Weddings Archives - Page 3 of 28 - js weddings and events

Mike and Jenny

December 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Weddings /by Jessica Swagman

September 17, 2016

Mike and Jenny are probably the kindest and warmest couple I’ve ever met. Seriously. From the moment I sat down with Jenny and her sister to talk about the wedding, I knew Jenny was going to be an absolute delight to work with.

Jenny has an effortlessly relaxed demeanor, so it made perfect sense that her wedding consisted of a gorgeous, neutral color palette and beautiful, natural elements. And the only place to have such a wedding, the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids. From the mini topiary escort cards to the hand placed succulents at every guest’s place setting, each design element was curated to represent Jenny and Mike’s style and personality.

The couple was married in the airy greenhouse under the dreamy chuppah they built, with hundreds of fairy lights twinkling high above while the dusky autumn sun set. With an amazing hora dance and a Matron on Honor speach that filled every eye with tears, this day was filled with so many sweet memories.

Jenny and Mike, thank you for welcoming me into your life and family with open arms and for allowing my team and I to be part of your beautiful wedding! We wish you so much happiness and all our love to you as you start this wonderful new life together!

Mazel Tov!

JS Weddings & Events, Grand Rapids Wedding Planner and Floral Designer - Grand Rapids Downtown Market Natural Greenhouse Conservatory Wedding

Brett and Stephanie

November 3, 2016/0 Comments/in Weddings /by Jessica Swagman

July 23, 2016

From my very first phone call with Stephanie, I knew she would be a dream to work with and that her wedding would be one of my absolute favorites.

Not only did she have impeccable taste and style, but she trusted me completely when it came to design. With her love of all things mid-century modern, and a fun yet classic color palette, her wedding stretched me creatively as I learned to play with king protea, ikat patterns, and clean lines, while still keeping the overall aesthetic romantic. And what better place to show off every design aspect than the very modern Grand Rapids Art Museum in downtown Grand Rapids.

Stephanie and Brett’s wedding was also my first Jewish wedding and I was so excited to learn all about the Jewish wedding traditions. From the airy and dreamy chuppah that she built, which symbolizes the home that the new couple will build together, with open sides as a demonstration of their commitment that their home will always be open and welcoming to friends and family, to Brett breaking the glass, which signifies that relationships are fragile as glass and must be treated with care, love and respect, to the hora, blessing the challah, and the ketubah… reminded me that it’s not about the flowers, the dress, the food or the music. Rather, it’s about standing in front of your partner and committing your life to God and to each other, while being surrounded by those you love and that love you.

Stephanie and Brett, thank you for welcoming me and my team into your life and allowing us to be part of such a special day! Thank you for helping me love mid-century modern design and for trusting us completely with your vision and giving us creative freedom to bring it all together. All our love to you both as you start this beautiful new life together!

Mazel Tov!

JS Weddings and Events, Grand Rapids Wedding Planner and Floral Designer - Grand Rapids Art Museum Midcentury Modern Wedding js-weddings-events-grand-rapids-wedding-planner-and-floral-designer-grand-rapids-art-museum-midcentury-modern-wedding-6

Sneak Peek: Karen + Daniel

June 18, 2016/0 Comments/in Weddings /by Jessica Swagman

A sneak peek of Karen and Daniel’s wedding, with a beautiful ceremony at the Basilica of Saint Adalbert and a fun reception celebration at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel’s Imperial Ballroom.

Sam and Danielle

February 14, 2016/0 Comments/in Flowers, Weddings /by Jessica Swagman

September 5, 2015

I always have such a difficult time putting my feelings into words when it comes to talking about each couple and their wedding. But when I have a couple as wonderful as Danielle and Sam, it makes it even harder. Danielle and Sam are so kind and thoughtful, and I was so honored to have been a part of their wedding day.

This summer, the JS Events team took a short drive to Holland for Sam and Danielle’s classic, natural, and fun wedding. The weather could not have been more perfect, especially since we required rainless skies. Sam and Danielle had their first look on the beach and then made their way to Prospect Park, where my team had been busy setting up the ceremony, under a canopy of gorgeous trees. After a wonderful ceremony, guests made their way to Baker Lofts for the celebration. Guests were serenaded by singer and guitarist, Logan, while they mingled throughout the industrial, airy, loft space enjoying appetizers and signature drinks. Fun and natural flowers, inspired by Sam and Danielle’s hikes through the mountains, were used in bright yellows and clean whites. Pops of navy blue were seen in the escort cards, linens, and decor.

Sam and Danielle, thank you for allowing my team and I be a part of your special day. Wishing you both all our love and happiness.

xx js

Becoming A Mrs.

November 3, 2015/0 Comments/in Planning, Weddings /by Jessica Swagman

So… you think Mr. is short for mister and Mrs. is short for missus?

Well, originally Mr. and Mrs. weren’t short for mister and missus at all. Mrs. was an abbreviation for mistress, the female counterpart of master, abbreviated Mr.

However, not just any woman could be called a mistress. For centuries, mistress only applied to all adult women of higher social standing, whether married or not.

Like master, the word mistress had a general meaning of someone who was in charge of something. Mistress could be used to refer to a governess (who was in charge of children) as well as a woman who was the head of a household.

So, what about Missus and Miss?

Well, Mistress is the root word of both of Missus and Miss. What I find quite interested is looking at the way these words (which are derived from Mistress) have developed their own meanings and that throughout history, these meanings have changed based on the status of women in society, home and in the workplace.

In fact, it was not society’s desire to label a woman’s availability for marriage (in the case of Miss), or the socially superior status of marriage (Mrs.) that steered to the use of these titles to distinguish female marital status. Rather, is was due to socially ambitious young single women. These women wanted to identify their propriety as distinct from the mere businesswoman or upper servant, hence the term Miss.

Eventually, the use of Mrs. to distinguish between marriage status and class status began to blur, but Mrs. did not definitively signify a married woman until around 1900.

Sources: Oxford Dictionaries, NewStatesman, MentalFloss

Image: The Lovely Find

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