Pearls Events Blog | Michigan Event Planning

Weekend Eye Candy

2009-11-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

When the images of Michelle & Michael's wedding popped up in my gReader earlier this week, I immediately emailed my friend Kelly of Kelly Powers Photography to see if I could use for a Weekend Eye Candy post.

There is SO much about this wedding I love. The yellow used here is fresh and clean - perfect! I am completely jealous of that adorable teal car they used too - what a great contrast to the flowers. Michelle's dress is stunning and the bodice details are not to be missed. And lastly - the cupcakes. I'm usually not a HUGE cupcake fan, and usually prefer a traditional cake, but in this instance, the cupcakes have gorgeous 3-dimensional flowers on them adding a bit of fun and sass to their traditional reception.

A huge thanks to Kelly for allowing me to post this wedding and a big congrats to the newlyweds, Michelle & Michael!

Great Find | Rifle Design

2009-11-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

Anna Bond is an illustrator and paper goods designer who creates one-of-a-kind, whimsical pieces of art. I have been lusting over her work since yesterday when event planner, Alicia from A Day in May, shared Anna's blog with me.

There are so many beautiful pieces to look at, but one of my favorites is Anna's own wedding. Wow! If you have a little time today, pop on over to her blog or website and get lost for a few minutes, or possibly an hour.

(All photos copyright Anna Bond)

Inspiring Floral Design | Katie Elfers

2009-11-04T07:00:00.002-05:00

When these images popped up in my gReader yesterday, I smiled. It's been pretty gray and rainy in Michigan over the past few weeks, and although I'm excited for the upcoming holiday season, spring gets closer everyday. Since our wedding season starts up in May, you could say I'm a bit excited for the crocus, daffodil and tulips to pop through the soil.

I know, I know...I have at least six months sans flowers in our yard, however a girl can dream! Dream and look at photos like this - aren't those blooms beautiful?!

(Floral design, Katie Elfers via Lucky Me! Copyright JMM Photography)

Glamour's Engagement Chicken

2009-11-03T08:00:00.008-05:00

When my friend told me about Glamour's recipe for Engagement Chicken, I thought she was joking. But sure enough, I Googled it and there it was at the top of the page - How to Make "Engagement Chicken." Awesome. Wish I would have found this when it originally ran in 2004! If you're up for a little more fun, read some of the comments here.

I will be the first to tell you I was quite anxious to marry my now-husband, Greg. Being surrounded by weddings for years, I had planned, in my head, our wedding at least 20 times by the time we were finally engaged. If I would have known about this recipe, I am superstitious enough to have tried it - at least once, possibly twice, just to see.

For all of you soon-to-be-engaged ladies out there - yes, I have a feeling SOME of you are reading - all you need to do, supposedly, is follow the recipe below...

Engagement Chicken

1 whole chicken (approx. 3 lb.)
2 medium lemons
Fresh lemon juice (1/2 cup)
Kosher or sea salt
Ground black pepper

Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Wash chicken inside and out with cold water, remove the giblets, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander until it reaches room temp (about 15 minutes). Pat dry with paper towels. Pour lemon juice all over the chicken (inside and outside). Season with salt and pepper. Prick the whole lemons three times with a fork and place deep inside the cavity. (Tip: If lemons are hard, roll on counter top with your palm to get juices flowing.) Place the bird breast-side down on a rack in a roasting pan, lower heat to 350 degrees and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and turn it breast-side up (use wooden spoons!); return it to oven for 35 minutes more. Test for doneness—a meat thermometer inserted in the thigh should read 180 degrees, or juices should run clear when chicken is pricked with a fork. Continue baking if necessary. Let chicken cool for a few minutes before carving. Serve with juices. Pray he proposes soon!

Weekend Eye Candy

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

I am thrilled to be featuring the recent wedding of Tiffany and Jeremy, photographed by Mindy of Mindy Leigh Photography. I think my favorite detail is that beautiful wreath on the front door of the Dimnet Chapel on the campus of Hope College. WOW! I absolutely love the colors and fullness.

