did I put my clippers??” and now always have my clippers, scissors, cell phone and usually a pen close by. Plus, she’s pretty awesome to work with.

Happy Shopping!

This is a non-sponsored post with product images borrowed from each individual product page. Direct links can be found in each of the descriptions above.

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When Should You Carry Your Bridal Bouquet?

3 · Nov 15, 2016 ·

It seems like a pretty straight forward question and answer. As a bride, you have a bouquet and as a floral designer, I’m going to encourage you to have flowers around you as often as possible. But even with something as simple as a bridal bouquet, there are logistics and moments of practicality to consider and moments that you might truly want to have it by your side, even if you hadn’t previously thought about it.

When to Carry Your Bridlal Bouqet | The Day's Design | Bradley James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

Getting Ready Photos

I like to drop off the bouquets sometime during the getting ready process rather than having the bouquets waiting at the ceremony location. I do this for a couple of reasons. First off, many photographers like to photograph the bouquet right away, along with the other accessories. So many of the photographers I work with start the day off with “detail shots” – meaning photographing the bride’s jewelry, veil, shoes and dress before she puts it on. The bouquet normally falls into this category and also adds some extra charm into these pictures. Secondly, bridal party pictures with maids in matching robes and fun styled photos like this have gained so much popularity in recent years and often bouquets are also incorporated in as well. And thirdly, if you’re doing a first look, sometimes locations have been known to change last minute due to weather or lighting or perhaps even running behind schedule. Having your bouquet there and ready for you makes one less detail that needs to be re-coordinated if there should be a timeline modification.

First Look

I am a huge advocate for having flowers with the bride for this moment. And I know not everyone agrees with me on this issue, but so much time, care and money spent on choosing the perfect blooms (or floral designer to choose the perfect flowers) and this is a highly photographed time so I think it’s only right that said blooms should be treasured and held in the bride’s hands. Furthermore, immediately following the first look is usually a small photo session of just the two of you and I really believe you’ll want your flowers accessible for this.

Wedding Party Pictures

Again, this seems obvious but the bride and her maids should have handfuls of blooms readily available for when their time in front of the camera arrives. A couple of helpful hints with this – make sure vases of water are kept nearby and certainly make sure the entire bridal party is aware of all the happenings of the day so they’ll know to keep their bouquets handy for the most important moments of the day. One of the most common questions I hear from the bridesmaids on a wedding day is whether or not they need their bouquet at any particular time and it can be challenging to communicate this especially with larger wedding parties.

The Ceremony

Smack me on the forehead and say “duh!” right now, because we all know the bride carries a bouquet during the wedding ceremony. But the reason I bring this up is because often with modern timelines of the day (i.e. – doing first look and all bridal party pictures prior to the actual wedding), this becomes one of the last opportunities for the bouquet to be photographed however most brides find it the most important and they’re fearful that it will be wilted from all the activity earlier in the day. In all honesty, this time isn’t normally about photographing flowers, and your guests notice your bouquet but don’t dwell on it. This is the time to capture emotion and focus on the sanctity of marriage. This is the time for you and your groom to shine, accessorized by the décor but not overshadowed by it.

Sunset Photos

Yes yes yes! Of course you need to see your flowers shining in that glorious golden light. But if you’re thinking you’re just over carrying the bouquet around all day, I encourage you to take it along anyway. You don’t have to hold it for every single picture, but I think you’ll be glad that you have it within reach for at least a few.

If all of the above holds true, you’ve just held your bouquet out of water for nearly 4 hours or more on what might be a really hot day. Here are a couple of extra tips for you to make sure that your flowers stay at the peak of perfection for as long as possible.

Keep a vase of water nearby, for both you and your maids. Replace the flowers into the vases whenever you have a break from photos – touching up makeup, groomsmen photos, etc. Do not just ditch the bouquets on a nearby table and do try to find a shady spot.
To help with that first tip – have each bridesmaid carry her own vase of water (which I’m sure it was delivered in) or if possible, designated one person to carry the entire box or basket of vases (I always deliver mine in a basket with easy carry handles). Transport that box/basket with you from getting ready location to photos to ceremony. This is a great job for that extra person who really wanted to be involved with your wedding but you just couldn’t find the perfect task for.
Appreciate the beauty while it lasts. Many of my favorite flowers actually shine the brightest in the moments before death. They open the fullest, find the perfect drape and shout romance. Embrace the fact that your bouquet will not look exactly the same at the end of the night as it did upon delivery. And that’s okay, it’s just the beauty of nature.

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Featured :: Crissie & Mike’s Fern Infused Woodland Wedding on Grey Likes Weddings

0 · Oct 10, 2016 ·

“In the cathedral of the woods

where the slanting light shines through

the song of the bird enchants the air

and fills the soul with tranquillity..

