A Day At The Symphony

November 8, 2009
What a perfect day for a little cocktail party. The Dilley's started this tradition a few years ago and I got the rare pleasure of also being a guest. They hired a quartet, who are members of the Grand Rapids Symphony, to come and play at their house for their guests. It was an afternoon of hot and cold appetizers, cookies, and cocktails. The guests meandered and chatted to one another; the french doors opening onto the patio that overlooks the lake. While the quartet played, the soft fall breeze rustled the leaves on the trees in the background. It was a fun day full of fun people and good food.

Leah and Ken's Wedding

October 24, 2009
Leah and Ken were such a pleasure to work with; they were just the sweetest couple! Leah also said they are hoping to attend my church, so hopefully I will see them again! Anyway, their wedding was so beautiful. I loved the bridesmaids dresses, they were a gorgeous color and each one was a little different without distracting from the overall look (which having different dresses can do). Leah looked beautiful and so poised during the whole thing with her Uncle by her side walking her down the aisle. The flowers were fake but looked very nice and the ivy on the aisle candles looked awesome. Leah had a lot of bridesmaids, 8 total, and Ken had only 4 groomsmen. A lot of brides are concerned that everything needs to be symmetrical and even, but uneven sides is fine, as well as having men and women on both sides. These days we are getting away from the more old and traditional and making new "rules" (aka: no rules). Anyway, the wedding went really well (apart from the rain... October has not been very nice to me with all my weddings) and even though I had a lot to do for this wedding and a lot of running around to do, I got it all done while still wearing stiletto's. All my love to Leah and Ken!






*sorry for the lack of quality on these pictures, I took them with my cell phone. Hopefully I will get the photographers pictures soon*

October Fest

Happy Autumn!

Brad and Sara's Wedding

October 3, 2009
Another rainy, rainy, rainy wedding day. Brad and Sara's wedding was simple and pretty, nicely done, nothing fussy or fancy... except her dress. Her dress was gorgeous and glamorous - it was slightly fitted, white, sparkly, very flowy; she looked beautiful. The Pastor was late to the wedding rehearsal but also to the actual ceremony; needless to say no one was very thrilled. There were probably a little over a hundred guests, small and intimate. The flowers were all fake and done very simply. She and her bridesmaids also made all the flowers, a growing trend as people start to cut budgets. The colors were orange, ivory and red. The 2 flower girls did a great job (after what was looking like a problem in the making); they dropped leaves from their little baskets and looked very sweet. Brad and Sara were going to have a pumpkin seed send-off, but due to the rain, we nixed that idea. So, even with the torrential rain, it was a beautiful wedding and I had a lot of fun helping with.

Steve and Michelle's Wedding

September 26, 2009
I am helping out now with weddings at my church (ie: wedding coordinator), so I got to be a part of Steve and Michelle's wedding. It was a rainy day in Grand Rapids, seems a lot like deja vu (to my own but also to a lot of other weddings I have planned), although rain on your wedding day is good luck. Anyway, it was lovely wedding ceremony, the flowers were pretty and simple: pots of mums at the front of the sanctuary and hand-made bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres (the girls made them). The ceremony was very personal, with both a Pastor (he just retired from Thornapple) and a Priest (from Notre Dame where the groom attended). After the ceremony, in the community room (the old sanctuary), there were appetizers and drinks for guests while the bridal party and family took pictures. Everything went wonderful and I wish Steve and Michelle the best!

Long Over Due

This summer has been hectic and busy for me and thus, my event planning has been pushed to the side. I have been living in 3 different cities (Grand Rapids, Denver, and Edmonton) and because of my constantly changing zip code, I took the summer off from planning. However, my head has been swarming with new and fun ideas like crazy and I am excited to be back home in Grand Rapids, even if it's just for a month (yes, more moving around for me). In this next month, October, I have 4 weddings I am helping out with, which I am looking forward to! If you are wondering why all the moving, my better half is currently living in Alberta, Canada, and I am trying to visit him as much as possible. However, I will be back in December, and I plan on throwing some pretty awesome holiday parties. So, until then...

Tips: Websites and ordering online

Ordering things online for a wedding can be inexpensive and a great way to buy wedding and party supplies. You can search for the best deals, looks for creative ways to do things, and save hundreds of dollars.

