Ann Arbor & Metro Detroit's Premiere Event Planning Company

robot themed wedding

2012-02-02T19:31:00.000-05:00

This post from emmaline bride is everything a wedding should be...beautiful, unique, and personal. We have some amazingly creative couples we are currently working with, and I can't wait for our 2012 season to begin!!!!

In a wedding world full of tulle, taffeta, and pink peonies, we understand not every bride in the world swoons at the mere sight of a wildflower bouquet or a doily-wrapped mason jar. At Emmaline Bride, we get it – everyone’s taste is different! Today we’re channeling our inner geek to share with you some unique ideas on how to plan a robot themed wedding. These handmade wedding items – the best robot inspiration around! – will steal your heart and suit your style. After all, it’s no one’s wedding but your own!

ROBOT THEMED WEDDING

bettybits

Above: This adorable print has geeky robot love written all over it! By Betty Bits.

Below: (Left) Stamp some robot love all over your wedding invitations, save the dates, and more with this charming stamp by Doodle Bug Design. (Right) A robot tie pin for your groomsmen makes a great gift! By Glazed Black Cherry.

Tie in your wedding theme to your wedding invitations right from the start! This robot wedding invitation by Nellia Designs is just one example we adore:

… and another we love by Mr. Handsomeface:

Instead of boring favors guests will never use, give robot soap favors instead! Spotted at The Pig and the Peacock.

Skip the frilly ring pillow in lieu of a robot pillow like this one by Little Korboose, which can be used in your love nest after the wedding:

Give your bridesmaids an adorable makeup case in this robot pattern print by BHive and fill it with your favorite lip gloss and mascara.

If your bridesmaids love to read, say thank you (or “domo arigato”, which means “thank you very much” in Japanese) with this adorable robot bookmark by Nolia Bliss:

We think this red robot print bow tie is especially fitting for your ring bearer. By CCA Design:

Your groomsmen will love these custom cuff links with robots on the front, which are handmade by Cosmic Firefly:

A robot themed wedding isn’t complete without a robot cake topper! We adore this one in particular, handmade by Builders Studio.

Pocket mirrors are a perfect addition to your bridesmaid gift and can always come in handy. We spotted these robot pocket mirrors at Madison Craft:

These robot lollipops are perfect for your robot themed wedding candy buffet and are available in a variety of colors and flavors by Sweet Niks:

We like these robot favor bags and tags by Rabbit and Me with an adorable his and hers robot stamp in the corner:

This coffee mug makes an adorable wedding gift for the mr. and mrs. by The Printed Surface:

We can’t forget about robot themed jewelry to give to bridesmaids or a steampunk-inspired ring for the men. Check out these robot jewelry finds:

left: tiny society | right: touchsoul

kitty robot

Real Robot Wedding Inspiration

In a post we spotted via Offbeat Bride Becky and Aaron tied the knot with tons of robot details we love. Two of our favorites were these vases from Ikea with robot charms tied to the top…

photo credit: moxie studios

… and these adorable robot wedding shoes painted by Nora Karen for the bride:

photo credit: moxie studios

Robot Wedding Cake

It just doesn’t get much cuter than this robot wedding cake photographed by Sherri J Photographyvia Intimate Weddings:

Add these adorable robot cupcake toppers to your dessert bar! By Mate’s Rubbish.

DIY Robot Cake Pops

Inspired to bake? You can craft these robot cake pops with an easy-to-follow tutorial fromKumquat! Aren’t they adorable?

Don’t forget to say thank you!

We mentioned yesterday about how to write wedding thank you cards; tie in your theme with this robot thank you card that matches the robot wedding invitation we showcased earlier in this post, also by Mr. Handsomeface:

heel guards!

2012-01-22T21:03:00.000-05:00

Are you worried about ruining your heels from walking outside on your wedding day? Do you dread the inevitable grass and dirt stains that are bound to attach themselves to your heels while you gingerly walk from one photo opportunity to the next?

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Well, we have come across a fabulous product to ensure that not only will you be able to wear your heels outside without a hint of damage, but you also won’t lose fashion points given their subtle appearance. A new rage in the wedding world, the heel guard is designed to protect your shoes from Mother Nature and to make sure they look just as beautiful from the moment you put them on to the second you kick them off. A brand that we love is “Solemates.” They comes in four colors, (clear, black, silver and gold), and provide a wider sole to support a wealth of surfaces. From tricky cobblestone to sandy beaches, these little life savors are all you and your bridal party needs to keep your shoes 100% intact (and to limit the amount of stumbling and/or sinking that seems to occur in given situations).

