You can tell we’ve had a busy year with our lack of blogging! Don’t worry – we haven’t forgotten to post our favorite blog of the year! Enjoy our look back as we revisit a wonderful season, full of gorgeous, sweet couples and show-stopping wedding design. Best of 1928 Planning, take 2016!

Most Unique Venue

Katie + David’s Union Pier Hideaway

Photo Credit: Mark Federighi Photography

Location: Rentable private property in Union Pier Michigan

Why we love it: We have scrounged the land for private home rental properties that allow weddings in Southwest Michigan. The properties are few and far between, but Katie and David found a hidden gem. The house was under constructions when they decided their location, sent out their invites, and began months of planning. Their trust and hard work paid off and their backyard soirée was complete with a canopy tent, the best local food trucks, and loads of private partying all night long! Best of all, their friends were able to stay onsite all weekend at one of the three houses on the compound.

Food trucks: Rolling Stone Bakery and Greenbush Brisket Van

Tarah + Ryan’s Botanical Garden Party

Photo Credit: Gingertown Photography

Location: Fernwood Botanical Garden

Why we love it: We loved the opportunity to help plan this gorgeous wedding! This Botanical Garden, located in Buchanan, Michigan, spans over 100 acres. Tarah and Ryan were able to utilize this beautiful nature preserve for their ceremony and tented-reception. Everywhere you walked was a picturesque backdrop – we can’t get enough!

Rose + Ron: Goin’ to the Chapel

Photo Credit: Jennifer Mayo Studios

Location: The Morris Estate (Chapel)

Why we love it: A simply breathtaking estate located in Niles, Michigan makes this a favorite backdrop for intimate ceremonies. The Chapel has been a part of local history for many decades, yet the prestine resoration of the venue speaks volumes. Crisp white interior and exterior, allow couples to stay simple with their decoration, or choose from The Morris’ lengthly decor upgrades available on-site.

Apple Blossom Acres

Photo Credit: Absolute Photography (top left), Apple Blossom Chapel and Gardens (others)

Location: Apple Blossom Chapel and Gardens

A Chat With The Owner:

Being 1928’s first time at this super unique venue (and loving every minute of it!) we wanted to share with  you some insight to the property from the owner, Kathy Doornbos, who over the last nine years, has poured so much energy into developing a venue, unlike any other our company has seen in West Michigan.

Apple Blossom Chapel and Gardens is located in the middle of a 20 acre, secluded property in the countryside near the little town of Fennville, Michigan. As you enter the private road and inch your way onto the property, you see nothing but beautiful landscape  – including a pond, gazebos, multiple flower beds and lush grass gardens, and a variety of mature trees (including Kathy’s favorite spot on the property: a 100 year old apple orchard!). It truly is a photographers dream – never having to leave the property with all of the multiple feature areas and nooks and crannies at your fingertips.

On-site chapel ceremonies were the original vision – either as an intimate elopement site or a full chapel filled with 32 guests. After wanting to expand the experience, a few ago, they added a solid floor patio in the middle of the garden setting for tented affairs.

Their property is available for small intimate events year around and garden ceremony and receptions May through October.

Best Cake & Dessert

Photo Credit: Stephanie Gamble Photography (top left), Rhino Media Productions (top right), Jillian Bowes (bottom center), 430 Studios (bottom right)

Erin + Bobby’s Gold Foil Dusted Cake

Baker: Dee’s Specialty Cakes

Jessica + Jason’s Navy Floral Sweetheart Cake

Baker: Baker’s Rhapsody

Ashley + Kyle’s Donut Display

Baker: MacKenzies Bakery

April + John’s Cupcakes For Days

Baker: Mimi’s Cupcakes

Jamie + Jack’s Towering Naked Cake

Baker: Dee’s Specialty Cakes

A Chat With The Owner, Dee: 

Naked cakes have become very popular for both rustic decor and for those couples that are not huge fans of icing. Naked cakes come in three different styles.

Bare Naked has no icing other than the filling layers.

Naked cakes have icing on top but not on sides.

Dirty Naked cakes have a crumb coat of icing – a very thin layer that allows you to still see the cake in some places.

