the day's design

Defined :: Shabby Chic

0 · Jun 10, 2014 ·

Brides often start painting me a picture of their beautiful “shabby chic” wedding day and as an artist myself, I pick my paint brush and jump right on board only to realize that we’ve created 2 completely different pieces of art. My vision of shabby chic does not always align with theirs.

Just because something is old, does not make it shabby chic. Likewise, newer pieces can also be reminiscent of a shabby chic style. Vintage does not equal shabby chic, however I find it extremely common for people to use the two interchangeably in a conversation.

My vision of shabby chic: soft tones, muted pastels, layers of chipped paint, florals, roses and quite possibly romantic lacey touches. It’s an airy and collected feel. I imagine a room with gorgeous light flooding in through white French style doors that have been left open all summer long. Sunlight fills the air, with sheer curtains, leaving no corner untouched. I imagine touching my bare feet on painted wooden floors and wrapping myself in white cotton and linen. And gradually, over time the sun takes its toll, and the beautifully feminine style of the décor begins to fade leaving behind soft blushes, pretty peaches and pale blues in favor of their bolder counterparts. Occasionally I allow a few rustic touches to mix in, but for the most part I loved to imagine this world with tone-on-tone ivory and white living together in blissful harmony.

I would love to create a truly shabby chic wedding for you. It makes my heart flutter just thinking about it.

And if you’d like to read more about the shabby chic style you can do so here.

Why Does It Cost So Much?

0 · Jun 6, 2014 ·

Ever notice how much life costs? Yeah, I figured you have. It seems like you start a project, get all excited, plans made, blueprints drawn and then you start shopping. And once you start shopping the totals just keep add up, and up. And somehow, even though you had planned well and thought this was going to be simple it ended up costing so much more than originally estimated.

Why does it cost so much?

I’m not just talking about weddings, although there’s a huge case to be made for those (and you can read some follow blogger’s view on this subject here and here), but I think this is just plain old life in general. I’m so completely guilty of wanting to stick it to the big companies and get the best deal possible, taking after my dad and doubling, then tripling coupons finding a rebate and then in the end the store actually pays me to take the item off their shelves. Yup, this would call for a victory dance. So in the same manor, I try to negotiate and barter and score the best deals with everyone, always shopping around and exploring all possibilities. But somewhere down the line someone is feeling the pain of that discount. They might be working extra jobs to make up in quantity what their profit margins are lacking. Or maybe they just have to live a little bit more modest life. I don’t know those end stories.

What I can attest to is the surprisingly high costs of running a business and running life. And I don’t like to talk about money, but it is a part of living every day. As someone who runs their own business and wants to make you flowers for every occasion imaginable – for free—it pains me to say that my services don’t fit within your budget. I want to plan a stress free wedding day for you just because you deserve it. And I want to see a happy new married couple at the end of each day.

So here’s my biggest budgeting tip: plan for the unexpected. Something unexpected will happen – whether you fall in love with a piece of furniture that just has to be part of your new décor or a tree falls through your roof, I think we need to remember we’re not in complete control of our surroundings and when something unexpected happens, sometimes it costs A LOT.

{Similarly this is a huge piece of wedding advice I pass along too – something unexpected will happen at your wedding. Count on it.}

And then focus on the end goal. As totals keep adding up, consider whether or not the extra item is really needed or if that money might be better suited somewhere else or even left in your pocket. Remember what will truly make you happy. Always focus on what matters most.

So why does it cost so much? Because someone is trying to make a living by selling their product and services. It’s as simple as that.

And be cause donuts are better than balance sheets (supposidly it’s National Donut Day!!), here’s a photo by Unikke Photography.

More Than A Face

0 · Jun 5, 2014 ·

Eleven years ago I graduated from high school. Sometimes it feels like that was a lifetime away, such distant memories of days gone by. And yet other times it feel like just yesterday I was being picked last in gym, not invited to the party and afraid to give a speech during class. Memories flood my mind of wandering the halls alone during lunch and people telling me that these were to be the best days of my life. Needless to say, that didn’t give me much hope for the future.

In case you didn’t perceive it from my previous paragraph, I was not a popular girl in high school. I didn’t have that charisma that just makes everyone want to be near you, I didn’t have the high end fashions and I was not athletic. On the other side of that, I wasn’t a complete dork either. It was as if I was just somewhere floating in between, always trying to figure out where I belonged.

I am sorry to say that this appears to be a lifelong battle. I’m still not one of the “cool” kids. The difference now is I have the confidence to be who I am. I’m secure in my standings and outlooks on life, family and faith. I am okay with choosing to hang out with my mom instead of going to a work party. Coworkers come and go, my mom has always been there.

