Kara & Nick Sneek Peek

Amazing sneek peeks of Kara & Nick's wedding day courtesy of Amanda Williams of Amanda Williams Photography. For more on Kara & Nick's wedding, scroll to post below or click here.

Thanks Amanda!

Kara & Nick

Ceremony Location: Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, Detroit

Reception Location: Colony Club, Detroit

Wedding Colors: Eggplant, brown, gold

# Guests: 165

Emergency Kit Items Used: Blotting papers, safety pins, bobby pins, sticker scraper

Kara & Nick's wedding day was probably one of the windiest days so far this fall! I have not known weather to ruin any of my couples' days thus far though, and Kara and Nick were no exception.

Kara's day of beauty began in her suite at the Westin Book Cadillac with Chrissy from Bridesmaid Beautiful doing hair, and Aleksandra of I Make You Up there for makeup. Photographer Amanda Williams also arrived at the hotel to capture these moments, and everyone of course looked fabulous!

Wyandotte Trolley was the bridal party's means of transportation for the day, picking up the ladies and men separately and getting them to Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian. The ceremony was run by church coordinator Linda Rumon and officiated by Rev. Peter Smith. Videographer Adam of S2R Productions was in the house to get ceremony footage. My package for this day was reception-only, but heard everything went off smoothly as planned.

I began my day at the beautiful Colony Club where tables, linens and chiavari chairs had already been set, and Weber's Floral had been in to do the 3 different types of tall and short centerpieces. The centerpieces had unique stands and even the vases left for the head table matched. Very pretty!

Bertha at Colony Club had already so kindly started setting up the place cards which were cards placed in wine cork halves. (Much appreciated!) I got to setting up the many votives, votive cups, tea lights, and other assorted candles in the reception room, cocktail room & mezzanine levels, plus some other personal items. All of the rooms looked very pretty! Colony Club's main reception room is very ornate with the gold embellishments, high ceilings, mirrors, and wood floors ~ Very stunning!

Their cake by Sweet Dreams (248-737-8900):

Traditional head table before candles lit and bouquets added:

Views from the mezzanine level:

Guests arrived for cocktail hour on the first floor where guitarist Rick Zerndt (734-261-2585) played some light music. In the meantime, Kara, Nick and their bridal party snuck in a side entrance so they could be the first to view the 3rd-floor reception room before anyone else. Guests were then ushered upstairs and we prepared for the grand entrance.

Before dinner, a special event involving a cardboard cut-out of the groom's brother Pete made an appearance. Originally, he was going to be unable to attend the wedding due to military obligations, so Kara had prepared a surprise taped speech from the would-be best man and a full-length cardboard form of him to be placed out during the toasts and speeches. In the last couple days before the wedding, the couple learned that Pete was going to be able to attend and serve as best man after all ~ but the funny cut-out was still rolled out as a joke and surprise. Everyone seemed to get a pretty good laugh out of it!

A delicious dinner was then served, with cake following for dessert. Nick & Kara shared their first dance and dances with their parents, and then dancing began ~ Tunes spun by Kevin Joynt of Mike Staff Productions. Guests also enjoyed having their photos taken up in the mezzanine in the photo booth by Heather at Rock The Booth. Always a big hit!

Thank you and congratulations, Nick & Kara! Hope you are having a fabulous time in Greece!

Rachel & Kevin

Ceremony Location: St. Patrick's Parish, Brighton

Reception Location: Laurel Manor, Livonia

Wedding Colors: Black & White, with touches of Red

# Guests: 250

Emergency Kit Items Used: Sharpie, Stick Lighter, Scissors

Bride Rachel's (I say this of course because my name is also Rachel!) day began at her home for hair & makeup. The ladies in the bridal party took care of their own hair and makeup, but Rachel's was done by her cousin Heather who was also a bridesmaid and is a former bride of mine. Heather has done my makeup in the past and is fabulous! Rachel looked beautiful!

My day for Kevin & Rachel's wedding started at Laurel Manor where I got to work getting all of the wedding items together and placed. Lots of red rose petals and votives! I also chopped the stems off of quite a few dozen red roses and poked them in to the existing Laurel Manor centerpieces to add a bit of color, and placed the escort cards, lottery ticket favors on each of the approximately 250 place settings, and a few other items.

Laurel Manor provided virtually everything else as part of their package (including cake, centerpieces, lighting, GOBO, and linens), so very few outside vendors were used. The room was ready for all of the final touches when I arrived. Red up-lights and lots of floating and votive candles illuminated the room.

Guests arrived at 6:00 pm to enjoy cocktails and vegetable snacks. A special surprise speech was prepared for the couple by both of the fathers, and then guests were served a plated dinner with cake for dessert.

Kevin & Rachel's first dance as husband and wife was also made further special as it was sung and performed by their best man, Kevin, who did an excellent job. After the father/daughter dance, mother/son dance, and a special dance with the couple and Kevin's grandparents, tunes were further spun by DJ Lawton Lunce of Sweet Sounds. The couple ditched the traditional garter/bouquet events in favor of getting the party started and keeping it going. The guests at this wedding really knew how to party!

