Blog

The next member of the TwoFoot Creative team for 2011 is Karissa. When asked to describe herself, she said:

• Graduate student in School of Hospitality Business at MSU
• Event Coordination focus
• University of Michigan Alumnus
• NACE and ISES Detroit chapter member
• Figure skating Coach

Karissa is very excited about this internship because of the all the details that go into  the each individual wedding and the special moments created.

“I don’t think I really have a favorite wedding movie.  I like action movies!”

Many brides spend tons of hours doing wedding research online at theknot.com. Now, there’s a book with lots to offer - just like the website, without the endless searching!

Carley Roney, co-founder of the world’s most popular wedding destination, TheKnot.com, has compiled The Knot Ultimate Wedding Lookbook to make the entire wedding-planning experience enjoyable.

This book is a great resource for inspiration with over 1000 photos of ideas that would wow any guest. Also, there are tons of helpful tips and lists to guide you through your planning process. There’s a limited supply of signed copies from Carley so the sooner you get it, the better the bonus. Enjoy!

Written by Ashley Mason - TwoFoot Creative Grand Rapids

Carissa is the newest TwoFoot Creative intern at our Grand Rapids branch. She is a junior at Grand Valley State University and is majoring in Communications and Spanish with a minor in Advertising/Public Relations. As an intern, Carissa hopes to learn all that she can about the wedding and event planning industry. She loves the wedding atmosphere and cannot wait to make couples’ dreams come true on their special day. She loves meeting new people and working hard, so interning with us is the perfect fit for Carissa!

Myself and Julie of Jewel Occasions are co-directors of the new local networking group for the Association of Bridal Consultants in Ann Arbor, MI!

We hosted out inaugural meeting at the Quarter Bistro in Ann Arbor, and had a sell-out crowd of 70 industry professionals join us!

Our photography sponsor for the evening was Abby Rose Photography - thank you!

It was such a fun meeting, and showed just how much Ann Arbor needs a group like this!

I love meeting new people in the industry, reconnecting with those I haven’t worked with in a while, and learning from those that have been around much longer than I!

Favors for the event were donated by Holly from Sweet Pea Floral Design - thank you!

Our next meeting will be held at the new Zingerman’s Events on Fourth space, which is located in Kerrytown at the former Eve restaurant space on May 3rd. It holds more people than last time, but I bet we have a sell-out again!

TwoFoot Creative has the pleasure of working with another wonderful intern this season - Brenda!

Brenda describes herself as brave, fast (she is a runner too!) and with a big heart for animals as well as people. She strives to stay enthusiastic and learn from daily mistakes, and is very excited to learn about everything involved in the business of wedding planning.

Brenda’s favorite wedding movie is “Bride Wars”.

The aspect of her internship with TwoFoot Creative that she is most excited about is having a chance to witness couples saying “I DO!” That is one of the biggest and most beautiful moments of our lives.

Jen & John were married back in June, and Jen had her bouquet sent to CurlyArt to preserve as two canvas paintings. Her flowers were calla lilies and hydrangea, and both of these canvases are 12×12. They turned out beautifully!

Theirs was a great wedding to help plan - I love being part of weddings where I have worked with one of the families before! You might remember Jen’s sister Aimee, who also had her bouquet preserved through CurlyArt!

Now that we are just a month away from the start of the 2011 wedding “busy season”, I thought this would be a great time to start introducing this year’s team of interns!

Melanie is an accountant by day, and attends Washtenaw Community College at night taking business courses. She loves to cook and try new recipes for family and friends, and her perfect night is one that involved a glass of wine, her husband, their fur-babies and a great movie!

Melanie’s favorite wedding movies are “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “The Wedding Singer”.

She is excited for the internship with TwoFoot Creative because it will give her the opportunity to experience the special moments throughout each wedding day and help make it the best day for the couple!

 

1. How long ago did the plans for The Gown Shop start, and when did you finally get to start moving in? I started planning my dream shop in September. I’m a very dedicated and ambitious woman - so I got started right away! I’ve been in the shop just about every day since I’ve had the keys to the building - I love being here and I love showing it off! It was a lot of hard work and this business is not for the faint of heart.