PRO TIP: While a hot day won’t harm your naked cake, there is no icing to keep the cake moist.  It is best to plan on serving the cake earlier in the evening to avoid a dry wedding cake (or serve alongside an Ice Cream Sundae Bar similar to Jack and Jamie!)

Best use of 1928 Rental Collection

Photo Credit: Jill Tiongco Photography (top right) | Jessica Eileen Photography (top left)| Rachael Osborn Photography (bottom left) | Ben Pancoast Photography (bottom right)

1928’s Love Seat Vignettes

From our rental collection: Our tufted grey love seat has seen its fair share of photoshoots this year! Pictured above is bride Chelsey at Willow Harbor Vineyards. We love how so many couples incorporated this gem into their sweetheart table and photo opportunities prior to their ceremony!

Jessica + Eric’s Eclectic Journeyman Lounge

From our rental collection: Our mid-century lounge set includes a sofa, love seat, two chairs, and coffee table. Bride Jessica added teal-toned pillows and some bud vases to the mix to tie in the set with their eclectic Journeyman Distillery Wedding!

1928 Specialty Linens

From our rental collection: 1928 offers a wide range of specialty linens, from napkins to table cloths; we can provide you with the perfect pieces to complement your color scheme. This year we were especially proud to show off photos from Jen and David’s gold sequin runners and cloths, as well as photos of Rob and Ryan’s earthy farmhouse tables paired with fern linen runners. We can’t help but to mention our friends, Schades of Light who also provided the dreamy chandelier and swagged cafe lights from these two weddings too!

Most Original Escort Cards/Seating Chart

Photo Credit: Sydney Marie (top left) |  Gingertown Photography (bottom left) | 430 Studios (top right)| Jillian Bowes (bottom right)

Sheena + Adam

Why we love it: We see A LOT of of cork escort cards over the course of a season. Most of them lay horizontally and the cards often slide out if not securely glued in place (or roll over if the bottom isn’t shaved down). We love how Sheena and Adam turned the cork vertically and and added a flower on top to indicate meal choices! So clever!

Tarah + Ryan

Why we love it: We are constantly encouraging our clients to find creative ways to secure their escort cards to a display. Seems like a strange request, but we cannot count the number of weddings where our interns have chased down wind-sent name cards! Groom Ryan built this seating chart with a wooden frame and magnetic fencing to create one incredibly original escort card display. Each card had a magnet glued on the back – and these puppies stayed put!

Laura + Cody

Why we love it: These place cards, famously known as Paper Belly Bands, wrap around the napkin (and stay put in the wind!) and greeted each guest once they arrived to their table. Laura and Cody’s bands killed two birds with one stone – where not only did guests easily find their assigned seat, but based on the color of the font on the band, determined their meal selection for the evening. We call that a Win/Win: A clear, easily seen marker for the caterer and trendy seating card presentation!

Kelsey + Andrew

Why we love it: Designed and built by groom, Andrew, this dark stained escort card board was a well thought out rustic addition to their vineyard backdrop at 12 Corners. Bringing a masculine wood element to their otherwise glammed out design, the sturdy board was complete with hooks to hold escort cards for over 200 guests.

Stationary designed by Tied & Two, Etsy

Floral Topper by Overgrowth Floral, Grand Rapids

Best Entertainment

Kayla + Grant’s Moko Jumbie

Photo Credit: Lamarand Style Photography 

Why we loved it: Who gets the chance to watch a 16-foot dancer do the limbo at a wedding?! (We haven’t seen many in our seven years of experience!) Kayla and Grant had been vacationing to St. Thomas for a few years before getting married. In their time there, they met a cab driver turned Moko Jumbie (more commonly known a stilts walker) who they became friends with and would always visit on their stays. When he heard they were tying the knot in the states, he just had to be a part of their big day … and he was in a big way 🙂

For other wedding-worthy entertainment ideas click here!

Best Centerpieces

Chelsey + Zac’s Ethereal Tablescapes

Photo Credit: Jill Tiongco Photography

Why we love it: Our planner Hannah worked closely with bride Chelsey to make each table unique, yet cohesive to the overall vision. Some tables had soft blue chiffon runners, others had blush sequin runners. All of the tables had gorgeous florals and garlands by Black Dog Flower Farm, and were adorned with pillar candles on mercury glass holders. The tables were full and centerpieces varied in height!

