Your Wedding Website

 You're engaged!!!!  Now what? 


You've started compiling your guest list, searching out the perfect ceremony and reception venues, and researching photographers, dj's/bands, florists, etc.  Have you also started to think about putting together a wedding website?

With most everyone having access to the internet, and social media sites such as facebook and twitter allowing you to easily share information to 1,000 of your closest friends, more and more couples are relying on their wedding websites to manage their guest list and RSVP's - a much more eco-friendly option!  Even Prince William and Kate...errrr, I mean Catherine...Middleton have a website!


The most common sites to use to host your wedding website are:  The Knot, My Wedding, Wedding Wire, Wedding Paper Divas, and E-Wedding.  Of course there are a TON of places that will host your website for you - these three are just the ones I have seen used the most.


Wedding websites are helpful for keeping guests up to date on accommodations, directions, and sharing news about the bridal party, gift registry, and even keeping track of RSVP's.  BEWARE:  creating a wedding website does take time.  A recent bride told me worked on it for over 2 months, just doing a little bit at a time until all the bigger details were arranged.  Her wedding takes place in Ann Arbor on home football Saturday so she needed to get the word out that hotels book up fast and to encourage her guests to reserve a room ASAP. 

Another advantage of a wedding website is it cuts down the number of phone calls, emails, and questions guests will have about your wedding day - and that will save you a lot of time!  (and stress) :)


While the time it takes to get an website up and running can be a little tedious, it is SO worth it in the long run!  And if you need help...ask a friend, family member or your wedding planner! :)

Photo Credit

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

Real Wedding 2010 ~ Jessica & Brian ~ The Dearborn Inn

We had the pleasure of planning, designing and coordinating Jessica & Brian's September wedding.  With the couple living out of state, we communicated a lot through email, and met a few times in person.  They had an amazing line up of vendors...so without further ado...

The staff at the Dearborn Inn are top notch, from the sales and marketing team, to the event manager, and banquet manager the day of your event.  We had the pleasure of working beside some of the industry's finest!  Thanks to everyone who made this day a success! :)

Planning, Design & Coordination - Petals Planning (Kate, Courtney, Lyndsay & Jill)

Flowers - Hearts & Flowers of Dexter

Photography - Imagine Three (Whitney Keeler)

Videography - Crossing River Weddings (Doug Dibert Jr.)

Ceremony - Zion Lutheran in Ferndale

Reception - The Dearborn Inn

Linens - Your Event Party Rental

DJ - DJ Manny

Real Wedding 2010 ~ Misty Farms ~ Ann Arbor, Michigan

I'm not going to lie when I say I have been stalking Amy Carroll's blog now for over two weeks!  She is the amazing photographer behind Sara & Trevor's fabulous vintage, rustic, farm wedding at Misty Farms in Ann Arbor.  You can click on Amy's name above to view her entire blog post. 

I have known Sara since high school.  She has always been sweet as a button, and not to mention amazingly beautiful.  I was estatic when she asked if we would provide day of coordination services for her wedding at Misty Farms in Ann Arbor.   Misty Farms is a new wedding & reception venue located off Scio Church Road.  It is breathtakingly gorgeous; and a lot of work.  Frankly, I don't see how you can have a wedding here without a coordinator...but that's just my two cents ;)

Sara & Trevor's day was full of amazing details, and I couldn't have been more honored to help Sara organize and execute them.

Sara & Tevor are HUGE University of Michigan fans as you can tell by the picture of Trevor's cufflinks above and this picture on the block 'M' - One of my favorite parts of their reception was when they made their formal entrance to the Michigan fight song - Go Blue!

As you can tell from the two pictures above, Misty Farms is a unique location full of all kinds of animals!  Sara & Trevor embraced them and they made for some really cool photo opportunities :)

It hadn't rained all day, and of course, with one minute until cocktail hour, a heavy sprinkle came down.  We immediately high-tailed it into action, moving the bar and food inside the barn so guests could enjoy the hour without getting wet.

A PBR toast - how creative!

Thank you to Sara & Trevor for allowing us to be a part of your amazing day!  xoxo

Day of Coordination - Courtney & Lyndsay of  Petals Planning

Photography - Amy & Jeff of Amy Carroll Photography

Ceremony - St. Thomas - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Reception - Misty Farms - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Band - Larry Lee & Back In The Day Band

Cupcakes - Decadent Delight

Bouquets & Boutonnieres - Hearts & Flowers

Photo Booth - Qwik Picz

Wedding Dresses

One of the most important and personal decisions a bride makes during her planning process is choosing her wedding dress.  There are so many wedding dress styles to choose from including strapless, beaded, halter, ruffles, lace, sweetheart neckline, ruched, or silky smooth (the list could go on and on).  I posted last week about how I look forward to seeing what shoes a bride (and groom) have chosen, and I also love seeing the dress each bride chooses to wear.  For your wedding dress inspiration:

notice the buttons all the way up the back and the sweetheart neckline - stunning!

notice the beautiful texture and the v-neckline of her dress - gorgeous!

notice the beautiful stitching and beading and the zippered back of her dress - absolutely beautiful!

love the simplicity of this strapless dress - amazing!

*all photographs are compliments of Abby Rose Photo*

courtney@petalsplanningco.com

http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

Detroit Wedding Venue ~ The MGM Grand Casino

Even though our event planning company is based out of the Ann Arbor/Plymouth area, we plan weddings and events all over southeastern Michigan and always welcome new venues to our portfolio!  I had the pleasure of experiencing first hand the food, service, and decor of the MGM Grand Casino. 

The MGM Grand Casino, located right off M-10 on Third Street in Detroit is a great venue if you are looking to host a weekend long celebration (or even if you're not!).  Besides having a casino, they also have a full service salon and spa, a plethora of restaurants and nightclubs, and nightly entertainment.  Their wedding packages start at $99/person and include a complimentary corner suite for the bride & groom on their wedding night.  Their ballrooms can hold up to 800 people and they can easily accomodate both the ceremony and the reception. 

They also have fabulous options for a rehearsal dinner and/or morning after brunch, one of which is their signature restaurant Palette. 

If you are considering having a Michigan destination wedding you definitely want to check out the MGM Grand Casino here in Detroit.  It is an amazing wedding venue that will keep your guests entertained all weekend long!!!

Laura Davis Events recently coordinated a wedding at the MGM Grand and I have to share the photographs by Christopher Belli Photography:

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