Photographer Michelle Binge of Studio Blue (888-556-7510) was also on top of capturing everything that day ~ Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

Thanks so much, Rachel & Kevin! I've said it before and I'll say it again: You rock!!

Table settings with favors:

Unique V-shaped head table:

GOBO monogram on wall:

Yummy cake!

Floating candle centerpieces:

Whole room:

The other centerpiece:

Camille & Lee

Ceremony & Reception Location: Cobblestone Farm, Ann Arbor

Wedding Colors: Royal Blue, Chocolate Brown, Ivory

Number of Guests: 145

Emergency Kit Items Used: Straight pins, scissors, ribbon, flower cutters, Uncle David's hammer

September 11, 2010 was a very rainy day, an important day to Americans, and rain seems only appropriate. Unfortunately, Camille and Lee's plans for an outdoor wedding forced us to have to use Plan B and rain is the last thing most couples want to see on their wedding day. It is imperative that one has a Plan B when planning an outdoor wedding knowing how nutty Michigan weather can be!

The couple's original plan was to have their ceremony on the grounds of Cobblestone, dinner inside the barn, and drinks & festivities beneath the tent they had rented back outside on the grounds. With the rain, we moved all of the chairs and ceremony decor underneath the tent, and instead held the ceremony there.

We arrived to Cobblestone Farm where Camille's parents were busy unloading items. (For those not familiar with the location, Cobblestone is a venue in which the barn and surrounding grounds are rented, and most everything else must be contracted out. It is a lot of work, but the location is unique and the photos turn out beautifully, especially in the fall.) Camille's uncle was at work under the tent hanging strands of lights and lanterns. The band members (Kendal Strachan Band) were arriving and setting up under the tent, and all personal flowers had been delivered by Thrifty Florist. We got to work sorting through many boxes of wedding items and getting them to which areas they needed to go.

While Camille and her ladies were busy with hair and makeup, my assistant and I laid the linens (provided by the caterer) and skirted the cake, gift, registration and head tables. We then assembled the centerpieces, which were lanterns sitting on top of a round oasis to be filled with water, then surrounded by Spanish moss and flowers. Among many other items, wreaths were hung on the doors, escort cards were placed and garland hung. For the ceremony space, Mason jars filled with white hydrangea were hung from shepherd's hooks. The Mason jars were later repositioned and holding candles to illuminate the outdoor area a bit (when the rain finally stopped!).

The theme for this wedding had a touch of wine and travel - Specifically, Paris. I must note that Lee proposed to Camille IN Paris. Yes, the Paris in France! (Super romantic, wow! Try topping that one, gentlemen!) This lead to some personal touches such as Eiffel Tower table number holders and garland made of post cards (these were actually the guest RSVP cards from their passport-themed wedding invitations). Camille clearly put a lot of time and thought in to her many DIY items!

I also must note that Lee is a chef who attended Schoolcraft College, so he had some sweet hook-ups for catering and server staff. Aaron Cook of Cook's Catering (810-516-8629) headed the food and service, and they all did an impressive job. The couple's cake was also provided as a wedding gift from another fellow Schoolcraft student and friend.

Pastor David Martin arrived to officiate the ceremony, with Chelsea Brown and her assistant of Chelsea Brown Photography and also Tom Santilli of Complete Video Solutions ready to capture everything. Having moved to the tent, the ceremony was actually made very intimate so it was absolutely not so bad, after all!

After the ceremony, many of the ceremony chairs were removed from the tent and a few round tables were moved in. Guests enjoyed some snacks and cocktails, including two types of homemade Sangria that looked delicious. The rain was still coming down a bit, so some guests used this time to find their seating assignments inside the barn, and sign the thumb-print tree (see below).

At dinner time, Camille, Lee, and their bridal party made their grand entrance and cut their cake. Toasts and speeches were made as bridesmaids and groomsmen toasted in monogrammed beer mugs and wine glasses. Guests were then served a buffet-style dinner and cake for dessert.

Later, everyone was moved back outside where dancing and wedding events ensued - including their first dance together, and parent dances. My assistant and I used this time to clear up and pack up everything inside in the barn.

Despite the rain, everything was still pulled off nicely. (Yay for Plan B!)

Camille and Lee, thank you so much for sharing your day with us! And, I fell in love with ALL of your grandparents! They were cute, hilarious, and wonderful to talk to. Congratulations and best wishes!

The thumb-print station and tree mounted on canvas and an easel. Guests were to dab a finger or thumb in ink, then place it on the tree as a "leaf" and sign their name. By the end of the evening, the tree had many "leaves"!

Their ADORABLE cake topper bought on Etsy, and a sugar Eiffel Tower for the cake:

A view of the room and head table once most setup was complete:

The centerpiece lanterns with Spanish moss and flowers, and the cute Eiffel Tower table numbers:

Instead of pitchers of water, the water was served on tables in these wine bottles:

View from the loft in the barn:

The barn, pre-decor:

Happy September Anniversaries!

