Oh how I love Fiddle Ferns!  They make such a statement with their fun look!  Fiddle Ferns come in a variety of colors from warm purplish brown to a fun green and finally a bold orange brown.  Not only are they used in floral, they are also used in fine cooking.  I can honestly say I have had a client’s mom tell me that they taste like rhubarb when raw.  Note, though that cute curl only last for a couple weeks before it turns into flowing graceful greenery.  But what I love most about this plant is my grooms and groomsmen think that it looks manly so they’re okay with wearing that personal flower on their lapel of their suit or tux on that special day.

Above is one of my favorites that we here at EOE have designed for our favorite fireman / groom Travis!

This past weekend I had the pleasure of receiving pictures of personal and reception flowers from a wedding that we did last summer for Stephanie and Matt.  I still remember sitting with Stephanie and her mom one cold November evening back in 2008! We started out with a color palette of pinks and whites.  But as you can see as the date got closer we added LOTS of color!

Matt and Stephanie were married on August 15^th, 2009 on one of the hottest days of summer.  They had a beautiful ceremony at St. John Vianney followed by a wonderful reception at the Crowne Plaza.  Again Stephanie and Matt, thank you for allowing us to be part of your magically day!

All photos courtesy of Kelly Wiseman

As many of my couples will tell you, my philosophy about the photography is that’s where you spend the largest portion of your budget (even over the planner and floral).   My reasoning behind this is because when the day flies by; the pictures are what you have to look back on. And every couple deserves perfect pictures!  And I have been very lucky to work with some great photographers over the years.  And my top five favorites are on my preferred vendor list.  And today I like to highlight one of those top five.

RMS Photography is made up with the talented couple of Ryan and Nicole Start.  I had the pleasure of working with them during this past summer at the Felt Mansion for Rachel and Drew’s wedding.  This wedding was full of personal style and was over the top when it came to décor’.  Ryan and Nicole were able to capture it all and still have a blast with the bridal couple and their bridal party!  Their pictures capture the true emotion of the day and I know when Rachel and Drew look back at their pictures, they will always smile.

Ryan and Nicole wedding package is only $1500 for the entire day along with an engagement session.  They offer online sneak peak slideshow within two days and full proof package back in a short four weeks.  Make sure you check out these up & coming photographers!

As I was walking out to the mailbox today I noticed  some birds playing where my daffodils and tulips bloom in the spring. This made me thinking about Spring of course and also of a May wedding we here at EOE were part of last year. The above bouquet is one of the prettiest bridal bouquets I’ve had the pleasure of designing. My client Holly sent me  pictures of something similar before our first meeting to discuss hiring us for DOC and Floral. As soon as I saw the bouquet I knew we were going to click! It was so fun and creative to use all the spring flowers available!  But what I love most about this bouquet was the amazing scent it had! Now every time I smell hyacinths I think of Holly and Justin wedding day!

]]> http://www.elementofelegance.com/perfect-spring-bouquet/feed 0 http://www.elementofelegance.com/mr-and-mrs-travis-gurd http://www.elementofelegance.com/mr-and-mrs-travis-gurd#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:47:01 +0000 dee http://www.elementofelegance.com/?p=450 Full Event Planning:: Elements of Elegance

Floral:: Elements of Elegance

Photography:: Lizzie’s Photo’s

Stationary and Invites:: Sondra’s Ink

DJ Service:: Thunder Mountain DJ Service

Ceremony and Reception:: Castle Farms

Linens:: Special Occasions

Bridal Gown:: Bridal Lane

Bridesmaids and Bridal Accessories:: September Brides

Make- up Artist:: Rainbow Shades

Hair:: Body Perfection

Lodging:: Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast

The EOE team this year has been very fortunate to have planned three full planning weddings along with our partial planning packages and our DAY OF Services.  But I have to say this particular wedding was a favorite of mine.  Dana and Travis were and still is a very special couple to the EOE team to say the least.  I can still remember Dana’s mom called me the first time to talk about her daughter’s wedding and the excitement in her voice.  The couple was so excited to get married that they decided they didn’t want a long engagement.  So with the help of the EOE team we pulled off a beautiful UP North wedding in a short 12 weeks.  Below are the details of Dana and Travis day…

This wedding was amazing in some many ways.  From the great couple to the touching vows that left everyone in tears.  No detail was forgotten and I loved Dana’s vision of her wedding day.  Deep Chocolate Espresso, Mango Tango, and Ivory were the color scheme.  She really had an eye for details and like me, loves things to flow.  So from her personal flowers, stationary, to the ceremony reception flowers, and linens, everything fit together perfectly!

