Last week marked my first visit to the Detroit Welcome Center - what a great place! Located at 1253 Woodward in the Lofts at Merchants Row, the Downtown Welcome Center provides information on all that Detroit has to offer, including museums, bars and restaurants, city living options, shopping, services, bus routes and much more. It is staffed by an Inside Detroit specialist who lives, works and plays in Detroit and will be able to give the Insider’s perspective to each inquiry.
Inside Detroit, which is a non-profit operated by the Welcome Center, will take you on a Detroit Outing unlike any tour or pub-crawl you’ve ever been on. Every outing is specially designed for each group. Whether it is martini bars, theaters, shops or all three, Inside Detroit will create an experience that will make you feel like an Insider. The guide will not only take you to places you never knew you always wanted to go, but will introduce you to doormen, owners and regulars along the way.
For anyone hosting a Detroit-based wedding, this would be a great option to provide out of town guests for entertainment and a learning experience about everything there is to do in Detroit! For bachelor and bachelorette parties, what a unique way to tour the city without forking over tons of money! I am very excited about Inside Detroit - when I take my own tour next month I will let you know how much I learn!
After tons of emails and decisions back and forth, the final product for Molly and Dave’s invitations are on Gourmet Invitations’ blog today! I absolutely love their monogram(wouldn’t it be great projected onto the wall of the Atrium at St. John’s?), and the colors are so fitting for Spring!
I am very excited for this wedding, and can’t wait to see the two of you again Molly & Dave!
With a Dexter mailing address, I am always looking for places close to home that would make fascinating wedding locations. Wendy Martin turned me on to Gordon Hall in Dexter the other day, and now I am dying to do a wedding there!
Tents are added to the historic venue, which is used as a backdrop for a gorgeous wedding celebration. Getting ready inside makes for some phenomenal photos, and you can watch as everything is set up below!
I love jars, candles and floral hanging from trees - it just looks so beautiful!
One of the hottest color trends of the moment is mustard yellow and grey. I like adding in a third color to any duo - so here it is with some green accents! The invitation above is from Wedding Paper Divas, the gown from Boloji.com, and vases from Pottery Barn.
The bouquet above is from Real Simple magazine, and the linens from Fabulous Events in Waterford. You could easily pair this tablecloth with a slate grey satin chaircover (or silver), add a matching napkin, and bring in the green with centerpieces, favors and paper products (menu, table number, place cards etc.).
For a more organic look at the reception (which would look wonderful with these colors), Kuga Designs has created a more natural looking arrangement to the left. Next to that is a stylish idea from Modern Bride, complete with gorgeous lighting!
I can honestly say that there are dozens of metro Detroit photographers I would love to work with but have not yet had the opportunity to do so! In the mean time, I would love to give a little shout out to each of them - starting with Silver Thumb Photography. I met Tamara at the MGM Grand bridal show, and just loved her albums and the metal display pictured above!
Nicole Ladonne photographed my friend Ann’s wedding back in October, and her photos are beautiful! Unfortunately I could not make it to the wedding due to previous engagements (literally!) but I would absolutely love to work with Nicole in the future after all the raves I have heard about her!
Next on the list is Heather Fiedor Photography. She was referred to me by a fellow member of the Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan, and I had a chance to meet her at the recent Inn at St. John’s bridal show as well!
Venture Wedding Photography (now running some amazing specials!) is also on my list. Their pictures are fun and full of emotion, and I honestly cannot get enough of working with husband and wife teams! They make it so much fun.
One of these photographers actually lives in my sub-division! Melanie Reyes moved to the area from Maryland, and I am excited to work with her as well - and not only because she is close by!
Well, you already know the name of the next photographer! Heather Saunders and I met at a Michigan Wedding and Event Professionals (MWEP) meeting, and she is a blast! I would love to add some of her work to my office wall!
I had to use this picture for Wendy Martin Photography because I run across this bridge several times a week! Wendy lives in Dexter, MI. Her packages start at $1500 with an engagement session.
When the wonderful Tifany from Gourmet Invitations sent this logo to me, I was ecstatic! I think it looks fabulous, and I love that it ties in weddings (note how the o’s are intertwined!) as well as the name of the business through the two high heels. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I was so excited to see that on Amanda Williams’ blog today, she posted some of Natalee and Kyle’s wedding shots! So of course, I had to share and give them some more publicity!
Natalee was so amazingly stunning in her dress! It was perfect for her, I really have nothing else to say as it truly does speak for itself!
There was so much emotion all day - it was great to be a part of it all! Amanda - awesome work as always! Natalee and Kyle - I can’t wait to see the rest of them!!!
Most, if not all of my clients add votives to their tables to dress them up and create a more romantic atmosphere in the room. It also helps guests see after the lights are dimmed! Why not minimize clutter on the tables, and double your votive as a favor as well? Not only will they look great and guests will be sure to use them in their own homes - but if some people forget to bring them you are left with great decor items as well that can be used throughout the home!
If you are going for a slightly different look, these lanterns would look great as well! Just make sure you check with your hall with some of these - they all have different requirements on candles and open flames!
For other favor ideas, visit my Kate Aspen Favor Shop!
Evans Street Station offers reasons aplenty to gas up the car and head west… It’s the kind of place dining enthusiasts love to find: a little gem in an unlikely location, an independent David in a world of franchised Goliaths and, most of all, a restaurant where the focus is firmly set on honest, great-tasting food. - Sylvia Rector, The Detroit Free Press
Saturday night, my husband and I headed into the country to visit Evans Street Station in Tecumseh. We were told that Chef Alan was preparing a tasting menu for us, which neither of us had experienced before - and it was a treat! My favorite dish of the evening was the bronzed gnocchi, followed closely by the amazing tenderloin with a cabernet reduction sauce… Each dish was paired with a glass of wine (we started with champaigne, moved into white and then red, ending with a fantastic dessert wine that had been aged in cognac barrels). It was so much fun - I felt like a judge on Top Chef!
The restaurant can host private parties up to 50 in a smaller room, or for larger groups the entire restaurant can be utilized. They also offer outside catering, as well as a sister restaurant in Ann Arbor - The Glass House Cafe. Even if you just go to Evans Street for a night out - I strongly recommend that you do make the trip, it is wonderful!
Seth and Laurel were married in Northern California back in October, and their bouquet painting is completed! They also had a parent painting made using their save-the-date and petals. For more information visit www.curly-art.com!