the day's design

Everyone is “So Excited!”

0 · Mar 13, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

The Romance Shoot

0 · Mar 12, 2014 ·

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

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

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

Contact myself or Kellie for more details!

I am 29!!!!

0 · Mar 6, 2014 ·

I just had that “Holy crap, I’m 29!” realization. Now here’s the thing, I’ve been 29 now for almost 2 months but suddenly I feel like I’m 29… and next year…{gulp} I’ll be 30.

So what does this mean? I’ve been out of high school for over 10 years. I can’t even pretend that I understand “today’s teenager” or that I can even come close to competing with their technology and pop culture understandings. I sound like an old lady. And while I might try to improve upon this a touch, I’m still going to jam to my oldies radio.

On the plus side, I’m finally starting to get comfortable in my own skin. I have figured out my dream job and while I’m still tweaking it a bit, I’m on a good, solid path. I still love fashion – but fashion my way. I’m a mom. That doesn’t mean I’m going to pull out the “mom jeans” anytime soon, but it also means that I don’t feel like I need to adhere as much to the “Mean Girl” practices of high school. And I’d like everyone to like me but that’s really not realistic. So just stick to your guns and be who you are – I know I’m going to make someone mad along the way, they’ll get over it.

At age 29, I still don’t know everything. Even though when I was a teenager I thought I had most of it figured out. This morning I had to Google what an ampersand is… all I can say is thank goodness for Google, where were you when I was in school?

If only I could have told myself 10-15 years ago that all the weird, quirky and unique traits that I had would come in handy today. Maybe I wouldn’t have tried so hard to bury them and “conform”. Oh the lessons learned!

So here’s my 29 year old self, making some pretty for an event – or at least supervising while Rachel does all the work! Thanks for the laugh, Eliza Jean Photography!!

Shopping with Shelby: Vintage Plus More “Vintage Wedding”

0 · Mar 4, 2014 ·

Hey lovelies, want to go shopping? There’s a new vintage shop in town that is just too cute! Vintage Plus More is located on 29^th Street in Grand Rapids – which is dangerously close to all of my shopping hubs, meaning I might just be stopping in there quite a bit!

The shop has been open about six months now and has started hosting monthly events. This month’s event is all about vintage weddings and I’m so excited to announce that I will have a part! Join me, as well as Joan from Merci Beaucoup Floral and American Honey Repurposed Furniture as we show you how to perfectly style and coordinate your next vintage party. Plus a fashion show full of vintage dresses which I personally cannot wait to see!

Thursday, March 13^th (from 6:30 – 8:00) would be the perfect night to come and see this new store, have a couple of treats and get some tips on styling and planning your wedding. Can’t wait to see you there!!

This is just one of the adorable booths within the shop. I snagged this picture from their Facebook page, which you need to be sure to check out to stay up to date on details around their Vintage Wedding Event as well as new treasures being added to the shop!

Vintage Plus More “Vintage Wedding Event”

2455 29^th Street SE

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512

(616) 528-5998(616) 528-5998(616) 528-5998

Thursday, March 13^th 6:30-8:00 pm

How to Run Your Business like a 4 Year Old

0 · Mar 3, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fashion for the Fellas

0 · Feb 26, 2014 ·

Let’s face it ladies, when it comes to the groom sometimes his attire gets a tad overlooked. We spend hours, days or even weeks searching for the perfect wedding dress and gowns for our maids. But when it comes to the gentlemen’s apparel we tend to just throw him in a black tux or grey suit, not putting too much into the process and selection. Maybe we’ll pick out a pretty colored tie.

Me? I’m guilty as charged.

Photo by Hetler Photography

In fact, I seldom even pay attention to men’s fashion at all. Now don’t get me wrong, I know a stylish stud when I see one, but when it comes to actually creating that look, sometimes I can be at a loss. So here we go, some tips on dressing him dapper.

1. Consider the overall wedding style

Is the affair classic and formal? Outdoorsy and rustic? Cozy or fun? Just like the bride’s dress, the grooms suit (or lack thereof) will help set the tone. Guests will see him before the bride, so the tone he sets with his attire can set the mood with the guest’s arrival.

