September 23, 2015
in 1928 Planning, Wedding Planning, Wedding Trends

 

 

maidsdresses

Photo Credit: Allie Siarto Photography, 430 Studios, Woodnote Photography

The second most important dress you’ll ever go shopping for is the bridesmaid’s dress. My favorite saying when planning a wedding is that people make great decorations! I have worked as a wedding gown and dress specialist at David’s Bridal for a few years. Helping brides select the perfect dress was one of my more exciting experiences. I learned so much about the industry just from selling dresses alone. No amount of preparation will truly prepare you for rounding up your best girls and throwing them in and out of their comfort zones.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind before going shopping with your ‘maids:

Pick out your wedding gown first:

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HAVING YOUR WEDDING GOWN PICKED OUT BEFORE YOUR BRIDESMAID’S DRESS APPOINTMENT!

I cannot stress this enough! Reason being: You don’t want your bridesmaids over or under dressed, or worse, too similar to your wedding gown; especially after your girls have already made their purchase.

Having your wedding gown purchased gives you a HUGE advantage by providing the look and feel for your whole wedding theme. You want everyone and everything around you to compliment you and to make you stand out. Therefore, you have to know what you are working with.

Know what you want and stick to it!

Know what you want or the direction you are at least trying to go in. Don’t go in blind. The last thing you want is to put the fate of YOUR wedding party attire in someone else’s hands. Also, it can be very frustrating for your bridesmaids, who are trying so hard to help you find out what it is you want, when you don’t even know what that is.

How can you get what you want for your wedding if you don’t even know what that is?!
Stop into dress shops and pick up catalogs. Mark the pages of dresses you like to show the consultant when you are ready to shop.

Get on that Pinterest!

Use different keywords to see different looks. And always check out 1928’s Pinterest page for the latest inspiration! Make sure you pin the ones you like on a separate inspirational bridesmaid’s dress board to also show your consultant. Once you have your direction and inspiration, STICK TO YOUR GUNS! This is your wedding and no one else’s. Be willing to be flexible where it counts, but if you have a vision that you are in love with, then go for it- it’s your day!

Length and Fabric

The length and fabric type of the bridesmaids’ dresses will have a huge impact on the overall formality and feel of your wedding. Long Satin dresses are elegant and classy whereas short chiffon dresses are more relaxed and fun. When selecting your length and fabric also keep the weather in mind. For example, a long chiffon dress is great for a late spring and early fall wedding because the length helps battle the cold, while the chiffon keeps you cool when it’s warm. Don’t forget to keep your wedding gown in mind when selecting the length and fabric. I wouldn’t recommend having your girls in satin if your wedding gown is chiffon.

Color

Picking out the color for the girls’ dresses is so much fun! There are so many different combinations you can choose from. Remember, when choosing your color, there is more than just the dress to consider. For example, neon colors are bright and vibrant but can be overwhelming when the entire dress is bright pink. Try a muted dress and add your pop of color with accessories and the bouquet.

Different Dresses

I adore the latest trend of all of the girls wearing different dresses; however, if it’s not done right it can look like your bridesmaids are from different weddings. The trick is having that one element that ties them all together. My general rule of thumb is if you are having different dresses, keep the fabric the same if you are having different colors or keep the same color if you are having different fabrics. Sometimes this rule can be bent when you have a strong enough unifying factor like lace. If you do decide that you would like your girls to have different dresses, that doesn’t have to mean that you can’t go on one shopping trip! I also recommend purchasing the dresses from the same store or designer.

Body Types

We women come in many different shapes and sizes. Therefore, one dress doesn’t always look great on everyone. If your bridesmaids are bustier, then I would recommend a dress with straps. Sweetheart neckline dresses give shape to those ladies who are not as busty. Dresses that have a waistband tend to compliment all body types by giving them an hourglass figure. I would also keep the venue in mind when selecting your dresses. If your wedding is at a vineyard, I would pick a romantic, soft style, but if you plan on having a Vegas-themed wedding, then I would go with a fun cocktail style dress.

Price

Being a bridesmaid may not be as expensive as planning a wedding, but the numbers do add up quickly. Get an idea of how much your ‘maids can afford. Be sure to sit down with your bridesmaids separately and get an idea of their budget comfort zone. It is not a good idea to ask how much they are willing to spend when they are all together as a group.

