Monthly Archives: February 2011

michigan beach weddings 101 | weather

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Last week it rained and snowed in the same week—if you know Michigan, you know that the weather is unpredictable! So if you’re planning a beach wedding, you also need to consider what you’ll do in case of inclement weather. Will you reserve a nearby pavilion? Will you use your reception location as your back-up? Will you cross your fingers and pray for sunshine? (I don’t suggest the latter)

Some ideas for back-up locations:

  • Your reception venue
  • A local art gallery
  • A covered pavilion (many local beaches have these)
  • Your local church
  • A museum

One thing I always tell brides and grooms to keep in mind, is that a summer rain storm rarely lasts all day. An optimistic spirit comes in handy if you’re thinking of a beach wedding! We’ve had a handful of weddings where the day has started off with thunder storms….after hours of rain the sun comes out, our staff dries off ceremony chairs, sets up decor last minute (so it isn’t destroyed in the rain) and the ceremony can still go on as planned! So if you wake up to storm clouds on your wedding day, don’t give up just yet—-you very well may still have that beach wedding you’ve dreamed of!

Rain isn’t the only weather culprit at a beach wedding….a sweltering hot day can make 100 guests sitting out on the beach WISH for a downpour! Consider providing your guests with paper fans, sun parasols or battery-operated handheld fans to keep them cool and comfortable! Because the last thing you want during your vows is Great Aunt Mary passing out!  (More “Michigan Beach Weddings 101″–The Dream, Location)

Dreaming of a beach ceremony in Southwest Michigan? Find out how our Beach Ceremony Services can help you plan a gorgeous stress-free Lake Michigan event!

Photos by Haylee Dixon Photography, from the beach wedding of Jenny+Spencer

michigan beach weddings 101 | location

You’ve heard the saying right, “location! location! location!?” We talked about the dream—just you, your groom & guests, a gentle breeze and not another soul on the sand for miles? The reality is, on a beautiful summer day, you’re likely going to see people on the beach—and that’s not a bad thing! If there’s no one around, it’s probably because you’ve trekked half a mile from a public entrance, or it’s—dare I say the word—RAINING! So don’t fret—having a few beach goers out means you have a beautiful day on your hands!

Many brides see photos from beach ceremonies on our blog and are shocked to find out it took place on a public beach with beach goers (very politely) minding their business 100 feet away—you’d never know it from the beautiful photos! Unless you have access to private beach property, you can expect that on a public beach you will have some fellow beach goers—we’ve politely asked more than a few to relocate in order to secure the perfect ceremony spot—and take it from me, if you offer to help carry beach chairs and umbrellas, you’ll rarely hear a ‘no!’ So no worries, if you select the right beach, you can still secure a spot that is gorgeous and will provide you with an amazing backdrop for your photos, regardless of a few vacationers enjoying a beautiful Lake Michigan day!

So how do you find that perfect beach ceremony location? There are a lot of factors that go into finding a bride & groom the beach that will best fit their needs—-guest count, city ordinances, sound requirements, accessibility—-for your best options, contact a Michigan wedding planner who is familiar with the area and can direct you to public beaches or rental homes that can provide the best location for your ceremony needs! All beaches are not created equal and you want to ensure you don’t pick a (lovely) but highly popular and congested beach where your photos will feature one too many bikini-clad beach combers, or drunk beach-goers will outnumber you 100 to 1.

While trying to choose the perfect ceremony location, here are just a few important questions to consider:

Is there ample parking available?
This is one area where unexpected costs can arise. When budgeting, take into consideration the cost for shuttle service to get guests to the location, or for many public beaches, the cost of admission/parking. This can add up to as much as $9 per car in Southwest Michigan, but can often be paid for ahead of time if the proper arrangements are made.  If your ceremony location has an admission fee, that is a cost you’ll want to cover for your guests. If you’re tying the knot on a public beach with limited parking or a private residence where parking is limited, you’ll want to consider shuttle service.

Is it easily accessible to handicap or older guests? Are there restroom facilities for small children?
Secluded beaches or outdoor areas can be beautiful, but make sure to consider accessibility and amenities. Do you have older guests who will not be able to walk the distance? Is it handicap accessible? Are there nearby restrooms for small children who are attending?

