Chic Chair Covers....the blog

It's a New Year!

2012-01-09T11:20:00.001-05:00

Welcome year 2012! It always surprises me how fast a year goes by. 2011 was no different in that aspect. I only took a handful of event as I was unsure how I'd be able to handle work and being a new mom. I was thinking about taking more events this year and do some expanding as I'm more settled in my role, however the plan now is to only take 6 events. We're limiting it to sash colors that we have in stock, and we're setting a cap at 250 for the largest event we'll do. This year we also are not available for Friday events. As a new mom, I'm looking to spend more time with my family and keep the business side of my life fairly simple. I love weddings, so I think I'll be in the business for a while....but I'll likely be limiting the number of events I take on until our little one is in school. The business expansion idea has been put on the back burner for now. But who knows what the year will bring!

With that said, I have 5 more openings for the year. I tend to start booking up in the spring, so contact me as soon as possible to get your event date on the calendar.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and wish you all the best for a wonderful new year!

Event Recap & Business Update: Lincoln Country Club Reception

2011-09-26T07:20:00.001-04:00

Another beautiful wedding reception with black sashes, this time at Lincoln Country Club on Saturday. It shouldn't surprise me, but I am still shocked at how many black sashed receptions we do. They sure do look nice though! This couple chose these gorgeous hydrangea bouquets in tall glass vases for each table. It looked so classy in there! I did get a few pictures, although they hadn't set up the napkins yet, so see below for those images. Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. S! We hope you enjoyed the reception and were pleased with how the room looked.

Looking ahead to next year, I am excited to be adding some new products to my collection. This is still very early in the planning and development, but we'll be offering a line of products that will be available for rent for receptions and parties, as well as for purchase. The items would make beautiful decorative pieces for anyone's home, which is why they'll be available to purchase too. So stay tuned for more details and photos. By early next year we should have some photos up on our website and/or blog of the goods.

Event Recap & Business Update: Beautiful Black Sashed Reception in Allendale

2011-08-15T09:00:00.005-04:00

Before I jump to the event recap, I thought I'd update you all on our 2012 schedule. This year has been an interesting one! Last fall we were blessed with the arrival of our first baby, so we knew this year would be unique in that I'd be juggling motherhood with running CCC. Not knowing what to expect, I only took on a handful of events this year. Now that I'm settling into my new role, I am planning on taking on a few more events for 2012. I'll likely take on 6-8 next year. I would like to do more small to mid-sized events, keeping the maximum count at around 200.

On Saturday we set-up for a reception at Main Street Pub in Allendale. The first time we did a reception there I was surprised by the space. I had no idea that it was hidden there in the basement of the restaurant. It's a surprisingly nice space! There is a nice covered patio there, which is great for spring and summer weddings. The couple went with the always beautiful black organza sashes.

Congrats to Sara & Peter! Here are a few photos from the reception. Enjoy!

Event Recap: The Wave Room at Celebration Cinema in Silver

2011-06-27T10:00:00.002-04:00

On Saturday we set-up a Silver sashed wedding reception at Celebration Cinema North's Wave Room. If you haven't been there it's a great room with lots of natural light from the large windows along one wall of the room. The staff there is great! Big thanks to April and Brad for being so accommodating. Here are a few pics of the room. (of course, I forget to take a picture of the front of the head table when we used a beautiful new style tie. You can kind of see it in the last picture. It's criss-crossed on the front. I love that look!).

Congratulations to the newlyweds, David & Jill!

Event Recap: Beautiful Reception @ Bridgewater Place

2011-06-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

On Saturday we set-up chair covers for Emma & Brian's reception at Bridgewater Place. It was beautiful in there! They went without chair covers and brought in color with the centerpieces. I loved the gray, yellow & white color scheme. The mother of the bride was in there while we were setting up and had said that Brian proposed to Emma using the game Scrabble. So they used scrabble letter pieces to spell out the table numbers . Such a cute idea! Congrats to the bride & groom!

Here are a few photos...

2011 Season - Booking Complete

2011-05-05T14:09:00.003-04:00

We are officially done booking events for 2011. We are now accepting event dates for 2012. We'll be accepting a very limited number of events next year, so contact us A.S.A.P. to get your event date on the calendar.

EVENT RECAP: Sunnybrook in Classic Black

2011-01-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

We kicked off the year on the 29th at Sunnybrook Country Club. It has been quite a while since our last set-up, as I was on maternity leave. I always forget how much I like to see the end product until we complete a reception set-up. It's always so beautiful! Black seems to be a growing trend. The couple had a variety of gorgeous center pieces. There were black crystals with candles, floral in tall vases, etc. Check out a few pictures from the event:

Personal: Baby Alivia Rae is Here!

2010-11-09T12:31:00.003-05:00

This years wedding season was cut short because my husband and I found out we were expecting our first baby. Alivia Rae made her debut late last month. We are so happy to have her in our lives! Below are a few photos of her.

I will be taking the rest of the year off, but look forward to starting up again in January! Visit our website to view our current 2011 specials.

Event Recap: Last Reception of 2010 - GH Community Center

2010-08-02T08:35:00.001-04:00

It's hard to believe July has come and gone! We had our last reception of 2010 over the weekend. It's very bittersweet. It's sad to be cutting the season short, but we're excited to have some more time to get prepared for our baby's arrival. I'm looking forward to booking event dates for 2011 now too.

Shanelle & Scott had their reception at Grand Haven's Community Center. The couple went with black sashes to contrast the pink / fuchsia rose petals on the tables. It was beautiful! Congrats to you both on your marriage!