Back in April Kellie (of Hetler Photography) approached me about a project she was working on and without a second thought I said yes, absolutely I wanted to be a part. She had put together an idea to encourage one another and spread love and belonging through the halls of West Michigan’s high schools. More Than a Face is a campaign near to not just her, but also my heart because I think as women – either young or old – we need to be reminded that there is more to us than just a face. We all have dreams, ambitions and goals. We’re each unique and special. Life would be pretty boring if we were all exactly like one another.

“Society tells us a hundred different ways that our value is on the outside. My face. My body. My outfits. My GPA.

At Hetler Photography {and myself included} we say Enough. We are more than what’s obvious. Look deeper. Each has her unique gifts, strengths, weaknesses. Her own REAL beauty.”

My role came in the form of creative assistance, styling, props and a few wardrobe suggestions. But no matter what these girls wore, they were going to be gorgeous because each one truly had a heart of gold.

So meet the girls of More Than A Face 2015.

Mackenzie:

This beautiful blonde attends West Ottawa High School and plans to study physical therapy in college. She also loves to shop and is dedicated to Young Life with a passion for teaching others about God’s love.

Alayna

She plays lacrosse, values her family and strives to stay true to herself. She seems like a pretty well rounded girl to me. And she’s also wearing her dad’s letterman jacket, how cool is that?

Hailie:

This Grandville girl understands the heart of the mission and is also a huge dose of fun! She loves to make people laugh, encourage others and she hopes to be a film producer someday.

Brianna

She posed the question “Why can’t everyone love everyone?” Hate has been in the world since the beginning but we are all responsible for our own actions, so spread as much love as possible. After high school her plans are to share some love in the fields of social work or criminal justice. What an inspiration!

Selena

Selena is living proof that you should never judge a book by its cover. While she may look like a girly girl, she might surprise you with a hunting trip and then turn around and win a hula hoop contest!

Jenna

Jenna claims to be a perfectionist and a slob all the at same time – I can totally get on board with that! She doesn’t have her life all figured out but she knows to put her value in Christ, He’s got a plan out there for you, He just hasn’t shared the whole thing with you yet.

Can I just say that being a girl is a ton of fun!?

Photography: Hetler Photography / Creative Assistance & Styling: The Day’s Design / Hair & Make-Up: Helena DeYoung Hair Outreach / Venue: Getty 4 Drive-In / Videography: Inspiration Video / Head Wraps: Pixel & Hank

You can read more about Kellie’s senior rep program and More Than a Face here and here. I highly recommend Kellie for all photo needs (and who knows, maybe I’ll even come along!) And to see more on this shoot around the web, just search #mtaf2015.

Photography: The Art of Capturing Moments

0 · Jun 2, 2014 ·

I love beautiful photography. I think photographers have a really special job and I simply adore the way they can capture moments in time, feelings and emotions with just a single click of a button.

While being a photographer is something I do no aspire to do, I do wish I could capture the world in a way that truly represents the way I see it. Somehow snapping a photo with my phone doesn’t always sum up the scenery in front of my eyes. I suppose I’m a bit jealous.

In fact, there are days that I wish I could hire a photographer to just stand alongside me. To walk down the road with me and capture the different shades of green, the budding wildflowers and the gravel beneath my feet. I never want to forget the wonder in the world or take for granted the overgrown blades of grass between my toes.

A good photographer is able to preserve a feeling or perhaps help you find one that you didn’t know existed. They keep moments alive and show your day in a whole new light. Memories may fade, but the photos will live on. To all the amazing photographer’s out there – I ♥ you.

Kellie of Helter Photography is the beautifully gifted gal who captured my little Gretta James and I above.

A Pair of Rings

0 · May 28, 2014 ·

As I was scrolling through my social media feeds this morning I came across a picture of a bride. Not really a noteworthy occurrence. However, there was something about the picture that struck me. It was a fairly normal shot with the bride’s arms draped around her new husband’s neck in a romantic embrace, it also happened to show off her new jewelry. I almost just scrolled on past. But then I stopped.

Her wedding band wasn’t attached to her engagement ring. It was new, probably the first time she’d ever worn it. They weren’t soldered together or attached. They were just 2 pieces that perfectly complimented each other, sharing a space but keeping their own identity.

“Your engagement ring and wedding band should complement one another without feeling too matchy matchy.” Thanks Brides.com.

Sometimes I think after marriage we tend to loose ourselves a bit. Lives get busy, we combine our schedules, our furniture and our worlds. Before we know it, we completely forget who we were before we met “the one”. We become a set, fused together and seldom seen apart. I encourage this, man and wife should be as one. But we also need our alone time to shine. We should remember that each ring individually is lovely and unique even if the designer’s true intent is to create a set.

