I stumbled upon this fantastic little shop a couple months ago and find Katie's creations to be very inspiring. Click here for her Etsy store and here for her Flickr.
Thanks for being patient with us as we've been traveling. We'll be heading home tomorrow, nothing like going from 80 degrees to 20 degrees! Happy Saturday!
This next wedding was one of my favorites from 2009 for very personal reasons- one of my best friends was the bride, we planned and designed the entire wedding and the couple was married in Colorado (my second favorite place on earth to Traverse City).
I've known Kristin since she moved to Traverse City in 1996. It wasn't until High School that we became close and when it was time to fly the coup we, along with three other BF's, landed in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. It was during our Senior year at Michigan that Kristin and Phil fell in love. After graduation in 2005 Kristin moved to Florida for Physical Therapy school with Phil beside her every step of the way. In 2008 the couple moved to Colorado Springs and so their story begins...
Both Kristin and Phil love the outdoors and adventure so a Rocky Mountain wedding was the perfect combination of natural beauty and exploration. The couple fell in love instantly with Copper Mountain Resort's and it's mountain side location. With less than a year to plan we jumped into action.
A Day in May, Event Planning & Design primarily works with clients planning their weddings and events in Northern Michigan however with 2009 complete and 2010 on the horizon we have clients in Colorado, California and Minnesota!
Two of the top three "must have's" (#1 location) for Kristin and Phil were their entertainment and photographer. We'll get to the entertainment later (trust me it's worth the wait), however it's my pleasure to introduce James Christianson...
*Note: I pasted two photos together that are NOT supposed to go together- you all had to see how gorgeous the "big picture" was!
The wedding ceremony was held at Solitude Station which is 11,200 feet above see level. You could see for miles and miles... it was the picture perfect Colorado wedding AND we made it down the mountain before the afternoon showers. Stay tuned for more details and James' stellar photography.
This past December I was interviewed by Karen Johnson for a special the Traverse City Business News was featuring. The public launch of A Day in May was a direct result of the turmoil in today's economy however, I am proud to say that today we are one of many success stories...
Thank you to the TC Business News for the kind words and to Jen Kroll for the use of the image.
In love with Our Labor of Love. For more gorgeous images from Lindsey and Jeff's wedding and the incredible work from Kendrick and David and the entire Our Labor of Love crew, click here.
I was first introduced to Cammie Buehler and Andy Schudlich in 2008 and ever since I've been smitten with their creations, talents and hearts. Epicure Catering is the brain child of these two amazing people who have a sure recipe for success in all elements of catering, service and life. 
Photo by your's truly.
The Cherry Basket Farm, located in Omena roughly 45 minutes north of Traverse City, is the home to Epicure Catering. Any given day in the summer trucks of local goods are making deliveries at the Farm for some of the areas most talked about parties, weddings and dishes.
It would be easy for me to use our blog as advertising for great local talent but that's not what we do. All of the vendors we recommend on our blog, and website, are based purely on their performance and service to our clients. With that being said I would recommend any of our clients {without question} to this dynamic duo- they have killer food (even Mario say's so!) and world class service.
One of our staff said it best when they walked into the kitchen of a home where Epicure was catering a party for us... "there was an unmistakable calm in the air. It was tension free. Like a well oiled machine who's working parts fit together with precision." Cammie and Andy believe in giving 110% to all aspects of their service and it's evident by the team they have built around them and their finished product. As it says on their website, "events start and finish with Epicure Catering." 
Photos by Epicure Catering.
Photo by Jen Kroll Photography.
Photos by Jen Kroll Photography.
Cammie and Andy: We look forward to working with you both this coming year and in the future. We are your biggest fans!
Readers: be sure and check out Cherry Basket Farm for your next wedding or event. With picturesque views of Leelanau County this private estate is yours to enjoy!
2010 is a year for intentional personalization for our clients. We have a bride honoring her Hawaiian heritage with a lei ceremony during their wedding, a Parisian groom with killer design style and another bride who isn't crazy about flowers but wants a "yummy summer vibe" to her charming August wedding.
When I saw maida vale's post about Peppermint Cloud I knew I had to share this with our client and you, our readers!
I am in love with her creations for their simple and clean styling with plenty of texture to make any bride {or groom} swoon...
As taken from Litton's (Peppermint Cloud) Etsy profile:
The store used to be filled with my random crafts and had no direction. I got into the whole businesss of making wedding relating products because I am recently engaged and was creating things for my own wedding. I like making things myself because it becomes my own and is a unique piece. My problem is that I have a hard time focusing on just one thing. If I sit down to make one hair piece I end up making five...and that's how my store came to be filled with wedding related products.
Happy Shopping and thank you Litton for your lovely creations!
Photography by Stephen Ludwig Wedding Photography of Hawaii.
