'Maids All in a Row

Yesterday I spent the entire day with Tami, Rachel (bride above) & Jessica of September's Bride looking at the Fall 2009 lines for Spring/Summer 2010 brides at the National Bridal Market in Chicago's Merchandise Mart.

After working with several clients on their overall look & feel of their wedding, a question that arises is "long or short gowns for the bridesmaids?" Both styles are great, and while writing this post I was at a loss at what the answer was. Naturally, I went straight to the source - my fab friends at September's Bride, which also happens to be my absolute favorite bridal salon in West Michigan.

Are short gowns too casual for a formal wedding?
Tami tells me, "Basically, it comes down to overall style and time of day of the wedding and then ultimately, the bride's personal preference."

Rachel was married last summer and had a beautifully elegant, outdoor wedding. Her bridal gown was very formal and quite detailed, however by having an outdoor wedding in the warm months of Michigan, a short frock for her ladies was seasonably appropriate. And although the Lila Couture bridesmaid gowns were not full-length, they were formal because of the style & fabric choices.

[photo copyright Steven F Fox Photography]

Ooh, the flowers you'll carry...

With so many beautiful flowers available, how do you decide on what to carry on the big day? Since your bouquet will be making its way into plenty of photos, you want to be certain you're picking something that you love.

Two things I tell my clients are 1.) pick something you love, and 2.) pick something you can afford. I know how easy it is to get carried away in flower consultations with beautiful, inspirational ideas florists have on hand, however once you walk away and digest the quote, you may rethink the options.

If you want the most bang for your buck, consider choosing flowers that are in season, and if possible, locally grown. Visit the local farmer's market and find a grower who can provide exactly what you need at the time of your wedding. Most of the florists I work with are great about offering alternative options for something that might be out of season at the time of your wedding.

And if you're in need of some amazing flower ideas, check out these two great blogs that I read to inspire your flower choices...
The Bride's Cafe
Preston Bailey

Below is a partial list of in-season flowers. To see the entire list, click here.

SPRING WEDDING FLOWERS
Anemone * Blue, red, pink, white * Jan-May and Aug-Dec.
Daffodil * Yellow * January-Early May
Peony * Pink or White * Late Spring – Early Summer
Tulip * Many colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, and purple * December-April

SUMMER WEDDING FLOWERS
English Lavender * Purple
Hydrangea * White, Blue, Purple, Pink
Iris * Purple, Blue, White
Snapdragons * Pink, Yellow, Orange, White, Other Colors

FALL WEDDING FLOWERS
Dahlia * Many Colors
Marigold * Yellow, Orange, Red
Zinnia * Red, orange, pink *
Dried Leaves

WINTER WEDDING FLOWERS
Amaryllis * Red, White
Cosmos * Pink, White, Brown, Other Colors
Holly * Green with Red Berries
Waxflower * Pink, White

AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND
Calla Lily * White is widely available, other colors, available as well
Orchid * Pink, White, Purple, Other Colors
Rose * Many Colors * February at a premium

[all photos copyright Lisa Kae Photography]

Next Two Weeks

I've been looking forward to April for months for a few reasons...

Starting tomorrow, my travel schedules gets crazy for two weeks. I head to Chicago with the September's Bride team for the day to preview the newest bridal wear at National Bridal Market. We'll also be meeting up with my sister, Victoria, for dinner at the Grand Lux Cafe.

Tuesday I travel to Columbus, Ohio to attend Blogging Bootcamp with Liene of The Smart Planner on Wednesday. There are so many great people I am quite excited to meet! I did have a chance to meet Liene on my trip to Arizona earlier this year, however I know I have much to learn about blogging and cannot wait to hear her speak.

Next Tuesday, I head to Indianapolis with intern Amy, Abbey of Syd Design and Amanda of Bliss Weddings for the much anticipated Eventology 2009, in which I'll be helping with registration. The fabulous line up of presenters, plus the networking opportunity just makes me smile! I return that week and have the fabulous wedding of Deanna & Ryan here in Grand Rapids on the 11th of April.

