Stella Event Design::Michigan Wedding & Event Planner

real wedding::caitlin+nathan tie the knot in st. joseph

Jessica Pennington — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:00:43 +0000

Back in March, we were contacted by BRIDES magazine to share our ideas on planning an intimate and unique wedding reception hosted at an art gallery, on a budget of $10,000. It was a lot of fun to brainstorm and design, as we’d never planned a wedding in an art gallery! Then, of all things, a few months after we turned in our ideas to the magazine (and just before the story actually came out) we were approached by a fun & funky couple, who wanted to plan an intimate wedding reception at our local Krasl Art Gallery! Enter Caitlin+Nate and their fun and fabulous wedding 4th of July weekend…

All of their lovely photos were captured by Genevieve McKeiver Photogaphy, and you can visit her blog to see many more!

real wedding::50’s inspired garden party at mill creek barns (part 2)

Jessica Pennington — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:00:29 +0000

Megan+ Will’s beautiful wood rings were made by a Chicago artisan, and Megan’s was set with Moissanite, a diamond alternative. After learning that Megan & Will had spent 2 years in Africa, I wasn’t surprised that they had opted for a conflict-free diamond alternative. You can also find eco-friendly conflict-free rings at greenkarat.com!

When Megan and I met for her first consultation she told me that she wanted her wedding to be more like a fun, family gathering than a traditional wedding reception. They wanted people to have time to enjoy and interact with one another, visit with them, and have a great time. So, after the ceremony, while the couple took photos around the beautiful property of Mill Creek Barns, we set out lawn games for the guests to enjoy: croquet, bocce ball, corn hole/bag toss and my favorite–super size Jenga! People enjoyed the games both before and after dinner and it was a fun way for everyone to enjoy the beautiful day! Giving guests a little extra entertainment during cocktail hour also allowed them to enjoy their photos without worrying about getting back too quickly! After a delicious meal by CK Catering, a beautiful (and yummy) cake by Cocoa Bean, guests enjoyed dancing, a colorful candy bar, and at dusk, we fired up the bonfire for guests to enjoy some s’mores! All photos were captured by photographer Ben Pancoast!

real wedding::50’s inspired garden party at mill creek barns (part 1)

Jessica Pennington — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:00:51 +0000

Megan+Will tied the knot on Sunday, June 27th at Mill Creek Barns. When we arrived to setup at noon we were quickly greeted by an onslaught of rain that lasted for at least an hour. But by the time the bride arrived, the groomsmen were getting dressed, and the final touches were getting put on, the skies cleared and gave way to a beautiful clear sky for their 3:00 ceremony! I love those kind of days!

Megan chose a 50’s garden party as the inspiration for her wedding design, and it was a great fit with the venue, and a fun change of pace from traditional wedding decor! The color combo of Red & Turquoise was just fabulous, and all of the little details she incorporated really tied the whole design together! When you choose to do something very stylistic for your wedding (such as an era-inspired wedding) you really have to go for it, and Megan went all out, from the clothing and flower choices to the accessories, centerpieces and fabrics, and it was stunning.

One thing that made this wedding so special was the fact that the bride and her family and friends were extremely involved in the planning, as well as the creation of many of the DIY Details. See all of the details of the DIY loveliness below!

DIY DETAILS

The Dress::Megan bought her dress on Ebay and added her personal flair with some custom alterations. As you can see, it was absolutely beautiful and very unique.

The Flowers::Megan made a stop at A New Leaf in Chicago, before heading to Michigan, and created her bridesmaids bouquets out of vintage carnations, zinnias, hypericum berries and artichoke. Her bouquet was a beautiful combo of lambs ear, peonies and hydrangea.

Centerpieces:: The beautiful paper flowers were made by the brides mom and a slew of her friends recruited to help! They were placed in vintage soda bottles, and milk glass vases that Megan had collected, and we incorporated vintage broaches, necklaces and candy dishes amongst the tables!

Escort flags:: I loved these, and of course, they were hand-crafted by the bride! Very unique, colorful, and a perfect complement to the colorful candy buffet!

