Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Strategic Military Operation

While watching a rerun of J.A.G. this morning, I just had to laugh when Admiral Chegwidden compared planning a wedding to a strategic military operation. Once, I stopped laughing I realized it was a good point.

The seating arrangement as a military operation:

Head table - operation headquarters
Table of bride's friends - allies
Aunt Edna, groom's ex-girlfriend - enemies

Seat accordingly :)

(google images)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Keri & Mike - May 9, '09

The long anticipated Apple Orchard Wedding was this past weekend. I am so sad that it is over, I had been excited for it for so long and now it's done. The weather was the scariest part, Michigan is so unpredictable! It rained in the morning but by the time the afternoon rolled around the ground was dry and it was just a little chilly.

I was able to work with some wonderful vendors that helped make the day perfect:

Photography: Summer Jean Photography
Caterer: GTG Catering
Venue: McIntosh Orchard & Winery
Floral: Designing Dreams LLC
Videography: RPS Films
Rentals: Taylor Rental
Harpist: Meg Rodgers
Guitarist: Ed McGee



There were so many fun little details that went into this wedding, I am so thankful that Amber of Amber Dawn Event Design and Therese my intern were along to help me set up. We started the morning by putting together the "place cards" which were real apples with the guests names and table number written on fabric leaves...so cute.






Each table had a different apple theme, ex. Red Delicious or Gala. The centerpieces matched the place cards for that theme. I love themes!!!


We had the vases filled with apples and then I went out into the orchard and snipped branches and we tucked apple blossoms in between the apples. It turned out gorgeous, better than I could have even imagined.

The details were everywhere from baskets of apples sitting on the bar, to oil lanterns and buckets of lilacs on the porch. It was a true farm wedding.


And of course, I was too busy to stop and take pictures of the ceremony, but I am sure that Summer of Summer Jean Photography grabbed some amazing shots. The ceremony took place back in the orchard among some of the trees. The bride came up over a hill to walk down the aisle, while the guests waited at the bottom with the groom.

McIntosh Orchards also has a winery where they make their own fruit wines and hard apple cider. The guests enjoyed these wines all night and a lot a them even purchased some to take home with them. Cocktails and appetizers were served on the large covered porch while harpist Meg Rodgers played. Then the guests came inside the winery for dinner and dessert which was apple dumplings and ice cream made right at the orchard, delicious!!!

Dancing followed dinner with music provided by Ed McGee. Ed is a guitarist, singer and songwriter and is the lead singer for Mike's favorite band. Keri hired Ed to come up for the wedding and her gift to Mike, it was very special and Mike was thrilled.

I could go on and on about all the little wonderful details that went into this wedding. I will post a link to Summer's blog when she puts up some pictures, I can't wait to see them!!!