I have got to tell ya... |
 | Now don't get me wrong, it's not that I am not excited by the fact that I get to spend time on these details, it's just a time thing. This season has been such a rollercoaster going from 0-100 as a wedding designer for others, that it can be a bit of a struggle to then clear my mind and think about the vision we have for ourselves. When moving our celebration home for a more intimate gathering it gave us the ability to bring on more talented vendors. Each taking some of the work off our plate to capture our vibe. While it was a difficult choice to change our plans completely, it left room to create details more personal to us! This starts with our paper goods and stationery. The FIRST PERSON I thought of was Sharon of Pretty Petal Papers. |
Sharon and I have worked together on multiple projects. She is a CRAZY talented stationer and wonderfully supportive friend. She is a calming presence for me in such a chaotic world and her style of work is just beautiful. I have to admit, I had a tall order for her. My inspiration was transitioning as we started to shift from the large Belle Isle Casino, which has a very distinct architectural design style, to the blank canvas of our yard. Sharon took it head on and nailed a concept that was perfect for us. Here are some of the things I strived for..... Fall but not something that screams fall, moody, florals maybe ( not a super huge fan) but not overly floral, boho but still refined, modern in fonts but still playful. We have a green, terracotta, gold and black palette but I do not want to to be Halloween-ish" I laugh looking at what I sent to her but she translated all of my jabber into something beautiful.
Check out the inspiration I sent to Sharon below.
Check out the inspiration I sent to Sharon below.
 |  |  |
I first asked Sharon to create our invitations and table numbers so that they correlated. What I LOVED about Sharon is that, even though I didn't need a lot of edits after she presented us with her first renditions, she gave us the opportunity to tweak what we felt would best suit us. We fell in love with our end result and are so excited that our guests are receiving them as we speak! The deep green of the envelope, the contrast of the black with the gradation of the vines, the combination of fonts...WE ARE HERE FOR IT ALL!
 We loved the idea of using "We Still Do" considering we already got married last April we thought this was appropriate. |  |
As we continued to work with Sharon we decided to hire her for all our paper goods that day. This includes an items for the place setting and all our signage. I thought it was important to have that exact match because we just feel in love with what she created. Now, don't think I didn't throw another curve ball into the mix for Sharon... because I did. She handled it with grace and mastered the blend of this new inspiration into the other items. I found an item we are using for place cards ( sorry no photo spoilers) and asked Sharon if she thought that there was a way to blend what she already started for us and this additional piece of inspiration.
 | These cards are a special addition to our lineup. Sharon did a unique laser cut on thems for us and we cannot wait to use them at our celebration. While I am not going to show you alllll the goodies one of the driving forces behind the added inspo was the Papel Picado which is a party decoration that is traditionally found at Mexican celebrations. The blend of this and the Irish toast written on the front made it the perfect combo to represent us both. |
I checked in with Sharon about how she felt about the process in creating our collection!
"When Amanda reached out for wedding invitations, I knew it was going to be a blast custom designing for her. She sent me a beautiful color palette she would be using for her wedding day. I could envision exactly what I wanted to create for her and it was just a matter of getting it onto paper. She had shared that she didn’t want a floral design so I knew exactly what I needed to create. I began by sketching a line drawing of some greenery. I knew I wanted to incorporate the colors from her palette, so I chose a gradient effect to incorporated into the art that had most of her colors in it. This design was used throughout her stationery.
I also created some custom laser cut pieces for her big day that were inspired by Papel Picado, which she had mentioned she wanted to incorporate into the wedding day because of Jesús’s Mexican heritage. The signage for her wedding day was so important too and we wanted the design elements to coordinate with the invitations and laser cut pieces. I ensured that there was consistency in each piece to tell a cohesive story to her guests on that special day.
The perfect part about all of this is that they LOVED IT! She even shared with me that this was really “lighting the fire in her” for the big day and made it more of a reality for her. This meant so much to me as this is my favorite part of being a stationer. I love making my clients happy and feeling Amanda’s happiness about her wedding invitations, truly warmed my heart. Designing paper goods for Amanda and Jesús was truly an honor and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this special time in their lives!"
I also created some custom laser cut pieces for her big day that were inspired by Papel Picado, which she had mentioned she wanted to incorporate into the wedding day because of Jesús’s Mexican heritage. The signage for her wedding day was so important too and we wanted the design elements to coordinate with the invitations and laser cut pieces. I ensured that there was consistency in each piece to tell a cohesive story to her guests on that special day.
The perfect part about all of this is that they LOVED IT! She even shared with me that this was really “lighting the fire in her” for the big day and made it more of a reality for her. This meant so much to me as this is my favorite part of being a stationer. I love making my clients happy and feeling Amanda’s happiness about her wedding invitations, truly warmed my heart. Designing paper goods for Amanda and Jesús was truly an honor and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this special time in their lives!"
Connect with Sharon via social media and/or through her website! I promise you will absolutely love working with her from start to finish!
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We were one of the lucky ones I will tell ya that!