Over the open fields the spirit glides on the wing of a bee – – – – or a dragonfly

touching each flower growing there – – – – –

and – – as they day slips into night

finds beauty in a blade of grass . . .

Slowly the great panorama of color changes into purple and greys – – – day is becoming night .

. . . .

Trees stand silhouetted against subdued light – –

– – life of the day is quietly resting as the vigilant life of night is stirring . . . . . .

The evening star glistens beside the pale crest of the new moon which seems to pause a

moment on the horizon – – then slips beyond . . . .

Thousand of fireflies twinkle in the low fields – – – twinkling to their mates – – – – then rise in

ecstasy and mingle with the stars . . . . .

Milliards of stars form a great arc across the heavens and create a luminous light . . There

are summer nights when the stars shoot out of the darkness and almost drop to earth . . . . . .

Even among the steadfast stars

there is change and motion . . . .

There are nights when the northern sky becomes a shimmering curtain with vertical rays of

greens – – – yellows – – and shades of rose – – – moving – – – moving – – – constantly changing

. . . . .

. . . nights of reverence

and tranquil solitude – – – –

time for the imagination to recreate itself . . .”

~Gwen Frostic

Remember my Ferngully wedding? That was the opening to her 30+ page wedding style guide she gave me for their fern infused celebration. And for that reason, and many more, I adored working with Crissie to make her wedding dreams a reality. The remaing pages were filled with poetry, ferns, art deco details, watercolor touches and shades of glacier grey, lilac, dusk blue and navy peony. No detail was left untouched. From her discription of what Northern Michgian means to her with its intricate arms of fern across the forest floor to the selectively chosen gold accents. She wanted her day to be “an elegant event in a natural setting. The decor will gracefully elevate the oragnic feel of the surroundings, through a whimsical lens.” I think we accomplished just that. And today you can see the full feature on Grey Likes Weddings.

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5 Disappearing Traditions

0 · Sep 27, 2016 ·

Since I’m a wedding planner, people always seem to like to get my take on ideas and trends within the industry. These questions and posts across the internet seem to surface most often right as we’re ringing in the New Year. However, I want to get a little ahead of that game. My season is wrapping up and I’ve witness some really amazing weddings with some of the most lovely couples you’ll ever meet. I’m sad to see the season end. I thought that I’d share a few of the trends or rather absence of traditions, that I noticed in the past couple wedding seasons and I predict these will continue to spur on into the future.

1. Something Old, Something New

I personally love the sentiment of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a six pence for your shoe. This was thought to bring prosperity and fertility. Today, it’s more of a charming little ritual. I’ve only seen one six pence in all my years of wedding planning and she didn’t put it in her shoe.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

2. Unity Ceremonies

In a very traditional wedding ceremony, the mother of both the bride and groom would each light a candle at the beginning. During the ceremony itself, a center candle would be lit using the flames from the candles lit by the mothers. The flames could never again be separated, and therefore neither can the couple. The symbolism is really strong. In recent years and with the rise of outdoor ceremonies, couples have opted for using sand, planting trees or other creative concepts. I even did a wedding with a “Love Fern”. But this year, it seems that unity ceremony has been skipped entirely. Rather than trying to update or take a creative approach to the tradition, couples are skipping it all together.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

3. Objections

I just have to throw this in here – I have never heard an officiant ask if anyone objects to this marriage. Not all weddings are like the movies and I don’t think any couple is open to a dramatic scene.

4. Corsages

We saw a shift a few years ago from pin on corsages for mom and grandma to wrist corsages and now I think we’re going to see another shift. It’s subtle, but it’s happening. I’ve had several requests for small mother’s bouquets, single stems wrapped with ribbon or I even had one bride who plucked two flowers from her own bouquet to present to her mother and new mother in law – which was so sweet. And a small bouquet will last so much longer than a bracelet of blooms, which can often seem cumbersome and tends to get in the way. Grandma will then have a little memento to keep with her for a few days on, just make sure you keep a vase of water close by for her.

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

5. Bouquet & Garter Toss

I’ve only had two brides request that I make them toss bouquets and I have only witnessed one actual bouquet toss this entire season. Some have referred to this tradition as distasteful others don’t like having to single out their friends who haven’t committed to a mate yet. I guess I don’t really have strong opinions on it either way, except sometimes it really can interrupt the party and get a touch awkward – please don’t make the recipients put the garter on each other.

Naturally though, I think we need to understand where these traditions stemmed from. There are a couple thoughts on the garter. The first, removing it is proof that the couple has consummated the marriage. This seems a little raunchy in my opinion so I like the second line of thinking better. Superstition states that keeping a piece of the wedding dress is good luck. To discourage guests from helping themselves to a trinket or swatch of the bride’s gown, the garter was worn to toss and give prosperity to one lucky recipient.