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Also check out “Starletto’s” which is a brand specializing in heel guards for stilettos. Not only are they stylish (with a myriad of colors to choose from), and virtually inconspicuous, but also they are great for providing steadiness on the dance floor and for decreasing the number of scuff marks typically associated with a day of activity and footwear. All in all, heel guards are a great bridal party gift idea and are smart for those wishing to add a touch of stability (literally) to their wedding day. We highly recommend them!

lauren@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

10.1.11 | trisha + kevin

2012-01-12T08:36:00.002-05:00

WARNING: this post will be longer than usual + full of lots and lots and lots of phenomenal photographs.

this blog post has quite a bit of meaning and emotion behind it. my sister was married this past october, and this is her wedding. it was hard for me to find my balance as a sister and as a wedding planner. i was a bridesmaid in the wedding and my daughter was the flower girl. it was a blast, and a day i will never forget.

trisha chose purple + pewter as her wedding colors. we had to be careful that the design didn't turn into the pioneer high school prom all over again, so we carefully composed a design that focused on the purples she loved so much and incorporated the pewter with elegant, but vintage touches. no white allowed.

shortly after composing her guest list, and researching some venues, she settled upon first united methodist for her ceremony and travis pointe country club for her reception. we took care of big ticket items such as hiring jill devries for photography, wayne kinney as the DJ, sweet pea floral design for the flowers, andy owen from owen video for cinematography, hair and make-up by Julie and Hannah of Imagine Three, and the jefferson market cakery for her wedding cake. we selected gorgeous table linens, napkins, and silver chiavari chairs from chair covers and linens, selected the type of lighting style we wanted, and worked out the smaller details from there.

clearly this wedding means a great deal to me, and i will let the pictures show you what i mean...

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

2012-01-07T01:47:00.001-05:00

Pinterest. n. an amazing online inspiration board that wastes any "free" time i thought i had.

Okay, so maybe the definition above isn't EXACTLY what Pinterest is, but it truly is amazing. In all fairness, it has lead to my family eating (and enjoying) more homemade meals, giving me great craft ideas to do with the girls, and has revolutionized the way i communicate with all of my clients.

Whether you are a coordination client, planning client, or design client, i am now able to share inspirational pictures and boards with all of you and you are able to share your boards and pictures with me. Pinterest will never replace my design proposal, but it is nice to have in addition to.

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**WARNING: an account on Pinterest will lead to hours and hours of lost time (or not so "lost" depending on how you look at it; I classify my time on Pinterest as "work") ;)

If you don't have an invite to Pinterest and want one, send me an email!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

Engagement Pictures | Ryan Southen Photography

2012-01-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

What better way to start the New Year than to post some amazing engagement pictures of one of our 2012 couples? Kristen + Jorge start our 2012 wedding season on May 5, 2012 at the University of Michigan Museum of Art! K + J live in Chicago, and there is no better place to have engagement pictures taken than the windy city. Enjoy these fabulous photos by Mr. Ryan Southen:

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

The Processional

2011-12-22T12:09:00.000-05:00

As you move forward in your wedding planning and start thinking more in depth about the details of your day, you should think about the experience you want your friends + family to have. From your save-the-dates to your wedding colors, you are creating a unique and personal experience for each person who attends your wedding.

When it comes time for you and your bridal party to walk down the aisle, what music best reflects you and your other half? Some people opt for a more traditional processional playing Canon in D, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, or the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin.

I encourage you to take time to sit down and think about what you want to walk down the aisle to (or what you want your bride to be walking down the aisle to). Our 2011 clients chose some pretty amazing music for their processionals:

1. Through Smoke by NeedtoBreathe
2. Marry Me by Train
3. Glitter in the Air by Pink

And who says you can't make an entrance by choreographing something unique or busting out a flash mob? We're up for anything!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

heidi elnora {trunk show}

2011-12-02T12:24:00.001-05:00

our amazing friend, and fellow small business owner stacy at the gown shop ann arbor is having a TRUNK SHOW this weekend! what does that mean for you? 15% off heidi elnora wedding gowns AND heidi herself is in town for you to MEET...IN PERSON!!! the trunk show runs december 2nd and december 3rd and there are just a FEW appointments available...email stacy@thegownshopannarbor.com to schedule your appointment TODAY!! if only i was getting married....*sigh* :)

9.18.11 | lori + juan

2011-11-26T02:59:00.004-05:00

...as if our blog isn't full of enough beauty...

lori contacted us at the beginning of her planning process to help secure her venue, creative team, and to assist with the planning process. like many of our clients, lori lives out of state and couldn't return as often as she would have liked to.

through the planning process lori became a great friend. we shared some really great times and some very hard times together. it made my heart happy that lori + juan had the most PERFECT september day for their wedding at misty farms.

lori is so detailed and organized, she really hit it out of the park with all her thoughtfulness. her fiance juan is from el salvador so lori incorporated some really amazing details for juan; she had their vows spoken in both english and spanish, ordered a sign that said "reciencasado" which means "just married" in spanish, and had pupusa's (a traditional salvadorian dish) served as a late night snack.

first of all, i apologize in advance for the length of this post...melissa from a girl in love captured the day perfectly...without further ado....

if you have never been to misty farms or if you are a bride planning your 2012 wedding at misty farms...the first half dozen photos of the property are pure eye candy...

my girls...zoe, georgia + ella...if you read this, you have captured my heart in a way that no other children have before...thank you

all the flowers + bouquets + boutonniere's were designed by susan from passionflower (they were GORGEOUS!)

lori asked each of her guests to write a note on a quilting square in lieu of a guest book...it was such a unique idea and turned out wonderfully!

the highlight of day was when all 100 guests chanted "courtney, courtney" in an effort to get me to join in on the group picture...and there i am front and center hanging out with my three gals :)

an amazingly awesome kids table!!!!

lori + juan met boxing and of course lori incorporated that unique and personal detail into their wedding...below are their r.s.v.p. cards + favors (boxing glove key chains)

this picture warms by heart...as a mother of two girls i can appreciate the love that is shown between the daughter + her parents

the s'mores bar was a hit!

this crowd knew how to have a GREAT time!

venue - misty farms
photographer - a girl in love
planning + coordination - petals planning
caterer - katherine's catering
dj - lufru
floral design - passionflower
bartending - petals planning

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

thankful

2011-11-24T07:32:00.020-05:00

as i reflect back on this year i realize there are few words to do it justice...i am thankful for:

the birth of our second child...

