Planning a Michigan Wedding with Pearls Events

Great Find | Jacques Torres Chocolate Wedding Favors

2010-07-29T09:30:00.001-04:00

This is the most delicious wedding favor I've ever had the pleasure of taking home with me. Remember when I mentioned Joey & Chris absolutely spoiled their guests? Well, I may not have mentioned they absolutely spoiled each of their vendors too, but they did! I was beyond excited to take one of these little brown & orange boxes home with me after their July 3rd wedding.

I've always been an advocate of edible wedding favors, but these New York City Jacques Torres chocolate wedding favors top my list of yummy treats. In flavors like Hearts of Passion, Love Potion #9, Espresso, Wicked, LoveBug, and Hazelnut, how could you go wrong? Give your guests a beautifully boxed favor like this, and I will guarantee no one will accidentally "forget it" at the table at the end of the night.

(photos left, Jacques Torres website; photo right, Jen Kroll Photography)

Real Wedding 2010 | Joey & Chris

2010-07-27T10:30:00.002-04:00

I have been looking forward to Joey & Chris' wedding since chatting with Joey last November. The couple chose to work with the pastor who had married Greg and I in 2007, and I knew it was one ceremony I wouldn't want to miss.

Working with Joey and her mom, Shari, on this wedding was a treat. No detail was overlooked, and Joey & Shari are one of the most organized mother/daughter teams I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

From the beautiful alençon lace linens to the lush peonies, and the amazing favors representing each of their childhoods and their present life together, including Sarasota water, Michigan cherries & wine, and Jacques Torres chocolate - guests were spoiled all night long. After dinner, wedding cake, accompanied by a delicious dessert buffet & coffee bar was put out for guests to enjoy.

The night's entertainment including both The Cangelosi Cards and music from Andrew at Music Host Productions kept the dance floor packed all evening. Since Joey & Chris met while swing dancing, many of their friends share this passion as well, and danced until the wee hours.

And when people were not on the dance floor, they were lined up to partake in the Fourth of July themed photo booth, provided by their photographer, Jen Kroll. Joey collected tons of fun props to keep their guests laughing all night long - the mustaches were a huge hit!

Congratulations to Joey & Chris!

The Details...
Pearls Events Coordinators | Aletha, Stephanie & Megan
Ceremony | Ford Ballroom at Amway Grand Plaza
Reception | Pantlind Ballroom at Amway Grand Plaza
Officiant | Jennifer Browne
Makeup Artist | Julie Strating
Hair Stylist | TreAvanti
Flowers & Linens | Stems Event Design
Photographer | Jen Kroll Photography
Videographer | Coastline Studios
Band | The Cangelosi Cards
Disc Jockey | Music Host Productions
Pastry Chef | Amway Grand Plaza
Rentals | Events by I. Candy

Friday Favorite | July Vacation

2010-07-16T09:30:00.001-04:00

It's July, which means Greg & I are off for our annual summer vacation. Pearls Events has slowed down each July, which means I get a nice break from the busy season to head out on the open road with Greg. With August full of seven weddings, it's a great time to relax before I get busy again!

Last year, we drove 5000 miles in our VW Jetta Wagon with our destination being Lake Louise, Canada. This year, we are going to stay closer to home and head to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Not as far, but just as much camping, wildlife, hiking trails & time with nature and Greg.

Last November, I shared a few photos of the trip, but today I wanted to share a few more. I know, I know - photos of other people's vacations are boring, but honestly, if you've never been on a road trip in North America, maybe you'll catch the road trip travel bug and make you want to explore the beautiful back roads. Taking the long way, and soaking in every ounce of life.

Have a great week! I'll be back Monday, July 26th!

Mt. Rushmore - we had both been there as kids.

Giant, double rainbow on the way to Devil's Tower.

Beautiful road just outside of Alva, Wyoming, population 50. Yes, fifty.

A great sky around the abandoned church on the way to White Sulpher Springs, Montana.

The beautiful gardens in front of the Glacier Park Lodge

Me in a tree at Glacier National Park.

This is one of my favorites from the trip. Tons of waterfalls at Glacier!

At the end of our mini hike - Avalanche Lake

Totally worth the hike, although I whined the whole way. I was scared of bears crossing our path. We were the only people at the lake when we arrived.

An awesome arch in Glacier National Park

The Weeping Wall in Glacier.

It's a mountain. Which one, I'm not sure.

