BIRTH FLOWER OF THE MONTH: July..."The Waterlily"

Happy Birthday July Babies!

With the warm summer weather finally here, we're able to swim, boat and see the beautiful lake flower known as the water lily! 

The water lily is found throughout the world and is also known as a lotus. If anyone shops at Pier 1, it is something you see all over their Asian decor! In many countries within Asia, the meaning of a Lotus or water lily bloom is rebirth or awakening to the spiritual/religious reality of life. 

This flower also can resemble someone who has been able to overcome a difficult obstacle in their life. The story behind this "personal/floral" growth goes like this: Water lilies roots are deep within the soil below the water line and begin at the bottom of a muddy, murky lake. They rise through the water and once they have reached the surface, bloom into an absolutely beautiful flower... talk about feeling motivated and uplifted!

On that note, have a FABULOUS Monday and an incredible month of July to everyone... and again - HAPPY BIRTHDAY July babies :)

Picture This! An early glimpse into our wedding this Friday!

This Friday, we have the honor of designing a full service wedding for Melissa and Marty.   This particular couple is actually holding both the ceremony and reception in the same room.  We will have a quick room flip as soon as the ceremony is over which will be no small task.  The entire Modern Day design team is excited to create this stylish wedding for this amazing couple!

I'm especially excited to share with you the rendering board that my unbelievable assistant Erin created.  For those of you who do not know Erin, let me do the honors.   Erin is a recent Interior Design graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design.  I have been blessed enough to have worked alongside her for nearly a year.  She is my dot the i, cross the t girl with a passion for the wedding and event industry.  During our 10 minute interview :) Erin shared with me her impeccable portfolio and I knew I had to hire her.  Since that time, she has been bringing my vision to fruition through these remarkable rendering boards. Depending on the scale of the perspective, rendering boards can take thirty to forty hours to create however it is so worth the investment!  People are visual and having the ability to share a tiny glimpse of the event this way is so exciting.

This particular perspective is in fact the set-up for the ceremony portion of the wedding.  The ceiling will be draped in a sheer ivory fabric and the couple will be married under a canopy dripping with crystal and orchid strands, black chivari chairs dressed in fresh floral and apple green lamour ties will provide elegant seating while the wheat grass containers and candle collections will create a modern, clean look down the aisle.  We made a few changes after the fact but I will wait to share until the event recap.  Trust me when I say it's gonna be good!  

Going to the Chapel: Melissa and Marty

One of our fabulous couples from Vegas is getting married this Friday, July 3rd!

Melissa Metzger - Second Grade Teacher

Marty Biles - Real Estate Appraiser

Tell us about the first time you two met!

"The first time we met was at a Starbucks on a blind date. We talked for a while and then went and watched an 80's cover band called the Yellow Brick Road. When the band was finished, we weren't ready to have the night end, so we decided to go out to Lake Las Vegas and walk around. Granted by this time it was about 3:00 am. We walked and talked some more. It seemed like we were trying to learn as much about one another as we could on that first night. We walked to a bridge that overlooked the lake and we were just hugging when Marty whispered in my ear, "I don't know how I found you, but I have to figure out a way not to loose you." Since that moment my life has never been the same."

What is your idea of the "perfect" date?

"Honestly, spending time together makes anything we do 'perfect'."

What is the one thing about your wedding you are most excited for?

"We are most excited about the gathering of family and friends and to be able to share our special day with those we love."

Tell us about your proposal story!

"Marty and I had gone shopping for my ring a few days before Christmas. The jeweler let us take the ring with us that day, so I knew he had it, I just didn't know when he was going to ask. Christmas day rolled around and we were with my family. Everyone had opened all their gifts and Marty presented me with a large box. I opened it and inside was a smaller box. There was a box inside a box inside a box inside a box. In all, I think I opened about eight boxes! I finally got to the box that I recognized as "the ring" box. I was so nervous I could hardly open it. Once I got past all the tape, I opened the box only to find a Kasey Kahne tree ornament inside. I was half laughing and half crying. Marty and I have an inside joke about my non-love of NASCAR. It was a cruel but funny joke. As I was trying to gather myself and my other family members were distracting me, he had my niece go to the Christmas tree and get an ornament off the tree to hand to me. My niece handed me an Angel ornament that said Christmas 2008 and around her neck was the ring. It had been in front of me the entire day and I didn't even notice it. He said some beautiful words to me and then placed the ring on my finger. It was truly a Christmas I will never forget."

Your Petal Palette: Green

My absolutely FAVORITE color is green... to me it signifies life.  The color green in fact means life, growth and renewal which signifies so much right now as we face our daily challenges.  Negativity surrounds us daily in the media so it's refreshing to be surrounded by amazing inspiration through beautiful flowers.