I couldn’t find the picture again after I wrote this post about it, so we’ll have to sett for this lovely shot by Chelsea Seekell from last summer instead.

Rest

0 · May 22, 2014 ·

Yesterday I returned home from Philosophy Flowers workshop. First off, let me just say that Kelly Perry herself is an absolutely enchanting and sweet soul with a huge passion and fabulous eye for floral. Secondly, each and every other girl I met while there was just as delightful. I was truly in flower heaven sitting with my flower friends in the mountains of Boone, NC.

One of the common themes that kept repeating itself throughout the workshop was the idea of rest. While this workshop did truly feel like more of a vacation than “work” – I would not necessarily say it was restful. Truth be told, I was exhausted by the end of my trip – and getting up at 3:30 in the morning to travel home didn’t exactly help that!

But when I finally made it home, I saw my world in a whole new light. Stepping away from the everyday enabled me to be filled with new wonder upon my return. Yesterday I took a walk and I simply saw things differently. I fell in love with flowers even deeper while away and that new light and appreciation followed me home. I stopped and picked some branches and blooms up along my walk. I paid attention to the very subtle color variations and imagined all new flower combinations.

Rest is good for the soul. Working too hard will just wear you out and make you weary. We weren’t put on this earth to be run down, but rather to embrace new friendships, to worship and rejoice.

Enjoy your Memorial Day and get some rest friends, I’m going to spend it with my little family {pictured above by Hetler Photography}!!

Floral Design 101

1 · May 17, 2014 ·

One of the perks of being married to a GRCC employee is being able to take classes for free. Did you know that Grand Rapids Community College offers a Floral Design class? This useful tidbit of information had been passed my way so I thought sure, why not? What have I got to lose?

3 hours of flowers for 5 days. That’s all the class entails. I thought I could be a college student for a measly 5 days. Oh boy, there are reasons why people wait until after schooling to have kids, who was I kidding? It wasn’t even a stressful or demanding class but let me say, I am so happy my sister was able to come and spend a few days with me. What a Godsend! It was like having a nanny this week. A-MAZ-ING.

So anyway, the downside of the class was that it’s all artificial flowers. The school just isn’t equipped for fresh – no coolers, sinks or other necessities for fresh. But design basics are pretty interchangeable so not all was lost. The curriculum itself is very basic. I mean, extremely basic. But I’ve never had any formal training whatsoever, so I actually found it pretty entertaining. And then there’s the fact that I always look at arrangements and say “Oh, I can do that” but I never actually push myself to do it. This forced me to take that step and really prove that I can do it. Some tasked ended up being a touch more difficult than anticipated, I was given rules and couldn’t just grab and create whatever I wanted. This idea of boundaries threw me for a loop, but I conquered something in myself and it made me very happy.

I’ve never thought of myself as completely traditional. While I like balance, I don’t always like symmetry. My first task was to create a traditional floral arrangement – rounded, with one central flower and equal flowers all the way around. I managed to make something lovely. Mission accomplished.

Next was the contemporary arrangement. Less is more was the motto here. That’s not always an easy motto for me to live up to. My instructor said that the contemporary arrangement is usually something that would be described as “interesting” and leave one wondering how they could make that, where as a traditional the reaction would be comments on how pretty it is. I personally have always thought of contemporary arrangements as slightly on the strange side, extremely clean and angular and definitely not my style. But I was able to create something that brought my earthy, natural style in and paired it with a more modern shape, placing it in an industrial textured pot. And yes, I was the student picking up sticks along my walk on the way to class. Mission #2 accomplished.

Task 3 was architectural. This was a concept that I was completely unfamiliar with. Arrangements that fit into this category might include the pyramid, topiaries, pomanders, the “s” shape or horizontal arrangements. I chose the “s” shape, which seems to be something that I already did, just didn’t realize it. I always created arrangements in this shape to create balance and movement – I love finding out why things look good to me!

It’s funny the things you learn even in the most basic environments. I seldom pass up a chance to educate myself, even if I did find myself surrounded by a group of college students using this as an “easy A” to satisfy a necessary elective. I was able to practice and experiment and it was fun – sometimes you just need to get out of the house to get inspired!

Speaking of getting out of the house – I leave tomorrow for North Carolina! I cannot wait to meet some new flower friends at Kelly Perry’s workshop. I need to pack – Team Flower, here I come!!

Inspiring a Brand

0 · May 13, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Organized Chaos

0 · May 7, 2014 ·

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

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

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

Picture by Bradley James Photography

How to face this battle:

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

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

Up North Living & Summertime on My Mind

0 · May 2, 2014 ·

Summertime. The word itself just brings a smile to my face. I think about sunshine, lemonade and long days spent at the beach. This is a little funny though, considering I rarely drink lemonade and I live a good 35+ minutes from the beach. Maybe I should substitute white wine and backyard grilling.