Oddly enough, the idea of tossing the bouquet comes from this same superstition. Again, wedding guests tried to rip a piece of the bride’s dress and as an escape, she would throw her flowers and run away. Since the flowes are perishable items, they also represent fertility and are a sign of good things to come for the person who catches them.

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

I’m a huge believer in tradition. But there are some things that I could do without. Are there tradition that you’re tired of seeing or wish would come back in style?

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!

Why I’m Excited to Plan a Wedding in Flint, Michigan

0 · Aug 3, 2016 ·

I grew up in a small town 13 miles north of Flint, Michigan. While I realize that I’m not “from” Flint – it was not the city on my mailing address or where I went to school – it still has the draw of home. It was my stomping grounds. That’s where I went to Meijer, Target and the mall. The Vehicle City provided a small town girl with the conveniences that weren’t available in a town with an urban population 2,500 people. My Grandpa worked at GM as did many of my friends’ parents. And since most people aren’t familiar with the town of Clio, for the first 18 years of life instead of giving a geography lesson, Flint is where I claimed to be from.

The stories of Flint’s decline are prevalent. I’ve never been okay with the tale of a dying city, crumbling structures and lost history. I cannot stand it when someone tears down a historic home or leaves a stunning old building standing in decay. New is not better! And when it hits this close to home, it’ all the worse. Between the closing of the factories, the increased crime rates and now the undrinkable water, the future of Flint seems hopeless.

But I’m excited to plan a wedding there.

Yes, I am planning a wedding in Downtown Flint. And I am excited. The prospect of bringing something beautiful to a dismal place is a symbol of hope. There is a least one gorgeous venue in the area which holds so much history. William C. Durant is credited for founding General Motors. The Durant Hotel was named in his honor. After years of a vacant existence, the landmark building has been restored. What was once a symbol of prominence and success, is again a beautiful vision of the potential the city still holds. In its heyday, it was known for its luxury accommodations, events and grand ballroom. The building’s smaller ballroom still holds its original spender and will host my sister’s wedding next week.

Once again, I’m going to tell you how excited I am for my sister’s wedding. But this post isn’t about her, it’s about the city that she chose to be wed in. And I’m sure she’s not romancing this declining city the way I am, but I’m still glad she chose to have a wedding near home. We looked at venues across the state, she didn’t hold any loyalties to the area. But in a really, really small way, I feel like we’re helping. Business is staying local. Every dollar counts. I love supporting local and hometown efforts.

It’s also been a welcomed challenge. Do you ever try to look at the world around you in a different way? I’ve been forced to see the beauty as well as the decay. I want to think about what it would have been like to be one of the original residents in the area. I can only imagine an era of carriages turned to horseless automobliles in a scenic city along a beautiful river. Somehow, I feel like we’re telling their side of the story. We’re honoring their history. Just picture the 1920s scene of a lavish woman parading proudly down the street in a proper long gown and a dapper gent on her arm. Next week, that scene will come to life once more.

Wedding in Flint Michigan | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

Photography: Samantha James Photography

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Featured :: Cinderella’s Proposal on The Wedding Chicks

0 · Jul 19, 2016 ·

There’s nothing more exciting to me than creating something beautiful and yet functional. Creating something that celebrates real life the that moments that happen within it. I think we need to vanquish the idea of the empty table. No more heartless styled shoots. We need to celebrate life as it happens.

My little sister is getting married. That’s exciting new all on it’s own accord. But in addition, as I was schemeing about yet another “boring” styled shoot, I caught wind that this all important question was about to be popped. That’s where my inspiration came from. The story suddenly fell into place and I had the honor of working along side her now fiance, to help create the fairytale proposal we all dream of. And then it was featured on The Wedding Chicks.

You can see the feature here. You can read about the inspiration and romance. And I’ll certainly be sharing a few more of the behind the scences of being part of such a momentous occassion at at later date.

Cinderella's Proposal | The Day's Design | Samantha James Photography

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Samantha James Photography

1. Bye Bye Blush

2. Hello Purple

3. Greenery will be King

4. Focus on the Experience

5. Incorporating Elements from the Past

6. Focus on Simplicity

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

Where do Local Flowers Come From?

Foraged Flowers are Free Flowers

Flower Books

Botanical Prints

Esther Clark Botanical Calendar

Floret Flower 2017 Planner

Florist Tool Belt

Getting Ready Photos

First Look

Wedding Party Pictures

The Ceremony

Sunset Photos

1. Something Old, Something New

2. Unity Ceremonies

3. Objections

4. Corsages

5. Bouquet & Garter Toss

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