Throughout all of the changes this year it meant lost deposits, switching vendors, crazy scheduling and desperate searches to build a team. However, we were one of the lucky ones, we were able to not only retain our amazing people, but add a few others.
As a event vendor myself, I know the importance of aligning with your people and making sure they understand your vision for your event on a different level.
This year this was even more true with the constant changes during the pandemic. BUT WE MADE IT! WE ARE HERE and WE ARE READY TO PARTY and CELEBRATE being Sancens!
Throughout all of the changes this year it meant lost deposits, switching vendors, crazy scheduling and desperate searches to build a team. However, we were one of the lucky ones, we were able to not only retain our amazing people, but add a few others.
As a event vendor myself, I know the importance of aligning with your people and making sure they understand your vision for your event on a different level.
This year this was even more true with the constant changes during the pandemic. BUT WE MADE IT! WE ARE HERE and WE ARE READY TO PARTY and CELEBRATE being Sancens!
"We didn't have to loose one vendor or one deposit in our changes"
We are so grateful for the vendors who have stuck by us through this process. I wanted to share some love for these peeps and the few new ones we added!
 Kristina's Catering |  Detroit On The Rocks - Bar Tending |
 J and J Productions - Joel Quiroz  Pretty Petal Papers - Invites |  Great Lakes Tent Rental  Belle Isle Conservatory : Ceremony Space |
 The Focused Soul Photography - Jenni Hect |  Amanda Biddle - Videography |
Detroit Bus Co.
As far as décor goes you know your girl will be handling that personally... It is actually very excited to get to do the work I have done for so many others for us. YES it will be a good deal of work but the the fact that I get to detail our celebration is worth it.
Having a team like this behind us throughout this process has been extremely helpful in keeping our shit together. Through every email and every question we have felt supported and cared for.
We cannot wait to finally get this group of peeps together to help us celebrate!
Having a team like this behind us throughout this process has been extremely helpful in keeping our shit together. Through every email and every question we have felt supported and cared for.
We cannot wait to finally get this group of peeps together to help us celebrate!
 | It's official, THIS IS IT!Back a few months ago, if you even scroll down this blog, you will notice we thought we had our minds made up.... Little did we know that our gut instinct to plan our wedding back at home would be where we would end up. |
Even now with the restrictions officially being fully lifted here in MI by July 1st ( fingers crossed) our final choice to move our party home has us feeling like we made the right move. By no means do I not grieve the original plan to have our beautiful Belle Isle Casino reception, but after everything we have been through this past year we really couldn't think of a better way to celebrate then to do it in a place we have spent so much time, where we have stayed healthy, where we have been able to be with family in small doses: Our Own Home.
"The struggle we were facing was that even with restrictions being lifted our venue was state owned and already decided they would be more hesitant to open. We do feel like by October they will be flexible but I honestly couldn't deal with the back and forth any longer." |  |
Jesus throughout this whole thing has said.. "I will marry you in the street..again". So with this point being made over and over it just clicked, let's stop stressing about the "if we will", "by then it will be", "well if this happens we can".. and just plan the DAMN thing. For anyone else in our position and to the vendors trying to keep up with all the changes, this shit takes a toll. It takes a toll on your mental health because there is a pull between having what you wanted, what you planned, and then realizing that it could be so much worse. That while a wedding is a very important day in your life, COVID brought so many other things to light
"BY NO MEANS is this plan easier. People have a twisted idea that a backyard tent wedding is less work.... IT IS NOT." | So will this plan has its challenges, SURE! We live on a city lot (while a bit bigger than some of our neighbors) is going to make space planning key, we have to use every inch of our space here including the driveway for things like restroom trailers, parking concerns, exc. Our home becomes a space for vendors to stage, its the hub for all of the needs so we are the main provider of every detail. That is added pressure, sometimes added $$, BUT...It is in our control. For someone like me (a type A) that alone, having some control especially after a year of having NONE, is worth more than the stress that follows. We will go into more on that all later as we venture into this, but at the end of the day we know we can make this happen. All of the solutions to any of our challenges are just one creative idea away. Photo Cred: The Focused Soul Photography |
So join us...AGAIN on this journey! Check out my Instagram to check out my IGTV giving you a tour of our yard and rough plan!
Concept DevelopmentHI! Welcome back! Today is an exciting day as I give y'all a little sneak peak into some of the imagery behind the inspiration for our big day! This is just a small taste of the vision that we are creating. I cannot wait to share our full concept with you but until, then here we go! Some of the elements are similar to our original plan and some have evolved a bit! My goal is to always work with the space I am given, to play into and celebrate it; because when you do do that the décor ENHANCES what's important. It feels like it's just where its supposed to be so that the people, the love, and the family is the main focus. |   |
A Moody night of Romance on Detroit's Belle Isle.
