Thursday, January 14, 2010
Last week I had a really fun and productive 2 hour consultation with a 2010 bride and her mom. She and her mom were feeling overwhelmed with wedding planning and wanted to sit down and talk over some things to help get them on track! We had a great conversation and covered topics ranging from the flow of the day and menu ideas to invitation wording and room layouts!
The bride and her mom left feeling back on track and relieved, and I loved that I got to help them relax and offer them professional planning advice. I know there are a lot of people out there that need help getting started, or a little guidance as they plan, and for those brides we’re offering a special 2 hour consultation for only $125, now through January 30th. The only hitch is that your consultation must take place Sunday-Friday (evening appointments are available M-F) at our St. Joseph studio! You can use your 2 hours to discuss anything, and we can help you get your planning on track! So come into our studio, enjoy a glass of wine or hot cocoa, and fire away—we’re looking forward to answering your questions and helping you to get your wedding planning on track for 2010!
If you’re interested in setting up a 2 hour consultation at this special price, email jessica@stellaeventdesign.com.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
For their July 2009 wedding, Jessica+Bryan knew they would have some older guests who would need to be shielded from the sun, should it be a hot day. And of course, it was! Pretty white paper parasols were given to guests who needed some extra protection from the sun, while Jess+Bryan tied the knot on the shore of Lake Michigan, and after the ceremony, the bride put her own parasol to use during wedding photos! Not only did it keep some of the sun off of the couple as they visited local beaches for their post-ceremony photos, but it also made for a lovely prop!
All photos by Brookelyn Photography
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Imagine yourself sitting in our Event Design Studio, on a cozy couch with a glass of wine, learning how you can plan an amazing wedding. After an hour of learning & discussion with a professional wedding planner and fellow brides, you have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about planning your dream wedding….welcome to Bride2Be University!
Bride2Be University is a unique approach to planning your wedding! Based on the idea of learning in small groups while having a great time, B2BU offers professional wedding planning at an incredibly affordable cost. Designed for the DIY bride, B2Bu offers classes in a range of topics, from the basics of planning your wedding, to tips on creating an Earth friendly event.
Each class is intimate & fun, and includes an hour long learning session focused on a particular topic, followed by a Q+A session. With classes costing $20-$30, this is a one of a kind opportunity to obtain professional planning advice, no matter your budget!
For more info on Bride2Be University, and to check the class schedule for February & March, visit the Bride2Be University website! Each class is designed to be an intimate learning experience with only 5-10 brides, so be sure to RSVP soon!
The Save the Dates pictured below were designed by our September ‘09 clients, Brittany+Hachem, and were the first glimpse guests got into the modern destination wedding they planned on the shore of Lake Michigan!
What are Save the Dates?
Save the Dates (or STD’s) are used to give guests extra time to prepare for your wedding. They allow guests to mark the date on their calendar, get extra time off of work and make travel accommodations. They are also the very first glimpse of your wedding your guests may receive!
Who Should Send out Save the Dates?
Save the Date cards should be sent out if you are hosting a wedding on a holiday weekend, or are planning a destination wedding. You do not need to send out Save the Dates if you are hosting a wedding in your local area on a Saturday. Save the Dates should be utilized in situations where your wedding may require guests to take extra time off of work (ie. a Friday or Sunday wedding) or make travel or hotel accommodations. But, if you’re having a wedding on a Saturday and are staying local, feel free to send out Save the Dates if you would like to give your guests an early heads up…there’s no harm in sharing your excitement with your guests a little early!
When Should Save the Dates be Sent?
Save the Dates should be sent approximately 6 months prior to the wedding date for weddings being held on a holiday weekend or a non-Saturday. For destination weddings requiring guests to travel (especially if airfare is required), Save the Dates should be sent out 9-12 months prior!
If you follow our blog (and you’re reading this, so I know you do)…then you should click below to become our fan on Facebook. Mostly because it would make my day to see your smiling face in a tiny box, but also because once we hit 200 fans we’ll be doing a giveaway with all of our facebook friends! That’s right, something shiny, fun and FREE! And if that’s not enough reason for you, we also have tons of pictures posted on Facebook that you won’t find on our blog or website, and you can see all of our latest blog posts right in your facebook feed!
BECOME A FAN OF STELLA EVENT DESIGN ON FACEBOOK!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
In 2009 we had a lot of couples utilize their engagement pictures and personal photos to personalize their weddings! From engagement photos gracing their card box, to custom guest books filled with engagement shots, to table numbers accented by pictures of the couple—2009 couples used photos to share their love with their friends and family and add a fun and personal touch to their receptions. Such a simple thing, but I love it!
