Real Wedding 2011 | Nicole & Ryan

Couple | Nicole & Ryan, 11.19.11

Ceremony | Fountain Street Church

Officiant | Grand Rapids' Mayor George Heartwell

Reception | Amway Grand Plaza, Imperial Ballroom

Photographer | Studio 6.23

Videographer | Coastline Studios

Florist | Posh Petals

Cocktail Hour Band | Mark Kahny

Reception Band | Cancel Monday

Hair | Salon Re:

Makeup | Julie Strating

Rehearsal Dinner | Mangiamo!

Pearls Events Service | Event Coordination

Late last Fall, we had the privilege of working with Nicole & Ryan on their lovely Grand Rapids wedding. Our team arrived at the Amway Grand Plaza to drop off breakfast from Wealthy Street Bakery to the ladies before getting to work in the Pantlind Ballroom installing linens & paper products.

The couple decided to do a first look right in the Pantlind lobby with their photographers Ben & Mindy of Studio 6.23. After couple photos, the entire wedding party hit up a few of our favorite local Grand Rapids spots to do wedding party photos. And when 3pm rolled around, guests began arriving at one of the most gorgeous sanctuaries in Grand Rapids at Fountain Street Church. It was a beautiful ceremony, with the city of Grand Rapids' mayor presiding (who happens to be a childhood friend of the bride). You can hear some of his ceremony in the video above, from Coastline Studios.

After the ceremony, the guests made their way (most on foot!) to the Pantlind Ballroom inside the Amway Grand Plaza where they joined cocktail hour in the mezzanine. While guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’œuvres, the jazz band played, which was special to the couple as the bride's father joined in before dinner! The dinner bell rang, and guests made their way downstairs into the dining room. The couple cut their cake before the bride's father welcomed everyone and dinner was served.

Cancel Monday kept the dance floor packed until the very end of the night - 1:30am! - and guests enjoyed the photobooth and very special surprise to the groom - Irish dancing! It was a very, very fun evening and one that I know guests will be talking about each time November 19th rolls around.

Nicole & Ryan - thank you both so much for working with Pearls Events. I absolutely loved getting to know you throughout the process. Your families were so kind & fun to work with as well! We wish you nothing but the best in years to come.

[all images copyright Studio 6.23 and video copyright Coastline Studios]

Great Find | Monica's Gourmet Cookies

Oh my goodness, I have a new favorite (and local!) treat. Yesterday while doing my grocery shopping at my favorite market, I noticed a new display in the bakery where I usually pick up fresh bread for dinner. A display of delicious cookies in big glass containers caught my eye!

The cookies, I quickly learned, were Monica's Gourmet Cookies, based out of Grand Rapids. I picked up two signature chocolate chip, one iced almond and an iced lemon. I enjoyed one of the chocolate chip cookies yesterday as a pre-dinner treat, and then held out as long as I could after dinner to devour the iced lemon. And as of 5pm today, the other two are gone. My willpower is quite terrible these days!

I've seen photos of cookies displayed at weddings before, however, I'm not sure I've ever blogged about them because, quite frankly, I don't consider myself a cookie lover. I'm normally a traditional wedding cake lover, but these cookies have me changing my mind. Actually, I'd love to see a display of these in addition to a wedding cake!

If you're planning a West Michigan wedding and are looking for delicious, homemade cookies to serve your guests - either displayed in a dessert buffet, or possibly as favors - I suggest you pick up some of Monica's Gourmet Cookies at Horrocks where you can pick and choose which flavors you want to try. They are $1.65 each, and well worth it, especially for those, like me, who don't bake at all.

And just in case you're considering adding cookies to your reception, here are two cute set ups...

[image one: The Knot; image two: Martha Stewart Weddings]

Real Wedding 2010 | Sarah & Trevor

Couple | Sarah & Trevor, 12.31.10

Ceremony | Third Christian Reformed Church

Reception | Kalamazoo Country Club
Photographer + Photobooth | Holly Henderson Photography

Videography | Inspiration Video
DJ & Jazz Band | Music Host Entertainment

Flowers | Cindy Mein

Linens | La Tavola via Pearls Events

Chair Rental | Chiavari Chairs Weddings

Pearls Events Service | Event Planning, Design & Coordination

I'm embarrassed this wedding was over a year ago and I'm just sharing it now. But, as they say - better late than never - and this is one I couldn't be more excited to share!

To say the least, I love this couple. As a matter of fact, I ran into them today at Target, and realized I needed to sit down and put their images together because this was an insanely beautiful wedding celebration.

I cannot say enough kind words about their family and I loved planning this wedding with Sarah, and her mom, Debbie. Sarah is the sister of one of my 2008 brides, Kristina. After Kristina's wedding, I received the sweetest thank you note from Debbie, with a post script saying she would call me when it was time for the next daughter's wedding.

So when Debbie's email about Sarah's wedding arrived, I couldn't stop smiling for a week.

And that began our year-long journey of planning an elegant, black-ivory-gold-plum, New Year's Eve wedding together. If you are going to get married on any holiday, I would highly advise considering New Year's Eve. All of your friends & family in one spot to ring in the new year? A perfect way to celebrate your new marriage! And every single guest will most likely stay until midnight!

Sarah decided on her gorgeous gown with beautiful black belt, which set the tone for the overall event design. We landed on luxurious black crinkle taffeta linens and ivory ribbon taffeta on the guest, family & head tables after looking at various samples. They both looked stunning with gold chargers, black satin napkins folded like a bow tie accented with the gold, beaded napkin ring, It was perfect and one of my favorite designs to date.

Besides the gorgeous set up at Kalamazoo Country Club, the couple also had a memorable ceremony at the church Sarah grew up in, Third Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo. My favorite part was the candlelit portion near the end. Each guest lit a candle they held, very much like a Christmas eve service. The church was aglow and absolutely breathtaking!

After dinner, guests were invited to the dance floor and the photobooth before cake & coffee was served. The couple opted for individual cakes for each guests, which was perfect! And because Kalamazoo Country Club recently added an outdoor fireplace, we put together a hot cocoa bar and a smores station outside. Both were huge hits because of the mild temperatures we had that year.

And how did we ring in 2011, you ask? Mary, Stephanie & I passed out festive hats & kazoos around 11:57 and at midnight, hundreds of white balloons dropped onto the dance floor for quite the celebration.

It was an unforgettable evening for the Pearls Events team and one I will soon not forget. And I am sure their guests will remember the night for years to come, especially on New Year's Eve each year when they are at another party, most likely thinking "Gosh, do you remember Sarah & Trevor's wedding? That was one fun New Year's Eve!"

Sarah & Trevor - Thank you so, so much for working with me. It was honestly an amazing day from start to finish, and one I will not soon forget. I loved watching your day unfold and all of your guests have an amazing time. Best wishes to you both in the year ahead!