Congrats to Tiffany & Jeremy on a lovely wedding day - I don't think you could have ordered better weather!

Spotlight | Deborah Nadel Design

2009-10-29T10:00:00.002-04:00

While in Las Vegas for Engage!09 :: The Encore, I had the pleasure of meeting Deborah of Deborah Nadel Design. I introduced myself at the welcome party, and we ended up sharing a bit about ourselves over lunch during the conference. Deborah is a genuine and modest woman. Meeting her was one of the highlights of my trip.

Upon returning home, I followed up with Deborah. I was interested in her work based on the conversations we shared and her out-of-this-world business card. Little did I know what her portfolio included - amazing invitations for lucky brides, lovely lettering which made me sigh in delight and world-class advertisements for Crabtree & Evelyn and Tiffany & Co. I had a chance to ask her all the questions that were on my mind via email after I returned home. I hope you enjoy our Q+A.

How long have you been doing calligraphy professionally?
A little over 20 years.

What got you interested in starting your the business?
I was an art director at an advertisement agency and designed a brochure for a client that had hand drawn headlines. I did the mock-up headlines, thinking we would hire an artist to redraw them, but the client was happy with mine. I started learning more about calligraphy and letter forms, taking classes at the New School in New York and also joined the Society of Scribes.

I thought this could be interesting work that I could do from home, allowing me to spend more time with our daughter, who was two at the time. Eventually, I was able to do just that. For a long time, I focused on calligraphy and some commercial lettering. Then I designed a Bat Mitzvah invitation as a gift to my friend's daughter and voila! my invitation business began. Currently, the three areas of work - invitations, commercial lettering and calligraphy - keep me busy, but I feel that it's a great mix for me.

What is your favorite color ink to use?
Gold. I custom mixed a nice antique gold for a recent project and it worked really well. It was on Crane's pearl white paper and the letters just flowed!

How many different types of pens do you use?
I use two different pen holders, one straight & one angled, and an assortment of pen nibs. I use the straight holder with broad edged nibs for book hand or italic style writing and use the angled holder with pointed nibs for the more flourished copperplate scripts. The angled holder helps maintain the steeper angle of the script letter forms.

What is the most elaborate project you've worked on to date?
Two projects come to mind...

Invitations
This one, above, had a lot of decorative elements working together: flourished calligraphy, ribbon corners, floral background layer, pearlized pocket folder with ribbon and gold embellishment. It required quite a bit production time - a labor of love! I love how it turned out.

Commercial Lettering
I worked on a holiday advertisement campaign, above, for Tiffany & Co. that started as a few hand lettered headlines for newspapers in Japan. It expanded to include United Kingdom and United States newspapers, with more headlines. Then, magazine ads, bus kiosks, web, in-store displays and a really nice mailer with lettering throughout. It kept me busy for months and was very exciting to see my work in so many places at once!

What is your favorite letter to write?
I especially like to write W and Q in script - they both lend themselves to some pretty flourishing. In a recent Tiffany & Co. project, I worked with some other letters that were also fun to flourish.

How do you and your husband enjoy spending a work-free day?
We will visit our daughters - Sheahan, who lives nearby in Long Beach and Corey who lives in Manhattan, attending Fashion Institute of Technology. Actually, we all enjoy spending time in the city and look for any excuse to be there - shopping, looking at art, eating!

In addition to spending time with our daughters and in New York City, I enjoy gardening, reading, going out for coffee (a lot!), and visiting with friends...that pretty much covers it.

Including Maps & Directions in Your Invitation

2009-10-28T13:00:00.000-04:00

In an age of Mapquest and Global Positioning Systems, including a map and directions in your wedding invitation might seem wasteful to a practical bride. I have yet to adopt a GPS system, but I would be lost without Mapquest and use it weekly.

However, no matter how tech savvy your guests are, including a map or directions they can pop into their purse or pocket on the way to the ceremony is an easy way to make sure every single guests knows exactly where they are headed when they walk out the door.

Adding an insert to your wedding invitation is not free, however having the peace of mind that great Aunt Joy will be able to tell Uncle Sal where to turn at the busy intersection could be worth it.

