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A former client of mine, Lana, came to me with a business she started - First Came Love. I love customized aisle runners, as well as supporting local business, so I am excited to share her company with you!

How did your company get started?
First Came Love (FCL) is a product of my wedding. I was a DIY bride and of all of the things that I made my aisle runner and table runner were the biggest hits. As a result, every friend and family member that got married following my wedding requested that I create a runner or banner for them… from that, the wedding portion of FCL was born.

When and why did you add baby items?
The baby portion is a play on my crafty side. After the weddings, the babies began to come and I found myself making personalized items for my friends and their newborns. I really enjoyed the creative process and decided to add those items to the business as well.

How did you come up with the name “First Came Love”?
I had a totally different name picked out for the business when I was only offering wedding items. When I decided to add the baby items I had to change the name. So as I was thinking about weddings and babies the rhyme “Sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G” came to mind and viola! From that day on, the motto became “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby… but First Came Love!” And there began First Came Love.

If you could tell people one thing about planning the decor for their wedding what would it be?
The most important thing that I could tell someone is to think outside of the box. Your wedding should be a representation of you and your mate, so incorporate who you are into your wedding as much as you can. Traditional weddings are beautiful but you can add a lot of yourself in there too.

How far in advance should an order be placed for a runner or banner?
There is a 2 month waiting time for all personalized wedding items. During the peak wedding season that time may increase due to order volumes. We do, however, offer rush order options.

What is your favorite part of creating these handmade items?
My favorite part is seeing the final product. I feel such a sense of pride and excitement when I see pictures of items that I have created being used.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
I didn’t get cable TV until after I got married. I hadn’t had it for over 4 years prior to that. I barely watch television and when I do it is mostly reruns, so cable was a waste of money for me but my husband can’t live without it.

On August 28th, 2009 my husband Gene turned 30 years old. Of course, as a wedding planner, I had to do something special for him on such a landmark birthday! About a year ahead of time, I started planning his surprise party. Why so early? Well, that’s about when the best wedding and event professionals start booking up! It started with the invitations, created by the amazing Tifany of Gourmet Invitations.

The amazing cakes were provided by Cakes by Stephanie - one was HoHo flavored (Gene’s favorite), the other was Strawberry. They were devoured by the end of the night, much like they were 3 years ago when we got married!

Decor was provided by two of my favorites, MPE Events and Fabulous Events (linens, lanterns and centerpieces). We were planning on having everything outside, but of course, that happened to be the day last year when it not only rained, but it POURED ALL DAY - starting first thing in the morning and ending late in the night.

Fortunately, I have a wonderful working relationship with Colonial Events, whose amazing staff was out first thing in the morning to put up an emergency tent over the deck! They also hung some uplighting in the tent, which looked great later on at night!

When Gene got home from work, I went to the front of the house to bring him around back for his surprise! Dionne and her husband were there from The Shooting Gallery to catch it all on their cameras - I love all the amazing pictures they took!

The food was all done by family - my mom and Gene’s parents helped out so that there was enough to go around for all 50+ guests that came to celebrate!

Gene got some hilarious gifts from his friends, including a t-shirt with tons of quotes and one-liners that had him cracking up for a good half hour.

Another huge hit of the evening was the Shutterbooth - always a great way to entertain guests!

Our dog Phoebe had a great time as well!

Where is Sweet Pea Floral Designs located? Our consult office is located at 415 Detroit Street across from Zingerman’s Deli. Rather than operating a store where customers can walk in and buy flowers on the spot we maintain an office space where our clients can come for a consultation. We chose to go this route because we prefer to focus on events and weddings. This keeps our overhead low which helps keep our customers price low too.

How did you decide to get into the floral business? My business partner Melissa and I have a combined 10 years experience in the floral industry. We worked as designers and managers in various flower shops while in college. When we graduated and got “big girl” desk jobs we would have lunch together and always talk about how much we missed working with flowers every day. One day we just decided to stop mourning and start our own design firm. It was exciting and scary to start a business from the ground up but so rewarding!

