Michigan Weddings

Hello, SMP readers! I’m so excited to be here sharing my sweet garden bridal shower planned by my maid of honor Ashley Slater, one of my bridesmaids, and a sweet friend, Rhiannon of Hey Gorgeous Events. They designed a stunning celebration all around my love of the color lavender. From gorgeous linens, blooms, and sweet personal touches throughout, I couldn’t have asked for a better day. Take a peek and grab some garden party inspiration for yourself!

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The Setting

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The Florals + Decor

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The Food

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The Favors

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The Fun

From Rhiannon of Hey Gorgeous Events… >Michaela has such a romantic and feminine style so incorporating those attributes into her shower was a must! Also, as a long-time friend of Michaela’s I know she loves the color lavender and is including that at the wedding so I made sure to bring in lavender with the linens and vintage glassware. I then balanced all of that lavender with some soft pinks and other muted colors like ivory, blush and pink seen throughout the centerpieces and vintage plates. The gold flatware and gold framed signs with fun details about M and her fiance McCann were the pretty final details making up the tablescapes! It was a beautiful summer day for an even more beautiful bride to be!

From Ashley Slater Photography (maid of honor)…I was so thrilled to be able to throw Michaela a bridal shower in the gorgeous gardens of Aquinas campus. I knew I wanted it to be reflective of her wedding day color palette and once I found the invitation on Minted, I used it to build the rest of the day. I had the greatest help in Rhiannon, from Hey Gorgeous Events, who helped choose linens, dishes and really bring Michaela’s feminine style to life! We used signage from the same calligrapher Michaela had hired for her wedding and the watercolor floral elements were used throughout the setup. Of course, as beautiful as it was, the best part was sharing in such a special day, watching Michaela open gifts under a beautiful weeping willow and eating lots of delicious food! It was such a sweet day and great representation of the perfect Michigan summer afternoon!

Photography: Ashley Slater | Floral Design: Hey Gorgeous Events | Invitations: Minted | Venue: Aquinas Holmedene Gardens | Cookies: Mahdris Cookie Kitchen | Dishes, Flatware + Goblets: Gigi and LaClede | Linen Rentals: Special Occasions | Michaela's Dress: Rent The Runway | Ribbon + Runners: Adorn Company | Signage: Graceline Art

Peek back at my wedding inspiration!

When it comes to weddings we try not to play favorites, but Blaine Siesser Photography just gets us. Because when we see out-of-this-universe beautiful weddings like this one (complete with pretty pastels and one madly in love couple), it’s impossible not to fall head-over-blooms in love. Filled with sentiment in meaning, this gallery is one you’re going to need to see first hand. Witness it all in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…Our wedding day was about bringing two families together in a place that holds so much meaning to me and my family. We got married at the Frederik Meijer Gardens at a farmhouse that is a replica of my grandmas childhood home. The farmhouse reflected mine and Alex’s love, fun, comfortable and relaxed. We wanted our day to be filled with love and to be surrounded by our family and friends who have been supporting us since we started dating freshmen year in high school. The farmhouse grounds made the perfect setting for our rustic but still elegant accents. All the details from my grandmas pearls my late grandpa gave to her on their wedding day wrapped around my bouquet, to the welcome bags with Michigan made items (Vernors ginger ale, Steenstras windmill cookies, Cherry Republic candy etc.) to the monogrammed copper mugs the guests took home and the flower filled arbor we said our vows under made our wedding day special. Marrying my best friend and becoming his wife made it the day of our lives.

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See even more garden weddings here!

Photography: Blaine Siesser Photography | Cinematography: Coastline Studios | Floral Design: Flora Design | Cake: Hunter's Bakery | Catering: Frederik Meijer Gardens | Catering: The Gilmore Collection | Hair + Makeup: Tanaz Salon | DJ: Moments In Time | Band: The Jerry Ross Band | String Quartet: Clifford Music Group | Transportation: A White Knight | Venue: Frederik Meijer Gardens | Coordination + Design: Amanda Masson | Rentals: Special Events Rental | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Trolley: Grand Rapids Trolley Company | Vintage Rentals: Fancy Fray

I absolutely adore all the sweet ways people display their escort cards, and thanks to Spark And Wildflower, Bloom Calligraphy and Dionel Photography we have yet another display to swoon over. It’s a totally doable DIY, and is a surefire way to impress your guests. 

From Spark And Wildflower…This escort card display was originally inspired by the beautiful blue and white patterned drawer knobs I ended up using as escort tag hangers. I knew I wanted to create something centered around a classic, elegant style with just a touch of weathered and rustic charm, thus the pallet escort card display was born.