Chiffon table runners & gold charger rentals: The Rental Company of Holland

Jamie + Jack’s Redefined Rustic

Photo Credit: Jillian Bowes

Why we love it: Rustic barn weddings don’t always have to include burlap runners, mason jars and babies breath. We loved Jamie and Jack’s redefined rustic design – providing something so fresh and glamorous for their Blue Dress Barn fall celebration. Working closely with Stella Event Design for florals, each pop of color, and selection of flowers were carefully planned out – down to the barn wood boxes and stone urns used as floral containers, alternating on each table.

Best Floral Design

Photo Credit: Gingertown Photography (top left) | 430 Studios (top right) | Jillian Bowes (bottom right)

Tarah’s Bouquet

Florist: Beikmann Associates, Niles, MI

Why we love it: In a wedding world currently full of long-stemmed bouquets, we loved this cascading bouquet with a hidden stem for a fresh look! Not only does this gorgeous bouquet look like it is all flowers and no stem, but the flowers have the perfect touch of blue with the delphinium (a great cascader!). Beikmann Associates did a special treatment on some non-seasonal flowers (peonies and tulips) in order to get them to stay open long enough for the wedding – consider us impressed!

Kelsey + Andrew’s Rustic Accents

Florist: Overgrowth Floral, Grand Rapids, MI

Why we love it: Organic, whimsical, blush tones = must-have ingredients to a stellar floral design. Kelsey and Andrew used these pretties on their accent tables in the space – to spice up even the smallest spots in the venue.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to add design elements into areas of the reception like the bar, gift or guest book table, or in Kelsey and Andrew’s case, their cockail lounge area.

Laura + Cody’s Wooded Arch

Florist: Marco Alexzondra Floral & Event Design, Galien, MI

Why we love it: This private residence in Michigan City, IN was all sorts of dreamy. A permanent, towering wooded arch overlooking a hay field in its rural setting was naturally made the focal point altar for Laura and Cody’s intimate I Do’s. Assuming the arch would be filled with natural greenery as it is most times of the year, it wasn’t until a month before, when they contacted their florist with concern there wouldn’t be enough fullness in time for their June wedding. Enter, Marco Alexzondra, a true artist, who quickly inspired the possibilities and transformed the arch into a complete beauty – pairing florals used at their reception and bouquets and adding in tons of texture.

Heather + Eric’s Garden Party

Florist: Posh Petals, Grand Rapids, MI

Why we love it: Posh Petals took every nook and cranny of The Veranda and turned it into a floral opportunity. No flower went to waste with this crew! From adding greenery to every place setting to decorating our new gold-framed chalkboard, we loved the floral garlands spread throughout the venue to make it come to life.

Best Wedding Dress

Photo Credit: Bride Jen (left) Rachael Osborn Photography | Bride Chelsea (top right) Jill Tiongco Photography | Bride Ashley (bottom right) Stephanie Gamble Photography

Bride Jen

Designer:  Behati by Hayley Paige

Purchased from: Bella Bianca in Oakbrook, IL

Price point: $3,000 before alterations 

Bride Chelsey

Designer: Carolina Dress from the Gossamer Collection of Anna Campbell 

Price point: $3000-$4000

Bride Ashley

Designer:Designer is Ti Adora, purchased at Bianka Bridal in Grand Rapids

Price point: $1500 after alterations

Most Stunning Bride

Photo Credit: Bride Constance (top left) Brian Kinyon | Bride Mackenzie (right) Gingertown Photography | Bride Kristina (bottom left) Rachael Osborn Photography

This category was created to capture gorgeous brides that not only brought all aspects of their look together perfectly (thing makeup, hair, dress), but they emulate poise and beauty on the inside too!