You could walk up to a glacier here, but it was all snowy and we were in sneakers. We took photos!

A Glacier Lily

Lake Louise. This photo is untouched - it's really that gorgeous.

Aletha at Lake Moraine

Get Married In Michigan | Ventura Pines Cottage

2010-07-14T17:00:00.000-04:00

As a West Michigan wedding planner, the biggest request for summer wedding venues I hear is "anything overlooking Lake Michigan."

The thing about the Lake Michigan lake shore, is that, for the most part, it is privately owned by individuals or home associations. I have heard stories that in the early years, the state of Michigan encouraged business owners to build cottages to populate the area. Many Chicago-area residents would make the drive into Michigan to their cottages throughout the summer, and I believe that is still the case with many of those family-owned homes.

Besides the few and far between summer camps along the shores, and a handful of hotels, for the most part, the shores are lined with various cottages and full-time homes. Some original, and some new construction.

With it's beautiful sunsets and clean sand, the property overlooking Lake Michigan is some of the most sought-after property in the entire state. And when brides come to me looking for a wedding on the big lake, the first place I think of is Ventura Pines Cottage, just north of Holland.

If you're a bride looking to get married overlooking Lake Michigan, check out Ventura Pines Cottage for your big day! Gail, the owner, rents the property by the week and weekend, but call early, because weekends tend to book up quickly! The property is absolutely amazing, and the view is second-to-none. For a tented reception overlooking the lake, this should be on your list to check out.

[top photo, copyright Lotus Photographic; bottom photos copyright Amy Carroll Photography]

Real Wedding 2010 | Cory & Ryan

2010-07-12T16:00:00.005-04:00

Cory & Ryan were married on one of those gorgeous days in June where the sun never stops shining! Christina & I began our day at Thousand Oaks Golf Club by setting up details created by Syd Design.

I headed to St. Robert's Parish in Ada to meet the wedding party. Since Cory & Ryan did not see one another prior to the ceremony, photos of the ladies and guys were done separately. St. Robert's sanctuary is stunning, and filled with friends & family it is my favorite part of every wedding I attend.

After the traditional receiving line, guests made their way to Thousand Oaks Golf Club for cocktail hour, while the wedding party hopped on the trolley for photos with their wedding photographer, Kristine Crawford. Ben & Tony from Deep End Films were also on hand to capture all the fun on video.

When the wedding party arrived at the reception, they were announced into the gorgeous room filled with beautiful white pintuck linens, four uniquely different floral centerpieces scattered throughout the room, perfectly coordinating day-of-stationery and the cake, which the bride designed herself. It was an absolutely lovely wedding which the bride and her mom planned together. I was thrilled to be a part of it!

After an absolutely scrumptious meal, the band, Trilogy, kept the guest floor packed the entire evening, and between the dancing, the photo booth, and the outdoor patio for cocktails all night, their guests have a wonderful time.

Best wishes to the happy couple!

The Details...
Couple | Cory & Ryan, 06.19.2010
Pearls Events Coordinators | Aletha & Christina
Bride's Hair | Panopoulos Salon
Ceremony | St. Robert of Newminster Parish
Reception & Wedding Cake | Thousand Oaks Golf Club
Photographer | Kristine Crawford Photography
Videographer | Deep End Films
Ceremony Soloist | Ginger Child Smith
Invitation Suite & Wedding Day Paper | Syd Design
Event Designer, Florist & Linens | Stems Event Design
Entertainment | Trilogy
Guest Experience | ShutterBooth
Transportation | Macatawa Area Express

Pearls Events Favorite | Doggie Attendants

2010-07-09T09:00:00.004-04:00

I'm a dog lover; little Miss Olive will be five in August, and I cannot imagine my life without her around. Since I'm totally nuts for my dog, I love when clients want to include their dogs in their big day.

In 2008, I shared our two canine attendants - Pixel & Argon - owned by Daisy + Greg, and Christina + Eric, respectively. They were both great little pups on the wedding day, and stuck around for photos with their owners.

If you are thinking of including your dog in your big day, work out the logistics and make it happen! Your dog is part of your family, and these are the ultimate family photos - your children & grandchildren will get a kick out of seeing these in years to come.

[Pixel copyright Amy Carroll Photography | Argon copyright LVL Photography]

Keeping Your Guests Cool

2010-07-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

With the hot & humid weather West Michigan has been experiencing, I have been thinking of ways to keep your guests cool during outdoor ceremonies.