I chose a worn pallet that I painted grey, followed by a layer of dry brushed white paint to create a distressed look. My gorgeous, mismatched knobs served perfectly as hangers for the escort tags that were so beautifully penned by Linda of Bloom Calligraphy. When considering signage, I wanted something that would communicate it’s message while contributing to the variety of textures and the soft color palette that this display exudes. I selected romantic serif letters that I tied on using the loveliest powder blue velvet ribbon, to simply spell the words, “find your seat.”

This display’s soft airiness, antique, worn appearance and feminine touches make it perfect for wedding decor, and can easily be customized to fit a variety of styles and color palettes. My friend Dionel, the talent behind Dionel Photography, did an impeccable job of portraying the style and feel I was hoping to achieve through her stunning photos.

wood pallet
sander
paint
paintbrush
pencil
ruler
power drill
drawer knobs
letters
ribbon for tying on your letters
scissors
escort tags, hole punched
ribbon for your tags

Find your pallets. You’ll more than likely need multiple pallets to accommodate all of your escort tags (my pallet is 3 feet by 3.5 feet and contains 30 knobs, with about 10 inches of space between each) so consider your number of tags and the spacing you want before shopping. I went with a used pallet to achieve a worn, distressed look for my display, but you can purchase brand new pallets from any hardware store for a cleaner look. You can often acquire used pallets from flower shops, farmer’s markets, and other small businesses that are willing to give away their old ones, however some businesses hire pallet removal companies, so it’s important to ask permission before taking any pallets you see.

Sand. It won’t need a ton, but sand your pallet just enough to remove the larger wood splinters.

Paint. I chose a warm charcoal grey for the base layer, followed by white paint which I lightly dry brushed on to create a worn, antique look, allowing my dark grey to show through.

Measure + Drill. Once you know how many knobs you can fit on each panel (and have reserved a couple of panels for your letters) measure and mark a point for each knob to achieve even spacing and straight lines. Drill your holes and erase all pencil marks.

Attach your drawer knobs. Select the knobs you want for your display (all of mine were found at Hobby Lobby!) and decide how you want to arrange them. I found it useful to lay mine on the floor and map out what order I’d like them in before attaching them. This way, you can play around with the arrangement until you have it just right – I also took a picture of my ‘map’ as a reference.

Tie on your letters. The letters I selected were 4 inches tall (from Hobby Lobby) and required two panels of my pallet to fit the words, “find your seat,” comfortably. Using ribbon (I adore my powder blue ribbon, also found at Hobby Lobby) cut strands approximately 10 inches long. Tie one end to the top of your letter, wrap around the panel until it ends in the back, and tie the ribbon to itself. This will cause some letters to be crooked – an aesthetic element you may or may not prefer – so if you want all of your letters to be straight, simply loop the ribbon around the panel only once, tying the second end to the bottom of the letter.

Escort Tags. Once you have your hole punched escort tags, select a ribbon to go with them (this cream ribbon was found at, yes, Hobby Lobby) and cut into strands. String and tie to create hanging tags, which puts the finishing touch on your pallet escort card display. Voila!

Photography: Dionel Photography | Calligraphy: Bloom Calligraphy | DIY: Spark And Wildflower

The vibrant hues of pink layered into this lush garden soiree? They’re delicious and glam, and fit for the chicest of weddings like this one from K. Holly Photography. From the stunning bridesmaids to the luxe florals by Modern Day Floral And Event Design, this gallery is filled to the brim with pink goodness that’ll give you a happy little jolt on this hump day afternoon.

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From K. Holly Photography…A glamorous lush garden theme with varying tones of deep and light pink. Marielle and Rob planned an incredibly gorgeous wedding, and everything went flawlessly. The day started with a warm-up celebration in the backyard of Marielle’s family home. The couple said their I-do’s at Central Reformed Church, and celebrated with their friends and family at the exclusive Cascade Hills Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The look was tied together with luxe pink flowers, linens, and details by Modern Day Floral, invitations and papers by Gwyneth Paige, and of course, the grand backdrops of their chosen venues. It felt like the event of the season, and yet there was a very intimate connection with family and faith.

Photography: K. Holly Photography | Event Design: Modern Day Floral and Event Design | Floral Design: Modern Day Floral and Event Design | Wedding Dress: Belle Vie Bridal | Invitations: Gwyneth Paige | Ceremony Venue: Central Reformed Church | Reception Venue: Cascade Hills Country Club | Band: Gold Coast All Stars

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that weddings as stunning as this actually exist, but I am here to tell you, loves… it’s so, so true.  It’s the masterful stylings + florals of Modern Day Floral And Events joining forces with crazy cool La Tavola linens, fab paper goods from William Arthur and one crazy gorgeous moment after another captured by Kai Heeringa Photography.  Lose your breath in the full gallery.

And a sweeter than sweet look at the day from Coastline Studios… You’re welcome. 