2. Don’t underestimate the power of accessories

Guess what? Men need to be accessorized too! Even if he’s wearing a classic black suit or tux, subtle touches can take the look from drab to fab. Think bow-tie verse skinny tie, pocket square or boutonnières, even the shoes chosen can make a HUGE impact.

Men’s fashion doesn’t change nearly as much as women’s, however, the way we accessorize it certainly does. Black buttons on the dress shirt make it more formal, as do French cuffs with cufflinks. Seersucker or plaid bowties will give a more playful vibe. And a patterned shirt can change the entire look of the outfit.

3. He doesn’t have to wear a suit {or tux}

That’s right! If you’re having a backyard or relaxed celebration, a beach wedding or getting married in the heat of August you might want to consider more relaxed apparel too. Think seersucker suits, linen pants with button-down shirts or suspenders and ties. Winter grooms could opt for sweater vests or cable-knit cardigans.

4. The Groomsmen don’t have to dress the same

Just like mismatched bridesmaids, groomsmen could be allowed to choose an outfit in a particular color pallet. They also don’t have to match the groom, but rather choose attire that will compliment his look.

Take cues from the fashion world and don’t be afraid to style your men accordingly. The days of formal tuxedo rentals are starting to fade as more and more brides are choosing suits the groomsmen can keep.

Photo by Shannon Scott {Smug Shots}

And a couple of bonus thoughts: purchasing suits/attire means no one is responsible for returning them the next day AND if your groomsmen get a little wild (i.e. decide to tear off their sleeves), no worries it was theirs to keep!

Focus on the Controllable

0 · Feb 21, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

In business:

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

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

In wedding planning:

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

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

In life:

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

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

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

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

Creating vs. Pinning

0 · Feb 18, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Planning (and Pinning)!

Valentine’s Bouquet Inspiration

0 · Feb 14, 2014 ·

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

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

Bouquet Recipe 1:

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

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

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

Bouquet Recipe 2:

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

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

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

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

My Valentine

0 · Feb 13, 2014 ·

Since it’s the week of love, I thought I’d share a little about my Valentine. I’ve been trying all week to write a little about our love story… but it seems pretty lame. I haven’t been able to come up with a post that describes us – everything that I’ve started sounds cheesy, or insincere and just isn’t us. That “ah-hah” moment never happened for me, when I KNEW Josh was the one I was going to marry. There was nothing special or memorable about our meet cute. It wasn’t love at first sight, and I actually don’t even remember the specific day that we met.

I’m such a sucker for a good, sappy love story so I always thought I would be a part of one. That’s not how life turned out. Sometimes ordinary is okay. It’s the little things that mean the most. We can just be us, just be together and know that we found the person that we’ll spend the next 60+ Valentine’s Days with.

So this guy has been my Valentine for 7 years now, which seems pretty crazy looking back. This picture is a little throw back to winter 2010 (taken by Unikke Photography), and was the closest thing we had to engagement photos. And by the way, I highly recommend having engagement pictures taken, that moment in your life is gone in a blink – capture it!

P.S. – I just did the math, I’m not sure I want to spend 60+ Valentine’s Days together, that would make us really really old!

Love & Economics

0 · Feb 12, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

More Negative…

0 · Feb 10, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week friends!

It’s Wedding Weather! When to get Married in Michigan

0 · Feb 7, 2014 ·

Hey West Michigan! Want to talk about the weather? Does anyone else feel like that’s the only topic being discussed right now? Yes we have snow… thanks for the update. Sheesh!!

When I was younger, any time we were planning an event or family gathering in the winter my grandparents were always the first to chime in and say “depending on the weather.” “The roads could get bad.” “It is January, so you never know!” Ugh… I thought they were so lame and major worry warts.