The blog will continue as normal over the next two weeks, but I'm going to be in and out of the office so will return your email as soon as humanly possible.

Ooh, and don't forget to stay tuned for our big announcement on Wednesday, April 1st! Yes, we're finally ready to introduce you to our newest team member, Kate!

Weekend Eye Candy

These are the gorgeous photos from the wedding of Laura & Roger shot by Grand Rapids photographer, Jonathan Thrasher. The couple planned their November 2008 wedding at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico. I'm loving Laura's v-neck dress. And that backdrop? AMAZING! To see more photos of their wedding, you can check out Jonathan's blog post from last Fall.

Have I mentioned that I love all the Eye Candy that has come across my desk lately? Keep it coming, everyone!

Spotlight | Dusty Brown Photography

I've known Dusty for quite some time, and I am honored to be featuring him and his work today. We worked together last year just once, on the gorgeous wedding of Monique & Kevin, but from that one day, I can tell you his personality shines through. He's fun to be around, easy to talk to, and genuinely excited about his clients. Ooh, and I absolutely love his work.

Please enjoy our Q+A with Dusty Brown Photography and then go check out his website and blog to see more of his fabulous work.

How long have you been shooting weddings?
I photographed my first wedding back in 2000. Since that first wedding I was hooked. I started in advertising photography and when a friend asked me to help him with a wedding, I had a ball! In advertising there are a lot of people in line to determine what the photograph will look like. If your portfolio has all the sweet shots in it you can muster up, the client still has the last word of what photograph will look like. With weddings its up to me to see my clients vision and what they want from their wedding photographs. Its a great feeling to have a bride and groom trust what I do, they love what I have done in the past and they are excited for what I can bring to them. I'm proud to say I am still friends with that first wedding couple.

What inspires you as you work with your clients?
Having been a photographer for 14 years now, I have seen a great change in the photography industry. But one thing never changes and that is people. People inspire me. The beauty and love of a wedding day. The happy family as they share an afternoon. The hope and excitement for the engaged couple. The high school senior waiting for June. I am constantly inspired by what the next session will bring. Its human nature to change and move. I have seen all types of personalities and attitudes. I have made them feel secure and safe about the photos, but it's what I do with that personality that gets me inspired. The person in front of the lens is the most important thing in the world at that moment. That is a huge sack of inspiration!

Why weddings? Why not nature?
Nature excites me in a different way. Its slow moving. There is only a window of daylight everyday that really makes great nature photography. I used to go out with my 4x5 view camera and sit with the trees and countryside and wait for the perfect moment. I would rush back to my darkroom and develop it all, wait for the film to dry and print it up. That was one sentence to describe about 2 days of work. Digital has made that process much easier but its still slow!

Weddings are moving and ever changing. I love to meet new people and every wedding there is a group of friends to get to know!

If you could shoot a wedding for anyone, who would you pick?
I'm torn between my first grandchild {my kids are young so this would be in the next 30-40 years!!!} and Johnny Depp.

Do you have one "gotta get it" shot at every wedding?
I don't really have a gotta get it shot. But there is a small mental list of don't forgets - rings, flowers, moms, and anything that is special to the family. I set aside a bit of time to get the details of the day - exterior of the Church, reception room before anyone enters, and of course, the cake. Details make this whole world sing and make up a very important part of every day.

What is your favorite way to spend a non-working Saturday in the summertime?
Huh? Is there such a thing?

Spotlight | Vita Dolce

Last week I received a fabulous tip from Lisa Kae in my inbox. I opened the email to see these gorgeous treats from Grand Rapids' own Vita Dolce Chocolates. I headed on over to their website and was delightfully surprised with with picture-perfect chocolates, which any guest would devour before the main course.

I immediately sent an email to owners Jessica and Dana to see if they'd give me some more info on their treats, and within days I couldn't wait to meet them! Dana and I did a Q+A together, which I hope you enjoy as much as I enjoyed the chocolates...

Ooh, and YES, they DO ship nationwide! Check out their website for more information.