My favorite photo-op of 2009? For their May wedding at Mill Creek barns, Megan+Greg named each table after an “adventure” they went on together (ie. a vacation or trip), complete with a picture of the couple in that spot! It was pretty impressive considering there were 20+ tables at their reception….I don’t know that my husband and I could come up with 25 of our own vacation spots, let alone have an adorable picture of each!
Megan+Greg’s wedding at Mill Creek Barns in Southwest Michigan
Photos by Two Pair Photography
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
If you’re recently engaged, you may already be realizing how much is involved in planning a wedding! The average wedding takes over 250 hours to plan—that’s like another full time job for over 6 weeks—so between your normal work , family and social obligations, some people can become overwhelmed with how they can plan their wedding and enjoy it!
So if you’re considering using a professional wedding planner, or would like more information on if a wedding planner could be right for you, how a wedding planner can help you enjoy planning your wedding, when you should hire them, and more—then check out our “5 W’s of Wedding Planning” series!
The 5 W’s of Wedding Planning
- WHAT does a Professional Wedding Planner Do?
- WHO needs a wedding planner?
- WHEN should I Reach out For Help?
- WHY you should hire a professional
- WHERE you will and won’t find help
This time of year it’s always fun to look back at the last season and think about everything that happened, and all of the wedding trends we loved! Last year we blogged a “Faves of 08″ series, and I loved reflecting on everything so much, that it’s going to be a yearly tradition on the blog—so welcome to “Faves of 09!” We’ll be recapping our favorites of 2009 over the next few weeks!
Simple Floral Centerpieces
This year we had a lot of brides that embraced simple and clean designs for their centerpieces. Some utilized a simple gathering of wildflowers, others used several large blooms such as hydrangea, and even a clustering of 3 different flowers can make a simple, stunning and affordable option for centerpieces.
A green wedding tip: Re-use your flowers! If you’re using flowers on your pews, put them in vases for your cocktail table, to dress up your gift table, or add them to your centerpieces. Use left over altar arrangements to dress up the bar at your reception. You’ll get more bang for your buck and will lower your impact on the environment by using less stems!
Centerpiece Photos (L-R): Two Pair Photography, Ben Pancoast Photography, Kelly Powers Photography
Meghan and Tom tied the knot this September at the Blue Dress Barn in Southwest Michigan. They had absolutely beautiful weather and Meghan had so many beautiful fall-inspired details! I love to see couples embrace the local area and elements to create a unique, beautiful and eco friendly event. Tables were adorned with burlap overlays, mason jars filled with fresh local apples and wildflowers and mini chalkboards used as table numbers. Mini canning jars were filled with sand and candles on the bar and local gords and mini pumpkins accented the gift table and cake table.
Escort cards rested on corks and were placed on a gingham-covered table accented with bright red apples. After the ceremony, which also took place at the blue dress barn, guests were treated to an iced tea and lemonade bar on the outdoor deck, complete with mini mason jar mugs! I was so excited to get these pictures from their fabulous wedding photographer Ben Pancoast, and am so happy we could be a part of this special day at the Blue Dress Barn!
MORE 2009 WEDDINGS IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN:
- Megan+Greg at Mill Creek Barns in Watervliet, Southwest Michigan
- Brittany+Hachem at The Veranda at the Whitcomb in St. Joseph
- Lisa+Bart at the Blue Dress Barn in Southwest Michigan
- Ken+Katy at Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame and The Heritage Center in St. Joseph, Michigan
- Yana+Brannon at Shadowland Pavilion and The Heritage Center in St. Joseph, Michigan
- Kate+Mitch at Shadowland Pavilion and The Heritage Center in St. Joseph, Michigan
- Stefanie+Jim at Santaniello’s and Weko Beach in Bridgman, Michigan
Last week I had a really fun and productive 2 hour consultation with a 2010 bride and her mom. She and her mom were feeling overwhelmed with wedding planning and wanted to sit down and talk over some things to help get them on track! We had a great conversation and covered topics ranging from the flow of the day and menu ideas to invitation wording and room layouts!
The bride and her mom left feeling back on track and relieved, and I loved that I got to help them relax and offer them professional planning advice. I know there are a lot of people out there that need help getting started, or a little guidance as they plan, and for those brides we’re offering a special 2 hour consultation for only $125, now through January 30th. The only hitch is that your consultation must take place Sunday-Friday (evening appointments are available M-F) at our St. Joseph studio! You can use your 2 hours to discuss anything, and we can help you get your planning on track! So come into our studio, enjoy a glass of wine or hot cocoa, and fire away—we’re looking forward to answering your questions and helping you to get your wedding planning on track for 2010!
If you’re interested in setting up a 2 hour consultation at this special price, email jessica@stellaeventdesign.com.
by Jessica Pennington
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