MWEP Event in Kalamazoo

On Wednesday evening, White Dress Events and TaDa held the first Kalamazoo MWEP (Michigan Wedding and Event Professionals) get-together. A little over 30 of the area's vendors came out to Epic Bistro for a night of networking and mingling. I had a great time meeting and socializing with these incredible vendors!

Below are some photos from the event, courtesy of Melissa Gregersen Photography.

Ryan and Holly Gauper (Gauper Photo)

Jake and Kelly Stroburg (Kalamazoo Bride), and Randi Frucci (TaDa)

Kenn Livingston (Kenn Livingston Photography), Me, Melissa Gregersen (Melissa Gregersen Photography), and Jack Dastoli (United Rental)

Jody VanBogelen (The Organized Partner), Carrie Miles (Carrie Miles Photography), and Jessica Pennington (Stella Event Design)

Holly Henderson (Holly Henderson Photography), Lauren Schmidt (Pegasus Photography)

Aletha VanderMaas (Pearls Events) and Randi Frucci (TaDa)

John Pottenger (Coastline Studios) and Holly Henderson (Holly Henderson Photography)

Sam Boase-Miller (Cellist, and our entertainment for the evening)

Misty Blake (Symmetry Hair Design) and Dan Martin (Kzoom Video)

We are looking forward to planning the next event! If you are a Kalamazoo area vendor, we would love to see you at the next get-together. We'll be posting details soon, so check back for more information. In the meantime, please feel free to email me for more information.

Vendor Spotlight: Rhonda Patton Designs

Rhonda Patton, owner of Rhonda Patton Designs, established her incredible business after creating all of the floral arrangements for her own wedding, in addition to designing her own programs, invitations, and centerpieces. Based out of Nashville, I connected with Rhonda through Twitter, and I was astounded by the creativity and uniqueness of her designs. I was eager to share one of her recent designs with you; I am simply in love with this bouquet!

Rhonda is a wealth of knowledge about flowers, continually taking classes and doing research to stay on top of the industry trends. She is passionate about her work, and it shows in her designs. When consulting with Rhonda, she asks you to bring photos of arrangements you love and of arrangements you hate. It is through reviewing these preferences with each bride that she finds common threads in their personal likes and dislikes (shape, color, flower, texture, etc.), and creates masterpieces to match those preferences.

Photos by Jessica Rayborn Photography

Want to see more of Rhonda's work? Head on over to her website to find some fabulous inspiration. Thanks, Rhonda, for letting me share your gorgeous work!

Hairstyles & Accessories

One of my readers asked me to post some hairstyle ideas that work well with a floral accessory. Her sister plans to wear a veil for the ceremony, then switch to a flower for the reception, but wasn't sure what hairstyles would work well for both. Below, I've included some of my favorites.

The low chignon is always a good selection when paired with an accessory; it is sleek, classy, and it works well with a veil. Some styles, like the rightmost photo in the third row, will require that the veil be worn very high on the head. Others, like the last photo shown, would look stunning with the veil attached at the base of the head, showcasing the gorgeous hairstyle above the veil.


Top row: Weddiquette, Kaboodle
Second row: Wedding Tactics, Perfect Details
Third row: Aisle Dash, Wedding Proposal Site
Last row: Nibs Blog, Bridal Buds

The Reception Kiss

It is a long standing tradition that, at a wedding reception, guests clink their forks on their glasses when they want the bride and groom to kiss. In more recent times though, brides and grooms are changing it up, requiring guests to complete other tasks before being rewarded with witnessing the newlyweds kiss. If you are not the traditional type and prefer to mix it up, here are a couple of fun ideas I've seen recently:


Photo by Photograhy by Malia

OFFERING MARITAL ADVICE
In order for the bride and groom to kiss, a piece of advice about marriage must be offered up by a guest. This advice can be humorous or sincere, and you may just walk away with some very wise tips for your new lives together. If you want to employ this kissing rule, have a friend or family member record the advice in a nice journal. This keepsake will be valuable for all of your years together, and can be passed down from generation to generation.

IMITATING A KISS
If one of your guests wants to see you kiss, they must first show you how they want it done. A romantic sweep-her-off-her-feet and dip her kiss? A "spiderman" kiss (as my husband likes to call it) where the groom leans in from above and lips meet upside down? They've got to show the groom how it's done if they want to see it.

RECIPROCAL CLINKING
Whenever guests begin clinking, the bride and groom can select married guests who must also then kiss. This works well if guests names are put into a decorative bowl or vase on the bride and groom's table before the event. It is also very adorable when an older couple is selected -- ones that have been married for decades and still share a deep love.

KISS FOR A CAUSE
Are you passionate about a particular charity? Rather than kissing for the pure show of it, guests can help fight cancer or cure MS by offering up donations in exchange for a kiss. At wedding receptions, surrounded by celebration and love, guests will be inspired by the heartfelt idea.

A Classic Event

This week, I decided to feature colors and decor to create a classic event. I have a soft spot for weddings of this kind; the simplicity and elegance of the event simply melts my heart. Bold colors are not necessary to create a dramatic effect. These weddings are quietly magical, romantic, and sweet.