Since 99% of our guests at my own wedding were local, we included directions only. With our church being located right downtown, it can be confusing what exit to take, and what way to turn. It was also a great place to note where convenient, free parking was located.

What are you doing with your invitations?

Maps copyright LH Calligraphy found via Etsy.

Giveaway | Winner | Pixel & Hank

2009-10-26T13:30:00.002-04:00

The winner of our Pixel & Hank giveaway is Jill of Cora Anne Designs! I picked a number at random and it happened to be number eighteen, which was the comment from Jill. Her favorite fall accessory "...are my scarves, I start wearing them almost daily!" Thank you to everyone who entered to win.

Happy Anniversary | Felicia & Jeremy

2009-10-25T09:00:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with Felicia & Jeremy one year ago today. They planned a gorgeous wedding all the way from Texas, and Pearls Events was on hand to manage all of the details. It was a lovely, traditional wedding and working with them was an absolute blast!

Best wishes for another fantastic year, Felicia & Jeremy!

Giveaway | Pixel & Hank

2009-10-24T09:00:00.004-04:00

Don't forget to enter to win our Pixel & Hank giveaway by midnight tonight. Enter to win on this post by sharing your favorite fall accessory with us. We will announce the winner on Monday morning! Good luck.

Weekend Eye Candy

2009-10-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

I have been eying the wedding of Stephanie and Bryce on Amy Carroll's blog since she posted it in August. The couple created many handmade and vintage-inspired details, I could not stop looking at each image. From Stephanie's dress, to the pie buffet, this was country elegance at its best.

Stephanie and Bryce were married in my favorite UpNorth city, Glen Arbor. The ceremony took place outside a little school house followed by the reception at the Glen Arbor Township building. The couple opted for no wedding party, except their dog Morty. The entire day was intimate and a reflection of the couple. I love how everything came together and Amy Carroll captured it beautifully!

Preparing for Halloween

2009-10-22T09:00:00.002-04:00

The photos of this dessert table from Amy Atlas have been floating around the blogosphere for a week or so, however now that I finally put out own Halloween decorations, I wanted to share them as well. I wish we had a home large enough to host a celebration in honor of this fun holiday! Amy Atlas and her team always put together some amazing ideas and if you're looking to be inspired, I suggest you check out her work.

Recap | engage!09 :: the encore

2009-10-20T05:00:00.002-04:00

Completely in heaven at The Wynn Encore, our fabulous hotel.

Beautiful letterpress itinerary, copyright Garrett Nudd Photography

Some of the details, copyright Garrett Nudd Photography

Kathryn & Rebecca of Engaging Concepts, copyright Garrett Nudd Photography

Simon T. Bailey & Marcy Blum - Two of the four speakers

Blush Boutique Nightclub in The Wynn

Christy Weber of Junebug Weddings, a fellow Michigan lady at heart!

Lara from Southern Weddings, Jenn from Modern Day Floral, Rebecca from Engaging Concepts

Lindsey of Lindsey Nartker Designs, Cassandre of Fete Festa Fiesta, Joy of Garrett Nudd Photography & Liene of Splendid Communcations

The photo booth, copyright Love Life Images Studio

There is no way to miss the fact that Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce have planned, to date, four of the most talked about wedding industry conferences in the United States. Attending engage!09 :: the encore was a huge decision that I did not make lightly. I talked to former attendees Heather of Outstanding Occasions and Lara of Southern Weddings before making the decision to plunk down $1953 (conference = $1500, flight = $168, room = $285) to attend the conference in Las Vegas.

Lindsey & I arrived late Sunday evening and settled into our beautiful room for the night. Monday we woke up late and walked The Strip for a while, enjoying the afternoon sunshine. We popped into a few shops, but neither of us wanted to spend too much time indoors. After our stroll, I went down to the pool solo for a bit, to relax and enjoy the views, and ended up running into Lara in the middle of a photo shoot.

