Get To Know - Crumbles Cupcakery

Via Twitter I connected with Sara and Allison of Crumbles Cupcakery. They are a new cupcake business in Grand Rapids and with first hand knowledge I can tell you that their treats are AMAZING!!!! The ladies of Crumbles are fantastic and they are coming up with unique new recipes all the time, for the fall they have a Pumpkin Pie Cupcake....I'm drooling just writing about it!! A little more about Crumbles Cupcakery...

1. What type of services do you offer?

Crumbles Cupcakery provides made-to-order gourmet cupcakes that are made with the highest quality and freshest ingredients available. We also use local products whenever possible. All of our cupcakes are made from scratch using tested and approved recipes! As a small business, we believe very strongly in not only supporting other local businesses but also creating a community of entrepreneurs who are dedicated to offering the best services possible to West Michigan.

Crumbles Cupcakery is available for small events such as birthday parties, christenings and showers, and large events like weddings and community soirees. We work with each client individually to customize our cupcake flavors and designs to ensure that everybody’s tastes are well suited!

2. How long have you been in the wedding industry and where are you located?

Crumbles Cupcakery is brand new! Owners and principal bakers Allison and Sara began Crumbles in May 2009 and have been overwhelmingly encouraged by the response we’ve had! We currently work on an online, order-by-order basis. Please feel free to contact us at crumblescupcakery@gmail.com for menu and pricing and check out our cupcake portfolio at http://www.flickr.com/photos/crumblescupcakery.

3. What type of clients do you like to work with (traditional, modern, etc.)?

Everybody loves a cupcake and Crumbles Cupcakery loves everybody! We are pleased to work with clients of all different aesthetics, styles and tastes. Simple adjustments such as the kind of icing tip we use to top the cakes or the type of decorations that adorn the icing can make a cupcake mod, cute, elegant, sophisticated and everything in between!

Crumbles also offers a wide range of display settings that help create a perfect “cupcakescape” to match every occasion. Because we love new ideas and we enjoy experimenting with new looks, if our client has something particular in mind we’re more than happy to try to make it happen. That goes for cupcake flavors too! We find there is no shortage of flavor ideas and we love to try them all!

4. Is there anything within your business that you specialize in?

While not necessarily a specialty, we do try to add a creative spin and extra detail into our cupcakes – every little thing counts towards the final creation! For example, we swirl cinnamon into the shortbread crust for our Pumpkin Pie cupcake, making a delicious, flaky and spiced base for adding on pumpkin cake, filled with homemade pumpkin custard. We also use unique ingredients, such as Coquito liqueur – a Puerto Rican cream brandy, used to create a sensational icing for our It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere cupcake. Our Dulce de Leche (South American caramel) is a family recipe that we use as a filling in several of our cupcakes. We’re constantly trying to innovate and dream up new ideas – the cupcake clock never stops!

5. What do you think sets you apart from other vendors in the industry?

Well, for starters, we make cupcakes! The Grand Rapids cupcake scene is really developing, but Crumbles Cupcakery remains one of first in the area that provides all cupcakes all the time. Also, while Crumbles offers many classic flavors such as chocolate, vanilla and carrot cake, we are also inspired by global flavors, which we turn into unique and flavorful cupcakes combinations that you won’t find anywhere else! One of our most popular cupcakes, the Taj Mahal, is infused with the flavors of an Indian sweet that incorporates pistachios, cardamom and cinnamon. Yum! If you’re looking for traditional, we certainly have it, and if you like something a little unfamiliar (but always delicious) then we have that too!

6. When you’re not busy working, how do you like to spend your downtime?

Creating new cupcakes, of course! J Well, both of us come from large families, so we definitely love spending time with them! We also volunteer locally with nonprofit organizations and like to be out and about in Grand Rapids as much as we can!