 

2. How do you decide which designers to carry? Which do you currently have? The designers carried at The Gown Shop stemmed from a culmination of what I love, what I feel the brides of Ann Arbor and the surrounding area would love and the exclusivity that I have with them. I love that brides are able to find something at The Gown Shop that is not carried anywhere else in Michigan. My wedding gown designers are Amy Kuschel, Carol-Hannah Bridal, Fancy NY and Modern Trousseau. I’m already expanding this spring by adding Ivy & Aster. My accessory designers include Sara Gabriel Veiling & Headpieces, Haute Bride jewelry and Benjamin Adams shoes.

 

3. Where did the concept of your dressing room come from? In my experience, fitting rooms always seem to be a waste of space - I wanted it to be the center of the space and knowing I was going to have one-on-one appointments, it made sense. I also love the ‘big reveal’ of the bride in gowns when she has her support team here with her. I grew up performing on the stage in dancing and musicals, it’s the bride’s time to shine now!

4. Why do you open up the Shop by appointment only? The ‘appointment only’ concept stems from my desire to allow for one-on-one attention with each bride. I love getting to know each bride and allow for her to have the run of the shop and try on any dress or accessory her heart desires; the ‘appointment only’ idea allows for that. So far, the feedback I have received from my brides, moms and friends is that they love all the attention and say it has been their favorite and best bridal gown shopping experience, yet!

5. Can you help me find accessories and shoes as well? Absolutely! I have a fabulous veiling and headpiece designer: Sara Gabriel that has just about any hair adornment a bride may want and she also loves to customize pieces. Haute Bride is my jewelry company that is from San Francisco and has endless Swarovski crystal and pearl options for brides, once again - pieces can be custom made. My shoe line is Benjamin Adams, all of the shoes are 100% silk satin. It’s fabulous because most of the shoes can be dyed to match any swatch given to the designer. During the month of March, I am having SHOE MADNESS! All shoes ordered are 15% off. The fabulous crystal embellished shoe, ‘Charlize’ is a sure favorite!

6. How do you handle alterations? I have joined forces with a couple fabulous Ann Arbor seamstresses that have worked in the bridal industry for years. They perform the fitting here in the shop and work on the gowns in their studios. I allow for the brides to choose whom they would like to work with. If they are out of town brides - I help them find someone local for them, if they wish.

 

7. How soon should I order my dress? My quick answer for this is at least 4-6 months. The earlier you can order, the better! However, I have been able to rush a gown in as little as 4 weeks - just remember this route comes at a price.

8. Do you have any trunk shows coming up, and what are the benefits of those? I do! I am still working on a few dates for some of my designers. My bridal designer, Modern Trousseau is confirmed for the weekend of June 24th-26th. Check out the website & blog for updates! Trunk Shows are fabulous because it allows for brides to see some more styles from the designers that are not currently carried in the shop and even more exciting is that this is the time to SAVE MONEY! The awesome ‘Trunk Show Discount’ is given during orders placed that weekend.

9. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I would have to say that the most shocking thing that people are surprised to learn about me is that I do not play dress up all day long, in fact - I never do! I never put on the gown samples when they arrive. I’m single and still want that experience of trying on bridal gowns to be exciting for me when my time comes to get married. Now the jewelry and shoes, that’s a different story!

 

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dana & Joe were married at the Grosse Pointe Academy Chapel on March 15th, 2008 with the reception following at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Amanda Williams was their photographer that day - always one of my favorites to work with!

Happy 3 year anniversary!

Alexia & Nick traveled to San Diego for their engagement shoot with Noa, which was recently featured on Rock n Roll Bride! They will be getting married at a private residence in Southeast Michigan this summer, and TwoFoot Creative will be coordinating the day.

I am very excited to work with their photographer, Moe of Feather Love Photography.

The title of their shoot on Feather Love’s blog says it all: “Unicorn Puke and the Beauties”. Enjoy!