Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Adrienne & Brian, Revisited

Adrienne & Brian were married in November 2009. I am just now getting to asking photographers for the pro pics for my fall 2009 and winter/spring 2010 couples. It's been a hectic past few months!!! Please bear with us as it's "wedding season" right now and I know photographers are very busy people this time of year!

Photographs by the amazing Dionne Haglund of The Shooting Gallery. For the rest of the photos, please visit my Facebook fan page. Adrienne & Brian's wedding details here.

Enjoy!














Jaclyn & Brian






Ceremony Location: St. Fabian Catholic Church, Farmington Hills

Reception Location: DoubleTree Hotel, Dearborn

# Guests: 190

Wedding Colors: Berry, Eggplant, Silver

Emergency Kit Items Used: Tape, pins, scissors

What a gorgeous spring day for a Tigers game perhaps, or maybe a stroll in downtown Detroit? This was the general theme of Jaclyn & Brian's wedding from the table "numbers", all named for Detroit landmarks and places, to the baseball-playing bride & groom cake topper and catcher's mit/baseball groom's cake.

We began the day at Doubletree Hotel where Estelle of Uptown Weddings had already completed the linens and chair covers. The lobby of the hotel was being prepared for cocktail hour with pretty silver paper lanterns hung from the trees and we cut deep red roses to place in short square vases for the cocktail tables. Florist Joan Claypool set up the beautiful tall and short centerpieces in the reception room, again using seasonal spring florals to compliment the color scheme. Many votives were placed, table numbers, scattered crystals and flower petals, and a terrific silver light-up crystal tree that Jaclyn had made and was so very proud of! There were also Detroit-native snacks and tourist guide books to be placed in a separate "hospitality room" that the guests would be able to take advantage of later on.

At the church, Brian and his groomsmen had already arrived and were dressed. Florist Joan arrived shortly after with some floral wreaths that were set up outside the church doors, and the personal flowers. I got started on pinning the mens' boutonnieres on while videographers Daniel & Adam of Mike Staff Productions got set up and began getting some footage of the groom and groomsmen. I then finished up the ceremony decorations which included bows and pomanders for the pews, an aisle runner, some memory table items, bubbles, and their framed papal blessing.

Photographer Rene Rodriguez of Studio One Creative arrived to get some photos of the men, and then we had to make sure Brian was hidden. Shortly after, Jaclyn and her bridesmaids arrived to hide in the social hall area of the church. Jaclyn looked just beautiful! Hair and makeup had been done by BridesMaid Beautiful and her dress was this gorgeous silvery color, not the standard white or ivory. I wheeled Jaclyn's super-sweet grandma from the bride's room to the ceremony room, and we were ready to begin.

Once Grandma was seated and situated, the ceremony began on time. It went smoothly and the couple made their grand exit as guests blew bubbles. The final fun surprise was a butterfly release done by Jaclyn and Brian once they made their exit. These butterflies had spent their travel time in a somewhat groggy state of "sleep" (if butterflies even sleep!) and had to be removed from their chilly storage place to "thaw out" about an hour before release. When released, they get to fly around and find themselves new homes in the Farmington Hills area :)

Back at the reception site with my assistant, AV7 had been in to set up the gobo with Jaclyn and Brian's monogram lighting the dance floor, Shutterbooth photo booth had arrived, and Heidi of Lakes Cakes brought in the wedding cake and the baseball glove groom's cake. Meanwhile, guests had started to arrive and partake in the hors d'oeuvres and cocktails (including a signature drink the couple had named "Something Blue" that guests raved was delicious) in the lobby.

When Jaclyn & Brian arrived to DoubleTree from their off-site photos, the hotel staff served them signature drinks and hors d'oeuvres in a waiting room and allowed the bridal party to get prepared for the grand entrance soon to follow.

Guests were served a delicious plated dinner followed by cake for dessert, while wedding singer Gary Sacco entertained with Frank Sinatra songs. He was a big hit! Later, DJ Kevin Joynt of Mike Staff Productions spun some tunes and guest enjoyed the photo booth and last but certainly not least, a special guest appearance by our very own Detroit Tigers mascot, Paws!

The day and night were packed full of great surprises and fun for the wedding guests. Thank you so much Jackie & Brian, I thoroughly enjoyed your wedding and know your guests did too!