How did you two get started?
Upon resigning from her fifth grade teaching job to be with her two children, Jessica started looking for something that gave her the flexibility to stay home with her kids during the day yet still have a career. After making wedding favors for my wedding she decided that she'd found the ideal solution! She had always made chocolates for special events and holidays and it was a family tradition that she enjoyed. Jessica loved making chocolates, but didn't have much interest in running a business. I prefer to avoid the kitchen, but enjoy the other aspects of running a business. So with our perfect division of labor, we got to work on designing Vita Dolce Chocolates.

How did you come up with the name Vita Dolce?
Vita Dolce is Italian for sweet life. We immediately combed through the Italian language for a name because Jessica's Italian and I'm Italian at heart. We settled on the sweet life because there is a funny thing about how we enjoy chocolates - we buy them to cheer us up, to help us celebrate, and to just enjoy a quick moment of bliss. At Vita Dolce Chocolates we make chocolates to brighten a day, top off a party, and indulge a craving. So...we are making chocolates for the sweet life!

What inspires your flavors/designs/new items?
Jessica usually wakes up around 2am with the latest and greatest new recipe! The best ideas always come when you aren't looking for them.

Where do you find all of your ingredients?
We are particular about the ingredients that we use in our chocolates. We find them anywhere from local stores to wholesale vendors. Our first choice is to buy local, and we continue to look for additional vendors in the West Michigan area for all of our ingredients.

What does a normal day at the office consist of?
There are no normal days in our office! We make all of our chocolates fresh so each day is different, depending on the orders. During busy times, Jessica is busy working her magic in the kitchen making hand-dipped chocolate truffles, artisan chocolates, or any other treat that is in the line up for the day! During downtime we test out new recipes and work on the less glamorous side of the business.

What do you enjoy doing on your days off?
Jessica, being a mother of two little ones, does not have days off! She spends most of her time with her family and is prone to having her friends drop in on her (she's a good cook, so we usually drop in around dinner!)

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband, traveling, and savoring a nice glass of red wine. My latest interesting is in the realm of botany, but I don't exactly have a green thumb!

[photos by Amy Wenzel]

Ooh, the shoes you'll wear...

I realize colored shoes aren't a new trend and people have been picking a fun color over white for years now, however when I purchased my wedding shoes in 2007, I was oblivious to this great idea. Instead, my traditional side persuaded me to wear ivory silk heels from Grace, which I found on eBay for half price! I did, however, decide to change into beaded, pink flats after I danced with Greg and then my step-dad, and boy, were my feet ready to ditch the heels!

What are you planning to wear on your feet as you walk down the aisle? What about as you dance the evening away? Will you stick to one pair or opt for two or more!? And, are you planning ahead and packing flip flops, just in case?

The above shoe shots are from the fabulous Lisa Kae Photography, and just another sneak peek of some images from the new website redesign.

A Unique Invitation

When Aaron from Captured Productions sent a sneak peek on the new product he was working on, I couldn't wait to share it with you today. In the photos above, you see a gorgeous wedding invitation. However, it's unlike any other wedding invitation I've seen...when you open it, there is a DVD, and when you pop that DVD in, you can watch the proposal and the story of how the couple met.

Aaron has turned something he loves into something the masses will enjoy. Think about how excited your friends and family will be when they receive this invitation in the mail. I would hardly be able to wait to pop it into the DVD player!

You can watch the actual video on Aaron's blog post here (it's the last image). I had the pleasure of working with Aaron last October at Amy & Chad's wedding and I can say he's a complete blast to be around. Spending the day with him while he shoots your wedding invitation DVD would be more than fun.

Thank you for sharing your innovative idea with us, Aaron!

Weekend Eye Candy

The next installment of Weekend Eye Candy is courtesy of Lisa Kae Photography from the wedding of Abby & Ben on 8-16-08.

There are so many great details from this wedding, I loved looking through the images Lisa dropped off. The navy & tangerine linens on the cocktail tables are fabulous, and I am head-over-heels for their polka dot cake. And did you notice their monogram theme even made its way onto the hem of the Abby's dress? Completely lovely!