Growing up, I lived even farther from the beach. A lot farther. I would drive 4 hours to get to my Grandparent’s house on Lake Leelanau. It was a drive that was worth every minute. When I lived on the east side of Michigan, your options for going to the beach were a bit more limited. There were a couple meaningless, no name (or at least names I don’t know) lakes that may have been swimmable and then you could drive to Lake Huron. Now no offense to Mr. Huron – but that lake fails to even hold a candle to the light of Lake Michigan.

So into the car we jumped every summer to make the 4 hour journey to Grandpa and Grandma’s house. And when we arrived, summer could then begin.

Every time I see a picture of Fishtown or even Traverse City in my social media feed, I can’t help but feel a little jealously and longing. Can I please have another excuse to go Up North? Will you please let me plan your wedding up there??? (I’m not begging – I’m asking very nicely, with lots of urgency behind it!)

I still make that trip as often as possible, especially since it’s gotten a little shorter now that I live in Grand Rapids. And while someday, I hope to live a little closer to the lakeshore but still remaining in West Michigan, I don’t think that will ever stop me from traveling to Leelanau, which will forever be my home away from home.

Photo by Shannon Scott Photography {Smug Shots}, did you know that I was lucky enough to have my wedding reception in Leland, Michigan?

Flowers are Coming to The Day’s Design!!

0 · Apr 30, 2014 ·

I am so grateful and beyond excited for the opportunity to follow my PASSION for flowers and offer romantic, garden style blooms to my design services. This May, my travels will take me to North Carolina to attend Philosophy Flowers’s workshop where I hope to hone some of my floral skills. Flowers make me feel alive and I want to be surrounded by them as often as possible.

Flowers and design go hand in hand, so this seems like a natural step for me to take. It’s becoming a rather requested service of me. And you’ve no doubt seen my floral work throughout my website, in inspirations shoots and even at my own wedding. In fact, you may have thought this was a service I already offered, which it is, but on a very small scale. Putting together a few blooms for a birthday party, brunch or simply brighten someone’s day is a little different than creating a design with hundreds of flowers, moving pieces, aisle décor and centerpieces for a wedding.

So when it comes down to it, fear has held me back and I’ve been scared to book a whole wedding’s worth of floral. There are so many more details to consider than just hand-tying a few blooms together. And what if I fail? This is someone’s dream day that I would be crushing!

In light of this, right now my basement is being reworked, plans are being plotted and floral recipes are being created. If all goes well, full on large scale floral services will be officially be added to The Day’s Designs offerings soon… like really soon, I’m talking to brides about blooms this summer and fall! Eeekk… I’m so excited to actually be typing those words!

What does it mean for you, my current and future bridal clients? It means that you will have yet another resource for beautiful blooms. It means that the person designing and coordinating logistics with also be hands-on with florals and ideas can easily come from one person and one place, without having to communicate your vision over and over again to countless vendors. It also means one less vendor to worry about on your wedding day. However, you by no means HAVE to use my floral services. I know there are so many amazing florists out there, and if one of them strikes your fancy, I highly encourage you to work with them. No hard feelings, I want your day to represent you and make your vision come to life. I will also be taking on a limited number of floral only clients, so bring on the flower love!

I can’t wait to share more about my adventures of adding blooms!

I’m Not Perfect

0 · Apr 29, 2014 ·

There’s lots of talk in this industry about the “perfect” wedding. Whether it’s picture perfect or runs perfectly smooth, I think we’re given this false hope that if we plan correctly, hire the exact right vendors and read enough wedding blogs/magazines, then you’re day will indeed be perfect.

I might have other ideas. I will not plan your “perfect” wedding because in fact, I’m not perfect.

Case in point: every single inspiration shoot I have taken part in has had something go wrong or in some way did not turn out EXACTLY as I had envisioned. I’m not going to point out to you these flaws, as you might not recognize them right away and I’ll just let you think I planned things certain ways. However, this is under a very controlled environment and scenario where there are unexpecteds (think weather – which is a HUGE one, being sent the wrong linen, stepping on a bee…ouch!), so I’m sure you can imagine what might happened during a real event, where there are hundreds of people verses my 4 models and one crazy Uncle Lou might have been served too much to drink.

Humans aren’t perfect. We say the wrong things, post insulting and harmful things on social media and have typos in our writings. And I think there’s this immediate need to respond and point out these imperfections, which seems all too wrong. “I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection”.

All we can really do is make the best decision with the resources you have laid out in front of you. You can surround yourself with the best support system and do what you can with what you have. Find vendors you trust, make decisions that make sense and live in the moment. That is the best advice I can possibly give you while planning your wedding (and pretty much every other piece of life).

