Final countdown

Photos Via {this is glamorous}

Christmas is less than a week away and I have been inspired this year by the natural beauty of winter and the true meaning of Christmas. I love {this is glamorous} blog for the fantastic eye candy and when I saw this lovely photo post I wanted to share it with you!

Our Christmas table (which you will see after Christmas) is dressed in red and ivory, metallic, elements of whimsy and eclectic holiday fare. This regal look of greenery paired with warm grays and the perfect mix of year round beauty, embodies holiday splendor.

Whether you choose the traditional holiday colors of green and red, or soft pastel any color palette goes. For a successful holiday table scape be sure to incorporate a few different layers of texture, an element of metallic (or shiny) and candlelight.

Happy Christmas,


*like the new signature? Be sure to check out emilie friday's calligraphy etsy shop!

Jessica & Andrew, Part III

We left off with Jessica and Andrew's July 4th wedding in Traverse City, Michigan, right when I was about to reveal the good stuff! After our initial meeting I learned that Jessica had a unique and statement-making style. When she asked if we could design a Moroccan wedding I was thrilled! With vibrant and luminous linens, lush floral and jaw-dropping color here is Jessica and Andrew's wedding reception...










As important as color was to Jessica and Andrew, the "absence of color" was priority on my list. True to her beautiful self, and the one-of-a-kind gal that she is, Jessica was the only "white" in the room!

Jessica & Andrew, Part II

I love weddings. Not in a creepy "I'm-living-my-dreams-through-my-clients" kind of way. I love weddings for their raw emotion, celebration and community. Jessica and Andrew's July 4, 2009 wedding at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa was a fairy tale and Cinderella found her glass slipper. From the moment guests arrived the day was a celebration of Jessica and Andrew's love, their family's love, and the raw emotion of the commitment they made to one another before God and their witnesses.

I also love weddings for the surprise factor! I was so excited that Coleen and Shawn also shared this love of surprises. With Jessica and Andrew in Arizona it was easy to keep things hush, hush. The biggest surprise was the total transformation of the Michigan Ballroom where their reception would take place. Shawn, Coleen and I chose every detail meticulously. Jessica signed off on the linens and a sampling of the details during a spring visit home, but we kept the big look a surprise. (I think we told them there would be "perimeter lighting" and some draping behind the head table. He he! Yes that was a sinister laugh.)

With the help of the ridiculously talented Special Events Rental, Todd Guitar and his team transformed the empty ballroom at the Resort into a Moroccan tent filled with color, light, and elegance. Here is the first glimpse Jessica and Andrew had at their wedding reception... surprise!


And since I love surprises, you will have to wait until tomorrow to see what Andrew and Jessica saw! Today, I want to share one of Jessica's favorite details from the big day. (I cannot take credit for the vendor find, that belongs to my dearest friend Jodi Bos of In Any Event. Thanks Jodi!)

As I said before, Jessica was born to be a bride. When we were planning her wedding ceremony I mentioned rolling down a customized aisle runner for Jessica and her dad to walk down. She loved the idea! We began working with Artistic Floral Design, who specialize in gorgeous cloth runners. The team of Cheryl and Valerie were fabulous in ensuring the width, length and custom painted design were perfect.

Jessica and Andrew chose a beautiful scripture verse for their runner; Mark 10:8 And the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. The runner was a signature element of their ceremony. The two exchanged their vows under the outdoor Pavilion surrounded by beautiful rose gardens.





Coming up tomorrow... the ballroom and more of Jen's fabulous photography!

Jessica & Andrew, Part I

I first met Jessica Keane and Andrew Malek in August 2008 when they were visiting Traverse City for their engagement party. Appeasing Jessica's mom, they agreed to a meeting with me and sparks flew! (Little did we know Jessy and I would become good friends after that meeting.) We were fortunate enough to have planned and designed their entire wedding along side Jessica's dear parents Shawn and Coleen Keane.

The love this couple shares is the real deal and they are just as beautiful on the inside (seriously!). Since their wedding Jessica and Andrew have faced what few adults our age have to face- the loss of a parent. Two months after their wedding day Jessica's father passed away. With Jessica and Andrew living in Arizona during the planning process most of our face-to-face meetings involved Jessica's parents.