Event Recap: Crisp & Clean White Reception in Jenison

2010-07-08T08:40:00.006-04:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the 4th of July holiday last weekend. It sure was a beautiful one!

Last Friday we had the opportunity to set-up for a reception at Wallinwood Springs Golf Club in Jenison. The couple chose to go with our chair covers without the sashes for the guests chairs for a simple and elegant look. The head table's chairs had the yellow organza sash tied on the side that matched the bridesmaid's dresses.

A big congratulations goes out to the newlyweds! I know that day was a long time coming for you two. I wish you all the best for a long and happy marriage! Here are a few photos from the event.

In other news, a huge congratulations goes out to Michelle Torno, Lead planner of Events by September's Bride. Her family welcomed their second child into the world yesterday!

Event Recap: Festive Fuchsia Reception in Hudsonville

2010-06-02T08:15:00.000-04:00

Last Friday we set up a reception at Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville. We did a reception last year at this reception hall with the same color. It never gets old...such a beautiful bright color. The flowers hadn't been set-up yet in the photos, and it was still absolutely gorgeous in there! Here are a few photos I took after our set-up was complete. Congrats to the happy couple!

Event Recap: Lilac and Sage Reception at Above & Beyond

2010-05-24T10:00:00.009-04:00

Last Saturday we set-up for a reception at Above & Beyond in Muskegon. The bride went with lilac and sage sashes, which were so beautiful together! I absolutely love the large chandeliers hanging in the banquet room. So pretty! Below are a few pictures I took after set-up.

This week Friday we have a reception set-up at a local church. I'll be out of the office Saturday, May 29 through Tuesday, June 1 for Memorial Day weekend. I expect to have a few photos posted on here from that reception shortly after returning. Enjoy the upcoming long weekend everyone!

Business: 2010 Availability

2010-04-12T08:45:00.001-04:00

If you have checked out the calendar section on our website recently, you may have noticed that we have "Not Available" listed on many dates beginning in September and ending in December. Though we are sad to turn away couples, we are excited to announce we are expecting our first child this October! We couldn't be more excited to be first time parents this year! However, with the impending due date comes limited availability for event dates. We are not accepting anymore events from September 1, 2010 - January 1, 2011. Thank you for your understanding and support. We look forward to the rest of the events this year, as well as next!

Business: Bride's Choice Award Winner for 2010!

2010-02-04T09:21:00.009-05:00

If you are a fan of Chic Chair Covers, LLC on Facebook, you probably saw our recent status update about being selected for the 2010 Bride's Choice Award from WeddingWire.

This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, and professionalism. If you rated our service last year, you were part of the reason we received it. Big thanks to all our clients who reviewed our services on WeddingWire this past year! We appreciate your support and look forward to another great year of beautiful events!

Event Recap: Winter Wonderland Reception

2010-02-01T09:00:00.005-05:00

What a beautiful winter wonderland themed reception this was! We set-up a reception this past weekend at the Crowne Plaza in Grand Rapids and the couple went with silver sashes to tie in with the gorgeous centerpieces.

The centerpieces were definitely one of my favorites I've seen. They were sparkling silver branches with crystals hanging from them. The vase the branches were in were were covered in faux snow. Everything was so beautiful even without all the candles lit around the vases yet.

Congrats to Sarah & Joe!

Business: We've Been Featured!

2010-01-16T11:05:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Lindsey R. Smith Makeup for featuring Chic Chair Covers, LLC on their blog yesterday. If you haven't already seen it, feel free to check it out! And if you're looking for a makeup artist for your big day, contact Lindsey to set-up a makeup 'preview' application.

http://lindseyrsmith.blogspot.com/

Business: My Home Office is Complete!

2010-01-05T16:38:00.009-05:00

Finishing my home office has been in the works for a while. We finished the basement of our home last year and because the family room is so deep I was able to have an area for my home office. I'm really excited to have a space that is specifically meant for Chic Chair Covers, LLC and spending time with clients. Often times meetings aren't necessary, but this is great for when I do need to meet with a client to discuss colors and view swatches. It's pretty simple, but after lots of painting and some organizing it's done! Here are a few pictures...

Business: Happy 2010!

2009-12-30T10:00:00.002-05:00

What a busy month December has been! So many fun holiday parties and family gatherings. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and time with your family and friends.

2009 has been a great year! I had the opportunity to do business in a variety of great reception halls in the area and work with a lot of fun couples. 2010 is upon us, so here's to a healthy and happy year ahead of us! I look forward to working with many more wonderful couples.

Cheers to a wonderful 2010!

(Pictured on the left is our dog, Isabella, in front of our Christmas tree this year.)

Personal: Thanksgiving & Our Niece!

2009-11-30T09:25:00.002-05:00

Can you believe the month of December is starting tomorrow? I hope everyone had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving spent with loved ones! I certainly enjoyed every minute of it. I have so many things to be thankful for this year. Over the weekend we visited family in Ann Arbor and got to meet our niece who was four days old on Saturday. She was so precious!

With wedding season done for the year, there won't be as many updates on the blog. But stay tuned as events start back up again the end of January. I hope you all have a great holiday season!

Helpful Tips: What To Look for in a Reception Hall

2009-11-13T12:55:00.005-05:00

Picking out a reception hall is a huge part of the wedding planning process. Thinking back to when I planned my husband and I's wedding, choosing our reception hall was the first thing that was checked off the many to-do's. (photos from our wedding courtesy of Harrison Studio, formerly Ben Harrison Photography.)