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From Modern Day Floral and Events… When I first met Katherine and Patrick, they simply had a fleeting vision and palpable excitement for their wedding day. What ensued was months upon months of collaborative brain-storming, selecting perfectly-hued blooms, drooling over textured linens, and meticulously arranging floor plans. Katherine, her mother and I spent over 15 months together planning this special day. Our business relationship quickly grew into a warm friendship, which I will forever cherish.

Katherine and Patrick’s color palette featured soft peach and blush pink, creamy ivories, and lush greenery. We wanted the floral arrangements to have that loose and vintage romance aesthetic. The floral pieces featured fluffy white hydrangea, peach Juliet garden roses, lush ivory and blush peony, ranunculus, local flowering dogwood branches, and playful anemone. Clusters of blush pink hobnail glass, silver mercury glass, and pottery pieces were put together to create an eclectic, yet elegantly styled look to each table.

The most important design aspects for this wedding were the little, but impactful and adorable details. French baguettes with hand calligraphed place cards tied in twine at each place setting. Custom display flags for all of the gourmet cheeses and desserts. Frames with calligraphed menu details at each food station. Bride and groom’s chair signage adorned with draping greenery and lush blooms. A vintage globe for guests to sign, rather than the traditional book. A local Lebanese pastries and sweets station to reflect the bride’s heritage. Multi-layered and textured draping ribbons on the bride’s bouquet handle. A coral flip flop station for guests to get comfortable and dance in… The details were endless and the effect clearly showed. It really is all about making the guest experience truly remarkable!

As a professional, there comes a time in this industry when you find a client that you wish all your clients were like. Katherine and Patrick never lost sight of what was really important – their upcoming marriage, and making their guests’ experience absolutely outstanding. This wedding not only brought us lifelong clients, but also lifelong friends – what a bonus! I can’t wait to watch this couple grow in their marriage, and I hope to be a part of their life for many more years and events to come!

From the Bride… To say our wedding day was pure magic is a complete understatement. Patrick and I are eternally grateful for all of the vendors that truly made our day the most spectacular day of our lives to date. While designing the look and feel of our wedding, our number one goal was to create a night that reflected not only the love that surrounded us, but also accurately expressed our love and appreciation for everyone who was there. We tried to think of each detail of the wedding from the perspective of our guests. We knew we would have the time of our lives, but we also wanted our guests to have the time of their lives.

It was also really important to us to include as many personal touches as possible. Patrick wore my late father’s cuff links, and I wore a diamond and sapphire bracelet that was given to my great grandmother by my great grandfather on their wedding day 85 years earlier. Jenn from Modern Day Floral and I connected right away – especially with our love of the little details, and she and her team immediately set to work on working out every detail of the day and evening.

Picking the venue was a bit challenging as I was really set on having the reception outdoors. The outdoor feel more accurately reflected our vision than any of the indoor venues in Grand Rapids. We decided on a venue that came full circle for us – we met at Blythefield Country Club four years earlier and thought it would be the perfect place for our reception as well. Blythefield has a beautiful outdoor grove and we could just imagine it as the perfect backdrop for our tented wedding reception.

The ceremony was held at the oldest church in Grand Rapids – St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. It was also the same church my grandma and grandpa were married in 58 years earlier. As soon as the ceremony ended, guests arrived at Blythefield and entered the most exquisite fabric draped tent with sparkling chandeliers. At each place setting was an individual baguette that served as a place card. I am in love with all types of paper products and lettering, and I was so excited that Molly Jacques was able to create so many beautiful pieces for our day.

In keeping with our overall goal of showing our love and appreciation for our guests, we wanted them to enjoy several different types of food instead of one plated meal. We had a carving station, a risotto station, and a Lebanese station which is a nod to my heritage. For dessert, guests enjoyed vanilla peach champagne wedding cake and an assortment of desserts that included chocolate eclaires (Patrick’s favorite), mini cherry and pecan pies, and orange madeleines (my favorite).

We danced the night away to an eleven-piece band and enjoyed mini grilled cheese, fries, and root beer floats as the night came to a close. Patrick and I loved planning out each detail with Jenn and look back at our wedding with pure awe and happiness. Our love for each other and the love that surrounded us that day were perfectly captured through our beyond talented photographers and cinematographers. Patrick and I are so blessed and look forward to what our future holds together!

Photography: Kai Heeringa Photography | Videography: Coastline Studios | Wedding Cake: Leo's Restaurant | Ceremony: St. Mark's Episcopal Church | Reception: Blythefield Country Club | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid Dresses: Ivy And Aster | Makeup Artist: Julie Strating | Hair Stylist: Hair By Kayley Heeringa | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Transportation: Gail Andrus Travel | Accommodations: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel | Additional Desserts: Osta's Lebanese Cuisine | Bride's Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Calligraphy & Signage: Molly Jacques Illustration | Catering & Beverages: Blythefield Country Club | Floral & Rentals: Modern Day Floral and Event Design | Invitations & Stationery: Crane & Co. | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Planning & Design: Modern Day Floral and Event Design | Reception Music: Sway Chicago | Tent & Rentals: Special Events Rental

M’dears, what you’re about to feast your wedding-loving eyes on is complete gorgeousness. And of course, it would be coming from our darling friend Rhiannon of Hey Gorgeous Events. Her recent Trouvaille Workshop was an explosion of pretty to say the least… diving into every aspect of the wedding planning industry from biz advice and creating client relationships to styling, design & florals, it’s packed with more lovely than you can dream up, captured by Bradley James. And the best part? She’s hosting another this fall! See all the details below—if you can ever get through the loveliness!