I learned so much from Shawn in our informal meetings and feel blessed to have known him, for the short time I did. I approach my job differently since their wedding- Jessica's last real time she spent with her dad was during her wedding. Looking back I can see the tapestry that God wove around their wedding and I am so thankful for the role He chose for us to play.

Shawn wanted Jessy and Andrew to have their dream wedding and was just as excited as I was when talking about linens, lighting and logistics! It was wonderful getting to know Jessica through her parents as well as through her calls and emails. Andrew was never a silent groom as his style is just as polished as Jessica's. Through the planning and design process I quickly learned that Jessica was born to be a bride... and I think you'll agree... meet Jessica and Andrew Malek.





With so many fun details to feature stay tuned for more on Jessica and Andrew's big day. The stellar photography is from non other than Jen Kroll Photography.

Color of the Year

One of my designing "must haves" are our Pantone swatch books. I love mixing and matching color in design. Our wedding clients usually are inspired by one or two main colors, and we help to "build a look" by layering colors as accents and highlights creating dimension. The 2009 Pantone Color of the Year was Mimosa. Warm yellows are still popular heading into 2010- who doesn't love a sunny, happy yellow?

Pantone just announced their 2010 Color of the Year- Turquoise.


In an excerpt taken straight from Pantone... Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, ithe color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well-being. Who wouldn't want to include a color that evokes those emotions into their special day?

In honor of the new Color of the Year, we created an inspiration board solely comprised of some of our favorite Etsy vendors...



Top Row (L-R): Cupcake Social's, emilie's, purpledazeez
Middle Row (L-R): Jenneration Fix, sarahsteven, Made by Stella
Bottom Row (L-R): The Jewelers Supply Box, The Fabric Farm, ello there

Just like our weddings and events where we incorporate accents, I chose to include dimensional colors of forest green, mimosa yellow, sky blue and white. Enjoy finding your inspiration!

Inspiring Fresh Ideas

Aletha VanderMaas and I have more than a few things in common- Jen shot each of our weddings, our first names both start with "A," we each have insanely cute dogs, both own an event planning business and share a love for Art's in Glen Arbor! Introduced through our fabulous photographer, Aletha and I chatted via email for two years before breaking bread in September this year.

As the owner and inspiration behind Pearls Events, in Grand Rapids, she is also the founder of Inspiring Fresh Ideas- a site dedicated to helping industry professionals market their own business. Aletha herself programs and designs both her Inspiring Fresh Ideas site, and her Pearls Events Blog.

One of our goals for A Day in May Events, is to actively blog to our readers and followers. Our problem was not an absence of content (my brain is oozing with ideas I want to share), it was a lack of inspiration. Our blog itself was great for personal use (we use Blogger) but it lacked the style/overall look I envisioned for A Day in May. Hence, a few weeks ago I emailed Aletha asking for her assistance.

I'm pretty computer savvy and understand the basics of web design however, Aletha saved me hours of time and frustration! I'd been shopping for a new template for the blog, but didn't know what to do next. Through Aletha's advanced knowledge and time saving techniques, we were up and running in a short time with a whole new look. Here is the change...





(I did not save a picture of the old blog therefore I am using my personal blog as an example- the formatting was the same for each. For an interactive comparison visit my personal blog here.)

If you are just starting your own business, or looking to branch out and want to learn the power of blogging and internet marketing, I would highly recommend Inspiring Fresh Ideas! Thank you so much Aletha for the "nudge" in the right direction! I'm thrilled that our work and vision is more effectively communicated to our audience!

Be sure to visit Inspiring Fresh Ideas and Pearl Events Blog for great resources and "Eye Candy!"

Flash back...

About three weeks ago I moved all my personal pictures off my laptop and onto our desktop. My "mobile office" was starting to slow down a little and I was sure the gobs of photos had something to do with that. When I was choosing which photos to keep on the laptop and which ones to move over, I found myself spending a few hours reminiscing. I loved looking at all the smiling faces and memorable moments but, this photo was the one that stole my heart... Here is our little Murphy only 7 weeks old during his first week in his new home.



I took this picture mid morning when the sun was coming through our bathroom windows, bouncing off our linen closet door and reflecting the most brilliant light on our new bundle of love. He was peacefully sleeping on the tile. As Jodi said the other day, "I'm no Jen Kroll," I second that! (But I do love playing around and this was my fun time!)