Photo Credits:

Suit, Invitations, Chair, Food Basket
Car, China, Flowers
Table Setting, Bouquet

MWEP Network in Kalamazoo

I am pleased to announce the arrival of the first MWEP (Michigan Wedding and Event Professionals) networking event in Kalamazoo! With well-established MWEP networks already in full swing in both Detroit and Grand Rapids, White Dress Events has joined forces with Randi Frucci of Ta Da to bring this incredible networking opportunity to the Kalamazoo area.

The first Kalamazoo area event will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 7:30pm at Epic Bistro. Come out to meet and network with other wedding professionals in the area! Please send me an email RSVP if you are planning to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

Orange and Blue (Lets... Go Gators!)

Let me start off by saying that I just couldn't resist adding the rest of that Florida cheer in the headline. If you know one thing about me, it's that I'm a die-hard Florida fan and I simply can't help myself. It is for that reason that I am so excited to see these hot colors making an appearance together in recent wedding trends. They are fun and funky, and oh-so darling.


Bouquet: Pink Frosting
Bout: Photobucket
Cake: Elite Cake Designs
Dress: After Six
Shoes: Tommy Bahama
Table Setting: UJC
Candy Buffet: Wedding Style Diva
Invitation: Tiny Talk
Centerpiece: Merriment Design
Drink: Tarla Dalal

Bouts To Make You Swoon

Nothing looks sharper than a line of men standing proudly together, hands crossed in front, dressed to the nines, with a little splash of color in a gorgeous boutonniere. Here are some of my favorite unique, eye-catching bouts.


Top Row: Flourish Designs, Bishop's Flowers, BBBJ
Bottom Row: Dellables, Chrysalis Flowers, Celtic Highroads (2)

Orange and Purple

This week's color inspiration came to me from the beautiful tulips that have recently popped in my front yard. Some of them are orange marked with tiger-like purple striping; they are simply stunning. These bold colors are both majestic and fun.

Invitation: Formal Invitations

Bout: Etsy

Shoes: Polyvore

Table and Tie: Wedding Paper Divas

Bouquet and Dress: Beyond Smitten

Field: About

Tulip: Fifty Flowers

Vendor Spotlight: K. Holly Photography

Back in November 2008, I had the pleasure of meeting Kristen Carlson, owner of K. Holly Photography in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kristen has the ability to capture real emotions and magical moments, and I am always inspired by her photos. In addition to her incredible abilities behind the camera, Kristen has a charming, light-hearted personality. Her upbeat and friendly demeanor makes you relaxed and comfortable, a very important factor when you are the subject in front of a lens. And with a background in graphic design, it was Kristen who came up with my brilliant logo. (Thanks Kristen!) She is an incredible find in the world of photography and graphic design.

Here are a few photos from one of Kristen's 2009 weddings:

Want to know more? Read on for a little Q&A with the fab photographer:

How long have you been in business?

Officially, since 2007, but I’ve been a photographer my whole life. I started with film and switched to digital a few years ago. I’ve always had an eye for capturing beauty and life, and enjoyed it on my own time. Combining that passion with my love for weddings and working with people has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m so excited about this season’s weddings, I absolutely adore my clients!

What is the best part about your job?

Meeting amazing people, hearing stories about their love and their lives, and having the unique honor of documenting the most important and beautiful days of their lives. I get to show them how beautiful they are and tell their love story from a unique perspective. I’m not sure it gets much better than that :)

What is your least favorite part about your job?

There are a lot of little details that come along with running a business – if I could just photograph and not worry about those little things, it would be pretty wonderful. But it's all worth it in the end.

What was the best or most exciting shoot you've ever done?
This is going to sound so cheesy, but to me, every shoot feels like the best and most exciting. I go into each and every session with the mindset that THIS is going to be the best work I’ve ever produced, and that these clients are the best ever. I challenge myself to always improve, try new things, and look for new and interesting places and light. I enjoy working with my clients, and we have fun and we MAKE it exciting!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Spare time is so precious and rare, so I try to just relax, soak it up and recharge. I treasure my time with my husband and our little dog, and we really enjoy being outdoors – on our deck, on the beach, biking, or just walking through the woods in our backyard.

What is something fun or quirky about you?

Fun or quirky... Oh gosh, lots of little things – I’m not sure if that’s good or bad! :) I’m a total goof, I love to laugh and have fun. I’m not afraid to embarrass myself or be a total cheeseball! I love when my clients can open up and be candid, letting their guard down – it makes for a great session, and amazing images!

Tell me anything else potential brides should know.

I’m really inspired by my couples. They way they look at each other, their shared history, stories, and little inside jokes. Those are the moments and emotions I love to capture - the feeling my images evoke. I think it’s important for brides and grooms to be true to themselves. When you’re planning your wedding, don’t do what everyone else does. Think about what is truly YOU, and just let it flow. My favorite weddings have been the ones that were completely different and unique to the couple with personal touches and details. It really opens up the feel of your day and encourages your families and guests to open up and have a great time too!