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From Rhiannon of Hey Gorgeous Events… In my nearly five years of business as the owner of Hey Gorgeous Events, I’ve found that conferences and workshops are some of the best ways to learn and network with colleagues and vendors. Early last year, I was searching around for a conference to attend here in the Midwest because most of the ones I’ve attended (and loved) involve a lot of travel. I had a list of three things I was looking for in my dream workshop and those things included; hands on learning and advice from industry professionals I could take home and apply to my business, an engaging and stylized environment where I could feel taken care of and even be treated to little gifts and offerings, and lastly I wanted more than anything a place where I could find intimacy with other like minded pro’s and a sense of community that felt genuine. When I couldn’t find what I was searching for I decided the workshop I so craved was something I would have to (and really wanted to!) create for OTHERS. This was my opportunity to give back. And with that the Trouvaille Workshop was born.

The workshop consisted of three content filled days designed to focus on the back and front end of a multi-faceted wedding planning and design business. From pricing strategies and learning to make a profit in this industry, legal advice and trademarks, and creating lasting relationships with your vendors and working as a team, notable speakers flew in from all over the US to touch on these subjects. Attendees were also able to focus on the front end of their business (and more creative side of their craft) with hands on styling, design, and floral sessions that weren’t just about the details but about the sourcing, planning, renting, designing and pricing of these items. On top of that the intimate group of nearly 30 attendees and speakers facilitated many amazing friendships and connections made amongst the plated meals, themed dinners, sweet gifts from some remarkable small businesses and exercises and opportunities infused to Trouvaille to drive home what I think we all need more of; love for not only what we do but for one another. It was a three day adventure that changed the way I view learning and inspiring in this industry, and one I hope I can host again and again for years to come.

*Please note many of the photos of floral arrangements held by the attendees are of their own creations!

Trouvaille Workshop 2.0
October 5–7, 2014
Register here!

The October Trouvaille Workshop 2.0 is set to offer the same hands on learning and intimate environment as the last with a slight twist on the speakers attending and the content being shared. It promises to be as wonderful and inspiring as the last. I can’t wait to meet the 30 new (and some returning!) attendees from all over the country who feel as passionate as I do about learning to better serve our deserving clients, and supporting and raising one another other up as powerful and purposeful business women. Registration for tickets can be found here. I will gladly extend the early bird rate to June 9th so SMP readers may have the chance to snag a spot! Check out the workshop hashtag on Instagram #trouvailleworkshop

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Host/design/florals: Hey Gorgeous Events | Photography: Bradley James Photography | Videography: Gorilla Pictures | Make Up: Rosana Machiela | Attendee Corsages: Pixel And Hank | Calligraphy/paper: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Clay Medallions:Paloma’s Nest | Clipboards: Idieh Design | Floral Assistance: Bows And Arrows | Gold Prints: Lara Casey| Headbands: Plum Pretty Sugar | Initial Necklaces: Bip And Bop | Linens/accessories: Nuage Designs | Macarons: Sweet Heather Anne | Mugs: Ashley Brooke Designs | Notebooks: B Is For Bonnie | Notepads/coasters: Emily Ley | Personalized Coffee Sleeves:Oatmeal Lace Design | Prayer Journals: Val Marie Paper | Rentals For Entire Event: The Rental Company| Shirts: Cake For Breakfast | Stationery : Lemon And Lavender | Vintage Furniture : Fancy Fray | Welcome Dinner: San Chez Bistro | Workshop Venue: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel | Workshop Logo Design: Molly Jacques

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Bows and Arrows

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I hope you’re in the mood to get happy, because unless you click out of SMP right this very second, it’s happening. You can thank K. Holly Photography and her absolutely adorable couple for that. Their love and laughter is infectious and they are the kind of fun couple that I’m sure everyone just adores!

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From the photographer… Allie and Dan had an incredible wedding day, the kind that most brides (and grooms!) dream of. The weather was phenomenal, the timeline was well thought out, the lush modern details were impeccable, and everyone was relaxed, excited and ready for a great time. The day was filled with love, friends, and family. Joy, happiness, and a little silliness. There is no one like Allie and Dan! They are beautiful inside and out. They both have huge hearts and a playful and positive outlook on life. It has been such a pleasure getting to know them, and we are excited for what their future holds!

