There are so many opinions when it comes to the best way to plan a wedding, especially now with all of the Pinterest ideas at your fingertips. Pinterest is a super helpful tool to help you plan a wedding but it can also be an added stress to your long wedding to-do list. Here are some ups of planning a pinterest wedding:

POSITIVES:

Your options and inspiration guides are endless

If you are having any sort of design issue, you can quickly search for inspiration on pinterest, you will never run out of design ideas for your wedding.

You can easily share your ideas

Pinterest lets you share your boards with your family and friends, which gives them access to all of your dreams and visions for your big day. You are also given the option to give your friends access to pin to your board, if you choose, allowing for ultimate collaborating. This is also a great tool to use when collaborating with your vendors. As wedding planners, it is so helpful to be able to view someone’s vision of their wedding. Wedding Planners love to pin too, we love to help give our brides ideas and guidance!

Your one stop shop for weddings

 Most pins lead you directly to the website or give you ideas of where you can buy or how you can make the item you pinned. When you find your dream dress, it’ll take you to the shop who sells it, find a cute DIY escort card design, directions will be linked right there when you click on it.

Private vs Public Boards

Another great feature of pinterest is that you can choose to have your board be public or private. This is helpful, if you are pinning a lot and you do not want everyone to see all of your pins, choose the private setting, or if you want to share your planning and ideas you can make it public.

We all love pinterest and it comes in handy for a lot of different aspects in our everyday lives, but everyone has to admit there are some downsides. Here are some downsides to planning a pinterest wedding:

NEGATIVES:

Lacking Originality

Even though it feels like pinterest is filled with millions of new, creative, and original ideas, it is highly likely you will hear your female guests say “I have seen this on pinterest”. Pinterest trends tend to be seen over and over again.

Too many pins

As stated above, your options are endless, this can also be a bad thing. Sometimes when pinning ideas for your wedding, you can get a little over excited, pin 200 ideas in 20 minutes. Then you look back and become more stressed because now you have to narrow down all of your favorite pins to a realistic amount of crafting ideas that you and your wedding planner or bridal party can handle.

Planning a Pinterest wedding can be a great way to keep your ideas stored in one area and share them with others in your family or bridal party. Ideas can easily become overwhelming, so making sure that we are pinning only serious visions and ideas is the key to keeping your Pinterest wedding simple and easy.

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Photo Credit: Rachael Osborn Photography (bottom left)

Flowers have a remarkable history when it comes to weddings. For centuries flowers have been the root of tradition across cultures and are many times a focal point throughout the big day and for many years to come in photographs. “More brides are thinking outside the box and beginning to use flowers in nontraditional ways” said Shaya Sherwood, the bridal specialist at Crystal Springs Florist in Benton Harbor. Needless to say, flowers are a prominent and significant detail and while floral arrangements are traditional, you can make tradition your own by branching out with some wedding floral alternatives.

-Do you have a groomswoman in your party, but don’t want them to have a boutonniere like the guys or a bouquet like the girls? Try a flower necklace or sash! This wedding floral alternative will set them apart, yet keep everyone tied together. A necklace can also be a cost effective option. Typically, floral necklaces will start around $20.

-Rather than having moms or special attendants wear corsages on their wrist or shoulder, mix it up and try a ring or even something on their shoes! These special guests will still get something personal, but without the bulk of a traditional style. A ring typically begins around $10 compared to a corsage at $18- $20.

-Give your girls a little something extra and try a floral comb or crown for a pop of color. Brides, this is a great addition to yourselves as well! A hair comb is a small pop with a small cost typically starting at $10.

-Are shoes optional? Consider a floral anklet for the ladies. Instead of taking away footwear completely this wedding floral alternative will keep a little something while still being comfortable. An anklet typically begins between $18-$20, comparable to a corsage.

No matter which tradition you are carrying on, put a little personal spin on it. The more you make your big day your own, the more special it will be to you and your families.

 

*All floral arrangement costs depend on the type of flowers used. Price can vary greatly between each bloom. Cost will also vary between florist shop.

