wed michigan

For Sale: Brand New Moda Bella Dress

2010-02-28T06:52:00.006-05:00

If you're like me, then you're a horrible decision maker. Through the entire planning process, I've spent countless hours weighing the pros and cons of each crucial decision (the color of our cupcake liners is VERY crucial people! Kidding.)

Anyways, when I first got engaged, I really felt the need to get my dress ASAP and that once I had my dress, everything would just fall in to place. I made the huge mistake of rushing into buying it when I wasn't sure what the "feel" of our wedding would be. What happened in the process? Well, I bought an amazingly GORGEOUS dress- fit for a traditional, more rustic venue and wedding. Our wedding? Very modern and simple.

I did end up buying my dream dress back in September and it definitely fits our venue, and wedding "theme" much better than the first one. I often lay awake at night trying to figure out a way to incorporate my first dress into my big day, because I really do love it so much!

So, my lovely readers... I'm selling my first dress! Tear :( My hope is that some other lucky bride will make it her own! Here are the details:

**Moda Bella Size 4, ivory with lace and beading, slight sweetheart neckline, long chapel train, NEVER BEEN WORN OR ALTERED! $450 or best offer!**

If you know someone who might be interested or if you would like more information, please email at wedmichigan@gmail.com. I am happy to ship it to anywhere in the US!

My Vendor List

2010-01-28T07:21:00.013-05:00

Happy 2010! Wow. That was long overdue. I know "they" say when you blog to never apologize for the lack of posting and to just continue on like its no big deal. But I think my lack of posting deserves some major apologies!

Now that the holidays are over and the new year is underway, I'm making a commitment to share as many Michigan vendors with you as I can. As I've been planning my own wedding in Kalamazoo- I have come across some extremely talented individuals and companies. If I had an unlimited budget, I'd find a place for all of them in my wedding- but I don't :( So I've chosen the best of the best for what we wanted for our big day. Whether that includes style, price, personality, or just general awesomeness :)

With 100 days to go until our big day, I wanted to share some of these talented vendors on Wed Michigan. I HIGHLY suggest you check them out if you're planning a Michigan wedding!

First Congregational Church
Although I had grand dreams of getting married barefoot in my mother's backyard, we chose to go the traditional route and get married in a church. Downtown Kalamazoo has some amazing historical churches and FCC was an easy choice for us. It sits at the edge of Bronson park, welcomes non-members, and the main Sanctuary is pretty much the most gorgeous room I've ever been in. I heard a rumor that people drive from all over Michigan just to hear the organ. Yeah... we get to become husband and wife in this place :)

Cityscape Events Center
Being one of the last to get married, I've been to many weddings in Kalamazoo. Each were unique and wonderful, but many of them were in the same venues. We chose to use Cityscape and I'm so happy about our choice. Owned by Millenium Restaurant Group (you know- Fieldstone Grill, The Union, Epic Bistro... mmmm), the loft-style event space is located on the Kalamazoo Mall in the heart of downtown and has such a cool vibe. The best part (besides the ridiculous food and the amazing location) is our in-house event coordinator, Renee. It's a bride's dream to have someone as trustworthy and professional as Renee, and I know we will have zero worries on our wedding day :)

Samantha Vanderlist of Shutter Sam, Photography
When we first got engaged, we both agreed that photography wasn't a big deal on our wedding day. We kept saying that we'd just find whoever and not worry about it. Sam- I am admitting to you right now- WE WERE WRONG. I can't tell you how important it is to find a photographer that you connect with and who you know will capture the most important moments of that day. There are going to be moments that I totally forget about, that I miss completely, and that no one will even see, and I know that Sam will be there to document all of those memories. When I met Sam for the first time at a Starbuck's in Grand Rapids, I immediately felt connected with her and realized we had made such a great choice (and she's budget-friendly!). Now if only the rain would stay away for our pictures!

{Photo by Shutter Sam}

Two Penny Productions, Videography
Ok, as soon as you click on their website, you're going to spend hours watching all of their ridiculous videos. So just wait until you're done reading this post or else you'll never come back! I cannot tell you how excited I am for this vendor. First of all, the fact that we're lucky enough to have a videographer... I am thankful every single day. But the fact that we got THIS VIDEOGRAPHER? I'm just going to say it- go ahead and be jealous :)

Shabby Chic Cakes & More
When I met Dena of Shabby Chic, she made us a huge bag-full of cupcake samples to taste. I'm talking 12 cupcakes. Who does that?! We scarfed those cupcakes down in about 5 minutes flat. I'm not going to go into our flavor choices or any of that, but I will tell you that I'm totally craving her cupcakes as I write this. Oh, and she gives you a free Anniversary Cake with your order- somehow I don't think that cake will be making it anywhere near our first anniversary :)

Andylous Flowers
I've always been a little hesitant when it comes to ordering flowers for my wedding day- I had grand dreams of assembling all of our centerpieces ourselves and saving a ton of money. And then I found Julie at Andylous. She is wonderful! Budget-friendly, creative, smart, and- she listens. She understood exactly what I wanted and came up with some crazy cool ideas. I cannot WAIT to see all of the flowers are our reception!

Studio 6.23
I want to give a special shoutout to Mindy and Ben of Studio 6.23 for our AMAZING engagement photos. We wanted to capture Boston and how our relationship grew in such an amazing city, and they did exactly that. I am so thankful that they traveled out East and took the time to drive up to Beantown to do this for us and I am so thankful that we will have these pictures to cherish forever!

{Photo by Studio 6.23}

Lila Designs
Ok, shameless plug :) I had to add this one in there. As you know, I started doing custom stationery work this past Fall and of course, am designing all of my own wedding stationery :) I just had to add Lila to the list! :)

{postcard photo by Studio 6.23}

So there you have it- these are our main vendors. Like I said before, we talked to so many awesome vendors when making our decisions, but chose who we did based on our budget and what fit in with our personalities and criteria. I can't wait to see how our wedding comes together with all of their contributions and help!

All I Want For Christmas...

2009-11-13T09:07:00.004-05:00

...is the new at-home Quickutz Letterpress Machine. Thanks, Mom :)

{Image from Paper Source}

Petal and Forrest: Guardians of Good Taste

2009-11-11T07:34:00.014-05:00

What do you get when you take four talented ladies, a passion for event design, and gorgeous flowers? You get Petal and Forrest! I've spent the morning drooling over their beautiful flower designs are and I had to share! A big thank you to Dawn Hall for taking the time to answer these questions and share these fabulous photos with us!

What is your current favorite wedding trend?
Mixing organic elements with traditional elegant elements. For example, one couple has a long family history with the grain & farming business. So we designed an "Agri-Chic" wedding. Pairing wheat stalks with rich satin fabrics in copper & gold shades. Another example included in pictures from Magdalena & Martin's wedding--pairing moss & grape vine with elegant vintage glass & romantic blooms. Love the contrast! We also love all of the great details that are returning. From vintage lace, to pearls, to crystals. We love it! You only get to be Cinderella once and you need a little bling!

What unique services do you offer?
We truly try to capture the vision of our brides' big day. We spend time talking with each bride about their personal style & taste. How they want the day to feel and look. We then design a wedding and/or reception that will hopefully capture that. We are more than just flowers--our quotes often include linens, lighting, music, & additional decor---we sometimes even help choose the tux and bridal attendant dress colors. We work with and suggest other vendors that will help pull the entire day together.

What other Michigan vendors do you love working with?
A Piece 0' Cake, Jessica Cornman Photography, Kate Elliott Photography, Paisley Quill, The University Club, The Lansing Country Club, Eagle Eye Golf & Banquet Center, The English Inn

Can you share some great decor cost-cutting tips for those couple's that might not have a large budget?
Choose the same color/variety of flower and repeat thru-out the ceremony & reception. Buying in bulk saves money. Or, create one or two dramatic focal points. You can then play down the other areas. Finally, choose a reception site that includes linens & chair covers in their packages.

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
I love the change in seasons!

{Photos by Kate Elliot Photography}

Support Adopt More!

2009-11-04T08:08:00.004-05:00

The FABULOUS Ksenija Savic of Ksenija Savic Photography in Birmingham, has a heart of gold. Seriously- she's an amazing photographer and takes time to support an amazing charity, Adopt More. Recently, Ksenija took a two-week adventure overseas to Italy (jealous!), where she captured some truly inspiring images. Check some of them out here!

On Friday, November 13th, she'll be exhibiting her photos from Italy at an art show to benefit Adopt More. If you're in the Royal Oak area, I suggest buying a ticket and heading over to Vintner's Cellar for this great cause!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T08:01:00.003-04:00

One day I am totally dressing as The Corpse Bride!

Have a fun and safe Halloween from Wed Michigan!!!

Can We say "Proposal of the Year?!"

2009-10-28T20:31:00.005-04:00

I was inspired by this post from one of my favorite yummy baking blogs, Bakerella. Sometimes, I spend my mornings drooling over her cake pops, cupcakes, and amazing creations!

But a particular post caught my attention- an actual wedding proposal on the site! How cool would it be to be reading one of your favorite blogs, only to realize that the post was actually about YOU and you were getting engaged?!

Maybe someday, Wed Michigan can assist some special and creative guy in his proposal, but I might need to learn how to bake some delicious desserts first:)

Go here for the full proposal!

And PS. I'm SO making cake pops as a thank you gift for the hostesses of my bridal showers... you've been warned :)

Two Penny Productions

2009-10-22T07:15:00.010-04:00

I'm definitely slightly biased when it comes to this post, but I promise that you will NOT be disappointed! Livonia-based Two Penny Productions was an easy choice for us when hiring a videographer for our wedding. We spent weeks researching and talking to companies across the state, and although there are some very talented videographers in Michigan, nothing compared to how we felt when we found Two Penny.

Their videos are like works of art, and I find myself crying at almost every single one that they post. They know how to capture the true emotion of your wedding day and I cannot wait to see what they come up with for ours! A big thank you to Hyun Suh and Adam Haller of Two Penny Productions, for taking the time to share their passion of videography with Wed Michigan!

Adam & Andrea from Two Penny on Vimeo.

What unique videography services do you offer?
Our videography services are unique because we take a film-making approach to everything we shoot. In addition all of our videos are specifically made for each individual couple, ensuring that what we shoot captures the essence of the day!

How did you get started in videography?
It started back in film school, when we were working various projects and wedding film making started to fascinate us. We recognized the true potential of wedding film making as an art and the best way for us to be creative in the video industry.

Why is it important for a couple to consider hiring a videographer for their wedding day?
At Two Penny Productions, we strongly feel that a couple should hire a videographer because a wedding video lasts forever. We believe that video is the most powerful tool to tell a story. Our goal is that everytime our clients watch their video is that they can relive their wedding day over and over.

What wedding-day moments are your favorite to capture on video?
Adam- My favorite moments to capture at a wedding is during the morning. It is fun to see the excitement and anticipation in a couple just hours away from their ceremony.

Hyun- My favorite thing to capture is when the groom cries during the vows. I feel that when a man cries it is because they are overwhelmed with emotion and I love to capture an emotion that is so real.

What is your favorite part of living in Michigan?
Adam- My favorite part of Michigan is the changing seasons. When we are shooting weddings, the time of year can become a character in the video. It truly gives our work a Michigan feel to it.

Hyun- My favorite thing about Michigan is the great lakes. I love being around the water and their beauty is breathtaking.

Be sure to check out the Vimeo link on their website to see more of their recent work!

Allison Bower: Makeup Artist

2009-10-21T07:29:00.013-04:00

I can't think of anything more relaxing than getting pampered on my wedding day! I can imagine myself in a hotel suite, surrounded by friends and family, (maybe even drinking a mimosas) and just soaking in every moment of the day. Allison Bower can help make that moment happen! If you're looking for personalized service and a talented makeup artist to transform you into a beautiful bride for your wedding, look no further. She's worked with some of Michigan's top vendors and can help make you feel as beautiful as possible on your big day!

What type of services do you offer?
Makeup application including lashes, Makeup lessons

What is your favorite moment of getting bride ready for her big day?
I love that first moment when she looks at herself in the mirror after her makeup is done. Her face shows it all.

Can brides provide their own makeup products or do you suggest they use a certain brand?
If a bride prefers to use her own products, I allow it provided it is quality products. I have favorite products from different lines. Most of my kits consists of Laura Mercier, MAC, Artistry, and Chanel products.

What other Michigan vendors do you love working with?
Photographers:
Amy Boeve
Holly Degarmo
Amy Carroll
Steven Fox
Adam Bird

Wedding Planners:
Michelle Torno

Florist/Planner:
Dee Mitchell

Bridal Attire:
September's Bride

How did you end up being a professional makeup artist?
I was a first grade teacher first, then I had my three children. My first priority was to stay at home with them. When my youngest child turned four, I decided to pursue my dream career that would also revolve around my children's' schedules. I have always loved makeup and the artistry, I just need the freedom to pursue it. I love what I do and it allows me to be creative.

{Photo 1 by Amy Carroll, Photo 2 and 3 by Holly DeGarmo}

Bliss Weddings is on Etsy!

2009-10-20T08:04:00.005-04:00

If you're like me, then one of your current obsessions is hair flowers! I absolutely adore brides that wear fun hair pieces on their wedding day!

Lucky for us, Bliss Weddings now offers beautiful hair fascinators on Etsy. They even make fun pieces for kids... check out the adorable hat below! Visit their Bliss Accessory Design Shop for gorgeous hair pieces, and fun designs for your big day!

Pure Amour Photography

2009-10-16T07:11:00.007-04:00

If I could come back as something else in my second life, I think it would definitely be a wedding photographer! Until starting Wed Michigan and getting engaged, I had no idea that there were so many blog-worthy photographers in Michigan! I'm so excited to share the talents of Pure Amour Photography, owned by Amy Schrodt. Her pictures capture the true emotion of each moment and her wedding packages are extremely budget-friendly (with packages starting at $700!!!). Be sure to check out her website and blog to see her recent work!

What is your favorite part of living in Michigan?
The Fall - plain and simple. What's not to love about the foliage, cider mills and pumpkins!

What is your favorite wedding detail to photograph?
Rings. They are so personal to the couple and there are so many creative ways to photograph them showing the couple's personality or even incorporate them in different aspects of other wedding details.

What unique services do you offer?
I offer unique portrait services, especially boudoir photography, which is gaining in popularity among brides for the wedding night and anniversaries. This has become my fastest growing and most popular portrait service!

How did you get started as a photographer?
I began this journey with a love of the arts in general. I had always carried a camera along with me wherever I went. I had a need to document everything interesting I came across. After I graduated college, I was ready to embark on the world of publishing. After a few freelance jobs, I started planning my own wedding and got caught up in the world of photography. I was quite picky with my own wedding photographer. Her love of photography shined thorough her addicting persona. My brother's wedding was coming up and knowing my love of photography, my brother wanted me to shoot his wedding. I had such a blast following them, catching little intimate moments along the way. I was shocked I loved it as much as I did. The next day I set out to shoot one of my favorite places, Meadow Brook Hall. I sent my photos to my wedding photographer, asking her critique. She gave me all of the confidence I needed to confirm what I knew all along - this is what I lived for. Years later, I still love what I do!

Any unique weddings you've photographed that were particularly memorable?
All of my brides are so unique and creative with their weddings it is hard to choose just one! I love when brides choose a unique ceremony or reception site. There are that many more interesting and special places to capture and it really sets the mood.

(I just had to add this one in here!!! Love it!)

Eco-Posh Events: The Eco-Friendly Event Planners

2009-10-14T11:00:00.016-04:00

I absolutely love connecting with new vendors in Michigan and learning about all the different talent across the state! Erika Piquant of Eco-Posh Events in Troy can definitely do it all! Any event planning service that strives to make weddings as "green" as possible and dedicates their time to helping the environment, is definitely worth sharing. A big thank you to Erika for taking the time to share their services with Wed Michigan!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
My favorite part about living in Michigan is... the guaranteed snow on Christmas. This past winter was the first time my daughter was able to play in the snow. It was an absolute joy seeing her experience the cold, white stuff. We plan on taking her to Frankenmuth this holiday season for an experience every Michigan child should have.

How can brides incorporate a few "green" details into their weddings?
I can write a book (literally) about how to incorporate "green" details into a wedding. Instead of offering up a dissertation I'll limit myself to two suggestions.

Stationery- There are tons of eco-fabulous options for earth-friendly invitations, place cards, programs, menu cards, ect... A bride/groom can choose from tree-free, post-consumer, or biodegradable products imbedded with seeds. I try to urge my brides to go further than using 30% recycled material and to cut back where they can. At a recent event, instead of having programs for each guest (which usually end up in the garbage) we framed an elaborate program surrounded by a soy candle arrangement and locally grown flower arrangements. Here is a link to one of my favorite vendors for stationery needs.

Facility/Caterer- To cut back on carbon admissions produced by an event we suggest having your ceremony and reception at the same location. If this isn't possible, book the two facilities as close as possible. A green facility that I absolutely adore is The Crofoot in Pontiac, Michigan. With a white tar roof to conserve on the use of energy and heating, dual flushing toilets, water free urinals (I promise it's sanitary), and the use of corn-based biodegradable cups (which believe it or not will biodegrade in two weeks). The Crofoot has more than taken a step in the right direction.

Most facilities that I have worked with have been willing to work with my eco-chic brides by using locally grown produce and other food items or providing organic or locally brewed beers. Keep in mind that organic items don't necessarily lack in taste. Often times they taste better. ;)

What are some of your current favorite wedding trends?
Some of my favorite wedding trends are photojournalist-style photography, and daring color combinations such as Peacock Blue + Gold, Pink + Gold, Tiffany Blue + Red, and Aqua + Orange.