Bride Constance

Bride Constance had a major problem to troubleshoot the week of her wedding and she handled it with complete grace. If you didn’t hear her story, you would have thought everything was as perfect as could be on her wedding day – she glowed. Check out her perspective on the week’s events:

“Like most brides, I had a Pinterest board of wedding dress ideas for months before I went to try on dresses and once I figured out what shape suited my frame best I absolutely fell in love with a blush pink Lazaro a-line gown. I didn’t think I would find it, but when my mother and I went to Macy’s, there it was on a mannequin right in front of me! I said I had to try it on and didn’t even ask to see how much it was. Of course it was out of my price range, but I tried it on anyway and it was perfect. Unfortunately I really couldn’t afford it. I left the store and decided I would explore my options. After a lot of talking with friends and family and some research my aunt suggested I talk to a friend of hers who is a costume seamstress to see if she could make a similar dress. Long story short, we went down the custom-made route and I trusted my seamstress. But as spring turned to summer and the seamstress still hadn’t started on the dress for my September wedding we started to worry. She assured us that this was all a part of her timeline. By August there still was not a full dress for me to try on, but I was so busy with wedding planning and so blinded by my commitment to this plan that I stuck with her.

The Sunday before my wedding my mother and I went out to her house so that I could try on the dress. It still wasn’t completely done and what we saw was so far from our expectations. My mom launched into fix-it mode and called the Macy’s where I had tried on the original dress. They still had the floor model and would sell it to us for a discount. We got the dress on the Wednesday before the wedding and rushed to a tailor that could do emergency alterations. Three seamstresses at the tailor shop worked around the clock. On the Friday before the wedding I had to get from Chicago to Michigan for the rehearsal dinner and the second dress was still being altered. In the end we made a plan for my mother’s boyfriend to drive back to Chicago first thing on Saturday morning (the day of the wedding!) to get the dress and we had to just hope that one fitting would be enough. I was a nervous wreck the night before the wedding and could hardly sleep, but at 11am the dress arrived and fit! I give most of the thanks for the success of this VERY last minute change to my mother and her ability to jump into action when I was starting to shut down due to anxiety. As Shakespeare said, all’s well that ends well and I think this turned out quite well.”

Bride Kristina

Kristina was a complete showstopper at her wedding! This fitted gown with a scopped back photographed beautifully. We love her low, loose hair style and her make up was impeccable. Kristina was a joy to work with from the day we met her. She was in the middle of relocating states with her then-fiance and together they were planning majority of their wedding from Tennessee. This girl never once complained and always viewed this special day as a day of honor, and not one of tension. This is one of the most beautiful qualities we love seeing in our clients!

Hair: Rachel from Czar Salon & Spa

Makeup: Gina from Czar Salon & Spa

Dress Designed: Essence of Australia

Dress Boutique: Crystal Bride in Geneva, IL

Bride Mackenzie

Not only do we think this girl is STUNNING, but she managed to keep complete sanity on her wedding day with her growing family by her side – like the others in this category, we can’t say enough about her radiance on the inside and out. Being a hairstylist and make up artist herself, Bride Mackenzie new exactly the look she was going for – complete with creating her own head piece to complete the day of look. While most head pieces can be purchased upwards of $100, her supplies cost $40-$50 and made in an hour. We see over 100 gowns a year, but the entire team commented on this stunner. With the fitted shape and bohemian style top of her gown paired with her overall natural glam, we couldn’t resist!

Gown Designer:  Theia Couture, Natalia

Gown Purchased from: Flutter Bridal Boutique, Minneapolis, MN

Gown Price point: $1,500 before alterations 

Honorable Mentions!

Hayley + Joey’s Midsummer Night’s Dream

Photo Credit: 430 Studios

Why we love it: Wait, what’s not to love? Groom, Joey’s desire was to have a theme that depicted a Midsummer Night’s Dream – complete with twinkle lights strung in the open air Veranda @ The Whitcomb for their June wedding. The transformation was beautiful and significant. It was easy to draw inspiration from this wedding. In fact, we saw many other Veranda couples who sought to create a similar look after seeing this! Kudos to Burns Rental for creating the foresty look on the ceiling and architecture columns.

Such a remarkable year for 1928 Planning and looking so forward with what 2017 holds for our team! Hope you’ve enjoyed a recap of our favorite memories of 2016 and have found some inspiration of your own!

Cheers!