 

 

We are lucky to be a part of so many share-worthy wedding moments and have compiled an exclusive list of our ‘Best of 2015!’ Enjoy our look back as we revisit a wonderful year, and fill yourself with wedding inspiration for upcoming I-Do’s – both in design, and exposure to some great wedding vendors!

 

Best Dressed Bridal Party

Bridal Parties

Photo Credit: Stoffer Photography (left two photos), Durling Photography

Katie + Brian’s whole crew

Dress Designer: Bill Levkoff in petal pink

Suits: JoS A. Banks

Blush for the girls and gunmetal for the guys. We love the way all of the girls wore floor-length gowns but with different necklines. This timeless look painted a gorgeous wedding on the shores of Lake Michigan.

 

Bride Allison’s Maids

Why we love it: A design that is different for each girl and shows off their own personality and style is something we love to see! Bride Allison gave her maids just two restrictions- that their dress should be long dress and the base color needed to be black. From there, the girls collaborated to buy dresses that all worked together, even though they were slightly mismatched. Bride Allison’s friend, who owns The Heartshape Hotel in NYC, also made custom floral headpieces for each of the girls. They worked together to choose specific faux flowers that would work with each dress and added a perfect bit of drama to the style.

 

Bride Rachael’s Maids

Designer: Allure Bridal

Why we love it: Bride Rachael wanted to find bridesmaids dresses that were unique and added some color to the otherwise natural outdoors backdrop of their venue. We love how vibrant they are and the amount of color they added to the decor, floral design, and bride’s dress!

 

Most Creative Dessert

Kit + Ryan

Johnson Collage

Photo Credit: Studio Finch Photography

Vendor: Uptown Cakery, Michigan City, IN

Why we love it: It’s a no-brainer. Have you ever seen a wedding cake push up? An old-school treat with a super fun, entertaining twist for guests to enjoy! We overheard guests talking about Kit and Ryan’s cake display from the moment they walked into the reception. That moment is exactly what it’s all about – creating a talking piece that’s memorable AND delicious – a perfect combination.

 

Sharon + Jim

Ice Cream Cart

Photo Credit: Amy Carroll Photography

Vendor: Love’s Ice Cream

Why we love it: Sharon and Jim thought out-of-the-box for their wedding dessert in order to offer guests vegan and organic options. This adorable cart came from Grand Rapids and was a fabulous addition to to their wedding reception with vegan gelato and grass-fed dairy ice cream.

 

 

Most Adorable Cake

Madison + Kevin

 

Untitled

Photo Credit: Lexie Williams Photography

Vendor: Collab with Martin’s Supermarkets and one very creative family friend!

Why we love it: Madison and Kevin took the simplicity of a tiered white wedding cake completed with adorned fresh flowers and added in a big punch of sparkle to make that cake shine even brighter! The bottom three layers were ordered from Martin’s and the gold glitter tier (along with flowers) were the additions made by friends! Our team is still chatting about how super fun this cake was.

 

Most Original Tables Numbers

Grace + Dave

Untitled

Photo Credit: Camille Lydia Photography

Why we love it: Grace and Dave were so creative in designing their table number displays! They took a soft watercolor scheme and paired it with beautiful sea urchin shells and groovy straws to create a stand for their table numbers!

 

 

Best Wedding Favors

Ashley + Brad

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Why we love it: Ashley and Brad took miniature wine bottles and added in a personalized wine label – complete with their names, wedding date, a sweet little Thank You tag, and location of the I Do’s! The bottles matched the theme so nicely, they looked like part of the decor – a fabulous way to incorporate wedding favors!

 

 

Best Escort Card Display

Kate + Andy

Billman Collage

Why we love it: With groom Andy being a super passionate soccer player himself, it was natural to incorporate a dash of masculinity and such a personal element into their wedding design. This display knocked our socks off – complete with a soccer field, referees, flags, and soccer balls, each guest represented a soccer player on the field. For more ideas on how to infuse a masculine touch into your wedding design, check out this blog post!

 

Honorable Mentions

Escort Card

Photo Credit: Cassandra Eldridge Photography (1), 430 Studios (2)

Jacki + Chris

Why we love it: Jacki and Chris said “I love you” to each other for the first time at a winery in Michigan and have made many dear memories in Michigan ever since. Their escort cards were placed into wine corks and glued to beach stones they had found on the beach the summer of the wedding. It was a super meaningful touch and was perfectly displayed.

