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Southern Hospitality Dinner Party

1 · Sep 3, 2015 ·

I love summer. Everything about it just makes me smile. Long days at the beach, toes in the sand, warm breezes, sunshine, melting ice cream cones, bicycles, flowers, family get togethers… and the list really goes one and on. It’s the perfect time of year for entertaining, which is just one more thing I love.

I come from a family who finds any excuse to celebrate. Fussy meals and finding the perfect accessories are in my blood.

It was about this time last year that I was prepping for another party. I had this notion that I wanted to create something special, a fancy late summer meal but I didn’t have a cause for celebration. I was feeling blue and itching to do something. But this feeling crept in long before last summer, it hit me in the dead of winter and I just held on to it. I felt that I needed to do something meaningful, somehow I wanted to make a difference. Can a person make a difference in the world by planning parties? I’ve often struggled with this thought.

It just so happened that my southern doll of a friend, Ashley (of Ashley Slater Photography), proposed that we do a southern inspired inspiration shoot. I love putting together inspiration shoots, but some part of me can’t help but feel that they’re a waste. What’s the point of putting together this gorgeous party and not inviting any guests?

An idea quickly took form. We were going to plan a party. It was going to be chocked full of editorial worthy deals and we were going to invite perfect strangers to just come and celebrate life with us. So that’s exactly what we did.

We found one perfectly lovely soul who was in need of a little extra love. Samantha of Wondrous Whimsy helped us design a beautifully calligraphic invites which were boxed up and sent out in chain letter fashion. Each person who received on would then take the lead in inviting another lovely lady until all the seats at the table were filled.

Since this was not just a styled shoot, we had a full blown menu prepared by an awesome chef (I might be just a little partial since he’s also my husband).

Southern delicacies such as pickled shrimp, pimento cheese and toast points, chilled green tomato soup, roasted redskin potato salad, corn bread and grilled salmon were all served.

Upon arrival, each lovely lady was allowed to choose a party dress – on loan from the night from Kirribilla. Once dressed, in true Southern style the girls were welcomed with sweet tea or pineapple gin punch – both delicious options. And then on to the feast!

And what dinner party would be complete without a little dessert?! These pies from Ed Dunneback and Girl’s Farm were some of the best I’ve ever had (and did you know that they will make an awesome dessert display for your wedding, eek!!)

Such a fun evening! Thanks so all the vendors involved!

Real Weddings :: Nolan & Jessica

0 · Apr 29, 2015 ·

I don’t know if I believe in destiny or fate, or that there’s only one person in the whole world that you should marry and (finger’s crossed!!) you’ll meet them and timing will be perfect and you’ll fall in love. I do however, believe that God has a plan and know’s exactly what’s going to happen before we even have a chance to contemplate the possibility. I suppose he controls our destiny then.

Nevertheless, I think the way our paths are intertwined is really interesting, and our story of friendship is no exception. Back when I was just an under-aged, beauty school grad, I also had a late night weekend gig at a bar. And so did Jessica. However, we rarely had a chance to speak and although we worked at the same club, I’m not even sure I knew her name – she was just the girl with the most amazing highlights. And she’s always been someone I remembered and who stood out in my mind.

Fast forward a few years and here we are. I met my husband who happened to be best buds with Nolan, who would eventually become her fiance. My husband predicted from the beginning these two were in it for the long haul. And I guess he was right. Anytime I get to be involved in someone’s wedding day is really special to me, but when the bride and groom happen to be a couple of your closest friends it becomes one of the highest honors. It was more than just a wedding, it was a very happy celebration.

In the height of dahlia season, we watched Jessica and Nolan say “I do” at the historic Felt Estates. I handpicked every flower myself with sweet Jessica in mind knowing how important this day was, knowing that in just a few short hours she would marry her best friend, a relationship that I was lucky enough to see from the beginning. And will continue to see for years to come.

Wedding in the Woods

0 · Feb 20, 2015 ·

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

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

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

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

Happy Friday, stay warm friends!!