Have Fun!

More times than not, bridesmaid dress shopping is the first time that all of your girls are meeting one another. Plan to go out for lunch or drinks after to celebrate finding that perfect dress for everyone.

 

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February 6, 2015
in 1928 Planning, Beach Wedding, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Planning

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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February 7, 2014
in 1928 Planning, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

If you’re looking for a quick catch-up on the top wedding trends for the upcoming season then you’re in luck, my friend! Welcome to our show and tell! We took to one of our favorites, The Knot, to get their insight on what’s in for 2014 and added other touches of what we’ve read up on in industry blogs. Search no further – we’ve covered it here!

Pantone’s Annual Color of the Year

Debuting a color that is sure to influence trendy engaged couples looking to make a mark in their wedding design, let us introduce the 2014 Pantone Color of The Year:  Radiant Orchid! It’s a warm purple hue with soft purple and pink undertones, perfect to add into your main color scheme or act as an accent in design details – perhaps a pop of color in your florals, stationary, or fashion the day of. Another perk to Radiant Orchid is that it’s perfect for all seasons – finding its way into year-round wedding planning designs.

Collage 1

Mini Bites & Pairings

We are really enjoying this continuing trend – taking the ordinary, formal sit-down dinner at a reception and giving it a fun twist to enhance your guest experiences. Local catering company, CK Catering, has perfected this food trend and made some of the most unique dinner services for couples this past season. As a bunch of foodies over here writing this blog, we can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

Refined Woodland Wedding

As we read through the top 2014 wedding trends, we were so excited to share a few photos from a beautiful wedding The Veranda hosted last October that inhabited every aspect of this new trend! Let me introduce you to a Refined Woodland Wedding – a mix of natural and rustic with accents of glam! Key components to this trend are the use of natural elements including moss, succulents, branches, bark, and miscellaneous greenery to bring a woodsy look to your space. This mixed with small, yet noticeable accents of sparkle – including hints of glitter and sequins, metallics, etc. add the perfect touch of glam for a more refined look.

Collage 2

Photo Credit: Casper Hamlet Photography

Brights Are Making A Comeback!

Wedding trends like these excite us! Over the last wedding season we saw a lot of color schemes focusing on soft pastels, neutrals and metallics. We aren’t necessarily saying sayonara to the soft schemes but make way for some brights to come into the mix. It’s your chance to be bold and make a statement – don’t back down from it!

The Importance of the After Party

All of our readers who don’t plan to have the party end when their reception comes to a close – this one’s for you! It’s no surprise this makes the list as one of 2014’s top wedding trends. Your wedding day is such a celebration for you, your family and guests and being able to extend the party longer than what your venue allows is a great touch to end the night on a memorable note!

Transformation of the Wedding Flower

We all know how much of a role florals play in most weddings – and boy does this trend up the ante a bit!  We’ve come to pair wedding florals with bridal party bouquets and boutonnieres, table centerpieces and perhaps a few flowers to place on a major wedding reception focal point – the CAKE! But this trend predicts a move towards more innovative ways to display floral arrangements. What I love about this wedding trend are the suggestions for out-of-the-box displays: floral arrangements suspended from the ceiling over guest tables, floral backdrops for the cake table or sweetheart table for a beautifully photographed spot, and dressed to the nines ceremony arches. Check out the collage below for some inspiration!

Collage 3

Take these trends and run with them! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Wanna hear more from us? Reach out so we can chat!

❀ Danielle

January 17, 2014
in 1928 Planning, Real Weddings, Schades of Light, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

Real weddings are one of our favorite things to share! We’ve been SO anxious to reveal the details of Steve & Lauren’s beautiful wedding day, and guess what, that day has finally come! It was a warm, June afternoon and perfect for their outdoor wedding reception at one of our favorite venues, The Veranda @ The Whitcomb. We think you’ll be able to tell by the breathtaking photography that there was an abundance of beautiful decor, fun, and love in the air!

Sarkisian Collage (2)

Photo Credit: Luna Dulce Photography

One of the best hidden gems about The Veranda { probably not so hidden after this post ♥ } is having exclusive access to The Whitcomb’s Tower for one-of-a-kind, beautiful photography. The tower marks one of the highest points in the city and gives off breathtaking views of Silver Beach, the St. Joseph Lighthouse and Lake Michigan. Most often the tower is used as a first look spot for couples to see each other before the fast-paced day sets in. Steve and Lauren wanted a special place to capture their first seen moments and thought the tower would be the perfect spot. What do you think? Isn’t this an awesome find?!