We chose Wallinwood Springs Golf Club for a few reasons:
1. We wanted an outdoor ceremony and a backup location if it did rain. (They adjust the reception room's layout for an indoor ceremony if the weather doesn't cooperate. Thankfully it was beautiful and we had an outdoor ceremony).
2. We wanted the ceremony and reception site to be at the same location.
3. We wanted a venue that had in-house catering so we wouldn't have to find a caterer.
4. We fell in love with the tree-lined driveway, which made for gorgeous photos.
5. The location was very close to my parents house, so if we forgot anything it wasn't a big deal to run back to pick things up.
6. The staff was great! They did a lot of the set-up for us and helped with tear-down as well.
7. It just felt right being there. It was beautiful, but not "up-tight." I wanted casual elegance and we got that at Wallinwood.
8. I liked all the natural light from the windows in the room.
9. I knew I wanted to use chair covers, and they had normal banquet chairs that were compatible.

With all these questions, you have to weigh what is most important to you. The convenience factor, as well as having an outdoor ceremony site, and a venue with standard banquet chairs were important to us so even though the blue walls in the banquet room didn't go with our pink/brown theme, we still went with Wallinwood (and are very happy we did!).

Here are a few things to consider when deciding what will work best for you and your soon-to-be spouse, courtesy of about.com:
1. What's the decor like? Does it fit your style and wedding colors? Will you have to spend a lot of money on flowers and decorations to make it beautiful?
2. Do they have an in-house caterer, and do you like that food? (While an in-house caterer can be easier and cheaper, sometimes the food is not as beautiful as the room. So make sure you taste it!) Do they have a limitation on which outside caterers you can use?
3. Do they have adequate coat check and bathroom facilities?
4. Is the wedding venue wheelchair accessible? If not, are there many stairs to climb? How close is the parking to the ceremony and reception rooms?
5. What's the cancellation policy?
6. Is there a payment schedule? What kinds of deposits are required?
7. Are there any hidden costs? (Before you sign the contract, read it carefully.)
8. What are the overtime charges?
9. Do they have a liquor license? Will they allow you to bring your own liquor?
10. Is there room in the wedding venue for a band and/or dancing?
11. Does the wedding venue already own a sound system with adequate speakers or will that need to be rented?
12. Is there a space for the bride and groom to change and/or relax?
13. Where will you take photographs? Is there a park nearby, or do the coordinators have recommended spots on the grounds?
14. Who will be supervising and troubleshooting before the day of your wedding? Who will be supervising and troubleshooting on the day of your wedding? Can you meet them now?
15. Where can your guests park? Are there extra fees for parking? Do they have valet parking?
16. Is the wedding venue convenient to public transportation, especially in big cities? How long will it take your guests to get there?
17. Especially in museums or private clubs, are there limitations on decorations? Do they limit food and drinks to only certain areas of the wedding venue?
18. Are candles or other open flames allowed?
19. If its an outdoor location, do they have any backup plans for rain or other inclement weather? If not, is there a place that you can put up a tent?

When Looking at Separate Wedding Reception Venues and Ceremony Locations
1. How far is it from one location to the other?
2. Do the two places have the same level of formality and a coordinating style?
3. Do they both accommodate about the same number of guests?
4. Does the wedding reception venue have any experience with weddings from your ceremony location?

When Looking for Wedding Venues for Both Ceremony and Reception
1. Do they own enough chairs for the ceremony, or will they need to be rented?
2. Does the wedding venue have an entirely separate area for the ceremony? (It is not uncommon that while the guests are at the cocktail hour, the caterers will transform the ceremony room into the dining room and/or dance floor.)
3. If not, how long does it typically take for the staff to change over the room?   

Miscellaneous: Evolution of Dance Style First Dance

2009-11-06T08:05:00.002-05:00

Here's a fun wedding related video for your Friday. The video on YouTube is of a couple who did an "Evolution of Dance" style first dance at their wedding reception. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween! early

2009-10-30T08:13:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to wish you all a fun and safe Halloween weekend! And what's a post without a picture? Here's a picture of the pumpkin I carved on our front porch.

Helpful Tips: Green Details

2009-10-26T09:41:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite things to do is view the different color sections on theknot.com's wedding pictures page where you can select a colors and view all wedding details in that color. I took the liberty of putting together a collage of fall color details to give all you fall brides a little inspiration. I love the use of the apples as place cards and in the centerpiece arrangement. Enjoy!
(source credit: theknot.com; exception: chair covers by Chic Chair Covers, LLC)

Event Recap: A Pop of Yellow at the Fountains in October

2009-10-19T08:07:00.003-04:00

I can hardly believe that wedding season is coming to a close. What a great one it's been!

Over the weekend we set-up for a reception back at The Fountains, which I love! The bride chose one of my new favorite colors, yellow, for her sashes. It is such a nice light fresh color! The rest of the room was still in the process of being set-up as we finished, but I could tell it was going to be another beautiful reception.

Congrats to the happy couple! I hope you both loved the way everything turned out.

Helpful Tips: Fall Tree Cake Topper

2009-10-13T08:58:00.000-04:00

I'm a big fan of the website, Etsy. It seems you can find just about anything you need on there. If you're not familiar, you can browse a variety of handmade items and purchase them through the sellers "stores." Recently, I came across a unique cake topper product on Etsy that is perfect for fall weddings! Apryl sells her handmade creations that are perfect for your big day, and they make great keepsakes for after the wedding. I absolutely love them! You can have her custom make them for you too. She can make the tress out of the gold, as pictured above, or a silver wire and a variety of different colored gem stones. The cake topper would make your cake personalized and definitely memorable! Check out her website for more information.

