February 18, 2020

in Real Weddings, Schades of Light, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

REAL WEDDING: ELI + MAGGIE

THE DETAILS

Date: September 29, 2018

Ceremony Venue: Private Residence

Reception Venue: The Vineyard at 12 Corners

Color Scheme: Greens, Ivory, Burgundy, Gold, Dusty Blue

Design Inspiration: Classy, with a minimalist, slightly boho vibe

THE HIGHLIGHTS

So many gorgeous moments to highlight from Maggie + Eli’s outdoor, late September wedding celebration. The family lake house ceremony setting for the I Do’s was naturally personal for their immediate families and were overjoyed to share it with all of their guests. Champagne sipping and string instruments welcomed guests on their arrival. Truly remarkable views of Lake Michigan from the backyard, with a beautifully decorated traditional chuppah that brought focus to the altar. The reception took place not far from there at 12 Corners Vineyard with non-stop, 360 views of plump grapevines just as harvest season was approaching. Outdoor fall weddings in a vineyard – it’s one of the best combinations, especially for guests used to city living.

Fall vibes were all over the design – with outdoorsy farmhouse tables being the foundation, the classy gold chiavari chairs and flatware, and unforgettable coziness of lush greenery, rich burgundy and dusty blue tones. Hundreds of candles in varying pillared heights lay scattered down dining tables paired alongside gold mercury votive candles. The romance as guests sat down for the reception was unparalleled. So intimate, even with as large of a guest count as it was. The night time hour introduced comfy fleece blankets and Adirondack chairs around a firepit and a photobooth station. There really was never a dull moment for guests to experience something fun.

Generally being big fans of flowers, they wanted each nook and cranny of the venue to have consistency and a polished finish. The tent ceiling was no exception, including a 5ft diameter floral chandelier suspended over the dance floor – where guests danced the night away. Other pieces that continue catching our eye are the flower crowns for the bridal party ladies, trendy signage be it the ones with acrylic form or the printed paper products showing loads of personality, and the sea glass name cards for the 36-guest head table! Including dates at the head table seating arrangement has been a popular selection. We love how much it adds a grandiose look to such an important table and brings functionality too.

VENDORS

Photo: Kati Mallory

Design, Logistics + Wedding Planning, Day of Coordination + Rentals (farmhouse tables, wine barrels, specialty linens, lounge furniture, firepit): 1928 Planning Co.

Floral: Flowers By Anna

Lighting Design: Schades of Light

Other Rentals: Taylor Rental (chiavari chairs, gold silverware, ceremony tent, ceremony chairs)

Baker: Sweet Mandy B’s

Entertainment: Style Matters DJ, Hipstr Photobooth

December 3, 2019

in Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

WEDDING DESSERT: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

We won’t lie to you, we’ve tasted our fair share of wedding dessert delicacies and live for a good slice of red velvet cake (don’t be shy on that cream cheese frosting)! We’ve really seen such a shift in couples steering themselves away from the traditional tiered wedding cake, and for a variety of reasons. Some say “we just aren’t cake people” or “we have a lot of food allergies and kids to accommodate” but simply put, the millennial getting married wants to give their guests an experience in everything from the bar atmosphere, entertainment factor, and by all means, the food vibes. Here we’ll bring our insight to the wedding desserts we see and help you find your perfect match.

The Sweetheart Cake

We feel like sweetheart cakes get a regular sighting at our weddings. These petite, single or two-tier cakes are perfect for capturing the traditional cake cutting ceremony, without the need for a size cake that’ll serve 150 guests. Fear not, your guests still get to splurge on other wedding desserts.

Insider Tip: If you aren’t interested in serving other wedding desserts and want to stick to cake, still consider a sweetheart cake to be on display for photo opportunities and “the cut”, but serve guests sheet cakes that have been tucked away in the kitchen. The guests never have to know, and you just saved yourself some money.

Photo: Justine Montigny | Baker: Love and Macs

Sugary Comfort Food

Comfort food at weddings has been going strong, with barbeque entrees and macaroni and cheese sides. Seeing it as a wedding dessert takes the midnight snack treats you always look for at home and gives your guests so many comfy options to enjoy: cupcakes, cookies, whoopie pies and double fudge brownies.

Photo: Kati Mallory | Baker: Sweet Mandy B's

Photo: Let it Be | Baker: Mimi's Cupcakes

Sophisticated Bites

These elevated desserts are for sure conversation starters and hit a different level of sophisticated and refined tasty treats. Think macaroons, bite-sized panna cotta, fresh fruit tarts, creme brulee, and mousse cups. People will love the variety and want to try a little bit of everything so be sure to account for that in your quantities (and trust the baker’s recommendation).