Here’s a little sneak peek from my last project with Heather Cisler Photography. Another perfectly, imperfect project (hello major wind storm!), with more to share soon!

Where to Draw the Line

0 · Apr 24, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

Photo by Bradley James Photography

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

What’s the motivation?

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

Will it make your guests uncomfortable?

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

Will it be fun?

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

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

Happy Planning!

One Step at a Time

0 · Apr 18, 2014 ·

Do you ever see people around you doing amazing things and think “well, that’s just part of their personality, they’re super bold and outgoing. I could never do that”. Oh my, I have these thoughts a lot. I tell myself that I can’t do things because I don’t know how. And I don’t even know where to get started or who to ask.

But once there was a time when I had never planned a wedding. At one point I had never emailed another vendor. There was a while when I never planned a photo shoot. And at one time I had never written a blog post and The Day’s Design’s website didn’t exist. But somehow I figured it out (right, wrong or otherwise!)

I was thinking about all of this this morning as I’m gearing up for Easter and then a busy week ahead of that. I started to panic, as I often do, thinking that my designs might not work out or something could go wrong. Both true points. But I have to start somewhere. If I never move forward because I’m scared of the results, then I’ll just be left standing still. And that just seems silly.

One step at a time. Whatever you’re working on, just take one step at a time.

I hope you have a fabulous Easter. I’m going to leave you with a picture from my first large scale photo shoot – I was 9 months pregnant and didn’t have a clue what I was doing. But Bradley James Photography rocked it for me! And the pictures are still some of my very favorites (you can see the whole feature here.)

Happy Easter!!

What is True Will Last

0 · Apr 14, 2014 ·

The definition of success has been on my mind a lot lately. And to be honest, there are days I don’t feel very successful. There are days that I struggle, need all the pep talks in the world and still can’t find my motivation because it seems like I might never be successful. The future does not always look sunny and bright.

But then I have to check myself because I’m basing my definition of success on worldly things. Money does not equal success. I think happiness is a much truer measuring stick. Yes, there is some correlation between the two. While money might not buy happiness, it definitely can make life a lot less stressful, and if my life were less stressful I’d call that a success!

At the age of 22, I had already had many bumps in my road. I remember one day meeting with an old friend. I believe his intentions were good as he was sharing with me about his new business venture and his success and all the money he was making. I remember being wowed. And then I felt small and lost my confidence. I know this was not his intent, he wanted to inspire me. But I felt like I wasn’t enough.

So I turned to writing, which has been a long time practice of mine whenever I’ve felt troubled or at a loss. I remember writing these words like it was yesterday (although I can’t find where I actually wrote them). Am I successful? I have loved, I have lost. I’ve been to the bottom and made my way back up again. And at times I might still stumble but I’m still standing. So am I successful? Damn straight I am.

I think back to that point often, not to relive the past but to learn from it. I counted myself as successful even thought I was a single girl living in a crappy apartment working her way through school. But it was MY apartment and I paid my own bills and created my own life. I was a confident, 22 year old woman with some ugly in her pasts but a whole word of hope in front of her. And what is true will last (thanks for that little quote Katie!) So think of yourself as successful and you will be. Stay true and find your path. And never let anyone tell you that you aren’t enough. Only you can make your dreams come true. You hold the key to your own success.

Flower make me happy. And happiness and love define success in my book. Thanks Hetler Photography for capturing both above.

Tackling the Thrift Store

0 · Apr 10, 2014 ·

My last couple days have been filled with thrift store shopping… which I absolutely love! The thrill of the hunt gets me every time. And just because something is cheap, doesn’t mean I can’t find it cheaper. I might just take a little too much pride in scoring a great deal. These golden pots were a thrifty steal… can’t wait to fill them with blooms!

I went to a total of 8 stores to score the number of little pots I needed for my client’s next project. I realize not everyone has that much time (that’s why you hire me!), so I want to share a little strategy with you about thrift store shopping, because not all stores are created equal.

So, how should you tackle the thrifty madness?

My first piece of advice – steer away from the “name brand” or chain thrift stores. Goodwill may have the name, but it doesn’t deliver the goods. Ditto to Salvation Army. For the most part, I don’t waste my time, at least not if I’m looking for vintagy and décor type items. Clothing might be another story. But these stores I feel are over-shopped, so you have to be there the instant something is donated to snatch it up. And even then, I’m not always willing to pay their prices.

Look for less known stores, which are typically less shopped and I usually score better deals. In Grand Rapids there’s a Bethany Thrift Store or the Pine Rest Thrift Store – proceeds go to each of these organizations, and while they’re still located on the main hub of Grand Rapids, people know less about them which benefits me greatly.