I’ll be honest, I pretty much loved everything about this wedding, and when it came down to sharing photos from Ben Pancoast Photography, it was hard to choose! So look for Part 2 later today!

real wedding::jessica+justin’s lake michigan wedding

Jessica Pennington — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:52:08 +0000

On Tuesday we shared a sneak peak of Jessica+Justin’s St. Joseph wedding, and today we’ve got a ton of beautiful photos to share from the talented ladies at Jennifer Mayo Studios! I absolutely loved these bridesmaids dresses, and the bright color combo used in the flowers and centerpieces, created by Beikmann Associates—it was such a fun & lively color combo and it perfectly reflected this fun couple! And look at those beautiful sparkling waters of Lake Michigan! You just can’t beat a ceremony on the lake, and the weather was absolutely gorgeous as these 2 tied the knot with Rev. Bonnie Corondan!

creative entertainment::dueling pianos

kelsey — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:00:46 +0000

At a recent wedding I attended in the Grand Rapids area I was introduced to something I had never seen before at the reception. As we entered the reception area two pianos were set up facing each other. There was no DJ or even a band, but instead the bride and groom opted for dueling pianos! At first I was a little skeptical, thinking to myself ‘piano music all night? I don’t know…’, but after I listened for a while and realized how amazing the pianists were I completely changed my mind.

They played some great classic songs with some fast and some slow. On top of their impressive piano skills their vocal skills were amazing as well! They had everyone on their feet all night! Also, on certain numbers a few guests joined in, playing the drums, saxophone and even at one point a trumpet! It was such a creative and fun element of entertainment to have at the reception. If you’re thinking of a great way to liven up your wedding reception, I highly suggest a dueling piano musical experience. Check out local venues, bars, and restaurants for potential entertainment as well as online for local pianists and you (and your guests) will be glad you did!

Posted by: Kelsey (Event Assistant)

real wedding sneak peek::tessa+brian’s saugatuck wedding

Jessica Pennington — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:00:40 +0000

Last Saturday we had our first wedding in lovely Saugatuck, and Tessa+Brian couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day for a beach wedding! They shared an intimate ceremony on Oval Beach with family and friends before heading over to Restaurant Toulouse in downtown Saugatuck where tables were covered in lovely royal blue satin linens and covered in lush centerpieces of pale blue hydrangeas and yellow mini callas, and warm candlelight!

A jazz quartet played throughout the night, and wait til you see the cake—it is one of my all-time favorites and it was an absolute work of art! We can’t wait to share more photos from their photographer, Duneland Photos!

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS

The Venue:: Saugatuck holds special memories for Tess+Brian and Restaurant Toulouse was a beautiful backdrop for their wedding. They have a gorgeous outdoor veranda where guests enjoyed cocktail hour, and their dining area has a beautiful fireplace and a warm and intimate atmosphere that was perfect for this intimate celebration!

Thanks Tess+Brian for letting us join you on your special day, and I hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Saugatuck!

Stella Event Design services:: Day-of Coordination+Decor Design

Wedding Coordinators:: Jessica Pennington & Brittany Johnson

real wedding sneak peek::jessica+justin tie the knot on Lake Michigan

Jessica Pennington — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:00:19 +0000

Let me take you back to Saturday, June 19th. It was an incredibly beautiful weekend, and we had the pleasure of coordinating not one, but two fabulous beach weddings in St. Joseph! As you can imagine, both of our teams were very busy throughout the day ensuring that things went smoothly, so capturing our own snapshots was a futile cause. We were so extremely excited to see the beauty above, by Jennifer Mayo Studios! Just a sneak peek, but fabulous nonetheless! After a beautiful beach ceremony, Jessica & Justin celebrated at The Veranda at the Whitcomb with an amazing meal by CK Catering, a rockin band (The Point’n Fingers Band), and so many wonderful family and friends!

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS

The Favors::Jess+Justin embraced the idea of a beach wedding and chose a fun, tropical-inspired color palette of green, pink and orange. Their favors were drinks Koozees that said “thanks for spending the day with ‘Team J’” and they were adorable!

Table Numbers:: ‘Team J’ met at a Tom Petty concert, so each of their tables was named after a Tom Petty song, and was accompanied by the song lyrics. It was pretty impressive considering they had almost 20 tables, and it was such a cute and personal touch!

Jess+Justin, you were both so much fun to work with—thanks for letting us be a part of your wonderful wedding!

Stella Event Design services:: Basic Planning

Coordinated by:: Jessica Pennington & Brittany Johnson

real wedding sneak peek::a southwest michigan beach wedding

Jessica Pennington — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:16 +0000

It’s hard to believe that it’s already July…and it’s also hard to believe we’ve planned 7 weddings in the last 2 months, and have yet to blog about any of them! We’ve been patiently waiting for a sneak peek of some of the photos (because let’s face it, we love to share beautiful photos to show off beautiful weddings), and now that they’re starting to roll in from the fabulous photographers we’ve had the pleasure of working with, we’ll be posting “sneak peeks” from some of our May & June weddings this week. I’m so excited to share some of the details of these fabulous events!