What types of events do you create arrangements for? We create arrangements for weddings, showers, banquets, bar and bat mitzvahs etc. This year we had the privilege to design for the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and a Chrysler Co. product release gala.

What are your favorite flowers? I love all flowers but my favorites are the unique textured flowers that make everyone say “what is that”? Here are a few:

What are your least favorite flowers to work with for wedding bouquets, and why? I try to stay away from carnations, baby’s breath and other over used flowers. That said I never limit my clients to what I like they get what they like of course.

Do you work with local growers, and how does that affect price? Yes we love to work with local growers by request! With our offices located right around the corner from the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market it is easy to stay in touch with what is in season and buy local. Local flowers are a great alternative to flowers trucked in from California or Columbia. Depending upon what is in season Local flowers can either be less expensive or 10-30% more expensive than their Columbian counterparts.

What colors and styles have you seen a lot of for 2010? The trend I am most excited about this season is succulents, or hens and chicks bouquets, boutonnieres, and decor.

I hear you have an etsy shop as well, right? Yes, on our Etsy shop we sell everlasting boutonnieres made from dried flowers, herbs, and small findings. Like these with tiny skeleton keys:

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? I earned my degree in business management which surprises a lot of people who imagine me more as the art school type then the business school type. I’m also a licensed cosmetologist, but I can’t stand the gossipy atmosphere of salons so I do hair from my home instead. I guess with my background in beauty and floral design weddings were bound to be in my future.

Cheers! ~Sweet Pea

I recently met with Amber and Elijah of Amber Hunt Photography, and they introduced me to an amazing artistic keepsake that Elijah is now creating for clients - intaglio prints! This heirloom-quality keepsake is a truly unique way to capture the essence of your wedding day in a centuries-old artistic medium. Amber loves “that we’re offering something that throws back to centuries past, before the days of photography.”

How does Elijah do it? Here is a description from their website: “I thought the etching process itself was grueling enough, but the inking is an hours-long endeavor. It’s fascinating to see how the ink must be “charged” and mixed with a small amount of clove oil to slow drying time, giving him more time to work.

After the plate is inked, the excess is wiped with a tarlatan. That alone is a lengthy and subjective process, as wiping too much causes you to lose detail, while not enough means there’s too much ink on the print. After the plate is wiped, the paper is placed on top and it’s run through a printing press. Then the inking/wiping process begins again. That’s why each print is unique, with variations in the inking.”

How long has Siesser Photography been around, and where are you located?

I started my company in 2004 while finishing my senior year of LSA at UofM Ann Arbor. All my housemates thought I was crazy because I invested so much time into photography that year, and not enough into my degree. Turns out the Philosophy/English major isn’t too practical.

How did the company get started?

It’s funny actually - when I went of to college in 2001 my parents bought me a Point and Shoot digital camera so that I could share my time at college with them. It was a way for them to experience it with me, and also to find out what the 30k a year was going towards! While I did photograph all my adventures I actually found that I really enjoyed photographing other things: computer keyboards, mouses, pens… Back in those days computers were slow so you had to find ways to spend your time while Word booted up! Around my Sophomore year one of my good friends started photographing weddings. I was really blown away by his images. If you were to ask me at that time what wedding images should look like I would have said: “Well you need a bride and groom at the front of a church with all their family standing around formally.” His images were totally different. They were full of life, natural, and spontaneous. Around that time another one of my friends was studying journalism and she had this huge Nikon camera. I was really impressed with that as well. I’d say between the two of them I knew that I wanted to explore imagery more, and so I just started studying it on my own. I would study images, read books at the bookstore, read online forums and just loved it. I was obsessed. Eventually I built a website to show off my work, and to my surprise people wanted to hire me!

What is the most important question that couples you meet with forget to ask - and how would you answer it?