What is your most memorable moment from a recent wedding you've planed?
Typically I don't dance at my events, but a recent couple called me out to join them and we "cha-cha slid" the night away!

What are some of your favorite reception venues in the Detroit-Area?
I love unique and interesting venues with character. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Westin's Garden Room Atrium
The Crofoot
The MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Arts)
The DIA (Detroit Institute of Art)
Walden Woods Resort and Conference Center
The Gandy Dancer

You can visit the Eco-Posh Blog here, and please remember to GO GREEN!

{Photo 1 and 5 by Silver Thumb Photography, Photo 2 by Wendy Torello Photography, Photo 3 by Lennon Photography, Photo 4 by Sukh Decorations}

Jen and Paul: June 19, 2009

2009-10-13T07:12:00.014-04:00

When my college friends, Jen and Paul Chambers, agreed to share their amazing day with Wed Michigan, I was thrilled! Are you ready for how we're all connected? Paul and I are friends from freshman year at Michigan State- and Jen went to my rival high school, Portage Northern! They met at MSU, and the rest is history! Paul runs Core3 Solutions in Birmingham and also owns Dale and Thomas Popcorn located in Royal Oak. Jen is an energetic elementary school teacher, and together these two make one awesome pair. They both have some serious talent and are so much fun! Their energy always lights up a room and I knew when they started planning their wedding, that their big day was going to SPECTACULAR!

Congrats to Jen and Paul and thank you for sharing your details with Wed Michigan!

Lighting
Paul was convinced we needed lighting. To be honest I was just thinking, "How much is that going to cost?" We found The Lighting Guy and they truly transformed our room. When we walked into the reception I was in awe of how it all came together. With the room being as large as it was, the lighting added a whole other element. It was soft and romantic and as the sunset they added stars to the ceiling. It was beautiful and well worth every penny!

Photobooth
We wanted our guests to have fun and were so excited when we found Shutterbooth! I think it may have been more popular than us. I know there are other companies out there but you have to look at Shutterbooth before anyone else. They helped us create our monogram for our photo strip and were willing to help us make our day perfect! We used their picture frames as place cards. The guests walked into the room and upon entering and found a table holding picture frames with their names and a question. Guests had to find their name and then the answer to their question, the answers were on the tables and how our guests found their seats. It was a great way to get people mingling trying to remember things like; Where did Jen grow up? or What does Paul want to name their first child? The guest then got to take unlimited photos in the photo booth and house them in their frames. Two attendants came with the booth who were incredibly personable. They instructed our guests on what to do and made sure they added one of their photo strips to a scrapbook which became our guest book. It has been a great keepsake and everyone has enjoyed seeing all the silly shots!

Popcorn Bar
Now we may be partial but the guests LOVED our popcorn bar from Dale and Thomas Popcorn, located Downtown Royal Oak. We had two attendants with five different, unique flavors. It was displayed in beautiful glass jars of varying sizes around a chocolate fountain (the fountain we got from the venue). Each guest found a small tin with our monogram on the top at their seat. They were able to fill their tin with as much popcorn as they liked!

Videographer
Our videographer also came from Mike Staff Productions. They were with us starting before the ceremony and well in to our reception. They captured comments from our guests as well as moments where still photos would never do justice to! When we sat down to watch the finished product, there were so many things we remembered and others we were excited to see because we had missed them. Their professionalism and ability to caputre the shot with out being intrusive was amazing. They offer a great price and truly get more than you paid for! Take a peek here.

Cake
Our cake was made as a gift from our family friend Ron Fetch, who owns and runs Sweet Endings Pastry in Bloomfield Hills. His cake is the best tasting cake I have every tasted! We chose two flavors, chocolate with raspberry filling and yellow cake with Black Currant filling. We kept it simple with butter cream frosting topped with our monogram and gerber daisies.

Men's Attire
All of the tuxedos came from President Tuxedo in Birmingham. Jeff was so easy to work with and helped us find what we wanted for a very fair price. Though they don't have stores across the country, all our out of town men had to do was call in their sizes. It was wonderful because the warehouse is located here so on the off chance alterations were needed they were able to get them quickly. The quality was great and the boys looked wonderful in their black textured vests and hot pink ties. They matched the bridesmaids dresses perfectly! Paul wore a pin striped tux with cream colored vest and tie.

My Dress
I loved my dress! The staff at Bella Bridal in Bloomfield Hills was fantastic. They were very accomodating and allowed me to come in and see/alter my dress as many times as I needed to be at ease. I bought the dress during a trunk show for Casablanca, it was part of the Diamond Collection. My jewelry and hot pink shoes were also from Bella Bridal and recieved rave reviews. The veil was the same one my sister wore and we are hoping it will become a Smith family tradition.

The flower girl dresses were also purchased at Bella Bridal. They helped us over what could have been a huge hurdle! The original style dress we finally picked out was no longer being made due to the beading, and there was a lead time scare! They notified me as soon as they got the call. I went in the next day and they helped me pick out a dress that was close in price and offered to pay for rush shipping if necessary! Bella Bridal was amazing through the whole process!

{All images by The Shooting Gallery}

Thank You!

2009-10-07T07:52:00.002-04:00

Wed Michigan was created a year ago today, and I would like to give a big THANK YOU to all of the fabulous Michigan vendors and brides who have contributed and shared your businesses and weddings with us!

Since starting Wed Michigan, I've discovered an endless amount of talent in the wedding industry across the state- from photographers, to bakers, to DIY brides who have created some amazing weddings!

If you are interested in being featured, please email me at wedmichigan@gmail.com and share your wedding expertise with Wed Michigan!

R.I.P. Modern Bride

2009-10-06T08:53:00.005-04:00

Conde Nast Publications announced on Monday that they will be shutting down a few of their magazines, including Modern Bride! We all know times are tough and lack of advertising in the publications is said to be one of the main causes. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent flipping through the pages of Modern Bride, and it makes me so sad that one of the industry's leading magazines is being shut down.

I think I'll pay tribute by spending my evening with the latest copy and a glass of wine:) R.I.P. Modern Bride!

{Image from Brides.com}

Guest Blogger: Katie Maxwell of de MANO Designs

2009-09-11T08:49:00.004-04:00

Katie Maxwell of de MANO Designs was kind enough to share her design expertise with Wed Michigan and teaches us how to make simple bead bracelets for your wedding party!

EASY CUSTOM BRIDAL PARTY JEWELRY… BY YOU!

Making the jewelry for your wedding day is a great way to save money, whether it’s for yourself, your bridesmaids, or both!

If you’ve never made jewelry before and don’t want to invest a lot into specialty tools, making simple stretchy bracelets is a very easy and inexpensive way to get started. Remember, the smaller the beads you choose, the longer it will take you to string each bracelet. Seed beads may be inexpensive, but it will take quite a few of them to complete one bracelet! On the other hand, if you choose beads that are too large and heavy (like semi-precious gemstones), you may risk ruining the integrity of the stretchy stringing material.

Beading has become a very popular hobby, and the selection of beads at the chain craft stores have vastly increased over the past few years. Of course, if you have an actual bead store in your town, be sure to take advantage of their unique inventory and expertise. If you have a very specific color or type of bead in mind, there are also great resources online. Two websites that I use quite frequently are www.artbeads.com (free shipping and handling!) and www.firemountaingems.com. I work with a product called Stretch Magic that I can get at the local craft stores (I’ve even seen it in the craft aisles at larger chains like Meijer and Walmart). It comes in a variety of diameters. The one I find to be the most versatile is the 0.7mm diameter size. It seems to fit most bead holes and is still sturdy enough to hold its own with most beads. If you’re working with more delicate beads (especially pearls, which are notorious for having very small hole sizes), you may want to purchase the 0.5mm size.

For an “average-sized” wrist, cut a 10” length of Stretch Magic. This assumes a wrist diameter of about 7” with an extra 1.5” on each end. What’s great about making them yourself is you can customize the size to each of your bridesmaids so each girl has a piece that will fit her comfortably. Adjust the 10” length up or down a bit as you see fit for each wrist size. Before stringing your beads, fold a piece of scotch tape over one end of the Stretch Magic to act as a “stopper.” This is very easily removed when you’re done with your design.

To finish off your beautiful bracelet, simply tie the ends together as you would a balloon (this is where the extra 1.5” of material on each end will really come in handy!). Make sure your knot is tight and dab on some clear nail polish, super glue, or whatever clear adhesive you may have handy. If you’re making quite a few of these bracelets (like a couple per girl for a bold look), you may want to purchase the specialty jewelry glue called GS Hypo Cement. It has a very small applicator tip that makes it really easy to get into the small spaces. When the glue is dry, trim the excess close to the knot and give your crafty self a pat on the back!

Overwhelmed by the idea of making all of the pieces yourself? Organize a girl’s night in and make a party of it! Purchase all of the supplies and beads ahead of time, put out a few munchies and prepare for a fun time bonding over beads!

Katie Maxwell is owner and designer of de MANO Designs in Portage, Michigan. She has been making handmade jewelry for nearly ten years and loves working with brides to create custom pieces for the special day and beyond! She can be contacted at demanojewelry@hotmail.com.

Introducing Lila Designs!

2009-09-09T08:27:00.008-04:00

I am so excited to finally announce the launch of Lila Designs! I have been working hard to finish my website and am happy to share it with all of you. Please visit www.lila-designs.com for more information!

Lila Designs is the budget-friendly place for custom event stationery. I am thrilled to be doing something that I am so incredibly passionate about and hope that all of my Wed Michigan readers will be excited as well! Please keep Lila Designs in mind for your event stationery needs and contact us at liladesigninfo@gmail.com to get started.

Wedding Day Survival Kit

2009-08-24T09:00:00.003-04:00

My best friend is a bridesmaid in her younger brother's wedding this upcoming weekend and we spent Sunday afternoon shopping for essential items for an adorable "Wedding Survival Kit" she put together for the wedding party.

Here are just a few of the essentials that she included in her adorable idea:

- Shout Wipes
- breath mints and gum
- eye drops
- makeup remover
- sewing kit
- chapstick
- safety pins
- Band-Aids
- Tums
- hairspray
- lint roller
- Tylenol
- hand sanitizer
- lots + lots of yummy snacks to keep the wedding party energized!

My friend did such a fabulous job putting together this kit and I had to share her hard work on Wed Michigan. What is a must-have survival item for your wedding day?

Bride2Be University

2009-08-19T08:54:00.006-04:00

Jessica Pennington of Stella Event Design has launched Bride2Be University and I am so happy to be sharing it on Wed Michigan! Bride2Be offers classes for brides and couples who need basic guidance during the planning process... how genius is that?!

Brides can learn planning tips, gain access to local planners, and keep up with the latest wedding trends through classes like DIY Weddings 301 and Beach Weddings 104. Classes are conveniently held in the evenings and are very budget-friendly!

Bride2Be University is currently accepting registrations and classes begin this Fall. Even if you think you're a planning guru once you get engaged, Jessica can teach you some great tips and get you on the right track!

Wed Michigan's Favorite Wedding Details

2009-08-12T08:38:00.009-04:00

I was reading one of my (many) bridal magazine the other day, and they had an entire article dedicated to unique ideas that brides are using to make their wedding unique and less than traditional. It's obvious that following the latest "bridal trends" has become an obsession for most brides planning their wedding. Some brides can go overboard and I feel its important to make sure you keep your wedding about YOU.

A great way to incorporate new non-traditional elements, is to focus on 2 or 3 and not overdo it. Here is a list of some of my favorite ideas:

Not wearing a veil
Don't get me wrong, veils are GORGEOUS! But, there are so many amazing headpiece options out there, and I love the idea of wearing a beautiful custom flower or rhinestone headband in lieu of a veil.

Having your fiance, sibling, or both parents escort you down the aisle
There is something truly beautiful about having your father walk you down the aisle, but I've also seen so many wonderful unique ways to escort the bride to the alter. No one says you have to follow this tradition, so do what feels right!

Having a first look
Ok, this isn't too new and crazy, but I am all about seeing each other before the ceremony. You can get the photos out of the way so your guests aren't waiting around after the ceremony AND you get to go to your own cocktail hour!

Cupcakes instead of wedding cake
I LOOOOVE cupcakes so perhaps this is why I am a big fan of this current trend. Guests can pick from several different flavors and it adds such a cute whimsical touch to your reception!

Wearing two dresses
Ok, do brides really need two dresses? No. But, after a good friend of mine told me that she was too hot in her dress to fully enjoy her reception, I realized that having a second dress to change into later in the night is a great option. It doesn't have to be fancy or even white, but I love the thought of throwing a second dress on while the dancing is in full swing!

The After Party
Do I need to explain? Ending the reception at midnight and heading right to a local bar or after party is a perfect way to keep the party rockin! And yes, you should attend your own after party :)

Using email for your save the dates
Green elements are still very popular for weddings and I am inspired by brides that are able to cut down wedding waste. You can use sites like pingg.com or evite.com to send out a stylish and easy to use save the dates. You'll save paper and money!

Katie + Rob: June 20, 2009- Part Two!

2009-08-11T07:54:00.011-04:00

I have to reiterate just how talented my friend Katie is, and what an amazing job she did on her wedding! One of the first details she mentioned after getting engaged was spending time covering matchboxes with graphic paper... talk about attention to detail! I wanted to share a few of her DIY details and some amazing pictures of Katie's projects, by Cindy at The Open Shutter.

As far as DIY projects, these were lots of fun - and time! I bought the paper for the invitations (cardstock, envelopes and pocketfolds) from www.cardsandpockets.com. They were really easy to work with and I received everything in perfect condition and very quickly. Loved that I could order samples to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted. For the belly bands, I just cut strips of cool scrapbooking paper from Hobby Lobby and secured them with dot of glue. We had the invitations, menu cards, programs, escort cards and lots of other miscellaneous stuff printed locally at www.superiorimagingservices.com. Very friendly and did awesome work. Couldn't believe how reasonable the printing is when you provide your own paper!

MATCHBOXES- I bought generic matchboxes at the Dollar Store (12 boxes for $1) and covered them with fun scrapbooking papers using double-sided tape. They turned out really cute. I was going to have labels made for them with our names and wedding date, but ran out of time and energy. I kinda liked them plain.

ESCORT CARDS- this project was a lot more work than we were expecting! I grew up spending summers on Lake Michigan with my family, I wanted to be able to incorporate the lake in the wedding in a subtle way. I love the smooth beach pebbles, so we collected TONS of them. I rubber-stamped a number on the front, and glued an extra strength magnet on the back. We took the glass out of a few store-bought vintage frames, painted pieces of plywood with magnetic paint (it took waaay more coats of this stuff than we thought it would), and covered the plywood in a coordinating fabric. The pebble magnet then held down the escort card on the frame. This was helpful because I could have the escort cards printed ahead of time with people's names, but didn't have to commit to what table number they would be at until way later (to change someone's talbe, just swich out the magnet). It also prevented the cards from blowing off, since they were on a table outdoors.

CENTERPIECES- The florist assembled these, but I hand-wired all of the dangling crystals and votive holders on the tall branch centerpieces. This was also another place to incorporate the beach pebbles. For color on these tables, I bought bunches of loose peonies from Harding's (gotta love 'em!) that were put in small votive holders (used as vases) borrowed from a cousin's wedding. The short centerpieces were a way to save money, in that we used the pomanders from the ceremony atop a short vase to double as reception centerpieces.

Can you tell I'm totally obsessed with her wedding details?! You'll be seeing more posts on Wed Michigan about this talented gal who also runs De Mano Handmade Jewelry, where she makes custom jewelry! Email me at wedmichigan{at}gmail.com if you'd like more information on getting some custom designs of your own! A big shout out to Katie for sharing her DIY projects with Wed Michigan!

{Photos by The Open Shutter, photo #2 by Katie Maxwell}

Jen + Ian: May 30, 2009

2009-08-05T11:22:00.015-04:00

As a huge sports fan, I can appreciate any bride that plans a sports-themed wedding. Jen + Ian McKnight created a wedding which reflected their passion for baseball, and were able to keep it elegant and classy! Jen and I met as undergrads at Michigan State (Go Green!) and I was so excited when she agreed to feature her wedding on Wed Michigan!!! Jen designed every aspect of the wedding including the invitations, baseball ticket escort cards, and even created a custom sports-themed "logo" in lieu of the traditional monogram. We'll be sharing some of her DIY projects in a follow up post so don't miss it!

VENUE: Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest
Beautiful venue, everything outside was just gorgeous. The food was pretty good, and the service was also good. Barb was very sweet and fun to work with, but she had a lot going on so sometimes it was hard to get a hold of her. Other than that, everything turned out nice. We chose to have our reception in their outdoor tent facility, and unfortunately that meant our reception had to end at 11pm. That was our choice though, and I really liked the tent....but I would probably think twice about it again given the time limit. Overall, the place was great, and I really have no complaints.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Mike Greer Photography
They really did a great job of telling the story of the day. The day of the wedding went by so quickly that it was hard to remember some things, and their photos really did capture some great moments that might have been forgotten. They took beautiful pictures, but in hindsight I would have reserved more time in between the ceremony and the start of the reception to take more fun bridal party pictures. He took a lot of time setting up shots, and unfortunately this really limited the amount of shots that were able to be taken. I wasn't expecting so much set up time, but that's not really their fault. Also, in all fairness it was a bright sunny day, and the lighting was quite harsh so I am sure that didn't help any. Unfortunately, in order to get a few shots of Ian and I they had to pull us away from the reception for a few. Overall I would say the images were good...but the bridal party shots could have been better.