Photo: Kelly Sweet | Baker: Froehlich's Bakery

Photo: Beth Joy | Baker: Froehich's Bakery

Photo: Brick and Pine | Baker: Froehlich's Bakery

Photo: 430 Studios | Baker: Bit of Swiss

Michigan Hits

So many of our couples search for a way to bring a touch of Michigan into their wedding. Locally sourced fruit pies or cider donuts and s’mores scream a Michigan summer and fall night.

Photo: Maiko Media | Venue: Homestead 1835

Photo : Ashley Galminas | Baker: Amanda Marie's Bakery

Photo: Stephanie Gamble | Baker: Mackenzie's

November 6, 2019

in 1928 Planning, Real Weddings, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Planning, Wedding Preparation, Wedding Reception Ideas

REAL WEDDING: JUSTIN + CASEY

THE DETAILS

Date: September 2, 2018

Venue: Private Residence; Lakehouse in Whitehall, Michigan

Color Scheme: Grays, Creams, Greenery, Gold

Design Inspiration: Refined rustic with classic flair

THE HIGHLIGHTS

The location of Justin and Casey’s wedding celebration was such a wonderful way to bring family, old and new, together on a property filled with memories, spectacular lake views and privacy. The expansive lawn provided space for ceremony over the bluff, cocktail space, and an adjacent tented reception. With all areas being outdoors, they wanted nothing more than to showcase greenery, and the earthiness of the outdoors into their chosen color palette and wedding design. It really was a winning look we enjoyed seeing come together!

Private residence weddings are essentially creating a wedding venue from a blank canvas. Down to selecting what size tent, colored chair, type of fork, and everything in between, Justin and Casey had an eye and vision that was consistent and simplistic. We are drawn to looks like are straightforward, focused and airy. It allows for the overall impact to speak for itself. What to live this day even more? Check out their wedding video trailer!

THE VENDORS

Photo: Jillian Bowes

Video: Maiko Media

Design, Logistics Planning, Day of Coordination, Rentals: 1928 Planning Co.

Floral: Every Little Detail

Seating Chart: Kimy Battista Art

Venue Rentals: Aays Event Rental (tent, lighting, dance floor, tables, reception chairs, place-settings) + Classic Catering + Events (ceremony chairs, restrooms).

Baker: Sweet Traditions

Entertainment: Kaleidoscope Events, 77 VW Photobooth Bus

February 7, 2019

in Schades of Light, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Preparation, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

WEDDING TRENDS CONTINUING INTO 2019

Out with the old and in with the new.

Well that may not always be the case. Some wedding trends stay around longer than others, and while we can anticipate there to be a slew of new trends making a fresh appearance in 2019, we will continue seeing some previous trends (and these ones, we love!) Either way, keeping on trend or not, find inspiration below to help you define your signature wedding style.

A STYLE OF THEIR OWN WITHOUT GIVING UP TRADITION

The Sweets

Although we have seen a shift towards the big wedding cakes heading out, most didn’t want to give up a cake tradition entirely. In 2018, these newly revamped cake styles were displayed on a bold linen, a light and bright dessert table or combined with every kind of sugary goodness you could think of.

Evelyn Vaughn (Photo)

Bit of Swiss (Baker) :: Christa Hitchcock (Photo) :: 1928 Rental: (Farmhouse Table)

Froelich’s (Baker) :: Brick and Pine (Photo)

Bit of Swiss (Baker) :: 430 Studios (Photo)

The Guest book

Most couples are ditching the traditional guest book and coming up with their own personal touch to remember the guests that were able to attend their big day. Many of the guest books we saw in 2018 were ones that could be displayed in homes or incorporated into more of their daily life, rather than a traditional bounded book that might not be looked at much again after the wedding day.

Christa Hitchcock (Photo)

Lauren Crawford (Photo)

Samantha James (Photo)

Ceremony Locale

Grandma just doesn’t understand why you aren’t getting married in a church, but once she sees this, she will be very pleased! Having an on site ceremony is very convenient for your guests (and for you!) There isn’t extra driving to manage, no awkward down time in between ceremony and reception, you can re-purpose ceremony decor easily into the reception space and when all is said and done, more time to party!

