Bride's Choice Award 2009

Just wanted to send out a big Thank You to all of my former and current brides and grooms. I got an email from WeddingWire.com today letting me know that I was one of the lucky vendors to received the 2009 Bride's Choice Award. This award recognizes vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility.

I am honored and excited to be a part of this great Network and humbled that my couples have thought so much of me as to vote.

6 More Weeks!!

Life is going to change dramatically for me in 6 weeks. My wonderful little bundle of joy is due on March 11 but not only that, after the baby comes I am going to officially be a full time wedding consultant!

Life is changing but at the same time getting so exciting. I am thrilled for the new challenges and adventures that 2009 has in store for me. I day-dream all the time about sitting at my desk in my newly finished office with the baby sleeping in it's swing and me working away on my blog, upcoming weddings, and reading all of your wonderful postings. I know, I know, any of you who are moms are wishing me "good luck" with my dream but I'm still praying for a compliant baby :)

Still trying to get the new office organized, I just got the b&w shots from Summer of SJO Photography today that are going to be proudly displayed and once it is all perfect I will post some pics.

"Life is all about the adventure", that is the motto I live by and I hope it can help you enjoy your 2009 as much as I hope to.

Happy Holidays

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I hope you all enjoy the season with your family and friends. It has been such a wonderful year I can't believe it is almost 2009! Take care everyone, God bless!

I wanted to find a "fun" picture for this post...how about an upside down Christmas tree? Just think of all the presents you could fit under this one!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I wish you all a great day to enjoy with your family and friends and safe travels to all of those who will be traveling. I can't even begin to list all of the things I have to be thankful for in the last year. My husband, family and friends are always number one, the great year I had with my business in 2008 and of course the baby on the way!!! Thanks to all of those who read my blog and keep my business going, I appreciate all of you!

Including Your Man: Part II

Earlier this week I spotlighted the wedding of Jess and Kevin and all of their fun details, today the focus is on Ellen and Jerry's beautiful wedding. Ellen and Jerry got married in Greenville at the Anna Behren's Lodge, what a perfect location for their theme. Jerry is a logger here in Michigan so the couple decided in incorporate the outdoors to make their reception personal.

The groom cut slices of trees for the cake stands that were on each table and took smaller trees to create the votive holders, adorable!!

For the placecard holders the bride found gold painted pine cones.

The lodge was just gorgeous, all logs and wood, it was perfect for this couple. Ellen told me that they had attended a friend's wedding here and that as soon as Jerry saw it he just knew they had to have their reception there as well, it was love at first sight for him! I just loved the way Ellen and Jerry incorporated what Jerry does for a living into the decor.

Including Your Man

When my hubby and I were getting married I wanted to include him in the planning. Well, at first I did, then he didn't seem interested so I just went about the planning asking him occassionally what he thought. There were a few touches that were ALL him, such as the Metallica during the dinner music...subtle but effective. But some of those touches are the ones I remember the most and I wish I would have done more. I recently saw a U of M garder which I would have loved to surprise him with, maybe if we renew our vows someday!

Some of my couples this past year included little touches that both couples enjoyed but were inspired by the groom...

Kevin and Jess were a couple I worked with that live in Ireland. Kevin is Irish and Jess is from the Grand Rapids area, what a fun couple.

The couple both participate in a sport called hurling in Ireland...Kevin is quite well known. Jess and her sisters created these adorable place cards with pictures of hurlers with the guests name and table number at the top.



The place cards were in baskets with dirt and grass to look like the playing field. I had such a good time setting it all up.







For the guest book they used a "hurley" which is the stick used in the sport. All the guests really enjoyed leaving fun messages for the couple on it.

Another fun touch they added was that instead of just numbering the tables they called them different hurling positions such as Center Forward. This was such a fun and creative wedding, thank you Jess and Kevin for letting me be a part of it.

Tune in later this week for part II of "Including Your Man" for Ellen and Jerry's wedding details.

To Clean or Not to Clean

Some friends and I got into the discussion of what to do with your wedding dress after the big day. One said she got her dress cleaned and vacuum sealed in case her daughters wanted to wear it someday. Another said she had it cleaned but not boxed so she could take it out again if she wanted. And me? well...gasp! Mine is still hanging in the basement 5 years later with the frosting still on the hem of the skirt! I know, I know, I should at least have it cleaned, by now the stains are probably there to stay, I'll have to get ahold of Tami at Great Lake Wedding Gown Specialists. Tami specializes in cleaning and preserving gowns, as well as being the owner of September's Bride, an amazing bridal store in Holland.

So it begs the question...what is the right thing to do with your dress after the wedding? I believe it all depends on what you want to do with the dress in the long run. If you want to keep it around for your children to see it in all it's glory then by all means definitely have it professionally cleaned and sealed up to preserve the color and integrity. Having it cleaned with or without sealing it up is a great idea, just to keep it fresh and beautiful.

There are many options out there for the dress after the wedding, if you don't know what you want to do with yours, consider the following...donate your dress. Many second hand or thrift stores and also consignment shops will take wedding dresses, just think if you aren't going to reuse your dress maybe someone that can't afford such a beautiful item would treasure it as much as you did.

{picture courtesy of September's Bride}