Are there any policies, ordinances or restrictions to consider?
For example, some public beaches will not allow chairs brought in and will request all guests stand. This is fine for a group of 50 or less guests, but can be difficult for a larger wedding of 150. Also, if you’re renting a public park or beach area, you’ll want to check on any restrictions with serving alcohol if you’re hosting an outdoor reception at the site. In Southwest Michigan, most public beaches are governed by the city or county and do not permit alcohol. They also will not “reserve” any portion of a public beach—it’s first come, first served.

Dreaming of a beach ceremony in Southwest Michigan? Find out how our Beach Ceremony Services can help you plan a gorgeous Lake Michigan event!

Photo by Ben Pancoast, from the beach wedding of Tanya+Jason

michigan beach weddings 101 | the dream

This week we’re starting a new blog series on Michigan beach weddings! We plan 15-20 beach ceremonies each summer and we want brides to be prepared and knowledgeable before deciding if this is the right option for them! Because while beach weddings are certainly some of the most beautiful, they are certainly not for every bride!

So first up, let’s talk about your expectations for a beach wedding. We all know what that idyllic magazine beach wedding looks like— a beautiful stretch of beach, an elegant fabric covered canopy blowing in the breeze, the soft strum of guitar as the bride descends barefoot across the sand—just you and your guests, the soft waves of Lake Michigan and not another soul for miles. Who wouldn’t want to be the bride in this beautiful picture?!

Stay tuned this week and next as we cover the realities of a beach wedding (you can certainly have that idyllic day!)—what to expect, how to prepare, finding the perfect spot, time considerations, what to wear, restrictions & ordinances, weather worries and budget considerations. We’ll share real examples from beach weddings we’ve planned and coordinated, and help you determine if a beach wedding is the right fit for you!

Dreaming of a beach wedding in Southwest Michigan? Find out how our Beach Ceremony Services can help you plan a gorgeous Lake Michigan event!

Photo by Jennifer Mayo Studios

hiring::2011 event planning internships at stella event design

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It’s that time of year again—wedding season is around the corner and Stella Event Design is accepting applications for interns (Event Assistants) to assist us during our 2011 wedding season.

What You’ll Do :: Event Assistants will assist with all day-of wedding tasks including: setting up decor at ceremony and reception sites, assisting vendors with deliveries (ie. cake, flowers, linens, rentals), assisting with ceremony management, assisting vendors as needed throughout the day, ensuring time lines are being followed, trouble shooting problems that arise, communicating with vendors & bridal parties, ensuring accuracy of layouts, and much more.  Event Assistants are always working alongside an experienced Event Planner or Coordinator who is there to direct & teach you!

Who We’re Looking For :: We are seeking junior & senior level students pursuing a degree in a related field (public relations, communications, hospitality & tourism, design, etc.), who are excited about learning the ins-and-outs of event planning, work well with a team, and exhibit a high level of responsibility. Weddings can be a stressful and emotionally charged time for a bride & groom and their families—the ideal candidate is friendly, enthusiastic, calm under pressure, and a great communicator! Most of our events are located in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor/Harbor Country area, which is approximately 60 minutes from Kalamazoo, 90 minutes from Grand Rapids, and 45 minutes from South Bend. You must be able to travel to Southwest Michigan for events on weekends.

What You’ll Get :: This is an unpaid internship and must apply towards college credit. You will walk away from this internship with hands-on experience in event planning & execution unlike anything you can learn in a classroom. This internship puts you in the action, working with real clients, professional vendors and beautiful locations throughout Southwest Michigan.

When You’ll Work :: Weddings are scheduled primarily on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Interns will be scheduled to work for a 10-12 week period (approximately June 1-August 15 or August 1-October 15) and will assist with 10-14 events.  We are happy to take schedules into consideration if given proper notice at start of season. Interns will also be assigned “pre-event” tasks each week, which can often be completed online from home.

How to Apply :: If you’re interested in joining the Stella Event Design Team for our 2011 season, please email your cover letter and resume (.pdf format, please) to intern@stellaeventdesign.com. We will be accepting applications through February 17th  and will be conducting interviews in late February! If you have additional questions, please email intern@stellaeventdesign.com (no phone calls, please).

