Etsy seller Gochemoche has some of the coolest Japanese-inspired hair pieces and boutonnieres that I couldn’t wait to share. I was catching up on my blog reads since being back from vacation, when I came across this real wedding featured by Perfect Bound, one of my favorite daily reads! I was scanning through, attempting to catch up on my 700 (yes, 700!) new posts, and this picture of their custom bouts caught my eye. I checked out the etsy site, and Gochemoche offers so many fun and customizable pieces from bouts to broaches, ponytail holders, and hair pins! Everything is handmade, and made from authentic materials. I must have one, so I’ll post pics when I get mine—I haven’t even picked from all of the amazing choices yet! These would be absolutely adorable for your ‘maids hair, or as a cute gift for your gals!
Another beautiful outdoor wedding location in Southwest Michigan! Fernwood Botanical Gardens is located on Range Line Road in Niles. Fernwood is a beautiful location for small, intimate weddings. Members are able to reserve an outdoor area and/or meeting room by calling the Visitors Center. The reservation fee, which can be found here, includes admission to all of Fernwood for your wedding party and a pre-specified number of guests (100 people maximum). Fees are based upon the total number of people attending the celebration, including bridal party, parents, and guests.
Thanks to Monika Caban of MONIKA PHOTO for supplying this beautiful photo! I met up with Monika for lunch on Thursday, to talk weddings and go over some of her work! She shared some of her beautiful photos with me, as well as some amazing albums she offers! She is such an open and genuine person, and focuses on the relationships and meaning of the day, to capture the “fleeting moments” of emotion that you will look back on so fondly! She’s done a number of amazing outdoor {and indoor} weddings in Southwest Michigan and beyond, so if you’re planning a wedding in Southwest Michigan, check her out!
When planning weddings, I always have a budget to consider. Whether that budget be $15,000, $25,000, or $50,000, I have yet to meet a couple that doesn’t have some sort of pre-determined idea of their personal spending limit. Determining the amount you have to spend may be the easy part, but sticking to that magic number often poses a challenge once you become inundated with couture gowns, custom stationery, and every must-have wedding trinket under the sun. It’s easy to get carried away, and the longer you wait to set a budget, the more you will get pulled off track. So, first things first, sit down and determine how much you can spend. If parents will be contributing, ask them up front, and find out how much you can expect. You shouldn’t assume on a contribution unless you’ve already discussed it {trust me, you’ll be glad you did!}.
I found a great article called “Your Wedding Budget: 41 Ways to Save,” which offers great ways to trim your budget, and keep things on track.
Here are a few tips::
Time Is Money
The most important money-saving issue is time. And the less time you have, the more likely you are to make rash decisions and thus compromise your finances. Give yourselves enough time to shop around for the best vendor prices.
Forgo the personalized accents; napkins and matchbooks alone can cost several hundred dollars.
Keep it Simple
Consultants Cut Costs
Hire a wedding consultant. You will undoubtedly recoup his or her fee with the sound advice he or she can provide about getting more or better service for your money.
Limo Limit
Don’t get caught up in the idea that you need a wedding cavalcade to transport everyone to the reception. Limit the number of limos you use, or ask a friend with a vintage car to drive the two of you and book a mini bus or van to transport both the wedding party and your parents.
Read the Full Article.
Melinda+James are tying the not in the Michiana/South Bend area on October 10, 2009. I sat down and met with them last weekend, and they are such a cool pair. I love fall weddings, and am so excited to work on this one, with such a nice couple! They’re planning a gorgeous fall motif with hues of burnt orange and other rich, deep accents. We will also work to carefully incorporate the couple’s love of Halloween in a sophisticated and stylish way! We’re working with Melinda+James from start to finish, so keep posted for updates on site visits, which are coming soon!
Stella Event Design is headed to Las Vegas!
I will be out of the office Saturday through Tuesday, but will keep posting regularly! I will respond to emails when I get back! I love all things that shine, sparkle & glitter{like all of Las Vegas} so look for pretty pics when I get back!
Time to meet another “Here Come the Brides” couple! Jenny+Ray are tying the Knot on 8.22.09 in the South Bend/Michiana area in Indiana. I met up with them a few months ago at the new Hilton Garden Inn on the Campus of St. Mary’s in South Bend, and am so excited to get started on their planning! We are starting from scratch on this one, and will share all of the details as we plan the wedding from start to finish! Jenny has already decided on a beautiful color scheme of Lime and Navy with White accents—how fun and modern is that! Check out this fabulous inspiration board put together by April.
I am so excited about getting to share the start-to-finish details on these weddings, and am so grateful to all of the wonderful couples who were so excited to share with everyone!
Today I came across something I had to share! Melissa at Masterpiece Weddings is hosting her first National Fundraiser, in the form of a Wedding Cake competition to support St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital! Chef’s and amateurs alike will have the opportunity to compete before Judges that include World Renowned Pastry Chef’s, and celebrities on their artistic abilities, intricate designs, and taste! At the end of the competition, spectators will be asked to join in on the fun and taste the cake!
I couldn’t be more excited about what an amazing event this is to sponsor such a fabulous organization! They are looking for donations of all sorts to make this event a reality—from decor and volunteers to monetary donations and celebrity judges. Check out their Wish List, to see if you can help!
If you’re a fellow wedding blogger, I know Melissa would love it for this information to get passed on to your readers—-perhaps they can help! To learn more about St. Jude’s, click here.
Kate+Mitch both live in Chicago, and are planning a beautiful destination wedding in St. Joseph. Their ceremony will take place at Shadowland Pavilion along the beach and the St. Joseph River, and their reception will be at the beautiful Heritage Center in downtown St. Joseph.
Kate+Mitch are such a fun and sweet couple, and will be so much fun to plan with!
You may have noticed we have some new links in our Sidebar! I’m excited to start a new feature called “Here Come the Brides,” which will feature posts specific to several couples who are currently working with Stella Event Design to plan their ‘08 and ‘09 weddings! We’re starting out with just a few, and depending on how it works, we’ll add more!
Starting today, I’ll do a quick intro for one couple each day. As I post information about their planning, inspiration, etc., click on their link to follow along! You’ll be able to follow each couple start to finish as they plan their big day! Perhaps you’ll find a couple sharing your same color scheme, motif, or location! Each of the brides was nice enough to let everyone in on their planning, and I’m so excited to get some feedback as we brainstorm locations, flowers, music, and more! Stay tuned!