7. What is one crazy story of something that has happened while you were working?

We’ve been fairly lucky so far that nothing too crazy has happened at Crumbles Cupcakery, though we’re sure our day is coming! We have had some baking disasters in our kitchens but thankfully only while we were testing new recipes and not working on a big order. There have definitely been a few dozen cupcakes that have gone straight from the oven to the trash, and maybe even a few tears shed in the kitchen, but nothing catastrophic yet!

Get To Know - Chic Chair Covers

This week I am featuring Bianca from Chic Chair Covers. Bianca and I met this summer and immediately hit if off, we even both have Boxers! Here is a little about CCC.

Chic Chair Covers, LLC (CCC) offers white banquet style chair covers and organza sashes in a variety of different colors. The owner, Bianca Tompsett, runs the business from her home in Allendale where she meets with clients to see our products and find the perfect sash color to compliment the events decor.

Bianca, a graduate of Ferris State University's College of Business, has a passion for weddings and events in general. With five years of experience working directly with events, from planning to advertising, she knew she wanted to have her hand in events in some way. After planning her own wedding in 2007, she realized the wedding industry is where she wanted to focus her energy.

"I've been a guest at far too many receptions where the couple uses chair linens, but the sashes are on the floor by the end of the night. One thing you'll notice about our high quality organza sashes is that they're slightly thicker than our competitors, so it stays on the chair and holds it form better than others," Tompsett said.

Bianca offers many services for free that other chair linen providers often charge extra for. She personally sets up the chair covers with her team, as well as steams them on-site, for no extra charge. She takes pride in the finished product, as it adds a lot to the ambiance of the room.

"I can remember my wedding day distinctly. One thing I definitely didn't want to deal with was setting up chair covers and sashes. I just wanted to focus on getting ready, staying relaxed, and having a good time. So, we ended up paying someone to do the set-up for us....which added up quickly! That is why I opted to offer free set-up and steaming of all chair covers and sashes. That way the room will look crisp and clean, and the bride doesn't have to lift a finger," Tompsett said.

When she's not working she enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog Bella, a Boxer. She enjoys traveling, photography, party planning, and anything design related.

For more information, visit:
Main Website: http://www.ChicChairCovers.com
Blog: http://ChicChairCovers.blogspot.com

Table Design/Bridal Show

I did my first bridal show this past weekend, it was fun! I wasn't sure what to expect so I thought I would show a table design that could be used for a wedding or other special event. I also wanted to pull all the pieces together from some favorite vendors.

The Bridal Affair was in Holland at the Midtown Center, it is the old Holland Public High School and they have redone most of the building and there is a fabulous banquet room on the second floor. The show was put on by Miss to Mrs Magazine (Lakeshore Edition) and they did a great job. The big excitement of the evening was the Dream Wedding giveaway, there were about 150 brides nominated for the giveaway and one very deserving bride was chosen. The package for the giveaway added up to about $14,000 worth of gifts and services. I donated my planning services as well and am looking forward to working with this bride and all the generous vendors in 2010.

Here are some pictures from my booth.

Gorgeous arrangement from Engedi Bridal, vase from Events by I. Candy and chairs from Cascade Rental

Gorgeous linens from Special Occasions, china and glassware from The Rental Company.
I got the gold flatware on clearance at Target :)

My intern, Therese, came to help and hang out...and we both enjoyed the food!

Get To Know - Allison Bower, Makeup Artist

At the July MWEP meeting I was lucky enough to meet Allison Bower, a local make up artist. We traded cards and last week met for coffee. Allison came over with her adorable little girl, Baye, and we had such a nice morning just chatting.

Allison has an amazing eye for color and detail. When you talk with Allison you can just tell that she has a passion for what she does. It is always so refreshing to meet people in the industry that love what they do and that comes across in their work.

Here are a few questions I asked Allison so that you can get to know her a little better.

1. What type of services do you offer?

I do makeup application for weddings, photo shoots, television, theater, etc.

2. How long have you been in the makeup industry and where are you located?

I have been doing makeup all my life but I decided to start my own business a year ago.