MUSIC: Prime Time Entertainment DJ
They did a nice job keeping the party going. I had a couple of specific requests that they did not adhere to, but overall it was minor. The main negative was that their microphone kept cutting out during the reception introductions and during the speeches. However, they were very reasonably priced.

FLOWERS: Flowers by Amore
I didn't really have any flowers at my reception, so I just had them supply the bouquets and boutonnieres. I was really disappointed when they delivered the flowers an hour later than I asked (they showed up at 3:30 and the ceremony started at 4), and they also did not bring the flower girl pomanders that I had ordered. And since they showed up late we had to scramble and have the girls walk down the aisle with flowers that were originally meant for someone else. Also, oddly enough they threw a few fake flowers in my bridesmaid bouquets (which were just made of Calla Lillies). However, they were fairly inexpensive in comparison to the other florists that I talked to--I guess it goes to show the old adage stands true--"you get what you pay for". (Side note: When I called after the wedding, they did refund my money for the flower girl pomanders.)

MY DRESS: I Do Too, Bridal & Rhonda Errigo (seamstress extraordinaire)
My dress was purchased from I Do Too, Bridal, (where the staff was very nice) but the real magic happenend with my seamstress. She completely transformed the dress (originally Casablanca #1881) into something that I actually didn't mind wearing--and coming from a non-dress kind of girl that's really saying something. She actually took over 50" out of the skirt portion of my dress, as it was far too much fabric for my taste. She also made my veil, which was simple and perfect.

MEN'S ATTIRE: Men's Warehouse Tux
The tuxes looked great. I thought they were a tad expensive, but in the end I let that be Ian's call. :) It was convenient because our groomsmen were scattered throughout the country and they could be measured at their local MW Tux. There were a couple of snags getting a hold of one of our out of towner's tuxes, but we were able to get it in time. Everything seemed to be pretty nice quality.

CAKE: Heritage Bakery
I hated the idea of paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a wedding cake. I don't even really like cake all that much, and it just wasn't something I wanted to spend a lot of money on. I have to admit the cake design wasn't my idea, that it was my bridesmaids' idea. They had that cake at my shower and I loved the look so much that I called the same bakery and had them make the same one for my wedding. I also had them make the little side baseball cakes-- to supplement they also supplied a couple of sheet cakes that were cut up behind the scenes. I didn't eat any myself, but I heard good things. Also, they were very very reasonable with their prices, and were very accommodating on short notice.

Congratulations to Jen + Ian McKnight and thank you for sharing your big day with Wed Michigan!!!

{Photos by Mike Greer Photography}

Katie + Rob: June 20, 2009

2009-08-01T13:18:00.001-04:00

One of my super talented high school friends was married at Brooke Lodge in June and has shared her wedding details and vendors with Wed Michigan! Katie is seriously one of the most creative girls I know and her DIY details are out of control! I knew her wedding would be beautiful but I am in awe of just how incredibly gorgeous and unique it turned out! A big congratulations to the new Mr. + Mrs. Maxwell :)

PHOTOGRAPHY: Cindy Corstange of The Open Shutter
Probably one of my favorite aspects of the whole wedding. The photos were really important to me, but we totally lucked out finding an amazing artist who is also such a fun, upbeat and nice person. She was AWESOME to work with, and I was really happy with the result.

MUSIC: Scott Herriman of Wiser Productions
A total professional - I neglected to get him all of the details in a timely fashion and you never would have known it. He kept the party upbeat and lively, but was also very attentive to the bride and groom - even refilling our drinks at one point! Very friendly and a pro.

FLOWERS: Seivert's Floral
They weren't my favorite vendor. I was pumped at first because I thought we were totally on the same page, but the day of I felt a bit disappointed. They still turned out fine, it just wasn't exactly what I was picturing in my head.

ATTIRE: Memories Bridal and Evening Wear
I liked working with Josh and Adrianne of Memories, and even bought a black-tie evening dress there for another event. With it being an outdoor garden wedding, we thought full-on tuxes might be a bit too formal and also too hot. So we had the guys rent suits through Memories. Although they were pretty affordable compared to some of the tuxes we had seen at other places (they were less than $100 to rent), part of me wishes we would have upgraded a little now that I see how they photographed.

CAKE: Harding's Grocery Store
I would definitely recommend for brides to check out their local grocery store bakeries for the wedding cake, especially if they want a simple design. Our cake tasted AWESOME, I was able to customize some of the fillings (without a crazy mark-up), and was very, very reasonable. We had taste-tested cakes at a local bridal show, and Harding's hands-down beat out the fancy bakeries. I wanted something a bit different for my cake, and went with three two-tiered cakes on vintage-y pedestals instead of one four- or five-tiered cake. The day of, one of the pedestals wasn't going to be supportive enough, and ended up having to sit on the table instead, but that was OK. Only regret with the cake was the florist's additions of the fresh flowers. They again weren't what I was picturing in my head, but I don't know that I had ever verbalized what I wanted, and can't be upset.

My top three favorite vendors were probably photographer, DJ and cake!

Thank you, Katie + Rob, for sharing your big day on Wed Michigan! Stayed tuned for more details from Katie's DIY projects!!!

{Photos by Open Shutter}

A Girl's Best Friend!

2009-07-30T08:39:00.006-04:00

Of course you know what I'm talking about... SHOES! What girl doesn't love her shoes? And on your wedding day, your shoes are no exception. Of course, you want to make sure whatever you wear are super comfortable. After all, you'll be walking down the aisle, standing for your ceremony, posing for pictures, and dancing the night away! But comfort can still mean style. Today's trends call for the old saying "blue in the shoe" and girls are definitely making some bold shoe choices for their big day!

If you're looking for a budget-friendly way to add a little color to your wedding day ensemble, consider dyeable shoes, or discount stores such as TJ Maxx + Marshall's. You don't have to spend half of your dress budget on shoes... just take the time to search for the right shoes for you and walk down the aisle in style!

{Photos by jessicalyn402, style me pretty, jose villa}

For Your Tears...

2009-07-19T20:53:00.007-04:00

A month ago I made a great friend + my first wedding buddy, and will be spending the next year bouncing wedding ideas off of my new email pal. I had to share one of her adorable ideas for her vintage-inspired wedding next summer.

Today I wandered around the East Cambridge Antique Market for about two hours- 4 stories of amazing vintage items that I wanted to take buy and somehow take home with me. But I only walked away with under $20 worth of stuff, but my purchase was worth it :)

My (new) friend, Emily is getting married at the Lansing Country Club next summer and mentioned that she wanted to put some vintage hankerchiefs out in a bowl for her ceremony. Guests could help themselves to a hanky + use them to wipe their tears during the vows. I immediately was on board with her idea but we both quickly realized that antique hankerchiefs were sort of... pricey. Imagine my delight when I found a bag of fifteen hankerchiefs today on sale and in perfect condition!

So, Emily... you will be getting a package in the mail in a few days from me. Hopefully we can round up a few more vintage hankerchiefs to complete your idea and create your vintage-inspired dream wedding!

How COOL is this?!

2009-07-16T17:54:00.008-04:00

This past weekend, we attended one of the most FABULOUS weddings I have ever been to! Our good friends, Rishi + Alison really went all out when planning their wedding and I wanted to share one of their (many) awesome ideas on Wed Michigan!

Alison + Rishi, owner of Underground Printing, made these practical and thoughtful out-of-town bags for all the guests staying at the hotel. Imagine our surprise when we found this "Michibag" full of goodies in our room!

Inside the bag were treats from across the state of Michigan- bread from Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor, cherry jam from Petoskey, and even FUDGE from Frankenmuth! Alison + Rishi did a great job welcoming their guests to Michigan and making everyone feel so comfortable. They even included a note to all the guests with the description of all the items. Everyone truly appreciated getting a "taste of Michigan" plus a cool new reusable bag!

Thanks Alison + Rishi for a wonderful wedding and for sharing your creative idea with Wed Michigan!

Venue Spotlight

2009-06-24T08:37:00.011-04:00

Michigan has every type of venue for your big day- hotel ballrooms, old rustic barns, or traditional banquet halls. I am always intrigued by weddings held in more "off-beat" locations and how those venues are transformed for the big day.

Here are few venues that have sparked my interest and that I think are absolutely unique and amazing!

Gilmore Car Museum

Located in Hickory Corners, the Gilmore Car Museum is about 45 minutes from downtown Kalamazoo. Several different barns hold classic cars and can be transformed into a gorgeous banquet facility for your wedding. They even have a diner on the property to hold your rehearsal dinner or to snap some really fun wedding pictures. I think it would be so unique to be surrounded by vintage cars at your reception!

Indian Springs Environmental Discovery Center

Located in White Lake Township, this metro park has so many quirky details for your guest to enjoy... where else can your guests view a pond under ground?! The grounds are filled with gorgeous views and the Environmental Discovery Center can hold up to 200 guests.

Crystal Mountain Ski Resort

Holding your wedding at a ski resort would be AMAZING! Especially at Crystal Mountain, located in Thomsonville... they have a Mountain Top Deck, hiking and outdoor activities for guests, banquet facilities for up to 350 guests, not to mention amazing views of northern Michigan!

{photos courtesy of Kari Douma Photography}

Studio 6.23 ROCKS!!!

2009-06-06T08:52:00.013-04:00

I have to give a BIG shout out to Ben + Mindy Peterson of Grand Rapids-based Studio 6.23 for their incredible talent!!! We recently had our engagement session with the dynamic duo out in our current hometown of Boston, Massachusetts and... W-O-W!!!

Mindy went to high school in Portage, Michigan with my sister, and through mutual friends + family, I found their amazing photography studio and could NOT pass up the chance to have them shoot our engagement photos. Ben + Mindy were so calm and FUN throughout the entire process and made us feel at ease and like SUPERSTARS! It takes a lot of positive energy to do their job and I must say... they have it!!!

Here are a few samples from our session around Beantown:

If you LOVE gorgeous pictures or as Aletha from Pearl's Events says: "eye candy", then I suggest you follow their blog!

Thank you, Ben + Mindy!

{all images copyright of Studio 6.23}

Wedding Style

2009-05-27T20:38:00.006-04:00

With so many accessible (and wonderful!) wedding resources available to brides these days, it can be quite dizzying when trying to find images + ideas of your wedding style. I've spent countless hours searching The Knot, Wedding Bee, and hundreds of wedding-related blogs, saving picture after picture of weddings that fit "my style". I love every single wedding resource out there, but it is overwhelming to narrow down what you like. Here is a quick list of wedding styles and resources to help you during your search:

Traditional
Do this ring a bell?: hiring a calligrapher, having a five-tiered buttercream cake,or a 12-piece band? If all of this sounds familiar, then you are most likely a pretty traditional bride... But traditional doesn't have to mean "cookie-cutter"... Be sure to incorporate your family's traditions to put a personal spin on your wedding- wear your mother's veil, carry your grandmother's rosary around your bouquet, or have your first dance with your husband to the song your parent's first twirled away to. It is OK to want traditional elements because thats who you are- a traditional and fabulous gal! :)

Websites you might like: The Knot, Brides.com, Get Married, The Preppy Wedding, Classic Bride

Modern
Are you a big city girl? A trend-setter and the life of the party? Look for invites with bright colors and cool graphics. Modern brides are opting to hold their wedding in interesting venues like art museums and lofts. Choose cupcakes instead of wedding cake, make a signature cocktail, or bring in a photobooth for your guests! There are so many trendy elements to incorporate, but just be sure to only pick a few and make them your own!

Websites you might like: Wedding Bee, Brooklyn Bride, East Side Bride, Simply Modern Weddings, From "I Will" to "I Do", What Junebug Loves, DC Nearlyweds, InStyle Weddings

Vintage
Vintage and retro styles are becoming more and more popular these days: birdcage veils, centerpieces made from antique vases, using a typewriter for the guest book, or riding on a tandem bike or in a vintage car for your getaway... whatever vintage elements you incorporate, you are sure to have a beautiful and glam-filled wedding!

Websites you might like: Vintage Glam Blog, Snippet & Ink, Ritzy Bee Blog

Off-Beat
Let's face it... not every girl has been dreaming of their wedding day since the age of five. You still love the idea of celebrating your union with the person you love in front of your friends and family, but in a "different way". I truly think unique and off-beat weddings are some of the best and most personal kinds (I've even seen bridemaids on rollerskates! How cool is that?!). So go ahead, overdo it, go crazy, and make it yours. Your guests will never forget your big day!

Websites you might like: The Off-Beat Bride, The Unwedding, Rock 'n Roll Bride

Eco-Friendly
AKA- the infamous "green wedding". You love your earth and you want to let people know it. Supporting your local farmers + businesses is a great way to keep your wedding green. Find a farmer's market and choose flowers that don't have to be imported, give your guests seeds or pine tree saplings as a favor (or better yet- maple syrup from Michigan!), and donate your centerpieces to a nursing home once the wedding is done. And remember, you don't have to "Go green" with every element. You'll feel really good choosing a few eco-friendly items and will be helping our earth at the same time!

Websites you might like: Eco-Chic Weddings, Planet Green, Green(ish) Wedding

DIY + Budget Bride

With today's economy, there is no shame in wanting to save money on your big day. Costs can add up quickly so DIY'ing (or Doing It Yourself) has become extremely popular. There is also no need to be as crafty as your talented best friend or your sister... just put your mind to one or two DIY projects and you'll find that you can save some serious dough. And if you want to stick to your budget: borrow a veil, cake cutting set or toasting glasses, and learn to negotiate with vendors. Ask a family member to make your cake (or cupcakes!) or DIY your stationary! There are countless ways to cut costs on your big day while still throwing the wedding of your dreams. It just takes some research, creativity, and a little extra work on your part :)

Websites you might like:
The DIY Bride, A $10,000 Wedding, A Practical Wedding, Budget Savvy Bride, Bridal Bargains

Today's brides are creating their own unique traditions and incorporating fun new trends into their big day. Whatever type of bride you are, remember to make your wedding day your own!

Why I Love Michigan.

2009-05-21T10:04:00.006-04:00

If you're a Michigan native like me, you understand how beautiful of a state we're from. Many outsiders think Michigan is just filled with farms, small towns, and run down buildings in Detroit. I'm here to set the record straight.

For me, Michigan has everything- lakes, hiking trails, cities, farms, sports, big towns, small towns, and some pretty darn hard working people. Yes, we have a number tiny towns, and yes, Detroit is struggling. But through it all, Michigan continues to be beautiful. Now that I live in Boston, I have stopped taking my homestate for granted. Every time I am back visiting, I make sure to take in every place I go.

This weekend, I am flying back to Michigan to help my parents open our lakehouse at Klinger Lake near White Pigeon. Where exactly is White Pigeon? Well, its a little town in southwest Michigan with a couple stop lights and alot of John Deere tractors. I've been to San Diego, Oregon, Florida, New York City, Cancun, and St. Lucia... and our lakehouse on Klinger Lake is still my favorite place on earth.

In the midst of wedding planning, I plan to take some time to relax, get focused, and just enjoy my homestate. I feel it's important to take a step back and to get your thoughts together so your planning process is as stress-free as possible.

Where is your favorite place in Michigan?

DIY Cufflinks

2009-05-14T21:41:00.009-04:00

If you haven't picked up your copy of the DIY Bride, put it on your to-do list this weekend. Author Khris Cochran filled her book with budget-friend wedding crafts for every wedding style + bride. I've marked every page in hope of trying each project! I attempted my first DIY Bride project this week: DIY cufflinks for our groomsmen. They were super easy and fun to make, and it just takes alittle bit of patience + a steady hand to create this adorable and personalized gift for your groom's friends!

I ordered the cufflink backing (also known as a "finding") + the bezel cup used to display the photo at Jan's Jewels as suggested by the DIY Bride. The bezel and the finding are 15mm in sterling silver.

{Photos courtesy of Jan's Jewels}

Using Microsoft Publisher, I chose the images I wanted to use and adjusted the size accordingly. In this case, I used a UofM "block M", the Detroit Lion, the Pistons logo, the Tigers "D", and the Red Wings logo (FYI: I researched copyright laws and since I am giving the cufflinks as gifts and not selling them, it is ok to use the logos).

I printed these out on heavy white cardstock and traced the bezel around each logo, cutting out each tiny circle to fit in the bezel. Using a regular glue stick, I adhered the circles to the bottom of each bezel. After laying all 6 pairs out on a flat surface, I mixed 1 oz. of clear craft resin as instructed on the bottle. Beware: the resin smell is VERY strong and I caution you to open windows and use a fan to ventilate the area. I poured just enough resin in each bezel so that it made a slight arch above the bezel to give it a "rounded" look.

The resin take 24 hours to dry so make sure it is in a well-ventilated area that won't be touched. After patiently waiting for each bezel to dry, I glued the bezel cup to the cufflink finding using a strong jewelery glue (in this case, Gorilla Glue which I purchased at Michaels). Because the cufflink needs to dry flat, I cut a hole in a box which allowed the finding to stay vertical which kept the bezel from sliding.

After a few hours of drying time, the bezel and cufflink finding were attached! I can't wait to give these to our groomsmen to say thank you in a very "Michigan" way!!!

Be sure to follow Khris Cochran (@diybride) on Twitter! Happy crafting from Wed Michigan!

Pro Tip: Shopping For Your Dream Dress!