If you plan on saying your wedding vows under the sun, make sure you provide your guests with some way to keep cool. I think my favorite idea is to have your ceremony under a giant tree, like the top photo. And since I realize not everyone has access to a gorgeous tree, providing cold drinks and fans to keep cool is another option. Parasols also offer a bit of shade for guests sitting in the sunshine on a hot day.

Your guests will thank you for thinking of them, especially during a long ceremony!

[sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Get Married In Michigan | Mayer Glad Farms

2010-07-06T12:00:00.004-04:00

This wedding screams MICHIGAN SUMMER to me, and upon seeing the photos from Dan Stewart Photography, I could hardly wait to share them. This is only a small portion of Traci & Austin's Michigan wedding; to see more, check out the photographer's blog post.

Inspiring details include: the bride's father's gladiola farm, organic floral arrangements, locally grown produce used throughout the day, custom benches at their ceremony site made by friends, and the groom, Austin, cooked & prepared all the delicious food for the meal. I also love the getaway vehicle used by the newlyweds!

Talk about a home-grown wedding!

Black Bridesmaid Shoes

2010-07-01T15:00:00.005-04:00

I've only been a bridesmaid once in my life, and I didn't have to pick anything out - I ordered the dress on file, bought the matching shoes, and was given a necklace & earrings to don on my friend's big day.

In a week, I'll be a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding and the look she has envisioned is a lot less bridesmaid-y and a lot more modern. I was gifted the most amazing J. Crew dress, and the bride's wishes of "any black shoe" turned into me looking for perfect pair of heels that made my calves look great in my knee-length frock. But the shoes also needed to be comfortable so I could dance into the wee hours with Greg. The search began....

I searched online, major area department stores, Van Hoecks, DSW, Nordstrom Rack - you name it, I bee-lined it for their shoe departments. There were heels, flats, platforms. Some with bows, some with rhinestones, some with straps. So many options, but none that worked for me.

Imagine my excitement when I came across the perfect pair of Ellen Tracy's at TJ Maxx. The place I was least expecting to find The Ones, I did. They fit perfectly, have a great heel height, my polished toes peep out from them the ideal amount, and they are black. They were a bit plainer than I had hoped to find, but $40 later, I was wearing them out for dinner with Greg to break them in.

I was cruising the Pixel & Hank Etsy store and happened to come across shoe clips. Honestly, I've never even considered adding shoe clips to jazz up my kicks, however, once I realized I could get the fun effect I was looking for, I placed my custom order with Daisy. Yesterday they showed up in my mail, and they are absolutely lovely.

Happy July, friends!

Celebrating with Sparklers

2010-06-30T15:00:00.001-04:00

Sparkler exits have been popular for years and with the Fourth of July holiday quickly approaching, I'm sure there are many summer brides planning on this grand exit this very weekend! Although it looks perfect in photos, coordinating this exit strategy is no easy task.

We have coordinated two sparkler exits in the past six weeks - one for Lauren & Greg on May 22nd and another for Emily & Tyler on June 4th. While it seems passing out sparklers and getting them going would only take moments, the reality is that you need to get all of your guests outside and assembled properly, which with 100+ people can take up to 20 minutes, especially if you're luring them away from a dance floor & an open bar.

After guests have their sparklers in-hand, you need to light them at about the same time so the newlyweds can gallivant through the middle & hop into their getaway vehicle. Easy, right? Well, the 36" long sparklers, which burn for four minutes, are difficult to light with a lighter, and with an ordinary match - forget about it. Sometimes a few 10" sparklers will be provided to help get them going, however in the past, these have gone missing.

We have found the easiest way to light the industry-strength sparklers are with tealight candles. Having candles burning, and available for guests to start their sparkler works quite well. And the sparklers tend to light best from one another, so getting a few going, and then "passing the flame" works well too.

My advice if you don't have a coordinator to handle this task, is to have your emcee make an announcement to gather outside to send the newlyweds off, have a few friends ready to pass out sparklers to each guests & make sure everyone is lined up properly, and then start a few sparklers on each end of the line you've created and have each guests pass their flame to the person next to them. You'll also need a fire-proof receptacle to gather the hot wires when finished - and be careful, the metal is hot!

It's such a dramatic exit - and one I absolutely love!

To save some money, don't order enough sparklers for each guest attending. While you may think everyone will stay until the end, chances are a few guests will leave prior to the newlyweds taking off.

