Local Wedding Wednesday

I took a short hiatus from the Local Wedding Wednesday posts, but now we are back and in full force! I will be featuring some of the areas finest photographer's work from local weddings each week.

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Get To Know - Events by I. Candy

Powerful, Impressive & Dynamic Event Decor

1) How long have you been in business? Provide your background/history.

Events by I.Candy was started in April 2009 by Jill Childs & Alicia Lutz, a mother, daughter team. Jill & Alicia draw from more that 30 years of graphic & interior design, fabrication, printing and photography backgrounds to help redefine event planning. Our background & experience is what makes us so unique. Jill is the owner of a graphics company that prints all of our fabrics, printed materials (invitations, programs, escort cards, table numbers, etc.) and does all of our fabrication, such as, our lampshades, custom routered lettering, floor monogramming and much more.

2) How many weddings do you typically do each year?

Events by I.Candy began in April 2009. In 2010 we will touch over 100 weddings or events.

We hope to double that number in 2011.

3) How many weeks, months, years in advance does someone need to book your services?

Events by I. Candy can work in any time frame. We have many brides that come in a year in advance. We are currently working with brides that still need to finish the decor styling of their weddings in September & October (of this year). We also have brides that come in for a few special pieces that can’t be found anywhere else...we have had brides come in a few days to a few weeks before their event. At Events, it is very easy for us to react quickly because all of our decor is in our own inventory and stored locally.

4) What sets you apart?

What makes us so unique? We are truly passionate about our work! We know how to set the tone for your entire event....no matter your budget. We can coordinate the table dressings to your invitations to your centerpieces to virtually everything! The tiniest details are what makes your event unforgettable. We know details and can coordinate them beautifully into your event.

At Events by I.Candy, we rent everything that a bride will need for the decor styling of her wedding. We have over 220 different kinds of vases...in every imaginable shape, size and color. Our showroom is packed with a bride’s dreams...you can feel their excitement when they enter our showroom. We have large pieces, high quality silk and floral balls, bouquets and much more.

5) What is your price range?

A bride can do a centerpiece from $10 to whatever they want to create. They can rent bouquets for their wedding party from $3 to $7. We can create a wedding on a very limited budget to whatever they can imagine and beyond.

6) Why would a bride/groom want to choose you over others?

I think the question is why would you choose anyone else? We have it all! You can rent it and return it! It really is that simple and easy!

7) What can you offer a budget savvy bride/groom in this economy?

Everything. We have lots of budget-friendly decor. We ask a bride/groom what their budget is. She can create custom, but very affordable centerpieces and decor. We know how to create an event on a very small budget as well as a large budget event.

8) What should couples consider when deciding whether or not to hire your company?

A couple should weigh all the factors...should I rent my decor or buy it? Should we rent silk flowers or spend a higher budget on real flowers? Events by I.Candy has all of our decor on display in our showroom. A bride can come in and we will put together arrangements while she is there. They can participate in the creation of their event. Why would you buy when you can rent?

9) What special amenities do you offer?

• Chivary chairs in clear, black and brown.
• We print on a multitude of fabrics from sheers to spandex to ultra-thin plastics. We can also print custom carpet runners and have rental patterns.
• Flower balls in every size and many fabulous florals with many vase options to display them on. • Fine-line of silk artificial botanical pre-arrangements.
• Rent amazing silk flowers at amazing cost savings over real.
• Branch collection....silver, gold, sandblasted manzanitas to mention a few.
• Large assortment of unique vases & pedestals.
• Nature collection. Moss vases, nests, baskets and other “earthy” pieces.
• Apothecary Jar collection for candy buffets.
• Lots of buffet items from beverage dispensers to ornate pedestals to enchanting cupcake holders.
• Assortment of candelabras.
• Large assortment of vase fillers from pearls to silver glass to bright orange, yellow.
• Large assortments of “altar pieces”.
• Great containers for gift cards.
• Freestanding backdrops in a multitude of different colors and patterns.

10) Location, contact # and website.