2009-05-10T09:46:00.005-04:00

Searching for your wedding gown should be a fun and stress-free experience. After all, it can be one of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding! Tami Parks of September's Bride, was kind enough to share her dress shopping expertise with Wed Michigan, to help make the search for your dream gown easy and enjoyable!

Top Five Things To Remember While Dress Shopping

1. Plan your day. The anticipation of "wedding gown shopping" with friends or family is so fun! If you want to visit more than one shop, I highly recommend this schedule: Eat a healthy breakfast and visit two shops before a late lunch (plan about 1.5 hours at each stop), then eat lunch and visit your third store. Any more than this in a day and you will be exhausted and overwhelmed.

2. Wear the right undies. Believe me, we as gown consultants don't really want to see your thong any more than you want to show it to everyone in the fitting area. Not every gown will fit you just right and you'll want to be covered and comfortable. Wear boy shorts and a strapless bra. If you don't have a strapless bra, most shops will have clean ones that you can borrow. Along the same line, it's smart to wear your hair similiar to how you will wear it on your wedding day, up or down.

3. Know your budget. At a good bridal shop, your gown consultant will want an idea of the price range in which you are shopping. This is not so they can "upsell" you, it is so that they can show you the very best gowns for you in your range. Of course, you may find a steal of a deal or you may fall in love with a gown above your limit and make it work anyway; but, this should be your conscious decision.

4. Have an open mind and be honest. I say this to brides every day, "The gowns will look different on you than they do on the hanger." Try on several styles, colors, necklines, etc. If your gown consultant makes a suggestion, go ahead and try the gown on. Also, be honest to your consultant regarding what you like and dislike about each gown. This will help her narrow down the inventory and find the perfect gown for you.

5. Have fun! Play "dress-up". Go ahead and try on some fun veils and jewelry...this is your special shopping day!

And of course, Wed Michigan's Tip: shop at September's Bride!

Blog Love

2009-05-09T13:13:00.004-04:00

Imagine my surprise today when I opened my email and received a message from Aletha Vandermaas of Pearl's Events, sending me my very own "One Lovely Blog" Award. I follow Aletha's Pearl's Events Blog and her new Inspiring Fresh Ideas Blog on a daily basis, and am always inspired by her relationships with Michigan vendors, her eye for beautiful design, and her successful business ventures. It is a delight to have received an award from someone I follow and admire so much!

Now that I've received this delightful award, my instructions are to do the following:

1. Accept the award (yay!)
2. Post it on my blog along with the person who gave it to me + a link to their site
3. Pick five other blogs I enjoy following + award them
4. Let the five blogs I choose know that I've picked them!

And here are some of my favorite blogs that I follow!

1. Ksenija Savic Blog
2. A $10,000 Wedding Blog
3. My Detroit Wedding Blog
4. LePenn Designs Blog
5) Inner Circle Photography Blog

Thank you, Aletha for brightening my Saturday!

RSVP Invitation Studio: Part One

2009-05-03T14:08:00.012-04:00

As Wed Michigan continues to feature new wedding businesses across the state, I continue to be amazed at the level of talent each vendor has to offer. Kristin Conkright of RSVP Invitation Studio is certainly not a stranger to the wedding industry. As a Michigan bride and the author of the Bridal Buzz Blog, she has built a successful stationery company in Midland. Thank you, Kristin, for giving Wed Michigan some great insight and advice. Be sure to stay tuned for details from Kristin's Michigan wedding!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
There are times (usually in the winter) where I curse this great state, but the spring and summer months always make up for it. I love the fact that I can see all 4 seasons in full effect, and that traveling four hours in any direction, from my Mid-Michigan home, becomes a completely different world.

How did you get started in the wedding business and the stationery business?
I wasn’t really interested in the wedding business until I started planning my own wedding. I had a horrible time finding modern and classy invitations in my area — and I didn’t want to order out of a book. Basically, I had the tools, and design knowledge, so I just started digging in myself! I learned a lot that first time through the entire process and had so much fun doing it that I decided to help other brides in my area.

What piece of advice would you give Michigan brides when choosing + designing their wedding stationery?
Don’t ever settle for next to the best when choosing your wedding invitations, because the options are endless. A lot of brides get caught up in the fact that an invitation has to be made out of a certain type of paper and fit into a 5 x 7 envelope. Wrong! Do what makes you happy and that fits the style of you and your fiancé.

What are some of your favorite current "trends" in wedding stationery or details?
Color trends are always changing, but right now I’m seeing a lot of brights paired with brights — Fuscia & Lime, Tangerine & Rose or Bright Red & Tiffany Blue. As far as the actual invitation components, I’m seeing lots of little enclosure cards, including custom wedding maps, things to do, and timelines. I like this last trend because it helps your guests feel like you’ve gone out of your way to plan for them.

What unique services does your company offer?
RSVP Invitation Studio offers a variety of pre-planned invitations as well as custom options for brides. We cover all price ranges and are willing to go the distance to find that perfect shade of cardstock or ribbon. We love working on out-of-the-box ideas, and using unique materials.

Inner Circle Photography

2009-04-27T18:34:00.009-04:00

Some of you may know that Wed Michigan is on Twitter (and if you don't, then you should follow)! After putting out a "tweet" asking if any wedding professionals or vendors wanted to be featured on Wed Michigan, one of the first to respond was Inner Circle Photography! I had the amazing opportunity to learn more about owner Miranda, and what makes her Romeo-based photography studio so successful!

Who is behind Inner Circle Photography?
For the most part I am self taught, learning everything I could from books, a lot of practicing and help from other photographers. I opened my store front studio in downtown Romeo, July 2008. I hold my meetings and sessions there. Why Romeo when I live in St. Clair Shores - I love the quaintness of the village, people are super friendly and inviting, just like me!! I have been married since July 2007, yes I was one of those 7-7-07 brides! :p I am madly in love with my super supportive husband, Adam we have a dog named Samson and a cat named Seinfeld. I see myself as a lifestyle photographer who enjoys the ins & outs of everyday life. I think that is pretty much it....I am an open book! If you have any more questions just ask!! :]

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
Everything but most of all the beautiful scenery and the ever changing weather that keeps us on our toes!

How did you get started in photography?
I picked up my first camera at the age of 9, from the moment that camera met my eye, I saw the world differently. From the color of the leaves, a baby smiling to an old couple holding hands. When I turned 17, I started Inner Circle Photography and throughout the past 7 years it has grown into an amazing company. I am so honored to be able to shoot so many fantastic people!

What piece of advice would you give Michigan brides when choosing their photographer?
Make sure you are compatible with your photographer! This is very important because, if you don’t like them, it will show in the pictures! I am very personable and love meeting new people. As a photographer, I love relationships that I have created with my clients. I want to capture those little moments that make up your life.

What is your favorite moment to capture at a wedding?
Ahhh…I love the look on the grooms face when he first sees his beautiful bride walking towards him. That first look and “WOW” is priceless. I have to admit I am a total people watcher. I love seeing how couples interact with one another, they all make me laugh at how cute they are!

Thank you, Naked Peggies!

2009-04-22T10:06:00.006-04:00

You might be wondering... what is a naked peggy? Well, since Wed Michigan's Etsy obsession began, I've been connected with one of the most wonderful (and professional!) ladies on the site. She creates custom, hand-painted "peggies" that are so incredibly detailed and adorable!

My fiance and I really wanted to do something unique and fun for our cake toppers, and after some research, I found exactly what we were looking for. Unfortunetly, I cannot share the finished product with you because I'd like to keep some of our wedding elements a secret (hint, it has something to do with Michigan). But, I want to give a special shoutout to Naked Peggies for helping create something so wonderful and personalized for our Michigan wedding!

If you're looking for a creative way to personalize your Michigan wedding, Naked Peggies is the way to go!

{Photos courtesy of Etsy}

Spring Inspiration

2009-04-19T08:59:00.009-04:00

We all remember how we felt during the middle of this :

But as May approaches, Michigan is filled with beautiful flowers, budding trees, + new life, and we forget how cold + long the winter was. Lilac bushes + tulips grow in our backyards, and everywhere you go, people are outside taking walks, riding bikes, and enjoying one of the most beautiful seasons in the state!

Spring weddings are a perfect excuse to use bright colors, fun graphics, and flowers galore. Here are a few inspirational pictures of Springtime weddings!

{Images courtesy of The Knot}

Budget Tip

2009-04-15T07:10:00.004-04:00

From some of my previous posts on Wed Michigan, you can probably tell that I am a big fan of saving money and making budget-friendly wedding choices. If you're a DIY bride and are willing to spend alittle more time and energy on a project, you can save some serious cash (remember, every little bit adds up!).

A good piece of advice that I've received since getting engaged is to register on the Michaels and Joann Fabric websites. When you sign up to receive weekly emails, they automatically send you a 40% off coupon. You will also receive emails with great store sales and coupons that you can print out right at home. Since most of these are for a discount on one item, it might take some effort on your part to go back to the store each week and purchase the single items. But, if you're looking for an great way to save money, the effort is worth it!

Wed Michigan Loves Etsy!

2009-04-11T11:02:00.007-04:00

Considering the state of our economy, most brides are looking for a way to cut costs and support our communities and businesses. Although I've known of Etsy for quite some time, I think its important to give them a proper shoutout for supporting creative minds and crafty individuals worldwide.

Etsy has millions of handmade products, sold by so many talented people. The amount of wedding items available is unbelievable- everything from cake toppers to ring pillows to beautiful handmade veils and headpieces. If you do some searching, you can find some wonderfully made and very personal products to help make your wedding day your own. And for a fraction of the cost!

Take the time to check out Etsy! You're not only supporting local artists and creative minds from across the world, but you may also find a one of a kind item that will put that personal touch on your wedding day!
{Images by Etsy members thewildwoodflower + VirginiaGeigerJewels}

Michigan Videography

2009-04-09T10:05:00.005-04:00

As my fiance and I start the planning for our May 2010 wedding, we've discovered some amazing vendors across Michigan. When we first began the planning process, we sat down and listed all of our priorities in order of importance. One thing we both agreed on being at the top of our list: videography.

I feel that videography is often overlooked and people don't make the effort to budget for it. For us, it is important to have something to watch with our children when we're older or even with our friends after the wedding is over. We've been researching some videographers from around the state and here are our favorites!

Detroit

Epic Motion

Grand Rapids

Coastline Studios

Kalamazoo

Absolute Video + Multimedia

Michael Terri

Ream Enterprises

Although there are so many videographers in Michigan, these are the few that we've been focusing on. All of these videographers are very talented (as well as many others in Michigan!) and make you feel like you're watching a movie and not just a cheesy wedding video. I highly suggest taking the time to watch some of their sample work on their websites, and making a point to budget for a videographer. You'll be so happy that you didn't have your uncle or close friend running around with the camera all night (who knows what would end up on that video!).

Shutterbooth Rocks!

2009-04-01T10:42:00.005-04:00

This past weekend, our good friend was married in Metro Detroit and I was lucky enough to be a guest. It was such a wonderful surprise when we arrived at the reception and discovered that the bride and groom had included Shutterbooth as one of their vendors!

The Shutterbooth employees were extremely professional and fun. The photobooth capacity was anywhere from one person up to about ten people! We took turns taking several different photos and even got to keep a copy for ourselves. Shutterbooth also put together a wonderful scrapbook of all the pictures for the bride and groom!

I would highly recommend using Shutterbooth for your upcoming wedding. It was such a fun addition to an already amazing event!

Many Apologies!

2009-03-17T22:22:00.003-04:00

A big apology to all of Wed Michigan's loyal followers for the lack of posting in the past few weeks. Since getting engaged last month, I have been alittle overwhelmed with wedding planning! The good news is my wedding will be in Kalamazoo, Michigan and I am looking forward to sharing all of the wonderful vendors I'll be using for my big day!

Please stay tuned for some exciting upcoming posts. I have been busy connecting with some new vendors from across the state and can't wait to share them with all of you!

Hope you had a fun + safe St. Patrick's Day!

Lucky Girl Weddings: Part Two

2009-02-27T08:03:00.005-05:00

Mary Brown of Lucky Girl Weddings, was kind enough to share details of her Grand Rapids wedding with Wed Michigan as well as some of the wonderful vendors she used!

My wedding was located in Grand Rapids, MI. My theme was classic, romantic, and simple. My color scheme was white, black, baby pink, and Tiffany’s blue (pool). I wanted my guests to feel comfortable and happy on my big day. The mood was fun but still classy. It was simple in the sense that I did not have elaborate flowers, favors, or decorations. The focus was more on the food, family, slideshow, dancing, etc. Our centerpieces were small cakes that matched our large cake. We let guests cut and eat the cake as they pleased throughout the night. My husband and I snuck out and let our guests stay and dance the night away after we did our meeting and greeting. Tip to brides: If you have a buffet have someone bring you a plate. If you get up you will be stopped 100 times before you get to the line!

Ceremony- Calvin Christian Reformed Church

Reception- Crowne Plaza Hotel

Cake- Cakes by Kate

Decorations/Flowers- Hobby Lobby (silk flowers)

DJ- Complete Music

Transportation- Crystal Limo

Photographer- Betsy’s Photography

Makeup- myself, as I am a Senior Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics

Hair- Posh Salon & Day Spa

Lucky Girl Weddings: Part One

2009-02-22T20:29:00.011-05:00

Mary Brown, Owner of Lucky Girl Weddings in Grand Rapids, has had so much enthusiasm through the entire interview process on Wed Michigan, and it has truly been a pleasure getting to know her. Her energetic personality and passion for the wedding industry proves that she truly loves what she does! It has been so fun learning more about Lucky Girl Weddings, and Wed Michigan is delighted to share Mary's expertise!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
My favorite part about living in Michigan is the changing seasons. Yes, winter always feels like it lasts forever, but those few warm days you get when its 50 degrees and everything melts make it worth it. Fall is my favorite with summer a close second. Another thing I love about Michigan is our lakes. We have so many and they are all unique. My husband and I have a boat and we love to be on the water. He is a huge wake boarder and I am a huge “sitter”. I just sit and look pretty. Well, as pretty as one can be with the wind and water in your face! Our wonderful state really stands out, not just on the map of the US but with its variety of activities and attractions. I am a proud Michigander and don’t think I will ever leave.

What are some of your favorite "current" wedding trends?
The cakes are becoming much more modern and artsy. It used to be that cakes were a necessity and you didn’t put a ton of thought into the shape, color, design, etc. Now, the cake can say as much about your wedding as your dress or color scheme does. One of my favorite cake shops in Michigan is Sweet Cakes Design, LLC in Grand Rapids.

What is your favorite venue in Michigan to plan a wedding?
I started my business a little over a year ago so going off of the venues my past brides have chosen I would say that for Grand Rapids the Amway Grand Plaza is my favorite. It is a fabulous hotel and the staff is 100% dedicated to servicing their clients. As for Michigan as a whole…I will have to report on this after my 2009 season as I have brides all over Michigan from Bay City to Grand Haven.

Any advice for Michigan brides when planning a wedding in the current economy?
Start with your absolute dream wedding not leaving a single thing out. Then go back and start to really think about what is necessary and what is not. Do you want some things because it’s the “in” thing to have or because that is your dream? Do you really need chair covers? Do you have to have bubbles? Which guests on your potential invite list have you not talked to in 5 years…do they really need to be there? After you start knocking things off your list your budget will dramatically decrease and you will feel so good you are guaranteed to find more items to cut. Just remember that your wedding is really about the holy union of you and your husband, the rest is extra. In a year hardly anyone will remember the cake, the flowers, the favors, or the meal…but almost everyone will remember the way they felt at your event. This means that you should focus your budget more on things that will create real lasting memories instead of two minute thrills. Example: Spend more on an amazing DJ and less on M&M’s with your face on them!

What is your most memorable wedding-planning moment/experience?
I will always remember my first wedding client and her wedding day. I met her in a unique way. I had my wedding reception at the Crowne Plaza. My contact there got to know me and after my reception learned that I started my wedding business and started referring clients to me. I booked a bride named Erika for 2009. A short while later Erika’s cousin, Samantha, booked with me sight unseen. She trusted her cousin’s judgment! It just so happened that Samantha’s wedding was before Erika’s. She was an amazing girl with a beautiful bi-cultural family. Working with her and her family and going through the whole process with my first official client was amazing. I learned a lot from her and from that experience. Thanks Sami!!!

Stay tuned an upcoming post which will feature details from Mary's real Michigan wedding!

Pic Photography Studio

2009-02-18T08:51:00.008-05:00

This past October, Katie, a very close friend of mine, tied the knot and held her reception in Rochester, Michigan. As part of her bridal party, I was included in the traditional picture-taking between the ceremony and reception. Katie and her husband Jim, chose Connie Falmer of Pic Photography Studio. She was energetic, professional, and made the whole process a fun experience for everyone. It's an honor to share Pic Photography Studio with everyone on Wed Michigan!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
We love change and contrast; therefore, the changing seasons and unpredictable weather are actually an amazing element to work with as photographers. We love photographing outside with natural light, and to be able to incorporate the season or weather can add to the beauty of wedding images. If we are given a background of fall colors, a rainy day, snow falling or sun peaking out of the clouds, we take a creative approach so that your images are unique to your wedding day.

What unique services do you offer?
As artists we take great pride in personally designing our clients wedding albums. Each album is custom created to highlight amazing images from the wedding day, while reflecting our couple’s style and personality. From start to finish we enjoy the planning and processing of our images so that couples have artwork to cherish for a lifetime.

In addition, as a husband and wife team we not only know what is involved in planning a wedding but also the dynamics that are needed for a successful relationship. We are able to relate with every client as they begin the planning of their wedding through the start of their family.