First up, is a lovely beach wedding photographed by Haylee Dixon Photography. Jenny+Spencer had a beautiful ceremony on Lake Michigan on June 19th, and we had the privilege of providing day-of coordination services to help them to relax and enjoy their wedding day.

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS

An evening affair:: Jenny+Spencer changed things up by opting for an evening ceremony on the beach, and I have to say I love the beach in the evening—the beach empties out around dinnertime and with cooler temps, it’s more comfortable for guests! The ceremony was followed by a reception of delicious h’ors doeuvres and dancing at the Heritage Center.

Stella Event Design services:: Day-of Coordination

Coordinated by:: Mary Beth George

1st annual LAKE SHORE WEDDING WALK

Jessica Pennington — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:25:32 +0000

I am so excited to officially announce a unique new event that you will not want to miss! The Lake Shore Wedding Walk & Dream Wedding Giveaway is taking place on Sunday, September 19, 2010 in St. Joseph, Michigan, and it is a MUST for couples interested in tying the knot along the lake shore! Hosted in 4 unique and beautiful venues along St. Josephs beautiful coast, brides will be greeted by full tablescapes and decor, live musicians, delicious food samples, and all of the top-notch vendors you need to make your lake shore wedding a reality! Flip through photography portfolios, chat with a wedding planner, listen to live musicians for your ceremony, and participate in any of the interactive events taking place throughout the day: local wine tastings, runway-style fashion shows, ballroom dance classes, and wedding planning workshops!

What to Expect:: Check in begins at 12:45 at any of the 4 locations. Brides and grooms will be given a “Wedding Walk Passport” that will lead you through your day—hop on a trolley or walk to your first venue and chat with local vendors, sip local wine samples, check out beautiful dresses at the fashion shows, and sit in on a planning workshop with a local wedding planner! Each venue offers brides a unique opportunity to prepare for their wedding! At 5:00, head over to the Veranda at the Whitcomb where you’ll turn in your passport for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid Dream Wedding!!

Learn More:: For all of the details on this fun & unique event, visit lakeshoreweddingwalk.com for a current list of participating vendors, information on the venues, and more details on the Dream Wedding Giveaway! Information will continue to be added, so check back often and we hope to see you there!!

Become a Fan:: Become a fan on Facebook For all of the most up-to-date info on the Wedding Walk & Dream Wedding Giveaway! We’ll be having some fun giveaways prior to the event—don’t miss out!

A huge thanks to JM Studios for the creation of our beautiful header and use of her photos, and a shout out to The Veranda @ The Whitcomb and CK Catering, who are joining us in hosting this one-of-a-kind event! And be sure to look for the amazing spread coming out in WeddingDay magazine next week, featuring a fun map of the Wedding Walk route through St. Joe!

alternative guest book ideas

kelsey — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:00:42 +0000

A guest book is a great way for family and friends to share best wishes with you and congratulate you on your special day. Usually filled with quotes of wisdom, loving words, and fun stories about, having a guest book is a great way to remember those who shared the wonderful moments with you on your wedding day!

As I was looking through pictures of some past Stella weddings, I saw a photo of a frame with the couple’s photo and a pen provided for people to write on the mat around the couples engagement photo. It was such a cute way to have all the people’s loving words in one place and could easily be hung somewhere for everyone to see. This got me thinking about other possible ideas for alternatives to the traditional guest book.

ceramic cups, bowls, plates or vases that can be signed by guests and then later used by the couple
individual cards and envelopes that guest could write private messages in and stick them in a decorated basket or box for them to read later
signing a bottle of wine that will be drank at the wedding in a silver pen to keep the memory of that night
having a blank paged book and having either a photo booth or a Polaroid camera for them to take a picture and then write something next to the picture like a scrapbook style guest book
creating a paint by numbers canvas and invite guests to each paint a small section creating a unique wedding memento
supplying an old type writer and having guests type lovely words and contact information on note cards

These are just some of many ideas that you can take into consideration when planning a fun and creative way for guests to give their love, share fun stories, or congratulate the bride and groom!

Photo Sources (clockwise from top left) 1, 2, 3, 4

Posted by::Kelsey (event assistant)