 

Jenn + Ben

Why we love it: We always fear about paper escort cards blowing away in the wind at outdoor venues. Both having careers in the events industry, Jenn and Ben took in every last detail – including the weather! They sourced an old mahogany door and strung their escort cards on display. It was easy for guests to grab their seating assignment, and the display was a unique feature to the cocktail space.

 

Erin + Jeff

Why we loved it: Erin and Jeff took a unique approach to using a door for escort cards. We loved how they placed their menu at the bottom with the chalkboard/chickenwire combination. The door was put at the entrance at Mill Creek Barn, where guests knew what they are eating as soon as they arrive!

 

 

Guestbook Display

Melissa + Jed

Boulden Escort Cards

Why we love it: Melissa and Jed displayed vintage postcards from across the world on unique racks for their escort cards. Not only was this an adorable display that gave the table some height, but it was also full of meaning. Melissa and Jed enjoy traveling. And by that we mean they LOVE to travel – they took a two month honeymoon to travel the world, from Italy to Indonesia and everywhere in between!

 

 

Best Floral Design

Colleen + Jeff

Untitled

Photo Credit: Ben Pancoast Photography

Vendor: Foraged Floral

Why we love it: The floral design of mixed colors and greenery across the room felt so organic and natural inside Hidden Vineyard Wedding Barn. We also love when varying heights are utilized in floral design (not every table should look the same!) It wasn’t your cookie cutter, perfectly placed arrangement – which is what we love! Colleen and Jeff’s floral designer, Tiffany, with Foraged Floral, describes the style as fresh, natural, even a little unruly. She use a generous mix of big, bold blooms, smaller textural elements, and rich, vibrant greens to create a look that is styled, yet effortless. Job well done!

 

Honorable Mentions

Floral Design

Photo Credit: Erica Freeman Photography (1) ,Durling Photography (2) Studio 6.23 (3)

Brian + Amber

Vendor: Rhinestones and Roses

Why we love it: Brian and Amber got married at The Vineyard at 12 Corners and wanted to incorporate the winery piece into their florals. We love the boutonnieres that Rhinestones and Roses created as an incorporation with that theme. The dark succulents in Amber’s bouquet match the gray-blue hues throughout their wedding theme. We love seeing new colors!

 

Rachael + Brian

Vendor: New Creations Flower Co.

Why we love it: With our popular twig ceremony arbor up for rent, many couple choose to doll it up with fabric, florals, or garland. What makes Rachael and Brian’s arch design a stand out piece were the bright colors set against the ceremony backdrop of woods, apple trees and the bright summer sky. 

 

Jennifer + Harold

Vendor: Sugar Field Flowers

Why we love it: Nix the itchy corsage and make it a ring! Need we say more?

 

 

Best Centerpieces

Rachael + Brian

Formas Collage

Photo Credit: Durling Photography

Vendor: New Creations Flower Co.

Why we love it: Their reception venue, the beautiful Vineyard at 12 Corners, is surrounded by vines, apple trees, and a wooded perimeter. So, bride Rachael was inspired to put color into the mix and bring in something that screamed romance. Statement-making dahlias in a mix of dark pink, light pink and pops of red = the epitome of romance. Rachael and Brian outsourced all of their candle holders from over 15 thrift stores in Chicago and collected about 100 candle holders. You can never have enough candles on tables! Accents of gold tones adorned the tables, adding the perfect pop of dimension in the tablescape.

Honorable Mentions

2

Photo Credit: Camille Lydia Photography (1 & 3), Cassandra Eldridge Photography (2), 

Erica + David

Vendor: Stella Event Design (floral design)

Why we love it: This wedding was the definition of classic! White linens, white florals, large pillar candles in glass vases, and mahogany chiavari chairs to top it off!

 

Ashley + Brad

Vendor: Tara Florist

Why we love it: Height! We rarely see centerpieces with such height – and was a great change of pace! (Tip: Make sure tall vases are always weighted heavily or risk having wind whisk them off the table!) The arrangements were floral balls filled of lush two-toned hydrangeas, roses and succulents the size of our hands!