Bloom the Workshop :: September Edition

0 · Oct 24, 2014 ·

Well my extremely talents friends are at it again, this past September they brought Bloom the Workshop back to West Michigan and once again I got to be a part. (You can read all about the first edition here.) I’m not going to share all the gorgeous workshop details or the behind the scenes but rather I’m going to skip right to the good part, the styled shoot portion.

With fall beginning to close in, the florals were inspired by shades of berry and orange, with subtle touches of pink set against a bold black and white pattern. A little modern, a little rustic and completely chic describes the tablescape that Michaela designed. It was my job to adorn not only the tabletop but also provide the models with gorgeous blooms. 2 centerpieces, 2 bouquets a boutonniere and a whole lot of pretty made this shoot come to life at Rockford’s Hydrangea Blu Barn.

Bloom the Workshop | Fall bride | The Day's Design

Photography: {Jenn Anibal} | Event Design: Michaela Noelle Designs | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Dresses: Spring Sweet | Chandeliers & Rentals: The Rental Company | Calligraphy & Invitations: Graceline Calligraphy | Hair & Makeup: Hailey Hollenstien | Table Runner: Mrs. Freund & Co. | Venue: Hydrangea Blu Barn

Those dresses? Aren’t they just amazing, I wish I had the back to pull that off. And the cockscomb in centerpiece number 2 is the biggest piece of locals cockscomb I have ever seen! I can’t wait to see what the these talented girls do for Bloom in 2015!

Styled Shoot Party :: Just a Glimpse

0 · Oct 1, 2014 ·

There’s been an idea brewing inside of me for awhile now and it’s all based on this notion that styled shoots, while absolutely gorgeous, are also a bit of a waste. I enjoy working without limitations and being able to create whatever I envision. Plus the collaboration between vendors can be a really beautiful form of creative expression. But at the end of each day I can’t help but feel that I just set up an amazing tablescape, pieced together what was sure to be an over-the-top amazing soiree and now I have to tear it down, without anyone really appreciating it for months to come.

So last month I took a new approach to the “styled shoot”. Rather than wasting the beauty and hospitality, I invited guests to be a part. They were guests that I didn’t know, people nominated by others who needed a little love and something extra pretty in their lives. The results were more than I could have ever imagined.

I’ve yet to sit down with Ashely Slater to browse through all of what are sure to be incredible memories from the night but I can’t wait. I want to remember the evening that I took a risk and invited complete strangers to a dinner party. In time, I will also share with you the inspiration, the execution, as well as the hiccups that happened along the way as this was not an easy party to pull off. But I can promise you, it was worth it!

Full vendor credits will be shared when I post the results in their entirety but for now I’d like to thank Ashley Slater Photography, The Rental Company, Chef Josh Ferguson, Wondrous Whimsy, Kirribilla and Ed Dunnebeck & Girls Farm Market for being a part.

Bloom the Workshop :: Recap

0 · Jul 14, 2014 ·

I used to think that learning should take place in school. I thought that to get a good education, you needed to attend a good school or college. At least that’s what was always preached to me, so why shouldn’t I believe it? I was taught that in order to succeed in life, you needed a bachelor’s degree and possibly more. And if you didn’t invest in your education, you were destine for failure.

My thinking has shifted away from what my 18 year old self once thought. I definitely had those “why do I need to know this?” moments in school, but for the most part just sucked it up and went to class every day believing that this is what would help me achieve my goals and get a good job. In fact, the thought never occurred to me that perhaps I could teach myself a thing or two, or I could learn from other business people or attend small workshops.

I now think that it’s determination more than anything that will help you succeed in life. I learned language skills, basic business principles and various other things in college which I’m sure impact me more than I realize. I believe that college teaches you how to interact in the “real world”. However pushing yourself and being open to new ideas and learning from one another is HUGE. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals and people who inspire you – you will absorb so much.