The couple got ready and saw each other for the first time at a private residence on the Thornapple River. The Grand Rapids Trolley company took them to Park Congregational where they said their vows. From there, it was off to the JW Marriott downtown Grand Rapids for a celebration with live band Rumplestiltskin!

Photographer: K. Holly Photography | Videographer: Bradley Productions | Wedding Planner: Dee Mitchell, Elements of Elegance | Ceremony Venue: Park Congregational Church of Grand Rapids | Reception Venue: JW Marriott, Downtown Grand Rapids | Brides Shoes: Louboutin | Hair and Makeup: Capelli Salon | Favors: Old World Olive Oil & Vinegar | Transportation: Grand Rapids Trolley Company | Florals and Decor: Procedo Events | Invitations and Paper Goods: 6.25 Paper Studio | Reception Live Band: Rumplestiltskin

As a true Michigan girl at heart, I love seeing beautiful images from my home state – but when they are from an extra fabulous wedding, it’s just lots more icing on the already stunning cake. K. Holly Photography knows how to capture it well – both my beloved state and gorgeous weddings like this one. It’s somewhat simple opulence (go with me here) has won over my heart a thousand times over. Click here to see what I mean in the gallery!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

The inspiration behind our wedding was entirely about the location. We wanted our friends and family to celebrate with us in the city we love so much: Grand Rapids. We chose downtown because we wanted that city feel. We were blown away by the Amway Grand and knew we had to have our wedding there (it helped it was right across the street from the bar where we met in college). I knew I wanted an elegant (but without being stuffy) wedding and I had always loved plush looking flowers and candlelight. After changing my mind several time on colors and design (my florist and fiance might have hated me) I finally chose blush pink, ivory, and grey to be the main colors. Our florist really pulled everything together. She knew how to convert my babble about flowers into something beautiful. I couldn’t believe how amazing it all looked when we finally walked in.

Our day was better than I could have imagined. My favorite memory was running in the rain with Jeff at the end of the night. However, getting ready with my best friends and my first look with my dad are at the top of my list too. At the end of the night we just kept smiling and talking about how much we loved everything and everyone that was involved in our wedding.

My tip for future brides would be to relax more than I did with the planning. Your day will be beautiful because it’s yours!

Photography: K. Holly Photography / Flowers: Modern Day Floral / Ceremony Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church / Reception Location: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel / Shoes: Ivanka Trump / Earrings: Windsor Jewlers / Dress: Casablanca / Bridemaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom and Groomsmen’s Suits: JoS. A Bank / Groom and Groomsmen’s Ties: Calvin Klein / Hair: Hair by Erin Brown / Makeup: Julie Strating / Flower Girl Pomanders: Etsy / Table Numbers: Etsy / Dress Hanger: Etsy

When these two decided to tie the knot in a backyard affair in lovely Michigan, they choose to keep it simple and sweet and let the commitment they were making take center stage. And it was lovely. Simply put, lovely. Bryan and Mae were the perfect team to capture a day so sweetly laid-back and charming, and capture they did – perfectly. Click here for more!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Basically, we decided to move 1200 miles, both start new jobs, sell a house in Michigan and buy a house in Texas and get married all in a span of 3 months, so the theme of the wedding was “keep it simple, make it happen, no drama.” Haha!

Advice: don’t sweat the small stuff. Hire good people you can trust their judgement in your absence. I never even tasted our food or desserts! I knew Jason Kakabaker at the Cakabakery was amazing at what he does so I just told him some ideas of types of things that Matt and I like and he went to town. We knew we wanted portable bite sized desserts so people could take them and play games, etc.

Patrick Fitzgerald is a long-time friend of the family. My grandfather was a florist, and Pat started his career working for my grandpa. We talked about the feeling we were trying to convey and how we wanted the decor to look like it belonged on the property. He literally drove his truck filled with cream and green flowers of all kinds (I let him figure out what was the most economical based on season) and set up shop filling all the different containers. It was an easier one for him because we didn’t want all the arrangements PERFECT … He did a few vases, I approved and then just let him do his thing.

Jamie and Terry from Heyday were the same thing. We had discussed overall vision and look and feel of the event via email and photos and they delivered! I didn’t try to control everything… I didn’t have the time or proximity to the event to do that. I think it made all the difference! My TWO amazing moms made signs and had other supplies prearranged for Jamie and Terry and they worked their magic.

It’s important that everyone working on your wedding knows what the overall vibe is… All the details may not be exactly like your inspiration pictures but in our case, it turned out even more beautiful than I ever could have imagined!