Secondly, know the difference between a thrift store and antique store. That sounds obvious, but with the turn “vintage” coming into play, this line has become clouded. Places are popping up with titles such as estate sale warehouses. Some are gold mines other, not so much. Stores like this carry items ranging anywhere from collectable antiques to shampoo and Beanie Babies. Places that claim to cater more to antique collectors are generally more expensive than those with more of a flea market sales pitch.

Stores like these also tend to have separate booths and not all booths are created equal either. Booths are owned by different vendors, who all having different items and pricing strategy. And occasionally a booth or two might be offering additional discounts, so pay attention to those hand-written signs.

No matter what the store, I recommend shopping on week days. Usually there are a few less people milling about the store, which means I don’t have to make the split second buying decision. There’s nothing worse than going back to grab your treasure, only to find someone else bought it out from underneath you. But check their store hours, some have certain days of the week that they aren’t open or they may close earlier than your typical retailers.

Bring along your imagination along for the ride! Items that look like junk when thrown together with other junk might actually be cool in the right setting. Try to envision pieces in your home or with your event décor. And if the price is right, paint can go a long way. Love the shape of a vase but not the color – spray paint is your best friend! And that ugly chair over there can be reupholstered for much less than buying new. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

Any other tips or tricks? I’d love to hear your thrifting strategies!

Today’s Fairytale Inspiration | Model Call

0 · Apr 8, 2014 ·

If you haven’t noticed by now, I love doing styled photo shoots. They’re these creative fantasies that roam around in my head that absolutely must be set free. They provide a challenge, something to prove to myself that “I AM awesome” and “I can do that”. Yes, I give myself pep talks on a daily basis. It’s also a way to try new ideas, pair new items together and work with fabulous vendors. There’s a freedom of expression that I’m allowed, which real wedding don’t always provide. And if one of these new ideas doesn’t quite pan out, it wasn’t a real wedding and my improvisation skills have definitely been honed.

And then there’s also the fact that during slow seasons, I’m bursting. I HAVE to create something or I just think my brain might literally explode if I don’t get my hands on flowers and tablescapes!

So that’s my little segway into this next part… I am in need of a couple models. In my relentless journey to explore new lands, I am creating an inspiration shoot which will take place in exotic Owosso, MI, on April 22^nd. Heather Cisler and I are looking for a couple to play the roles of our fairytale prince and princess. Married, engaged, dating – your status doesn’t really matter, as long as you can look like you’re in love! This is going to be an uber romantic, early morning shoot but I promise to bring coffee and maybe even breakfast!

Interested in being a part? Email myself at hello@eventsbythedaysdesign.com or Heather at info@heathercislerphotography.com and feel free to send a picture because it’s always nice to put a face with the name. I can’t wait to hear from you!!

Photo by Heather Cisler Photography, naturally.

Planning Your Dreams

0 · Apr 7, 2014 ·

When I gave my business a name back in fall of 2011, I had this ridiculous notion that by somehow having a name and business cards, people would begin to take me seriously and business would just come to my doorstep. Ha… what was I thinking???

Fast forward 3 years now and I have such a greater understanding of business, life and dreams and how they’re all intertwined. Summer of 2012 was when I really began to put myself out there and make this dream my career and by fall 2012 it became abundantly clear that if I wanted to really make this work, I could no longer also work a full time job. Leap of faith = quit my full time job.

Now all of this is fine and dandy, I had a plan – a real life business plan, I had goals and a little bit of a path cleared out to make it happen. I even had a 5 year dream in place of where I’d really like my business to be.

However, if you never change anything, you’ll never grow and make these dreams a reality. It’s great to have a plan, but you also have to follow that plan. This is where I am now. I’m sitting here telling myself that eventually “this” is how I’d like my business to be. And eventually I’d like to add such-and-such additional services. It’s been over a year since I’ve been voicing thoughts and ideas out loud with no action to move forward. If I keep doing exactly what I’m doing right now, these ideas will never happen. Umm… reality check please!

Same rules apply for so many aspects of life. In your job, in your relationships and where you want life to take you. Sure there are unexpected bumps along the way, but if you never change anything in your present, how can you just expect that the future will be brighter? You have to work for something bigger. Set goals and accomplish things.

So it’s Monday and time for a fresh start. I’m pushing forward and going to MAKE my dreams come true! What are you doing today?

And the gorgeous blooms above were put together by yours truly and photographed by Ashley Slater Photography, thanks love!!

At the Heart of Business

0 · Apr 3, 2014 ·

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

“My Baby is going to change the world”

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

“Oh Lisa is going to decorate it.”