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the opportunity to celebrate my sister at misty farms this summer...

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...where we captured a moment with four generations of schneider women

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two very important men in my life (that admittedly, i don't have enough pictures of)....

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welcoming a new brother into the family...

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my children who constantly teach me selflessness + humor...

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the opportunity to do what i love + celebrate with my clients...

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the health of my family...

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Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!!!!

8.20.11 | susan + jason

2011-11-21T03:59:00.003-05:00

as with many of our clients, susan was planning her wedding from out of state. throw in a move and job transitions into the mix and she quickly became overwhelmed.

i went to high school with susan, so when she contacted me about coordinating her wedding i was honored. susan has a great eye for style, and when she told me her colors were coral + gray i knew it would be pleasing to the eye :) molly b photography captured the day, and molly and her husband brett were a dream to work with...thank you!!! the wedding ceremony was held at st. thomas in gorgeous, historic downtown ann arbor and then the bridal party made a quick stop at the law quad for pictures before the reception that took place at stonebridge golf club. thank you susan + jason for letting us be a part of your most special day!

susan tied keys to each of her escort cards and asked guests to write their "key" to a successful marriage on the back of the card for her + jason to read after the wedding - how cool is that!?

this shot is taken as they are watching the "surprise" dvd made by the maid of honor...i was laughing so hard i was crying!!!

susan found these beautiful, vintage kraft cheese boxes on craigslist + had chelsea florist fill them with a stunning arrangement of peaches + flowers...i think they turned out perfectly!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

wedding cinematography | jess + ryan

2011-11-20T04:47:00.001-05:00

jess + ryan had a gorgeous, personal, vintage-inspired wedding at misty farms this fall. jess is a photographer herself (check out her amazing boudoir company vava voom boudoir) and so no detail was left unturned (another blog post with images from the day will be up soon!) jess + ryan have an amazing love story and i was so thankful to have been a part of their wedding day. mishelle lamarand photography captured their day, and the fabulous eric kmetz of epic motion shot this trailer (with lots more goodness to come - c.a.n.n.o.t. wait)!!!

Jessica + Ryan Trailer from Epic Motion on Vimeo.

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

9.17.11 | elizabeth + kellison

2011-11-17T01:04:00.000-05:00

elizabeth + kellison had a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at the polo fields golf + country club and a gorgeous reception inside following. the bridal party was comprised of elizabeth + kellison's brothers and sisters, her escort cards were set on a grass mat with golf balls intermixed (how appropriate!), her simple, yet gorgeous four-tier cake from decadent delight was exquisite, and her flowers by sweet pea floral design were a TO DIE FOR combination of purple goodness. thank you elizabeth for trusting us to coordinate your wedding day and thank you alli mchwhinney photography for sharing these fabulous images!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

rock.paper.scissors.

2011-11-14T20:15:00.000-05:00

i love not only supporting local businesses, but also the people who put so many hours of love and labor into them. it just so happens that the owners of rock.paper.scissors. are two very dear women who are top notch people + business owners.

rock.paper.scissors. is a brand spankin' new retail store located in downtown tecumseh. my friend lisa and her mom opened this store out of pure passion for two things: hosting parties + design, design, design. two ladies after my own heart <3 <3 <3

rock.paper.scissors. is filled with high quality paper goods, amazing hostess and shower gifts from serve-ware to candles, picture frames to baby gifts and home decor, fun celebration goods like vintage straws, funky paper plates and napkins and cupcake wrappers, unique personalized gifts and personalized and custom stationery, announcements, partyware and invitations from some of the best vendors and designers in the industry (including michigan's own meant to be sent).

some customer favorites are the funky box signs, personalized baby announcement wall art, chalkboard china wine glasses, vases and carafes, "happy everything" platters, plates, and cookie jars, boatman geller personalized stationery, scout totes and bags and accessories from sloane ranger!

they are located at 102 W. chicago blvd in charming tecumseh, mi and are open Wed-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5 and Sun 11-3 or by appointment. holiday hours starting after thanksgiving! also, you can visit us 24/7 at www.rockpaperscissorsshop.com.