That evening we attended the welcome party at the spa. It was lovely to meet & greet many of the wedding professionals in attendance, as well as tour the world-class spa. I admit that I was worried I would be tired on Tuesday, so I retired to my glorious bed quite early instead of enjoying the Las Vegas nightlife.

Tuesday I was one of the few attendees to be at breakfast by 7:30a. The entire day was thought-provoking. The speakers were dynamic and the conversations between the speakers & attendees was fascinating. I began thinking about what I do, what I want to do, who I want to work with, and why I do what I do. The best way to share the entire day is to link you to Julianne's live blogging, which was done during the conference. She gives a play-by-play of the day if you're interested in reading about each speaker in detail.

After the 11-hour day, I was ready to go back to our room and unwind before the evening cocktail party. We arrived right on time and nibbled on all the food the Wynn had prepared for us. It was a great evening to meet & greet more attendees, and enjoy the everyone in attendance.

Wednesday morning we enjoyed breakfast in the Wynn Wedding Courtyard. It was fabulous to chat with everyone one last time before packing up. I ended up spending the entire unplanned afternoon with Jenn from Modern Day Floral. We digested the conference with one another and enjoyed dinner together before my red eye flight back to Detroit with Lindsey.

I know I can never learn enough when it comes to running my business. This year I've had the opportunity to attend three educational events - Blogging Bootcamp, Eventology, and now Engage!09. So, the big questions...

1. Was it worth the investment & time away from work & family? Yes.
2. Will I be going back next year? I'm not certain.
3. Would I recommend this conference? Yes.
4. What is the biggest/best thing I learned? Be authentic. Learn to say no. Charge what you're worth. This is, after all, a business and not a hobby.

And my final 2¢ about engage!09 :: the encore...if you have a chance to experience it, go. I don't think it will change your business instantly, however after you digest what you've been learned, (which I'm still working on!) you will see things differently. I have already made small changes, which are actually working for me. And it has only been a week!

Giveaway | Pixel & Hank

2009-10-19T07:00:00.004-04:00

In true Pearls Events fashion, we are excited to announce another giveaway as we continue to celebrate the beginning of our third year! Daisy, a fab 2008 Pearls Events bride, has recently opened her lovely little Etsy shop, Pixel & Hank and I cannot get enough of her beautiful work. I had a hard time picking my favorite piece.

To win one of Daisy's original creations, all you need to do is comment on this post with your favorite fall accessory. I'll share my favorite....I recently found a danity yellow gold necklace with a unique brown faceted stone on it that has been my favorite over the past few weeks. It's sure to be a staple this entire season. Share yours and enter today!

Comment by Saturday, October 24th, 11:59pm EST to be eligible to win. I will announce the winner a week from today. If you need to get your hands on these lovelies right now, check out Daisy's store, Pixel & Hank, now.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

2009-10-15T07:00:00.005-04:00

I am just returning from Engage!09 :: The Encore this morning. I cannot wait to share my experience with a blog recap (complete with my snapshots from the trip) coming soon. It was a combination of learning, networking, relaxing in the Las Vegas sunshine & getting to know fellow Michigan event planner Lindsey Nartker a bit better, as we traveled & roomed together.

I will be back on Monday with a fabulous giveaway, the Vegas recap, plus other tidbits of information, which the Pearls Events is full of! Stay tuned...

The Getaway Car

2009-10-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

You've booked the ceremony and the reception. You've picked the cake flavors and made the do not play list for the DJ. You've even started racing home after work to get the mail, because the RSVPs are pouring in!

Now it's time for the details, including the logistics of getting from here to there. There are many options out there for transportation and depending on your style, budget and maybe a childhood dream, you can find something that will suit you.

A stretch limo, Hummer or Excursion are classic options. The trolley is one of my favorite because it fits everyone & their dates. Classic cars, such as a Mini above, make a really great statement. Your local classic car clubs might rent out their private fleet for weddings & events. Any unique car would be great for transporting the wedding party to your reception. I've even seen pictures of couples leaving via boat after their gorgeous lakeside ceremony.

Have any of you seen some amazing getaways you'd like to share?