Collage 4

To help create a soft and romantic ambiance in the reception space, they chose shades of taupe, grays, and creams to create a breathtaking, monochromatic look that complimented the architecture of the venue effortlessly. We adored the details of the wedding, with statement-making chiavari chairs {so pretty!}, mercury glass-embellished floral vases and candle holders as well as silver charger plates as a special feature on the head table {a must have and available to rent from CK Catering!} Let me just say how photos don’t do this look justice!

Sarkisian 6/22/13 Veranda

I can’t believe I’ve gone this far in our blog without mentioning the florals! Major shout out to Crystal Springs Florist for their creative floral arrangements! The reception table layout was super unique, mixing round tables, banquet tables and kings tables for a great, eye-catching look. The centerpieces had a ton of texture in them and being a shorter arrangement, guests were able to engage and chat during the reception without having tall centerpieces in the way. Guest tables were filled with an abundance of candles and once the sun went down, added the perfect amount of glow. It complimented the work of Schades of Light, who provided extra lighting design {cafe bulbs and paper lanterns} in the space.

Collage 5

The food, provided by CK Catering, was a major talking piece amongst guests. Steve and Lauren’s customized menu featured a lot of unique elements, like salt block scallops, cucumber salmon rolls, and mini tacos, and was a full of trending food arrangements like their late night snack {chicken satay and quesadillas} and the ultimate dessert station for their guests, filled with mini creme pie shooters, fruit tarts, chocolate-covered strawberries, cupcakes, and baklava! Are you as hungry as I am now?

Well they didn’t stop at the creativity of their menu because they also sported an awesome gentleman’s hour with a slew of craft beer selections and whiskey drinks topped with a crispy bacon garnish.

Sarkisian Collage (1) It really was the perfect weather outside and we enjoyed seeing their guests take advantage of the rented lounge furniture adding a little touch of comfort to the garden patio. It’s a great way for people to relax while watching the sunset over Lake Michigan or take a break from the packed dance floor! The night was finished with one of our most popular send off’s, the always picture-perfect sparkler exit! Their guests lined the outer walkway to surround them with lots of love as Steve and Lauren made their exit as Mr. and Mrs!

Collage 6

To Steve & Lauren: we enjoyed SO much getting to know you and working to coordinate your dream wedding. It was such a beautiful sight to see and be included in and we are so happy for you both!

Want to hear more from us? Contact us!

– Danielle

January 13, 2014
in 1928 Planning, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Planning, Wedding Trends

Creating your wedding registry is an exciting time because it’s all about planning out your new life together! Just with every other aspect of wedding planning, there are helpful do’s and do not’s that we’d like to share to help keep you on track and organized! First, decide whether you lean towards being a traditional or modern-registry couple. It will help you decide which stores or alternate types of registry outlets are best suited for you. For instance, there are wedding trends showing an increase in the number of couples taking an alternate route and deciding against the traditional wedding registry gifts like bed sheets or pots and pans. Instead, listed among some of the more popular registry outlets made by couples:

One-Stop Shop for all things registry

Honeymooning & Travel Gifts

Charitable Donations

Unique and One-of-a-Kind Finds

If going the more traditional route, ask your selected registry stores if they have a completion program. Often times, stores will give you a discount for items remaining on your registry after your wedding date. This percentage can range anywhere from 10% – 15% and can help you purchase those items on your wedding registry you really wanted but didn’t receive. Those that made the cut for being the top wedding registry stores were:

Store Collage

Here are a few tips to keep you on track and organized when creating your perfect wedding registry:

✿ Have a wedding registry at more than one place – preferably at two to three stores. It gives your guests options and versatility in their shopping experience.

✿  Maintain a balanced wedding registry with various price points and types of items.

✿ Register for what you want and need! Who cares if it’s non-traditional! Want new outdoor equipment, hobby items, or board games? Register for it! Some guests are looking for these fun, unique items on your registry and want to give you something more enjoyable than typical wedding registry necessities like a stand mixer or measuring spoons.