However, it can also be daunting and a little risky if you don't know what you are doing, and then there is always the risk that you might not be happy with what you ordered.

Tips:
1. Always know the website. Do your research on the company.
2. Ask your friends what websites they have used and were happy with.
3. Call the company if there is a phone number on the website and speak with someone.
4. Know their return policy and shipping rates - sometimes shipping can be expensive!
5. Ask if they can send you a free sample (cloth, invite, napkin, etc) so you can see and feel it.
5. If you have never used Ebay, this is probably not the best time to start learning how to use it.
6. Ask your local vendors if they have any experience/knowledge of any good websites.

Some of my favorite Websites:
1. Ebay: If you know what you are doing, you can find awesome deals on things from shoes and rings to candles and decorations and even vintage dresses!
2. Oriental Trading Co: This has a little bit of everything and things you didn't even know were out there. It's a lot of fun to look through!
3. Discount Mugs: Everything from vases, candle holders, wine glasses... the list goes on!
4. Formal Invitations: They offer more than just formal invitations. You can search by style, color, type, price, season... You can DIY or have them custom print and assemble the invites. The samples aren't free, but are only around $1.
5. Jcrew: They offer some fun and flirty styles that are not the typical Davids Bridal and are priced around $300 (up to $3,000).

Wedding Trends: Going Green

No, not green in environmentally green, but green as in the color. The lastest color trend is light green mixed with ivory creams and chocolate browns. From the flowers, to the cake, to even the dress, green is so in for fall weddings. Here are some awesome photos for a little "green inspiration"

Jen and Paul's wedding reception

June 13, 2009
Since Jen and Paul got married in Las Vegas in March, they wanted to have a reception in Michigan. It was held at Townsend Park (I love this location), which is near Cannonsburg ski resort. The day started off raining, but we were hopeful that it would stop. Luckily for us, it did; it turned into a sunny, gorgeous day! The style was very picnic-y and park-like. There were lawn games, people milling about, music in the background, tons of food and drinks... it was very relaxed. The flowers were beautiful, the weather was beautiful, the decorations looked great; everything went awesome! I had a lot of fun with this reception because Jen was so easy going and her mother was great to work with.

12 month checklist

Twelve months plus:
- Select & purchase engagement ring
- Announce engagement
- Select the date
- Attend engagement party
- Hire wedding planner
- Draft a preliminary guest list
- Draft a budget
- Begin bridal registry
- Determine the style & formality of the wedding
- Research & select the ceremony site
- Research & select the reception site
- Research wedding vendors

Ten to Twelve months:
- Select wedding party
- Interview & select vendors
◦ Caterer
◦ Photographer
◦ Videographer
◦ Entertainment/music
◦ Florist/event designer
- Shop for wedding gown
- Upon hiring photographer, schedule an engagement session

Eight to Ten Months:
- Purchase wedding insurance
- Order wedding gown
- Organize accommodation & transportation for out of town guests
- Select & order save-the-date cards
- Organize accommodation for the wedding night (and night before)
- Interview & select vendors:
◦ Rentals equipment
◦ Specialty rentals
◦ Lighting
◦ Officiant (if not marrying in a house of worship)
- Research wedding invitations
- Research honeymoon (ex: passport requirements)

Six to Eight months:
- Begin planning ceremony
- Begin planning reception
- Plan the rehearsal dinner
- Plan the pre wedding & post wedding parties
- Begin dance lessons (if necessary)
- Finalize any remaining vendor commitments:
◦ Hair stylist for the wedding day
◦ Makeup stylist for the wedding day
◦ Valet parking (if necessary)
◦ Pastry chef/select wedding cake
- Mail save-the-date cards
- Research other stationary needs (menu cards, place cards, ceremony programs,
thank you cards)
- Order bridesmaids’ dresses
- Help mothers shop for their attire
- Select formalwear for the groom, groomsmen, & fathers
- Research favor options
- Plan & book honeymoon
- Get passports (if necessary)

Four to Six Months
- Finalize guest list
- Order wedding invitations & announcements
- Order invitations for rehearsal dinner & pre/post wedding parties
- Determine reception menu
- Hire calligrapher for invitations & place cards
- Select wedding day transportation
- Shop for wedding bands
- Shop for bridal accessories (headpiece/veil, lingerie, jewelry, etc.)
- Shop for bridesmaids’ accessories (jewelry, shoes, & purses)
- Research ideas for welcome gifts
- Develop a preliminary wedding day timeline/schedule