Last Monday morning as I was driving down the road picking up props and supplies for my “fishy fun” project (search #fellinloveinfishtown on Instgram for some peeks), I couldn’t help but wonder why I was out on the roads. Crazy white out conditions! And my husband’s only response is “the things we do for photos!” True enough.

I have a really poor knack for picking dates for major events. I think it might run in the family. And I realize this is not what you want to hear from your wedding planner, so I’ll just let you pick the date! But what I was really wondering is if weather played a huge role in how you chose the date (or at least the time of year) you wanted to get married? I was thinking this morning about the pros and cons of getting married in each season.

Photo by Heather Cisler Photography

Winter (December – Mid March):

Pros-

Possibility for gorgeous snowy pictures
Less popular months to get married in, more vendor availability
Less conflicts for you wedding guests vacations schedules and social calendars (unless you choose December)
Getting married in December means the whole world is decorated with twinkle lights & greens – which could help your décor budget
You can serve warm beverages and winter comfort foods
Crystals and all things glittery blend oh-so perfectly!

Cons-

Possibly for poor weather – it could be snowy, icy or grey and dismal outside
It’s cold! Outside pictures are going to take some stamina
No greenery or leaves to add color to your wedding photos
You may need a pair of boots to wear under your wedding dress
December brides beware: the whole world seems to be decorated in twinkle lights and Christmas décor, which might clash with your wedding décor

Photo by Bradley James Photography

Spring (Mid March – May):

Pros-

Everything seems fresh and new which is a great feeling to have when starting your lives together
Spring flowers are A.MAZ.ING
Everyone is tired of being cooped up and ready to get outside
Possibility for warm, sunshiny day
It’s early in the wedding season, so vendors are fresh and excited about the upcoming season

Cons-

It can still be cold outside (last spring it was still snowing in May)
Two words: April showers
If your guests have children, be sure to take note of Spring Break schedules
Sometimes everything is still grey and muddy outside, not the lush green visions we have dancing in our heads

Photo by Chelsea Seekell Photography

Summer (June – August):

Pros-

The weather should be warm
More venue possibilities since outdoor spaces are also an option
Lots of flowers to choose from
Kids are on summer vacation, making it travel easier
More daylight hours

Cons-

It could be more expensive, since it’s prime wedding season
Less vendors to availability (unless you book early)
The weather could be too hot… giving you a nice glossy look in your photos
Humidity. Enough said.
Conflicts with summer vacation plans
You may have to also have a backup locations, if you’re choosing to celebrate outside

Photo by Bradley James Photography

Autumn (September – November):

Pros-

Our minds start shifting to warm and cozy favorites, which is a great ambiance to create for a wedding
The changing leaves and color make a stunning backdrop for pictures
Fall décor is easy to come by and has many budget friendly options
You may still have your summer suntan

Cons-

Nights cool down faster
Guest may have used all of their vacation time during the summer
Busy schedules with sports, back to school, etc.
September can be a rainy month
Autumn months are gaining popularity and are no longer considered “off season”

So what month will you be married in? Is the weather influencing your decision? I’m not sure what I would do if I had to plan it all over again, I love them all!

Steering Away from Negative Town

0 · Feb 3, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Monday!!

Pep Talks: Hovering over the “Send” Button

0 · Jan 23, 2014 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overcoming your Three Greatest Challenges in the New Year

0 · Jan 3, 2014 ·

Well friends, 2014 is officially here. And after traveling to Lake Leelanau, Detroit and East Lansing and hosting 2 dinner parties all in the past 2 weeks, I’m ready for life to start getting back to a normal pace. I am also ready for focus on things ahead.

I have never been one for New Year’s resolutions though. I suppose it’s really more of a fear of failing at them, which most people do. So rather than concurring my fears, I tend to just avoid them. Which right now, I fully intend to continue doing. You see, a couple months ago I thought that if I blogged about my goals for the month, it would help me stay accountable. That didn’t work either. I was purposely vague about them (rather than making them specific and attainable as I have been taught in all my business classes) and I just disappointed myself, in the end feeling more like a failure.

