La Pointe Pour Le Jour
("Tip of the Day")

Beginning today, I will be posting a "tip of the day" every Wednesday to help you in your planning. Tips, tricks, features, and trends will be the topic of these Wednesday posts. If you have a specific question or topic you would like to see addressed, leave me a comment! I am happy to discuss topics specific to your questions and interests.

Now onto today's topic...

...Be Radiant

Every bride wants glowing, radiant skin on her wedding day. Thanks to the wisdom of makeup artist Julie Strating of Grand Rapids (in photo above, taken by Amy Carroll), radiant skin is easy to achieve at home. Follow these three simple steps for the last two weeks of your countdown. By the big day, you will be radiant.

1. Up your intake of Omega 3. You can get Omega 3 from salmon, flax seeds, and walnuts. If you are a picky eater, Omega 3 vitamins are also available.

2. Make berries your favorite snack. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are loaded with antioxidants and act as natural anti-inflammatories.

3. Exfoliate with a mixture of 1 part olive oil, 1 part honey, and 2 parts sugar. Twice a week, begin your shower with this all-natural scrub that sloughs off dead-skin, leaving it soft and luminous. This scrub is beneficial for your body and your face, even if you are prone to break-out. It's natural ingredients will not cause you to break-out. After exfoliation of your face, finish with your normal cleanser.

Alex and Brett



Alex and Brett were married on July 19, 2008. The ceremony was held at the Cook-DeWitt Center on the campus of Grand Valley State University. The reception took place at University Club in downtown Grand Rapids. It was an day to remember!

Alex asked me to help her with her wedding in December 2007. I could not have been more thrilled to jump on board! She was looking for a day-of coordinator to oversee her day and make sure that all of her hard work and planning came to fruition. The day went off without a hitch!

The following are a few quotes from the bride:
"...let me tell you...this girl in incredible! We met a few times before the wedding, and she was so organized and ready with questions about every detail."
"When I arrived at the reception, I was just blown away by how beautiful everything looked. She did a fabulous job setting up, and then she was just on top of things all night. She kept our timing/schedule in mind so I didn't have to.... I can't say enough about this girl!"

I had a blast coordinating their day. I was on cloud nine by the end of the night, sure that I had entered the right business!

The below photos were taken by Amy Carroll Photography. What a phenomenal photographer, and a fabulous lady to boot. After spending the evening working alongside Amy, I would recommend her highly. She captured beautifully every moment and every emotion of Alex and Brett's special day.

Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Aaron Frank

The following is a photo journal of my wedding on June 21, 2008.

My inspiration for our wedding was a classic white affair with just hints of light color throughout. I wanted a romantic event in the beautiful outdoors amid waterfalls and delicate flowers. I chose a flowy silk organza and lace mermaid silhouette dress, with white calla lilies to complement the romance of my gown. Orchids were laced into the details, putting the finishing touches on the bridesmaid bouquets and the groom's boutonniere. A large white trellis, hand crafted as a gift from Kyle's brother, framed the entrance to our ceremony aisle.

The cocktail hour featured beverages with a taste of Michigan. Wines from Tabor Hill, a distinctive winery in Buchanan, were served throughout the night. For our beer drinkers, we offered a selection from New Holland Brewery.

At the reception, the place settings were decorated with a personalized menu for each guest. Seatback signs were designed for the newlyweds, and for the parents of the bride and groom. After the sun began to set, a slideshow was hosted on the lawn, giving the production an old drive-in theatre feel. The evening concluded with hours of dancing to a perfect blend of songs old and new, and guests of every age filled the dance floor.

All photos are courtesy of Dan Johnson Photography in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dan and his wife Jodi were a blast to have at the wedding. They are a couple of truly great people.


Getting my makeup done in the bridal room.
The maids wore flowy, silk charmeuse dresses and pearls, perfectly complementing my gown's romantic feel.


The bridesmaids carried mini white callas and orchids, wrapped in white silk.


The gentlemen wore classic black tuxes. The groom was distinguished with a white vest and tie; the men added a sharp touch in black.
Before the ceremony, gifts were delivered to the bride and groom.


The groom's boutonniere was a classic calla and orchid.


Before the ceremony, the ladies had fun snapping photos with white parasols.


The aisles were lined with white gardenia scented candles and rose petals.
Each guest was greeted at the outdoor ceremony with a wooden fan.


The ceremony programs, given by the ushers to each guest upon arrival, were designed, printed, and assembled by me. They featured our own monogram and the following anonymous quote on the front: "Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale."


A beautiful trellis made the entrance to our ceremony aisle.


Our ceremony singer, Candice, sang, "I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman during the unity sand ceremony. Adding to the symbolism of uniting sand as one, I poured sand from the beaches of Florida (my home state) while my husband poured sand from the shores of Lake Michigan (his hometown). A string quartet played the prelude, processional, recessional, and postlude music.
We departed in a white carriage, a dream of mine since childhood.


A large seating chart situated on an easel welcomed guests into the reception pavillion, indicating their respective tables.
Each guest had a designated place setting at the table, garnished with a place card and a personalized dinner menu.


Our cake was draped with a white canopy, adorned with the words "I do" around the base. We chose three unique flavors of cake for the reception. Guests selected from carrot with maple buttercream, honey lavender with honey-infused buttercream, and hazelnut dacquoise with espresso buttercream.
We cut the cake to "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" by James Taylor. Our gorgeous cake cutting set was "something borrowed" from a very dear friend and bridesmaid.


The bride and groom's seats had chair back signs displaying their new names. Parents of the wedded couple also had chair back signs to distinguish them at the reception, accenting the table decor as well.
We chose to sit at a sweetheart table. We wanted to relish in our newlywed bliss by sitting separately and having a few moments alone. Members of the bridal party and their dates sat at tables to the right and left of us, distinguished from other guests.


We both sported funky and fun attire at the feet. Showing them off in this photo, I completed my look with pink heels, while my husband wore yellow argyle socks.


Once the sun was setting, we hosted a movie on the lawn. It was reminiscent of the old drive-in theatres, and it was a blast watching a slideshow of our lives leading up to when we met.


We danced the night away and ended the evening with "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. All our guests surrounded us, singing and swaying. It was the perfect end to a perfect day!

Be a Good Hostess

Reserving room blocks for guests coming in from out of town is a common and necessary practice. Did you know that the Chamber of Commerce in your area can help you secure the best rates possible for your guests? Instead of calling the hotels in your area one by one, call your local Chamber. They will send out bid requests to local hotels and come back to you with competitive responses.

Guests who travel long distances for your wedding should be showered with appreciation upon arrival. But keep in mind that welcome bags don't have to be extravagant to be meaningful. For an affordable "thank you," pick up brown paper bags with handles, toss in a few bottles of water and an item of local flare (ie: Kilwin's fudge in northern Michigan). Don't forget a pack of tissues! Throw in a short & sweet note and "voila!," you've properly welcomed your guests.

Bonjour!

Welcome to my new wedding blog! I decided to start wedding planning following the planning of my own wedding. About 3 months into the planning process, I realized that this was something I could do forever. I had started to feel a bit of sadness with thinking, "I'll never plan another wedding after June 21, 2008." It was then that I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

To complement my deep love for all things wedding, I have over 3 years of experience working with and managing vendors. I've also proven my ability at budgeting, coming within $0.42 of the entire budget I'd set for my own wedding. I'd also like to believe I'm creative, single-handedly developing, designing, and assembling all the details of my wedding. I am passionate about this new endeavor and I simply cannot wait to assist brides in creating and implementing the most fabulous day of their lives!