Journeyman Distillery (Venue) :: Brick and Pine (Photo) :: Snapdragon Designs (Floral)

Journeyman Distillery (Venue) :: 430 Studios (Photo) :: Snapdragon Designs (Floral)

The Veranda at The Whitcomb (Venue) :: Tifani Lynn (Photo) :: Events by Ludemas (Floral)

Private Residence (Venue) :: Jillian Bowes (Photo)

The Veranda at The Whitcomb (Venue) :: Evelyn Vaughn (Photo) :: Special Occasions (Floral)

First Look

The decision on whether bride and grooms should see each other pre-ceremony is always up for debate and in depth discussion. Besides asking yourself “is this for us?” this is a wedding day component that some are tweaking just a bit. Many are wanting to atleast have a “special moment” prior to the wedding, whether they are catching a glimpse of each other, holding hands from around the building corner or reading love letters to each other. As wedding planners, we have seen an increase in couples doing first looks for a variety of reasons: easier logistics and getting most photos checked off ahead of time so they can join in on the fun and cocktails after the ceremony!

430 Studios (Photo)

Lauren Crawford (Photo)

Gingertown (Photo)

BIG BLOOMS

Bold Florals

Who doesn’t love a bold floral with greenery? (especially in super adorable wooden boxes) Greenery along with big-bloomed flowers are an impactful way to dress up dining tables as well as giving you a full luxurious bouquet. Can’t find room in the budget for these designs on 20 reception tables? It’s also worth filling in blank space at your ceremony or draped from a ceiling. It’s fresh and beautiful!

Kati Mallory (Photo) :: Flowers by Anna (Floral)

Kitty Lee (Photo) :: Black Dog Flower Farm (Floral)

Vineyard at 12 Corners (Venue) :: Kati Mallory (Photo) :: Flowers by Anna (Floral)

Kati Mallory (Photo) :: Flowers by Anna (Floral)

The Veranda at The Whitcomb (Venue) :: Evelyn Vaughn (Photo) :: Special Occasions (Floral)

Simplicity GR (Floral) :: 1928 Rental (Wine Barrel)

SETTING UP THE UNIQUE FACTOR

Everyone likes to have a little fun and give their guests the ‘wow factor’ at their wedding! Looking for something unique? How about mini beach balls instead of birdseed or bubbles? Everyone loves a photo booth, especially this one on wheels! A game of cornhole anyone? If the venue allows, let’s end this night with a sparkler send off!

Rebekah Albaugh (Photo) :: VW 77 Photo Booth Bus :: Schades of Light (Lighting)

Grant Beachy (Photo) :: Shadowland Pavilion (Venue)

Kelly Sweet (Photo) :: Journeyman Distillery (Venue

Thomas Wrench (Photo) :: Journeyman Distillery (Venue

November 29, 2018

in 1928 Planning, Real Weddings, Schades of Light, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas

REAL WEDDING: SARAH + CASEY

THE DETAILS

Date: October 21, 2017

Venue: The Veranda at the Whitcomb (Reception), St. Joseph Catholic Church (Ceremony)

Inspired Theme: Kate Spade

Color Scheme: Deep Red, Black, White, Gold

Design Inspiration: Bold flair, bright design, classic elegance

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Bride, Sarah has a beautiful eye for design and from our first conversations she expressed wanting to see the wedding style incorporate black and white stripes along with deep red accents. Designing weddings is one of our favorite services we can offer couples (check out our gallery!) but it isn’t every day that we have a bride come to us with such a bold take on wedding design. To not be afraid of color, patterns and texture – we were instantly excited to get those creative juices flowing. The theme quickly became coined as “Kate Spade” inspired and we found ways to create that same flair you’d see in the K.S. brand: exaggerated striped linens, pops of bright florals with little-to-no filler, gold and glitzy accents; the works.

We’ve never seen a reception space be as transformed as this one was. The gold chiavari chairs lend a huge hand in Sarah + Casey’s desire for a touch of classic elegance into the otherwise bold design. The ceiling lit up with cafe bistro lights and glowing lanterns when the sun set over Lake Michigan. Are you dreaming of those sunsets like we are, as we right this in snow fall?

S + C wanted to create a mingling dinner atmosphere, so guests visited different food stations and tried something for every taste bud: build your own mashed potato bar, mac + cheese with brisket, taco station with guacamole. YUM.

The planning of the bar service and dessert are just as important. They chose signature drinks “The Casey” and “The Sarah” as well as desserts for days: cherry pie, cake pop bites, apple cider donuts, s’mores station. YUM, YUM.

Regardless of your design style, be it neutral or bold, there is something to be said about the details they incorporated to make their wedding design theme strong and cohesive from each element to the next.