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

10.8.11 | audrey + paul

2011-11-06T15:57:00.002-05:00

audrey + paul had a GORGEOUS october wedding on the most beautiful weekend we've had this fall. with the beautiful backdrop of misty farms and audrey's desire to embrace the natural beauty of her chosen venue, the day could not have been better. love and laughter were present from the moment audrey and paul arrived, to the moment the shuttles came at the end of the evening. every detail was a personal one, and i am honored to have had the opportunity to get to know and work with these two. nicole haley of nicole haley photography took the amazing photos shared below. she was a dream to work with and her images show how unbelievabley talented she is:

BEAUTIFUL bouquets from sweet pea floral design

audrey's wedding dress was from j.crew

more loveliness from sweet pea floral design

paul enjoys brewing his own beer and so the boutonnieres had hops in them to celebrate the occassion!

i heart the reactions captured during the first look

misty farms has animals of all kinds (horses, cats, chickens, dogs)...perfect for keeping kids entertained!

delicious green tea cupcakes with passion fruit frosting from cake nouveau

audrey designed all of the stationery + paper products herself

during cocktail hour guests were treated to cider, apples, and donuts from the dexter cider mill

audrey bought flowers from the local farmers market for the arrangements for cocktail hour

audrey + paul chose to do a more traditional receiving line following their ceremony

the bartenders served paul's homemade brew during cocktail hour

audrey designed these coasters as escort cards for the guests (how cool!?)

i just love the endless amount of amazing photo opportunities at misty farms

day of coordination || petals planning

photography || nicole haley photography

floral design (bouquets + boutonnieres) || sweet pea floral design

ceremony + reception venue || misty farms

catering || pilar's tamales

dessert (cupcakes + truffles) || cake nouveau

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

7.16.11 | Lawren + Zach

2011-10-23T08:18:00.000-04:00

lawren's mother contacted me just weeks before her big day to help pull together all the details of the wedding and provide day of coordination. i immediately clicked with alexis and we shared a lot of laughs and a lot of tears (of joy) in the short three weeks that we worked together. lawren and zach had their ceremony outside on the lawn of the grosse pointe academy and their reception at the detroit athletic club. lawren's mother was insistent that lawren just enjoy the wedding planning process and have a great time at her wedding. mission accomplished!!!

we worked along side jeffrey lewis bennett who blew me away with his work. he is an amazing photographer, and an absolute JOY to work with!!! steve king & the dittilies kept the dance floor rocking all night long...and last, but certainly not least, another huge thank you to my assistant lyndsay and her husband joey for coordinating the wedding day.

isn't lawren absolutely stunning!?

lawren's colors were navy, light green + gold:

we couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day!

the bridal party dashing across lakeshore drive...

grosse pointe is one of my favorite cities in michigan because it is right on the shore of lake st. clair -

the fabulous cake provided by the DAC...

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

rehearsal dinner | megan + brian

2011-10-14T13:24:00.000-04:00

megan and her fiance live out of state and therefore needed help coordinating the logistics for her rehearsal dinner here in michigan. her wedding colors were orange, navy, and a beautiful aqua blue.
We translated some of that into her rehearsal dinner and gave it a little bit of a rustic twist. the rehearsal dinner took place at a private residence, and amanda lauchu of amanda mae photography was there to capture the following details:

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

bridal shower at misty farms

2011-09-19T08:02:00.000-04:00

in all my years of wedding planning i have loved every single one of my clients. it's true. but this year, i have one "client" inparticular who rises above the rest (just by a little)....she's my sister. trish and kevin had their engagement pictures done around ann arbor and one of their locations was misty farms. when it came time to plan trish's bridal shower i knew instantly that misty farms would be the PERFECT location for her. a huge thank you to her maid of honor katie for all her help, and to my mom and her future mother-in-law for all of your help and support. here are some pictures by the FABULOUS calynn berry:

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

9.18.10 | michigan union wedding

2011-09-18T20:54:00.000-04:00

happy one year anniversary to vicki & paul! they had an amazing wedding at st. nicholas greek orthodox church and then boarded a party bus to head to their reception over at the michigan union. we had a fantastic time coordinating their reception and working with the fabulous abby & tommy of abby rose photo.

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

featured in inframe bride magazine

2011-09-08T22:00:00.002-04:00

i'll be honest. i'm not a big fan of styled wedding shoots. often times they are so unrealistic. a gorgeous vintage table in the middle of an open field. a sweetheart table beautifully styled for two on a private beach. really? when have you ever been to a wedding like that!?

when i had the opportunity to style a wedding shoot for inframe bride i jumped on it. why? because this was my opportunity to style a gorgeous, yet realistic wedding that brides could truly duplicate.

i was given the theme "winter" by kristine crawford of inframe bride and then i built my team. only the best of the best from the ann arbor wedding industry (of course!). here is my team of absolutely ah-mazing professionals: floral design by sweet pea floral design, images by abby rose photo, dessert by sweet heather anne, stationery by elevated press, lighting by light up my event, linens by linen hero and last but not least a huge thank you to vinology for letting us use the fabulous bubble room as the scene for our wedding reception. here are a few images to tide you over until *fingers crossed* a big announcement this winter...

we were inspired by the colors of a frozen river...light blues, gray blues, and neutral greys and tans

to really give a dramatic effect we brought in lighting (which i highly recommend for EVERY event)!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

Engagement Pictures | Nicole Ladonne

2011-09-03T04:28:00.000-04:00

'tis the season for engagement pics! i am in l.o.v.e. with these pictures of shaina + danny that nicole ladonne took...she is so talented, and never ceases to amaze me with her creativity. shaina + danny live in chicago, so lucky nicole was able to travel to them for their engagement session. enjoy!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

Engagement Pictures | Amy Carroll

2011-08-30T21:47:00.000-04:00

amy carroll describes jessie + jeff to a tee in her blog post (click on her name to be directed to her blog). jessie is full of laughter and life and just exudes happiness. i am SO excited to help jessie plan her wedding over the next 11 months and even more excited for the fabulous team of vendors we are building! here are just a few of the ah-mazing images by the FABULOUS amy carroll (you may remember her from our 2010 wedding at misty farm events featuring sara + trevor).