Events by I. Candy
Jill Childs / 616.437.3989
Alicia Lutz / 616.813.7004
5427 Crippen S.W.
Wyoming, MI 49509
By Appointment
www.eventsbyicandy.com/

Christmas Wedding

In the wedding industry the wedding "season" is most generally considered from May to October. The Fall months are just beginning to get hot, not literally, although Al Gore may disagree with that. In Michigan, especially, we are seeing a large increase in September and October wedding dates. One thing we do not see many of are Winter weddings, my one question is....why? What is more romantic than warm candlelight on a cold winter night?

(photos from theknot and marthastewart)

I love the idea of having a wedding around Christmas time. There are a few ways that this time of year could even save you money. Having the right venue you may even be able to save on decorations. A venue like Frederick Meijer Gardens decorates the facility for their annual Christmas exhibit, all you would need to do is set out some centerpieces and you would be good to go. Or if you plan far enough in advance it would be very easy to purchase your decorations the year before, after Christmas, at a considerable discount.

There are many fun things you could incorporate from the season as the favors to your guests. A few ideas are small ornaments that your guests can use each year and remember the wonderful time they had at your wedding, peppermint bark or gingerbread cookies, cute tins with hot chocolate mix in them and your logo on the top.

Fun ideas to consider for your Christmas wedding:

• Have your guests place gifts under a decorated Christmas tree instead of a table, hopefully they will even wrap them in seasonal giftwrap.
• Name your tables after popular Christmas songs or if you have a small enough guest list use the items from "Twelve Days of Christmas"
• Hire a Santa to have your guests pictures taken with
• If your venue allows visitors on the grounds, hire a horse and sleigh to give rides
• Send your centerpieces home with one lucky person from each table at the end of the night for them to use for their holiday parties

Have fun incorporating the season into your wedding planning, it is a wonderful time of the year...don't worry I am not going to start singing.

Merry Christmas!

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Get To Know - March 27 Designs

1. What type of services do you offer?

At March 27 Designs, I offer custom design services for wedding invitations. This means that I try to make the invitation as personal and unique as possible! When meeting with brides, I want to learn everything I can about their wedding and vision so that I can accurately create a design that beautifully introduces their dream, and is uniquely theirs.

2. Where are you located and what area do you service?

March 27 Designs is located near downtown Grand Rapids, and I provide invitation design consultations via email or phone wherever your wedding destination might be! I also love to meet brides in person in the Holland and Grand Rapids areas.

3. How long have you been business? How and why did you get started?

My passion is making things beautiful, but it hasn’t always been invitations.

I grew up actively participating in various forms of art and design, and it was my love for helping others that led me to obtain my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Health Communication. After three years of working for the local hospital, however, I discovered I was not able to fulfill my dreams in that setting and slowly began to see that design projects for friends and family were my breath of fresh air.

It was about a year ago that March 27 Designs was born. My husband had proposed and I had begun to work on invitation design for my own March 27, 2010 wedding.

4. What do you think sets you apart from other vendors in the industry?

A lot of invitation companies are customizable within certain boundaries. My husband and I found this out first hand when shopping for our invitations… We loved the style, but it didn’t come in our color. Or the color was perfect, but we were looking for something with more pizzazz.

At March 27 Designs, I want to reflect your style and your wedding! No cookie cutter invitations, please! I will often take two to three elements from a wedding and weave them into the invitation design to reflect the dream behind the event. Is your favorite part the elegance that a chandelier brings to your reception hall? The simplicity of the flower on your dress? That color that effortlessly describes the tone of your affair? Whatever it is that makes the bride smile, I will do my best to uncover her dream and create a work of art that they will love to share with their guests.

5. Is there anything that you specialize in?

March 27 Designs started out as a full service design studio, taking your invitation through design, printing, and assembly. But eventually we began to see that many brides today want to assemble their own invitations—whether it is to save money or just to experience the process.

That’s when we began to specialize in custom design work that the bride can take to a printer or print at home, and then assemble with family and friends.