Q.Can we see your work from a whole wedding? A.Yes!

So many wedding photography businesses out there have a lot of great portfolio images but when it gets down to what they are producing week in and week out it doesn’t look the same at all. I think my work every weekend is special and unique. I want to show couples I produce all the time and that is a big deal.

Do you work alone at weddings, or do you bring a second shooter?

Always two photographers. This is a big deal especially during the ceremony. It’s great to be able to have someone capturing the processional while I am able to be in back with the father and the bride. I also love to get that sweeping panorama shot of the bride and her dad coming down the aisle from behind, as well a close up of the groom’s face. I can do that while the other photographer captures the bride and her dad’s expressions walking down the aisle. There’s usually so much emotion there and it’s critical to get the shot.

How far in advance do you typically book a wedding?

I typically book about 8 months in advance.

What other types of photography do you offer that might be of interest?

I am really interested in shooting film and large format fine art photography. I really just dabble in this but you can check my blog for the latest updates. I also run another company that shoots Super 8 wedding films - IN Films. If you are bride that should definitely be of interest! I am honestly amazed at the raving reviews we get from 100% of our clients.

What are some of your favorite locations to shoot?

Downtown anywhere. Detroit is great but any urban-y area is always the best! Even lighting, big backdrops, etc.

What makes a location less desirable for a photographer?

Terribly lit locations. While photographers can use flash, generally it just doesn’t look as good as natural light. This is one thing brides never really think about either: how well lit will my reception or ceremony be? This is huge not only for the photography to look good, but also so your guests can see whats going on.

What makes Siesser Photography different from other companies out there?

There a few things.

1. I only work with 20 or so brides a year so I think that alone makes me special from 80% of the studios in Detroit. I really like to get to know my clients, and can because there are so few of them.

2. I not only work with 7 different album companies that all rock (think custom tailered album) but also make tons of amazing custom prints (you’ve really got to come in to see them - there is no lab in the country that makes the things I do).

3. I am an obsessive perfectionist. I love for things to look good and really care about my work. You are guaranteed to get quality because it is important to me not only for my business sake but my personal soundness.

4. I think I am a fine art photojournalist. I think this is unique combination of qualities. I love beauty and the feel of images but I also like the real moments. My style is unique blend.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

I love to Rock Climb. I travel all over the country to do it, and spend way too much time every week training and climbing.

How long has ShutterBooth been in business?

ShutterBooth was born & bred in Royal Oak, Michigan in 2007. Since then, we have successfully assisted in creating lifelong memories for over 1300 clients - just in the Southeast Michigan area. We have also been voted the “Best of Detroit” in the Rentals category for two years running now and couldn’t be more proud! Finally, we were named the 2009 Photo Booth Partner for TheKnot.com and are proud to say we have been named the 2010 Partner as well!

Why did you decide to start ShutterBooth?

I was searching for a great gift for my brother’s wedding. In my search, I found that a Hollywood celebrity, Christina Aguilera had an old fashion photo booth at her wedding. In the hopes of procuring one for my brother’s wedding I hit a road block. At this point I set out to create my own. Here we are today.

What areas of Michigan do you cover?

Between our offices in Southeast, West, and Northern Michigan we should be able to cover it all! Please call us directly if you have any questions about which office would be handling your special event.

I live in Michigan but my wedding will be held out of state - do you have operations elsewhere?

We are currently in 24 markets throughout the country. Feel free to visit our website at www.shutterbooth.com for a complete listing of the areas we currently service.

What should I expect to pay for a ShutterBooth at my wedding?

That really depends on what you’re looking for! We allow you to create your own custom package based off of your specific needs, that way you aren’t paying for something you don’t need or missing something you were wanting. For an accurate price quote, give us a call and we’ll work with you to discover your specific needs and will create a package just for you!

I have seen some lower cost options out there, why are you worth the money?