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

black + white wedding

2011-08-25T08:28:00.000-04:00

i apologize for the lack of posting lately! things have been crazy in an awesome way, for which i am very thankful. i have been busy planning all of our fall weddings (which are going to AMAZING!!!!) and meeting with you new clients (woot woot!!!!).

one of the clients i recently met with wants a black and white wedding with a pop of color. sound familiar? helllloooo kim kardashian ;)

i'm looking forward to helping her plan, design & coordinate her wedding - what pop of color would you choose?

photo credit

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

6.11.11 | Karen & Zvonko

2011-08-14T05:42:00.006-04:00

oh my....where do i even begin with this amazing (and huge) macedonian-american wedding? i will start here:

karen & zvonko (and rita, ken, elizabeth, lindsey, charlie, and jesus): thank you so much. thank you for allowing me into your lives, and for treating me like family. it was an honor to be part of your wedding that was overflowing with love.

karen & zvonko's wedding was full of macedonian traditions from the ceremonial shaving of the groom, to dancing in the driveway, the fathers exchanging cognac, the bride watching her groom enter her parents house through her engagement ring, bartering for the bride, drinking wine out of the heel of the brides shoe, the two youngest boys escorting the bride out of the house, kicking over a cup of water, and the groom jumping a fence...amazing huh?

i had a really hard time chooses which images from calynn berry photography to use in this blog - they were all AMAZING so i apologize in advance for the length of this blog post...you can see more on my website under the "real weddings" tab.

karen looking at her groom entering the house through her engagement ring

the macedonian band was so.much.fun.

bartering for the bride

drinking wine from the heel of her shoe

kicking over a cup of water on her way out

love this series of zvonko "jumping the fence" (literally)

the guys were hilarious all day!

lovin' the fake 'stache

gold chiavari chairs, linens & flowers by emerald city transformed the ballroom at the palazzo grande

LOVE these two!!

i cried during the first dance, and by cry i mean bawl.

i think it's safe to say that everyone had a LOT of fun....

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

weddings at michigan stadium (the big house)

2011-08-11T04:27:00.001-04:00

i recently attended a networking meeting at one of ann arbor's newest wedding venues...michigan stadium...otherwise known as the big house. you can have your wedding ceremony on the block M and your reception up in the suites or you can have a tented reception right on the football field. did i mention that the guys can get ready in the locker room!? this would be a dream come true for any university of michigan sports enthusiast (ahem...my future brother-in-law) or any former football player. for those who can't afford the steep rental fee, they offer an hour long photo session complete with props for $500! woo hoo! be prepared to drool over the following images courtesy of jlb photography:

proof we were there!!! (lyndsay is on the left and i (courtney) am on the right) thanks jlb!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

outdoor garden style bridal shower

2011-08-09T04:20:00.001-04:00

this past saturday we had the pleasure of assisting one of our previous clients in planning a co-ed bridal shower for her & her new husbands friends. the skies looked threatening all day, so thank goodness the shower was under a pavilion at a nearby park. of course i forgot to take pictures of half the detail items (ugh) but here are a few that i managed to sneak in during the day!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

modern stripes

2011-08-06T04:45:00.001-04:00

i don't know about you, but i am in love with all things striped these days. when i saw this inspiration board on brooklyn bride i knew i had to share it. amazingness? i think so.

7.3.11 | Helen & Paul

2011-08-02T22:53:00.001-04:00

helen gave ME a wedding binder. what?! during our initial meeting helen and paul kept talking and laughing about helen's organizational skills. when helen handed me a copy of her wedding binder during our venue walk through the week before the wedding i could hardly believe it. it was not only organized, but meticulous...a wedding planner's dream! :)

helen and paul...there was so much about your wedding that i loved, most of all the opportunity to work with the two of you and your family and friends...thank you SO MUCH for letting us into your lives to help coordinate your wedding day.

so pretty much i wanted to download every single picture their photographer heather jowett sent me. heather was FANTASTIC - such a pleasure to work with and her work is fabulous...take a look for yourself:

the fabulous crew of tricho salon & spa did hair & make-up:

i L.O.V.E. when couples do first looks - LOVE!

helen & paul were able to get a lot of pictures done prior to the ceremony so they could really enjoy their time with family and friends during cocktail hour and into the reception:

helen's mom married them (how sweet is that?!)