Believe it or not, assembling invitations can be a fun part of the process… as long as you have the kinks worked out! Stress usually comes from unexpected problems that arise when you don’t have all of the information that you need. You’d be surprised by how many brides want that special embellishment, and then end up in tears when they go to the post office and learn how much that “bump” is going to cost them… That’s just one example of why I try my hardest to give you all of the information that you need to take your invitation from design to the post office—without the unexpected problems that can arise from never having done something like this before.

After I send you your design, I’m not going to disappear off of the face of the earth! I will provide you with the information and support that you need to send off your invitations without a glitch.

6. When you’re not busy working, how do you like to spend your downtime?

Right now, I am learning how to cook! My husband, Matthew, is hoping I will make great strides in this area (let’s just say he’s graciously eaten a lot of burnt, overly-seasoned, and just plain messed up food in our 8 months of marriage!). My biggest challenge aside from cooking would have to be training my five-month-old Bichon-Poodle puppy named Lexie. She is my fuzzy princess and I love her to pieces… even when she chews on things that she shouldn’t! I love hanging out with family and friends and am hoping to do lots of ice skating and exploring of downtown Grand Rapids this winter.

I offered to run some errands and pick up some last minute items for a client and on the list were paper cones for the tossing rose petals. Easy enough I thought, I'll just go to Hobby Lobby or Michaels and pick some up. Ummm...nope! My mom and I were out one day and looked everywhere! We even started just looking for anything that we could make into cones, I was getting very frustrated. A couple of days later my mom called from the parking lot of Walmart saying "she thinks she found something that would work". Walmart carries a line of Wilton cake supplies including...10" white grease proof doilies with a lace like die cut edge. My mom is brilliant!!!

There are 10 doilies per package for $1.98, so out of one package you can get 20 cones. For this wedding we only needed 40 so it cost us under $4!


Step 1: Cut the doilies in half to make 20

Step 2: Roll each half into a cone shape, there is a smooth side and a rough side of the pattern, I rolled it with the rough side facing in. After a couple you will figure out the trick to getting the edges to line up.

Step 3: Tape or glue stick the edges, both inside and out. I used a small piece of double sided tape on the top corner where the pattern is because there isn't a lot to hold glue there.

Step 4: Fill with flower petals of your choice!


Have fun and enjoy!!

*This post was originally written in August 2009.

Anniversary Journal

A few years ago I bought a journal. The title on the front says "Cherished Hopes, Treasured Dreams". It is a pretty book with a quote on every few pages like: "Recall it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears out." - Libbie Fudim. The purpose of this journal was to record Derek and I's marriage so that someday when our children and grandchildren wanted to have that history it would be all written down for them. My goal was to write in it on every anniversary and tell about the past year in our life together. A wonderful and beautiful goal, I believed and still do.

I just came across this journal again while organizing and when I flipped it open I noticed I have only recorded one year of our seven together. At first it made me sad, then I wondered why this is and I think that every time I come across the journal it isn't our anniversary so I set it aside until the next year. What a stupid thought! Just because it's not the exact date of our wedding doesn't mean I can't reminisce about the year that has just past us.

Do you do anything special to document your years together? Maybe this would be a great thing to begin on your honeymoon together. Reminisce about the wedding and talk about your goals for the future.


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Engagement Stories

With Christmas only weeks away the TV is full of jewelry commercials. Many of these commercials show couples getting engaged, were you one of these couples or will you be this year?

Every engagement story is unique to itself and the couple involved. We would love to hear YOUR engagement story, so much so that I am going to post a few to this blog. Maybe we will even have the readers vote for their favorite and give a little prize to the winner!

If you would like to submit your story, please send me an email to eventsbysb@gmail.com.

Can't wait to hear from you!

Entry deadline is December 10.

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EVENTS by September's Bride is so thankful for all of our past, current and future clients.

We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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A Kiss is a Kiss

A Kiss is a Kiss no matter where you are.....


whether it's in a field....


or in the woods....



or in the city....