Vendor: Meet Lindsey R. Smith, Bridal Makeup Expert!

2009-10-05T09:03:00.006-04:00

For the month of October, I would like to feature a talented local makeup artist that I met through the wonderful world of online networking....Lindsey R. Smith. I absolutely loved having my makeup done professionally for my wedding. It's nice to look yourself, but a little more glamorous. I knew I wanted my skin to look really natural, but my eyes to be a little darker to pop in the photos. My advice? Trust the pros and give Lindsey a shot! Doing a "preview" makeup application is worth it. You can let Lindsey know what you're thinking and get to see what it will look like, and then decide if you want to change anything for the big day. I asked Lindsey a few questions, so read on to learn a bit about her background and love for bridal makeup.

1. How many years have you been doing makeup professionally, and who have you worked for before doing this independently? I have been professionally doing makeup for over seven years. I started In Design 1 Salon and Day Spa, stayed there for a couple of years, attended Esthetics school for skincare and makeup, Went on to working at Leigh's in East Grand Rapids Selling (and training with each company) Trish Mcevoy, Natura bisse, Darphin, and Classified Cosmetics. I was then offered a job at MAC cosmetics. I stayed with mac for about 1.5 years before being offered a job by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. I've chosen to jump around between cosmetic lines, because they all have such different Concepts and Techniques, I wanted to dip knowledge from every line. Mac could be a very eccentric line, while Bobbi brown was a very conservative line. I feel like My training includes the best of every world. Throughout my time as a makeup artist, I've worked as a freelance artist, picking up a few weddings a year.

In 2008 I had a daughter, Aliyah Rene, she is so special to me. I had decided to leave the mall hours and return to Design 1 Salon and Day Spa. I stayed there, for a little over a year, running their newest location's makeup counter, which included paperwork, numbers, and sales. The long hours and the pressure of the sale started to get to me and I'd realized that I wasn't enjoying my career as much as I'd used to. Plus, I'd drop my daughter off in the morning, and get home after she was asleep, I missed her so much. I decided I needed to make some changes. I quit my job at Design 1 and started to form my own freelance makeup business. It took off very quickly, and I was just delighted with the amount of time I got to spend with my daughter. I regularly attend makeup workshops to keep up with the trends, and I added airbrush makeup to my menu of services after having a private workshop with Mario Ceja. Today, nine months into opporation, my business is thriving, along with my relationship with my daughter. Sometimes you just have to have faith and take the next step.

2. What kind of bridal makeup packages do you offer? At the moment, I am offering a Group discount. If the bridal party has 4 or more clients (including the bride) who want their makeup done, 15% is taken off the the entire package. I also offer a referral discount. For every booking I make from a client's referral they will receive an extra 20% off their wedding package. The name of the "referer" must be mentioned in the first contact with the client being referred. A full menu of services including pricing is available on my website (link at bottom of post).

3. What is your favorite thing about doing bridal makeup? Doing bridal makeup is very special to me, I get to be a part of the biggest day of the bride's life. They'll look back at their photos in 20 years and see just how amazingly beautiful they looked on their wedding day. I don't change the bride's appearance, I feel that the bride should look like an enhanced version of herself on her wedding day. Photography makeup and everyday makeup are two completely different things, in order for a bride to ensure the best results with her photos, proper photography makeup is needed.

4. Will you travel to the ceremony site, or other location, to do makeup for the bride, bride's family, and wedding party? If so, is there an additional charge for travel? All of my prices have travel built in up to thirty miles from my zip code. If a bride would like me to travel further than thirty miles, I charge by the mile after the intial thirty. The price for mileage depends on the gas prices at the time of the wedding/ booking. If the wedding party is larger, I will usually lower the travel fee.

For more information & to contact Lindsey, check out her website:
http://www.lindseysmithmakeup.com/

Event Recap: Beautiful Fall Reception at Wallinwood Springs Golf Club

2009-10-02T09:39:00.003-04:00

First off, I want to thank Michelle of Memorable Events, LLC for featuring us on her blog today. Check out the entry & browse through her awesome work!

I said this last time I posted about an event at this venue, but I just love being at Wallinwood Springs Golf Club in Jenison. It brings back so many good memories from my own wedding day. Last weekend we set-up for Sabrina & Michael's reception and used chocolate brown sashes (so popular this season!). I love her centerpieces....they fit her fall theme perfectly and they looked beautiful! She had orange and red paper leaves cut out and glued to the place cards to show who wanted what entree for dinner. She really did a great job putting everything together.

Congrats to the happy couple! And as always, I took a few photos to share. Enjoy!

Event Recap: Chair Covers at a Baby Shower

2009-09-26T17:54:00.004-04:00

Above: centerpieces I made for the baby shower

My sister-in-law and her husband are expecting their first child, a girl, this November. I can't tell you how excited I am to be an aunt and meet my niece! I had the honor of helping out with her baby shower. I had so much fun designing the invitations and making the decorations. I ended up not using the napkin rings I made, or doing the favor boxes. But, everything turned out pretty cute! The shower was held at Main Street Pub in Allendale this afternoon, where I've done chair covers for a wedding reception before. So of course I was excited to be able to dress up the chairs for her shower too. I used the sage green sashes, which went well with the theme of the shower and her nursery bedding called "Bunny Meadow." The bedding has a bunny and dragonfly's on it in grass -- so cute! We set-up for a reception at Wallinwood today as well. I should have some pictures up from that later this week...it was beautiful! Here are a few photos of some of the details from the shower today.

