Katie & Jeremy

Ceremony Location: St. Joan of Arc, St. Clair Shores

Reception Location: Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Alger House, Grosse Pointe

Wedding Colors: Purple, Silver, Black

# Guests: 100

Package: 8 hours reception

Emergency Kit Items Used: Scissors, ribbon, glue dots

The historic Grosse Pointe War Memorial's Alger House banquet area is actually a large house, separated in to several smaller rooms. The guests are served an intimate dinner in the main room area, music and entertainment in the library area, cocktail hour in another room off to the side, and the bar on a patio area surrounded by large windows overlooking the Detroit River. This location offers a truly unique setting and beautiful, picturesque grounds.

We arrived to the facility a little early to begin setting up the chair covers and candy buffet containers, both of which were rented by the couple from us. Centerpieces, table letters, escort cards, table runners, votives, menu cards, of course all of their purple-colored candy, and a few other items were soon to follow. The rooms came together beautifully.

Katie and Jeremy and photographers Lynn & Andy Bernardi of West Park Photography arrived with their immediate families, best man and maid of honor about an hour prior to the reception for photographs on the Memorial grounds. After photos, they made their way inside to greet guests and enjoy cocktails and appetizers with everyone.

The War Memorial's procedure is to ring a bell to alert guests and get their attention - the cake cutting was done just before the dinner hour, and as mentioned above, guests were served an intimate dinner together in the main room followed by the cake with ice cream for dessert.

Guests were then summoned to the library where the couple shared their first dance followed by the father/daughter dance. Tunes were spun by DJ Sean McDonnell of All Night DJ's. Later, a special song was dedicated to Katie's parents to celebrate their 34th anniversary, a tune many of us are familiar with: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. While this may seem an odd song choice, the song has special meaning to Katie's parents and I just love things that celebrate being unique and different!

We opened the candy buffet which was full of candies in assorted bright purples and even some silver items; it was a big hit! Guests later enjoyed a late-night fruit spread and of course, more dancing.

Meeting this couple last August, I knew that Katie & Jeremy's wedding was going to be all about simplicity and intimate elegance. This couple is one who truly focused on what the wedding day was about, their marriage, and their families coming together.

Congratulations, Katie & Jeremy, and thank you for letting us share your day!

Table setup with runners, table letters and centerpieces:

The cake by Josef's Pastry Shop in Grosse Pointe:

The purple candy buffet, containers rented from us, and candy provided by the couple:

The main banquet room before our chair covers:

The main banquet room after our chair covers, huge difference!

Amanda & Doug

Ceremony Location: Greenmead Historical Church, Livonia

Reception Location: Radisson Livonia

Wedding Colors: Ivory, Gold, Black

# Guests: 115

Package: Reception-only, 6 hours

Amanda and her ladies began their day at Number Six Salon in Farmington Hills for hair, then returned to her suite at the Radisson Livonia for makeup by Jen of Deux Adore. Photographer Derek Cookson of Derek Cookson Photography was already on-hand to capture photos of the ladies getting ready, and more photographs of the groom and his men in the hotel lobby.

Motor City Party Bus arrived to pick up the men, then the ladies, and take them to Greenmead Church. Rental of this location also includes use of the grounds and other historic buildings on the Greenmead property which makes for some beautiful photo opportunities.

I arrived to set up the details such as the candy buffet, centerpieces, escort card table and other items. Linens had been set the previous day by Affordable Elegance. The ivory and gold color scheme looked so timeless and elegant when all was complete.

After the ceremony, guest arrived to enjoy a variety of appetizers and cocktails. Our bridal party arrived and made their grand entrance, and guests enjoyed a plated dinner and cake by Sweet Dreams (586-751-8900) for dessert.

DJ Joe of Ultimate Events Productions, who also did the ceremony music, kept the fun going throughout dinner and dancing. Steve of Volk Video and photographer Derek were there to capture all of the key moments.

Amanda & Doug, best wishes to both of you, and thank you so much for allowing us to be there for your day!

Just a few photos....

Great guest book idea - Guests each took a page and answered a series of fun questions regarding themselves and the couple, to be placed in the main book afterwards:

Escort card table, each guest's name was also atop a piece of delicious chocolate:

Completed room:


Super-cute cake topper:

Candy buffet - each container also had a sign advertising the contents inside:

Tricia & Luke

Ceremony Location: Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit

Reception Location: The Guardian Building, Detroit

Wedding Colors: Dark blue, gold

# Guests: 100

Package: Reception-only, 8 hours

Tricia & Luke's reception was held in the Rowland Cafe area of The Guardian Building in Detroit. This location is unique in that the building has gorgeous architecture and embellishments, super-high ceiling, and guests are allowed to browse and buy in the Pure Detroit store during the event. Normally this main area is the Rowland Cafe, but all of the cafe's tables and chairs were moved to serve as cocktail tables, and room was allowed for the dance floor and guest tables.

My assistant and I arrived and began setting things up ~ Candy buffet, escort card table, folding napkins, placing centerpieces and favors. 2 Unique Catering's staff was also busy with place settings. Rita of Candlelite Linens had already been in earlier in the day to set all of the linens, chargers, and chiavari chairs, as well as C&N Rentals with all of the rentals such as tables and place settings.