the details...helen's family friend did the reception flowers and they were fabulous! her colors were silver & blue - super appropriate for the fourth of july! gwen from gwen's cake decorating did the cake...yummy! helen named each guest table after a city in michigan that was significant to her and paul. cobblestone has a loft so the tables upstairs were cities in the upper peninsula, and the tables downstairs were named for cities in the lower peninsula. her place cards had stamps of the state of michigan on them, and her seating chart was a map of michigan that showed where each city was located within the mitten state - these little details made helen & paul's wedding very cohesive.

a wedding at cobblestone farm is not complete without our furry friends!

one of my favorite moments of the wedding was when helen's father spoke. throughout the day he was so quiet, a man of little words, yet so kind and thankful for all that we were doing. when it came time for his speech the jokes, and profound words that came out of him were completely unexpected. he had me laughing so hard my sides hurt.

i could seriously go on for days posting pictures...but last and certainly not least is this picture of helen. it exemplifies exactly how i want all our clients to feel on their wedding day...beer in hand, having a great time, and carefree knowing everything is taken care of :)

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

7.31.10 | Misty Farms Wedding

2011-07-31T13:00:00.001-04:00

Happy ONE year anniversary to Sara & Trevor who had the most AMAZING wedding at Misty Farms! Click here to see the blog post from their blue & purple vintage inspired, rustic barn wedding. Their day was full of love, happiness and wonderful people. A huge thanks to their photographer Amy Carroll for helping making this day so memorable.

Love you guys!!! xoxo

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

7.31.10 | Backyard Wedding

2011-07-31T04:44:00.003-04:00

Another happy ONE year anniversary to Lindsay & Nick! Lindsay and Nick were married in her parents backyard in Tecumseh, Michigan. They had an amazing day despite a little bit of rain (for good luck) and are so incredibly in love. Thank your for allowing us to be a part of your wedding day! xoxoxo

family photos

2011-07-28T22:36:00.000-04:00

displaying family photos at your wedding is a wonderful tribute to your heritage and the people who have brought you to where you are today. there are so many creative ways to display family photos. here are a few of our favorites:

love the mix of old polaroids and family photos in vintage frames arranged artfully in an old suitcase

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family photos in white vintage frames

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for those lovely backyard and outdoor weddings - decorate a cluster of trees with family photos

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string your family photos above your escort card, gift, or dessert table

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buy some knitting circles and fabric that matches your colors and pin family photos on them to display on ladders, bails of hay, or old wooden boxes

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how about a family tree...literally

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courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

SAMPLE SALE at The Gown Shop Ann Arbor!

2011-07-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

Ladies - now is your chance to get a like new, designer bridal gown at a DISCOUNT! Here are some of the dresses being sold at the Gown Shop Ann Arbor this Sunday, July 31st. Contact Stacy at stacy@thegownshopannarbor.com to schedule your one hour appointment!

weddings at planterra

2011-07-24T13:52:00.000-04:00

i met with one of our 2012 brides today at her wedding venue....planterra. planterra is located in west bloomfield near 14 mile & drake and is a stunning venue for a wedding. it is an indoor conservatory and retail store that is full of amazing things from old vintage birdcages to rare pencil cacti.

planterra is not air conditioned and therefore has the best temperature control from september through may, making it an ideal location for a winter wedding. the space can accommodate up to 200 guests and the floor plan options are endless. the facility has bathrooms and a bridal suite on site.

you may contact shane at planterra for pricing information - spliska@planterra.com

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

bridal shower gift

2011-07-19T09:46:00.000-04:00

i am a huge fan of buying gifts off registries. it's a safe bet - you know your gift is wanted and will be used. however, every once in a while something comes along that you can't register for, but is one of the most amazing gifts (and something I wouldn't mind myself). my dearest friend stacy who owns The Gown Shop turned me on to this specific item and i die. behold:

the coolest thing about this item is that 1) you can get any state you want, and 2) you can have the heart put in any city. how amazing!? click here for the link to this awesomeness on etsy - seriously, awesome.

to all my friends and clients getting married - you will likely see this cutting board live and in person...perhaps in the form of a gift (especially if you are attending a bridal shower at Misty Farms on August 28, 2011) *wink wink*

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

open dates for 2011

2011-07-14T14:11:00.000-04:00

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We are half way through our 2011 wedding season and have a few open dates left:

Aug 13
Sep 10
Sep 24
Oct 15
Oct 29
Nov 5
Nov 12
Nov 19
Dec 3
Dec 10
Dec 17

We are also booking for 2012!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

wedding photography - photojournalism

2011-07-06T02:46:00.000-04:00

photojournalism. what does it mean? the AMAZING duo that is Jess + Nate Studios recently posted this on their blog and i thought it was the perfect explanation:

"We love a good photo journalistic engagement image. What does this mean? Aren’t most engagement images posed? Well yes, but our goal is to make them look like we didn’t! We still love images where we can pick up the “feel” of the people around us while we were shooting a session. The image above is just that-a capture that we are really proud of. A man looks over his shoulder to catch the pose we put our clients into, while a kid on his dad’s shoulder is pointing towards the couple to the far right. So much going on in this image beyond just our couple having a moment. Images like these are one of the reasons we do what we do. To create a feeling with the beautiful images we capture of the couple as well."

thanks jess + nate for explaining it with such perfection! xo

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

DIY "sweetheart" forks

2011-07-01T08:16:00.000-04:00

I know I have mentioned on at least a million occasions how in <3 I am with BHLDN - the attire, the decor...everything! These forks are among my favorite detail pieces and how easy would these be to DIY!? You could engrave them with your names, with your wedding date, with sayings like "I do" - ah, the possibilities...