Photographer: Bryan and Mae / Coordinator: Heyday Event Lab / Desserts: Jason Kakabaker at The Cakabakery / Flowers: Patrick Fitzgerald / Signs: DIY, Mother of the Bride / Banners & Place Card Flags: DIY, Mother of the Groom

Here comes the most adorable, fabulously colorful, detail-filled fête for your Thursday morning! Captured by the oh-so-talented Jen Lynne Photography and styled by could-not-be-lovelier Rhiannon at Hey Gorgeous Events, this party isn’t just pretty…it’s downright GORGEOUS, and guaranteed to put a bit fat grin on your face! Bulldogs in bow ties, ribbon streamers, an escort table worthy of pinning, chandeliers in a barn filled with pie – I could go on and on about all the little details that made my giddy meter go off the charts, but you can see it all for yourself in the full gallery of FABULOUS images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Hey Gorgeous Events…I first met Kelli, a few months prior to her big day, when she was looking for some last-minute help tying in personal touches and managing some logistical details for her wedding. Right away I became completely smitten with not only her appreciation for all the small details that make an event shine, but her love and admiration for her now husband, Brandon. For those few months prior to their August wedding, we had so much fun bringing together everything that would make their wedding feel romantic, relaxed and memorable.

Kelli and Brandon’s big day started out with a laid back and delicious lunch hosted by the mother of the groom in Lakeview, Michigan. The old-style barn and vintage surroundings on the property set the tone perfectly for the couple as they got ready for their first look. After a few formal portraits with the bridal party, Jen of Jen Lynne Photography used the cloudy skies and on and off again weather to her advantage to capture the most dreamy and romantic photos of the soon to be newlyweds.

The bride picked a fresh color palette of fuchsia and tangerine in an effort to celebrate the final days of summer. The pops of color from the bridesmaids dresses and the ranunculus, garden roses and dahlia bouquets looked stunning against the altar of the sanctuary in Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street church. Close to 180 of their closest friends and family watched the two say their vows before helping me orchestrate a surprise – and very exciting – ribbon wand following the ceremony. The ring bearer proudly carried a handmade sign with the phrase “Here Comes The Carlsons!” as the bridal party paraded downtown for more photos and guests headed over the cocktail hour and reception at St. Cecelia’s music center. Once guests arrived at the venue they were greeted with little vignettes, styled perfectly to reflect not only the couple’s fun personalities and loving nature, but also their professional careers; their escort table blended Kelli’s job as a teacher and Brandon’s gig as a bean farmer into one fun display for guests. Everyone absolutely loved finding their pencil flags that directed them to their seats. A top the mantle of the fireplace, was an elementary school chalkboard with a handwritten quote, and clipped onto pieces of twine across the mantle, were hand stamped clothes pegs displaying photos from the couple’s engagement shoot.

Upstairs where dinner was served, sat centerpieces filled with brightly hued, textured blooms that sat within wood boxes the bride white washed herself. The head table’s box was actually constructed out of old barn wood that bride had found at the farm. Tables were named after different types of beans to honor the groom’s work, and in lieu of a traditional guest book, guests were asked to fill out Mad Libs that the couple could reflect back on for years to come. At each place setting was a pack of beans from the family farm, with a label on the back detailing an Italian soup recipe and a label on the front that read “Love Is Souper.” Hanging from the bride and groom’s chairs were their initials, covered in a patterned favored by the bride. Their delicious cake, which was made for them as a gift from a family friend, sat behind them on a cocktail table, adorned with the most perfect sugar flowers created to mimic the flowers in the bridesmaid’s bouquets. Instead of a champagne toast, guests were able to enjoy sparkling cider straight from the town where Kelli and Brandon first said I love you. At the end of the night after hours of dancing, lots of photo booth fun and a late night snack bar comprised of Auntie Anne’s pretzels and dipping sauces, the bride and groom departed with a sparkler send off late into the August night, marking the end of a completely perfect day for two very special people. These photos by Jen truly capture how incredible Kelli and Brandon’s wedding day was.

Wedding Photography: Jen Lynne Photography / Styling, Planning + Coordination: Rhiannon of Hey Gorgeous Events / Reception Location: St. Cecelia’s Music Center / Ceremony Location: Fountain Street Church / Catering: The Gilmore Collection / Beverage Service: Martha’s Vineyard / Florist: Gail Vander Laan Florist / Wedding Cake: Family Friend / Photobooth: Shutterbooth / Entertainment: Moments in Time Disc Jockeys / Chair Covers: Special Occasions West / Stationery: A Pinch of Spice / Wedding Gown: Bridal Elegance / Limo Service: Dadds Limo / Veil: David’s Bridal

I’m totally loving the colorful, fun vibe I’m getting from this whimsical Grand Rapids wedding. The capture the flag escort “cards” and bright orange VW add tons of personality to the festive day. It’s no doubt that Bikini Birdie had a blast capturing all the details of this lakeside fete. And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing all day in the gallery…wanna join?