 

Jacki + Chris

Vendor: En Gedi Floral (floral design)

Why we love it: We adored seeing the mixture of natural elements and lush flowers on the tablescapes. Jacki and Chris paired their color scheme of blush, gold, and navy with candles and lace runners to complete the look, all atop 1928’s Farmhouse Napa Tables. The flowers were individually selected and grown by a dahlia farm in Hamilton and made an unbelievably gorgeous statement on the tables with their bright color and large size.

 

Best Wedding Dress

Bride Allison

CollagePhoto Credit: Stoffer Photography

Designer: Karen Willis Holmes, called Lina.

Boutique: Soho NYC

Why we love it: Bride Allison looked like perfection in this classic, slim fit gown. The dress was made of two pieces – the main dress plus a detachable train, which added the drama they wanted for the first part of the night yet was comfortable once the dancing began!

Honorable Mentions:

Dress Collage

Photo Credit: Ryan Bakerink Photography (1), Jennifer Mayo Studios (2),Cassandra Eldridge Photography (3),  Durling Photography (4)

 

Bride Meghan

Designer: Theia

Boutique: BHLDN

Why we love it: Meghan looked like a goddess in this exquisitely beaded sheath dress. We loved that the tulle skirt could come off and double as a different dress! (Photo #1)

Bride Mattie

Designer: Waters Toos

Boutique: A Joyful Occasion in Naperville, IL.

Why we love it: Bride Mattie put it best, “this gown is elegant, ethereal, and classy while still having a little va-va-voom!” Not only was the look perfection, but Mattie said the gown was more comfortable than she could have ever imagined. Comfort is key – don’t buy a dress you can’t dance in! (Photo #2)

 

Bride Jacki

Designer: Ines Di Santo

Boutique: Dimitras Bridal Couture in Chicago, IL

Why we love it: This bombshell lace strapless gown had a blush pink underlay that gave the dress so much texture! It took a traditional strapless gown and added in countless layers of detail and design! The back of the dress was just as much beauty as the front! (Photo #3)

 

Bride Rachael

Designer: Enzoani Isla

Boutique: The Crystal Bride in Geneva, IL

Why we love it: So outside of the box and a different look than what most brides pick! Bride Rachel looked so elegant in this deep sweetheart, lace illusion neckline and back. So simply perfect.(Photo #4)

 

 

 

Best Bridal Hair/Makeup

Bride Melissa

Zimmerman Hair:Makeup

Photo Credit: Lauren Sherman Photography

Vendor: Shawn Frandsen, owner at Restorations Hair Salon

Why we love it: Melissa looked flawless in her Sottero and Midgley pink ruched and ruffled gown. We loved her low side-swept hairstyle and her makeup to match her elegant yet fun look!

 

 

Best Beach Wedding

It’s a toss-up!

Amy + Erick

Swope Beach

Photo Credit: Jacquelyn James Photography

Location: Tiscornia Park Beach

Why we love it: These two knew how to think outside the box! This was one of the most original wedding days we have ever experienced. Amy and Erick started their wedding celebration with cocktail hour and dinner. Then, they bused everyone to the beach for their sunset wedding ceremony. This was followed by a sparkler entrance back into their reception for dessert and dancing. What a fun night! Guests seemed to love the mix up of things – and they went to a ceremony with a full stomach (not to mention a cocktail or two)!

Brittany + Jesse

Artz Beach

Photo Credit: True Photography

Location: Jean Klock Beach

Why we loved it: Brittany and Jesse had scoped out their wedding location several months before the big day. When they revisited their beach spot the week of their wedding, the beach was much smaller than it was months before. But! – there was a small alcove of sandy beach that was the perfect spot for an intimate ceremony. The day ended up being gorgeous and the couple had awesome props!

 

Most Adorable Kid’s Corner

Melissa + Jed

boulden kids

Why we love it: We just had to create a category for this kid’s corner! Groom Jed made a smaller version of the 1928 Napa Farmhouse tables and cut wood logs for seats. Bride Melissa added all of the little details: every snack a kid could dream of, toys, stickers, and a disposable camera for each little one to play i-Spy. Looking for other unique ways to keep the kids having fun at the reception? Look here!

