Sneak Peek: Erik and Clare
May 23, 2014
Posts
Carolyn and Tom
May 10, 2014
Five years ago, I was given the honor of helping at Carolyn’s older sister’s wedding, so being a part of Carolyn’s wedding was extra special. With a color palate including the freshest sweet mint and the softest peach, off set with golden yellows, her entire wedding was swoon worthy. From the beautiful flowers, to the lace bridesmaids dress, to Carolyn’s to die for shoes, everything was so spot on. Did I mention her shoes? Peep toe wedges with laser cut details? I am still dreaming of them. Add some amazing vintage rentals from (my lovely friends at) Fancy Fray, a gorgeous blushing bride and her bird cage veil, and her dashingly handsome groom, you have a stunning wedding full of memories.
Katherine and Cole
November 9, 2013
Yes, this wedding was last November. But, better late than never. Besides, I couldn’t NOT blog about this lovely wedding and the amazing couple, Katherine and Cole. Fun fact: Katherine was my first bride to find me via social media. Simply put, I adore this couple. When I met Katherine, I immediately fell in love with her and her wedding. The art deco details, the gorgeous winter white blooms, the venue, sigh. Katherine, having her degree in Interior Design, had beautifully and flawlessly designed amazing details. With her and Cole’s love of Detroit, they made sure to even import a few details honoring their love of Motor City. There was even a surprise visit from Sparty to start off the dancing. Katherine and Cole, it was such an honor to be a part of your wedding. Congratulations and all my love!
Images courtesy of Kate Touzel Photography.
Launch Party
“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Last week Thursday I launched my first fashion collection. This is a dream I have had for many years and it was exciting and scary, thrilling and nerve-racking. With the launch of my collection we decided to have a launch party. It is one thing to plan an event for a client or friend; it’s another when it’s for you. Add to the mix an extreme nervousness I had to the public acceptance and judgment of the collection and you have a whole bag of emotions. Thankfully, I have a team that is amazing and friends and family who have spent countless hours helping me.
The six-piece collection was inspired by my love of French impressionist paintings. This theme was illustrated throughout the collection by the use of soft pastels, hand-painted vintage floral and toile motifs, and flowing fabrics, with a distinct elegance that cohesively brought every piece together. All the pieces in the collection were hand painted and dyed, making them all one of a kind. The long dress took over 20 hours to create, from hand dying the fabric, to hand painting the pattern, to drafting the pattern and then finally constructing the garment.
Gold. Crystal. Champagne. Romantic Blooms. Modern Vintage. These are a few of my favorite things, all of which inspired the launch party. An affair, that, at the end of the night, I was extremely proud of.
“I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited — they went there.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Venue| Lucid Group
Graphic Design | Dan Matthews
Print Materials | Holland Litho
Entertainment | Bennett Band
Makeup | Kendall Hornsby
Florist | Quite Contrary for JS Weddings and Events
Photographer | Paul Soltysiak, Andrew Ingram, Surekha Boeve
Caterer | Dustin Morrell
Wine | Leelanau Wine Cellars
Furniture | Fancy Fray, JS Weddings and Events, Lucid Group
Decor | Hunt and Gather, JS Weddings and Events
Linens | JS Weddings and Events
Finding Balance
“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” Rumi
My life has been a delicate balance that is precariously close to toppling over. Some days I feel like I am juggling way too much and that something has to go, but that’s not a sacrifice I am willing to make.
Obviously there are good days and bad days. The good days are the days that I focus on each business, meet with clients, get some spec sheets done, have time for some quick phone calls or text messages to friends, and a few minutes to myself to recharge. The bad days are days that I spend entirely at my desk wrapped up in just one of my businesses and ignoring the other completely, not finding time to even reach out to a friend that needs a little encouragement, and realizing at the end of the day that I did not even brush my hair.
Oh sure, I look like all my ducks are lined up in a row, and most days I like to think they are. But there are the days that I feel like I’m balancing one thing too many and that at any second it’s all going to come toppling over.
So, while I am not willing to sacrifice something in my life in order to keep sane, I have learned to rely on others for help. I have learned to delegate and not control, I have learned to let go and trust. This is a big step for the perfectionist, controlling, self-reliant person that I am. But in order to regain balance in my life, this is what it takes. Plus, it’s a lot more fun having people by your side helping you on your journey.