If you have ever traveled to Traverse City before chances are you've heard of, seen in passing, or visited The Grand Traverse Pie Co.. Known for their delectable pies, pastries and other mouth watering dishes, GT Pie Co. recently caught the eye of a very discerning client, Oprah.
Featured in the current issue of O Magazine, GT Pie. Co.'s "mail order pie" was chosen as one of the best!
Be sure to visit one of their fabulous bake houses around Michigan. Or if you're really hungry order a pie online! Congratulations Pie Co.!
(Images courtesy of Grand Traverse Pie Co..)
I subscribe to 60+ blogs in my Google Reader. (If you don't know what Google Reader is or have yet to create your own, I highly encourage you to do so.) With so many "experts" becoming accessible through blogging and social media, I am constantly fueled and challenged creatively by their works.
From Business, Photography, Food (labeled "Cucina" in my reader), Design, Wedding, etc. I follow all types of blogs. One of my favorite blogs to read is that of Jasmine Star. I don't remember how I found her, probably from one of the many esteemed wedding blogs or national publications that she's graced, however I am drawn in "like a moth to a flame." (Thanks Janet for the eternally great lyric!) 
Her work is real, fun and spellbinding but her character and humility is other worldly. Through her strong blog presence and killer technique she's built an amazing business from the ground up. One could assume her blog is about technique, do's and don'ts (there is some of that) but I doubt you'd be prepared for her level of transparency.
One of her posts that I've shared the most with my own clients is one that Glamour Magazine asked her to contribute- The First Look: Groom's Perspective. Here at A Day in May, Event Planning & Design, we are so fortunate to have clients committed to professional photography and the artists behind the lenses. They are so committed that they are willing to sacrifice two hours or more of their time, away from their guests for their own private photoshoots with rockstar photographers.
I hear from many of our clients that cocktails and conversation are what they enjoy the most about weddings they attend. When it comes time to planning their own weddings, extended cocktail time is a "must have." Being so inspired by Jasmine's article, I've been encouraging couples to really think more about their wedding day experience and what they want most. Not necessarily what's been "done before."
Would you be willing to see your groom/bride before the ceremony? Granted, seeing one another before the wedding ceremony is not for everyone. But, it could be for you!
Thanks Jasmine for being real and creative! You are a gift!
Images courtesy of Jasmine Star Photography blog.
Incorporating MJ and Jim's favorite things, including the ski resort her parents have owned her entire life and a private golf tournament in Jim's honor, were a few of the many details that personalized their wedding weekend!
Jim proposed to MJ in Chicago along the lakeshore on June 12, 2008 and on July 25, 2009 their lives were bound together, forever.
Mary Jane and Jim's Wedding Vendors:
Bride's Gown: Vwidon, downtown Chicago
Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters & Watters
Cake: Aunt B's Cakes & Desserts
Ceremony Musicians: Panache Entertainment
Chair Covers: Sweet Seats Chair Covers
Entertainment: Night Shift Orchestra
Event Planner/Designer: A Day in May, Event Planning & Design
Florist: Tie The Knot
Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Men's Warehouse
Invitation: Elum
Linen: BBJ Linen
Location: St. Ann Church and Caberfae Peaks
Photographer: Widdis Photography
Rehearsal Dinner: Lakeside Charlie's
Salon: Trend Designer Salon
Transportation: Great Northwest Travel and New York Luxury Limo
Videographer: Andy Anderson Weddings
Thank you Mary Jane and Jim for the opportunity to work with you and your families! Congratulations!
A Day in May, Event Planning & Design works with an unbelievably talented group of vendors at each event we design and produce. It's no secret that Northern Michigan has great musical talent. Mac Daddy is no exception- they are some of the best! As taken from their website...
"Mac Daddy’s repertoire of music consists of alluring dance tunes like ‘Knock on Wood’ and ‘Play that Funky Music’, as well as tasteful slow tunes like Van Morrison’s ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’ and Billy Joel’s ‘Just The Way You Are’’. You won’t find an empty dance floor when Mac Daddy plays!"
With 400 weddings plus under their belts, and over 800 gigs to date they "take their job as entertainers very seriously making sure to have a combination of the best equipment and highest quality of music to insure a great party."
If you are looking for stellar entertainment for your wedding or next party be sure and contact Band Manager Nathan Gilmore, at easyg@chartermi.net. You won't want to miss a Mac Daddy performance!
Photos by the talented Jen Kroll Photography.
With MJ and Jim celebrating their wedding at a ski resort in the middle of July, we needed a way to bring the snow to summer. MJ wanted a unique escort card display using a chair lift chair. Through a collaborative effort, we designed and created these fabulous Lift Tickets for their guests, Enjoy!
This was a great DIY project that was low cost (minus the chair lift seat!), easy assembly and made a great impact as guests were ushered into the dinner tent from the ski lodge!
Cheers again to Widdis Photography for the great images.
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