 

 

Best Use of 1928’s Rental Collection

Jordyn + Rick

Draime Linens + Napa

Item: Specialty Linens and Farmhouse Napa Tables

Why we love it: Bride Jordyn loved the look of our wide Farmhouse Napa Tables, but with reaching near max capacity at her reception venue, had to opt to using narrower tables for the majority of guest seating. To give the banquet tables some jazz, Jordyn and Rick chose a navy blue table linen that really transformed the entire look of the space. They accented it with a handful of our Napa’s to feature the head table. We think it was the perfect pairing and space compromise, but still added a lot of dimension!

Brooke + Nate

Napa tea

Item: Farmhouse Napa Table

Why we loved it: What a great first impression for guests! A refreshing beverage station, complete with lemonade and iced tea for guests to enjoy as they enter into your venue on a hot summer day! Our friends at CK Catering do this setup often and  guests will be thankful for the thought!

 

Katie + Brian

Walsh Beach

Photo Credit: Stoffer Photography

Item: 1928 Ceremony Arch and Chalkboard

Why we loved it: Maybe we just love having a stunning couple stand under our beach ceremony arch 🙂 The day was gorgeous all around! With the mix of white chairs, white arch, and white chalkboard – there was something so pure and classic about this wedding. We loved being a part of it!

 

 

Best Overall Themed Wedding

Allison + Paul – Music-Themed Wedding

Untitled

Photo Credit: Stoffer Photography

Why we love it: Both being music lovers from NYC, Allison and Paul knew they wanted to tie music elements into the design process to make guests feel like they were attending a music festival! They coined the celebration as Demyanowinkelfest – a fusion of both of their families coming together as one in a festival inspired environment. Battered and once-lifeless instruments (banjos, violin bodies, trumpets, brass pieces, gutted piano and a tambourine from the early 1900’s!) were transformed into awe-inspiring tablescapes that appeared to have flowers naturally growing in and around them (phenomenal work of floral designer, Marco Alexzondra). The theme was done right and to a tee – and looked so perfect in the Blue Dress Barn venue!

 

Honorable Mentions

Leslie + Andi – Most Enchanted Wedding

Enchanted Erhard

Photo Credit: Caressa Rogers Photography

Why we love it: June 7th took our breath away when we transformed The Veranda at The Whitcomb into a fairytale wedding. Bride Leslie dreamed up all of the elements: the blush colors from floor to ceiling, the mixed metals with vases and lanterns, and her princess gown with a bodice covered in jewels. And she created her vision for it all while living 10 hours away! Schades of Light did amazing work with all of the fabric draping, making Leslie’s vision come to life!

 

 

Grace + Dave – Beach Themed Wedding

Untitled

Photo Credit: Allie Siarto Photography

Why we love it: With Lake Michigan drawing in large numbers of engaged couples to the area each year, we see our fair share of beach-wedding themes. There was such sophistication with this design. A watercolor scheme, soft florals, accents of unique beach elements everywhere (without going traditional with sand and shells)! The celebration began with an intimate ceremony on Jean Klock Beach. With fear of rain all day, we’re proud that Grace and Dave stayed patient. It turned out to be one of the best summer days we could have had! Check out the rest of their beautiful day on Allie Siarto’s Knot Feature!

 

Brittany + Jesse – Most Romantic Wedding

Artz Romance

Photo Credit: True Photography

Why we love it: We love seeing couples step outside of the trends for the year. Bride Brittany created an incredibly sophisticated wedding with just a hint of gothic when she brought together the vision for her wedding reception at Shadowland Ballroom. Think lush pink blooms, a candlelight reception at (complete with  3ft. candelabras!) and black sequins and blush silks that will take your breath away.

 

 

Such a remarkable year for 1928 Planning and looking so forward with what 2016 holds for our team! Hope you’ve enjoyed a recap of our favorite memories of 2015 and have found some inspiration of your own!

 

Cheers!