Happy Fourth of July, United States readers! Have a safe & happy holiday. We have a wedding on Saturday and cannot wait to celebrate with them!

[top photo of Lauren & Greg, copyright Kelly Braman Photography; bottom two photos of Emily & Tyler, copyright Kai Heeringa Photography]

Summertime Has Arrived...

2010-06-25T11:18:00.005-04:00

Can you believe it's the final weekend of June? 2010 is just flying by!

Summer is in full swing here in the Pearls Events office, and besides working events, we've been working on some fun projects. This week we had two fun things on our agenda...

Tuesday, we designed a tablescape for an upcoming issue of InFrame Bride. With the team of vendors, it was no surprise the shoot turned out better than expected. When the magazine releases on September 1st, we'll be blogging about the shoot ASAP! I'm dying to see photos from K. Holly Photography. I will say we had breathtaking flowers from Stems Event Design, perfect stationery from Syd Design, a dainty sweet buffet from Iced Events, a photo-worthy cake from MiraBella Confections, brand new products from Pixel & Hank, plus tons of great rentals from Events by I. Candy - ooh goodness, it was amazing! Did I mention we lucked out with the perfect weather and ideal location? My team was awesome and I couldn't have done it without them - a huge THANK YOU to Kate, Megan & Stephanie! Ooh, I could go on & on - wait, I already have!

And then if that wasn't enough fun for one week, last night I was on our local PBS station to chat about wedding planning for a 1/2 hour call-in show (thanks again, Dusty!). I'm thankful people actually called in(!) with questions I could answer. I enlisted the help of Abbey from Syd Design, Barb from Sweet Cakes Design, and Ann from Forrester Farm to put together a show-stealing look for the set. It turned out just as we planned and the details were awesome! I took a snapshot of the set, however no professional photos exist. I do have a DVD of the show, however need to figure out how to save it to my computer and upload it. When I figure it out, I'll share it with you!

This weekend marks my third wedding anniversary. We were married on the final Friday of June in 2007. Three years ago today, I was hanging out with both of my sisters, our mom, and my dear friend, Emily, getting our hair & makeup done, and anxiously awaiting Jen Kroll's arrival. Greg and I are off to celebrate for the weekend and I'm looking forward to the adventure we're sure to have.

I hope you all enjoy this final weekend of June!

On Television | Ask the...Wedding Planner

2010-06-21T15:30:00.002-04:00

A couple of months ago, my friend Dusty Brown told me WGVU was looking for a local wedding planner to join Shelley Irwin on local PBS show, Ask the..., and he gave them MY name. Me? Seriously?

I talked to producer James Holland, and within the day, I had Barb of Sweet Cakes Design and Ann of Forrester Farm joining me for the June 24th program on WGVU. It will be live(!) and viewers will be encouraged to call in and ask the three of us wedding planning & design questions. I'm already nervous with anticipation of NOT knowing an answer off the top of my head.

Nightmares go something like this...

Caller: Traditionally, what is the order of the receiving line at the church?

Aletha : I actually have no idea, however, I have a fabulous book at home that I can look it up in. Or try Googleing it. May I get your email address and follow up with you?

Oy!

And because this WAS a real question from last Saturday's wedding, and I did NOT know the answer, you better believe I looked it up ASAP. And just in case you are wondering, a traditional receiving line is as follows...

Mother of the Bride
Mother of the Groom
Bride
Groom
Maid of Honor
All of the Bridesmaids

Traditionally, no men stand in the receiving line, except for the groom, of course. Child attendants also do not participate in the receiving line.

See? I'm nervous!

Barb, Ann and I got together a month ago to put together our design concepts to share with viewers, because we all know gorgeous linens, flowers, paper products and cake make my job much more fun from the outside looking in. The bold color palette - mango, magenta & avocado - will be making their appearance THIS THURSDAY at 6pm, EST. Stay tuned to see what both Ann & Barb create, as well as Abbey from Syd Design comes up with for all the little details for the show. I plan on blogging about it, especially if I get some good photos.

If you are a local reader, please tune in to WGVU from 6:00pm - 6:30pm EST on Thursday June 24th, 2010 to see me in action!

Made in Michigan | Pixel and Hank

2010-06-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

Daisy Rizzo (top middle & bottom left), a 2008 Pearls Events bride, has been a huge fan of ours since we met to chat about her wedding. She has continually cheered me on as I continue to build this wedding planning business. And in return, I've had the pleasure of watching her grow her own business, Pixel & Hank, an Etsy store full of gorgeous goodies for anyone looking for a truly unique accessory.