Planning!

Dana and Travis choose to hire the EOE team under our Full Planning Package. This package was great for the two of them considering they both have demanding careers.  We set up their budget, picked out best vendors; set them up with a great location and all those detail; and even tracked all their RSVP’s and help them do their table assignments.  With us doing all the big things and most of the little things, they were able to sit back and enjoy their engagement.  But we did include them in the fun tasks like making up welcome bags and designing the program.

Where!

Dana and Travis really wanted their wedding to be something special and a place their guest could really enjoy.  After hours of searching for different venues they came up with Castle Farms in Charlevoix Michigan!  What an amazing spot within Michigan.  The town is adorable and Castle Farms is beautiful space that really fit the feel of their wedding.  What is wonderful about this space is that we are able to have both the wedding and the reception within the same location.

All about the paper!

When it comes to invitation and all stationary needs, there is only one place I send my clients, that’s to Sondra of Sondra’s Ink.  She designed the most beautiful invite that I have ever had the pleasure of receiving!  And then she followed up by designing to die for escort cards, menu cards, and table numbers for our couple.  We also utilized her full service program which includes her designing, assembling, and even mailing out the invites.  Dana choose a deep chocolate espresso pocket fold with stunning ivory paper placed on a dark rust backer.  And then topped everything off with a stunning monogram that we carried across into our decor design.

Flowers and Décor::

The Bridal bouquet was so very important to Dana.  She had been envisioning her bridal bouquet since she was just a little girl.  So when that day finally came we presented her with her dream come true bouquet!!  She carried 50 Flame Calla Lilies with a corset tied satin handle with a pearl accent.  It truly reflected her style and feel for the entire wedding.  We designed a beautiful hand tied bouquet of cream calla lilies and hydrangeas for her five bridesmaids to carry alongside her. We forgo the traditional corsages for the mothers of the couple and instead made up dainty nosegays of calla lilies and a rose for each mom to carry.  And the boutonnieres were made up of Fiddle Ferns and berries for a more of a manly look for our gentleman of the party.  They loved them and apparently they’re also tasty!!

For the décor of the ceremony, we choose to go with very simple but elegant designs.  Dana and Travis were married in the beautiful Queen’s Tavern that was beautiful on its own.  We only add some simple flowers for the chairs, two beautiful arrangements, and wreath for the Alter.

For the reception we dressed the tables in the Knights Castle with stunning Chocolate Espresso Pin Tuck linens matched with simple mango tango chair ties and specialty folded napkins that had a single bloom in each center.  The centerpiece designs were just as elegant as the setting itself.  Our first design was a cubed vase with three calla lilies submerged in water for a simple elegant look to the table.  Our second design had wonderful tall candle stick with a monogram candle in the center and three vases of terracotta roses with glass holly/winter berries.  These tables were my favorite of the year!

All those Great VENDORS!

What I loved most about this wedding is being with us some of the best vendors from West Michigan.

Our photographer Lynell was and is AMAZING!!!  She captured such feeling in all her pictures… Plus she made everyone feel so comfortable and made sure everyone was having fun.  Her talent is displayed below!  I can’t wait see the rest of them!

Our Make Up Artist Patti was flawless!  She made each and every person she touched that day feels beautiful and special!

Rachel and Stephanie our hair stylist were FAB!  I was amazed on how the girls’ hair did not move all day and continued to look beautiful despite the rainy weather!

Thunder Mountain DJ service is one of the BEST in West Michigan.  Dave and Deb have worked many weddings with the EOE team and as always their service was top notch!  They had the dance floor packed all night!

All those special touches!!

Dana and Travis really went out of their way to make their guests feel loved.  From the moment they arrived they were greeted with welcome bags filled with Taffy from Taffy Barrel based right there in Charlevoix and all kinds of information about the city and surrounding areas.  But it didn’t stop there.  They wanted to make this a weekend people would never forget.  And I believe they achieved this goal.  From vows written from the heart; a program that showered love to their bridal party; to their Signature drink “Kiss the Bride” martini; to the amazing candy and desert bar for their guest to snack on all night; and  ending with a the most heartfelt toast to their guests that left me in tears.  They truly were an amazing couple that I can call my friends now.  Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Travis Gurd!