Ben & Abby planned this whole wedding themselves. They live in In Indianapolis and Lisa saw all the works-in-progress when she traveled down there to to shoot their engagement photos... I hear there were projects all over their house! Abby is a blogger and you can check out the post about their candy buffet. Flowers by Natures Garden Flowers.

Here's what Abby wrote about her own wedding:

"My husband and I dated for a total of 8.5 years before we finally got married and I always said the longer he waited the better it would be. . .and was it ever! We were married up in northern Michigan in Petoskey with a our reception in Bay Harbor. We had a Lutheran wedding with the most wonderful pastor, a tented reception near the marina and the most wonderful group of guests at our sides. . ."

A Sneak Peek

WOW. wow. WOW. Lisa Kae, who I took my photography class from earlier this year, just dropped off images for my website redesign, and I'm loving every single image. So instead of making you wait to see what's to come, here's a mini sneak peek. The above bouquet of orchids & roses makes me want to design a pink wedding which is a little be modern & a little bit traditional.

MWEP Meeting | April 14th

In case you missed the email invite, please join us if you're a wedding and/or event professional in Michigan looking to network with others in the industry. The last two events have proved to be productive, educational and also quite fun. (first get together, second get together)

At our April meeting, Becca from lil' Miss Cupcake will be sharing her delightful goodies and a bit about her & her bake shop. I've had the opportunity to experience Becca's treats on various occasions, and I can tell you that you do not want to miss out. Because of the ever-growing group, we've switched locations.

Who All event & wedding professionals in Michigan
What An informal gathering of event pros to meet & greet, exchange business cards, build your referral base. There will be a cash bar & menu available.
When Tuesday, April 14th, 7pm
Where J. Gardella's Tavern, 2nd floor. 11 Ionia Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Why Why not?!
How RSVP via email to reserve your space. aletha@pearlsevents.com

Mark your calendars and we'll see you there!

DIY | Escort & Favor Combo

I've gotten many questions about Amy & Carlo's beautiful DIY escort cards. Today I am guest blogging on one of my favorite blogs, In This Instance, about the king-sized Hershey bars that doubled as beautiful escort cards. See the entire story here for details on these beauties!

[Photography by Amy Carroll]

Great Find | Target

While browsing Target.com, I came across both of the dresses above in the clearance section. I will tell you that I wasn't sold on Isaac Mizrahi's bridal line, which he launched last year, until I actually saw one of the gowns in person.

My friend Megan purchased a beautiful espresso party dress on the clearance rack from her local Target, and I'm bummed we're not the same size. I know I'd steal it from her and wear it as often as I could. The taffeta is fun & flirty and the fit is better than I thought possible.

Check out these clearance finds at Target.com. There are limited sizes available, however you could score the deal of the century on these! Even if there are not enough for your four bridesmaids, everyone can use a Little Black Dress - and at these prices, why not?

Party dress with jewel neckline, $11.24
Slip dress with cowl neckline, $17.49

And a little tidbit I discovered while writing this...it's sad, but true - Isaac is departing Target. I was beginning to notice this as I wandered the women's department, and seeing Target's private label, Merona, moved into the Isaac endcaps. I'm dying to know if they'll get another designer to fill his spot.

Spotlight | Studio 6.23

Mindy & Ben Peterson of Studio 6.23 are not new to the Pearls Events blog, however you may remember them at This Photo Story (post one, post two, post three...you get the idea!) Mindy & Ben have gone through a rebranding process and I'm totally diggin' their new look! How can you not smile when you see a colorful logo like that?!

Mindy and I sat down for lunch at Marie Catrib's last fall, followed by a bit of antiquing around Grand Rapids. Although I wanted to feature her on the blog a long time ago, Ben & Mindy wanted to wait until Studio 6.23 was ready to flaunt, and I'm SO glad they did - don't you love their new logo? I did a little Q+A with Ben & Mindy, which I hope you enjoy.

What inspires your work?