About a month ago I was able to play a small role in bringing Bloom the Workshop to West Michigan. I supplied some super pretty blooms and did a little behind the scenes work for Ashley and Michaela and helped bring their creative vision to life. They are the type of people I like to surround myself with. And the best part is, they want to inspire, they want to teach and they want to see you succeed. I was able to watch them teach 30 ladies about business, blogging, social media, styling, design, photography and life. And I left inspired. I wasn’t even an attendee!

So while I want to share with you some of the pretty that took place that day, I also want you to consider investing in yourself, your creative side and your business. There’s always something more to learn.

One of my favorite parts of the workshop was how interactive it was. Ashley and Michaela didn’t give give the attendees a bunch a information and send them on their merry ways, but they also planned a time to put that information and new skills to the test. The afternoon consisted of a styled shoot portion, which believe it or not, is a great way showcase work in many industries, not just the wedding inspiration shoots we’re so accustom to seeing. From styling papers to models to flowers and beyond, participants photographed and played with different designs, poses, locations and lighting.

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography / Styling: Michaela Noelle Designs / Floral Design: The Day’s Design / Venue: Hydrangea Blu Barn / Wedding Dresses: Bridal Gallery / Chalkboard signage: Add {Vintage} / Mugs: Ashley & Malone / Calligraphy: Jessica Albers / Tassel Garland: One Stylish Party / Place Setting & Chair Rentals: The Rental Company

Want to attend a creative workshop? Bloom is coming back to West Michigan this September and rumor has it registration opens tomorrow. More info here.

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!!)

The Day’s Design Inspiration Shoot

0 · Nov 1, 2013 ·

A common question that I get asked is to describe my style. And this is not an easy question for me to answer. This summer I really tried to channel in on that thought and focus. What is my style?

First off, I love shabby chic. Distressed, romantic and soft details make me smile. I absolutely adore vintage pieces, whether they’re ornate early century finds, mid-century modern or industrial and roughed up. Just think of the stories these pieces can tell and the hands that they’ve passed through. Decorating with sentimental pieces warms my heart. It’s magical when cherishing your past, pieces that once belonged to Grandma or other family heirlooms or even a more current gift. And then I have a huge love of family. If you’re trying to figure out your wedding style, just look around your home – your happy place – that should be your inspiration.

So together with Bradley James Photography, I put together a small shoot trying to really focus on my style. I began with re-imagining my own wedding. How would I do it today? But that was so hard with all the fabulous inspiration out there and beautiful events that I have seen. I sat down and made a list of all my favorite things, I highly recommend this to anyone who is trying to focus your wedding style.

It’s a little bit rustic, a little modern, playful and whimsical all at the same time. And the color pallet matches my brand and my grandma’s china which is too perfect. I’m so happy to share the results with you today – let’s think back about warmer weather and lots of sunshine!

My hubby bought me the vintage silverware last year for Christmas, so sweet! And it looks stunning with Grandma’s aqua plates.

The parasol is vintage, from my mom’s wedding in 1975 – they’ve been married 38 years, such an inspiration!

Event Styling & Florals: The Day’s Design / Photography: Bradley James Photography / Harvest Table: Refunction Junktion / Ghost Chairs: The Rental Company

A huge thank you to all the above vendors who helped bring my vision to life! Have great weekend… stay dry!!

Downtown Inspiration Shoot {Teaser}

0 · May 31, 2013 ·

Something gorgeous happened in downtown Grand Rapids Wednesday that we simply cannot wait to share! An urban city venue combined with lots of sparkles, amazing shoes and other fabulously girly delights – there’s so much to swoon over, but we’ll just tease you with this little sneak peek for now!!

West Michigan has some amazing vendors who I simply cannot thank enough for their contributions to this project! Photography: Hetler Photography / Event Design: The Day’s Design / Floral Design: Modern Day Floral / Chairs: The Rental Company / Bride’s Dress: Bridal Elegance / Hair & Make-up: Cheeky Strut / Jewlry: Ashley Poolman, Lia Sophia Independent Consultant / Cake: Mirabella Confections / Paper Products: Emily Ross Creative / Videography: Inspiration Video – and a huge thank you to our lovely models!

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