What is your favorite thing/moment to photograph at a wedding?
Capturing the relationship between the bride and groom is our favorite aspect to photograph on the wedding day. Whether we shoot a “first look” moment prior to the ceremony or the couple enjoying themselves after they have said their vows, the chemistry between them on their special day is undeniable. A wedding is about the bride and groom, so we feel strongly that they should have a collection of images that display the passion and excitement they are feeling. We encourage couples to set aside time on their wedding day so that we can focus on creating artistic and fun images of the them (and their bridal party too).

What advice would you give Michigan couple's when choosing a photographer?
Your photographer is one of few vendors who are with you throughout your entire wedding day. Therefore, be sure to schedule consultations and talk with the actual person who will be photographing your day. This will allow you to feel out their personality, style and approach that will be taken on your special day.

It is also important to keep in mind that wedding photography is an important investment, as those images and albums will be cherished and enjoyed for a lifetime. We also encourage couples to reserve photographers who offer polished images and completed albums, as it is key to have images and albums that are professionally created and cared for.

Any memorable weddings you've worked that are your favorite?
Every wedding and couple are so unique, so each event is an adventure to photograph. From the grand affairs to the quiet events we love being able to create beautiful and artistic images from that day.

Lindsey + Carl: July 26, 2008

2009-02-15T16:31:00.009-05:00

A big thank you to Lindsey Bowman for sharing her gorgeous July 2008 wedding with Wed Michigan!

What was your favorite moment from your wedding day (if you can pick just one)?
I had a couple favorite moments - one serious and one not so serious. My favorite serious moment way saying our vows to each other. I will never forget looking into my husband's eyes (which were squinting because the sun was shining direcly in them) as he said his vows to me. It was an awesome feeling!

My not-so-serious favorite moment was arriving home after getting my hair and make-up done and seeing all the flower bouquets sitting in my parents' kitchen - I was so happy with how big and pink they were, and I couldn't believe how poofy and heavy mine was! I think I carried it around my house for about 15 mintues looking in every mirror in the house (with my tank top still on) before I even thought about getting into my dress!

It is also so fun to see all your girls dressed up and so excited for you - it was a lot of fun just hanging out with all my bridesmaids before the ceremony. Having all of them there for you is a special feeling. It's just all around the happiest day of your life!

What advice would you give Michigan brides when planning their wedding?
I would tell them that nothing is as big of a deal as it seems when you are planning everything. When the day comes, everything falls into place and all the little things just don't matter. I was pretty organized going into it, but I was still constantly stressed out until the day before, and it wasn't worth it!

Unless you have an exact photograph of what you want for your centerpieces, I would recommend paying for your florist to make a sample flower arrangement for you to see before you finalize the centerpieces. I just described to the florist what I wanted, and we talked about it together with her suggestions, but I never had her make up a sample of what they would look like. I was slightly disappointed at the reception because the centerpieces didn't look like how I had pictured them.

If you are planning an outdoor ceremony like us, make sure you are happy with the "plan B." For months before the wedding I prayed and prayed for good weather (and probably developed ulcers in the process!) on our wedding day because I really didn't like the bad-weather option (inside on the dance floor). It caused me a lot of sleepless nights and too much worry! Luckily we had a gorgeous afternoon: sunny, warm, and breezy... but you can imagine my reaction when I woke up that morning and it was sprinkling and cloudy!

If you have a large reception, I would recommend splitting up from your husband for a little while if you are making your rounds to the tables to say hello to everyone. We spent WAY too long doing this together (we really felt like we had to reach everyone at every table), and everything got pushed back about a half hour. It would have been easier and quicker if we split up the duties a little bit (like maybe you go to a table of all your friends, while he goes to a table of all his). In the end, people will come to you if they want to give you a hug or say hello/goodbye... it's your day, you shouldn't worry too much about it.

What vendors did you use that you would like to share with us?

Photographer: Jen Carroll Photography
WE LOVED OUR PHOTOGRAPHER! We are in love with our pictures, they are so beautiful. You can actually view all of them online at her website (go to "View Recent Event" and find Lindsey and Carl.) She was very laid back yet professional, and very reasonably priced compared to the bigger companies. She is out of her home, but she does a fantastic job. She was the best of all our vendors - we highly recommend her! We also got a complementary engagement shoot.

Ceremony and Reception: Twin Lakes Golf Club in Oakland Twp.
They were SO accomodating and friendly, and we got soo many complements on the food and the setting. It was a perfect location. Just be careful if you want to have a rehearsal - they don't normally do them, but we got Rebecca (the coordinator there) to do one for us.

Cake: Sweet Dreams Bakery in Warren
Three weeks before our wedding, I called our bakery (Old Village Bakery in Troy) to check on our wedding cake order and ask when the money was due... and found out that they had closed without any warning! We thought we were completely out of luck, but Sweet Dreams Bakery was able to accomodate us, and designed our cake perfectly from a picture I had drawn on my own. It turned out to be a complete hit, and the cake was one of my favorite things at the wedding! We got tons of complements on it.

Videographer and DJ: Elite Entertainment in Warren
George Munger was our DJ and we absolutley loved him. He had done a bunch of our friends weddings in the past, and we were lucky to get him for ours. Everyone thought he did a great job - we definitley recommend him. We also did our videography through Elite, and were very happy with it. They were pretty reasonably priced, too.

Happy Valentine's Day From Wed Michigan!

2009-02-14T12:19:00.007-05:00

In celebration of all of the Valentine's Day love going around, I am happy to announce the winner of the first Wed Michigan Valentine's Day Giveaway! Drum roll please!

Bridgette Eades!!!

Thank you Bridgette for your beautiful engagement story and have a Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy your $25 Starbuck's giftcard!

Bridgette's winning entry:

My name is Bridget and I am actually from the west 'burbs of Chicago. We decided to get married in Watervliet, Michigan because it is near the fabulous "resort" cabins that we rent in Coloma every year since I was born. My family has gone up there every summer since my grandmother was a girl! Though I live in Illinois, Michigan has always held a place in my heart. :) It is after all, the Riviera of the Midwest! ;)

Anyway, our engagement story begins with a friend's wedding. My now fiance was a groomsman in this wedding and a mutual friend of the groom (my fiance's best friend) would be coming up from Miami for the occasion. Since we don't get to see him very often, we were very excited to hang out with him and his new girlfriend. We were even more excited when about a month before the wedding he suggested we do a camping trip at the first place where my fiance and I had camped, in Savanna, IL right on the Mississippi River. Since it was going to be a Friday night wedding, that left plenty of time for an awesome camping trip. :) (Little did I know, he was in on this plan all along)

Well, the weekend of the wedding rolled around and we had a blast. The bride had hinted that she was even aiming at ME when she did her bouquet toss to which I just shyly grinned and hoped for next time. On Saturday morning we took off and had a blast setting up camp and biking through the hilly bluffs that line the river. As dinner time rolled around and we were back at the campsite, my fiance and his best friend suggested they take us girls out to a really nice restaurant. Now I should make one thing clear, that when I go camping I am in "camping mode" which means no make-up, hair in a ponytail, dirt on my clothes, the works. It's camping for crying out loud! I could in no way get ready for a dinner out somewhere nice... but we made the best of it, washed up in the campground bathroom, threw on some chapstick (the closest thing I had to lip gloss) and were on our way.

Shortly after we left the campground, my fiance Brandon suggested we drive up to the look out point on the bluff one more time to catch the sunset. Everybody agreed so up we went. We got to see a little bit of the sunset as it reflected off of the Mississippi River and it truly was a beautiful sight. However, during the last ten minutes or so, some clouds rolled in and covered up anything else that we could've seen. As a result my mind immediately turned to dinner as it was getting pretty late and I started hinting to Brandon that maybe we could leave soon. But Brandon kept talking and talking (little did I know, he was stalling and stalling) while his best friend kept "testing his new camera" and taking tons of pictures of us. Finally when I was about to turn around and tell him that I was REALLY getting hungry, I heard a woman behind us gasp. As I turned around to see what was wrong I saw Brandon on one knee holding out the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. My breath flew out of my lungs and happy tears burst out of my eyes as I kept saying over and over, "Is this real?!" Haha, probably not what he wanted to hear, but he didn't mind as eventually I sputtered out a huge yes and everyone else on the look out point started clapping and yelling congratulations. Brandon's friend then ran back up the bluff to his truck and got out our plastic camping cups and a bottle of champagne and we toasted to our new engagement with everyone on the bluff.

We never did make it out to our "nice" dinner, but I had the best night of my life laughing with friends and watching my new engagement ring sparkle in the campfire. :)

And as promised, here are Wed Michigan's other two favorites!

Angela Cummings

As Christmas day approached, Eric and I spent a lot of time in the car, driving to and from our respective homes. Around this time, the Beyonce song, "Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)" was popular and being played regularly on the radio. Every time the song came on, Eric would mention how that wasn't about to happen- he was broke. Christmas day was spent first at my parents' house and then at his parents'. I thoroughly enjoyed receiving lots and lots and lots of gifts, as we opened presents from the time we got up in the morning until late into the evening. Eric had gotten me a few games and had made me a version of the game Ticket to Ride. As the gift opening finally wrapped up (pun intended), his family discussed which of the many games people had received should be played first that night. Before a decision was made, I was surprised to see that Eric had already grabbed the Ticket to Ride Italy game he had made for me and was setting it up. I almost gave him a hard time about not asking what everyone else wanted to do before taking my game and getting it out. Now, I'm glad I didn't.

It had been such a long, full day of opening gifts that a proposal was the last thing on my mind. Instead, I sat at the table with Eric's mom and aunt, wearing my jingly reindeer antlers and mindlessly munching on Christmas cookies while Eric went about piecing the board together and passing out game cards. In the game Ticket to Ride, you are given several short train routes to complete and one longer route. Eric had dealt my short routes and long route when suddenly his aunt started calling for his dad, brother, and grandpa to come to the table. I absentmindedly looked at my cards, and in place of my long route was a card that read: "Angela, Will you marry me? Love, Eric." I turned with tears in my eyes to find him kneeling behind me with a beautiful ring, and of course, I eventually got over my shock and said yes. =)

Now, when the Beyonce song comes on the radio, we both laugh, and he responds to the "Put a ring on it" with "I did."

Melanee B.

Paul arranged for us to stay at a bed & breakfast in Vermont the first weekend in November. I was really looking forward to getting away from Boston and especially the drive north where we might see the last of the famous "fall foliage." We left on a Friday afternoon and stopped to see his friends in western Massachusetts on the way. We arrived at the B & B after dark, checked in, and just hung around for the rest of the night. The neat thing about this place was that it was a very big, very old house set on land that used to be a dairy farm, so you could see miles of rolling hills and mountains in the distance. We spend the next day walking around a nearby town and sitting in coffee shops. When we got back to the B & B, there wasn't a whole lot to do, and I was coming down with a cold so I took a nap for a few hours. I think this was when Paul went down to the dining room to "talk" with the bartender and make dinner reservations.

Paul thought we should dress up for dinner and head down early for a drink, and this sounded like a great idea. When we eventually got to our table in the dining room, the waiter came by and offered to bring us champagne while we looked at the menu. Our champagne arrived a few minutes later and I asked Paul what we should toast to. He just looked at me without saying anything and I was like, "What?" He told me to look at my glass, I did, then I asked "What?" again. I looked really closely at the champagne and finally made out the shape of a ring of bubbles inside, which turned out to be an engagement ring. I just said, "Oh my God..." and Paul walked around the table, got down on one knee and proposed. And that was how it happened :)

Thank you to all of the wonderful entrees... I truly enjoyed reading all of your great proposal stories!

Wed Michigan's Valentine's Day Giveaway Ends Tomorrow!

2009-02-11T16:26:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the deadline for Wed Michigan's Valentine's Day Giveaway! Be sure to send in your proposal story by midnight tomorrow, February 12! You could be the lucky winner of a $25 Starbuck's giftcard!

Email wedmichigan@gmail.com with the wonderful story of your engagement and I will announce the winner on Saturday- Valentine's Day! Wed Michigan has already received some amazing stories so be sure to share yours!

Salutations Northville

2009-02-09T19:12:00.010-05:00

As someone who has a huge love for stationery, connecting with Jess Gilbert of Salutations Northville was a true pleasure. She offers custom invitations, maps, card boxes,(and more!), and after browsing her website, I am in love with her products!

What sparked your love for working with stationery?
I have always had a passion for paper as far back as I can remember! When I was a little girl, I would love getting stationery and pens for my birthday. I actually have a drawer in my desk that has a box of stationery I received in elementary school, it was so pretty I couldn’t bare to write on it!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
There are so many great things about Michigan, its so hard to pick one! I’m probably gonna have to go with the seasons on this one. I love watching the bulbs peek their way out of the ground when the warmer weather starts to come around, watching the grass turn from brown to bright green, taking a dip in the lake on a hot summer day, watching the leaves turn to such beautiful colors in the fall, and I may be on my own here but I LOVE a fresh snowfall in the winter. There is nothing like making a snowman or snow angel, watching the glee on your little one’s face as you pull them around the yard on a sled and coming inside to a nice cup of hot cocoa! Where else can you do all this?!!

What unique services do you offer?
If it goes on paper, I probably do it! Some of my favorites - I love custom printing envelopes with guests’ names and addresses that match the look and feel of each invitation, and I love designing seating charts. I had the opportunity last year to make custom wine bottle labels that served as escort cards which has been a big success. I’ve also been known to design monograms for gobo lights, out of town guest bags, etc. One of my favorite new items this year are boarding pass and passport invitations for destination weddings and circle menus!

What advice can you give couples when choosing their stationery?
Don’t let the word “custom” scare you away! A lot of people are under the misconception that custom means expensive! Many times you are able to have custom invitations for less than the invitations offered in the albums, and they are much more customized! You will love being involved throughout the design process. Look for someone who has experience and expertise.

What are some of your favorite current wedding trends?
Stationery specific – bold colors and patterns!
Non-stationery trend – vintage-inspired themes!

{All Photos courtesy of Salutations blog}

West Park Photography

2009-02-06T08:06:00.008-05:00

Duo Lynn Bernardi and Andy Schwartz have been involved in photography for over ten years, and met through their love for vespa scooters. They've joined forces to form West Park Photography in Grosse Pointe Park and I had the wonderful pleasure of learning more about them and their amazing talent!

What is your favorite part of living in Michigan?

Andy: I have lived literally all around this country. My family brought me here, but Michigan is the first place that has felt like home to me. I could do without the weather, as I'm not a winter person, but the people I've met and connected to, the places we go to and experience, all make Michigan an incredible, and diverse place to hang my hat.

Lynn: The seasons, the beauty, and our lakes. I had the opportunity to live in Florida for about 18 months and it was my first taste of living somewhere outside of Michigan. While the weather there is glorious (once you become accustomed to the humidity) I really missed the changing of the seasons. (And yes, at times I even missed winter - a malady I am completely over with as of right now. I'm ready for spring!) Honestly though, I have always loved Michigan, I can't imagine not living somewhere where lake views are a short car drive away. And I love going up north were the air just smells different - fresh, clean, and pine scented. Florida does not smell like that.

What sparked your love for wedding photography?

Andy: I love capturing raw emotion... that shining glance...the hidden smirk..the shy tear in the eye...the moments often missed. I get that in wedding photography. And falling in love while discovering it helped out too.

Lynn: Full disclosure - I never thought I would do wedding photography! When I first started taking pictures years ago, I considered it for about half a second before I reminded myself that I'm not a girly-girl, and that shooting a wedding was far too much pressure and stress. I thought wedding photographers were crazy...and yes, I'll admit it, I didn't think wedding photography could be interesting, or artistic. Then, as it always happens, a good friend's sister asked me to shoot her wedding. And I started poring over wedding photography websites, and realized how much things had changed in the last 10 years. I realized the days of cookie cutter posed formals were over and new photographers were bringing originality and creativity into wedding photography.

After shooting my first wedding, I was hooked. The days before it, I was more stressed out that the bride, I am sure of it. (Just ask Andy - I was unbearable to live with!) But the day of, it was golden. It was fun, easy, and I loved every moment. I've always been interested in photojournalism, and shooting a wedding is just like eye candy to a photojournalist. There's so much activity, so many emotions, ritual, ceremony, celebration. It's all there, and it's wonderful. It's a joy to witness and capture. I immediately knew this was the job for me.

Andy and I met not long before we shot our first wedding. Being able to share our experiences as we meet great couples and shoot these terrific events has only deepened our own commitment to each other. I love that we can share this part of our lives with each other. So yes, falling in love while we embarked on this business did definitely help! :)

What piece of advice would you give couple's when choosing their photographer?

Andy: Your wedding day will fly by so fast with all the emotion and joy taking the helm. The photographer's job is not only to capture the bride and groom and family in these glorious moments, but also to capture the details, the guests, the laughter, the tears and so on. These are the moments which if not documented, do get lost in the day. Yet it is these moments that really make the day special and unique. Your photography is the one thing that will always remind you of those moments. Look for a photographer that captivates you with emotion through their work. A photographer that you connect with both in person and through their images.

Lynn: Find someone you trust, someone who absolutely gets you and your goals for the day. It will be a long, wonderful day, and your photographer(s) will be a constant presence. It makes things so much easier if it's a person you like & are comfortable with.

Practically speaking, I urge anyone who's looking for a wedding photographer to hire a professional. Your wedding is too important to leave to someone without experience. Wedding photographers are skilled with making fast adjustments, working with rapidly changing light, and knowing when to capture that decisive moment. Affordable dSLRs have made digital photography an easy hobby to get into, but wedding photographers have specific skill sets and equipment that are essential for consistently taking great photographs all day long, no matter what the circumstances.