M: everything! there is not much that does not inspire me.... my surroundings, design, colors, textures and of course, PEOPLE!

B: the people we're working with! i can have all kinds of thoughts about the shots i'm hoping to get, but people have a way of giving you things you never expected. those shots are always the best.

How long have you been shooting weddings?

M: i shot my first wedding three years ago. i LOVED the whole experience...the emotions, the details, the commitment and all the love...fabulous!

B: i started shooting weddings with mindy last year. before that, i hired a lot of photographers and was used to being in charge...oh the good ol' days. :)

If you could photograph any wedding, what bride & groom would you pick?

M: wow.... given a blank slate, i'd say a bride and groom that are not only deeply in love, but willing to be adventurous with their details, colors, venues (greece, anyone?!!!) love + fun + retro + sincere + stylish= my dream wedding to shoot!

B: original people that want to create an original day! i'm inspired by brides and grooms that take risks with their details and moments and create a day that is genuinely "them!"

what's in your camera bag?

M + B: a new canon 5D mark II (love it!!!), canon 5D, 24-70 mm 2.8L, 15 mm 2.8 fisheye, 70-200 mm 2.8L, 50 mm 1.4, 100 mm 2.8 macro, 17-40 mm 4.0, lots of memory cards, extra batteries, a 580 EXII flash and 420 EX flash.
M: you will also find a pack of gum in my bag for the cotton mouth that creeps in halfway through the day and of course, my trusty, no-kiss-off lipstick! go ahead and try, ben!! :)
B: a big black hole that always wants to be filled with new lenses and widgets. :)

What's your signature shot?
M: i would say detail shots with flair (dresses, rings, shoes, etc...) and cool rockstar shots of brides and grooms.... LOVE those!
B: straight lines with edgy crops. i know it's a signature shot when i have to explain "why i took it that way" to my grandma.

Real Wedding 2009 | Amy & Carlo

Amy & Carlo planned a gorgeous wedding day and Pearls Events was thrilled to be a part of it. Working with this couple was awesome and we wish them nothing but happiness as they begin their life together!

[all images copyright Amy Carroll Photography]

Weekend Eye Candy

Our next installment of Weekend Candy Friday comes from Jonathan Thrasher Photography in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The amazing wedding of Acia & Sandy was held in St. Lucia at the Ladera Resort on December 30, 2008. I'm loving with the beautiful scenery! And isn't Acia's gown gorgeous? She's a completely stunning bride and I absolutely love her bouquet of soft pinks and greens.

Venue | English Inn

When Matt Trubac of TruVision Studios sent over this video of one of my favorite mid-Michigan venues, The English Inn, I couldn't help but blog about it. A dear friend of mine was married under their pergola in October of 2006 and I have been looking forward to my next experience at The Inn.

The Tudor Revival home is located on the banks of the Grand River in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. It was built for auto baron Irving Jacob Reuter, once president of Oldsmobile. The property sits on 15 acres with the original pergola, swimming pool and gazebo as well as annual and perennial gardens, plus nature trails.

In addition to the original, 10,000 square foot home, The English Inn has added an up-to-date, tasteful building to host larger wedding receptions. Although new compared to the original residence, the style of the conference center is tasteful and flows seamlessly with the original landscape.

Enjoy the video above - which is comprised of three different weddings on the property - and check out TruVision's website for more info on their packages. A HUGE THANKS to Matt for sharing this video with Pearls Events.

[English Inn from TruVision Studios]

Gift Idea | Magnetic Frame

When my friend Melissa of Melissa Diekema Photography filled me in a big project she was working on, I could hardly wait to share. Carol Roeda, an amazing West Michigan artist who specializes in painted metal, approached Melissa about pairing up their art. Melissa was completely thrilled, as was I, as I admire both women.

Carol's new metal photo frame collection needed some great photography to fill the empty spaces, and Melissa's work fit the bill. These metal frames are magnetic and have cute add-ons to personalize them. I've always loved the word art in Carol's lineup, however, I think my favorite frame add-on are the daisies.

