image via Green Wedding Shoes by Leo Patrone

Looking back I always wish I had limited my color palette more for my wedding day. Soft cool pastels bring such an airy relaxed feel to a wedding. It will feel casual and still romantic and classic. A limited color palette in one tone and temperature will bring a cohesive and beautiful feeling to your day. Everything will always feel as one piece because of them all being similar in color. This will allow you to play with patterns more and various flowers.

Having spent the evening mingling with some incredible photographers (amongst other very talented people in the industry), during Simply Blue’s vendor gathering, I couldn’t help but be inspired to post about my photographer, and how fortunate I feel to have her.

We met at college during one of our mutual graphic design classes and although I always knew she was exceedingly kind and always positive, I had no idea of her photography skills. It wasn’t until we had graduated and went our separate ways that I stumbled upon her photography albums during the early launch of her photography business.

I immediately knew that we had similar style in the look and feel of wedding photos, and seeing her work specifically with weddings, I hoped beyond hope that she was willing and able to shoot our engagement session. Once she sweetly and excitedly agreed to shoot our engagement session, and spent a beautiful fall day with us, I couldn’t have been more certain about reserving her for our wedding day.

It’s important to work with a photographer that you can be comfortable with, and having known her through school, our engagement session was not only light hearted, but entertaining as well. You want to be your true self as a couple while your photographer captures your intimate connections, as well as your silly moments. I can’t wait to have Alicia of Alicia Magnuson Photography with us to photograph and celebrate our very special day!

And for more information and advice on choosing a wedding photographer, check out our most recent Ask the Expert post!

Photo courtesy of Bryan and Mae

In this week’s “Ask the Expert” we received some great advice from Dan Stewart of Dan Stewart Photography.  He chimed in on the value of engagement sessions, the questions to ask your wedding photographer before booking, and the beauty of getting married in Northern Michigan.

What’s the number one question you get from Brides?

Besides “Are you available?” or “What are your prices?” the most frequent question I get from  brides has to be, “Do we have to do the engagement session?” No you don’t have to, but I encourage it. The engagement session is one of the best parts about the whole wedding process. If you are wondering if an engagement shoot is necessary, here are a couple of things to consider:

First, this may be the first time you’re meeting your photographer. It is very important to establish a relationship with your photographer prior to the wedding day. You’re more likely to open up and be yourself in front of a friend rather than a stranger, right?

Second, this time allows you to get comfortable in front of the camera, figuring out how you and your photographer work best together before the wedding. You could almost look at the session as a trial run for the wedding photos, getting out your nervousness before the wedding: practice makes perfect!

What’s the best advice you can give to brides and grooms starting to look for the right photographer?

Find a photographer whose work represents your personalities. If you’re a fun, outgoing and crazy couple, be sure to find a photographer whose work and personality show that. Don’t expect something out of a photographer if you don’t see it in their portfolio, or in something that’s written about them first.

What is the most important characteristic a couple should be looking for in a photographer?

I always tell potential clients that it is important to find a photographer whose personality is similar to theirs. The photographer is going to be around you ALL day, so it should be someone that you can tolerate for a great length of time.

As it relates to photography, what makes getting married in Northern Michigan so special?

Northern Michigan has so much to offer the world of wedding photography. Beaches, rustic settings, views of the water, the four seasons, it sure seems like we have it all. What makes it special is that you don’t have to do much in terms of details for your wedding, when you have the natural settings and landscapes of Northern Michigan that can make your wedding unique on its own.

What should be on a couple’s photographer check-list? (insurance, contract issues, gear, back-up gear, photographer back-up, second shooters, etc.)

It’s good to ask your prospective photographer a slew of questions prior to signing a contract and sending in a deposit. However, I think that a potential bride should ask the questions like, “What is your philosophy?” or “What inspires you?” These are the kind of questions that will help you find the right photographer for you day.

Thank you so much for your input Dan!

From 8am to noon every Saturday, between Grand Traverse Bay and the Boardman River, the Sara Hardy Farmers Market has been bringing local farmers together to provide us with the most striking assortment of local produce, plants, cheeses, flowers, meats and baked goods. The Farmers Market offers each of us an exceptional selection of our local agriculture.

Grab a coffee and head down to get your pick of the most delicious scones made by our talented bakers and stroll the endless options of goods. It’s a beautiful way to spend your morning amongst the smells, chatter of visitors and morning sun streaming through the trees on the banks of the Boardman River.

If you’re a couple looking to cook your own intimate dinner for the rehearsal or reception, the Farmers Market offers beautifully hand picked morels, endless bunches of the freshest asparagus and farm raised meats.

These options vary with each week of the season, offering a continuous supply of choices. If you’re looking for flowers to create your arrangements, stop by the flowers to pick from the most delicate and bright flora this side of the peninsulas. Make sure to chat with each merchant, as you’ll be impressed with the knowledge and experience they have to offer!