What is your favorite wedding day moment to capture?

Andy: My favorite moment to shoot is that amazing moment after they are pronounced husband and wife, no longer just bride and groom, where they are relieved and excited, and so emotional. Sometimes it is a glance, a second kiss, a cheer, or sometimes it is the proud first step forward down the aisle. The feeling of like..it's done and it's just a new beginning all at once.

Lynn: I don't think there is a specific part of the day, but it's those fleeting moments of raw emotion that really get me. And I think those are the moments our clients most appreciate us capturing, because for them, the day goes by in a whirlwind and they are completely swept up and sometimes don't really see what's going on. I think - or at least I hope - when people look at our portfolio, they can see that our style is characterized by the emotion we document.

Planning a Destination Wedding.. In Michigan!

2009-01-30T20:33:00.005-05:00

Alison Hardin and Rishi Narayan both grew up in the Great Lakes State and met while attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Although Alison now lives across the country in Berkeley, California, holding their July 2009 nuptials in their homestate of Michigan, seemed like a simple and natural choice. Alison was kind enough to give Wed Michigan some advice and tips on the planning process by sharing the "ups and downs" of planning a Michigan destination wedding!

What are some challenges you've faced while planning your Michigan wedding from across the country?
The biggest challenge to date in our wedding planning has been lack of face time. During the early stages of the planning, it was difficult to not have time to look at every possible venue while in Michigan for the weekend. Instead, we narrowed down the list of potential places, looked at those and hoped to find the best place. This challenge has continued to present itself in choosing vendors, selecting a menu and decor, checking out bands....it is always better to see it in person, but this is not always possible.

While we anticipated a limited amount of time in Michigan being a challenge, are the smaller issues that I did not consider. For example, the time difference between coasts is significant! Vendors call me at 6am pacific coast time, and I need to call them back before 2pm my time, 5pm Michigan time. Where should we get the gifts sent? How will we get gifts from Michigan to California?

What are some elements of your wedding that will be unique?
One of the aspects of our wedding Rishi and I hope will shine through to our guests is that we are mixing cultures. There will be traditional Indian attire and also guests in western clothing; food from the Ritz Carlton kitchen and Rangoli; awesome Indian music and a rockin' local band; a traditional Indian garland of flowers as well as a bouquet to toss!

One of the elements of a traditional Indian wedding celebration that we are embracing is the scale! We are very happy to know we will be surrounded by hundreds of friends and family on our big day. Keeping this in mind we feel like we should go the extra mile to make the day feel very personal and not like a sea of people. We are still working on many of these details, but we started with the save-the-dates, a T-shirt made by Rishi's company. We are planning to take a photo with each family at the reception to send to them post-wedding. Each table will have its own theme, complete with fast-facts on how that relates to our lives. For example, instead of sitting at table #11, you might be seated at table "University of Michigan" where Rishi and I both attended school.

What advice would you give other brides when planning their "destination" wedding in Michigan?
Two words: wedding planner! Although it is not an absolute necessity to have a wedding planner, when planning a wedding from a far, it is extremely helpful to have someone pointing you toward vendors that line up with your needs. For us, our planner has helped us make the most of our time in Michigan, introducing us to phenomenal vendors. Additionally, have a planner in Michigan gives you a local person to be there when you cannot be there.

I wish that I would have sat down in early stages of planning and made a timeline of wedding-to-do's and coupled this with planning trips to Michigan. The time goes by so fast and weekends fill up quickly, that it can be difficult to sneak away to Michigan for a few days unless it is planned well in advance! And I am finding it is important to have a well outlined agenda with defined goals for each trip.

Any great vendors you've been working with that you'd like to share?
With six months to go until the big day, two individuals have been critical in keeping us on task, free of stress, and having fun with our wedding planning. Eren Denski, our contact at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn where our ceremony and reception will be held, is always on top of her game and brimming with fabulous ideas. And Eren introduced us to Rupali Bedi, a wedding planner affiliated with Rangoli Events. One of the things that always makes me happy when I talk to Rupali is her can-do attitude, she makes anything possible and has been a joy to work with.

Why did you choose to hold your wedding in Michigan?
Rishi and I share common roots in Michigan. We both grew up in Michigan, still have family in Michigan, and we met there...it seemed like the natural choice!

Congratulations, Alison and Rishi, and we look forward to your July wedding!

Coming Soon!

2009-01-30T07:41:00.005-05:00

Wed Michigan has been busy connecting with some wonderful vendors across the state! Look for upcoming posts about these amazing Michigan businesses!

Jake Reichbart, Ann Arbor, Guitarist
Pic Photograpy Studio, Metro Detroit, Photography
So In Love Invitations- Hazel Park, Invitations
Syd Design- Kentwood, Invitations
West Park Photography, Grosse Point, Photography

Also coming... tips on planning a destination wedding in Michigan!

Wed Michigan's Valentine's Day Giveaway!

2009-01-28T20:24:00.006-05:00

In the spirit of the season... the romantic snowfalls, snuggling with your loved one, and of course, Valentine's Day, Wed Michigan is annoucing it's first official giveaway!

One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to everyone's favorite coffee shop, Starbuck's. Nothing screams winter like snuggling up with a hot latte and your honey (or a good book)!

To enter, email me at wedmichigan@gmail.com with your engagement story by February 12th. Whether your story is romantic, funny, or didn't quite go as planned, Wed Michigan wants to hear them all. I will post my top three proposal picks and the winner will be announced on February 14th, Valentine's Day!

I can't wait to hear all the great proposal stories!

Michael Terri Studios

2009-01-24T09:15:00.009-05:00

Since starting Wed Michigan, I have had the honor of interviewing some of Michigan's most talented photographers. Michael Terri Studios in Kalamazoo, is certainly no exception. Husband and wife duo, Mickey Howell and Terri Maurer run a fabulous "one stop shop" for all your photography and videography needs. After browsing through their portfolio, I was blown away by their work and immediately contacted them. Their soft, romantic, and honest approach to capturing your wedding day makes their work beautiful and timeless.

Be sure to watch the video highlights in the videography section of their website. There is a "hollywood movie" feel to each wedding they shoot, and they do a fantastic job making the bride and groom look like "stars" in their own video!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
I was born and raised in Michigan. It is home. I have lived in San Francisco and New York City, but have always returned to Michigan quite simply because it is my home, and there is no better place to be than home. Of course there are four beautiful seasons which is an added perk.

What inspired both of you to get into photography and videography?
I started photographing as a teenager where I saved up my money for a used 35mm camera. I have always loved photography. I have spent plenty of time working in the darkroom and have shown my personal work at museums and galleries. I also had a book of my work published by Light Impressions of Rochester New York. Later I worked at a commercial and corporate media production company in Grand Rapids where I developed my skills further. Transferring my photo skills to video has been a natural progression. I have learned over the years that I prefer weddings over the corporate /commercial world. Corporate work pays well, but I enjoy the honesty of weddings and the value I can bring to preserving wedding stories.

What is some advice you can give couple's when choosing a photographer/videographer?
Meet your vendors in person to make sure you are comfortable with them. Remember you will be spending your wedding day with them so you want to make sure you are comfortable. Also view their work. It should excite you. If not, move on.

Any memorable weddings you have worked that were your favorite?
We love weddings... fancy ones... and simple ones. They are a lot of work, but also emotionally rewarding.

What unique services do you offer?
We offer both videography and photography. Sometimes photographers and videographers have difficulty getting along. That is never the case with us.

Calling All Michigan Brides!

2009-01-22T07:28:00.002-05:00

Wed Michigan would like to invite all recent Michigan brides to submit their wedding experiences and share the "ups and downs" of their wedding planning with our readers! With so many newly engaged couples diving into the planning process, Wed Michigan wants to help out by sharing ideas and advice from experienced brides!

Please email me at wedmichigan@gmail.com if you are interested in being a featured bride on Wed Michigan!

Stella Event Design

2009-01-14T09:19:00.008-05:00

This Fall, I discovered a wedding planner based in Southwest Michigan who has the amazing job of working with lakeshore brides. Jessica Pennington of Stella Event Design has been working in the event planning industry since 2001, and has shared some wonderful professional insight with Wed Michigan. Congratulations, Jessica, on your successful business!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
I love living along the lake shore! I've always loved living on the water, and now I am so thankful to be in such a beautiful area that provides such a scenic backdrop for weddings!

When did you first get started in the wedding industry?
I officially started Stella Event Design in 2007, and prior to that I was involved with non-profit and corporate event planning for 5 years. I love the event industry and wedding planning is my passion---I love helping couples celebrate such a special day!

What are some of your favorite elements to add to a wedding to make it unique?
I really love getting to know couples, and helping them find personal touches to make their wedding unique. It's different for every couple, but one of my favorite unique touches in 2008 were lego wedding favors! Legos were the couples favorite toy, so we bought lego kits, and they assembled them, took a picture with the finished creation, then we created cute personalized buckets for each child with the lego pieces, a picture of what it should look like assembled, and a personal note from the couple!

Any advice for couple's when planning their very own Michigan wedding?
One of the best things you can do to make your wedding a success is to choose great vendors. While the internet is a great resource to find vendors, you want to make sure to get first-hand referrals if you're not familiar with them! If you don't have a coordinator, ask recently married friends or family members about their experiences with vendors. Also, you can ask vendors for several past client referrals! On your wedding day you want to make sure you're surrounded by reliable vendors that meet your budget, style and personality!

{Photos 1 and 2 by JK Photography, Photo 3 by LVL Photography}

Tough Times Call For... Being Smart!

2009-01-08T08:23:00.007-05:00

If you're engaged and planning a Michigan wedding, don't let the current economic crisis crush your wedding spirit. There are many ways to cut costs and still create an amazing day that you and your guests will never forget!

1. Rate it:
Sit down with your partner and make a list of what elements of your wedding are important to each of you. Use categories such as food, transportation, alcohol, venues, etc. If you find that food is #1 on both of your lists, then you can budget accordingly for your tastes. You may both find that transportation is not important at all, and can arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from the ceremony for free (do you really need to rent that expensive limo for just the two of you?). It's all about spending your money on what is truly meaningful for you both (and not on that $100 clutch that perfectly matches your shoes).

2. Do-it-yourself:
There are some elements of your wedding that must be left to a professional... for example- photography. Let the pro's handle your pictures! But using your creativity with other elements such as flowers, favors, and stationery, can help you cut costs. A bride from my hometown used the local grocery store for her flowers and said they did an amazing job, and she saved a ton of money. Create your own save-the-dates, programs, or address your invitation envelopes yourself. Using your creativity can cut costs on your big day, as well as add some personalization to your wedding!

3. Borrow:
Some brides may not agree with me on this one, but I am a big fan of borrowing items from friends and family. A good friend of mine used another friend's veil for her big day. Not only was it gorgeous with her dress, but it counted as her "something borrowed" (and was FREE!). You most likely know a handful of other brides right now, so use their candle votives for your tables or their centerpiece vases for your candy bar.

4. Be smart:
I once heard that a couple decided to pack their lunch for work every day for a year once they were engaged. The money they would have spent on going out to lunch went into their wedding savings, and before you know it, they had a good chunk of change to spend on their big day! You don't have to take on a second job, but if wearing a $3,000 wedding dress is important to you, then make some cost cuts and use your brains to save!

Michigan's economy may be hurting right now, but it doesn't mean your wedding day can't be beautiful and memorable. One of my favorite books is Bridal Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields. This couple spent years researching ways to cut costs, and I read this book cover to cover within a week of opening it. There are so many fabulous money-saving tips and ways to pull off your dream wedding without going broke!

2009 Bridal Shows

2009-01-06T07:53:00.009-05:00

With the new year, comes another season of bridal shows across Michigan. Commonly known as "Bridal Christmas", this time of the year is a chance for newly engaged couples to jump start their planning process by visiting a local bridal expo and checking out vendors in their area!

Kalamazoo Wedding Affair
January 10, 2009
11AM-4PM
Rose Street Market, Downtown Kalamazoo

Lakeshore Bridal Show
January 31, 2009
Noon-4PM, 2PM Fashion Show
Laketown Conference Center, Saugatuck

The Bridal Party
January 18, 2009
11AM-4PM
The Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing

Winter Bridal Celebrations at The Palace
January 18, 2009
Noon-5PM
The Palace of Auburn Hills

Bridal Celebrations at The Dearborn Inn
January 21,2009
6:30PM-8PM
The Dearborn Inn

Brides to Be Shows
February 8,2009
Noon-4PM
Webers Inn, Ann Arbor

Spring Bridal Show of West Michigan
March 13,2009
5PM-8PM
Devos Place, Grand Rapids

Happy planning!

Happy 2009!

2009-01-05T08:07:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to all of the couples who got engaged over the holidays! Wed Michigan wishes everyone a healthy, happy, and safe 2009!

Mod4 Photographic

2008-12-18T09:20:00.007-05:00

If you're a modern couple, and looking for a fresh way to document your engagement and big day, look no further than Ferndale-based Mod4 Photographic. Husband and wife duo, Nate and Jessica Canvasser create unique and modern images that reflect each couple's personality. Perhaps my favorite are the fun shots they can do of your best friend- your dog! Thank you, for sharing your work with Wed Michigan, Mod4!

What sparked your love for photography?
Nate grew up with a dad who loved photography as a hobby. They would often go on father son photo outings together. Nate still, to this day, has the very first photo he ever took! I, on the other hand, have a much less sweet story! I was 18 and needed a job. The Ritz at the mall was hiring and I knew the manager. So I took it. I mainly printed photos but also sold cameras. After being there a while and playing around with the all the cool toys, I decided to go to community college and take some photo classes. The rest is history!

What are some of your favorite things about living in Michigan?
Almost all of our family is here and that's really important to us. We love that the people here are so down to earth and real. I have also just learned that most other cities dont have cider mills! I cant imagine living without cider mills! What a tragedy!

Any piece of adviced for Michigan couples when choosing their photographer?
1. LOVE their work. 2. LOVE them. We are the one vendor who is always in close proximety to you the whole day. And we are the one vendor that doesn't go away after the wedding! It's so important that there is a "click" happening between us. When you can welcome your photographer to your wedding as a friend and a vendor, you'll be more comfortable and that will show in your images!

What has the most unique photography experience been for you (ie. client's request, where pictures were taken)?
We had the outrageous pleasure of photographing a wedding ceremony in the Book Cadillac Building BEFORE renovations had really even begun. It was killer! The building had just been gutted out. All of the windows were gone, you could seriously just hang out of the holes where windows would have been. There was no walls in some spots. No elevators. No Stairs. It was all gutted. It was on the second floor and everyone had to walk up scaffolding to get there. The contrast of the environment and this gorgeaous wedding was really special.

lil' Miss Cupcake

2008-12-12T07:16:00.009-05:00

Warning: This post may leave you hungry and craving sweets!

A big thank you to Rebecca Heynen of lil' Miss Cupcake in Grand Rapids! I came across her company through Pearl's Events and am so happy to have connected with her. Her cupcakes are taking Grand Rapids by storm and after hearing more about her business, I am convinced that cupcakes are the new wedding cake!

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
Living in Grand Rapids, Michigan is still relatively new to me. I was living in New York and my parents moved to Grand Rapids about 5 years ago and I decided to follow them and move here two and a half years ago.

Michigan, however, is not new to me. Both of my parents are from Northern Michigan, so I have been coming to Michigan to visit family throughout my childhood.

I love exploring everything that Grand Rapids has to offer.

I *heart*:

-Eastown
-Gaslight Village
-San Chez Restaurant
-Smooch Beauty Boutique
-Art of the Table
-Pink Blvd.
-Kava House
-The Grand Rapids Area Wedding Vendors (JK Photography, Pearls Events, Amy Carroll Photography, Septembers Bride, Taylor Grey Photography, just to name a few)

Why cupcakes? How did you get started?
I have always made cupcakes. In fact, I love baking in general. I used to make cupcakes for family and work parties. People used to tell me that I should open a bakery.

One day, I was at a career crossroad. I went to a specialty grocery store and bought three cupcakes (yes three!). I sat there eating my cupcakes and I started thinking about my career options. As I inhaled the cupcakes, I had an "Ah Ha" moment! I love to bake so why not make a career out of it. I thought it was worth a shot, I always wanted to do something that I loved and I had finally allowed myself to do it! I have never been happier for following my heart. I have learned that owning a business isn't as easy as simply wanting to bake, there are a lot of other things involved. But my love for baking and my love for meeting/working with great people has kept me going strong!

What is the most unique cupcake you've ever designed for someone?I have made several unique cupcakes. For example, a couple months ago I was asked to make "Fancy Nancy" Cupcakes. I made cupcakes with fondant pearl necklaces, crushed rock candy to look like gems, fondant tiaras, etc. I had an August '08 bride request "funfetti" cupcakes because it was the groom's favorite cake flavor.

I think the most unique cupcake I offer is the Vegan Margarita Cupcake. It is a vegan tequila lime flavored cupcake topped with a lime slice and a sugar rim, looks just like the real thing!

Any advice for couples when choosing their wedding deserts?
The couple should think about what is important to them. Cupcakes are a great choice because you can choose several different flavors, there is no cake-cutting fee, less mess, and they are nostalgic. Plus they are a blank slate, they can go from being cute to elegant with just a couple changes.