Recently, Daisy teamed up with another former client, Bree (top left & bottom right) and their wedding photographer, Amy, to style this FABULOUS shoot highlighting Daisy's newest collection. I'm loving all the pieces and cannot wait to see where this takes Pixel & Hank in 2010 and beyond.

You may remember the contest we held with Pixel & Hank back in October...well, if you haven't checked out the Pixel & Hank shop since then, you should - Daisy has added SO many new & lovely things!

Congrats, Daisy, for following your heart with Pixel & Hank!

[all photos copyright Amy Carroll Photography]

Get Married In Michigan | Mackinac Island

2010-06-15T07:00:00.005-04:00

As a Michigan wedding planner, a few perks slide across my desk from time to time. The most recent, was an invitation to kick off summer at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island. I could not turn down the generous offer, so Greg and I made the five-hour trek north to catch a ferry for Memorial Day weekend.

We had a great view of the lake from our room, the staff was attentive and we had an absolute blast with our dear friends Adam and Lindsey Nartker. We were treated to a carriage tour of the island and took advantage of our free time by exploring the island on foot. On Memorial Day, we rented beach cruisers and biked the perimeter of the island, stopping for ice cream halfway around. Neither Greg nor I had been to visit since we were kids and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

And because I think about weddings a lot, we explored the wedding facilities, both inside and out. Mission Point is simply a gorgeous place to get married, especially if you're a water lover. The wedding photos of Cimbery and Chris, above, courtesy of Amy Carroll, were taken at their wedding at Mission Point in 2009. And the snapshots from around the island, were from my point 'n' shoot!

If you're looking for a truly unique location to tie the knot in Michigan, Mackinac Island should absolutely be on your list of places to scout.

Gorgeous Vintage-Inspired Wedding Video

2010-06-11T08:30:00.003-04:00

This short & sweet wedding video is absolutely gorgeous! John from Coastline Studios sent it my way, and although the entire film captures all the little details of Michelle & Joe's wedding day, my favorite part is at the very end of the one minute trailer, when the couple is riding in the car together.

If you're looking for vintage wedding inspiration, make sure to check out Michelle & Joe's wedding details in this video - you will not be disappointed!

[1940's-Inspired Wedding Teaser from Coastline Studios]

Pink and Yellow Sweet Table

2010-06-09T11:00:00.001-04:00

Remember that gorgeous yellow and ivory wedding I showed you a couple of weeks ago? Well, our upcoming photo shoot is approaching and I recently spotted this eye-catching display from Amy Atlas.

I'm thrilled to share we have partnered up with Ali from Iced Events on creating a custom sweet table for Pearls Events. I cannot wait to see what Ali dreams up for the shoot and I cannot wait to share the details once they are ready to share!

Real Wedding 2010 | Emily & Tyler

2010-06-08T08:00:00.011-04:00

Listening to wedding ideas from the bride & her mom last October, I knew Emily & Tyler's wedding was one their guests would remember for years to come. And when Mary, Megan & I arrived for rehearsal, I was smitten with the location. Two tents were nestled among the trees, and the ceremony site was situated in front of the pergola - an instant setting for a magical evening. And magical it was...

The event design was spectacular and exactly what the bride & her gracious mom, Sheri, imagined - tents draped in flowing fabric, chandeliers to set the mood, gorgeous linens from La Tavola, and amazing place settings. Abbey from Syd Design set the stage with the adorable invitations, escort cards, table numbers and ceremony programs. Jenn and her entire team at Modern Day Floral did an outstanding job with every last design detail, down to the dishes, and we were honored to be a part of such a gorgeous day!

And although thunderstorms were in the forecast, only a couple of small showers popped up throughout the evening. Guests enjoyed hors d'œuvres & a family-style meal catered by Grand Rapids' favorite, San Chez. They danced under the stars before the final farewell to the newlyweds with a grand sparkler exit - the perfect way to end a perfect day!

This is only a portion of the preview from Kai Heeringa Photography. To see even more photos, check out their recap blog post here.

It was such a pleasure working with this family! Congrats to Emily & Tyler!