As a designer I find inspiration in not only the flower itself but through their amazing colors. The color palette green offers endless flower and foliage options from orchids to hydrangea and everything in between.  Believe it or not this fresh color is rather diverse coming in several varying shades; yellow green, sage/gray green, true green and even variegated green.  

I absolutely loved this fresh table centerpiece!  Our bride saved old wine and olive oil bottles to be used as unique vessels to hold single stems.  We then  added 4x4 cubes containing locally grown wheat grass which finished this organic centerpiece beautifully.  This arrangement is a perfect example of yellow, variegated and true green.

image courtesy of CoastLine-Studios

This sweet cake topper is made from what I call our work horse flower, the Peruvian hydrangea.  Some Hydrangeas can be temperamental when used in foam but not this chartreuse lovely.  Who doesn't love a flower that lasts for weeks and is available year round?

images courtesy of Dusty Brown Photography

I don't know about you but I'm in love with orchids especially Lady Slippers!  They are so incredibly unique and the color is spectacular.  Although this particular orchid variety is rather expensive it adds that perfect punch to what would otherwise be a very simple bouquet.  

image courtesy of Brianna Graham

Have a fantastic Monday everyone and we look forward to sharing more exciting things with you this week.  Make it a great day!!!!  

Making any Reception Site Beautiful!

So often I meet with brides requesting the same thing, how do I take a ordinary space and make it extraordinary all on a limited budget? Let me first start by saying that identifying your personal style is essential in creating a memorable event. Our first educational series covered that very topic. I would encourage you to first sit down and make a list of what's important to both you and your fiance.

In this post I thought it would be fun to share a wedding that took place at the infamous Cannonsburg ski lodge. In the winter you can find many hot chocolate milk faces and snow gear but who knew in the summer the lodge could be transformed into a reception location.

The brides request to create a Japanese garden reception was no small task in this rustic lodge. Our job was to transform this chalet style space equipped with wagon wheel light fixtures, dark wood and fieldstone fireplace into the couples perfect vision!

While on my site visit with the bride and her family we agreed there were areas that needed special attention. One of which was the wagon wheel light fixtures. Rather than work against the decor I chose to use the fixtures to our advantage. We first started by draping sheer chocolate and ivory fabric along with white chinese lanterns adorned in crystals. Next a unique floor plan was created by incorporating the use of 8ft. banquet style tables, hollow squares and square tables.

Rather than using the conventional front facing head table we actually placed two hollow squares in the center of the room. If you're asking yourself what in the world is a hollow square, I'll tell you. It's a combination of four 6 ft. or 8 ft. banquet tables designed in a square. This option worked perfectly for the couples head table not to mention the hollowed out center is a perfect place for a gianormous focal design.

Don't you just love the silk chinese lanterns with crystals. LED votives were used and last over 15 hours with fresh batteries. They are light weight and less dangerous than real candlelight. When on a limited budget I encourage people to spend the money on a few large focal designs vs. spreading a minimal budget over 20 to 30 tables.

Candles or floating blooms always make a great inexpensive compliment to any table.

Pink champagne runners were used on the guest tables while both head tables were dressed in full linens. I say if you can't afford to fully dress every table why not find a creative way to have a little of both. I promise it makes a huge difference!

My hope is that through this post and our educational series you gain a greater sense of how to create an event that is not only beautiful and affordable but uniquely your own.

Happy planning!

all images courtesy of Phrene Photography

Going to the Chapel: Jessica and Bert

Introducing a fabulous couple with a white, silver and sophisticated wedding coming up this weekend!

Jessica Behan - Accounting at Kelloggs

Bert Bachand - Auditor at a local CPA firm

Tell us about the first time you two met!

"We met sophomore year at Western Michigan University where we had several mutual friends and classes together. It wasn't until our senior year of college, when we attended a work benefit together, that we realized there was something more than just a friendship growing. From that moment on we've been together ever since!"

What is your idea of the "perfect" date?

"It doesn't take us much to have a perfect date. We have the best time when we play a round of golf, spending time on the boat and meeting some friends for a BBQ and a bonfire."

What is the one thing about your wedding you are most excited for?

"We are so excited to be married in a beautiful church with our friends and family whom we love. The entire day will be amazing from the church and newly renovated Thousand Oaks Golf Course which will both decorated by Modern Day Floral to the tasty cake from Sweet Cake Designs. We just can't wait to see it all come together and to have Lisa Kae Photography capture the memories!"

Tell us about your proposal story!