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

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

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

Photo by Ashley Slater Photography

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

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

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

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

DIY Gilded Floral Crown

0 · Apr 1, 2014 ·

Yesterday was the warmest day we’ve seen so far this year and it was as if the whole world simply came bursting back to life. Neighbors were in the streets, yards were being raked and the snow mounds bordering my lawn shrunk to the point that I can now see the tops of cars passing by my house. And guess what I found buried underneath some of that snow? Life! There, braving the ice and cold, are the little tips of my spring bulbs waiting for their time to bloom.

I’m eagerly awaiting that moment too. But until then, I thought I’d share a little bit of flowery goodness with you today and how you can create it yourself. I’m simply loving the floral crown trend right now and this one is especially glam with gilded gold leaves.

So here’s what you need:

*I used one stem of pink lisianthus (which had two flowers) and a cream garden rose. For greens I used mini coin as my base and filled in with silver dollar eucalyptus – but the options are limitless, use what inspires you!

Step 1: Spray paint your greens. You can completely coat them or let a little green show. I like to leave a little nature shining through.

Step 2: Form a circular base with the grapevine wire. The form should be slightly larger than your head as once the greens are attached the fit will be more snug.

Step 3: Once the paint has dried, clip the long stems so only an inch or so remain, along with the leafy, pretty part of the plant.

Step 4: Using floral tape, wrap the stem of the greens and attach it to the grapevine wire. Continue to attach stems to the grapevine wire, leaving the other end of the greens free until you have created a full circle of greens.

Step 5: Begin filling in the larger leaves, taping them to the grapevine wire. The larger leaves (eucalyptus) are optional, but I like the extra texture they add.

Step 6: With the small pieces of floral wire, attach the loose ends of the leaves to the crown so it creates a full and lovely circle. How tightly you attach the greens is up to you, a looser greens with create a more wild and relaxed look.

At this point you might choose to add an additional layer of gold paint which would help to camouflage any floral tape and wire.

Step 7: Trim the stems and add flowers. I chose to place them off to the side, but the options are limitless. To add them – pierce the base of the bloom with the floral wire and then twist and attach to the crown.

Step 8: Wear your gold crown pretty lady!

All photos by the fabulous Ashley Slater Photography, thanks love!

What Would Happen?

0 · Mar 28, 2014 ·

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

Picture by Hetler Photography

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

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

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

What would happen?

Bloom

0 · Mar 27, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

Capturing the Now

0 · Mar 21, 2014 ·

As if life isn’t busy enough on its own, this week I’ve been dealing with a sick baby and then of course I found myself battling the bug a day later. On the bright side, I did get to cancel my appointment to have my wisdom teeth removed… silver lining, right?

Do you feel like you’re just battling through life, rather than living it? There are some days that I just can’t get this notion out of my mind – it’s as if I’m just surviving rather than actually living. We just have to push through until we recover, surviving until the next paycheck, making it work until we can afford something better – always looking to the future. But what about the now?

While looking to the future is what gives us hope, and I truly believe that that’s hugely necessary and helps us persevere, however, I do believe that we need to search for some contentment and acceptance of the “now”.

I heard through the grapevine that yesterday was National Happiness Day. And while I completely wonder who determines these things, I also was inspired by the number of people who celebrated it, they celebrated being happy – now. I love that idea!

And I have a couple of projects up my sleeves that do just that…. they celebrate us, life, being a woman and preserving through the hardships.

Project #1 I’ve already told you about. The Romance Shoot is a great way to pamper yourself and find an excuse to feel pretty. I’ve teamed up with Hetler Photography and Helena Young to design a soft and romantic backdrop for these photo sessions, while their job is to make you feel gorgeous and then capture that magic. The original idea was to make this solely a boudoir marathon, but then we thought women don’t need to wear lingerie to feel pretty. Sometimes sexy is in the confidence to just be you. So we opened these sessions up to anyone, maternity, boudoir or whatever reason you might like to have your beauty captured. Sometimes women need to be reminded that they are beautiful.

Project #2 is something for me. Yup, I’m being selfish on this one, because I can. It involves my love of beautiful blooms and surrounding myself with them. I’ll share more on this later.

Project #3 is something special for someone I don’t even know yet. My version of a pay-it-forward. Details are still in the works, but I might need a little bit of help bringing this crazy idea of mine to life. That was about as clear as mud, right? Let’s just say that if you have a heart for hospitality and are in the creative/wedding industry, we might want to chat.

Project #4 is my small role in Bloom | The Workshop. I love helping other creatives and watching others succeed. So being a part of this creative workshop is extremely exciting to me as I want to see others blossom and grow.