The Details...
Couple | Emily & Tyler, 6.4.10
Pearls Events Coordinators | Aletha, Mary & Megan
Bride's Gown | Custom made by Ruth Andrus
Bride's Hair | Kayley Heeringa
Bride's Makeup | Mary Leslie of Leslie Studio
Bridesmaids & Groomsmen attire | J. Crew
Venue | Private Residence
Officiate | Josh Mateer of Calvary Church
Caterer | San Chez
Photographer | Kai Heeringa Photography
Invitations Suite & Wedding Day Paper Products | Syd Design
Event Design & Flowers| Modern Day Floral
Sweet Table & Cake | Sweet Cakes Design
Entertainment | Entertainment on the Move
Valet Parking | Ellis Parking
Rentals | Cascade Rental & Special Events Rental

Real Event 2010 | Joey & Chris' Bridal Shower

2010-06-07T11:30:00.003-04:00

I remember the phone conversation we had about her wedding to Chris planned for Fourth of July weekend in Grand Rapids. Joey, living in New York City for eight years, with tons of event planning experience under her belt, hired us to coordinate her 2010 wedding. Her mother, Shari, hired us to coordinate this sweet, sweet bridal shower in May. The shower was a day to remember for all the guests who were spoiled with a delicious luncheon, followed by the most adorable two-tiered personal wedding cakes I've ever seen.

It has been so much fun listening to all of the wedding details unfold - just wait until you see the wedding photos - I am already looking forward to July 3rd.

The Details...
Pearls Events Coordinator | Aletha
Event Design | Stems Event Design
Venue | Cascade Hills Country Club
Photographer | Jen Kroll Photography

Real Wedding 2010 | Lauren & Greg

2010-06-04T08:00:00.007-04:00

When I met with Margo last August, I knew I was going to enjoy planning Lauren & Greg's wedding day with her and the couple. From the amazing location in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids & the awesome lineup of vendors, to the delicious meal served & late night surprises for the guests & couple alike - it was an all-around amazing day!

The bride & groom enjoyed their day, the reception details were amazing, and guests danced the night away. Everyone enjoyed the sparkler sendoff of the newlyweds at the end of the night, and I could not imagine a more perfect way to begin Lauren & Greg's marriage!

Congrats to the newlyweds! We were honored to be a part of your big day!

The Details...
The Couple | Lauren & Greg, 5.22.10
Pearls Events Planner & Designer | Aletha
Pearls Events Coordinators | Aletha, Stephanie & Megan
Invitations | Syd Design
Wedding Day Paper Products | Events by I. Candy
Bride's Makeup | Allison Bower
Bride's Hair | The Heitz Salon
Ceremony | St. Robert of Newminster Parish
Reception | Bridgewater Place
Caterer & Bar Service | Applause
Photographer | Kelly Braman Photography
Videographer | Deep End Films
Florist | Forrester Farm
Cake | Sweet Cakes Design
Disc Jockey | Music Host Productions
Transportation | White Knight Limousine & Grand Carriages
Rentals | Special Events & Events by I. Candy

Outdoor Michigan Engagement Session

2010-06-03T09:00:00.002-04:00

She approached me at GRunveiled in March and I immediately felt like I had known her for years. Liz is one of those women who gazes into your eyes as you chat - she wants to know everything about you in a genuine way. I have loved working with her on her fast-approaching(!) August wedding and cannot wait to see how their day unfolds later this summer.

When I saw these images of Liz and Chris pop up this morning, I wasn't surprised to find the engagement session planned around the details that reflect them as a couple, just like their wedding day will be. I was smitten with the location, props, and that beautiful quilt.

Enjoy this styled engagement session, as photographed by Harrison Studio.

Vintage-Inspired Wedding Reception Details

2010-06-02T15:15:00.001-04:00

Remember this super sweet vintage-inspired wedding I blogged about in January? Megan, the bride, recently sent me some reception detail shots that I had never seen before. I wanted to share them with anyone planning a vintage-filled wedding day!

Each of the centerpieces is completely different, using many different elements. I love all the cake toppers used throughout. Megan's mother's best friend, Rebecca Ballard of Forever Rebecca, was the genius behind putting all of these together. Megan gave her the vision, and Rebecca executed it perfectly. Rebecca also made Megan's amazing wedding gown, which is one of my favorites!

Randy, the groom, had his cousin, Amy Teeters, bake their five-tier cake. It was Neapolitan inside! The groom's cake was chocolate-cherry bundt cake with chocolate ganache drizzled over the entire thing - a recipe borrowed from the groom's mother.