[editor's note - this was orginally posted on February 13, 2008]

[image source]

Announcing Your Engagement

2009-10-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

What better way to officially announce your engagement than with a party? Engagement parties are not very common in my circle of friends. I've actually never attended one, but I secretly (or not so secretly...) would have liked one. My mom briefly talked about throwing one for us, but the timing wasn't right. While looking into engagement party tips, I found some info that was quite helpful for couples & their families. You can read the whole article here, but here is a brief snippet.

From The Knot, "Tradition has it that the bride's parents host the initial gathering, but the groom's parents can then throw their own party, or both sets can come together to host the fete. As you decide, here are five things the hosts should keep in mind:

1. Give the couple time to breathe
An impromptu family gathering the weekend after he proposed is the perfect opportunity to break out the vintage champagne, but don't schedule an all-out opulent affair during the engagement's first month.

2. Find out the size of the wedding that the couple has in mind
Everyone who is invited to the engagement party should ultimately be invited to the wedding.

3. Consider what will make the in-laws most comfortable
Since the engagement party custom was actually designed to help you start building bridges between the families, consider their style.

4. Suggest that the couple register beforehand
While traditionally guests have not brought presents to this function, increasing numbers do today, and it's only fair to provide guidance.

5. Remind yourself that there is still a wedding to throw
Every host wants to plan an unforgettable affair, but you never want to upstage the main event.

[editor's note - this was originally posted on April 7, 2008]

(image from The Knot)

Which One is The Groom?

2009-10-12T08:00:00.003-04:00

We always hear about the bride's gown...
"Did she find the gown?"
"She will just know it's the one."
"The perfect dress is out there."

But rarely do I hear about grooms endlessly searching for their tux/suit/khaki pants. Do grooms spend weekends with friends & family, finding the perfect thing to wear on the big day? Even though the groom might not fret over his wardrobe choice, he should stand out against the sea of other good looking men: groomsmen, ushers, dads & grandpas.

I was searching The Knot for some tips on making the groom stand out, and here is what I found. You can see the whole article here.

Alternative Tux Wearing a subtly different jacket from those of your groomsmen is a surefire way to make your mark.

A Fancier Flower A unique boutonniere, a "mini-corsage" worn on the jacket lapel, is the easiest way to help guests single you out.

The Telltale Tie Boost your "all about me" factor by wearing a different colored tie or bow tie than the gang.

Variety in the Vest Pick a vest that's a different color from that of your groomsmen.

[editor's note - this was originally posted on April 1st, 2008]

[images via The Knot]

Giveaway | Winner

2009-10-11T19:00:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who celebrated our second anniversary by submitting their scrumptious fall treats in our contest last week. Jill of Cora Anne Designs picked our winner at random, and I'm excited that Alyse of Alyse Woodward Events is our winner! Her favorite fall treats are pumpkin chocolate muffins and hayrides through pumpkin patches! Congrats, Alyse!

If you're in lust with these kitschy necklaces, head on over to Jill's Etsy shop to see many more designs. With a price tag of $12, you can afford to get one for each of your bridesmaids to add to their thank you gift!

Happy Anniversary | Amy & Chad

2009-10-11T11:00:00.001-04:00

Amy & Chad's wedding happened to fall on THEE most gorgeous Fall day of 2008. The entire day was honestly awesome - the weather, the couple, the details, and the group of vendors they hired. Alison & I were thrilled to be a part of such a special day for this lovely couple.

Happy anniversary to Amy & Chad!

Weekend Eye Candy

2009-10-09T07:00:00.003-04:00

I absolutely love the fresh combination of mango, papaya, khaki and crisp white that Amber & Ryan chose for their wedding day celebration in White Lake, Michigan. I love the way Dan Stewart Photography captured the bridal party in the field - those are some of my favorites lately!

Giveaway | Cora Anne Designs

2009-10-06T08:00:00.006-04:00

Today is Sarah & Dan's two year anniversary, which also marks the official two year anniversary of Pearls Events. Jill from Cora Anne Designs is celebrating with us by sponsoring a contest to ring in year three!