 | Prior to our change in date we planned on incorporating bits and pieces of Halloween ( how could you not when the original date was the 31st). With our new date giving us more space before things get "spooky", I am going to continue to push for a moody ambiance but in a manner that is better suited for our vision. A Moody night of Romance on Detroit's Belle Isle. Our goal is to create a space that fits the space at the Casino. Celebrating the beautiful 1884 architectural details, brass lighting fixtures, green and ivory marbling throughout, and the history of the space being used for gathering, dancing and celebrations! Fun fact the casino was actually not ever used for true gambling. |
| The Emerald Isle itself actually refers to Ireland and its rolling green hills, but we think its fitting for our venue being at Detroit's largest state park: Belle Isle. That word play worked out pretty well huh? We celebrate this both in our color choices textures and design details. We still will be combining some of the elements from both our cultures into our details and we look forward to sharing more details on that a little bit later! For florals I will be focusing on creating our elements from dried stems. They bring texture to a space that is otherwise very hard. The dried play beautifully into the time of year and they then become something that can be kept beyond the one date. Plus this gives your girl the ability to make them herself ahead of time. |  |
As I further define our design it's not just about the pretty stuff. It's about the logistics, it's about how to prepare the team who is going to be setting because I will not be able to do my normal thing, it's about making sure the packing, drop offs, pick ups, layouts and everything else is also prepared. The concept boards and picking out the elements is only one part of completing a successfully designed event.
Want to check out a few more images I am using for inspiration? Head to ARC Design Studios on Pinterest!
Want to check out a few more images I am using for inspiration? Head to ARC Design Studios on Pinterest!
We finally made a decision!It's been a long few weeks to say the least. Our ( mostly mine lol ) anxiety over thinking about the "what ifs" surrounding our October 16th wedding date has been exhausting. Some people would say that we were crazy for already trying to come up with a new plan, trying to re-configure while still having 8-9 months left before the date. Here is the thing though... My A type personality thinks about not just what the state guidelines could be but also how our guests will FEEL at our event. The rules could be lifted and the limits increased but does that mean we can move forward? |   |
"After drafting at least four different back-up plans we came to a final conclusion."
We have landed at our original plan with a few major COVID adjustments. We will be pushing forward with planning our event at the Belle Isle Casino for October! While we were very reserved in pursuing our original plan we have already started making adjustments to be sure to have a COVID friendly version. Still at the mercy of the state guidelines and our state ran venue's rendition of such, we have accepted that there is a chance we could have to cancel.
     | Planning FOR the Pandemic VersionAs we gear up to push full steam ahead here are a few things we are working towards to prepare! While the list is much longer than 5 items, here are some of our top priority items! 1.Cutting our Guest List. This is not an easy part of the process. We started with a 200 person list and will now be having to cut down to roughly half of this to be best prepared for a smaller event indoors. While we would like to think that a large gathering would be permitted, we know it's unlikely. 2.Working with our Vendors for payment planning. When communicating with our vendors the last few weeks our major points of confirmation revolved around.. A new balance to reflect our guest list change, confirming our total already paid, and our FINAL payment dates. Also inquiring about the "what if we get cancelled" situation. Making sure that we are on the same page when it comes to our deposit and procedures for a potential cancellation. 3. Working through catering options to keep things as individual as possible. While we do still plan on having our buffet, we have worked with our caterer to understand the policies they have in place for serving dinner this way. This means no shared serving utensils, masks while in line, and we will also be sure that each guests takes up their plate with them rather than grabbing from the buffet line. 4. Talking about Masks While we do not know what the mask policy will be at this time, we are preparing to be sure to communicate to guests where they will be required. We know that this may change and that guests may not be required to wear them, but for now we are outlining these requirements to be sure that we are prepared. We will also have additional masks and sanitation materials at the ready for each area. 5. Seating This will be a very important factor in planning. With a cut guest list and such a large building, we will be utilizing the space to keep a comfortable and socially distant layout. With over 3,000 square feet on each floor we have plenty of space to do such. The goal will be to group guests by their immediate bubbles and be sure to leave the proper spacing between tables. Also we will be considering circulation patterns for staff to keep them spaced as well while drafting this new plan. |
"While we know that there is no telling what October will look like, we are excited to be planning purposeful details to be prepared for anything that is thrown at us. This includes what steps we will have to take to cancel."
We are excited to share our journey with you!
Next month we talk about the design concept and décor elements!
Till Then,
Cheers! Slainte! Salud!
Photography: The Focused Soul Photography
Next month we talk about the design concept and décor elements!
Till Then,
Cheers! Slainte! Salud!
Photography: The Focused Soul Photography
What Now? This is the question that everyone is asking themselves as we venture into another year affected by COVID-19. We knew that 2021 would still not be "normal", but will it be "normal" enough to host the celebrations that so many of us have postponed?
Hi! Amanda here and it's been a minute since we have updated you on where Jesus and I are at in our wedding planning process. I think the title speaks for itself as we, just like so many, are asking ourselves: What Now?
Hi! Amanda here and it's been a minute since we have updated you on where Jesus and I are at in our wedding planning process. I think the title speaks for itself as we, just like so many, are asking ourselves: What Now?