So on that note, I’ve been trying to figure out how to approach 2014, both personally and professionally. I still haven’t figured it out. However, on Sunday we had a guest speaker at our church and I think he had some great insights on the New Year. Here’s what he had to say:

Overcoming your Three Greatest Challenges in the New Year

1. There will be storms to survive.

The New Year will provide new challenges. Some of those might be left over from last year and some may be completely out of the blue and brand spanking new. But either way, God is with you. With Him, you can weather the storm. The key is to keep your eye on the provider, the one who can calm the wind and the waves, rather than focusing on the problem, or the storm itself.

2. There will be mountains to climb.

Instantly when he said this the first thought that came to mind was “no hill for a stepper” – which is a ridiculous saying that I have heard come out of my mother’s mouth time and time again. But there’s some truth there. Take one step at a time making your way to the top. It might be a slow journey, but you can make it. God is for you! When God looks at you, he can see your full potential. Have faith that through Him you can do all things.

3. There will be battles to fight.

God is fighting for you.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all the generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21.

Our minds are so little and cannot even comprehend all the God is able to do. Do you ever wonder if God finds our simple requests silly and is up there having a good chuckle? Nevertheless, He will fight for you. The outcome might not be exactly what you had planned, but that’s okay. I think He has His eye on a bigger picture.

I know there will be surprises along the way and challenges on the road ahead. However, I’m having faith that there is a greater plan and better things yet to come in 2014.

Happy New Year!

The beautiful bouquet above was created by yours truly this fall and photographed so beautifully by Bradley James Photography.

Hats Off to the New Year!!

0 · Dec 20, 2013 ·

With Christmas being a mere 5 days away and the start of 2014 only 12 days from now, I think it’s high time to share my festive little New Year’s shoot I put together a little earlier this year. Back in September when I began dreaming this up and then in October when this shoot was actually brought to life, it seemed like the holidays would never come. Snow was a distant dream and I was still living in the memories from last Christmas.

More recently, however, I feel like we’re living in a snow globe! What I wouldn’t have given to have snow this day in October!! But instead the day was full of warm wishes and piles of tulle, glitter and ribbons.

The concept of “Hats Off to the New Year” was born in honor of my new Etsy store. Sequins, glitter, bows, tulle, champagne and all things bubbly and sparkly just seemed like the perfect way my new line of goodies (and the New Year).

This stunning home in historic Heritage Hill served as the perfect holiday backdrop. I simply fell in love the first time I saw all the dark woodwork and stunning crystal chandeliers and knew the house needed showcase something special. New Year’s through the decades began to unfold.

Cheeky Strut and the fabulous talents of Jennifer Houseman captured the perfect old Hollywood glam essence through hair and make-up, bringing my models to life.

I had so much fun digging up old New Year’s traditions and styles, like serving wassail with toast (who knew that’s why we ‘toast’ each other??), pairing the unexpected together, like gold succulents and felt top hats, and celebrating the start of something new.

Photography: Hetler Photography / Concept, Event & Floral Design: The Day’s Design / Hairpieces: The Day’s Design / Stationary: Crown and Clover / Venue: McCabe-Marlowe House / Desserts: Dana Wilmer-Lucus / Hair: Cheeky Strut / Make-Up: Jennifer Houseman

An enormous THANK YOU to all the vendors who made this party happen!! You can also see this feature on Oh Lovely Day. And whether you’re tying the knot or just planning an amazing bash, I hope you have a fabulous 2014!!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it – The Day’s Design Shop

0 · Dec 9, 2013 ·

Drumroll please!! Huge day over here… my Etsy shop just opened!!! What? You have an Etsy shop? That’s right loves!! I’ve been teasing you with little bits about accessories, new things in the New Year and pictures of some gorgeous models and today is the day that I finally reveal what all this is about!

I started making hats and hairpieces, quite by accident really – a hidden talent I never knew I possessed, until one day I was roaming the aisles of Hobby Lobby (as I frequently do) and saw a giant, oversized artificial flower and thought “that’s not a flower, that’s a hat!” And so my journey began. I have found myself surrounded with even more tulle, lace and ribbon that usual and amazing people with breathtaking hairpieces along the way. Now these pieces will be available to you!