Murphy makes me laugh every day. He knows when I'm feeling sad or overwhelmed- he brings me his stuffed piggy or stuffed mini-Murph as a gift. Dogs are truly (wo)mans best friend. Kyle and I can't get enough of him and find ourselves bringing him everywhere we go. Good thing my parents love Murph too!

He hasn't lost that adorable face! (Way to go Bennington Hills!) Here is our 73 lb. bundle of love now. We're so thankful he chose us as his parents!

Macare & Dustin, Part III

The longest day of the year was June 20th, 2009. It was also the day Macare Kelly and Dustin Lumbrezer tied the knot in Northern Michigan. With a traditional, and intimate, wedding ceremony in Traverse City the couple and their 200 wedding guests headed to Crooked Creek Ranch located in Cedar, Michigan, for a memorable celebration.

The weather was picture perfect! Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were enjoyed alfresco encouraging guests to explore the expansive grounds of Crooked Creek. Dinner was served on the lawn which overlooked Lake Leelanau and the owner's horses running through the front pasture. Moving speeches were given by Macare's father (one of the best Father of the Bride toasts I've ever heard!), the maid of honor, best man and Macare's brother.

Immediately following dinner, Macare and Dustin invited all their guests to join them for dessert and dancing in the barn- a massive centennial barn which is one of the many highlights at Crooked Creek Ranch. The dancing continued into the night (which was still rather bright)! For a snack the newlyweds offered a Hot Dog Bar with toppings galore then escaped via a vintage blue Rolls Royce into the night.

I asked Macare to share what her favorite memory from her wedding day was- this is so sweet!
I remember our first dance and crying because I was so incredibly happy that I was married to Dustin. I love dancing at weddings, so I remember getting crazy with all of our friends and family on the dance floor. I loved looking at all our friends and family around us and the expressions on their faces because they were having so much fun. It was so special to think that they were all there for us.



















Macare & Dustin's Wedding Vendors
Bride's Gown: Marisa
Bride's Make-up: Venus
Bridesmaid Dresses: Melissa Sweet
Calligraphy: Bride's Mother, Mary Kelly
Caterer: Catering by Kelly's
Ceremony musician: Sylvia Norris
Cupcakes: Celebrations Cake Design
Entertainment: Mac Daddy
Event Planning/Design: A Day in May, Event Planning & Design
Favors: Traverse Bay Fruit Co. chocolate covered cherries
Florist: Flowers by Marla Courtney Wood
Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Captains Quarters
Grower: Field of Flowers Farm
Stationery Design: A Day in May, Event Planning & Design
Invitation Stock/Printing: The Connection Site, Paper-Source, The Print Shop
Linen: Cloth Connection
Location (ceremony): Immaculate Conception Church
Location (reception): Crooked Creek Ranch
Photography: Jen Kroll Photography
Rentals: American Rental
Rehearsal Dinner: Old Mission Tavern
Salon/Spa: Epiphany Salon & Spa
Transportation: Mackinac Trolley Co. & Bay Area Classic Limo

Thank you Macare and Dusty for the honor of working with you both to create the wedding day of your dreams!

Macare & Dustin, Part II

On Monday I introduced you to our first couple of 2009, Macare and Dustin who were married in Leelanau County, Michigan. Today I want to share with you one of our fabulous DIY projects that Macare and her entourage made into an all out assembly line!

First again I need to shout out the oh so fabulous photos of Jen Kroll Photography (more on this amazing lady later) since the eye candy above was captured through her lens! For Macare's farm chic wedding on Lake Leelanau, their reception tent featured a harvest table layout. With a specific number of seats and guests we needed to ensure everyone had a seat and that their seat was clearly identified. Thus we had an "escort card" and a "place card."

A frequent question we field is the difference between an "escort card" and a "place card." The "escort card" is just that- it "escorts" your guests to their table, it takes them from Point A to Point B. The "place card" defines their "place," where they are seated at the table. For Macare we needed both escort cards and place cards.