Wishing very happy anniversary months to our September 2009 couples!


Austin & Lisa married September 19, 2009....photograph courtesy of Daryl Akers.


And Melissa & Bode married September 13, 2009....photograph courtesty of Kate Lees - KBL Photography.



Best wishes and congratulations on your first year! Wishing you many more happy ones!

Christine & John

Ceremony Location: Longacre House, Farmington Hills

Reception Location: St. Mary's Cultural Center, Livonia

Wedding Colors: Red, Black, White

# Guests: 170

Emergency Kit Items Used: Glue, rubber bands, bobby pins, clear tape, super-sticky-extra-duty outdoor tape (I don't think that's the technical name for it though, but it worked!)

Christine and her girls began their day of beauty at 6 Salon in Birmingham. After all of their appointments, everyone headed to Longacre House in Farmington Hills for makeup by Aleksandra Adams and her team from I Make You Up. Longacre House is actually an historic home with various rooms set aside for different things. The home has a nice bridal suite with a private bathroom, and a similar room across the hall for the groom and his guys to get ready in.

While the girls were getting dolled up, my assistant and I arrived at St. Mary's to inventory all of the wedding items and begin set-up. We draped tulle and icicle lights from the head table, got the cookie buffet containers ready (the escort card table was to later be transformed in to the cookie buffet table), and set up the memory table. Jessica of Elegant Linens arrived to place the chair covers and tie the red sashes.

On to the ceremony site! Boy, was the air conditioning working over-time that day there, and everywhere in Metro Detroit! It was a HOT one. We had some hot July days, but this August day was a killer ~ One of those days where you walk out from a comfortably air-conditioned space and the heat and humidity hits you like a ton of bricks!

This was not to destroy Christine and John's day, however! The threat of rain during their outdoor ceremony was also no match for this wedding. It started sprinkling about 10 minutes before the ceremony was to start, but the show went on. Luckily it never reached downpour status and the ceremony went off as planned, and beautifully I might add!

We added shepherd's hooks to line the aisles, and hung pretty potted plants with white flowers, red flowers, butterflies and some greenery added by Christine's sister. Programs and unity sand set were placed, and also two large red bins with bottled water iced down - much needed and appreciated on this very hot day.

Rev. Kirk Haas officiated, with music by family friend Joann Wright. While the ceremony was underway, my assistant and I spent some down-time loading LOTS of trays of cookies in to our vehicles. The cookies were home-baked by members of Christine and John's families, and would later be used at the reception for their "cookie buffet".

After their ceremony ended, the couple exited to their Harley-Davidson F350 limo by Millenium Limousine to spend a few moments together. (Nice ride!) In a few minutes, they returned for formal photos with their photographer Tammy Labar of Tres Jolie Photography on the Longacre grounds and gardens. Our goal for the brief limo break was for the couple to leave and guests would hopefully then disburse and head back to their hotel or to the reception. However, I think a lot of guests thought that the reception was also to take place at Longacre inside the house, so they lingered for a little longer than we expected!

My assistant was sent back during the ceremony to make the final touches on the room. When I arrived at St. Mary's, Kathy of Floral Expressions by Kathy had the centerpieces in and was also making her final touches. DJ's Misty and Charles of Bigfoot DJ's had also arrived, and the wedding cupcakes had been set up by Just Baked.

Guests arrived to enjoy appetizers and the couple's signature drink, "The Dirty Fergie", one of the best signature drink names I have witnessed to-date! The name was fitting, considering that the bride's new last name was to be Ferguson.

My assistant and I served the bride and groom their salads and dinners, and everyone else was served buffet-style. Ice cream was served for dessert, and cupcakes in different flavors were taken from the cupcake tower. During dinner, we snuck out to the lobby and put the cookie buffet together. It was a huge hit; we were re-filling the cookie jars all night long!

After dinner, dancing ensued ~ and the couple was even treated to what seemed to be their own private rainbow in the sky! How perfect is that?! I cannot wait to see the photos of that one!

Christine and "Ferg", thank you SO much for letting us be a part of your day! Special thanks also to your sister Stacy and her partner Sue for all of their help, humor, and great conversation through the day and night! Hope you are having a fabulous time in Tennessee!!

Escort card table and signature mat ~ later the cookie buffet table:

Illuminated head table:

Memory table, special candles made for both of Christine's parents who have passed:

Cupcakes & Cupcake tower by Just Baked in Livonia:

All of the red, the candles and head table lighting created a romantic mood ;)

Centerpieces, candles, table numbers and red napkins:

Looking forward to the pro photos (Psst - Tammy....hehe)! I had to take these photos with my Blackberry camera!

Stephanie & Gabe Sneaky Peeky!

Just a few amazing sneak peeks from Stephanie & Gabe's wedding in June!

Photos courtesy of Amanda Williams of Amanda Williams Photography who is not only fabulous and fun to work with, but also truly one of the best friends a chick could ask for. Thank you Amanda!