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Bikini Birdie…Joel and Kelly met at work in the small beach town of Grand Haven, Michigan. They spent their first years together enjoying all of the kayaking, fishing, hiking, bike riding, and beach-bumming that goes with living in Grand Haven.  After their engagement, work and school brought Joel and Kelly to the Rocky Mountains, but they couldn’t imagine getting married at any place but the shore of Lake Michigan, with their families, friends and memories.

Planning a wedding from across the country required Joel and Kelly to focus on what was important to them for their wedding.  Between school and work, they didn’t have time to shop for napkin rings, salt and pepper shakers, and doilies.  They decided to focus on people, venue, and food, everything that makes great weddings memorable.  Getting good people to the wedding was easy: it’s not difficult to round-up a crowd of good friends and family.  Once they walked through Camp Blodgett- a summer camp with beautiful reception hall overlooking Lake Michigan- the venue decision was made.  And that left the food.  Joel and Kelly had enjoyed the creations of Chef Tommy Fitzgerald, a Grand Rapids, Michigan, restaurant owner and extraordinary caterer, at the beach wedding of a friend a few years before.  And they made sure to get a slot on Tommy’s busy summer schedule for their own wedding as soon as they could.

West Michigan weather in May is always a gamble, but things have a way of working out on wedding days.  After seven straight days of rain, the skies cleared, and Kelly and Joel threw the party of the century.  On their wedding day, Kelly and Joel enjoyed the best of West Michigan: great people, great food, crisp spring weather, and a beautiful Lake Michigan sunset.

Wedding Photography: Bikini Birdie / Catering: Tommy Fitzgerald / Venue: Camp Blodgett / Music: Dance Tracks DJ / Bride’s Hair + Make-up: B Salon / Wedding Dress: The Dessy-Group / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Bride’s + Bridesmaid Jewelry: The Creative Fringe / Groom + Groomsmen’s Suits: Macy’s / Table Decorations, Flowers + Escort Flags: The Bride / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Elegance of the Seasons / Chair Covers: Chair Cover Creations / Invitations + Menus: Jeff Kenyon / Bar Service: Seaway Party Store

I was dumbfounded when I discovered that this crafty bride created her Michigan wedding, photographed by Kelly Sweet Photography, almost entirely by herself (with a little help from friends and family).  There is a traditional element but, when certain conventional elements didn’t appeal to them, the couple put their own unique spin on things.  I love the paper flowers that the bride handcrafted along with the gold painted branches for a touch of organic opulence in lieu of traditional floral arrangements.  Instead of a cake, the family of the groom baked dozens of yummy cookies in honor of a family tradition.  Check out the full gallery to see even more of this creative and elegant wedding!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… I made all of the decorations myself, and no, they were not just forms….I was a very busy girl!  The paper flowers were completely serendipitous. I originally was thinking about making those tissue paper orbs that hang from the ceiling that you see a lot.  I went to Martha Stewart’s website to see how they were made and as I went along, I found that although I wasn’t getting my originally intended result, I thought what I was ending up with would make beautiful flowers if I just tweaked a few things.  So I then went about the task of making what felt about a million simple tissue paper flowers of varying sizes and colors of cream/white/blush (As a side note– whatever they use to wrap purchases in at Anthropologie is the most gorgeous cream tissue paper!) and then embellished them with whatever cuteness I could find at the local craft stores or already had in my craft boxes.  After I had the blooms put together, I made stems and whatnot out of basic floral arranging items, threw in some pipe cleaners and feathers and I had a bouquet.

For the flower containers, I raided both my grandmothers’ cupboards and searched antique shops for old bottles and filled the vessels with sand/rice to keep the flowers upright.  For the candles strewn about, I had my heart set on square candles in shades of cream and ended up finally finding them online.  I embellished the bottoms of some of them with gold adhesive borders intended for scrapbooking.  The table coverings were just burlap I bought wholesale online topped with a few of my grandmother’s vintage handkerchiefs and some doilies found antiquing. The cookie table did have a bit of faux raw silk fabric I found on sale at Hancock Fabric. The branches were almost as labor intensive as the paper flowers since they were all handpicked by my VERY helpful mom and dad from the woods in their backyard and then spray painted gold.  I also included wedding day pictures from both sets of parents, grandparents, and my great grandparents in frames picked up for very little at TJ Maxx and Homegoods.  I bought the DIY type of invitations at Target and my dad helped me print them out, piece of cake.

After searching everywhere for a dress, I actually ended up getting the discontinued sample from the floor for $600 from Fantastic Finds in Lansing.  Shoes were a little tougher since I love me a sky high heel, but Mike and I are the same height and I needed to find something that was a little funky, but would not make me look ridiculous when standing next to him.  I searched high and low at every consignment/antique shop, but couldn’t find anything to fit my boat-sized feet, so I settled for a shoe from Macy’s. Same goes for jewelry. I scoured antique shops for the perfect accessories, but since I wanted over the top AND gold, it was hard to find, so I ended up getting the earrings and one of the rhinestone bracelets at Cherie’s in the Centerpointe Mall in GR.  The dress did originally come with a brooch in the center of the bow, but I wasn’t crazy about it, so I went antiquing yet again and a million shops later, I finally found the perfect piece at the antique shop in Eastown.  I also ended up stacking a bunch of my grandmother’s vintage bracelets and wore my grandfather’s wedding band, along with the original ring Mike used to propose on my right hand.

