R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care of TCP
Archive for July, 2009
Respect
Sunday, July 26th, 2009Jan and Dan’s floral!
Saturday, July 25th, 2009Jan and Dan ~ June 12th
I loved Jan and Dan from the first moment I met them. They were truly a fun couple that shared a lot of my same ideas. It was an honor to be part of their wedding and design them some beautiful blooms! Thanks goes out to Pearls Events for sending them my way!!
Locally grown, Locally supported!
Style
The style of the overall floral arrangements was derived from the couples outdoorsy feel and natural appeal. Simplicity was key for their vision. An elaborate bouquet would not have fit the personality of the couple nor their wedding. Their style proved to be my muse for sophisticated and polished arrangements.
Bouquets
The pale pink peonies added a whimsical and romantic touch to the overall feel. The bride wanted to play up a blushing flower without it feeling too girly. The peonies provided an understated elegance that spoke for itself.
Boutonnieres
We thought that a white orchid would be a nice compliment against the pink bouquets, while still maintaining a stylish feel when by itself. Also, orchids prove to be a durable flower that can last throughout the day.
Local Connections
It was not difficult to source these flowers locally, in fact it ended up being more cost efficient. Our bride was on a budget, so in the end it was beneficial for both parties. Also, it is important to both the bride and me that we support our local businesses. The relationships we built with Ponderosa floral in Hamilton, Michigan proved to be a blessing. Their loyalty and quality of work was superb.
(Photos courtesy of Amy Carroll Photography)
Love those invites!
Friday, July 24th, 2009Invitations are one of my favorite parts of a wedding. I get so excited when I walk out to my mailbox and see that “special” envelope lying among my mail just saying “Hurry up and open me!” This single envelope begins to tell the story of a very special day that is coming up. You can get a feeling of the style and atmosphere by just looking at it. But also it tells you all the details such as where I’m going and what time; what’s for dinner; where I can stay; and if children are welcomed. So I always stress to my couples to let that invite tell that story and truly have it reflect them as a couple.
Here are some pointers to make your invite one that has your guests talking
Be Bold! Use the darker color of your wedding color scheme for your backer, tri-fold, or whatever you choose for you main design
Make it personal! Use a special saying or picture on the actual invite itself
Spread it! Use the same designs on all your wedding stationary needs such as escort cards, menu cards, programs, and thank you notes
Make it readable! Don’t pick a font that is not easily read by all
Give the details! Make this a tool for communication. Call out all information that your guest might be needing and also all the information you need from them
Add that postage! Make sure you take the invite once it has been completely assembled and have it weighed at the Post Office
Have FUN! Invites are just one aspect of the wedding that can be very enjoyable. Make it a group project with family and friends to assemble with great food and drink!
And find a professional! I highly believe that using an actual designer verses using a website is always the best choice. The quality and personal attention that you will receive is well worth taking the time out of a busy schedule to sit down with an actual person. I always send my clients to one certain designer, Sondra of Sondra’s Ink. She is amazing to work with and her prices are so reasonable. Plus for an extra charge she will assemble and mail them for you! Her designs are always fresh and are way beyond what her clients thought they would receive.
All photos courtesy of Sondra’s Ink and Taylor Gray Photography
Don’t get lost in it all….
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009Just a thought:
As much as we all love to add decor, smiles, and elaborate works of art to any wedding, we must remember that in the end a wedding is purely about love and commitment. My new bride-to-be, Dana, is such an appreciative and kind hearted soul. She is proving to be a breath of fresh air with her true appreciation for life. Of course, we all want to entertain our friends and families, but she is one that is able to grasp a happy medium between the atmosphere and the reason of celebration.
In short, I just love when families come together and work with me to surpass their vision. Planning is what I love to do, but what is even more rewarding is seeing relationships become rekindled and strengthened throughout the whole process. Because in the end, what you eat and what music is played is not nearly as important as the memories’ that you have made. A wedding is a celebration of love. So when possible, my best advice is to try to include the ones you love in this wondrous day. You won’t regret it.
Michele and Steve Wedding!