 Photo Credit: The Focused Soul Photography | "I would love to be able to say that I know exactly what Jesus and I are doing for our celebration; but, that is far from the truth." |
To be honest there have been many different versions of our back up plan drafted. A long list of "if this happens we will.." and "if that happens we can..." and "if this and that work out then we will be good too.."
With so much still to be determined, the struggle in deciding what is the best, safest, and most solid plan to pursue can be maddening. Don't get me wrong, we know that starting our marriage is the most important thing, that the celebration comes second to our union. We are grateful for the fact that we got married last April and we wouldn't have done it any other way.
With so much still to be determined, the struggle in deciding what is the best, safest, and most solid plan to pursue can be maddening. Don't get me wrong, we know that starting our marriage is the most important thing, that the celebration comes second to our union. We are grateful for the fact that we got married last April and we wouldn't have done it any other way.
"It's funny, I have been working to support my clients' new plans and developing their back ups, but every time I start to think about our own I can't seem to land on a solution." |  Photo Credit: The Focused Soul Photography |
Here is what I can tell you, that even though I work in the industry it doesn't mean that I have all the answers for Jesus and I. To be totally honest, I find it hardest to decide what's best for us versus what I recommend to my clients.
So what do I do......?
I reach out, I talk to people that I trust, I talk to those in and out of the industry, I talk to family and to friends. Each person has their own perspective, but I find that by talking it through with others I start to think clearer on what I envision for the different versions of our day.
However, the most important person that I talk to is, of course, Jesus. Checking in with him regularly about our options, budget, details and newly narrowed guest list. Weighing our options, deciding what is important to us, and setting aside some basic parameters has allowed us to come up with a timeline and basic plan for when/if our backup plan becomes our new plan.
So what do I do......?
I reach out, I talk to people that I trust, I talk to those in and out of the industry, I talk to family and to friends. Each person has their own perspective, but I find that by talking it through with others I start to think clearer on what I envision for the different versions of our day.
However, the most important person that I talk to is, of course, Jesus. Checking in with him regularly about our options, budget, details and newly narrowed guest list. Weighing our options, deciding what is important to us, and setting aside some basic parameters has allowed us to come up with a timeline and basic plan for when/if our backup plan becomes our new plan.
 Photo Credit: The Focused Soul Photography | I have never been good with being patient (Jesus can confirm this) but having patience in this situation is the least that I can do. Right? One thing that I am learning is that each "backup" plan is a new opportunity, a new canvas, and a chance to create something that is even sweeter than the original. Stay tuned as we share our story leading up to however we celebrate our love! |
"We are healthy, we are safe, our family and friends are healthy and safe, and we are married. Those things that matter. The rest will happen and it will be perfect when it does."
Meet Mr. & Mrs. Jesus Sancen!
OH MY GOODNESS HELLO EVERYONE! So so so so much has changed since my last entry in Our Story. I am not even sure where to start! I guess I will start by saying YES we did get married!
Last time we checked in with everyone we were chatting about our 2020 Hallo-Wedding and how that affect my decor choices for the event.....Welll..... Let's just say we do not have to worry about that anymore......
Last time we checked in with everyone we were chatting about our 2020 Hallo-Wedding and how that affect my decor choices for the event.....Welll..... Let's just say we do not have to worry about that anymore......
April 18th, 2020Jesus and I were scheduled to tie the knot this upcoming October and as so many couples have, we sat down and had many conversations about the "WHAT IF COVID CONTINUES"......All of the 2020 couples out there know the exact anxiety that I am talking about. --I see you Through the "we could do this..what if this...do we risk that..." exc convos we decided one thing was for sure. We wanted to be OFFICIALLY married in 2020. There were many contributing factors to us getting married early. Not just the pandemic itself but the other changes in our lives also encouraged us to say our I-Do's a little early. At this point, in April we hadn't even fully decided if we were going to move the wedding. We had no idea what our plan was, we just knew we wanted to be married. So..Here it was, the simplest ceremony in the park by our house. We drove to the park and chose to use the circle drive so that the family and friends that we could have attend could stay in their cars ( at least until we took a socially distant group shot). My cousin Brian did an amazing job helping us get a script ready that celebrated both the uniqueness of our situation, our faith in our union, as well as the excitement of blending our two cultures. Brian did an amazing job walking us through how we could personalize this script as well as the parts of it we can further edit and add to for the celebration we hoped to have at the planned reception. We packed a bouquet my father and step mother gave to me, wipes, our rings, a few pens, sanitizer, masks, the legal documents, Chevy;s bow-tie, and our vows. |  Mr. & Mrs.  |
"Out of all the weddings I have packed for, the bins I have loaded, the check lists I have used to prepare; this one was the easiest but also the most meaningful. "
 Thank you so much Brian Peck for helping us create the sweetest bi-lingual mini ceremony we could have asked for! | As we got to the park the excitment grew with each family member driving in. Waving everyone to the circle and we even had some park goers who stayed to watch. The ceremony was short and sweet which is exactly what we hoped for. Choosing our words with a purpose was what allowed us to have a completely custom script that fit what we wanted out of the day. After the I-Do's, a round to wave and air-hug everyone in their cars, and a shot (or two OORRR 5) of champagne we were hitched!!!! |
Once we said our goodbyes and our family went back to their homes to stay safe, Jesus and I were blessed enough to pick up some of our favorite Italian ( shoutout to Dearborn Roman Villageeeee) food for a Wedding Dinner as a gift from my mother and step father.