These little frames would be perfect for flower girls, bridesmaids, grandmas, sisters - really, anyone who enjoys photos and a unique way to display them. Check out Carol's work online or in her boutiques in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.

Real Wedding 2009 | Amy & Carlo

Couple Amy & Carlo March 7, 2009
Pearls Events service Event Management
Bridal Gown September's Bride
Calligrapher Designs by Robyn Love
Makeup Artist Julie Strating
Ceremony St. Mary's Catholic Church
Reception Imperial Ballroom
Photographer Amy Carroll Photography & Darrin Wassom Photography
Pastry chef lil' Miss Cupcake
Florist Gail VanderLaan
Rentals Cascade Rentals
Deejay Rick Reuther's Music Host Productions
Transportation A White Knight Limousine

This past Saturday kicked off our wedding season - and what a way to begin! When I sat down with Amy & Carlo to discuss their wedding a year ago, I knew it was going to be a lovely day - and Saturday proved to be nothing short of fabulous.

Although the weather was a little gloomy outside, both St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Imperial Ballroom were absolutely stunning. From the amazing Casablanca gown Amy purchased from Tami at September's Bride and the lush centerpieces created by Gail VanderLaan, to the beautiful DIY escort candy bars (which I will blog about soon!) and the late night pizza snack - no detail was missed. The dance floor was packed all night long, thanks to Rick Reuther, and the Amway Grand never fails to impress me with their attention to detail.

And with Amy & Darrin on the scene, I will have a photo preview to show you in the coming days. Stay tuned...

Weekend Eye Candy

When I asked for beautiful weddings to show off for our new Weekend Eye Candy feature, Christina of cHill Weddings was the first to reply. She planned the gorgeous wedding of Anne & David and WOW - the details are amazing. Read about Christina's experience for a more behind-the-scenes look at this gorgeous day.

When Anne and Dave hired me, Anne was then in law school and needed me to fill in the gaps of her planning, and take care of the behind the scenes work. We had a lot of setting up to do on the wedding day, so my two interns and I got to work immediately following the Indian ceremony.

It was August; mosquitoes were everywhere, so I purchased some large, tin citronella candles and we placed them throughout the ceremony and reception locations. We set up all the ceremony chairs with moss balls, placed the floral pieces & candles on each table, placed menu cards at each place setting, and set up all the high tops in the cocktail area. We even took care of the super glamorous job of emptying the trash in the porta potties during the reception!

It was one of our most intensive set ups, which we finished in about 3 hours, but it couldn't have been done without the wonderful staff and Ken Correll (now Diverse Catering) at Shackamaxon. We got to work with some of our favorite vendors, and of course, it was an honor to help out Anne and Dave, one of the most relaxed and fun loving couples I've ever met!

[Photos copyright Doll Face Studio]

Awesome RSVP

Earlier this week, I ripped open the wedding invitation to our April 11th wedding. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Mad Libs-style RSVP. Normally, I fill in my own name, write the number of people attending, and check chicken or beef, however, as you will see above, I got to write in a lot more! So.....

On April 11th, when Ryan and Deanna dance down the aisle, Pearls Events will be there to cheer for them. We are so giddy for Ryan and Deanna. We wish them 200 years of happiness and fun with each other.

Most unique RSVP I've seen in quite some time!

Venue | Kingdom Square

Last week Lynell Shooks, of Lizzie Photo, invited me to tag along with her on a photo shoot of the chapel at Kingdom Square, which is currently being restored in Grand Rapids.

It's an amazing facility sitting on 16 acres of land in the city. It was previously owned by the Catholic Diocese, but was recently purchased by Marvin & MaLinda Sapp. The Sapp's are currently renovating the venue which, in addition to the chapel above, includes two full kitchens, a retreat center with 80+ hotel rooms and enough acres to hold a tented reception right on site. Add in the amazing architectural details, and you've got a beautiful location to hold both your wedding & reception in the heart of the city.

The photos above are pre-renovation, and they expect to be done in the next 30 days. Kingdom Square is located at 660 Burton, SE. Call 616-245-0573 for more information.