The Farmers Market runs May through October on Saturday mornings from 8 to 12, and additionally on Wednesday mornings from July through September. Let us all support our brilliant and hard working local growers by heading down to the Sara Hardy Farmers Market.

On a lovely day in June, Anne and Ryan were married in Omena at Cherry Basket Farm.  With their only want being that they wanted to be married, they avoided the fuss and invited their closest family and friends to the beautiful location to witness their nuptials and break bread together.  As residents of Chicago, they chose Leelanau County as their location because it was “very much an escape from [their] busy [lives]“.  The same barn that they had driven past and admired multiple times was now where they would recite their vows.  With a passion for the local food, their choice for caterer was a no brainer.  In the end “[their] wedding ended up [being] such a success, because [they] stayed true to [themselves] with every decision [they] made”.  Definitely advice that every couple should take to heart!  Head on over to the Real Weddings page to see the photo gallery from Anne and Ryan’s wedding.  Be sure to see below, for all the talented vendors that took part in their big day.

Photo courtesy of Priceless Photography

Caterer: Epicure Catering/ Ceremony & Reception Location: Cherry Basket Farm/ Decor & Rentals: American Rentals/ Florist: They did their own!/ Photography: Priceless Photography

image via Tec Petaja

Don’t think you are being simple if choosing white. White is provides a clean blank slate for any mood you hope to set. Let it help you bring in the colors of the lake you have as the back drop to dinner and then bring in your colors through the flowers and other small details. It will feel crisp, clean, and refreshing especially during the warm summer months.

Becoming a bride and planning a wedding requires a raise in your organizational skills and the suppression of the little procrastinator in all of us. We get caught up in the hurry of it all – the haste to set your date, the pressure of nailing down the perfect location and the race to find the perfect dress, all while taking care of the other mini details.

It’s far too easy to get caught up in the pressures of each aspect and mountains upon mountains of advice coming from all different directions, and this all leads to the feeling of stress. Besides putting strain on the progress of your planning and more importantly on your relationships, it put’s a strain on you, the bride, and the last thing anyone wants is a stressed-out bride.

Get it down on paper:
Most stress during my planning process, be it little, tends to derive from my own procrastination. To solve this issue, get a timeline down on paper as soon as possible! Set small, achievable goals, and try to get most of your planning done early, so you have more time to play later.

Take a step back:
In the end, I always remind myself of some of the most valuable advice I’ve received. My friend Allison’s mother reminded her during her finals in college to take a serious look at why she’s experiencing stress. She challenged her to determine a fine line between stresses related to her progress in her finals, or stresses that arises from those around you. Just because you read about wedding planning being stressful, doesn’t mean it has to be stressful for you.

Listen to those who matter:
Unnecessary comments from people can sometimes create angst. As long as you’re on track with your planning timeline, there’s no reason anyone else should instigate anxiety within you. Find people with knowledge to consult (such as A Day In May Event Planning) and stick to your plan!

This is our wedding that we’re working so very hard to plan, but let us all remember that this is one of the most amazing moments we’ll experience with our love, and we should be enjoying every minute of it!

Happy Planning!

As the Administrative Assistant to the Programming Department and Special Events Coordinator at Bay Pointe Community Church, Polly Sonneveldt has assisted well over 100 couples in the past eight years.  In her position, she coordinates weddings and other events at Bay Pointe and at many other venues in the area.   A resident of Traverse City, she is married to Terry and has three grown sons, Tyler, Austin and Spencer.  She also has a beautiful daughter-in-law, Koren, the cutest grandson (ever!), and is anxiously awaiting the birth of her first granddaughter in August.  In what spare time she does have- which is minimal- she enjoys gardening, traveling and her new love of running and working out at the gym.

Along with all of these things, Polly is a good friend of mine and even assisted with the coordination of my wedding!  As many of our couples find the planning of the Ceremony to be a challenge, I’ve called upon her with a couple questions and asked for her best advice.  Without further ado, here’s Polly!

Where is the first place you start when assisting couples in planning their I Do’s?

I like to try and find out what type of ceremony the couple is looking to have.  I feel it is very important to make it be “them” and not what I think it should be.  Some couples may want it short and sweet; others want to add special elements (i.e. blending families together, having readings, soloists, communion, etc.) It’s very important that it is a reflection of who they are as individuals and as a couple. My job is to make the ceremony flow smoothly and fill it with elements that the couple has chosen to be their very own.

Is there a general outline of a ceremony, or order, to help guide couples in crafting their ceremony?

I do have a basic template that I like to give the couple as a building block of their ceremony.  We walk through the template, plug in their thoughts and ideas and it then becomes ‘wet cement.’  From there, I encourage them to take it home and talk through it together and then we begin to finalize it.  It’s amazing how sometimes when they talk it through and live with it for a bit, they totally change their minds about what they want.  That’s why it is important to do it far enough in advance so there is time to make those changes.