 

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BEACH INFO

Beach weddings in Michigan are becoming splendid ceremony alternatives for Midwesterners. Here at 1928, we are well-seasoned in beach ceremonies. That is why we have created this guide of our favorite beach and pavilion ceremony locations here in Southwest Michigan. We know a lot of our couples are from out of town and want to have a unique wedding along the shores of Lake Michigan, but they don’t always know what to consider when they look.

Oftentimes couples forget they need feasible access for their elderly guests, or they forget about a sound system … or the undeniable parking situation. We have started a list to help you start thinking about the best options in the area. We also offer ceremony planning services, where we attend your rehearsal to prompt cues, provide you with white padded chairs, decorate and tear down your ceremony site for you and be the point on contact at the beach for you, your guests, and your vendors.

Weko Beach Park – Bridgman, MI

Why we love it: While it is a little bit of a drive, this is one of our favorite gems. Weko Beach is right off of Red Arrow Highway in Bridgman and it has plenty of parking. The beach is extremely large and seldom crowded for that reason.

Distance from Saint Joseph: 13 miles, 20 minutes

Cost to rent: There is no pavilion; beach access is free to the public – so you would need to arrive early to stake your claim

Cost to park: $7 per vehicle for a daily pass

Public Restroom: Yes

Electricity: No

Shadowland Pavilion – St. Joseph, MI

shadowland pavilion copyPhoto Credit: Matt Pratt Photography

Why we love it: While the pavilion is not directly on the beach, it overlooks the St. Joseph river and is at the entry point of the St. Joseph Lighthouse. There is a beautiful walkway with sculptures along the river for guests to explore along with the lighthouse. We also love this location because it is under shelter and you don’t necessarily need a Plan B should it rain. There is also an option to put chairs in the grass for unlimited seating.

Distance from Saint Joseph: It’s in the heart of it all!

Cost to rent: $400 for non-residents on weekends

How many does it seat: 200 under the pavilion

Cost to park: $8 per vehicle for a daily pass (non-residents)

Public Restroom: Yes

Electricity: Yes

Tiscornia Beach – St. Joseph, MI

tiscornia copyPhoto Credit: Jordanne and Ryan Photography (top) | Woodnote Photography (bottom)

Why we love it: Tiscornia is our favorite (and free!) beach ceremony site in St. Joe. It runs along the north side of the St. Joseph Lighthouse and makes for awesome ceremony photos. We also love it because although a public beach, it is typically less crowded than Lions Park and Silver Beach. The only downside of Tiscornia is that the parking lot isn’t massive. We recommend using a shuttle service for a ceremony here.

Distance from Saint Joseph: North side of St. Joe

Cost to rent: Free

Cost to park: $5 per vehicle for a daily pass

Public Restroom: Yes

Electricity: No

Jean Klock Park and Jean Klock Park Pavilion – Benton Harbor, MI

jeanklock copyPhoto Credit: Ben Pancoast Photography

 

Why we love it: Getting to Jean Klock is a beautiful drive over the St. Joseph river and up a large sand dune. There is a ton of parking and the pavilion offers an option to have your ceremony under a shelter. To have your ceremony on the beach, it is free. The fee for the pavilion below.

Distance from Saint Joseph: 1.5 miles, 5 minutes

Cost to rent: $600 for 4-hours, $1200 for 8-hours, $1500 for full day (for non-residents)

Cost to park: $8 per vehicle for a daily pass (for non-residents)

Public Restroom: Yes

Electricity: Yes (at pavilion only)

 

 

A couple of things to always remember and when considering a beach wedding ceremony:

Don’t assume your DJ will/can go to the beach. Because there is no electricity at most beaches, DJ’s will need to bring in a battery-powered sound system. Be sure to have this be a question you are asking possible DJ vendors. We have also done our fair share of weddings without sound systems – just keep in mind that when it is windy, not everyone will be able to hear your officiant without a mic!

We hope this helps narrow down your Michigan beach wedding site search! There is nothing like dipping your toes in the sand and saying your “I dos” on Lake Michigan. Contact us today to see if we are available to help plan your beach wedding ceremony! Check out our service page here for more info on what we offer!

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