[professional photos copyright Alisha Hurt Photography and Sherrie Lee]

Real Wedding 2010 | Jenna & Rob

2010-06-01T12:15:00.004-04:00

Jenna & Rob's wedding kicked off our season and what a way to begin 2010! I have been working with the bride's family for over a year and on Friday, May 21st, all of the details came together for the perfect evening. From the bride's beautiful gown & dainty shoes, to the grandness of Dimnent Chapel & elegant reception in the Pantlind Ballroom - everything was spectacular!

Kate & Megan were on hand to coordinate the day's details, while Stephanie & I set up the Pantlind Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza. The flowers were gorgeous, the food was amazing and the deejay kept the dance floor packed. Working with the bride's family was a complete honor and I was thrilled to hear that Jenna & Rob's wedding day is "a perfect memory" to the bride's mother!

The Details...
The Couple | Jenna & Rob, 5.21.10
Pearls Events Coordinators | Kate & Megan
Invitations | Give Studio
Photographer | Amy Carroll Photography
Videographer | Visual Inspirations
Ceremony | Dimnent Chapel
Reception | Amway Grand Plaza
Event Design | Flowers Events by Ludemas | Linens & Chairs Pearls Events
Harpist | Julie Mowery
Makeup | Julie Strating
Cake | Amway Grand Plaza
Disc Jockey | Music Host Productions
Transportation | Holland Trolley

Real Wedding 2010 | Eileen & David

2010-05-28T09:00:00.004-04:00

Eileen came prepared with beautiful design ideas and David dreamed up the out-of-this-world dinner menu before stepping foot in my office last Fall. And on May 22nd, the entire day went as planned - casual, intimate and with all the gorgeous details in place.

Guests sipped champagne upon arrival and gathered on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan to witness Eileen & David's wedding vows. This couple is a fun team, and helping them find the perfect Lake Michigan venue & vendors for their May 22nd wedding was just what we did.

Amy, Mary & Megan were on-site to ensure things went smoothly, so this is the first peek I am getting at all the gorgeous details, designed by the bride, and carried out by Natalie at Stems Event Design. I absolutely love the Tiffany blue linens and the lush floral arrangements with peonies, garden roses and ivy. The little bird nests, with the chocolate eggs inside, add just the right look for the garden-inspired affair overlooking West Michigan's most beautiful body of water, Lake Michigan.

The Details...
The Couple | Eileen & David, 5.22.10
Pearls Events Coordinators | Amy, Mary & Megan
Photographer | Lotus Photographic
Ceremony & Reception Venue | Ventura Pines Cottage
Event Designer - Flowers & Linens | Stems Event Design
Cake | Eileen, the bride
Caterer & Bar Services | Martha's Vineyards
Rentals - Tent, Chairs, Tables | A-1 Rent All

Vintage Getaway Cars at Weddings

2010-05-27T09:30:00.003-04:00

With the recent trend for vintage-inspired weddings, what better way to leave your ceremony than in a vintage getaway car?! All of these cars have made an appearance on this blog in some way or another, but today I wanted to show you what a fun addition this can be to your big day.

My favorite is the VW Beetle from Betsy & Jeff's wedding, and yes, that is me on my wedding in the green Excalibur (with the terribly last minute Just Married sign...)! I love the color & fun photos old cars can add to a detail-filled wedding!

[sources 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5]

Yellow & Ivory Wedding Inspiration

2010-05-26T10:00:00.003-04:00

There has been a recent trend to style a photo shoot with the intention of getting published on popular wedding blogs. I haven't jumped on the bandwagon for the fact that photo shoots are expensive, time consuming, and a ton of work! Kate and I styled a photo shoot last fall for our portfolio, however, it was never published anywhere except here.

Yesterday I was approached about a project which is going to require some new images. Last night, I sat down and wrote some words down which I wanted to capture in this shoot. And this morning, while looking for floral inspiration, I came across the drop-dead-gorgeous wedding of Helen & Mike on California florist's on the JL Designs blog.

This real wedding is similar in style to what I was dreaming up, however, if you know me, you know I love bold color. There will be a lot of pink & yellow showing up in our shoot! I've had an obsession with blush pink & buttery yellow for a couple of months now, so the pink lemonade shoot is going to happen!

Details from Helen & Mike's Wedding
Coordination & Design - Beth Helmstetter

Photography- Mary Jane
Flowers - JL Designs

Calligraphy & Stationery - Laura Hooper
Linens - La Tavola