Instead of a guest book, we asked guests to write a small message to us on fabric quilt squares I had precut, with the intention of making a wedding quilt, however, the fabric pens ran out before everyone got a chance to use them, so that was a bummer.  Since we love to travel, we also asked guests to let us in on their most favorite “must go” place.  I set that little section up with the instructions for that in another picture frame and provided unused vintage postcards originating from either Grand Rapids (my hometown), Pittsburgh (Mike’s hometown), The Netherlands (I’m Dutch) or Italy (He’s Italian) for guests to write on.  Those were surprisingly easy to locate, and I found those for a steal at the antique shop on Wealthy/Charles in GR.  The vintage suitcase I used for displaying the postcards was found at an antique shop in Lake Odessa, MI.

The cookies/pastries were really none of my doing at all!  I knew I wanted one since I’m not crazy about wedding cakes and I thought it was a fun replacement for one. Plus, “The Cookie Table” is a tradition in Mike’s family (his mom’s not sure where it started, or if it’s an Italian or Pittsburgh thing).  I just found different cake pedestals, interesting vintage dishes, turned to the grandmas yet again, and was able to find enough pieces to create a display.  The to-go bags were just handled brown bags I found at Joann Fabric and I stamped them with a cute image and threw some tissue paper in there.  Mike’s mom/aunts/friends starting baking away for about a month before the wedding to create the enormous amount of cookies (his parents had to rent a van to haul the enormous amount of goodies and drove with the AC full blast all the way from Pittsburgh!) I am so grateful they went to all the trouble because I think the cookie table was the most beautiful thing at the wedding. Everything was made with love, nothing store bought and Mike’s mom and extended family were the ones that created the whole look without much help from me and they did a WONDERFUL job.

Wedding Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography / Wedding Ceremony Location: The Brayton House / Wedding Reception Location: The Photography Room / Wedding Planning & Design: The Bride / Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo via Fantastic Finds / Bride’s Shoes: Capparos via Macy’s / Bride’s Jewelry: Cheri’s Bridal & Accessories + Vintage / Wedding Dress Broach: Vintage / Wedding Invitations: Target / Frames: TJ Maxx + HomeGoods / Cookies & Pastries: Family of the Groom

Wednesdays are quickly becoming my favorite day of the week solely due to the fact it means one fabulous wedding after another here at Style Me Pretty – so get ready to reconnect with your refresh button today because boy do we have some beauties coming your way. First up is an absolutely adorable, personality filled wedding captured by Bryan and Mae. Let me just put it this way, you know when each member of the bridal party brings along their own tandem bicycle it’s a wedding not to be missed, and of course you won’t have to miss a thing when you check out the gallery.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

Matthew and I are both relatively simple people who enjoy relatively simple things. We love the color purple, we love our friends and family, we love music, and we love bicycles. Lots of bicycles. Inevitably, this became our wedding theme that carried over into everything from invitations to decorations.

We decided against doing a “first look” and waited to see each other for the first time when I walked down the aisle. I will never forget this moment – it was overwhelming in the best way imaginable. We were married at the church I grew up in and were blessed to have my grandpa officiate the ceremony. Our talented friends Kate & Jay played an incredibly heartfelt original song during the service. It was our first time hearing it and I was overwhelmed yet again. Our vintage Schwinn Twinn bicycle built for two was used as our getaway ride after the ceremony. Complete with tin cans and “Just Married” sign. I just hiked up my dress and away we went!

A nearby ski lodge provided the pleasantly casual reception setting we had hoped for. One of my favorite moments of the night came during our photo session with the wedding party. The lodge has a large back deck looking up to one of the steepest hills in the area. Everyone had their own bicycle (us with our tandem) as we hiked up the slope. We paused at the top for a couple photographs and then cruised back down to the bottom. The girls in their dresses and the guys in their rolled up trousers. It was so much fun riding around together in the grassy fields and our guests enjoyed watching from below.The rest of the evening was spent on the dance floor – where the bride and groom should be! We were having so much fun we (almost) didn’t want to leave. Our wedding wasn’t about having everything perfectly in place. But in every other way, it was absolutely perfect.

Photography: Bryan and Mae / Reception Location: Cannonsburg Ski Resort/Flowers: Horrocks Market / Dress: David’s Bridal / DJ: Ryan Shine of Top 5 Entertainment / Cake: Bride’s Aunt / Bridesmaids dresses: David’s Bridal / Groomsmen apparel: JCrew /