L: chair covers & R: part of the banner

The finished invitations shown folded up and unfolded

Event Recap: Fall Reception at The Felt Mansion

2009-09-22T08:05:00.008-04:00

Sunday we set-up a reception at The Felt Mansion located in the Saugatuck/Holland area for Matt & Jessica. My initial reaction as we drove up to the Mansion was, "Wow!" It is such a beautiful historic building. This was the first time we had done an event at the Mansion, and I was impressed with the venue. The top photo of the building is the front entrance, and the bottom one is the back of the building that faces towards the long driveway that curves up the hill and around to the front. I'm sure their photographer was loving the venue as well, since there was so many great spots for pictures outside.

They couple had their wedding ceremony at the same location. The property had a gorgeous area for outdoor ceremonies with a fountain in the backdrop. I'm a sucker for outdoor weddings, as my husband and I got married outdoors too. It was a great spot for it! The reception was in the ballroom on the top floor, which was the attic at one time so it had a "dome" style arched ceiling. The room was on the smaller side, so it's the perfect space for receptions with less than 90 or so guests. It had soft lighting, with a few small windows, and beautiful dark hardwood flooring as well.

Congrats Matt & Jessica! I'm so glad you enjoyed your reception & had a beautiful wedding.

For more information on The Felt Mansion, check out their website. You may view a photo of the room in their photo gallery. http://www.feltmansion.org/

Helpful Tips: Four Fab Fall Decor Details

2009-09-16T08:12:00.004-04:00

Just a few fall decor detail ideas to get into the idea of the fall season...even though it's been abnormally hot lately! Fall is just around the corner. Only six more days and it's officially here!

1. Make, or buy, a fall wreath or two for the inside doors of your reception hall. If you're on a budget, I definitely suggest making one. I made one, pictured on the left, for our front door and it was significantly less than buying a pre-made one. Plus, if you're into crafts you'll probably enjoy making it like I did. I purchased all the supplies at Michael's Craft Store. All you need are a few branches of the faux fall leaves, faux berry branches, some pine cones (I found some leaf branches had the pine cones already mixed in with them), and of course the wicker-like wreath frame. All the supplies are fairly inexpensive, and if you keep an eye out on their weekly sales you can often get the faux items for 50% off. I just used a hot glue gun and weaved the branches into the wreath frame. Pretty simple! Last time I checked, you can get wreath hooks for less than $3 at Hobby Lobby.

2. Or, if you'd like to use the wreaths elsewhere in the room you can always decorate the door with the bride and grooms first initials. Hobby Lobby has large white wooden letters that can be painted to match your decor, or left white as shown, and may be hung on a wreath hook. Can't get much easier than that! You can always dress it up more by tying some of the left over berries from the wreath in just above the letters. Thanks to marthastewartweddings.com for the photo.

3. Bring the fall season into your place cards. Most scrapbooking stores will have a variety of different leaf punches, but you can always order them online too. I found some at TheFind.com Buy some paper in a fall color of your choosing and write the table numbers on each leaf. Easy way to dress up a boring place card. Thanks to marthastewartweddings.com for the photo.

Or instead of the traditional folded place card, you can use larger leaf cutouts with the seating information written on it and use a hole punch near the stem of the leaf. Tie a ribbon through the hold and place the leaf on a corkboard by placing the ribbon around a thumb tack.

4. Make your usher's jobs even easier, and add a decorative touch by using pine cones to reserve seats for certain family members. Carry through your "leaf" cutouts from above and glue them to the cardstock you print "reserved" on. Thanks to Jonathan Canlas Photography and theknot.com for the photo.

Personal: Photography Fun & Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-08T09:27:00.003-04:00

I hope you all had a nice relaxing Labor Day weekend! The weather was great, so hopefully you all had a chance to enjoy it. My husband & I spent it at his parent's cottage up north. Just a little shout out to my my husband....happy 2nd anniversary! Here's a pic of the lake this weekend and one of us from when we celebrated our anniversary (early).

As some of you probably remember, I featured a few photos I took of my youngest sister on here a few posts back. I convinced her to let me take a few more of her before my husband and I headed up north for a little R&R. Now that Alexa is enrolled in courses at Kendall College of Art & Design, I can hardly wait for her to learn more and teach me! I occasionally miss being in school, believe it or not. I like learning new things and expressing myself creatively. Lately it's been crafts, as I've been putting together decorations for my sister-in-law's upcoming baby shower...which I'll likely do a post on as I'm doing chair covers for the event! But, a love for photography is definitely in our genes. Here are a few of the photos:

Vendors: Memorable Events, LLC

2009-09-04T09:00:00.004-04:00

Earlier this summer I was able to meet up with Michelle of Memorable Events, LLC. Within just a few minutes I realized we had a lot in common, both professionally and personally. Anyone who knows Michelle, knows that she's a great person and event coordinator. Michelle offers packages ranging from set-up to full planning. Her most popular package is the Classic Package, which is day of coordination. She's found that many brides are hands on and want to plan their own wedding, but want someone else to handle the details on the big day so they and their families don't have to worry about it.

All brides deal with stress at some point throughout the planning process and having an event coordinator there to take some of the pressure off them is a reason why she does offer full planning packages as well. Michelle handles a variety of tasks including running last minute errands the week of the wedding, making the necessary phone calls to tie everything together, and of course being there to help the bride check off items on her to do list is a huge help to brides and their families. With all of her packages, except Set Up, Michelle provides unlimited emails and phone calls to ensure good communication with her clients. Even if they just need someone to calm them down, Michelle is there for her clients!