BHLDN Forks

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

www.petalsplanningco.com

Update

2011-06-26T10:07:00.000-04:00

I feel guilty for the lack of blog posts over the past several weeks so I'm writing this one in an attempt to call it a blog post and I'm not sure it qualifies...anyway...

We have been buuuusy and we are so thankful to our friends and clients who consistently refer business to us to keep us this way.

However, this leaves little time for writing blog posts and for that I am sorry (and sad). We have a lot of great things on the horizon including a photo shoot that will be published this fall in a bridal magazine, many many glorious pictures to share of some of our 2011 weddings thus far, and some really great events coming up late this summer that we are *swooning* over :)

So for now I leave you with that my friends - thank you for always checking up on us and thank you for all your support!

Courtney

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Engagement Pictures | Alli McWhinney

2011-06-20T04:49:00.000-04:00

The fabulous Alli McWhinney took our clients Elizabeth & Kellison to Kerrytown for their adorable engagement pictures. We are looking forward to your amazing September wedding!!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

6.19.10 | Cornery Brewery Wedding

2011-06-19T04:51:00.002-04:00

Happy Anniversary to Vanessa & Derek! They were married one year ago today at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, Michigan. They had delicious cakes and cookies by the ever fabulous Sweet Heather Anne and gorgeous floral arrangements by Pot and Box - congratulations you two!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

custom paper products | sparrownestscript

2011-06-15T09:48:00.001-04:00

With two kids, a husband, and wedding season in full swing, down time can be few and far between. No matter how busy I am I just cannot seem to stay away from etsy. From headbands and cute accessories for my daughters to all things wedding related - they have amazing things for everyone! About a month ago I came across some amazing calligraphers who offer custom products such as return address stamps, personalized stationery, thank you notes, and custom wedding stationery suites. One of the calligraphers, sparrow nest script, also makes these ADORABLE cards that are perfect for asking your best girl friends to be in your wedding:

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

Engagement Pictures | Jill DeVries

2011-06-10T04:54:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with photographer Jill DeVries (click on her name to see the entire collection of pictures) twice over the next year! She recently met up with Kim & John in Grand Rapids at the Farmers Market for their engagement pictures.

I can hardly wait for Kim & John's wedding next May at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

Dessert Table by Domestic Arts

2011-06-07T06:07:00.004-04:00

We celebrated my daughter's 2nd birthday party on Sunday and boy did we have fun! She wore her pink princess party dress with a cupcake on it and boy did she look cute (but I'm not biased or anything) ;)

Tanya from Domestic Arts (custom cakes & sweet things) made Kennedy's birthday cake & cupcakes to go along with it. Think strawberry cheesecake, lemon, chocolate, and my favorite...coconut mango!!!

One (of the many) things I love about Tanya is that she has chickens on her property and uses her own eggs in all of her baking creations - so eco-friendly!

Tanya completely exceeded my expectations - I gave her creative freedom with just a basic theme and look what she did...

Tanya - I cannot thank you enough!!!!! <3 <3 <3

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
www.petalsplanningco.com

Engagement Pictures | Calynn Berry

2011-06-04T15:31:00.001-04:00

We are so excited to coordinate Karen & Zvonko's wedding on June 11, 2011 at the Palazzo Grande! All you Michigan State grads may recognize the back drop of this shoot - Karen & Zvonko met while attending Michigan State as undergraduates...they met at the mailboxes and the rest is history :)

We get to work alongside some fabulous vendors at this wedding including photographer Calynn Berry - you can see more of Karen & Zvonko's engagement session on her blog by clicking here. Thank you for choosing Petals Planning to coordinate your wedding!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Engagement PIctures | Heather J

2011-06-02T04:59:00.002-04:00

We are thrilled to be working along Heather Jowett, owner of Heather J Photography to coordinate Helen & Paul's wedding this July! They will be married at Cobblestone Farm over the holiday weekend - thank you for choosing Petals Planning to coordinate your wedding day :)

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Brooch Bouquet

2011-05-31T02:37:00.000-04:00

A brooch bouquet like Miranda Lambert...

yay or nay?

Photo Credit

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Wedding Reception | Floral Design

2011-05-28T05:19:00.000-04:00

Love, love, love these!

Who says flowers have to go in the center of all your reception tables? Why not decorate the walls too!?

Photo Credit

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Misty Farms

2011-05-28T03:19:00.002-04:00

Quite a few people contact me to ask how much it costs to have a wedding at Misty Farms...between property rental and additional rental items...it all depends...

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...on how many rental items you need, including tables, chairs, linens, tent, plus any additional extras (such as clean up). In addition, they are always making improvements to the Misty Farm property, such as the installation of two new gorgeous copper bars in both barns.

