Lucky Girl Weddings

At my parents house last weekend I was flipping through the Pottery Barn catalog.  As always it is an excellent way to get some classic, timeless ideas! How many of us have seen the traditional apple bowl centerpiece in homes.  While apples are nice I think that we need to let a new fruit shine right along with them.  These ideas can be used as wedding placecards, your rehearsal dinner or post wedding brunch.  

The tag on the small green apple is a VERY simple way to make a outdoorsy, country themed wedding come to life.  The pear on the plate under the napkin is a good method if you are outside and don’t want the napkins to flip or fly away.  It is also great if you do not have placecards and just want to add some decor. 

Check out more pics and ideas at potterybarn.com

Samantha, Owner and Lead Photographer of Shutter Sam Photography is nothing but a joy to work with.  I had the pleasure of meeting with her in person awhile back to “talk shop”.  We hit it off right away and because I felt so comfortable with her I asked her if she would take some professional shots of me for my website. I think it is important for my potential clients to be able to put a face with the name. 

If you go to my blog and scroll to the bottom it will list my “pages”.  Check out the Shutter Sam Photography-LGW Shoot for about 10-15 shots that were my favorites.  Sam was so accommodating!  She really took her time to think of how each picture would look in regards to lighting, surroundings, body positioning, etc.  She wasn’t just snapping away not caring if you are even smiling or not like some photographers do.  I thought I would feel a little uncomfortable in front of the camera all by myself but because Sam keeps a dialogue going with you, you just feel like you are hanging out with a friend and you (and face) starts to relax!  It’s great!

I would highly recommend Sam for any bride.  She is professional and very fun!  You will just love her!  Check out her site and look through some of her work today!  If you are a 2009 bride you have to book with Shutter Sam Photography! 

If you are currently a client of mine and need a photographer, lets get you connected with Sam!

Thank you again Sam for an awesome experience.

As I come to the close of my 2008 wedding season I have to say this year takes the cake so far!  Well, wait, maybe that is because its my first year in business.  I can only pray and hope that next year is even better! I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all the people that have helped make my dream of being a wedding planner become a reality. 

My Savior Jesus Christ: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” -Philippians 4:13 Because I believe in God and follow his teachings I have been blessed with success. This is the sole reason any of us can survive in this world.

My husband: Thank you honey for trusting in me and taking the chance with your hard earned money to finance me and my little ole’ dream!  Its working huh!!  It didn’t always look so hopeful in the beginning but with more patience and trust in God it will flourish even more!

My parents and sister:Mom and Dad, thank you for always telling me I could be successful at anything I wanted to do.  You believe in me no matter what I choose to do and it really helps keep me motivated.  Lindsay, thanks for listening to me and my stories all the time.  I need someone with an unbiased ear to listen to me!

Read the rest of this entry »

Bride and Groom/ Jennifer Krzycki and Andre Green

Date/ 10-11-08

LGW Package/ “Charmed”

Ceremony Site/ Kuyper College Vos Chapel

Reception Site/ Grand Rapids Public Museum (”Van Andel”)

Photographers/ Elite Photography & Design (Lisa Ruff) and The Photo Booth Company (Brian Josefowicz)

Florist-Designer/ Shelly’s Designs Wedding & Event Specialist (Shelly Johnson)

Cake/ Sweet Cakes Design (Barb Hoek)

DJ/ Party Down Music (Michael Handlin)

How I met the bride/ I met Jennifer through a referral I believe!  It has been almost a year now since I first spoke with Jennifer.  Forgive me to whomever referred Jen to me but I cannot remember…my guess is it was Aletha!  Thank goodness she is so popular and has to send people to me and other planners!  Jennifer was the first official client booked for Lucky Girl Weddings way back in December.  But, ironically, the last wedding I did for this season.  It was nice to have some weddings under my belt before Jenn’s so I could be sure to give her the service she deserved.  Jennifer and Andre were the most laid back couple.  They were so in love and so ready to be married and let the fun begin.  Thank you both for being a wonderful couple to work with.  I really appreciate your support of my business and your trust in a new planner!

How it went/ Smooth is the word I would use to describe this wedding day!  From the rehearsal the night before to the “Cheeseburger in Paradise” song with actual mini-cheeseburgers at the end of the reception, the whole weekend was a success!  Jenn, Andre, and their families were so happy to be together they had no worries or cares on their minds.  The weather was perfect, all the vendors were on time, the food was great, the DJ knew just what songs to play to keep the dance floor full, it was wonderful!  Jenn was an extremely organized bride and that always helps!  I am so thankful that I could be a part of her big day! 