DIY Escort Cards

Tools:
X number of pre-scored 5"x3.5" cards (folded size= 3.5"x2.5")*
Rubber stamp
ColorBox ink pad
Embossing powder
Embossing Powder Heat Tool
Wet and Dry cloths
paper plates
sheet of paper
3 sets of hands
1 night of laughs and fun
* For Macare, we gave one escort card per couple (since the couples were seated at the same table) or single guest. I recommend adding 20% additional cards based on X number of guests in case you mess up!

Steps:
1) Set up an assembly line with the Person #1 in charge of the cards, ink and rubber stamp; Person #2 applies the powder; Person #3 heats the powder.
2) Decide where the stamp will be placed on the card. (For Macare we stamped in the middle of the pre-scored card.) Place the card on the paper plate with the sheet of paper in between. The paper will catch the excess powder. Plug in the heat tool.
3) Person #1- apply the ink to the stamp, blotting the ink pad on top of the stamp for even ink coverage and press stamp on desired card location. Press all sides evenly. (I would suggest cleaning the stamp every so often with the wet cloth then the dry cloth. Ink can build and distort the graphic.)
4) Person #2- with the newly stamped design, work quickly to cover the stamped area with the embossing powder. Once covered, lightly tap off the extra powder onto the sheet of paper to pour back into the container for reuse.
5) Person #3- using Embossing Heat Tool heat up the powdered stamp area to reveal the color and raised design.
6) Allow to dry for at least 2 minutes before handling.
7) Fold the cards in half and write the guest names on the outside and their corresponding table number on the inside.

The final arrangement of Macare and Dusty's escort cards was perfect. We borrowed four cherry lugs from her family and filled them with wheat grass that had been growing at Macare's parent's home. To display the cards themselves, we used plastic floral picks placed in the grass and voila!

As I mentioned there were seating assignments for each guest once they reached their table. To minimize waste and space their menu card doubled as a place card with the guest's name written clearly on the top.

Tomorrow be sure to visit to see the full celebration of Macare and Dustin's beautiful wedding reception!

(The links above for "Tools" take you to Paper-Source- one of my favorite places. They have great stuff and are a DIY-lovers dream!)

P.S. It's snowing here. Yeah!

Simple designworklife

I doubt I speak for myself when I mention I have to set a timer while I'm surfing the web. I love following the many links from site to site as they often lead to great finds like this image from FFFFOUND!. FFFFOUND! is an image sharing site where you can post or search like images that I can easily loose hours in.

This little beauty was posted by designworklife. They are a part of Seamless Creative studio in New York City. In their own words they are "a type-obsessed pattern-freak and a logic-looping webhead."

What I loved about this image (that SC studio found) was the simple period typeface on the storefront signage and the glossy black lighting that accents the sunken wall design. Great example of keeping design simple while still being effective!

Happy surfing!

Style Me Pretty feature

I am writing this post trying to contain my excitement. Yippee!!!!! If exclamation points were a way to express excitement I would have a whole page full of them! Yesterday our very own MJ and Jim were featured on the uber chic and fabulous Style Me Pretty website! I know right?!?! There should be a whole slew of exclamation points after that sentence.



Mary Jane and Jim were married on July 25th (yes, that is also my birthday) at her family's ski resort in Cadillac, Michigan. Along with MJ and her mother Jane (more design and details later when we feature their wedding on the blog) we helped to plan and design their special day.

MJ had already hired her photographer when we joined creative forces- Widdis Photography of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Brian and Kathy are a husband and wife team with more accolades than I can count. Seriously, Kathy alone has at least three Emmy's (I think). Yes an Emmy. Those shiny awards that are pretty important. Click here to read about their latest award which was given this past October.

Brian and Kathy's unique eye made for the most perfect documentation of MJ and Jim's wedding. And Abby, the incredibly talented founder and style maven behind Style Me Pretty, also recognized their talent. Widdis Photography is a Little Black Book Member.

After the wedding I had coffee with Brian and Kathy while they were up enjoying a relaxing weekend on Elk Lake. We were discussing the possibility of submitting their wedding to some national publications when Kathy mentioned Style Me Pretty and the potential opportunity. I was sold! I check Style Me Pretty daily for inspiration, industry updates and for the simple fact that they are awesome!

It is an honor to be featured on such a prestigious site in our industry. Thanks to Brian and Kathy of Widdis Photography and to Style Me Pretty for the feature!

Look, there we are...