Each piece is completely unique and handmade by yours truly. The shop will feature lovely designs that I have dreamt up for your special occasion, but I’m always open to custom orders and ideas that are specific to your needs and events. Of course, I couldn’t just start making hats, I also had to throw a party!! So here’s just a little sample from my “Hats Off to the New Year” shoot put together with Hetler Photography and I promise to blog more about the whole celebration a little later. You can also see the feature over on Oh Lovely Day TODAY, eep!!

A huge thank you to Cheeky Strut for the perfectly glam hairstyles and to Jennifer Houseman for her amazing make-up talents!!

Little Sister Getting Married {Invitations are Out!}

0 · Dec 3, 2013 ·

I have had doodles, designs and to-do lists scattered about my desk for months now, all revolving around my little sister’s wedding. I am so excited for her and I keep going back to the plans trying to figure out how to make this the absolute wedding of her DREAMS. Now, admittedly I must say that I’m a little closer to this bride than my other clients, sorry, but it’s true. That being said, there’s a little more of an emotional connection there and sometimes I literally have to stop myself from jumping up and down when I’m in the planning stages.

November has been a month full of showers and parties all revolving around my dear sister. Invitations also went out last month (and as my mother said, “Well, it looks like we’re having a wedding!”) and RSVPs are starting to roll in. I just got an email from the fabulous Brad and Sam (of Bradley James Photography – who also took the above photo)and they’re hoping to tie up loose ends with them very soon. Eek… now I just had that “This is really happening” moment!!

This glittery, vintage, wintery wonderland affair is definitely going to be one for the books and I cannot wait until January!!

Happy December

0 · Dec 2, 2013 ·

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

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

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

Photo by Hetler Photography, xoxo

The Birthday Challenge

0 · Nov 26, 2013 ·

Guess what?! Miss Gretta is officially 1 year old today! I can’t even believe it!! Margaretta James Ferguson, 6 lbs 13 oz, she was born at 11:32 pm on this chilly November day!

Which leads me into my next question, have you read about the contentment challenge? It is really inspiring me and has helped to focus on needs and necessities verse wants. Let’s face it, as Americans we are blessed with so much. Due to current circumstances Josh and I pretty much practice a bare bones living. Now that does not mean we don’t splurge or do something special now and again. But as of late, our spending habits are not very frivolous.

In addition, I have really been focusing on “Do what you can with what you have” – another piece of advice passed along to me that keeps ringing through my head. I know it’s the time of year where we are all supposed to be thankful, which I am, but this goes beyond that. It’s an ache in my heart. And at one time it was focus of my business. When I began, my hope was to prove that you don’t need an unlimited wedding budget to have a beautiful day. And you definitely don’t need to drive yourself into debt doing so. There’s something to be said about creating a simply pretty event. There’s an art to it.

With all this in mind, I am busy busy with my next project. It’s a very special party for my little birthday girl. My challenge has been creating an amazing party (which I am well aware that she will not remember – but I have to do it anyway!) without spending any money. Alright, I will admit, I’m going to spend a little, people need plates and napkins and I can’t resist putting together some beautiful blooms, but beyond that, everything has been created from things laying around the house. Recycle, reuse and spray-paint!! It is sort of my own version of the contentment challenge, The Birthday Challenge. This is a very peaceful mindset and I cannot wait to share the results of the party, as well as this challenge as suddenly I feel like I am able to look at my humble house with new eyes.

In case I don’t have another chance to blog again this week, have a fabulous Thanksgiving!!!

The above photo was Gretta at 5 months, from Hetler Photography. I think it’s time for some new ones, don’t you???

Tea Time Inspiration

0 · Nov 25, 2013 ·

Around this time last year I was 9 ½ months pregnant, I had officially left my full-time job and was tirelessly working on the launch of my website. And then this disc filled to the brim with gorgeous images arrived from Bradley James Photography. It was the first project we worked on together and the start of a beautiful new friendship. My vintage tea party.