Event Planning : ele’3

Photography: Amy Carroll Photography

Linens: Special Occasions

Ceremony : Thorne Apple

Reception : Hilton

What can I say about this couple?  I can honestly say I have never seen a couple that was in love as much as these two are with each other.  TOGETHER they planned the perfect wedding! I loved their eye for every detail.  From the perfect table linens & chargers to the perfect color combination of flowers, these two knew what they wanted.  When I suggested that we hang out in the dahlia fields one Saturday morning to find the perfect flower for them, they jumped right in with both feet!  I will never forget the look on Rachel’s face as we drove in and she saw all the flowers she could pick from. She literally skipped through the fields as Andy and I watched.  That was one of the most memorable moments in my career to see my client so happy! Their wedding was truly amazing and we here at EOE felt very lucky to be part of it.

Rachel and Andy, you guys were great to work with and I would hand paint 300 dahlias for you again in a heartbeat!  Best Wishes!

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)

Michele and Steve’s Wedding
June 13^th, 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.

On May 2nd I had the great honor of being part of Holly and Justin Phillips wedding. Not only was I able to work with such a great couple but I was able to work with a great group of Vendors:

Wedding Ceremony Venue :: Dewitt Chapel

What a wonderful chapel that has so much natural light within it. Also it has a great courtyard that was wonderful for outdoor pictures!

Reception Venue :: Alumni House

This has to now be my favorite venue for a reception. The room is beautiful and fit into our décor of cottage wedding. But more importantly the staff was amazing!! If there was anything that we needed they found it for us. The staff went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect. Huge KUDOS goes out to Michelle! I have to say I would love for her to become part of our team here at Elements of Elegance!  Please note that to rent the Alumni House you must have a affiliation with the university.
Caterer :: Classic Fares GVSU

Aimee and her staff did a great job! The food was amazing and the service was excellent! Many complimented the couple on the great food!

DJ :: Complete Music

Chris and his assistant from Complete Music had the room rockin! From the moment the couple arrived until the last song, they had the guest involved! No one was bored and all were dancing! That is a true sign of a great DJ!

Videographer :: Complete Music & Video

Again a great team! Complete Music & Video actually upgraded Holly and Justin package! They sent two wonderful gentleman and we are very excited to see the final product!

Photography :: Rivercity Photography

Ginny and her second shooter did a nice job of capturing the moments! We are looking forward to see the proofs in the near future…

Decor and Planning :: Elements of Elegance Event Planning and Floral

We were hired for décor and DOC. We had such a great time picking just the right items for this wonderful couple.

Floral Service :: Elements of Elegance Event Planning and Floral

We were hired for personal flowers and floral arrangements for both the ceremony and reception.

Linen Rentals :: A-1 Rental

As always Sue and Aaron did a great job finding me the perfect color buttercup yellow. They are one of two rental companies that Elements of Elegance will use. Their customer service is wonderful along with their prices!!

Wedding Candelabras ;; Wedding Candelabras and More

At first I was a little taken back that my bride wanted candelabras until I saw them!! Kevin and his team carry a wide variety of items that are unusual and fit today’s brides’ style.

Bartending Service :: Bars by Butch

As always they did a wonderful job! And their bartenders are always so personable and easy going.

Cake :: Suzi’s Cakery

The cake was amazing and tasted wonderful!

Hair and Make-up :: Allure Hair Boutique – Liz Smith

What can I say about Liz??? How about how wonderful she was! Her hair and make up designs were out of this world and I would highly recommend her to anyone of my brides.

Limo :: R. Verhey Limo Service

Right on time and actually found us! R. Verhey sent a wonderful driver and he had as much fun as the bridal party!

What a beautiful wedding! There were so many little touches that truly made this wedding amazing and heartfelt. From the table names of places that had a special meaning to the couple to the handmade card box the bride’s grandmother made.  The bride’s family is from Canada and in Canada it is customary to actually sign the marriage certificate during the ceremony.  It was very touching and something very new for us here at Elements of Elegance.  For the design elements, Holly and Justin had chosen a color scheme of buttercup yellow, bright white, and a sliver of a silver accent. They also wanted a very cottage and spring feel to their wedding. We accomplished this with lots of daffodils and tulips as part of their personal flowers and décor of both the chapel and the reception venue. 

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and I can’t wait to see you when you get back from your honeymoon!