This location is also unique in that clients provide virtually everything from guest tables to catering. 2 Unique Caterers provided all of the food and planning for the linen and other rentals. Carolyn and her staff did an excellent job! The room looked just gorgeous when finally completed!

Guests arrived to enjoy a cocktail hour with beer, wine, two signature martinis (the "Tricia" and the "Luke") and hors d'oeuvres. Those who had never been to this location were clearly in awe of the great space.

The couple and bridal party arrived to their reception and made their grand entrance just underneath this large mural of Michigan:

Table numbers matched the murals in and around The Guardian Building - the backgrounds were actual photographs of the tiles:

Head table:

Guest tables:

These cupcakes from Patisserie Parmentier were tempting us all night with their delicious scent!

Escort card table:

The full room. The rental of this space also included a staffed espresso bar and also and Italian soda bar:

Guardian Building ceiling and outside view:

Music was done via I-Pad and speakers run by a family friend. Photographers Jen Macpherson of Amanda Williams Photography and also photographer Jonathan Stoner were capturing all of the events and details.

Transportation provided by Luxury Limousine of Dearborn.

Everything worked out beautifully! Thanks so much Tricia & Luke!

Happy November Anniversaries!

Happy first anniversary to our November 2009 brides!

Adrienne & Brian, married November 28, 2009. Photo courtesy of The Shooting Gallery:

Taryn & Brian, married November 21, 2009. Photo courtesy of Amy Boeve Photography:

Also Katie & Frank, married November 7, 2009. Photo not available.

Wishing you many more years of happiness & health!

Angie & Paul, Revisited

Angie & Paul were married October 24, 2009. Some beautiful fall images, better late than never! I always love seeing the photos that result from our weddings!!

For the rest, please click here.

Thanks Angie! (Pro pics courtesy of Everlasting Images)

Happy October Anniversaries!

Wishing happy one-year anniversaries to our October 2009 couples!

Jennifer & Michael, married October 10, 2009, photo courtesy of JS Photography:

And Angela & Paul, married October 24, 2009, photo courtesy of Everlasting Images:

Congrats on making it a year with many more to come!

Christine & John Pro Pics!

A few pro photos from Christine & John's wedding in August, courtesy of Tammy Labar at Tres Jolie Photography. Thanks Tammy!

For a few more looks at her beautiful work on this day, please click here. Looking forward to some of the reception detail pics, hopefully soon to come!

Amy & Daniel

Ceremony Location: Fort Street Presbyterian, Detroit

Reception Location: Colony Club, Detroit

Wedding Colors: Ivory, Champagne, Black, Gold

# Guests: 185

Emergency Kit Items Used: Eyelash adhesive, pearl pins, scissors

Amy's day-of beauty started very early in the morning at the Marriott-Renaissance Detroit, with Stephanie of Deux Adore doing the ladies' hair, and one of my favorite chickies, Aleksandra Adams of I Make You Up, for air-brush makeup. All of the girls, especially our bride, looked absolutely fabulous! Amy Carroll of Amy Carroll Photography and familiar face John Kerfoot of TriFoot Productions were also present to capture photos and footage.

We stopped by nearby Fort Street Presbyterian before the ceremony on the way to the reception venue for a minor eyelash emergency. The couple had chosen our Package II which is 8 hours reception coordination, but the church was so close that we were glad to have been able to help save the day :)

And then, off to Colony Club. This place has seriously become one of my favorite venues to work with. Not only is it gorgeous, but the staff is so very helpful and accommodating, and will do just about anything for their clients and vendors. They really focus on making the day run as smoothly as possible for all involved. I can not express just how much this is appreciated!

When we arrived, Izabela and her team from GoIzzy were very busy setting up the stunning florals which included 2 types of centerpieces, head table arrangements, and arrangements for the cocktail tables. My assistant and I got right to the inventory of the wedding items and placing them out. LOTS of votive candles to go around, memory table items, escort cards, table numbers, bathroom baskets, favor cards, even a basket of flip-flops for later foot relief ~ And Colony Club staff had so awesomely already set up the gold charger plates and menu cards. The paper details for this wedding were beautiful and much attention was paid to detail.

A view of the captain's table, cake table and some guest tables from the mezzanine level:

A table full of vintage family wedding photos....I love these!

A couple of guest tables with centerpieces:

Delicious cake by Holiday Market. The cake stand and cake knives were also gold (I don't see them in gold too often, usually they are silver-tone), very ornate and so pretty!

Place settings complete with paper goods, and a couple more mezzanine views:

Upon arrival to the Colony Club in their Royal Transportation limo-bus, the bridal party stopped at the Detroit Fire Station across the street from the venue for some photos (can't wait to see those!), and finished just in time to enjoy some of the remaining cocktail hour downstairs where guitarist Tyler Vess (313-445-0150) played some ambiance music for the guests. The couple got a sneak peek of their reception room before guests were ushered upstairs, we got the veil out of Amy's hair, and it was time to get the rest of the reception in full swing!

After toasts, speeches, and a plated dinner with cake for dessert, the wedding band Persuasion really got the crowd out of their seats. The dance floor was literally chock-full of people all night long, it was great! Later guests enjoyed a late-night pizza snack.

Amy, I will miss working with you and your parents; such great people! Thank you so much for your organization and generosity! Best wishes, Amy & Dan, hope you are enjoying Maui!!!