✿ There is no harm in registering early on in your engagement. Some guests will want to take a glance at your registry as soon as they receive your Save The Date. The worst thing you can do is register too close to the wedding and make things hectic for your guests.

✿ Don’t limit yourself – see the future! Are you like me and still live off of your college mismatched dishes or have towels that have seen better days? Eventually your college items need to be upgraded and now is the time to do so! In the future, you may want to host family get-togethers or dinner parties so being prepared to do so now, and registering for those items will help out in the long run!

✿ Prepare Yourself! When heading to the store to create your wedding registry, go in with an idea of the items you for sure what to register for. It’ll make things go smoother, be more organized, and often is a time-saver so you aren’t in the store for hours on end.

 ✿ Don’t forget to write your thank you’s! It’s one of our most important tips for you regarding your registry! Make sure they are personal and given to your guests promptly!

 

Want to learn more? Reach out to us so we can chat! Hope these tips help you when registering! Happy Planning, and shall I say shopping too!

 

✿ Danielle

 

April 15, 2013
in 1928 Planning, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

Are you busy looking for ways to have a personalized wedding ceremony? Just like the wedding reception, you should make the wedding ceremony your very own and seek to represent who you are as a couple. We have seen a real turn on the way ceremonies are performed and the personal touches that are constantly being infused. Here are some quick tips on what we’ve seen our couples do to get your imagination going!

1. Write your own personalized vows to read aloud at the wedding ceremony.

2. Consider having a booklet waiting at the guests’ chairs that tells your love story while they wait for the ceremony to begin.

Personalized Ceremony Program

3. Add your four-legged friend to the bridal party to add a personal touch.

4. Infuse how you met and your journey together as a couple into the wedding.

5. Select a unique, one-of-a-kind alter backdrop to create a personalized wedding ceremony.

 

Ceremony Backdrop

6. Consider an officiant whom you’ve known.

7. Personalize your programs to speak to your personality.

8. Arrange the ceremony chairs in a semi-circle so that all of your loved ones surround you.

Ceremony Setup

9. Have your ceremony musician be a close family member or friend.

10. Choose your music carefully – maybe put a spin on the traditional processional or recessional music.

 

Hope these few ideas get you started on ways to have a personalized wedding ceremony of your own!

 

Want to hear more from 1928 Planning Co? Contact us!

 

❀ Danielle

April 10, 2013
in 1928 Planning, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Ideas

Oh the woes of seating arrangements! I bet you’re asking yourself, “Should I do a seating chart? How do I tackle this? Where do I start?” First things first: Decide what type of feel you are going for at your reception. Are you looking for a traditional, formal reception or more of a casual, mingle reception? What type of food is being served? If you’re doing heavy appetizers you can get away with open seating but a plated dinner requires assigned tables, and maybe even assigned seats! What is your guest count looking like? Anything over 50 people needs some sort of seating arrangement. Answering these questions will help determine whether open seating, assigned tables, or assigned seats will be best. From our experience, we’ve seen a little bit of everything. Here are some general seating arrangement ideas to help guide you in creating the best atmosphere for guests to relax and enjoy themselves!

Our Tips!

Make the place card table visible!

There is nothing worse than guests having awkward first moments in the venue. Provide guests with an easy to find table near the entrance of the venue that is quick to read and comprehend.

Place cards should always be organized alphabetically!

Do NOT organize your seating arrangement presentation by table #’s. It will lengthen the searching process – especially when you have a large guest count and 200 names to filter through! Doing it alphabetically will keep the line moving and guests will be satisfied with its ease.

Make sure the table numbers are visible!

Make sure table numbers are large, easy to see, read and find! Also be sure they are facing the direction guests will be walking in at.

Table Numbers

Table conversation is key!

Try and put atleast a few people who know each other together at a guest table to jumpstart convo. Mixing a few familiar faces and a few new ones will create a great mingling environment throughout the reception.

Obtain a layout from the venue

Before making seating arrangements, be sure to ask your venue for a layout of the reception space. Getting a feel for how many tables will fit comfortably in a given area early will help you plan out seating decisions later on.

Elderly vs. DJ Speakers

Who would have thought – Elders and loud, bumping music speakers don’t go together! Think through your layout and try to keep the elders on the opposite end of the DJ’s speakers so the sound doesn’t overwhelm them. You’ll want all guests to be comfortable; this is just another thing to think about!