Jill from Cora Anne Designs has been a Pearls Events blog reader for a while. She leaves sweet comments on this blog from time to time, and I finally connected with her via email when she started posting these funky fabric bead necklaces on her blog. She sells them on her Etsy site, and is offering one lucky reader a custom necklace to jazz up her fall wardrobe.

It's easy to enter...all you need to do is comment on this post by leaving your name & your favorite fall treat. Homemade Dutch apple pie tops my list. Since I grew up in between fields of apple trees, autumn was the time of year we'd ride our quad up to the orchards and pick enough apples to make pie and eat fresh apples for a few weeks. Fall reminds me of high school football games, homecoming dances, hayrides and pumpkins on the front porch. What is your favorite fall treat?

Real Wedding 2009 | Liz & Don

2009-10-05T09:45:00.002-04:00

Couple Liz & Don, 10-3-09
Pearls Events service Event Planning
Ceremony Fountain Street Church
Reception EVE Lounge at The B.O.B
Photographer Lisa Kae Photography
Videographer Coastline Studios
Florist Forrester Farm
Custom Designed Rentals Events by I. Candy
Pastry Chef MiraBella Confections
Beauty Splurge Salon & Spa
Extras The Photobooth Company, Elite Pedicabs

Liz was one of those brides-to-be that I clicked with instantly. We sat down last December to discuss her October 2009 wedding plans. She was in pharmacy school on the east side of the state while trying to plan a wedding on the west side of the state. We stepped in and the time we spent with her was fabulous! I cannot express how much I enjoyed working with this couple!

I dropped by the salon with breakfast Saturday morning before heading down to The BOB to begin transforming the room. Both Amy & Tara joined me to set the luxurious linens, customer chargers & menus, and chair treatments. I headed over to the JW Marriott to help Liz into her gown, then it was back to The BOB to make certain things were on track. Ann from Forrester Farm was assembling the centerpieces on-site, Tara worked on the escort card table, complete with custom lampshades from designers Events by I. Candy, while Amy was busy making sure each place setting was perfect. My team is amazing and I cannot do the work without them - thank you, ladies!

Amy & I hitched a ride to the church for the four o'clock ceremony. Everything went smoothly and thankfully, there was a break in the rain clouds for family photos outside the gorgeous front doors. We all jumped on the trolley and headed to the reception for the grand entrance.

Toasts and prayer preceded dinner, which was a scrumptious plated entree of both steak & chicken. The out-of-this-world, chocolate wrapped cake by MiraBella Confections was show-stopping. It was cut & served after dinner and I've never tasted a cake so amazing - seriously. I must thank 2008 bride, Rose, for introducing me to Ken at MiraBella.

After dinner, the dancing portion of the evening began. Since EVE is a nightclub lounge, it is set up perfectly for a rockin' party. The deejay booth is huge and equipped with the right gear to keep the party going all night long. And it did - the dance floor was completely packed. And if you're not up for dancing, there are many little quiet spots in the club to hang out in.

Kobe beef sliders were served at nine o'clock and the dancing continued until the couple made their way to their hotel room via pedicab! It was an amazing way to end our fabulous 2009 wedding season. I look forward to showing you more photos from Lisa Kae Photography and hopefully can get my hands on some video coverage from John at Coastline Studios.

Congratulations to Liz & Don!

Happy Anniversary | Liza & James

2009-10-04T13:00:00.000-04:00

Liza & James are a seriously fun couple who were married one year ago today. It was a gorgeous Grand Rapids wedding we loved being a part of - big Catholic church, gorgeous ballroom reception - all on a perfect Fall day in Michigan.

Happy Anniversary Liza & James!

Happy Anniversary | Bree & Brad

2009-10-03T14:00:00.002-04:00

Bree & Brad were married a year ago today in Glen Arbor, Michigan. We were thrilled to be a part of their big day - complete with the most amazing details, many of which Bree shared on the series she wrote for The Pearls Events Blog in December.

And big news from this fabulous Pearls Events couple - Bree & Brad are expecting their first little guy shortly! I cannot wait to meet him when he arrives later this year.

Happy Anniversary Bree & Brad!