We bought a small cake to cut that night and topped it with a small bride and groom bear figure that Jesus picked out on our recent trip ( Right before Covid) to North Carolina for Jesus to meet my grandparents.
It was a simple, sweet, and SAFE park ceremony. No glitz, no glam, and I think I even got my white blazer from Amazon...LMAO
But what is awesome... every time we walk Chevy through the park we take the longer route so we can walk through the circle. It will always be a special place for us and I am so grateful that we were able to create this additional memory.
We bought a small cake to cut that night and topped it with a small bride and groom bear figure that Jesus picked out on our recent trip ( Right before Covid) to North Carolina for Jesus to meet my grandparents.
It was a simple, sweet, and SAFE park ceremony. No glitz, no glam, and I think I even got my white blazer from Amazon...LMAO
But what is awesome... every time we walk Chevy through the park we take the longer route so we can walk through the circle. It will always be a special place for us and I am so grateful that we were able to create this additional memory.
And here is the thing..We didn't need much...I think that is the point of me sharing this story. I design events, I LOVE DECOR, I love the little details and the atmosphere that I assist couples in creating. I look forward to our own celebration that WE DID decide to post-pone till October 2021. But if this time during COVID has taught us nothing else, if we don't learn anything past this.... It's that the important things are the people in your life that bring you happiness and love. It's that the important things are not things at all.. I have been chatting with couples these past few months on what they are going to do for their big day, I try to remind them that the celebration will come, but love concurs all. Not to mention once we can celebrate all of these big days... It's going to be one HELL OF A PARTY! |  Thank you Beth Eggert Photography for capturing these images. ALL THE WAY FROM your car!!! |
"....Amanda, Instead of promising you the stars and the moon, I rather promise to show you everyday that I know how lucky I am to have you in my life" - Jesus
"....While I already knew I loved you, and I already knew that you would be the person I want to have as my partner for the rest of my time on this earth, I am being reassured every minute that I am stronger with you as my teammate." - Amanda
 Chevy was very happy he was able to attend. | What's Next?Well to be honest, with the wedding successfully pushed to next year, Jesus and I are focusing on the right now. We were lucky to have amazing vendors who all were able to accommodate our new date giving us the comfort of enjoying this first year as Mr. & Mrs. while we wait to PARTY hard next year. |
 |   Cheers! |
For the post about our day for this month I decided to bring up the ONE thing we keep getting asked....."Are you having people wear costumes?". We love the excitement our friends and family have for our Halloween nuptials but this question we never know quite how to answer. For those of you who do not know, or maybe I haven't mentioned it till now...our wedding date is 10.31.2020. YUP Halloween.....
Now Jesus and I did not plan it this way, when we went to our venue and looked at the dates available this was the LAST date in October open. Makes sense, most people are going to hesitate to book a Halloween wedding; however, for Jesus and I we didn't care. What better day to have a fall wedding than on the most FALL holiday of the year?
So this brings me to the conversation about how much Halloween?
Now Jesus and I did not plan it this way, when we went to our venue and looked at the dates available this was the LAST date in October open. Makes sense, most people are going to hesitate to book a Halloween wedding; however, for Jesus and I we didn't care. What better day to have a fall wedding than on the most FALL holiday of the year?
So this brings me to the conversation about how much Halloween?
Halloween is one of both of our favorite holidays but not one enough to focus our big day completely around....However, I think it would be silly to not take this holiday into account at all in planning some of our little details.
While just like all of " Our Story" posts I am not going to give it all away, but let's talk about what our options are...
While just like all of " Our Story" posts I am not going to give it all away, but let's talk about what our options are...