Interesting facts/ Jenn and Andre live in Florida, so for Jenn to plan a whole wedding from there is awesome!  I can’t stop giving props to Jenn and her family for such a great event. 

Vendor report/ All the vendors involved in Jenn’s wedding were truly amazing.  The museum was a very unique venue and the staff members were right on point all night long.  Thank you Jim and Patsy for all your help.  The flowers and centerpieces were beautiful!  Not to mention the stunning arrangements at the church before hand….Shelly you always amaze me! The DJ was very professional and played great tunes all night long.  The Photo Booth Company was there, thanks Brian for providing great entertainment for all the guests!  The cake, perfect as usual from Sweet Cakes Design.  It was fun to talk to Lisa Ruff and her assistant from Elite Photography & Design throughout the night about our businesses and experiences.  I can’t wait to get some professional shots from this great night.  Thanks Lisa!  Last but not least the friend of the family who made those cookies!!! YUM-O!!  They were so good!  I wish I could have had more than one! I really hope I didn’t forget anyone.  Everything ran smooth as butter…so thank you to all involved! 

Congratulations Jennifer and Andre! May your marriage be blessed by God and may you have many many years of happy anniversaries to come!

Who doesn’t like to look at pictures…especially of weddings!  Well, I have now linked my Lucky Girl Weddings Myspace page to this website.  On my LGW Myspace you can view all the shots of my clients weddings.  Granted, they are from me…not a professional…but hey, it is still fun to look!  When I get the professional shots from the photographers that did their weddings I will post them on this main website. 

View my Lucky Girl Weddings Myspace page now!

Last night, Amber VanDenBerg of Amber Dawn Wedding Consultants arranged for us (myself, Michelle of Memorable Events and Aletha of Pearls Events) to meet with Adam Clarke of NAYA Bistro & Wine Bar.  We had a wonderful experience there.  Not only were the beverages and food very tasty but the service was stellar and the facility was fun and stylish.  Adam talked to us about our businesses, told us about what NAYA has to offer our clients, gave us a tour, and allowed us to taste some of the menu.  NAYA has a great facility for small scale dinners and events.  Check out their website for full details.  www.nayagr.com

NAYA is somewhat of an undiscovered gem in Grand Rapids.  Its location may not be the best but once patrons find it they will be sure to return again and again!  It is located off of East Paris towards Cascade Road.  From the outside it may look like a normal restaurant but once inside you can clearly see that its not average at all.  The decor is modern and clean, the servers are laid back, yet professional, and the menu boasts local fare and brews.

I would recommend NAYA to anyone who is looking to host a small gathering, private party (such as a; bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner) or even for a romantic and reasonably priced place to purpose!  Ask for “The Cave” for added privacy…wink wink!

Thank you again Adam for a great evening!  I will be sure to tell my clients and everyone else about NAYA Bistro & Wine Bar. 

PS.  Wine tasting and classes on Thursday nights!

Last night, the “Fab 4″ (unofficially named by me), got together again to “talk shop” and catch up.  The “Fab 4″ consists of what I believe are some of the best planners in the Grand Rapids area and myself.  Here they are in alpha order:

Michelle Torno of Memorable Events Coordinating & Consulting

Amber VanDenBerg of Amber Dawn Wedding Consultants

Aletha VanderMaas of Pearls Events, LLC

Although some might think it odd that we get together like this, we all really benefit from it.  We can bounce ideas off each other, talk about trends, learn from each others experiences, and work to make the wedding scene in the GR and surrounding areas that much better.   We all have different strengths and areas of expertise. 

Just know that as a bride if Lucky Girl Weddings is booked for your date or for some reason we cannot give you exactly what you are looking for we do have WONDERFUL references for you.  We will never leave you high and dry without an excellent planner.  Networking with other consultants and vendors is key and these above three ladies are where its at in regards to planning!

Even though the temperature has only changed a few degrees I can still tell Fall is coming.  I can smell it in the air.  Not to mention Football has started…that really means the Fall is on its way.  So, now that the major part of the “wedding season” is coming to a close I am looking for Fall, Winter, and early Spring brides! 

I would like to offer a few specials on my wedding packages!  If you are a bride looking for a date that falls between Saturday, Sept. 27th and Saturday, March 29th of 2009 I will take $75.00 off the “Charmed” package and $100.00 off the “Golden” package.  (I am not offering a special on the “Happy” or “Irresistible” packages because of the timeline and amount of work involved.) 

Every little bit saved can help when planning a wedding.  Hiring a planner is one of the best moves you can make to help your wedding day dreams become a reality!  Call me or email me ASAP!  I must have at least 3 weeks notice to book either special package.  Using the contact form provided on my website is the most effective way of getting in touch with me!