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(photo copyright MONIKA PHOTO)

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!

(image source)

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.

(Let’s Eat Cake!)

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.

It’s May, and as the sun starts to shine, it’s time to think about protecting your skin from the sun, and getting that pre-wedding glow for those wedding pics! If you’re going to hit the tanning bed, now is a great time to get started for your summer wedding. Find a reputable tanning salon in your area that will help you to determine your skin type, and set you up on a gradual tanning schedule that will get you golden without burning you to a crisp!

To protect your skin, you can also go with a UV-free option. If you’re thinking about a faux tan for the first time, it can be a little scarey! You’ll want to weigh which option is best for you, from doing it yourself, to getting a professional application.

I get a lot of inquiries from out of town brides (many from the Chicago area) looking for outdoor ceremony sites in Southwest Michigan. Unfortunately, unless you are familiar with the area, or have the time to really do some investigating on your own, outdoor ceremony locations can be difficult to locate for a destination wedding (unless of course you’re headed to a heavily travelled wedding spot such as the Caribbean).

Shadowland Pavilion is just a stones throw away from the beach location shown previously. It’s situated on a corner between the St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan. The lighthouse can be seen in the background, and the dunes line the south side. There is even a beautiful sculpture in the backdrop! One thing I love about St. Joseph is that there is sculpture everywhere! There’s at least 6 different pieces along Silver Beach alone! The nice thing about Shadowland Pavilion is that is can be reserved, which means you are free to put up chairs, decorations, etc.! It can be reserved for 1/2 or a whole day, for a fee paid to the city. Also, in the case of inclimate weather, a smaller wedding could be brought up under the pavilion.

The John Howard Band Shell is located on the bluff of St. Joseph (the other 2 locations are below the bluff) overlooking the St. Joseph River. The band shell has nice new benches, which means no chair rentals if you’re on a limited budget! Like the Pavilion, the Band shell can be reserved. There is street parking as well as several free parking lots within a block downtown. The band shell is on the edge of downtown St. Joseph, within blocks of all of St. Josephs adorable shops and restaurants.

Stay tuned for more outdoor locations coming soon!