What is your favorite flavor that you offer?
My favorite cupcake is the Red Velvet Cupcake. They are so moist and yummy! The cream cheese frosting adds the right amount of sweetness. My husband's favorite flavor is the Carrot Cake Cupcake. Every time I make them, I make extras for him!

As a Michigan Bride, please share your thoughts on getting married in Michigan!
I am a newlywed myself so I understand how difficult the planning process can be. The advice that I can give is to do your research! I have found that Theknot.com and http://www.wedmichigan.blogspot.com are great resources. We had a great experience with all of our vendors but a couple went above and beyond.

We live in Grand Rapids but decided to get married in Holland. The ceremony and reception was at Windmill Island. I highly recommend Windmill Island. The grounds are gorgeous. If you don't want to worry about having to decorate your ceremony location, this is the place! There are so my flowers and beautiful colors! We received nothing but compliments on our location.

We used Hope College Catering for the food. Tim Blackburn is the catering manager and he is fabulous! He really takes the time to understand your wedding day vision. He goes the extra mile to help provide decorations and set up for your day. They do not offer a tasting, however, the food was amazing! It was the best wedding food I have ever had (and I'm not just saying that because it was our wedding!) and we weren't the only ones that said that, everyone did! I was thrilled with Tim and Hope College and would highly recommend them.

Company Information
lil' Miss Cupcake still has dates available for the 2009 wedding season. Even though we are located in Grand Rapids, we offer delivery and set up to any location. Please contact lil' Miss Cupcake for availability. We can be reached at www.lilmisscupcake.com.

{Photos by JK Photography and Amy Carroll Photography}

Beauty in Birmingham

2008-12-09T07:22:00.009-05:00

Take a trip to Birmingham for the day and you will find an adorable downtown filled with shops, restaurants, and gorgeous homes. You will also find photographer Ksenija Savic, a University of Michigan graduate and someone who has an incredible eye for beauty. Take a moment to browse her website or blog and you'll be fascinated by her work with weddings, families, and even make-up! Ksenija proves that Michigan has some incredible vendors across the state and her experience shines through her work and her life!

What should couples remember when choosing their photographer for their "big day"?
there are definitely so many things to think about, but the very first thing that came to my mind is to remember to choose someone who you connect & click with -- someone you would want around you all day long! it is definitely incredibly important to love their work & style first and foremost, however i feel that also loving their personality is a must!

What are some of your favorite elements of a wedding day to include in your photographs?
oh gosh! i .LOVE. capturing it all! from the biggest details to the smallest, to the moments you know will occur to the completely unrehearsed, candid moments that happen all throughout the day! i always say that although many weddings have many traditional moments or customs they follow, no two wedding stories are ever alike! from capturing a flower girl being embraced by a grandparent, to a powerful hug after a heartfelt toast, to a big boisterous smile during cocktail hour, to the way the groom witnesses his bride for the very first time... i have to say my favorite elements of a wedding day are all of them. with every wedding being unique to itself, you never know what to expect which is what makes it so beautiful & special.

Any pieces of advice for Michigan brides?
i think my biggest piece of advice is not to worry about the weather! i promise that no matter what, it will all work out!! for the most part, one of the biggest things that i have noticed is that when it rains in Michigan, it tends to only rain for a little bit at a time -- in fact, most days if it rains, it rains once & clears up completely! in general, there always seem to be some pockets where the rain ceases for at least a little bit. however, even with the rain, it is all part of your story, so therefore the photos will be that much more characteristic & fun!

the second thing that comes to mind is how dark it gets in the winter months. i would highly advise either planning your ceremony to be earlier in the day or to have a 'first sight' (where the bride & groom see each other before the ceremony), in order to take advantage of the delicious natural daylight!

When did you discover your love for photography?
to be honest, there wasn't a specific day that marks my passion for photography. i have always been an artist with pencil/crayon/pastel/clay/paintbrush in hand... so the minute i held a camera for the first time, i was in love. to be able to capture life & showcase its many wonders is a beautiful, beautiful thing. my camera is just an extension of how i see it through my eyes. :)

Thank you Ksenija for sharing your wisdom and beautiful photography with Wed Michigan!

Check It Out!

2008-12-08T08:20:00.003-05:00

Wed Michigan was featured on the Word Arrangement Blog! Chloe was sweet to send me a few questions and I was delighted to share my opinions and advice with her. Check out her blog for other great posts including her own New Jersey wedding plans!

Personalized Wedding Poetry

2008-12-04T06:57:00.005-05:00

If you are looking for a way to make your wedding personal and unique, then look no further than Word Arrangement by Chloe Yelena Miller. Word Arrangement is located in Ann Arbor and specializes in personalized wedding poems for your big day. Chloe has a strong background in poetry and does an amazing job producing beautiful pieces of work that celebrate a couple's individuality. Visit her website and her blog to read some of her sample work!

What inspired you to start WordArrangement?
I am a poet with an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and I am interested in transforming specific experiences into poems that can offer a human truth to their readers. My mother, a professional photographer, and I collaborated on a project narrating our family's emigration from southern Italy to New Jersey in the 1800's. I wrote family members' stories and ourexperiences in verse and my mother paired them with images. Based on that experience, which included interviews, research and conversations with family members, I was inspired to create a business that did something similar: translated human experience into poems. In addition, I often write my fiance' love poems, so I thought that wedding poetry would be a perfect combination of these interests. The best part of the process has been hearing the couples' responses to the poems.

What is the most unique way to include a poem in your wedding?
Many couples will decide to include a reading in their ceremony. The poem will be read by a member of the wedding party, and it will reflect the couples' view of love and their hopes for the future. I think that integrating the written poem into the ceremony (printed in the program, on an invitation, etc.) helps to give the guests a chance to read the poem more closely and consider what the couple meant by the words they chose. By deciding to use a personalized wedding poem, the guests are offered a window into the couple's life. This window can help to inspire them to remember when they first fell in love.

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
My fiance' and I were in a long distance relationship before we moved to Ann Arbor... building a home together is by far the best part. I've also enjoyed becoming a part of the very creative and dynamic community here. I am looking forward to volunteering for the Ann Arbor Books festival this May and I've attended a number of readings hosted by the University of Michigan's MFA program. I always rave about the easy access to independent bookstores and regular farmer's markets.

Any advice for Michigan couples when "personalizing" their wedding?
The couples should talk openly and decide what aspects of the wedding are most important to them. Once those are chosen, those should be the parts that are given the most time and attention. Whether a couple chooses a more traditional or nontraditional ceremony and reception, each moment has the possibility to be imbued with meaning. For example, the colors of the flowers could reflect a certain memory of picking flowers during a walk when they were first courting. These are the kinds of details that I look for when I interview someone for a personalized wedding poem.

Thank you, Chloe, for taking the time to share your amazing company with Wed Michigan!

Enjoy Your Winter!

2008-11-30T08:44:00.006-05:00

Michigan winters are some of the coldest (and longest) in the country, but that doesn't mean you need to stay in your house from December until March. If you need a break from your wedding planning, or just want something fun to do with your family, there are so many choices across the state!

Echo Valley, Kalamazoo
Echo Valley is a winter park dedicated to family fun! You can toboggan or tube down the many hills, ice skate, or enjoy a hot cup of cocoa in their lodge. It's a fun way to get some fresh air in the Michigan snow!

Frederik Meijer Gardens, East Grand Rapids
I've listed Meijer Garden in a previous post, but also wanted to mention that at Christmas, they have over 40 trees decorated from countries all around the world. The trees are all 30ft. tall and they use 300,000 lights to decorate them. They have live reindeer outside, a Railway Garden, and many hands-on activities for the family!

Festival of Lights, Battle Creek
The International Festival of Lights begins November 22nd and runs until December 31st. There are endless walking paths to enjoy as well as several activities planned including parades, craft shows, and music. The festival takes place in downtown Battlecreek and there are many wonderful stores and restaurants nearby as well!

Go North
Traverse City may be a hike for many Michiganders, but the drive is worth it. There are so many events throughout the holiday season including the annual Festival of Trains display at the Heritage Center, and plays at the Old Town Playhouse including Willy Wonka. You can also take your pick of the many ski areas up north and enjoy a relaxing weekend on the slopes.

So, take a break from your wedding plans this winter and enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving From Wed Michigan!

2008-11-26T07:32:00.003-05:00

Wed Michigan wishes everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! Please travel safe and enjoy the holiday!

Graceful Expressions

2008-11-23T10:38:00.007-05:00

Graceful Expressions is an amazing calligraphy and fine lettering company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Owner Jennifer Buck started her company in 2004, and her love for art and weddings shines through in her work. If you're looking for a unique twist to your stationery, look no further than Graceful Expressions! Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing some wonderful words with Wed Michigan!

How did Graceful Expressions get started?
I started Graceful Expressions in October 2004, however I have been doing calligraphy since a very young age. Calligraphy/art has always been a passion of mine, but I "lost touch" a little while in college and having a career. In 2004, I took a medical leave to go into inpatient treatment for anorexia, and during that treatment I was exposed to "Art Therapy" and realized how much it was a part of me and how much I missed it! It turned out to be a positive recovery tool, and gave me something to focus on and put my energy into. My husband (boyfriend at the time) signed me up for my first Bridal Show, and it was three months after that until I received my first client. I have had a constant flow of clients since then!

What is your favorite part of working in the wedding industry?
Working with the Brides to create the first "impression" of the wedding. For many, the wedding invitation envelope is the kickoff to the big day! Each envelope is an unique piece of art - I see beyond just the name and address. I just love being able to assist each couple with the little things that can save them time, stress, and energy. Many don't think about the need for seating charts, table numbers, placecards or escort cards. Each couple is so unique, and when I can capture the bride and groom's style and express it in pen & ink, that is an incredible feeling and definitely the best part. A computer printer can't do that. You never know who you will be addressing an envelope to - in the past I have addressed envelopes to celebrities, government officials, and even President-Elect Barack Obama.

What is your favorite part of living in Michigan?
The seasons and the water. I grew up in North Muskegon, (on the "west coast") and was just a mile from Lake Michigan. The natural beauty of the area... I love being out on Lake Michigan boating or fishing with my dad, taking walks with my puppy & husband on the beach.

What are some unique services that you offer?
Hand Lettering on Invitation Envelopes (Save the Dares/Thank You Cards/Bridal Shower Invitations/etc.) Placecards/Escort Card design and lettering, Wedding Vows, Seating Scrolls, Bible Inscriptions, If it can be written on - I can do it!

What are some unique stationery ideas that can use calligraphy?
I can do calligraphy on any type of stationery - One of the most unique things that I ever did for a bride was write 42 personal invitations (on her stationary) to her "spa day" the day before the wedding. She did not have time to write a personal note to each of her 42 wedding attendants (wedding was a non-traditional American wedding) so I wrote each note and signed her name. Some of my favorite non-stationery ideas are wine labels, bookmarks, Chair tags, candy bar labels, and I have even written on tiny macaras for wedding favors!

Any piece of advice for our Michigan brides?
When my husband and I got married last year, it was so overwhelming with details and everyone's opinions/ideas/input. We decided on three things - that once were set were non-negotiable and that we the most important to us. Everything else, we would delegate to those who wanted to - that we trusted - and let them do their job. I did not stress over the "little things" because I was at ease with the "big things" being in place. When you give up control - like I just dropped my centerpieces off at the reception site and said "have fun" and did not stress about the actual layout on each table and let people do what they are best at, you will often be pleasantly suprised. You will find that most people in the wedding industry are so passionate about weddings and their clients that they will always go above and beyond and do an outstanding job - but you have to give them that trust. Often they know so much better than you!

{Photos courtesy of Graceful Expressions}

A Toast to St. Julian's!

2008-11-21T10:34:00.006-05:00

As a child growing up in Southwest Michigan, my family and I would occassionally visit St. Julian's Winery in Paw Paw. The original St. Julian's has been operating in Paw Paw since 1941 and is an amazing part of the cities culture. Today, St. Julian's provides five retail stores across Michigan in Paw Paw, Union Pier, Parma, Dundee, and Frankenmuth.

St. Julian Winery offers tours, tastings, and private label wines for events. They were kind enough to share some of their private label information with us. I love incorporating local flavors into weddings and St. Julian's is a wonderful option to serve at your wedding or even for your wedding favors! I love personalizing your favors and designing your own wine labels is a great way to thank your guests. Prices for their red wine starts as low as $86 for a case of personalized wine!

PRIVATE LABEL WINE PRICE LIST

Name / Description

St. J Blush (Per bottle- $7.64, Per case- $91.68)
An interesting, pink, semi-dry, everyday wine.
If you like White Zinfandel, try this.

St. J Riesling (Per bottle- $8.99, Per case- $107.88)
This award winning Riesling features an intense
Mouthful of juicy tropical fruits centered around a
Core of mineral-scented, honey-kissed apricot and
Pineapple flavors. An utterly seamless, world-class
wine!

Simply Red (Per bottle- $7.19, Per case- $86.28)
Mingling layers of dark cherries, wild berries,
raspberries and plum. Bright and fruity with
a hint of sweetness.

Simply White (Per bottle- $7.19, Per case- $86.28)
A graceful balance of ripe, juicy peach, citrus
and melon with a silky texture. This white wine
bridges the gap between dry and sweet.

White Champagne (Per bottle-$10.79, Per case- $129.48)
Michigan’s Sesquicentennial Champagne which
is our original and most popular. Extra-dry, which is
actually semi-sweet in champagne terminology.

White Grape Juice (Alcohol Free) (Per bottle- $3.59, Per case- $43.08)
Sparkling Juice! Juices are plus deposit

Labels available on 750ml bottles only. 187ml bottles are not available for private labels.

Design & Set-Up Fees (this is one charge, not per case)

1 to 2 Cases $20.00
3 to 5 Cases $25.00
6 or more Cases $30.00 ***No extra charge for colors or logos.

If you're looking to incorporate "Michigan" into your wedding, look no further than St. Julian's Winery. It's a wonderful way to support local businesses, and guests will love the local flavor!

Wed Michigan is Blog of the Week!

2008-11-17T08:08:00.001-05:00

A BIG thank you to Amanda Freeman of Bliss Weddings for featuring Wed Michigan as her "Blog of the Week"!!!

Le'Penn Designs

2008-11-15T12:47:00.006-05:00

Networking with Michigan vendors has really started to pay off, and I'm delighted to have connected with Le'Trice Penn of Le'Penn Designs, a Detroit-based invitation company. Her designs and products are trendy and beautiful and I am so happy to have discovered her! Follow her blog for great tips and ideas!

How did Le'Penn Designs get started?
Every time I get asked this question I have to laugh because my husband and I started the business right after we got married versus creating all of the stationery for our wedding, which would have been an ideal start to our business. I think with all the hustle and bustle of just trying to plan the wedding I didn't want to take on another major project. So, we officially started at the very end of 2006 when my husband, Charles, and I were discussing starting a new business venture and I thought invitations and stationery would be a perfect fit because I have always had a natural talent for design. I had created the flyers and website for my sorority {DST} in college and was always called upon by family and friends to create some type of invitation for them. Our first order officially came in January 2007 and the rest is history! I am amazed at how much the business is growing and I'm anxious to see where we end up 5 years from now. Our business is my absolute passion and it is something that I put all of my energy and creativity into. There is nothing else I'd rather be doing than designing fabulous paper for so many wonderful clients!

What is your favorite part about working in the wedding industry in Michigan?
First let me say that I love residing and working in Michigan because we have all 4 of the seasons. This is so great because we are able to work with couples that get married in each of the seasons, which gives us a larger variety of design styles. From a winter wonderland wedding using faux snow and fur...to a springtime wedding with beautiful butterfly embellishments...to a summer wedding with fan style programs...and ending with a fall wedding covered in fall foliage graphics. I'm smiling and excited right now just thinking about all the different ways we are able to custom design a wedding invitation from scratch that is unique and memorable to the clients and their guests. Along our journey in this business we have also had the pleasure of working with some wonderful wedding vendors. This is truly a state full of talented and hardworking individuals and I am so happy to be a part of it.

What is a piece of advice you would give Michigan brides when choosing their stationery?My first piece of advice to all of you lovely Michigan brides would be to decide exactly what you want your wedding invitations to "say" about your big day. I know there are brides that might feel like the invitations aren't important because they think guests are going to throw them away, but just consider looking at them as more than just a piece of paper. Your invitations are important as they set the tone for your event, so don't just settle for a piece of ivory cardstock with black print....how blah is that? Instead try to figure out your budget in order to see what styles fit. You'd be surprised to find that custom invitations are very affordable and not much more expensive than the generic invitations you find in those "big 'ol books". The beauty of it all is that they will be designed just for YOU. Who wouldn't want something tailored to fit their style, personality, and theme? It's just up to you to let the paper "speak" to you!

September's Bride... A Fresh Approach to Formal

2008-11-12T18:41:00.004-05:00

Introducing September's Bride- an absolutely adorable, upscale bridal shop in downtown Holland! September's Bride carries a gorgeous collection of gowns and accessories for brides across Southwest Michigan, and owner Tami Parks was kind enough to share some wonderful insight on Wed Michigan!

{Photo by Steven Fox Photography, Dress by Lila Couture}

What is your favorite part of living in Michigan?
I do enjoy the beautiful seasonal changes, but as each winter comes, I find myself wishing it away! I love the people in West Michigan; I do not think there are many other areas in the country with a concentration of people who have such strong faith, values, and work ethic.