THE VENDORS

Photography: Bobbi Photo

Design, Coordination, Rentals: 1928 Planning Co.

Lighting: Schades of Light

Floral: Stella Event Design

Reception Chairs: Taylor Rental Party Plus

Baker: Christine’s Confections, CK Catering

December 7, 2017

in 1928 Planning, Beach Wedding, DIY Hot Spot!, Schades of Light, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Planning, Wedding Preparation, Wedding Reception Ideas

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF PLANNING A PINTEREST WEDDING

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.

February 23, 2017

in Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas

THE 411 ON GARLAND

Garland centerpieces aren’t going away any time soon. Many of our clients already have cascading greens worked into their floral budgets to get these textured beauties on their reception tables. We love the look too, but know that it comes at a price! Thanks to one of our favorite florists, Shaya over at Stella Event Design, you can become a garland guru as you plan your wedding florals.

We’ve taken some of Pinterests’ most popular photos for wedding garlands and given you the 411 here!

Photo Credit: Lexie Williams Photography (top left) | 430 Studios (bottom left) | Durling Photography (right)

SEEDED EUCALYPTUS TABLE RUNNER

Perhaps the most requested greenery in the world of weddings, seeded eucalyptus has graced many of our tables.

The pros: It doesn’t have to be hand-tied. Your florist can save some time (and money!) by laying these stems loosely on your tables because they have nice height. Eucalyptus is notorious for hanging in a naturally beautiful way. Some greens just don’t drape like these!

The cons: Eucalyptus doesn’t grow well in wedding season. Most florists can order stems whenever you need them, but the quality suffers June-August because they grow in sub-tropical regions.

Price point: ~$8.50/foot for garland

CASCADE FLORAL GARLAND

Oh me, oh my this runner is gorgeous! You can assume adding flowers comes at a price with garlands. And having flowers isn’t the only thing making this garland a pricey one to recreate, it is the type of flowers that will alter the price as well. The white orchids are a very expensive tropical flower. There are also a lot of hydrangea in this piece, which need a lot of water to make it through an event. Anytime you have this many flowers, the florist is no longer just wiring the garland together, they have to create a base with a water source.

Tight budget? Try popping in some flowers that don’t require as much care and can be used with floral water tubes. Shaya suggests something from the mum family instead of the orchids or hydrangea.

Garland Price Point: ~$90/foot

SIMPLE GREENS TABLE RUNNER

This runner is made of a hand-tied lemon leaf foliage. Lemon leaf is a common option for a brighter green to add as a centerpiece. This particular garland is quite thick, but if you thinned it out a bit, you could get the look for around $6 a foot.

Add some color: Shaya suggests using Wax Flower in these greenery runners. It does fairly well out of water and is a great alternative to Baby’s Breath.

Greenery alternatives: Some other affordable greens you can utilize in table garlands are Plumosa, Ruscus, and Spring Rye

RUSTIC ARCH GARLAND

The Hydrangea Dilemma: Hydrangeas are a great flower because they are full and typically affordable. (Plus they come in gorgeous colors!) But these are probably the last flower we would advise you to put in the beating sun in the middle of summer. Hydrangeas need A LOT of water to make it through the day and the sun doesn’t help that wilt factor.

Try instead: Dahlias, Football Mums, Wax Flower for filler

Price point for this look: ~$17/foot for Olive Branch foliage garland (approx. 17 feet in this photo), $650 for floral focal point

Our advice to all couples hoping to incorporate garlands into their wedding design: coordinating is better than matching when it comes to event styling. Not every centerpiece should match perfectly. Try doing a cluster of bud vases on some tables, garland on others, and a large floral piece as a third option. Not only is this visually appealing, but it allows you to splurge on certain tables and save on others!

December 31, 2015

in 1928 Planning, Beach Wedding, Real Weddings, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas

BEST OF 1928 WEDDINGS: 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

June 13, 2015

in 1928 Planning, DIY Hot Spot!, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas

DIY WEDDING IDEA: MARQUEE LETTER

DIY wedding ideas are something we love here at 1928 Planning Co. Not only do they add some personalized flair to your wedding, but you can brag about your crafting skills to friends and family. Today we are going to teach you how to make a marquee letter that will be the perfect addition of vintage charm to a gift or dessert table. This DIY would also look adorable in the newlywed’s home post wedding!