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Michele and Steve’s Wedding
June 13th, 2009
Ionia Michigan
Reception Venue :: Bertha Brock Park
Basic Planning & Day of Coordinator :: Elements of Elegance Event Planning and Floral
Floral :: Elements of Elegance Event Planning and Floral
Photography :: Angie Brooks
DJ Entertainment :: Thunder Mountain
Bar Services :: Bars by Butch
Michele and Steve tied the knot! This wedding presented many enchanting and intimate moments throughout the planning process. My dear friend Amy and I offered up our services to create a day of splendor for the happy couple. With Michele and Steve’s individual vision and plenty of creative juices, this wedding turned out to be one of the most rewarding I have planned yet. But what was truly amazing, was how Michele and Steve’s sincere happiness chased away the rain clouds and created a magical day full of hope, love and generosity.
Reception Venue
Michele and Steve are of kindred spirits. Their love for the outdoors and natural beauties was reflected in their choice of reception venue: the Bertha Brock Lodge. The natural appeal of such simple beauty was unquestionable. The lodge created an intimate feel of warmth and love that was carried on throughout the night. This venue allowed Michele and Steve as well as their guest to enjoy the true meaning of such an important commitment to each other and the families which surround them.
Photography
As you all know, I could not sing enough praises about my dear friend Amy and her work as a photographer. For the day of the wedding Amy’s services were used elsewhere, as Michele’s wonderful matron of honor. Fortunately, Amy’s assistant Angie Brooks was just as amazing as Michele had hoped for. Angie was able to turn intimate and private moments into memories that will last a lifetime. She was able to capture the beauty of nature and the bliss of Michele and Steve’s love and create simple yet striking images throughout the wedding day. All pictures of Steve and Michele alone are of the work of Amy Carroll but the rest of the collage was the artistic works of Angie.
DJ Entertainment
I am always loyal to vendors who are committed to excellence and communication. Dave and Deb from Thunder Mountain are just that. For Michele and Steve’s wedding, Thunder Mountain fashioned fun and relaxed entertainment throughout the wedding night. They happily took casual request for music and created a dancing celebration full of laughter and fun.
Bar Services
To set an appropriate feel for any wedding, a bar that is customized to each individual couple’s vision is necessary. Bars by Butch offered Michele and Steve the unique and relaxed feel that they were looking for. With excellent quality of service, Bars by Butch surpassed the happy couple’s expectations and led the night into a realm of freedom and splendor.
Decor
For Michele and Steve’s table choices we decided to go with a square table. Square tables are a great way to bring about a modern appeal to any wedding and location. Square tables also offer efficient use of space when the guest are abundant in numbers.
Children in today’s weddings
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Children, oh how we love them! And in today’s weddings they are making a come back appearance… There was a time where couples were forgoing children all too together in their weddings but this is not the case anymore. But when there are children, there is prep work that must be considered to help make your day run smooth… Here are a few helpful hints:
v Remember they are children so keeping them on a time schedule is important. They get antsy when they’re forced to stand around and wait.
v Give them something to do… Kids love craft project so I usually bring one with me that they play with that does not involved getting their outfit soiled.
v A change of clothes for the children is always a good idea especially if you are doing pictures before the wedding. It’s easy to slip them out of their wedding outfit into some play clothes for a while before redressing them. This also allows them time to burn off some that excitement energy.
v When bringing in food for the children go more of the healthy route and skip the sugar. And always have clear fruit juices verses a color liquid. Red fruit punch does not come out with a Tide Stick on a cute flower girl dress.
v Consider hiring a sitter to help out through out the day especially if the parents are also in the wedding. This frees up them and your family to enjoy the day and not stress over who has the children. Remember to introduce them before the wedding though.
v Please have them come to rehearsal… It preps them for what it is going to be like the day of the wedding. Plus it gives us time to get to know the children and become buddies with them.
v Have a Children’s table at the reception that has coloring books, Lego’s, arts and crafts, and activity sheets to keep the children busy through out the night.
v And the most important thing, remember they are children and as much as we want them to be perfect that day, it might not happen. Children tend to freeze up and become scared when they see all those people. Sometimes they run right down the aisle, and sometimes they wail at the back of the church. But no matter what, they make the day just a little more precious because they are part of it…
Photo courtesy of Riverside Photography