How did September's Bride get started?
I grew up learning about clothing & textiles in my parents' drycleaners. (Lemon Fresh Cleaners in Holland) After my mother developed chronic health issues, I began taking over cleaning the speciality items that came into the cleaners. This included wedding gowns. Three years ago, I started a company called Great Lakes Wedding Gown Specialists; we preserve wedding gowns and restore vintage gowns. One of my clients closed her bridal salon in Downtown Holland and after a few months, we reopened it as September's Bride. Often, people ask about the name of the store. My husband named the store after me; we were married on September 18, 1992; and signed the papers to purchase the store on September 18, 2007!

What is a piece of advice you would give Michigan Brides when choosing
their wedding gown?
Wear what makes you feel beautiful, confident, and comfortable. It does not really matter what the name of the designer is, how much you paid for the gown, or what your bridesmaids think of your choice. Work with a gown consultant who takes the time to understand what your wedding will be like and can help you find several appropriate choices.

{Photo by Riversedge Photography, Dress by Casablanca}

Some of September's Bride services include on-site fittings, alterations, as well as gown delivery on your big day! Be sure to visit their sister company, Great Lakes Wedding Gown Specialists for your gown cleaning and preservation. Thank you, Tami!

Bliss Weddings: Part 2

2008-11-11T07:31:00.004-05:00

As promised, here is Amanda Freeman of Bliss Weddings real Michigan wedding! Thank you for sharing your wonderful day with us!

After planning my clients’ weddings for a few years, I thought I had nailed down exactly what I wanted before I was even engaged. That all changed as soon as Nick, my husband, popped the question on October 19, 2006! At the time, I was coaching a High School cheerleading team as a part time job. At the very last game of the season, in front of a full crowd, the local news reporters and all of my family and friends, Nick proposed on the 50 yard line at half time. I was in shock when I turned around to see my mom, my sisters and my closest friends standing behind him as he got down on one knee with a pretty white box and rose. He even had the team hold a huge sign that said “Amanda, Will You Marry Me?”. I had lost my dad in late 2005 to cancer, and during his last weeks, Nick went to him and said, “If you would allow it, I want to spend the rest of my life with your daughter. I want to keep her safe and love her for as long as we live. I want you to know that she will be taken care of when you are gone.” This was the most amazing way to start our new life together.

The color scheme was a classic ice blue, chocolate brown and silver. The perfect winter color combo. We used The San Marino Club in Troy, Amanda Williams Photography, Buttercream Bakeshop in Wixom, Thomas & Thomas DJs, Our Shepherd Church in Birmingham and Moni’s Bridal in Farmington. All were fabulous! In order to save money, we had an off season wedding on a Friday night (January 25, 2008) and did our own flowers. No one complained about the weather or the fact that they had to take a day off work! Most of them were happy to have an extra day to recover over the weekend! The day was gorgeous. A beautiful January winter day. Average temperatures, fluffy snow on the ground and a mostly sunny sky! The ceremony went off without a hitch, Nick’s vows were beautiful and we were surrounded by everyone we’d hoped would be there. After some freezing photos in downtown Birmingham, we headed to the reception. The room was decorated perfectly and the food was delicious! Our dance floor was packed, the cake was served and we finally headed back to the hotel for our first night as husband and wife.

Of course a few things went wrong, but I was so happy that I didn’t even notice! The hall forgot our appetizers, so most of our guests were pretty tipsy before we even arrived! A waitress dropped a tray full of glasses on the dance floor, but our fabulous DJ was right there to clean it up. Our tall Eiffel tower vases wouldn’t hold the weight of the flowers, so we had to toss the idea aside. But honestly, not a single person noticed and we had the BEST time!

{Amanda Williams Photography}

Bliss Weddings: Part 1

2008-11-10T10:10:00.008-05:00

I've had the opportunity to connect with Amanda Freeman, owner of Bliss Weddings in the Detroit area. Wed Michigan is happy to share her wonderful business as well as her very own Michigan wedding! Thank you, Amanda! Look for her real Michigan wedding in Part 2 of this post and be sure to check out her wonderful blog!

When did you know that wedding planning was the career for you? How did you get started?
I honestly don’t know the exact moment when it all started, but there a few times when I knew that it just felt right. When I was growing up, my mom was always the one in my family that hosted the holiday parties and summer BBQs. I would always pitch in and help as much as I could. During High School and College, I was very involved in Student Activities and helped plan dances, student organizations, groups and parties. When I was 21, my Aunt asked me to help coordinate her wedding and I fell in love! I was enthralled by the organization and even the chaos! I started searching for a way to gain experience and learn the trade. That is when I found an internship with the company I now own. I hit the ground running and the rest is history! I haven’t looked back since and wouldn’t change a thing.

What is your favorite part about living in Michigan?
Michigan is such an amazing place to live. We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes, lakes and so many trees! The talent in Michigan is out of this world. From photography to paper design, the professionals in the area are some of the best in the world. It seriously blows my mind every day. You can travel an hour and see big cities, small towns, lake front villages and some of the most unbelievable views. These locations make great vacation spots and wedding locales! Not to mention that I grew up here and so did most of my family.

What is some advice you can give Michigan brides when planning their wedding?
As much as I hate to say it, the economy in Michigan isn’t the best right now. With so many people struggling, it is important to start your new life on the right foot. Starting with a realistic budget is always your best bet and having someone in the field to help you make decisions is the best way to stick to that budget. Also, create an event that expresses your personalities. The best weddings are the ones where you can really get a feel for the couple tying the knot.

Any other words of wisdom or interesting facts we should know about you?
There are so many pieces of advice that I can offer up, but the most important thing is to remember what the day is really about. Two people, who are madly in love with each other are making the decision to spend the rest of their lives together. If you remember that, nothing can stop you from enjoying the most perfect day imaginable. Issues will always come up, details will be missed, and emotions will always run wild. Keeping yourself grounded will not only keep you sane, it will guarantee an amazing wedding that you and your family and friends will remember for a lifetime!

{Anne Ruthmann and Nicole Ladonne Photography}

I Heart You, Michigan!

2008-11-09T11:37:00.001-05:00

Does anyone else love Michigan for this very reason?

Winter Wonderland

2008-11-06T08:37:00.010-05:00

One of my favorite things about Michigan is the change of seasons... the first day in spring, the gorgeous lakes in the summer, crisp fall days, and of course, the romantic and beautiful winters.

More and more brides are moving away from the traditional June wedding, and holding their big day during fall and winter. What could be more romantic than a warm, candle-lit ceremony and a blanket of fresh white snow? Colors can be a variety of blues and whites or even creams and reds. Gold and purple is a fun, modern choice as well and can be an interesting twist to a winter wedding. Whatever you choose, there are so many amazing combinations that will make your winter wedding romantic and inviting. Not to mention prices can decrease during the winter months because vendors are eager to fill their weekends.

{Photo from Corbis}

A few of my favorite ideas to incorporate Michigan into your wedding: collect pinecones from your backyard and use as placecard holders or centerpieces, give jars of maple syrup or hot cocoa from a local store as your favors, or send out snowflake ornaments as your save the date cards the year before!

There are some downsides however. Michigan's weather is extremely unpredictable and if you have alot of alot of out-of-town guests, travel could be a nightmare if a blizzard hits. Although cold, the end of February is a wonderful choice for a winter wedding, as most snowstorms occur earlier in the season (but please, don't hold me to that!). I look forward to seeing some gorgeous winter weddings this year!

{Thank you Colleen Steves for sharing pictures of your beautiful Michigan wedding!}

Some Changes

2008-11-05T09:29:00.002-05:00

As you may have noticed, I've been busy changing some of the elements on Wed Michigan. Also, I am busy getting Wed Michigan's website up and running. I apologize for the lack of posts but I promise I'll be back again by the weekend!

Michigan brides, please remember to email me at wedmichigan@gmail.com if you'd like your wedding ideas posted! Link suggestions are welcome as well!

Katie + Jim: October 25, 2008

2008-10-31T12:18:00.012-04:00

This past weekend, one of my best friends was married and had her reception at the Royal Park Hotel in downtown Rochester. As one of her six bridesmaids, I was honored to be by her side.

Her theme was "New York City in the fall" and it was a perfect fit because they were engaged in Central Park! She used Emerald City Designs to help design her perfect day and the outcome was gorgeous. Her reception was upscale, glamourous, and fun and included chocolate dipped caramel apples to represent "The Big Apple". Four trees surrounded the reception room and were lit up with white Christmas lights to emulate Tavern on the Green. Every detail was perfect and the bride and groom looked radiant!

Here are a few pics from the "royal" affair!

{Dress- Macy's Bridal Salon, Somerset mall}

Thank you Lesley for the pictures!

A Grand Wedding

2008-10-21T08:56:00.010-04:00

Thank you to Aletha VanderMaas for sending in pictures of her gorgeous June 2007 wedding in Grand Rapids! She shared some great vendors and ideas for a Michigan summer wedding. After reading her description, I truly adore this Michigan bride and how she concentrated on the details she really felt were important, and had the day of her dreams. Aletha is also a wedding consultant in Grand Rapids so check out her blog for some great inspiration!

My wedding planning process was quite short--5.5 months to be exact. I always wanted a Friday evening wedding, and it was quite easy to find the vendors we wanted to use.

We booked our church (Grand Rapids First United Methodist) + photographer before anything else (even before the official engagement!) The reception venue (St. Cecilia's) came shortly after that. We went with brown + raspberry because Greg wanted the guys to wear brown suits and I wanted pink, but not light pink, something more vibrant. There was this amazing rose color, American Beauty, that I feel in love with, so we mixed that in. I have a florist friend who did the flowers as a gift, and she got all the flowers from Andicott's European Flower Market. We also went with an inexpensive caterer, so we could splurge on the photgrapher and deejay (Music Host Productions), as those were pretty important to us.

My sister is a graphic designer and did all the paper products--invitation suite, table numbers, and thank you hang tags for our Jones Soda favors. Our yummy cake was plain + simple, but delicious and adorable.

My mom made part of my wedding gown, which was awesome. I bought lace from Baltazor's, and had a friend make me a pattern. My mom sewed the lace jacket that went over my inexpensive gown. All the boys bought a brown suit they could/did wear again, and I found awesome silk, striped ties from an eBay seller in China. Although Greg looks handsome in a tuxedo, we knew a suit would be more practical for basically the same price.

The day came and went SO quickly. We are thankful for the amazing photos we have to remember + cherish our day with!

-Aletha VanderMaas

(Photos by Jen Kroll Photography)

Something Paper is Something Wonderful!

2008-10-19T16:56:00.013-04:00

After researching invitation companies in the Detroit area, I stumbled across a wonderful company called Something Paper. Owner Megan Scofield not only supplies adorable custom stationary, but is also a Michigan bride herself! She was nice enough to answer a few questions for Wed Michigan as well as share some gorgeous pictures of her Traverse City wedding at Ciccone Winery and Vineyard.

Check out Something Paper's website for all her great products!

What inspired you to get involved in the invitation industry?
You’re either a paper person or not, and you can consider me a paper person! I’ve always had a great love for everything paper, from stationery to wrapping paper. I wanted to do something creative everyday and working in this industry allows me to do so. It’s so easy to get caught up with email and e-vites that I wanted to encourage and inspire family and friends to correspond using beautiful, unique stationery and invitations.

What should a bride remember when picking out the stationary for her wedding?
Always remember that your wedding stationery will set the tone for the festivities ahead. It’s simple to incorporate your wedding colors, theme, as well as your own personal style into your wedding stationery. You can get creative with out breaking your budget!

As a Michigan bride, what was your favorite part of getting married here?
Having a fall wedding was my favorite part of getting married in Michigan. My husband and I were lucky to have found such a beautiful and unique venue in Northern Michigan. The Vineyard was a beautiful setting in October, the trees were full of color and the air was clear and crisp!

What was the best part of your wedding planning process and your wedding day?
It’s so hard to pick just one moment of your wedding day to call the best, but it in general, the day could not have been more perfect. Just having our family and close friends with us through out the planning process and then celebrating the big day means everything to both my husband and myself.

Thank you for sharing your big day with us, Megan!

3-2-1... Cheese!

2008-10-18T22:05:00.007-04:00

Check out this awesome company! ShutterBooth supplies photobooths in the Detroit and Grand Rapids area. Check out their website and their blog to see all the great events they've done!

What a great way to document how much fun your guests are having at your reception. Photobooths are such a huge trend right now and ShutterBooth certainly provides an amazing service for Michigan brides!

Seeking Michigan Brides!

2008-10-16T18:07:00.003-04:00

Want to share your big day on Wed Michigan? Email me at wedmichigan@gmail.com and I'll post pictures, ideas, and share your story! I'm looking for unique venues, fun ideas, and weddings from Traverse City to Mackinac to Detroit. Share your special day with other Michigan Brides!!!

Engaged and deep in planning-mode? Email your Michigan wedding ideas as well!

Nature's Hidden Gems

2008-10-11T07:53:00.016-04:00

Michigan is filled with so many beautiful venues to have a wedding, from hotels to an endless amount of banquet halls. But there are also quite a few "hidden gems" that celebrate the natural beauty that Michigan has to offer. Being from the midwest, I am drawn to the four seasons, gardens, lakes, and of course, the woods. These fairly unknown venues salute the outdoors and Michigan's natural beauty.

Kalamazoo Nature Center

The Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden at the Kalamazoo Nature Center is an outdoor oasis surrounded by gardens, trees, and butterflies. It seats up to 250 guests yet holds an intimate and personal feel. The Nature Center is home to many of Michigan's wildlife and allows your guests to enjoy the habitat displays before the ceremony begins. The timber-framed barn onsite sits in the middle of southwest Michigan's woodlands and provides a feeling of rustic elegance for your reception. Growing up near Kalamazoo, my family and I went to the Nature Center all the time and it truly is a hidden gem that I love!

Frederik Meijer Garden

Located in East Grand Rapids, we visit the gardens every holiday season to see the Christmas tree displays from around the world. The Frederik Meijer Gardens offer botanical gardens, a Japanese Garden, sculpture park, as well as a Children's Garden. There are a handful of options for a wedding including an atrium, conservatory, and outdoor waterfall display that truly takes your breath away. Although it is alittle on the pricey side, there are so many beautiful and different things to see and do. Your ceremony and reception can be on the same sight and your guests will never be bored. It truly is a magnificent venue!

Lake Michigan

Of course we know how much I love lakes, so I had to include Lake Michigan in general because of the miles of coastline along the west side of the state. Whether you choose a beach in South Haven or Traverse City, there are so many possibilities for your wedding day. You can have pictures taken on a pier in Ludington or on the streets of downtown Holland, surrounded by cute shops and restaurants. There is nothing more natural to me then getting married barefoot in the sand, and you don't have to travel to Mexico to do it!

Photo courtesy of: Purcell Photography

Your Backyard

I'm a huge advocate of tent weddings, and what a better way to share your personalized wedding day then to have it in your own backyard! If you have enough flat land to put up a tent and enough room for guests to be comfortable, then your home is a perfect place to share with everyone. Guests can come from their hotel by trolley or bus and spend the afternoon or evening enjoying the outdoors. Although you will have to rent virtually everything that needs to be set-up, you are working with a clean slate that can be transformed into a gorgeous outdoor venue. And what a better excuse to do some extra landscaping and cleaning before the big day!

Wedding of Lee Sossen and Sherri Williams as seen on HGTV

Michigan has so many great venues to choose from, but using alittle imagination and creativity, you can find a place that is unique and different from anything your guests have ever seen.

Lesley + Matt: August 9, 2008

2008-10-09T02:03:00.018-04:00

Since I'm just getting started, I thought I'd begin by sharing one of my personal favorites for a "Michigan" wedding. This past August, a good friend of mine was married at Gull Lake, about 20 minutes East of Kalamazoo. The setting was not only a perfect fit for the couple's laid back and relaxed personalities, but it was the perfect salute to one of southwest Michigan's many small town lakes. The Gull Lake Country Club put on an amazing reception and the venue spoke volumes to the guests with Gull Lake sparkling in the backdrop the entire night.

My favorite thing about my friend's wedding was how she incorporated so much of the environment in her decorations. From the bright "water blue" bridesmaid dresses, to the grass-filled placecard holder, the bride's designs gave us all a sense of calmness while being at the lake, yet holding its traditional and elegant feel. Centerpieces switched between a multi-colored tablescape of three low vases and a single vase of blues and creams, while the cake dripped in purples and blues.

The bride and groom even had time to visit Bell's Brewery in downtown Kalamazoo before the reception, and saluted one of their favorite Southwest Michigan watering holes. This is such a memorable idea that won't break the bank and has your guests remembering something unique about your big day.

If you're from Kalamazoo or the surrounding area, Gull Lake Country Club is not only in a gorgeous location, but provides top notch, professional staff. It is close enough to downtown Kalamazoo to allow your guests easy access to hotels such as the Radisson, as well as allow you to utilize the areas dining and spas for all the pre-wedding fun. Look for an upcoming blog specifically saluting Kalamazoo brides!

Great Lakes... Great Weddings!

2008-10-07T09:17:00.000-04:00

I've decided to start this blog due to my two obsessions- weddings and my home state of Michigan. I've surrounded my life with all things wedding and while I'm starting my consulting business, I want to be able to share venues, ideas, and real weddings from this beautiful state.

The Great Lakes State features some of the most amazing places to plan your wedding- from the urban cities like Ann Arbor, to the rural landscape of Petoskey. I plan to showcase vendors from all over Michigan as well as share some of my unique and creative ideas that not only make your wedding your own, but highlights Michigan's natural beauty.

Feel free to comment, or email ideas from your wedding! Enjoy and cheers to Michigan weddings!