Three Months
- Address & assemble invitations
- Research marriage license requirements
- Confirm delivery dates on wedding gown & bridesmaids’ dresses
- Compile music list for reception
- Finalize ceremony details & music selections
- Begin creating ceremony program & order
- Prepare a shoot list for videographer & photographer
- Shop for attendants’ thank you gifts
- Make arrangements for preserving bridal bouquet
- Make arrangements for preserving bridal gown

Two Months
- Mail invitations
- Finalize rehearsal dinner plans & send out invitations
- Attend dress fittings/alterations
- Confirm with bridesmaids that they have purchased lingerie and shoes, & have
schedule/attended their dress fitting
- Schedule wedding day hair & makeup trial
- Complete wedding day time line/schedule
- Finalize ceremony program
- Prepare wedding announcement for newspaper
- Attend wedding showers
- Begin collecting wedding accessories
- schedule final beauty/grooming appointments for the week of the wedding: haircut
and/or color, manicures/pedicures, massage, tanning, waxing

One Month
- Obtain marriage license
- Finalize itinerary with vendors & ceremony/reception locations
- Begin making seating plan for reception dinner
- Pick up wedding bands
- Schedule final gown fittings & date to pick up finished and pressed wedding gown
- Call guests who have not responded to invitation
- Start on/complete thank you notes for any wedding gifts already received
- Break in your wedding shoes
- Prepare welcome gifts (excluding perishable items)

Two Weeks
- Confirm final guest count to caterer/reception location
- Confirm rehearsal dinner guest count
- Begin packing for honeymoon
- Begin making final payments to vendors (payments due from this point up to the
wedding day)
- Finalize seating plan & send seating/place cards to calligrapher
- Prepare an “emergency kit” for wedding day mishaps

One Week
- Pick up gown - try it on at the dress makers for final fit & do not try it on
again at home
- Attend final grooming/beauty appointments
- Call/email venues & all vendors to finalize arrangements, delivery times,
& any other details
- Attend bachelor/bachelorette parties
- Finalize packing for honeymoon
- Arrange to have your mail stopped during your honeymoon
- Attend bridal luncheon

Two to Three Days
- Prepare tips for vendors
- Drop off wedding accessories at venue or deliver to the wedding
planner
- Deliver welcome gifts to hotels
- Pack a bag for the wedding day
- Pick up tuxedos for groom, groomsmen, & fathers. Try on & confirm all articles of
clothing & accessories have been supplied

One Day to Go
- Attend ceremony rehearsal
- Distribute the wedding day itinerary to all parents, attendants, & other
involved parties
- Hand over remaining accessories to the wedding planner, church
coordinator, or other organizer
- Attend rehearsal dinner
- Present attendants with their gifts at the rehearsal dinner
- Go to bed early so you will be well rested for the amazing day that lies
ahead of you

The Wedding Day
- Give vendor tips & payments to planner or best man for distribution
- Get beautiful
- Get dressed
- Marry the man of your dreams

Post Wedding
- Leave for the honeymoon
- Have bouquet sent for preservation
- Send gown for cleaning & preservation
- Complete & mail your thank you cards
- Thank your parents & attendants
- Thank your vendors
- Change name

So, I thought I would update with a little paragraph about jsevents. I officially started this company (js events) just a few months ago, but I have been professionally planning weddings and events for years. I decided on my honeymoon that this is what I wanted to do for my job, so I got a web page made and started handing out business cards (before it was just by word of mouth and from people that knew me). So, cheers to my official start. I can't wait to help all of you plan your events and weddings. Loves!

Amy & Kyle's wedding

July 28, 2007

This was a very special wedding for me because it was my first real wedding and it was for my brother. Both Kyle and Amy were living in Denver at the time, but wanted a wedding in Michigan. My family was from Grand Rapids and Amy's family was from Chicago, so they decided to have the wedding at our parents house. I had the joy of planning the entire wedding with Amy through phone calls and emails. Amy was great to plan for because she was so easy going. She already had ideas for what she wanted, so I added my ideas to hers and everything turned out beautiful. The day of, the weather was absolutely gorgeous and everything was just perfect.