Last January I put together a small photo shoot showcasing some Valentine’s bouquets (you might remember it from here). As I was putting the details together, I began thinking about a model for the shoot. And then ultimately, I decided I could model for it. I can make myself feel pretty once in a while, right? So I did, blemishes, flaws, remaining baby weight and self-consciousness aside. I didn’t want any pictures of myself until I lost those last few pounds – I was living for the future and not fully grasping the “now”. But I’m glad I had the courage to model, because I think we all need to be reminded of our beauty once in a while. Capture the moment we’re living in and focus a little on the now.

Happy Friday to my beautiful friends!

Photo by Heather Cisler Photography, oh my goodness was it cold that day!!

Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Coordinator

0 · Mar 18, 2014 ·

This scenario has replayed itself several times in the past couple weeks and I’m starting to see a little pattern here. First a perspective bride contacts me and asks about pricing, availability and general services and business information. We happily chat about her dream day and it looks like I might have a potential wedding to add to my lineup. Then she chats again with her venue and Venue Coordinator. It’s at this point that something happens and she decides that she does not want to move forward with booking my services.

While I know this isn’t new information to be found out there on Mr. Internet, I do think we need to gain a little perspective on this situation. It’s my unhappy guess that the venue coordinator ensured said bride that all off her needs will be met and that my services are not needed. Why do you need a wedding coordinator and a venue coordinator?

Before it get into this whole debate, I would first like to remind you that I NEVER want you to spend more than absolutely necessary for your wedding. Budgets are extremely close to my heart, and I understand that not hiring a planner can be a money saving move. Secondly, I have been both a venue coordinator and a boutique wedding coordinator – I just want to make you aware of my experience.

Photo by Eliza Jean Photography

Venue Coordinator:

At your wedding venue there is more than likely a person there with the title Event Planner or Wedding Coordinator. This person works for the venue. They manage every party, event and dinner that is hosted in their facility. They know common room layouts, timing in the kitchen and pretty much have your wedding down to assembly line science. They work with the chef, the bartenders and the service staff making sure that their facilities looks spic and span and service is top notch. This ensures that their venue looks great, receives rave reviews and you’re a happily married couple at the end of the night.

Now here’s where things get a little fuzzy. Each venue is a little different so this is a generalized statement (as is some of the above, since not all venues have their own in-house catering). When you meet with the venue for the very first time, most likely you toured the property/event space, asked lots of questions, were given a packet of information and perhaps even a list of preferred vendors. You were probably told that they’d help you set up {if they have time}, you can decorate the day before {if there isn’t another event booked}, and they will help with all aspects of the event – which you assumed to mean directing vendors, guests and completing set-up {if they’re scheduled to work during those arrival/set-up times}.

Here’s what they might not be telling you. Turnover in the hospitality industry is extremely high; the Venue Coordinator you originally booked with at your venue might not be the same Venue Coordinator that actually runs your event. Did all of your notes get transferred? And can the new coordinator make sense of them? Ask your Venue Coordinator if they’re actually on-site during the event. A surprising number do not actually work weekends and just leave notes in the hands of their Banquet Captains. Again, is the Banquet Captain provided with all the details about your wedding?

{Boutique} Wedding Coordinator:

There’s a sentence up there says “help with all aspects of the event” – but what it really should say is “help with all aspects of the event happening within their facility”. Because that’s the truth. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it’s simply stepping outside of their event space is not part of their job description.

The individual Wedding Coordinator that you hire is going to be your right hand man. True, how involved they actually get might vary depending on what you hired them for (day-of, partial or full planning, decorating, styling, etc.), but they work solely for you. Your Wedding Coordinator will help you with anything you need from the moment you get out of bed on your wedding day until the moment your head hits the pillow again as a married woman. If your transportation doesn’t arrive, she may jump in her Tahoe and go pick up the wedding party. If your photographer doesn’t show up, she’ll go to her list of contacts and find a backup, ASAP! You can go to your wedding coordinator with questions regarding timelines, etiquette, vendor referrals and difference of opinions with your new mother-in-law.

Another bonus? You can contact 1 person to make it happen! Your Wedding Coordinator can handle all of those various vendor relations for you. This means that you won’t have to type an email on your IPhone during your rehearsal dinner because there’s been a change of plans. Venue Coordinators don’t generally get that involved.

If you should happen to host your wedding a location that does not have a coordinator on-site at all then I dare say you NEED to hire someone. Leaving a rental company to show up at an empty space to set up chairs is a nightmare. Just expecting that the DJ or band will know where they should set up is asking too much. Oh the chaos guest could arrive and see!

My biggest piece of advice I can offer is to plan for the unexpected. Something WILL happen. Big or small, something that is not in your wedding plan is bound the take place. Having both a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Coordinator is like an insurance policy, two heads are defiantly better than one!

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