"My favorite part of wedding planning is seeing the end result all come together. Once all the little details are pulled together and finally being able to see the vision that the bride and I have had for the last several months, it's always amazing to see it in reality. The other part of my job that I love so much is meeting and getting to know all the wonderful people, the couple and their families. Spending such an important day with people makes you really feel like part of the family," Michelle said.

Michelle keeps her pricing reasonable so that anyone who needs the help can afford it. She believes that having a wedding coordinator is a luxury every bride deserves.

For more information on Memorable Events, LLC, visit:
http://www.memorableeventsbymichelle.com

Event Recap: Sage Green Reception at the Fountains Banquet Center

2009-08-31T10:13:00.017-04:00

Before & After

On Saturday we set-up a sage green reception at the Fountains Banquet Ceter in the Kalamazoo / Parchment area. We had never done a reception there before, but it is definitely one of my favorite places now. The photos don't do the space justice. It felt nice and cozy in there even though it was a large room. I loved the lighting over the dance floor! It definitely helped add to the romantic atmosphere of a wedding reception.

I was able to see the bride, Tamara, for a moment when she stopped in to see how it all looked. She had on a beautiful veil and looked so pretty! Tamara, I hope you and your husband had a wonderful time at your reception & loved the overall look of the space. I wish you both the best for a long & happy marriage together!

Here are a few photos:

And, I couldn't help myself...I loved the pink oriental lily on their cake:

Helpful Tips: Fabulous Fall Favor Idea

2009-08-21T13:17:00.003-04:00

It's sure hard not to look forward to fall weather when it's been so hot and humid lately. Of course, I love the sunshine but what's not to love about fall in Michigan? Gorgeous colorful foliage, a crisp cool breeze, picking pumpkins, and.....hot apple cider!

If you're a "hands-on" bride, and are planning a fall wedding, here's a unique favor idea that'll be remembered: hot apple cider mix. Here's a very simple recipe that you can mix up fairly quickly. All your guests have to do is add the hot apple juice to the mix for a yummy fall treat.

Packaging:
Hobby Lobby sells plastic jewelry bags which would work for this, as they have a zip closure at the top to seal in the ingredients. Choose the size that'll work for you, then use some red, orange, yellow, or brown scrapbook paper to create a nice label on the front of the bag. Or design something on your computer to print off and paste on the front of the bag. The back of the bag is where you will paste the directions for your guests. Add a cinnamon stick in the bag to complete it.

Mix Ingredients: Thanks to RecipeZaar.com for the quick and easy recipe, and Allrecipies.com for the photo.

2 tablespoons sweetened lemonade drink mix
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:
1. Add 1 tsp of mix to 1 cup of hot apple juice to make individually.
2. or, add entire mix to one gallon of hot apple juice for several servings.

Helpful Tips: Sand Ceremony Frame Instructions

2009-08-14T08:32:00.009-04:00

Here's a fun do-it-yourself project I received from a newlywed, and a good friend, Jennifer. The "sand ceremony" is becoming a popular addition to the marriage ceremony. In fact, my husband and I did a sand ceremony instead of the candle lighting since our ceremony was outside and we didn't want to risk having it be a windy day and not be able to light the candles. But, almost a year to the day that we got married we attended a friends wedding at Above & Beyond (Muskegon/Norton Shores) and they did a sand ceremony in a different way with a multi-pane picture frame. I love this concept since it's something you can keep in your home for decoration. Here's the how-to instructions to prep the frame for your big day, as well as the words that were read at that portion of our wedding ceremony:

Supplies:
Multiple Pane picture frame (Jen's had 4 panes and was from Kohl's)
Clear drying glue (I used Zip-dry from Hobby Lobby)
4 Scrapbook Photo Squares (double-sided)
1 photo (engagement photo works great to hold the spot)
Painter's Tape or Similar Tape
Sand (different colors, 3 or 4 depending on the words that are read during the ceremony)
2 Small Funnel

Instructions:
1. Take the top off of the frame and remove all the panes of glass. Take your clear glue and fill the last (back) groove of the frame (where glass sits), then place glass pane back into the frame. This seals the glass to the frame and prevents sand from leaking out.
2. Repeat the above steps with the second pane from the back. This creates the area where the sand will go into the frame. Allow to fully dry before using or moving the frame.
3. Take scrapbook photo corners and use to attach your photo to the third pane of glass. Do this by making sure to place the corners on the back side of the photo so they do not show. This also allows you to replace the picture with one from the wedding. Place glass into frame.
4. Finally, place the last piece of glass back into the frame. This should be the front most piece of glass. Now take your painters tape and cut a piece to the exact length of the top of the frame and use to cover the front two panes of glass. This seals of the front panes (where the picture is) from the sand compartment. And replace top of frame to make sure tape does not interfere with the fit.
5. Now you are ready for your sand ceremony. Using a small funnel helps to put sand in the frame.

Jennifer, the bride, said, "We purchased our sand from Moon Glow Candles (moonglowcandles.com). They have many different colors available, however their sand has a "shimmer" added to it by something that looks like a silver glitter. Not a bad thing, just be aware of this before you order."

Our officiant, Rev. Don, explained the symbolism behind the different color sands coming together, "(brides name) & (grooms name), today you join your separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families, and separate sets of friends. They represent all that you are and all that you'll ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual sand can never be separated and poured again into the separate containers, so will your marriage be."

We used our wedding colors of chocolate brown and pink, with the white sand as the third color. But, as you can see from the photos, you can adjust the wording that is said and use four colors as well. If anyone uses this idea, we'd love to see some photos from you wedding ceremony. Thanks for the instructions and photos Jen!

