GRunveiled 2011 Ticket Winners

Because I'm am SO excited about the upcoming wedding show, GRunveiled 2011, I've decided to give all of the ladies who entered to win tickets FREE TICKETS! I suppose planning the show has it's perks, and this is one of them.

That's right, every one of you who entered to win will be on the VIP List Thursday evening at St. Cecilia's. Please email me (GRunveiled@gmail.com) with your full name so we can make sure you're admitted with your guest.

I can't wait to see all of you there - make sure to swing by the Pearls Events space on the first floor to say hello - I'd love to meet you.

The list of winners...

• Meghan & your sister
• Jennifer & your fiance
• Sarah & your maid of honor
• Tina & your work BFF
• Stephani & Amy
• Jenn & your mom
• Lauren & your mom

The Grand Affair at The Amway Grand Plaza

It's wedding planning season, and Grand Rapids is full of great options if you're planning a West Michigan wedding. Of course there is GRunveiled, but there is also The Grand Affair, and Pearls Events is happy to be a part of both shows this year!

We have been invited to speak alongside Modern Day Floral at the upcoming Amway Grand Plaza bridal show, The Grand Affair. If you're getting married, and happen to be in the area on Sunday, March 6th, swing by the Amway Grand Plaza hotel for this FREE show. Pull up to valet for complimentary parking, enjoy an afternoon roaming around their gorgeous ballrooms, and shop around for your local wedding vendors. See their complete list of exhibitors here.

The show is from noon to four o'clock in the afternoon, and Kate, Amy & I will be speaking at 1:30 and 2:30. The sessions are already booked, however look for us roaming around to answer any planning & budgeting questions you may have!

We hope to see you there!

Pearls Events Is Hiring Interns

Each year, Pearls Events offers an internship program to junior & senior level students. The internship is an opportunity to work alongside our professional team and learn the ins and outs of a wedding planner's job from our eyes. Amy, Kate, Mary & I are thrilled to start the interview process for our 2011 interns.

APPLY If you’re interested in joining the Pearls Events team for our 2011 season, please email your cover letter and resume in .pdf format to [pearls.events@gmail.com]

**We will be accepting applications through March 31st and will be conducting interviews throughout April & May.**

Responsibilities
• confirming vendors, assisting at ceremony rehearsal where needed
• set up & facilitate both ceremony & reception on wedding day

Experience & Knowledge
• junior or senior in a related field
• strong verbal communication skills
• strong leadership skills
• excellent organizational skills

Personal Characteristics
• flexible & proactive
• innovative thinker & calm demeanor
• team player & energetic
• detail oriented & works well under pressure

Compensation This is a part time, unpaid internship
Travel Required Yes, we travel throughout Michigan
Hours Will vary by event

WIN Free Tickets to GRunveiled!

If you are interested in joining the hippest group of wedding vendors on Thursday, February 24th at St. Cecilia's for GRunveiled, here's your chance to do so FOR FREE! That's right, Pearls Events is giving away a set of TWO FREE TICKETS to one lucky winner.

All you need to do is comment on this blog post with your first name & who you will be bringing - your sister, mom, fiance! Make it a fun night downtown Grand Rapids - dinner out, and then checking out the coolest, local professionals for your upcoming wedding day.

Enter to win by Sunday, February 20th at midnight and the winner will be announced on Monday, February 21st!!!

Staying at Tesoro Inn

This past weekend, I celebrated my 30th birthday with my husband, Greg, on Michigan's Old Mission Peninsula. Greg surprised with me reservations at Tesoro Inn, run by husband & wife team, Jane & Les Hagaman. We had an amazing time getting out of town, and the service, food & accommodations were awesome at Tesoro Inn. We honestly cannot wait to return - although with Baby VanderMaas making an arrival very shortly, I'm not sure when that will be.

We checked into the Pear Tree Suite Friday afternoon, and enjoyed tea by the wood-burning fire while relaxing from our three hour drive. For dinner, we made our way to the Jolly Pumpkin for a casual dinner, before retiring quite early to our beautiful room. Saturday we drove up the peninsula to the lighthouse after breakfast and then into Traverse City for an afternoon of shopping, which included a majority of our time in Wilson's Antiques. Another causal dinner, this time at the Peninsula Grill, was shared Saturday evening. Sunday, after a second spectacular breakfast prepared by Les, we headed home.

If you're getting married in the Traverse City area, and still looking for accommodations for your wedding weekend, I would highly recommend checking out Tesoro Inn. Their Vintner's Suite would be perfect for a bride and her 'maids to get ready in on the big day, and both the Pear Tree Suite & the Trellis Suite are ideal for parents, wedding party members or wedding guests.

Pearls Events Press | Liz & Chris' Budget Breakdown

Liz & Chris are no strangers to the Pearls Events blog. You may remember their super adorable lifestyle engagement session, or possibly their wedding recap post...yep, we loved working with them in 2010!

Pearls Events was hired on an hourly basis to provide consulting after meeting Liz at GRunveiled 2010. We helped the couple find their perfect ceremony location and were also available to bounce ideas off of as far as ceremony set-up options and logistics on the day-of. It was fabulous working with Liz & her mom, and we wish Liz & Chris nothing but the best!

As you can see from the article above, Liz's gown was her number one priority, besides marrying Chris, the love of her life! Here she shares all the budget details that helped her stretch her $20,000 budget to include spending 31% of her overall budget on her amazing Vera Wang gown. And as you can see, it was an absolute show-stopper and I know her groom couldn't keep his eyes off of her that day.

A HUGE thank you to Cassandre of Cassandre Snyder Events for sending the images of the Brides New Jersey my way. The article will be in Brides Michigan come mid-March, but it also got published in other Brides regional editions as well, which is quite awesome!

Congratulations to Liz & Chris! I hope their budget breakdown helps some of you brides-to-be planning out there.