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Local Wedding Wednesday

This week's lovelies....










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An Evening at the Felt

Looking for a unique date night experience?

Come on out to The Felt Mansion

November 5, 2010
5-9pm

Featuring amazing local wedding vendors:

Second Floor Bakery
The Rental Company
September's Bride
EVENTS by September's Bride
Syd Design
Inspiration Video
Thunder Mountain Music
Junebug Photography
Palette Architects
Picket Fence Floral
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Stella & Dot
Dave Purnell - guitarist

It will be a great opportunity to meet the vendors,
tour the Mansion and enjoy some drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

The cost is $20 per couple

Please see the Facebook page for more details

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Local Wedding Wednesday

When I received these submissions for the Local Wedding Wednesday post, I couldn't help but give them their very own post. Pretty sure my absolute LOVE for fall had an influence on this decision! My husband and I were married in late September and I sure wish I had amazing pictures like this to reflect the beautiful autumn day that we had.

Kate Morrow did a fantastic job on these and I must also comment on the bride's gorgeous bouquet, hair and wrap, stunning!!






Thanks Kate for sharing these with me!!


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Special "Extras"

When planning your wedding it is common to try and stretch your budget as far as it will go. And when doing so sometimes you have to sacrifice some of the "extras". If you are able to squeeze a little or a lot more out of your budget, here are a few fun things to consider.

Signature Cocktails: Have a Signature Drink either served during the cocktail hour or available all night at the bar, it adds a great twist to the evening. One bride who was using pink and green for her colors had a alcoholic pink lemonade served with a lime in the glass, just one more way to incorporate your overall theme throughout the event.


Late Night Snack: You know your guests better than anyone else. Are they the kind of crowd that will dance all night? If so, bring out a late night snack. Pizza, nachos, or even milk and cookies make a great snack for your guests and will give them that little boost to make it to the last song of the night.


Cappuccino & Smoothie Bar: There is a Michigan business called Cappuccino Man, it is a gourmet coffee cart that offers espresso, cappuccino, chai tea and natural fruit smoothies. This would be a unique addition during cocktail hour or to have rolled out after dinner.


Cigar Rolling Station: Yes, really. There are business' that come to events and have professional rollers that will roll the cigars right in front of the guests. They even have personalized cigar bands that you can put your wedding logo or other graphics on.


Fireworks: Want a grand finale to your wedding day? Hire a licensed professional to light off fireworks at the end of your reception. Most companies charge for the size of fireworks and also the amount of time you want them going. Just make sure to check with your venue that this is permissible and purchase any permits you may need before the event.


Big or small, adding a little extra special touch will have your guests remembering your reception for a very long time.


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Local Wedding Wednesday

Just one word...Fall!!!

(Lizzie Photo)

(Color Splash Studio)


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Local Wedding Wednesday

Here are a few of my favorites for this week...I hope you enjoy!!


(Amy Carroll Photography)

(Photo Op Studio)

(K. Holly Photography)

(Steven F. Fox Photography)

(TAK Photography)

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Wedding Walk 2010

Next week Friday and Saturday, October 1 & 2, is the annual Downtown Holland Wedding Walk. EVENTS by September's Bride will having a booth located the Haworth Inn and Conference Center. Please come by between 10 am-5 pm and check us out. We have collaborated with some amazing local vendors, including EnVida Studio who helped us with our photography.

Here is a little teaser of our display....to see the rest of this "look" come on by next weekend! It's going to be amazing!!

Dress and Tux: September's Bride
Boutonniere: Pixel and Hank
Bouquet: Elements of Elegance


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Local Wedding Wednesday

Using the natural surroundings as a beautiful backdrop is a great way to remember your day.

(kate morrow photography)

(Steven F. Fox Photography)


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Local Wedding Wednesday

Adding humor into your wedding photography is a great way to showcase your personalities...


(Steven F. Fox Photography)

(Jenn Dean Photography)

Braving the Rain!

(Capturing Subtleties Photography)


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