Saturday, June 26, 2010

Congratulations & Happy Anniversaries!

Happy 1-Year anniversaries to my June 2009 brides! Chris & Kristin McKay married June 6, 2009....




....annnnnnd Kevin & Shelby VerHulst married June 20, 2009!



Special congrats also to Chris and Kristin on the arrival of their baby girl, Alexa Anne!

For more photos of their beautiful weddings, see the albums on my Facebook fan page. Enjoy!

Kris & Chris photo courtesy of JS Photography. Shelby & Kevin photo courtesy of Shutter Sam.


Monday, June 21, 2010

Last-Minute Booking Specials & Package Update!

Book peace of mind for your event today! Our packages have been re-structured to better fit the needs of our brides. Please make note that this will not have any effect on existing contracts or existing contract pricing. Check our website for new package details!

There is still availability for some great Summer 2010 dates!! Many Fridays,
Saturdays (July 10, 24, 31, August 7, 21,28) and Sundays also available; please inquire for availability.

Package I for a JULY or AUGUST 2010 dated event will cost only $150 with the mention of this blog.
Package II for a JULY or AUGUST 2010 dated event will cost only $200 with the mention of this blog.
Package III for a JULY or AUGUST 2010 dated event will cost only $350 with the mention of this blog.

Please check our website (http://www.abeautifuldayeventsmi.com/) for package details or to schedule an appointment.

NOT A JULY OR AUGUST 2010 BRIDE? No worries! Any new date booking for September, October, November and December 2010 dates will be given $50 off package pricing.

* Offer starts now and ends 8-31-2010.
* New bookings only
* Wedding & reception must take place in Metro Detroit or Ann Arbor area. There will be additional fees for travel outside Metro Detroit

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Beth & Justin












Ceremony Location: Hillside Wesleyan, Clyde MI

Reception Location: Fore Lakes Golf Club, Kimball MI

Wedding Colors: Pale Yellow, Ivory, Black

# Guests: 215

Emergency Kit Items Used: Straight pins, Shout Wipes


Details, details! Beth & Justin's wedding had LOTS of them, much care was taken in all of the DIY paper items and "little things". It all tied together beautifully and looked beautiful!

When we arrived at Fore Lakes Golf Club, Affordable Elegance had already been in to set up the linens. The ivory sashes set against the black chair covers along with ivory tablecloths and black napkins looked really classy! Natalie from Beautiful Beginnings was also in setting up gorgeous floral centerpieces in tall and short vases.

Next step, inventory all of the wedding items and start getting things set up. It's amazing how so many brown boxes and plastic bins can be unwrapped and the pretty setting results. Among other things, boxes of delicious truffles were set, menu cards tucked in the napkin at each place setting, memory table items, and many many clear glass candle holders of of assorted sizes and heights to go on the 2-tier head tables and cake table.

Leaving my assistant at the reception site, I headed to the church to help Hillside Wesleyan's ceremony coordinator Sherry. More details including the DYI programs that were just too pretty and floral pew decor looked terrific in the church. The only minor thing that went "wrong" at the ceremony was that a bee had gotten in to the lobby and Sherry and I chased it around to shoo it out. Bye bye Mr. Bee! Everything else flowed as planned and Beth & Justin did a bubble exit which can make for some amazing photos and video. Photographers Ryan & Holly of Gauper Photo (see some pro photos here) and videographers Mark & Sherry of Sondey Film were in position ready to catch the moment.

In the meantime at Fore Lakes, the cake by Jeanne's Cakes had arrived, also the photo booth by Rock The Booth, and DJ Kyle of Magnificent Entertainment. Finishing touches were made on the room and items brought from the church were set or packed away, and we were ready to go! I must mention that the staff at Fore Lakes was phenomenal! Absolutely professional and willing to help out in ANY way!

Guests were treated to hot and cold appetizers and cocktails upon arrival while the bridal party went off to take some photos on the golf course premises. The reception was underway! A plated dinner was served with cake for dessert, and a pizza snack later.

Thanks again to Fore Lakes for being so easy to work with, and especially to Beth & Justin for letting us be there for your day! Beth is a gracious and generous person and your parents have been in my thoughts. I hope everything worked out and that you were still able to enjoy your honeymoon in St. Lucia. Thank you so much!