Event Recap: Grandville Banquet & Conference Center Reception

2009-08-07T08:32:00.005-04:00

We're back at it again! We had the month of July off for vacation, which was great, but I was ready to be busy again. We set-up for a reception at the Grandville Banquet & Conference Center this past weekend. The nice thing about this hall is the open loft type ceilings, which allow you to hang decorations from. The hall already had the icicle lights up when we arrived. The staff at the hall were kind and easy to work with.

The bride picked the classic black sashes. It seems to be the popular thing these days. I'd be curious to see what her centerpieces were. I've been noticing a trend in the darker sashes, or just neutral sashes, with brighter centerpieces and a coordinating black ribbon to pull it together.

Ashley, I hope you and your husband loved the way the room came together with the chair covers! For those still reception hall shopping, I'd suggest a meeting with the great people at Grandville Banquet & Conference Center. For more information on the hall, click on the photo below.

Vendors: Summer Jean Photography

2009-08-03T08:42:00.002-04:00

With so many photographers out there, sometimes it's hard to decide which one to go with for such an important event in ones life. Although, some photographers offer more for the money. Summer, of Summer Jean Photography, sets herself apart from her competition with her great service and wedding packages.

I met up with Summer, who is also based out of Allendale, recently and learned a lot about her and her business. Summer is very talented & easy going, and would be great to work with. She offers three wedding packages, all of which include the copyright released images on CD. The packages vary from 8 hours of coverage to all-day wedding coverage. Some packages even include a "Trash the Dress" photo session, which is often something you pay extra for with other photographers. She also goes above and beyond what a photographers duties typically include. From assisting in pinning boutonnieres, putting on the flower girl's shoes, to getting the bride water, etc. Summer is there to help!

After meeting with Summer, I could tell she truly loves her job, "My favorite part of my job is getting to know each one of my clients. I love being around people and getting to know them. Then, after photographing their event, I love looking back at the pictures and seeing their personalities shine through in their photos. I love to create a friendship with my clients."

I'm a huge fan of her wedding photography, and would definitely recommend her to my clients. Check out her website for more information:
http://www.summerjeanphotography.com

Helpful Tips: OneWed.com Launches WeddingPreParty.com

2009-07-28T17:44:00.010-04:00

Chic Chair Covers, LLC is listed on OneWed.com, and I often get update emails. Today, I received an email from them stating they just launched a new website (click their website image to visit it), and I thought I'd share the info with you all.

The new site states, "OneWed is pleased to announce the marriage of Wedding Planning and Social Networking, launching the first ever social wedding planning platform. Create your own private, invitation-only, personalized wedding planning site where the wedding party and wedding guests chat with the bride & groom and offer wedding planning tips, ideas, photos and more. Single guests can even scope out other singles before the big day!"

What a fabulous idea! There are many other sites out there that you can make wedding websites for your guests to find information related to your wedding date like where the closest hotels are, where you're registered, as well as all the logistical details. There are also many sites where you can chat with other brides-to-be for decor ideas, etiquette questions, honeymoon location ideas, etc. However, I find this new site pretty great considering you can do all that and more all at one website. I look forward to seeing what new ideas come from the site, and encourage my clients and other brides-to-be to check it out!

Miscellaneous: YouTube Wedding Procession Becomes Web Sensation

2009-07-24T16:39:00.009-04:00

I'm sure many of you have seen this video, it's been featured in the media recently, but I had to post the link to it since I had a good laugh! Not exactly a "traditional" wedding processional. I've seen people do this at wedding receptions, but never the ceremony haha! Enjoy.....

Vendors: Kate Webb | Smart Design

2009-07-17T16:18:00.000-04:00

This month I'm featuring a very talented graphic designer out of Chicago, who is originally from West Michigan, and has done a lot of work for the West Michigan community. Her name is Kate Webb and she owns/operates her own freelance graphic design business, Smart Design. This isn't just any vendor though. Kate was my roommate at Ferris State University our senior year. She designed my husband and I's wedding invitations, map cards, response cards, programs, and table numbers. We received so many compliments on them, and thought the rest of West Michigan should know about her incredible design ability.

Webb works with her clients vision to create custom invitations, reply cards, welcome packages and booklets, programs, maps, menu cards, table cards, thank you notes, and anything else you need! She has an example of another wedding invitation, map card, response card, custom sticker, and program posted online.

You may view her design work at: http://www.behance.net/smartdesign

Webb can create something beautiful for a variety of budgets, "I would love to help make your invitations as unique as you are for your special day...I can create a simple design that is cost effective to print. I am also able to use a variety of printing techniques and materials to create a fun and custom look for your invitations, program, keepsakes, etc."

With design fees starting at only $100, and printing costs starting around $300, you're bound to get what you need for a great price! Both prices may vary depending on time and materials, so contact Webb for more information. However, she can work within a given budget. The final products are shipped directly to the client. Webb suggests giving her a minimum of three months for design time. Although, she can do rush jobs if necessary.

My husband and I were so happy with how our wedding print materials turned out, and would highly recommend her to all soon-to-be married couples too!

Personal: Turning the Camera on Alexa

2009-07-09T13:55:00.015-04:00

This afternoon I had the opportunity to take some photos of someone who is usually behind the camera instead of in front. Alexa, my youngest sister, is attending Kendall College of Art & Design this fall to major in Photography. She is definitely gifted in the field, but I know she looks forward to learning all kinds of new techniques and learning to master the manual settings. She has several senior portrait sessions under her belt already, and I look forward to seeing her work progress as she takes more classes...and once she officially launches "Alexa Paige Photography," I'm sure it will take off! I can't wait to showcase her work here someday.