3. What type of clients do you like to work with (traditional, modern, etc.)?

I work largely with models, brides, photographers and shop owners. I enjoy working with people who are fun and innovative.

4. Is there anything within your business that you specialize in?

Makeup for weddings and fashion.

5. What do you think sets you apart from other vendors in the industry?

It’s difficult to draw a comparison between me and other artists. From what I’ve seen, there are some talented local artists. I believe fully in my training, technique and collaborative efforts with clients and vendors. I’m considerate of other people’s time and efforts and always follow through on my word.

6. When you’re not busy working, how do you like to spend your downtime?

I have three young children who are 8, 6, and 4. I also have a fantastic husband. I love to be with them when I am not working. Even doing little events like going to pumpkin patches, nature walks, or going to the zoo gets me excited.

7. What is one crazy story of something that has happened while you were working?

I had a photographer who had to reschedule shortly before a fashion shoot. I had to find a different photographer in short order to work with five models. I had to sift through 70 emails from photographers and pick the best one (this was early in my career and I didn’t have an established list of preferred photographers). In the end, an amazing photographer committed to the shoot and the results were fantastic. Out of courtesy, I did write all the other photographers back, too.

Thanks Allison!!

Get To Know Fridays

This fall I am going to be doing a Get To Know Friday. Each Friday I am going to be featuring a local wedding vendor so that you can get to know them better.

If you would like to be featured please let me know

Look for local makeup artist, Allison Bower, this coming Friday.

DIY Place Card Board

I needed a quick, easy and inexpensive way to display place cards for a wedding. But, of course, I also wanted it to be really cute. So this is what I did...

The board is a piece of foam board, purchased at Walgreens for $4. This particular one is 22X28 and fit 45 standard sized place cards, so depending on the number of guests you may need multiple boards. The ribbon was from Walmart and was $1.47 a roll and I used about 1.5 rolls.


Step 1: I figured out how many cards I could fit across (five) and so I knew I needed 9 rows. To keep good spacing I measured out every 3 inches and used a pencil to mark the spot.

Step 2: Lay your ribbon across leaving about an inch and a half on each side. You can prepare ahead and cut all the ribbon at once.

Step 3: Flip the board over. Wrap the ribbon edges around the back side of the board and tape on one end. I used black electrical tape so that it wouldn't show up against the black board. Before you tape the other end of the ribbon make sure to pull it very tight, to remove any slack in the ribbon, then tape that end.















Step 4: Continue taping the ribbons down the board, following your measured out pencil marks
to ensure each line is straight.


























Step 5: Place the cards tented over the ribbon in alphabetical order and VOILA!!!

Less than 30 minutes and under $8 and I had an adorable board that received many compliments! I set the board on an easel but thought a metal book stand on a table would be cute too, especially if you need more than one board.

Stacy & TJ - Reception 09-12-09

My sister in law was married in North Carolina in June. They had a very small intimate ceremony with only close friends and family. So wanting to celebrate more and party with more friends and family we decided to throw them a reception here in Michigan this past weekend.

My Mother in law and I planned the reception and it turned out just wonderful. The bride wasn't allowed to see the room before it was finished and upon arriving for the reception she was speechless! Almost to tears, it was perfect, just what I was hoping for.

For dinner we chose to do stations of hors d' oeuvres, both hot and cold. All the guests loved the idea and I heard many people say they had more than enough to eat. (of course, I didn't get pictures of the stations!)

Venue: GVSU Alumni House, Allendale
Catering: GVSU Classic Fare Catering
Cake: Second Floor Bakery
Floral: Memorable Events
Glassware: Events by I. Candy
DJ: DJ Vybes
Photographer: Randy Willis
Chair Covers: Elegant Chair Covers




Thanks again to all the vendors for doing such an amazing job!

Congrats, Stacy and TJ, welcome to the family!

Keep an eye out for the DIY Place card board step by step post coming later this week!