The Colors:When we talk about the color story for our big day there are a few things that come into play: venue, time of year, our color preferences, and lastly..how much Halloween? I wanted to work through what relates to Halloween but does not scream it ( scream get it ). We are avoiding the orange and black that is typical of the holiday. Moody...Moody is the term I am using to describe the feeling our color story will give our guests. I want the space to feel moody in relation to Halloween, but not literally be interpreted as such. Moody can be hundreds of different color options. To further explain we have decided on a color story similar to the image you see on the right. We are tweaking the shade of green from this olive to a emerald so that it is a perfect compliment to the venue.  |  |
The Decor:Playing off color story how can our decor relate to Halloween and how much of it should? Again continuing with this word MOODY,,, When I think of MOODY I think of darker colors ( hence the choices made above), I think of low candle light, texture, a distressed or aged finish, a feeling that the decor has is made for its environment. When I think of MOODY I think of decor that lends itself to the story the venue is telling. This type of decor is best used in older, or more unique types of venues. Luckily we have that with the Casino on Belle Isle. While some decor is used to grab your attention moody decor tends to be a bit more simple in nature but detailed in its amounts ( a feeling of being collected) and detailed in its composition. For example: a Moody tablescape is going to have multiple simple items that look like they have been collected over time, most will have a distressed or age finish and when placed in the scape will be set to be clustered and will play with levels. Again it should feel like the pieces have always been there. On the flip side something more modern will have a very even symmetry to its placement in a scape and will consist of less pieces that will be clean in form and finish. So what kind of items are we using to create this MOODY atmosphere? In summary: Candlesticks ( brass to be specific ) all different in form because they have been collected over time, LOTS of candles, brass/ gold finished trinkets, combination of linens and fabrics to bring textures to the design/ apothecary bottles ( small play off of the idea of potion bottles without actually being labeled as such), and the right type of florals/greenery to contribute to this concept. Now, I cannot give it all away but I think this gives you a pretty good idea of what we are looking at here. There will be some small added details that do not literally say Halloween but play off it: small white pumpkins, black candle sticks and potentially a few other little surprises! |    |
 | The Music:It is not in our plan to include Halloween themed music. But who knows..Maybe we will toss one or two in....Some of the classics! |
 | Kiddo Activities:We are having a kid friendly wedding. Being that it's Halloween, and the kiddos are missing the chance to Trick-Or-Treat, we want to make sure we include candy bags pre-filled or incorporate Trick-Or-Treat stations. |
 | The FavorsChoosing a Halloween favor may be too much into the holiday for us. We are thinking we will end up with a Fall favor like the caramel apples. While not a direct link to Halloween its a happy medium screaming Fall wedding! PLUS THEY ARE DELICIOUS!  |
The Dress Code
As mentioned in my intro this is THE question we are asked. While Jesus and I both love the idea of having our guests dress up in some type of costume, coordinated or individually, we struggle with the idea of how much of a " Halloween" party is this versus the fact that it is a wedding?
Do we want costumes in the photos?
Do we want to be wearing any type of costume? NOT me..I already paid for a beautiful dress, hair and for the makeup I will be wearing that day. I do not want to distract away from those things with a costume.
If we did allow costumes should they all match? OR be of a similar consistent theme?
Could we ask guests to all wear Black?
Do we provide some type of mask or prop for guests to wear once the party starts?
There are two different concepts that come to mind that would fit our wedding style and still play off the idea of the wedding being on Halloween..
1. Gatsby Theme / Roaring 20s'
2. Masquerade Ball
Do we want costumes in the photos?
Do we want to be wearing any type of costume? NOT me..I already paid for a beautiful dress, hair and for the makeup I will be wearing that day. I do not want to distract away from those things with a costume.
If we did allow costumes should they all match? OR be of a similar consistent theme?
Could we ask guests to all wear Black?
Do we provide some type of mask or prop for guests to wear once the party starts?
There are two different concepts that come to mind that would fit our wedding style and still play off the idea of the wedding being on Halloween..
1. Gatsby Theme / Roaring 20s'
2. Masquerade Ball
The Gatsby Wedding- Roaring 20's
Masquerade Ball
While we still have plenty of time to make this decision I am eager to decide for good as soon as possible. The amount of influence the idea of Halloween and the coordinating concepts will play a large role in many of the small details!
Till next Month! Cheers! Slainte!Salud!
Till next Month! Cheers! Slainte!Salud!
https://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2015/08/25/elegant-masquerade-wedding-inspiration/https://www.etsy.com/listing/268459393/gatsby-wedding-welcome-sign-gold-and?source=aw&awc=6091_1508470481_563602e180cc2ff19b6653fbe14c9caf&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=uk_location_buyer&utm_content=171089
https://www.elegantwedding.ca/an-old-hollywood-meets-great-gatsby-wedding/
https://oosile.com/18-gorgeous-great-gatsby-wedding-theme-decoration-ideas-for-perfect-wedding-29233
https://www.tidewaterandtulle.com/2018/08/vintage-gatsby-glam-hampton-virginia-wedding.html
http://cosmowomanz.wikihoo.ru/962740-wedding-themes-ideas-masquerade-57-ideas-for-2019.html
Photo Cred: The Focused Soul Photography
His...
If you haven't already noticed I am marrying a verryyy handsome Mexican-American man this year. Both of Jesus' parents were born and raised in the agricultural parts of Guanajuato, Mexico and Jesus is one of 5 boys: Jesus, his twin Elpidio ( who is getting married this April!!), and three older brothers David, Jose, and Salvador.
I LOVE presence that his culture has in his life, I think it is one of my favorite things about about him. I think it makes him the warm, loving and kind man that he is today. He is proud of his culture and I find it so exciting the more I learn. I have more than enjoyed my time learning about the Mexican traditions, FOOD, music, and everything in between. I still have a good deal to learn so its a good thing that we are signing up for forever right??
This December we made our first trip together to Guanajuato and that was by far one of the best experiences I have had to date. While I could not speak the language fluently, understanding body language and tone allowed me to feel the warm welcome from friends and family that we visited. This experience only heightened both of our desires to make sure that we included some of the traditions you would find in a Mexican wedding.