Have a kid’s table at the reception!

Have a separate table just for the kids if you have several children over the age of 7. Be sure to check out one of my previous posts giving you the best insight on how to tackle kids at your reception!

Be sure to mix the families!

Especially if you decide to have a dance floor in the middle of the venue that separates the guests, be sure to mix his and her’s families to create more of a celebration and togetherness among the different families.

 

Contact us for more advice on more seating arrangement tips! It’s something you’ll want to take the time on and have it be just right!

 

Happy planning!

 

❀ Danielle

 

April 5, 2013
in 1928 Planning, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Ideas

Reception timelines are a big deal – and really control the feel of the wedding celebration and the flow of events. It’s all about keeping the reception at a good pace, not too rushed and definitely not moving too slow. Many of you I’m sure turn to the web to look at sample wedding reception timelines. Just remember these are just a guide to help you get organized – not a set of rules to abide by! While there is flexibility as to how a reception can be organized and ordered, it’s important to be practical. Her are 10 helpful reception timeline tips that will help make your day flow just as you want it to!

 1. Decide if you want to have a traditional timeline or a trendy one.

First things first, decide if you’ll want the usual reception customs like cake cutting, the dollar dance, bouquet and garter toss, etc. or if you’d rather take a spin and go for a more trendy approach.

2. Make sure everyone involved knows what’s going on.

One of my biggest reception timeline tips: Everything should be planned and scheduled with your DJ, photographer, caterer, coordinator and other key vendors well in advance of your big day. Make sure every vendor has the same grand entrance time, first dance and cake cutting time, as well as dinner start time. Doing this ensures a smooth wedding reception from start to finish. 

First Dance

Photo Credit: Ben Pancoast Photography 

3. Do your formal photos right away!

Have an organized list to give to the photographer about who you’d like in what photos. Inform your family and friends in these formal pictures where to meet and when. This will keep the movement from one set of photos to the next.

4. Don’t keep guests waiting!

Try and stick to a 45 minute cocktail hour (1.25 hour MAX).  Keeping your guests waiting too long will have them wondering about the timeline of events and when things are going to get underway. 

5. Allow time to get ready for the grand entrance.

Plan to bustle your dress before you get announced? Have a large bridal party to round up? Allow a few extra minutes between arriving at the reception venue and getting announced so you can stick to your timeline as much as possible.

Grand Entrance

6. Consider doing toasts between dinner courses.

This is a newly popular piece to reception timelines. Consider having dinner right away and starting the toasts in between the salad and dinner course. It allows guests to finish up their first course while toasts begin and time for caterers to clear the tables of salad plates to prepare for the dinner entree.

7. Tame your talkers.

It’ll be impossible to predict how long someone can ramble for when they’re under the spotlight but inform your toasters to keep it to a minimum of a few minutes. You’ll want to keep your guests attention and taming your talkers is the way to go. 

8. Have a buffer of time for every activity

As mentioned in our #7, you’ll never know how much time your toasters may talk for when under the spotlight. Also, if doing other activities like a grand sparkler sendoff, make sure you build in time to prepare the sparklers, get them lit, and have your guests lined up. 

9. Don’t cut the cake too late!

A lot of couples are turning to cutting their cake upon arrival. If you’ve decided this is a little early for you, consider cutting the cake as soon as dinner is over. This will allow catering enough time to get the cake cut before guests begin to leave the reception.

10. Once you start open dancing, keep it that way!

Enough said! Once people find their way to the dance floor, don’t give them a reason to leave! Be sure to get all of the formalities taken care of before open dancing begins.    

 

Be okay with changes and don’t get too caught up in the timeline – enjoy your day (it’s going to go too fast regardless!) Keep in mind that you’re not orchestrating the wedding reception alone – you’ve got us to help guide you; just one of the many things we’re here for!

 

Contact us with questions! Happy planning!