Photo credit: Camille Curtis – 1928 Intern

Things you will need:

Large Cardboard Letter
X-acto Knife
String Globe Lights
Pencil
Paint color of your choice (optional)

1. Cut along the seam of the letter on one side only. This will allow you to hide the cord from the lights later on.

2. Twist the globes off of the strand and place them where you want them on the front of the letter.
3. Trace around the smallest part of the globe with your pencil.
4. Using the X-acto knife cut an asterisk into each circle, that way you can fit the globes into place.

5. Place the globes back into the circles and insert lights from behind. Make sure you are tucking the extra cord in as you go.
6. Apply a coat of paint, if you wish!

7. Plug in and enjoy!

If you try this for your home or wedding send us a photo, we would love to see! We hope that you love this darling DIY wedding idea just as much as we do.

April 16, 2015

in 1928 Planning, Real Weddings, Schades of Light, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas

REAL WEDDINGS: A VINEYARD LOVE STORY

We love sharing stories of 1928 Real Weddings with our fans! Travis and Michaja’s August celebration was one we couldn’t skip out on. They were such a fun duo to work alongside in the planning stages and their venue selection was a first for us – actually a first in history! They were host to the first wedding reception held at 12 Corners Vineyards in Benton Harbor, Michigan. More to come on that cool place later! We’ll give you the inside tour of their big day – the venue, food, decorations, and all of the details in between.

The Accessories

With wedding colors of cobalt blue and black, their accessories paired perfectly. The bride easily found her something blue while complementing their wedding colors. We are shoe obsessed over here at 1928 – couldn’t resist sharing a few photos! Completing the groom’s look were stylish shades – working double-duty on the sunny August day.

The Venue

The Vineyard at 12 Corners is one of Southwest Michigan’s newest tented wedding venues, and from a planner’s perspective, offers SO much for couples looking for a location that is beautifully backdropped, private, and in the heart of wine country. The property sits on 115 acres of land, surrounded by grape vineyards, an apple orchard, corn fields and so much more. What all does this mean for you? You have access to unlimited photo opportunities – not even needing to think about going off-site to capture something beautiful.

The Ceremony

As guests arrived for the wedding ceremony, they were welcomed with a 12 Corners wine tasting experience. As they sampled wine created by the grapes surrounding them, they strolled through the vineyard. It was the perfect way of setting the scene for a stellar atmosphere and celebration to come.

The ceremony took place in the on-site apple orchard. Seating was arranged in a slight semi-circle formation. Regardless of the size of your wedding, semi-circle setups make for a more intimate setting and have been trending with our couples for the last few years.

As the ceremony began, guests were happily surprised with a dancing processional, filled with Travis and Michaja’s closest family and friends. Such a fun group of people in attendance that we wouldn’t expect anything less!

The Decor and Details

Boy do we swoon over a unique reception layout! The guest list was set at 200 attendees. The reception layout was mixed with a variety of styled tables, including traditional round table seating, King Arthurs (8ft x 5ft), and rented Napa Farmhouse Tables from 1928. The Napa’s look like they were made for a venue like The Vineyard, and paired with linen tables, softened up the space just right.

Photo Credit: Josh Nowicki (above)

The centerpieces, miscellaneous beer growlers filled with baby’s breath and hints of white roses, were kept simplistic, knowing that the venue and atmosphere tends to speak for itself.

The additions of wine barrel cocktail tables and lounge furniture from 1928’s Rental Collection completed the look in the lounge space adjacent to the tent. This space is typically used for cocktail hour and as a space for guests to relax after dinner. Decorating and lighting this space is key – guests will spend so much time out there on a beautiful day!

The Chow and Cocktails

Cocktails:

We mentioned earlier that the wine guests enjoy at the wedding reception is made exclusively at 12 Corners. To round out their bar menu, were local brewery, Bells, (located in Kalamazoo) – featuring Oberon and Two Hearted Ale, and a specialty cocktail named “Love, Love, Love” composed of blueberry lemonade and vodka.

Chow:

Catering service was provided by CK Catering (the exclusive caterer at the venue). We highly encourage couples to work with CK – their menu options are so expansive and the food is always tasty. Dinner was served family-style – a popular option most couple’s select and a super casual way for guests to enjoy their meal without getting out of their seat.

The desserts were pies from local hot spot, Grandpa’s Cider Mill. As a late night snack surprise, the famous Ice Cream Truck made an appearance, allowing guests to indulge in a summer sweet treat and likely filled with guests reminiscing of the ice cream man from when they were kiddos.

We couldn’t have asked for a better introduction on 1928’s behalf to The Vineyard at 12 Corners. It was a beautiful day and beautiful couple and we hope sharing a little ounce into their celebration gives you a glimpse of potential ideas for your own!