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What past interns said about their summer with Stella…

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brittanyblog “… I learned not only about event planning and coordinating, but also about how to work with vendors, what to do when things go wrong, and how to work with your clients in order to make sure that they get what they want. This internship gives you the opportunity to gain hands on experience as well as the opportunity to learn from a professional in the field.

One thing that surprised me about this internship was how much fun it was, even though I had to work hard. There are a lot of things that have to get done for each wedding and going into the internship I knew that I would have to work hard, but I had to work even harder than I thought I would! However, I also enjoyed the work that I was doing even more than I thought I would! Every day that I went to work, I was excited for what we were going to be doing. The effort we put in always paid off. At the end of every wedding we were able to reflect on the day and see that we had been successful and this was extremely rewarding.

My favorite part of this internship was working with the Stella Team. We had a great chemistry and it was easy to work together. This made accomplishing what we needed to at each wedding possible. The team that we had allowed us to get things done while having fun at the same time. I also loved working with the couples. Seeing them happy and satisfied with our work was exciting. Through this internship I really gained a love for weddings, an even greater love for planning, many new ideas on how to be creative, and great relationships with the women I worked with….” -Brittany Johnson, Former Event Assistant and current Stella Event Planner

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meganblog“…Interning with Stella Event Design was an incredible experience! When I first met Jessica, I fell in love with the passion that she has for planning exceptional weddings and her excitement and willingness to include me in the process. Each wedding that I worked on provided me with the opportunity to further understand what went into planning a wedding in addition to gaining valuable hands-on experience. I was continually surprised with the different experiences that each wedding provided and have learned first hand that no two weddings are the same. From working with other coordinators at churches to making sure every last detail at the reception is exactly what the bride wanted, I was never without something new and exciting to work on.

The most challenging part of this internship was learning to work with all varieties of people. From the delivery guys and caterers, to the mother of the groom, you definitely need to be flexible and willing to adjust to whatever situation may arise. At the end of an exhausting wedding day, the most rewarding part of the internship was being thanked by the bride and groom for such a wonderful experience. Knowing that everything turned out the way they they wanted it, and knowing that I was a direct part of that was incredible! I would definitely recommend interning with Stella Event Design to anyone who has a willingness to learn, can take challenges as they come, and has a passion for event planning!” -Megan O’Hara, Former Event Assistant


real wedding::beautiful southwest michigan wedding videos

Justin+Lisa tied the knot in August and it was an absolutely beautiful day! I love that despite having to move in from the beach, they still had a very beautiful beach-inspired ceremony at their “plan B” location, Krasl Art Center in downtown St. Joseph.  Check out these gorgeous videos by All Star Productions—beautiful Lake Michigan is a welcome escape from this cold!

Justin+Lisa Part One from All Star Productions on Vimeo.

There are a lot of things I love about this wedding: the amazing orchid & crystal chandelier adorning the stunning chuppah, the lush coral garden roses, gorgeous La Tavola linens, silver chiavari chairs and clusters of paper lanterns, an amazing band, a very fun group of family & friends, and a beautiful bride & groom!

Justin+Lisa Part Two from All Star Productions on Vimeo.

real wedding::beth+cesar’s lake michigan wedding trailer

As I’m looking out my window at “snow-pocalypse” 2011 (for those of us in the Midwest), I’m trying to tell myself that spring (and then summer) is just around the corner. On days like this it’s hard to remember what an amazingly beautiful place Southwest Michigan is in the summer! So as a little reminder, check out this absolutely stunning wedding trailer from Beth+Cesar’s September 2010 wedding on Lake Michigan, by Coastline Studios! Love this couple, love this location and love that this video looks like an amazing shot right out of a Pure Michigan ad! It makes me long for summer, warm days on beautiful Lake Michigan, and another wonderful wedding season.

Cesar & Beth’s Wedding Trailer from John Pottenger on Vimeo.

You may remember I mentioned before that this entire wedding was bi-lingual, with the ceremony, stationery and speeches all spoken in English and Spanish, which was so special and beautiful! The beautiful tented reception began with cocktail hour on the lawn overlooking the Lake and ended with an amazing fireworks display over Lake Michigan! Once again I have to give a huge thanks to Coastline Studios for capturing the day in film, St Joseph wedding photographer Jennifer Mayo for her gorgeous photos, and the gang at Modern Day Floral for another gorgeous job well done!

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