I would hope our quality, experience, hosts and reputation speak for themselves! There are other photo booth companies out there, however, we pride ourselves on being the premier photo booth company, while still maintaining an affordable price point - we are not the most expensive, but we are not the least expensive either.

We feel the number one thing that sets us a part is our experience. We know we can assure you a quality product and promise to be a positive reflection of you before, during, and after your wedding. However, all of this would mean nothing if we didn’t have the longstanding track record to back it up.

Reputation in industry, good or bad, can follow you around for a long time. We’ve been around for three years now and have over 1300 happy Michigan clients who would be glad to tell you how much they enjoyed ShutterBooth on their special day!

The next most important thing that sets us a part is our professional hosts. Our hosts are specially trained to entertain and interact with your guests. If you think about it, no one will interact more with your guests one-on-one than your ShutterBooth host will (and YOU of course) - and we recognize this!

We know our hosts are a reflection of you during your event which is why we are so selective in our hiring and our standards. Our hosts recognize the importance of giving your guests a great experience and being a reflection of you; which is why we call them hosts and not just “attendants.”

Lastly the experience we can create for you long before and after your event with, Save the Date photos, Video Booth, ShutterFlips, ShutterBooth i-App, ShutterYou, Eventis, Live from ShutterBooth and the list goes on. We provide you options so that we can work together to customize your experience. Once we know we are on your team anything we offer is at your disposal, so at any point if you want to change things around or add to the experience we can do it.

What are some of the extras with ShutterBooth that you offer to couples?

The greatest “extra” we are offering for our ShutterBooth couples is access to ShutterYou. ShutterYou is our unique, event-driven photo-sharing website which our clients get access to the day they book. In addition to their ShutterBooth photos being hosted on the website, clients and their guests can add their own photos from before, during, and after the event. Learn more on our website.

An extra we also offer couples is exceeded expectations on quality and service. We truly go above and beyond to make sure our couples are treated like royalty on, leading up to, and after their special day. Each of our clients will work with a dedicated ShutterBooth Client Manager to hold their hand through all of the steps of the process including designing the logo and scrapbook to host selection to ensure we are providing and delivering the best possible experience. It’s not only perfect, but fun!

Did you have a photo booth or similar “fun” element at your wedding?

Unfortunately, we began our ShutterBooth adventure after our wedding. However, we did decide to have fireworks which were a huge hit that hadn’t been seen before and served as a special moment for Nolan and me.

Are there any new and exciting things to come in 2010?

We absolutely have new and exciting elements in the works for 2010. The first new addition to our ShutterFamily is ShutterYou, which I talked about above.

Next, we are excited about our launch of VideoBooth which allows guests to record a short video clip in the photo booth with their message to you. We compile all the videos into a priceless memory from your special day.

Of course, there is more in the works which will be revealed in due time - but for the updates on the latest and greatest, feel free to follow us on Twitter or become a fan of us on Facebook!

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a phenomenal singer, but I only break it out for Christmas carols!

1. How long has Mike Greer Photography been around, and where are you located? We have been in business since 1998 and are located in Farmington Hills.

2. How did the company get started? I actually got started experimenting with digital imaging in 1987. In the mid 90s when the internet started to take off, I was recognized in the world wide internet community as a digital imaging expert. I started teaching imaging and photography a few years later, then went into commercial work from there.

3. What is the most important question that couples you meet with forget to ask - and how would you answer it? “Why are wedding photography prices all over the map?”

Answer: In a nut shell, experience and creativity. With modern day digital cameras, almost anybody can produce a technically good photograph under the right circumstances. It’s the “under the right circumstances” that is the key. With weddings, unless shooting outside under good daylight conditions all day, rarely are the circumstances right for good results for a photographer with little to no experience. On the wedding day, the photographer is constantly challenged with varying lighting conditions. So he/she has to be constantly be making adjustments as the day progress. It requires experience and attention for consistently great results. In addition, creativity must be applied while this is happening. Mastering these disciplines takes lots and lots of experience. With an experienced wedding photographer, the couple is making sure that their images will not disappoint. But photographers with this level of experience are usually running full time businesses. Therefore, the compensation must be such that the business can be viable.