 

❀ Danielle

 

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1928 Planning Co. is a full-service Southwest Michigan wedding planning company, helping couples plan, create and experience their dream wedding!  We offer guidance with wedding planning for amazing destination weddings and Michigan beach weddings, wedding rentals, decor and more.  Our priority is creating a perfectly unique wedding that represents YOU, and making your big day that much more relaxing and memorable. Contact us to see how we can be a part of your celebration!

info@1928planning.com

269-332-1632

March 27, 2013
in 1928 Planning, DIY Hot Spot!, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

Deciding whether to give favors to guests and then choosing what the favor should be is often one of those small-scale back-burner decisions that may not be thought about much until all of the big wedding planning decisions are out of the way. Although this is often the case, it’s important to remember that creative favors are one of the easiest ways to put a little personal twist on the gift your guests will take home. Regardless of what you choose to give, it should always be something that represents you, and your relationship or personality. The gift of giving we’ve seen has remained constant, coming in two forms, either a physical item to give guests or in place of a favor, the couple giving a donation to an organization or association that has a special impact on them. This post is all about sharing some of the top creative favors for guests! Check it out!

 

Do It Yourself

Simply put, if you create the favor yourself, it’ll be personal, guaranteed! Let the creative gears spin on this one! We’ve seen a bunch of unique, DIY creative favors – anywhere from coasters, bookmarks, caramels and some of my personal favorites homemade jam and soap.

DIY Favors

 { Homemade Strawberry Jam }  { Homemade Vanilla Lavender Soap Bars }

 

Where You’re From

Have your guest favors be a shout out to where you’re from! These unique favors could be anywhere from Mackinac Island fudge, salt water taffy, or one of my favorites (and guilty pleasure) individual Garrett’s Popcorn snacks. Regardless of where you’re from, there will be plenty of ways to give recognition to your roots while having something creative to surprise guests with.

Wedding Favors

 { Salt Water Taffy }  { Garrett’s Popcorn Individual Snack Packs }

 

Where You Tie The Knot

Since so many of our couples travel to St Joe to tie the knot and have a mini-destination wedding, giving guests a regional treat as a favor is an easy way to keep your theme going.  Michigan mitten shaped chocolates, caramel apples from the Chocolate Cafe, we’ve seen it all! Give guests something to talk about! There are tons of resources to finding the perfect creative favor! Try out either Michigan Gourmet Travels or Purely Michigan for more great Michigan inspired ideas!

Wedding Favors

 { Individually Wrapped Caramel Apple Favors }

Important takeaway:: make sure the creative favor you’ve selected to give guests reflects who the two of you are! Hope this post gets your ideas flowing!

Looking for more brainstorming ideas? Contact us!

Happy planning!

❀ Danielle

March 18, 2013
in 1928 Planning, Wedding Coordination, Wedding Design Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Trends

Whether it be an evening grand exit or the ceremony recessional, it’s been tradition for newlyweds to celebrate their exits by going out with a bang! Here’s a combination of what we’ve seen our couples do for a creative and awe-inspiring wedding send off and what’s up and coming for both ceremony and reception exits!

Ceremony Recessional Exits

Used traditionally for ceremony recessional exits were to toss rose petals, rice, confetti or blow bubbles. Just like other wedding elements, the traditional wedding send off items have been reinvented into so much more! Here are some of the items for a ceremony recessional we LOVE!

wedding send off

Multi-Colored Pom Pons |Courtesy Wedding Chicks

wedding send off Miniature beach balls! Perfect for a beach ceremony in St. Joe

wedding send off

  Balloons to line the walkway and be released on the count of three!

Other wedding send off ideas we love are tossed feathers or lavender as well as colorful ribbon dowels. What could be more of a perfect wedding send off than this? Just like I say in all of my posts, try something unique! Chances are your guests have been to several weddings previous to yours. Give them something to talk about right from the get-go that they’ll have fun with and remember long after the wedding is over.

 

Reception Send Offs

I always love when couples choose big impact decorations at their reception and when the wedding send off isn’t overlooked! Not only are evening exits the perfect note to end the reception on but are always great photo ops you’ll want your photographer to capture! We’ve seen a ton of AWESOME send offs – here are some of our favorites!

wedding send off

 Sparkler Send Off  | BJLR Photography

wedding send off

 Ben Pancoast Photography

wedding send off

 Have A Getaway Car!  | Craig Watson Photography

Tips for your wedding send off: consider the clean up involved afterwards as well as the user-friendliness of the send off item you’ve decided to use! Make sure you inform guests when and where to use them!

Hope to see some of these great send off’s! Contact us for more great ideas!

❀ Danielle