Contact Kelly Frutig at Misty Farms for more detailed information:

kelly@mistyfarmevents.com
734-355-3543

Photo Credit

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Wedding Trend: Fascinators

2011-05-26T03:48:00.001-04:00

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More interesting than the actual royal wedding itself, were the hats i.e. fascinators that all the ladies were wearing. I could hardly believe my eyes when I spotted a young lady wearing a fascinator at our first wedding this year. I wonder what we'll see at upcoming weddings this year and next?

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Fascinators have been around since the 17th century when the use of wigs was quite common. For women, the addition of feathers and other small trinkets, were usually found adorning their wigs around this time. In the mid to late 1700's, wigs were not in use as much as before, and instead were being replaced by bonnets and mobcaps. Feathers, jewels and and cameo's were used to adorn the bonnets. Hair pieces were used as a flirtatious gesture considering the strict code between men and women that were not yet married. The Victorian era saw an abundance of fascinators and the trend stayed well into the 1960s before it trickled off for a while, just recently making a comeback. The British royal family has a role in the way the public has been viewing fascinators as of late. Fascinators are a lovely addition for a special occasion, and are quite frequently seen at weddings. As for "hats" in general, it's hard to say the moment they began to exist, but history shows that with the fascinators came the great obsession with hats. The 1700's saw the majority of this growth in popularity and it was in this era that the term "milliner" became exceedingly known due to the overwhelming increase of women's fashions and that included hats. Until that point, men had dominated the majority of head fashions, stemming from the beginning of the term "milliner" in the 1500's.

Bridal head coverings originally symbolized wealth and posterity in a community. Before hats and fascinator's though, the wedding vail has been used for quite some time. Originally, a veil would be used to conceal a person's face so that her arranged marriage could withstand the ceremony without the groom knowing what she looked like. Then, they became used to symbolize purity.

Photo Credit

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Day of Coordination (Behind the Scenes)

2011-05-23T02:49:00.001-04:00

I knew we had done our job right when the mother of the bride said to me "It is so nice not to have to think about anything! Thank you."

When we are hired for coordination services our goal is to ensure a stress free day for EVERYONE involved in the wedding from the bride to the bridal party, the mothers, fathers, grandparents...and all the guests.

For Megan & Nathan's wedding I attended the rehearsal the night before. This allows me to meet the bridal party and the families and begin to establish relationships with them so they feel comfortable coming to me if they need anything the day of the wedding. This is a key element in providing excellent coordination services for any wedding.

The day of the wedding my two assistants went to the Gandy Dancer to begin set up and I met Megan, Nathan, and the bridal party at First Congregational. I set out the ceremony programs and guest book, helped the flower girl into her dress, and floated between the brides room and the grooms room to give time updates and let them know the schedule for the foreseeable future. I connected with the limo driver to give him a schedule update for the afternoon, made sure each bridesmaid had kleenex in her bouquet, and lined up the girls and walked everyone up the stairs for their entrance into the ceremony. After the ceremony I bustled Megan's dress and worked with the bridal party to hand out bubbles to all the guests for Megan & Nathan's departure. I then gathered the guest book, leftover bubbles, and cleaned up the brides room so that the girls could easily gather their belongings on their way out of the church.

We had a very tight time line for pictures, so I helped round up family members and assisted the photographer gather the necessary people for pictures so they could quickly leave the church and head out for pictures around Ann Arbor.

I then left for the reception where I helped Megan hand out final vendor payments, and lined up the bridal party for their formal entrance into the reception. Together with my assistants, we made sure the following events happened on scheduled: cake cutting, toasts, prayer, dinner, and dancing.

Nathan's family was handling clean up at the end of the night, so we were able to head out a little earlier than usual. Overall it was a great day! Thank you Megan & Nathan for letting us be a part of it!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

5.7.11 | Megan & Nathan

2011-05-20T04:11:00.002-04:00

We kicked off our wedding season this year with Megan & Nathan. Megan hired Petals Planning over a year ago to help her secure her ceremony and reception venue, as well as provide coordination services on her wedding day. Megan took on a lot of projects herself including save the dates, invitations, programs, menus, reception table centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, and escort cards; she needed our help to make sure all her hard work and DIY projects were set out as intended, so it was one less thing for her to think about on her wedding day.

The ceremony took place at First Congregational Church in downtown Ann Arbor, and the reception was at the fabulous Gandy Dancer restaurant. The delicious cake was provided by Cakes by Stephanie, and Chair Cover Express provided the white chair covers with navy blue satin sashes - they looked great! And last, but certainly not least, Whitney Keeler of Imagine Three took the beautiful photos below. I can hardly wait to see the rest of them!

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Ann Arbor Reception Venue: Zingerman's Events on 4th!

2011-05-13T04:12:00.000-04:00

Every other month we attend the local Ann Arbor networking branch of Association of Bridal Consultants. This month the event was held at the brand new Ann Arbor reception venue - Zingerman's Events on 4th. The space was beautiful, exposed brick walls, unique lighting, and a modern feel with a combination of benches and chairs in the seating areas. Bill Hamilton Designs provided all the floral creations and Sam Sarkis Photography took all the pictures below:

delicious Zingerman's cake - YUM!

Zingerman's also has cookies - double YUM!

Beautiful floral creation by Bill Hamilton

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What was your "Something Old?"

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com