Exciting News

I am so happy with life right now. I have been making some big decisions that will affect JS Weddings and Events and I couldn’t be more excited. I have been really contemplating how I can grow as a small business and how I can use my love of events and design in new ways. After months of contemplation, I have decided to offer floral design services as well as quirky event rentals (like the bust below). The floral design services will fall under JS Weddings and Events, but the event rentals will be a whole new business. I am hoping to offer the floral services starting in a few months, but the event rentals part will take a little longer to flourish. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure to keep you posted on the progress of both new ventures right here on the blog.
 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Mindless Ramblings

“My brain is giving me the silent treatment today.”

 
I saw this quote on someecards.com and it seemed quite fitting for me today. I have been sitting here staring at my computer screen, unable to form a complete sentence for this post. Luckily, I haven’t needed my brain too much today since I was using my creative side which comes more naturally. I have been busy playing with centerpiece ideas for a bride and getting my hands dirty playing with some succulents.
 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 
Also, in just a short week I get to leave the country for a very special wedding to celebrate two very extraordinary people. I have been eagerly anticipating this wedding and I have been sewing my little fingers off in order to have my dress completed in time. Usually if I make a dress I start months in advance, but the past 8 months I have been busy designing and sewing a wedding dress for a friend who got married in May.
 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 
I finished the dress late April and as always, I needed a short break from the needle and thread. Luckily, I have a friend who has been helping me string thousands of beads for my dress. Both of our eyes are going cross eyed, but the end is in sight.
 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Happy Saturday.

Mint Condition

I have this old, hand-me-down dresser. It used to be my mom’s, but in 2003 when my sister was moving to Ann Arbor to go to Michigan to get her doctorate, she wanted to use it. Somehow, being the little sister, I got talked into painting it. She had specifically asked for a light sage green, but with my limited paint knowledge at the time, sage green came out looking more mint green. After she was done at UofM, the dresser went back into storage at my parent’s house. It laid to rest there until in 2008 when I dusted it off and hauled it away. Jas and I were in desperate need of free furniture to place in our new home and this fit the bill. Now, four years and another move later, the dresser sits in my room housing all of Jas’s things while he is in Canada. Ten years later and, check it, mint green is now very much in style. So, this past week I decided to give the dresser a little TLC and a change out the knobs. After spending hours finding and picking out knobs based on size and shape, I went home, got out my brushes and paints, and upgraded a much loved dresser.
 

Before
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During: Painting was done in 2 different stages to achieve the weathered look.
Grand Rapids Wedding Planner
 

After
Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

A Tassell Estate

As a wedding planner, I find myself buying treasured items that I find on my adventures of thrifting and antiquing. My theory is I wont be able to come back and buy it and I’ll be able to use it for an event. Luckily, for Jason and my parents, these items are small, so they don’t take up much room.

 

A few weeks ago, my mom took me to an estate sale like no other. This estate sale was the home of Grand rapids Philanthropist, Leslie Tassell and concert pianist, Krystyna Cotter. I have been ‘neighbors” with Leslie Tassell since he moved into the neighborhood around 1997. Leslie built his home on land that my family used to play in; everything from bog jumping during the spring, picnics during the summer, hikes during the fall, and cross country skiing during the winter. I remember the day he started building his home and when we could no longer use the woods as our backyard. We got to watch the house being built, the zebras come in, and the fence go up. His estate occupied 95 acres that were adjacent to my parents yard. After he passed away, the fence came down, some of the land became a park, and his mistress, Krystyna Cotter remained living there until she passed away in September. For my mom and I, we went not to buy, but to see. Since we got to see this house being built, it was a chance to see the inside of his home. Below are some pictures of this magnificent estate and the treasures it held.

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner

 

Grand Rapids Wedding Planner