I LOVE presence that his culture has in his life, I think it is one of my favorite things about about him. I think it makes him the warm, loving and kind man that he is today. He is proud of his culture and I find it so exciting the more I learn. I have more than enjoyed my time learning about the Mexican traditions, FOOD, music, and everything in between. I still have a good deal to learn so its a good thing that we are signing up for forever right??
This December we made our first trip together to Guanajuato and that was by far one of the best experiences I have had to date. While I could not speak the language fluently, understanding body language and tone allowed me to feel the warm welcome from friends and family that we visited. This experience only heightened both of our desires to make sure that we included some of the traditions you would find in a Mexican wedding.
Hers..
So what about me... I mean you may have guessed it from the title of this page but my families heritage is Irish and Scottish. While we are a blend of things, these two cultures are the highest percentage.
When you look at me you would be able to guess that, especially when I was younger. I am pretty sure I came out of my mother with flaming red hair and covered in freckles ( not that all Irish people look this way but you know what I mean). Growing up we had a few small things we did as a family to celebrate our heritage, but it was our great greats that came here from Ireland.
In 2018 we as a family wanted to explore our roots in Ireland and Scotland and took a trip to engage in the cultures we come from. It was an amazing trip and I learned so much about myself and my family. It inspired all of us to not only explore our heritage but to travel more to explore others. It's like an itch now that we are all dying to go someplace to see the world around us.
When you look at me you would be able to guess that, especially when I was younger. I am pretty sure I came out of my mother with flaming red hair and covered in freckles ( not that all Irish people look this way but you know what I mean). Growing up we had a few small things we did as a family to celebrate our heritage, but it was our great greats that came here from Ireland.
In 2018 we as a family wanted to explore our roots in Ireland and Scotland and took a trip to engage in the cultures we come from. It was an amazing trip and I learned so much about myself and my family. It inspired all of us to not only explore our heritage but to travel more to explore others. It's like an itch now that we are all dying to go someplace to see the world around us.
Celebrating Us
| It is very important that we celebrate both of our families coming together. This means that the blend of cultures as well. It has been very exciting to learn about the different wedding day traditions for both the Mexican Culture and the Irish/Celtic cultures. We won't be spoiling all the surprises but here is a small taste of what's to come... |  Photo Credit: The Focused Soul Photography |
| 1. Gotta Be Bilingual: Many of the family members on Jesus' end of the guest list speak mainly Spanish. It was very important to us that both languages were spoken through the event so that everyone is included in each part of the day. While we do not plan on going around and saying EVERYTHING in both languages, there will be a balance of what we say in each. What I have loved about my time spent with Jesus's family is that while I may not speak the language fluently yet......their tone and body language has always made me feel warm and welcome. 2. Ceremony Traditions: While I am not going to tell you everything we are going to do for the big day, there are a good deal of different Mexican ceremony traditions that we are including. One of them being the Lasso. The Lasso is placed around the couple to hold them together as they make this commitment to the next chapter of marriage. This Lasso is normally given by a couple in the family that will watch over the newly weds through their trials and triumphs. Another ceremony tradition, but on the Irish/Scottish ends of things, is the sixpence coin being put into the left shoe of the bride. This to bring luck and also wish the happy couple a prosperous life together. This coin can be placed in the shoe or glued to the bottom. 3. Food & Drink: For both cultures Food and Drink are very important. While we have chosen to do a more Italian-american dinner ( we both are huge fans ) we are incorporating our cultures through a few small details. While again, I am not going to give it all away, we will be doing His and Her drinks. Both of which will focus on more traditional boozy choices for the mixes. Can you guess??? I would hope soo... Tequila and Whiskey. |   
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While we are going to be paying respects to both of our families heritage it is even more important to us that every choice we make is personal to the two of us as a couple together. What traditions we keep, what ones we make our own, what ways we incorporate everyone, are all choices we will make keeping our desire to make it personal to us.. in the forefront. That would be my advice to any couple also working to blend two cultures together. Lay out your options, decide what is important to the values you want moving forward in the marriage AFTER the wedding, and represent those things in your special day.
One thing is for sure...... IT WILL ALWAYS BE A PARTY!
Cheers! Slainte! Salud!
One thing is for sure...... IT WILL ALWAYS BE A PARTY!
Cheers! Slainte! Salud!
The A-Team: Our Wedding Edition
One of the toughest parts of planning any event is making sure you HIRE the right vendors for the right services! Jesus and I have been lucky, we have done our research and have been able to book the best fits for our day.
While we are still putting the pieces together, here are some of the partners we are pairing up with this fall!!!