4. Do you work alone at weddings, or do you bring a second shooter? My wife and I work as a team.

5. How far in advance do you typically book a wedding? Typically 2 to 18 months out.

6. What other types of photography do you offer that might be of interest? We also photograph high school seniors and infant babies (up to 1 year old).

7. What are some of your favorite locations to shoot? We like downtown areas. Downtown Detroit, downtown Plymouth, and downtown Birmingham are three of my favorite spots.

8. What makes a location less desirable for a photographer? For this photographer, I don’t get very excited by parks and flowers. Why? Because everybody likes parks and flowers! On the wedding day, I LOVE the contrast between the formal bridal wear and the bricks and mortar of a downtown area.

9. What makes Mike Greer Photography different from other companies out there? Part of it is answered in the previous question. But also, I have an eye for the unusual. Places that others would ignore, I take our clients and produce great and unique imagery. We also know that a couple’s wedding day is their wedding day. It’s not a day for us to get them to do what we want. We go with the flow, are totally laid back, yet still are able to produce images that our clients love with that approach.

10. What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? They are surprised that we are older than we look. I like to think we have a youthful approach to photography that keeps our work imaginative and creative, but the wisdom and responsibility that comes with age such that our clients know they can trust us.

Q&A With Matt Trubac of TruVision Studios

1. When did you decide that you wanted to become a videographer?

I started producing highlight videos for my high school during my senior year. I liked doing that, and as a computer science major took the intro film production class during my freshman year at Lansing Community College. Before I knew it I had a degree in Motion Picture Production. For me, becoming a videographer just happened. I found something I loved and kept doing it.

2. Did you always want to shoot weddings?

Not really. I started shooting weddings to fund personal film projects. Shooting my first wedding, I was 19, and could count on one hand how many weddings I had been to. I had no experience, and when it comes to wedding videography, experience is everything. I wound up being one of the lucky few who didn’t completely botch their first shoot. I made it through the day and the video turned out alright. More important, when I met with the couple to show them their DVD, they were thrilled!

Being around all of the fun and excitement of a weddings day, and the appreciation of the couples when they watch their video is what sold me on shooting weddings. Through online forums, conferences, and associations I have become involved in an amazing international community of wedding videographers. It is a great industry to be a part of. I have made many friends, and learned a lot since shooting that first wedding.

3. What is the price range for a TruVision wedding video?

It all depends on the number of shooters, and the time expected to be put into both shooting and editing the video. I think every wedding day is unique and many times will custom design a couples package based on their needs. My packages start at $1700.

4. Why do you think it’s so important to have a videographer at my wedding?

Because its the closest thing to time travel.

5. What are some of your favorite locations to shoot?

I think I’d probably like tropical locations! I enjoy shooting East Lansing, Downtown Grand Rapids and the West Michigan lake shore. I also like Metro Detroit including Birmingham, Troy, Royal Oak, and Rochester. I guess that just about covers everywhere.

6. How long after the wedding does it take to get the finished video?

My official delivery timeline is 6 months but I always try to deliver videos as soon as possible.

7. Do you shoot in high definition?

Of course. I can also DELIVER in High Definition on Blu-Ray disc. Why? Are there studios that don’t shoot HD?

8. How do you make sure that you and the photographer are on the same page?

If I haven’t worked with a photographer I will try to touch base with them before the wedding. This way I can find out a little bit about how they work, and let them know a bit about how I work. I have partnered with a photographer that I have worked with several times in the past. His work is awesome, and we know exactly what the other needs to shoot. This allows us to push the creative possibilities for each wedding and work both mediums toward a unified artistic goal.

9. Do you do all the editing for the videos?

Yes.

10. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m getting married too. I just proposed to my girlfriend in December. We are high school sweethearts and have been together for 8 years. We are planning our wedding for October 2, 2010. I need to find our videographer.

One of my favorites in the wedding industry is Tifany from Gourmet Invitations. When she is working with my clients, I know that the paper portion of their planning will be smooth sailing the entire way through, and that the resulting invitations will be absolutely spectacular!

Needless to say, I was very excited yesterday when browsing through Bride & Bloom Magazine at Borders, I found her ad (pictured above) as well as featured invitations on four other pages of the magazine! Congratulations Tifany!

The photo for the ad was taken by another favorite of mine, Dionne from The Shooting Gallery. If the model looks familiar, it is because she was one of my July 2008 brides, Monica!

Q&A with Ryan Koral of Epic Motion

1. When did you decide that you wanted to become a videographer? I’ve always had a love for video - since I was in grade school - and there are some pretty hilarious (mostly embarrassing) videos that I created in junior high and high school (and even college) floating around…

2. Did you always want to shoot weddings? I never considered filming weddings until about 5 years ago when a photographer friend (Jeffrey Lewis Bennett) told me that the bride and groom for the wedding he was shooting that weekend really wanted a video. I was hesitant, but agreed to shoot it. I loved EVERY second of it - and the client loved their movie. It just made sense that this was a perfect fit for me.

3. What is the price range for an Epic Motion wedding video? Investments start with our high-impact, Same-Day Only offering at $3,000. People spend about $5,000 on average when they book us.

4. Why do you think it’s so important to have a videographer at my wedding? Show me a stack of honeymoon photos, and I’ll fall asleep in less than a minute. Tell me a story, however, and you’ve got my attention. Your friends and family will understand your relationship on a deeper level when they watch your wedding film because film picks up where words alone fall short. Your story matters. A wedding filmmaker will help you tell it to the world.

5. What are some of your favorite locations to shoot? Favorite locations to shoot: My new one is the Virgin Islands. I also love shooting in Northern Michigan. And you can’t go wrong with an urban Detroit wedding. We love shooting venues that we have never shot at before, as it brings freshness for us as visual artists.

6. How long after the wedding does it take to get the finished video? Over the years, as Epic Motion has grown, we have constantly worked to improve our turnaround time. Currently we are at six to seven months for the full production. Same-Day Edits are obviously shown the day of the wedding, and trailers are created sometimes as soon as the week after the wedding. It really comes down to what the client wants. We anticipate 2010 films to take between four to six months for completion.

7. Do you shoot in high definition? We shoot everything in HD, and all of our clients now receive both Blu-ray copies (HD) and regular DVDs. We give clients multiple copies of each to make everyone’s lives easier. We also make sure that all parents receive a copy.

8. How do you make sure that you and the photographer are on the same page? Typically our clients hire photographers that are similar in style to our own, so on the day of the wedding, there really isn’t any drama that happens between us and them. We strive hard to work as a team, and it has always proven to work quite well for us. We always tell photographers that we’ve never worked with that they can “push us, kick us, yell at us” if we get in their way; they usually laugh and tell us the same in regards to them. We enjoy working with people we enjoy; it sounds redundant, but it’s true.

9. Do you do all the editing for the videos? When Epic Motion first began, I was Epic Motion. Our team has grown to where it’s bigger than just myself. I don’t shoot every wedding anymore, but when it comes time to edit, I serve as creative director and ensure that the finished film is in line with our style and brand. I have an extremely gifted team of shooters and editors, and it’s fun to watch them grow, challenge each other and create some pretty amazing wedding films.

10. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I think people might be surprised to know that my wife and I didn’t have our wedding filmed professionally. Seven years ago when we got married, we had NO idea that a wedding film could be so stinkin’ rad. It’s for sure our biggest regret from our wedding. You sometimes don’t realize how important something is until it’s too late.