"Bert took me on a stormy night to spend the evening on the beach in Grand Haven to have some ice cream and to watch the huge waves by the pier. After fighting a monsoon of rain on the drive out there, the sky finally cleared. He brought an umbrella in case there was more rain and we sat down on a blanket on the  beach. Just as the sun was beginning to set, Bert surprised me with a beautiful ring and asked me to marry him!"

Photographer: Lisa Kae Photography

Ceremony Location: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

Reception Location: Thousand Oaks Golf Course

Cake Designer: Sweet Cake Designs

All images are courtesy of Lisa Kae Photography

Planning a long distance wedding: The do’s and don’ts

image courtesy of Ben Harrison Photography

So our very own Mrs. is back after an exciting couple of weeks, not only did they move into their first home but celebrated their one year anniversary...how exciting!!! However this post was worth the wait and you're in for a real treat. When I received the post this morning I could feel the blood, sweat and tears that went into planning this wedding from long distance. I'm sure you will find this blog to be insightful and incredibly helpful. Thank you Alishan for taking time out to share your experience with our readers!

Greetings! First, I must apologize for my absence last week. Mike and I were too wrapped up in the “Oh my gosh we’ve been married for a year already!” bliss and time just got the best of us.

When we became engaged we lived in Atlanta, Georgia but always knew we would get married in Grand Rapids. Both of our families live there and regardless of the jet setting, its home. Planning a wedding from a thousand miles away is a unique experience. Being away from the action and trusting others at all times to make your vision a reality can be overwhelming and intense to say the least.

With the help of my fabulous mom, I came up with this list of do’s and don’ts that we learned during the 20 month process.

Don’t

• Assume anything. If you have a question or aren’t 100% sure about something, ask the question.
• Trust the color of things on line or in photos try to see them in person. While trying to match the perfect shade of pink on the invitation to the linens, escort cards, etc. it was hard to go with what we saw online. A lot of times computers can distort colors and leave you thinking you’re looking at one shade of pink while it’s completely different. Ask your vendors to send you a small swatch or sample of the things you are interested in so you can be certain of what you are getting.
• Use vendors you do not feel you can trust. These individuals can make or break your day. You don’t want to have to babysit or constantly worry about when your vendors will show up, if they’re doing their job and what the final outcome will be. After the contracts were signed and the details set, I didn’t have to worry about my vendors at all. This allowed us to enjoy the day with friends and family without a care in the world.
• Set unrealistic expectations of those helping you. As excited as everyone is about your wedding, no one is nearly as excited as you are. You can’t expect everyone in your life to have your wedding be their number one priority just because it is yours. If people are willing to help you plan, allow them to help you when they have time. Not when it’s most convenient for you which is probably 24 hours a day!
• Be a vendor stalker. These folks are busy and have other brides as well as you. It goes back to trusting your vendors. I promise your wedding in not their first and they will be prepared for your day. There is no need to check and double check and triple check if you trust them to do their job.

Do

• Get everything in writing. This is for your protection and your vendors. A simple precaution that can save everyone a lot of time and stress later on.
• Follow up. After a meeting, shoot a quick email to make sure you and your vendors are on the same page. Once you are sure they are, go back on your merry planning way! This follow up will make the week before your wedding enjoyable and stress free you and all of those around you.
• Take a weekend to get to the wedding destination to see what you have been planning. We went to MI probably 3 or 4 times over the 20 months to meet with our vendors, see the church and the time was invaluable. It eased my nerves and really made things feel real.
• Trust your vendors. Have I mentioned this already? J I mean it!
• Be clear about what you want. Once I started planning, I knew I wanted simple, luxurious, elegance. The details may have changed, but as long as I stayed focused on those three concepts, I knew I would be happy in the end.
• Have a team to help you though all the details. If at all possible have a point person at the wedding location/destination they can follow-up in person and relay information back to you on the spot or later. This person was my mom. I woudn’t have been able to plan this wedding without her. She lives in GR and did a lot of the running around I wasn’t able to. From picking up napkins from Jenn and taking them to the JW to have them folded to the many, MANY visits to the printer for one thing or another, my mom was able to handle it. If you don’t have that person, be sure to stay organized so when you do visit your location, you can handle everything while there. Make a list and stick to it!
• Send out invitations, notices etc in advance so people from out of town know what they are invited to and can make arrangements. About 60% of our guests were coming from out of town. From the wedding website, to the invitations to all of the different wedding weekend events, we were constantly providing information to our guests. Your Aunt Mary may not need to know 5 times what time the ceremony starts, but your future husband’s college roommate may need the extra reminder. J
• Have fun! This is going to be overwhelming if you let it be. So don’t and you will thank me later!

I hope this information helps even just a bit! Have a great week and of course, Happy Planning!

Alishan