While we are still putting the pieces together, here are some of the partners we are pairing up with this fall!!!
  | Kristina's CateringI found Kristina by going through ALLL of the Belle Isle Vendor list when we first started to plan our big day. She had wonderful reviews, many happy clients, and her food looked amazing. I started emailing and was put in touch with Holly, and she, I have to say, has put up with soo many questions from me. Both her and Kristina have worked with us every step of the way to make sure we are getting exactly what we want for our day. We had a great time at our tasting and I think they got a small taste of our big personalities. We took our toughest critic and we were VERY happy with our choices! We look forward to working with Kristina's Catering next fall! |
Detroit On the RocksWhen trying to figure out how to get everything we needed for our bar we called multiple places around the city. After we talked to Jeff, at Detroit on the Rocks, we knew almost instantly that we would be using them for our big day. Their willingness to be flexible, to accommodate our requests, their long list of options and packages that they could customize to fit the bill, and their professionalism sealed the deal. We cannot wait to Cheers with them on our big day! |   |
 | J & J Promotions: DJWe have been lucky enough to have been put in touch with Joel of J & J Promotions. From our first visit with him we knew that he would be able to meet our blended cultural needs as well as keep the party moving! The most important quality in our DJ ( outside of the music) was to make sure we have someone who can really bring out two families together through music. We are so excited to have hire Joel to help us with this! |
The Focused Soul PhotographyNow you have to understand, being a photographers daughter but not being able to allow your mom to shoot your big day is a bit stressful. However, we are extremely happy having hired Jenni from the Focused Soul. My mom posted Jesus' and my info on one of her photography boards for professionals to review and submit their interest. We had over 35 different photographers send us their information..It was a bit overwhelming. However, after seeing styles, pricing and policies, Jenni stood out. She had a style and a language portrayed in her images that matched very much so what our vision is. We really enjoy her personality and her ability to make taking photos feel comfortable. We look forward to having her back on the east side this October to capture the moments of our big day! |   |
  | C&N RentalsWhen booking with Kristina's catering they made so many things easy for us. One of which was helping us decide on a rental company for our last items. We do not need much with what the Casino already provides but table linens, and cocktail tables are on that short list. Working with Kelly has been easy thus far and the partnership that C&N Rentals has with Kristina's Catering is making our process that much simpler. We look forward to meeting with her this upcoming week! |
ARC Design Studios
I mean I would have imagined you guessed it....Of course I will be be designing our day. I will be gathering, prepping and preparing all of the decor over the next few months. While what that looks like will come in a later post.....
The question is...who is going to set it up for us? As much as I would love to be in my dress hustling around the reception space setting it myself.... You and I both know that is not possible.... Like seriously I tried figuring it out..its not..
No matter though, when making the call on who to ask it was easy. Now these two may kill me for this photo but I love it dearly. They both were present at our housewarming, turned engagement party, and I am so grateful to have such talented friends.
Kaitlyn has worked with my studio MANNNY times over the past handful of years. We graduated from the same program at Western ( a few years apart ) and then I hired her working as a visual merchandiser with me for a bit. She has worked a great deal of my west Michigan weddings with me and she knows how my mind works ( not an easy task believe me). She is one of my favorite people and is a shoot it to you straight kind of girl.
Amanda and I have been known as the Amanda's while working as visuals together in the showrooms. We never worked in the same store but traveled frequently together to help with new store setups and larger projects. Amanda, like Kaitlyn, is a hustler and very talented. Shes not afraid to experiment with design and try every solution till its right. Amanda is also the Owner of Frost & Layer Bakery we featured a few weeks ago!
Both of these ladies I know will take amazing care of us setting for the big day. They have partnered with each other in the past and have always done an amazing job. What is even better is that we get to party with them afterwords!!! We may add some other helpers to the day but these two are running the show!!!!
The question is...who is going to set it up for us? As much as I would love to be in my dress hustling around the reception space setting it myself.... You and I both know that is not possible.... Like seriously I tried figuring it out..its not..
No matter though, when making the call on who to ask it was easy. Now these two may kill me for this photo but I love it dearly. They both were present at our housewarming, turned engagement party, and I am so grateful to have such talented friends.
Kaitlyn has worked with my studio MANNNY times over the past handful of years. We graduated from the same program at Western ( a few years apart ) and then I hired her working as a visual merchandiser with me for a bit. She has worked a great deal of my west Michigan weddings with me and she knows how my mind works ( not an easy task believe me). She is one of my favorite people and is a shoot it to you straight kind of girl.
Amanda and I have been known as the Amanda's while working as visuals together in the showrooms. We never worked in the same store but traveled frequently together to help with new store setups and larger projects. Amanda, like Kaitlyn, is a hustler and very talented. Shes not afraid to experiment with design and try every solution till its right. Amanda is also the Owner of Frost & Layer Bakery we featured a few weeks ago!
Both of these ladies I know will take amazing care of us setting for the big day. They have partnered with each other in the past and have always done an amazing job. What is even better is that we get to party with them afterwords!!! We may add some other helpers to the day but these two are running the show!!!!
While we are in the progress of finishing the line up for this team we are so grateful to be working with these folks above.
As a vendor I know the best way to assure that your big day goes smooth is simply to hire the right people to help get you there.
Ar sceal, nuestra historia, our story....
Cheers! Slainte!Salud!
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