Any advice for couples wanting to write their own vows?

I think it is a lovely idea to write your own vows, but I do feel strongly they should have them written out and with them in the ceremony. I’ve seen couples write beautiful vows and think they can share them from their heart and then get nervous and totally forget what they were going to say.  Many times couples worry about getting emotional during their vows.  I remind them that this is one of the biggest things they will ever do in their lives and there is nothing wrong with that.  The pastor will simply wait for them and then continue on.  It’s actually a beautiful thing.

As you know, many weddings in Northern Michigan are outdoors.  In lieu of a unity candle, do you have “flame proof” recommendations for this unity portion of the ceremony?

I’ve done unity sand which has become quite popular in the last few years.  One thing I love about the sand is that you can incorporate the parents in it as well symbolizing the foundation for the couple getting married.  It’s a nice way to show respect and admiration for the parents.  I’ve also had separate vases of flowers – one behind the bride and one behind the groom and an empty vase behind the pastor.  In place of the unity candle, the couple each takes their flowers and put them together in one vase.  This works very well outdoors and can be incorporated with children.

Wedding ceremonies are an extension of the couple, what have been some of the most unique, or personal, elements incorporated into the ceremony?

One thing I love to do before the actual ceremony is to clear the bridal room and bring the bride’s father in for his first look at his daughter and give them a special moment alone.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a father not come out with tears streaming down his cheeks, and they both always thank me for that “magical moment” they will never forget.  I love when couples find something from their heritage that is meaningful or something that has been passed on in their family through the years.  It is also very meaningful when loved ones who have passed on are honored.  It may be a locket with their picture wrapped in the bride’s bouquet or a small charm with a picture in the groom’s boutonniere; just something for the couple to feel their loved one is near.   I also love to take the couple right after they’ve exited the ceremony to a private room for about five minutes to be alone and celebrate that they are married without cameras flashing and people lining up to congratulate them.  It also gives them a chance to quickly freshen up, grab some water and get ready for the celebration ahead!

Once again, a big “Thank You” goes out to my good friend Polly!  This is great advice that could be applied to a multitude of couples and their individual Ceremonies.  If there’s one thing to take away from all of this great advice- make it personal- and remember, even though the reception may be the fun part and what all of your guests are looking forward to, the Ceremony and your marriage is the reason they’re all there in the first place.

Upon arriving in Leland’s Historic Fish Town, you’re thrown back in time to the rich and hardy days of fishing the Great Lakes. The weathered rows of fishing shanties add such charm as you stroll along the docks, watching the commercial charter fisherman begin their journey for the day down the Leland River, just as it’s been done for well over 100 years.

Only open May through October, locals crave Leland’s Village Cheese Shanty in a way that reminds us upon it’s opening, that summer is truly here. For decades, the Shanty has been offering delicious jams and crackers, cheese from all over the world, sandwiches of all shapes and varieties and wine to pair it with – in other words, the makings of the perfect picnic.

Village Cheese Shanty offers incredible sandwiches and cheese for your catering needs. By calling a week to two weeks in advance, you can reserve the Shanty’s cheesy goodness for your engagement party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or even wedding reception. Just taking a look at their menu, and seeing the sandwiches that walked out while I was visiting was enough to put a growl in my tummy.

Give the Village Cheese Shanty a call, or better yet, make the breath-taking drive up M-22 to stop by and see for yourself what delicious treats the Shanty has to offer for your wedding, and everyday desires.

According to many recent posts, polls and websites, Traverse City is where it’s at in Northern Michigan!  Whether it’s the food, wine, local brews or just nature in general that has drawn you here, chances are if you’re picking Traverse City as the destination for your wedding, your wedding guests will enjoy it just as much as you do.  So why move hundreds of guests outside Traverse City’s limits when you could host your wedding reception conveniently downtown?

Adjacent to limitless options of restaurants and bars, boutiques, hotels and other businesses, the City Opera House [COH] blends seamlessly into Traverse City’s Front Street district.  Whether you take the elevator or the one flight of stairs, once you arrive in the opera house, you will be taken back in time to the 1890′s when the COH originally opened it’s doors.  Lovingly known as “The Grand Old Lady”, the word “grand” is in fact an understatement.  The rich wood floors, red velvet chairs, Edison Light bulbs and elaborately painted ceiling all add to the appeal of this fabulous venue drawing attention front and center to the perfectly framed stage.  A room that drips in glamor and charm, whether you’re seeing a show here or hosting an event, the COH is not your typical event space and will be sure to impress.  Be sure to check out both of the City Opera House’s Vendor Profiles under the “Ceremony & Reception Locations” and “Rehearsal Dinner Locations” sections of the Vendor Guide.

Photos courtesy of A Day in May, Event Planning & Design