Friends, I am thankful for the start of this journey, for the promise that 2014 brings and all the amazing new people 2013 brought into my life.

The shoot was inspired by all things vintage, delicate and romantic. It aimed to capture the soft elegance an afternoon tea, inspired by the floral wallpaper and combined with shades of pink, peach, mint and aqua.

“Posy and pearls
Amethyst and gold
Forever you and I
Our precious love to hold.”
~Astrid Alauda

“The fine china cups
are filled with the brew.
There’s lemon and sugar
and sweet cream, too.

But, best of all
there’s friendship, between you and me.
As we lovingly share
our afternoon tea.“

~Marianna Arolin

Photography: Bradley James Photography / Event Styling & Florals: The Day’s Design / Venue: The Felt Estate / Bride’s Dress: Etsy Shop, Firefly Vintage / Invitations: Creative Montage / Cake: Elizabeth Stammen, Grand Rapids Community College culinary student / Linens: La Tavola

This shoot was also featured earlier this month on Burnett’s Boards as a beautiful bridal shower inspiration, which I was pretty excited about. I hope you enjoyed and are having a great week!

FAQ: What is Event Styling?

0 · Nov 22, 2013 ·

A couple weekends ago I was able to show my grandpa (who barely even knows what the internet is, much less how to actually use it), my website for the very first time. He has heard me talk about my photo shoots and weddings but never completely understood the extent of what I actually do. In his eyes, you just go to the church, stop and pick a couple flowers along the way and get married. Styling and coordination?? Not a concept he understood.

In addition, I showed him some of the pictures from my last project. After scrolling throw about 100 photos or so, he finally stopped and thoughtfully pointed to the girl on the left, “That girl, she looks just like they would have dressed in the 1930s.”

My point exactly. Someone had to style her to make that happen. Do you look at perfectly mismatched bridesmaids photos and wonder how that happened? How do they look so effortless, incredibly gorgeous and purposely placed, even though they don’t look the same? And then the flowers stand out flawlessly against all their dresses and the ribbons are the exact same hue? It all flows so completely seamless with the groomsmen attire, the invitations, tablecloths and gives off the perfect amount of causal glam? It’s because someone made that happen! Either professional or DIY, someone designed this wedding.

To put it simply, event styling or design, is interior design for your party. You hire an interior designer to pick out the perfect sofa and paint colors for your home, much the same, you hire an event designer to pick out the perfect pieces for your wedding.

What does it entail? Anything and everything pretty!! An event stylist will help you define your wedding vision, create an overall theme or inspiration board and help find all the elements to bring this vision to life. The exact process might be different for everyone, but I’ll share a little about what it’s like to work with me.

Depending upon when in the wedding process you hire me, things may vary a little, but here’s the gist. Together we’ll sit down and discuss your likes and dislikes, personal style and the overall feel you’re hoping your wedding will have. We’ll talk about inspiration and location. And then we’ll start shopping and designing! Some brides like me by their side the whole way, dress shopping, invitation selection and appointments with the pastry chefs. Other may have already picked out some of these elements or want to reserve special moments just for family. Either way works for me! I am kind of a personal shopping assistant. You’re looking for 12 pink vintage teacups? I’ll find them for you. Need 20 mercury glass vases in various sizes and shapes? I’m on it. Grey groomsmen’s suit with lavender bowties? Found it!

I’ll draw up a design plan, we’ll outline everything needed for your big day – from place cards to dessert displays – you can watch it all come to life. When it comes to setting up, no need to worry, I’ll oversee all those details while you are sitting back getting pampered and pretty.

Sounds amazing, right? I think so too! So let’s start planning your next pretty party!! (My grandpa thinks you should hire me – he’s impressed!!)

The above photo is by the fabulous Kellie of Hetler Photography and is from a super fun holiday shoot, which I can’t wait to share more of!!!

Sex and the City Wedding Inspiration

0 · Nov 20, 2013 ·

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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