A lot of people don't know that I too love photography. Though I don't have the technical knowledge she does, I still love getting behind the lens. I think we can thank our dad for influencing our love for photography, and art in general, because growing up he was always taking photos.

Here are a bunch of my favorites I took of Alexa at a few places here in West Michigan, including my favorite 'secret' spot for photos. I'm sure a lot of you can guess where it is if you're from the area :). Thanks for being a great model, Alexa!

Event Recap: Bringing Back Some Good Memories!

2009-07-01T08:03:00.005-04:00

What's not to love about a beautiful tree lined driveway? Wallinwood Springs Golf Club in Jenison is always enjoyable to be at, whether I'm there as a guest or for business. My husband and I got married & had our reception at Wallinwood, so being there always brings back good memories from that day.

Saturday we set-up for a reception using fuchsia, orange, and yellow sashes. The sashes matched the gerber daisies in the glass vases that were used as the centerpieces. Kristen, the bride, did a good job tying all the colors together with the decor and cake too. For more information on Wallinwood Springs Golf Club, you may contact Cathy Burns in the banquet facility at 616.667.0003. Hope you all have a fabulous 4th of July weekend!

Here are a few photos from the event:

Vendors: Pearls Events

2009-06-29T12:03:00.004-04:00

I had the opportunity to meet with Aletha, of Pearls Events, last week to discuss our business' and for a little chit-chat. She is such a great person and I can see why she does so well! If you're thinking you may need help with planning your wedding, or maybe even just day-of-coordination, Pearls Events has you covered!

Pearls Events is an event planning boutique, specializing in Michigan weddings. With offices in Grand Rapids and Holland, Pearls Events plans, designs & coordinates social events throughout the entire state of Michigan. Aletha VanderMaas is the principal event planner at Pearls Events with her event career beginning over 10 years ago with a part time catering job. After earning her B.A. in fashion marketing in 2003, she accepted a marketing position with the largest Christian communications company in the world.

In 2007 she set up shop and infused her love for service, marketing & weddings by creating Pearls Events. Besides planning events, Aletha enjoys spending time with her husband while they work in their yard, travel the country and entertain friends on their patio. They live in Grand Rapids with their cute Yorkie, Olive.

Aletha explained that she offers a number of different packages that each offer a variety of different services. Everything from doing the set-up for your wedding and reception, management for the day of, and of course an event planning package which has no limits to what it includes. Check out www.pearlsevents.com for more information on their services.

Event Recap: Georgetown PRC Thursday Reception

2009-06-26T08:35:00.008-04:00

It has been far too long since I've posted! I've been busy in my personal life with some updates to our home. It's been time consuming, but so much fun to decorate a new space! Anyway, earlier this month we did a reception at the Grand Rapids Hilton hotel with sage sashes for guest tables and fuchsia for the head table. The room looked great with that extra pop of color in there! The couple was just the sweetest I've ever had the pleasure of working with. As it says on our site, my favorite part about my job is hearing back from the newly married couple. They sent me a hand written thank-you note that just made my day! It feels so good to know people appreciate your services and loved the way the covers made the room a bit more classy. I hope you're enjoying married life, Rob & Christine!

On Thursday, we set-up for a reception at Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville. The bride peaked in the room during set-up and I just have to say, Lindsey you were absolutely stunning!

I would LOVE to do many more receptions at that church. What a nice banquet room and friendly staff! The gorgeous floral arrangements were provided by Trillium of Hudsonville. I spoke with the owner, Laura Bode, briefly after set-up and would definitely recommend her services. She took care of decorating the ceremony trellis with her floral as well. She does a fantastic job, and she is such a sweet person. You may reach her at: lbtrillium@gmail.com, or by phone: 616-446-2073.

The bride's color choice for the sashes was fuchsia. One of my favorites! Here are a few photos from the reception:

Event Recap: A Wedding Reception With a View

2009-05-26T16:31:00.007-04:00

A few weekends ago, on May 16, we had the pleasure of setting up for a reception at Sunnybrook Country Club in Grandville, Michigan.

What a gorgeous view this reception hall has! The bride did a great job with the center pieces. She did three different types that all used green moss balls in them. My favorite type of the center pieces used was a clear tall vase with small moss balls in the bottom of the vase with a pink floral arrangement at the top. Another, pictured here, used a large moss ball with a small floral arrangement on the top. All beautifully done!

To do something like this, you can find supplies at Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft Store. To find out more information on this reception hall, you may visit their website at: http://www.sunnybrookcc.com

Event Recap: Engagement Party @ GVSU's Eberhard Center

2009-05-16T16:10:00.009-04:00

Last weekend, May 8th, 2009, CCC set-up for a large engagement party at Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. We did 300 chair covers with pink and sage sashes. To view more photos from this event, click on the gallery section on our website. The sage and pink is such a beautiful spring color combination!

The bride-to-be's decorator did an amazing job, especially with the elaborate trellis-like throne area with a pink sofa at the center of it. The sofa was the bride's families, but all other decorative touches were done by her decorators.

If you're looking for a similar decorative touch, you may contact those decorators. The dance floor backdrop and lighted trees were courtesy of Nance (616-677-2011). The stage design was done by Carol Depriest (616-443-3592).

We wish the bride-to-be and her fiance all the best!

Coming Soon!

2009-04-17T08:10:00.000-04:00

We're currently working on our website. Our blog will begin soon after the new website launches.

Posts to come!