Showing posts with label Michigan wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michigan wedding. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Hellebore (aka: Lenten Rose) Season


 I've been a bit quiet on social media as I've been tackling a list of "to dos". Wedding client meetings, consultations, spring clean up, studio organization and the ongoing 1860 home remodel project... the word "bored" is not a part of our life!~ 


This morning I woke up thinking about the hellebores that I had planted 2 springs ago. I actually went out in the still moonlit darkness to see if they were blooming yet. They weren't. Not yet. 


Incorporating hellebores in floral arrangements, boutonnieres and corsages always makes me smile. The fact that they are only available in the early spring, often during Lent, makes them even so much more special and fun to work with. 



Last year, our winter was so mild that the hellebores were starting to bloom in February. These photos were taken February 11, 2024



By March 7, the blooms looked like this....



and at March 31, like this...


Ever since we moved to this property, my husband and I have been pruning, trimming, adding and sometimes eliminating plants, trees and shrubs. There was so much goodness to work with already, but the property was also quite over grown in areas. Adding in hellebore plants was one of the "musts" on my list. Being able to add the home grown blooms to arrangements so early in the season is a gift. Enjoying the blooms outside when so many other flowering plants are still dormant, is such a promise that spring is here and our Michigan world will be full of color and greenery soon!~


Side note: I began this post on Monday morning and am just able to return to it today, two mornings later. At the end of the day on Monday, I peeked at our hellebores again and there were a couple of new blooms that were just starting to peek out. 
 


Spring is here and these hellebores will be showing off their blooms very soon!~ 




Sunday, May 23, 2021

Bridal Brunch - Celebrating your Special Day with Friends



Wedding Days are so very special, and spending time with your close friends leading up to the wedding makes for wonderful memories that can last a lifetime. 

When Sheila from Copper & Lace contacted me about being a part of this fun Bridal Brunch shoot, I said yes without hesitation. All the fun moments leading up to a wedding day should be cherished and documented. I loved this theme and was excited to work with all of the vendors involved. 

Frugthaven Farm was the perfect setting for a fun bridal brunch with all of the special touches that were added in with the Copper & Lace rentals and Forrester Farm flowers.








Having Happy Bar Services bring their Tickled Tin vintage camper bar on site was such a treat - and the mimosa that was poured and enjoyed was simply delicious!



  Whether you are planning for your wedding day or for the many fun celebrations with friends and family leading up to your special day, adding in the special touches with ambiance, food and drink will just add to the amazing memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.




A huge shout out to all of the vendors to participated to make this possible:

Venue: Frugthaven Farm  

Photographer: Haley Chicoine Photography

Design/Rentals: Copper & Lace Rental 

Florist: Forrester Farm

Food: Frugthaven Farm

Drinks: Happy Bar Services

Signage: Mulder Design + Co

Dresses: Hey Girlfriend LLC

Veil: Timeless Bridal Boutique

Hair: Erin Danielski  

Makeup: Veil of Grace Co

Models: Regan L., Kendal H., Emily C, Nicole V. & Ashlee T. 

It was an absolute pleasure working with all of you!~



Monday, April 19, 2021

Traditional with a Twist (of fun and whimsy)

When Jennifer from March81 Photography first contacted me regarding collaboration on a photo shoot at The Harris Building in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she mentioned wanting to feature two different styles, modern and traditional. Those two words were the only criteria given. There was complete free reign to go from there and design anything that fit the style. I featured some of our modern shoot in the previous post which can be seen here: 

Team Work Makes the Dream Work when it comes to Weddings and Events!~


This post is all about our traditional shoot. Tanya of Tanya Lynette Events and I had so much fun coming up with a plan. We went together to play with linens and table settings at Fringe Events.


 The rest of the theme came into place thru many phone calls and photo exchanges. The table, settee and the trio of rose gold/copper vases rented from Events by I Candy were the perfect pieces to add to this traditional with a twist shoot. 


I was so excited to bring all of the Forrester Farm floral elements into play and oh my goodness, if you haven't smelled ginestra before, it was the most amazingly fragrant filler flower to add into this fun floral display!~















We loved having Popping Bottles, LLC as part of the shoot. This fun champagne cart is a great addition to any fun event. Our sweet couple were having a blast together and hopefully they got all of their wedding day jitters out of the way as their real wedding day is quickly approaching. Cheers in advance to Mordecai and Amanda on your very special day!~ We wish you all the best!~


As with our modern shoot, this wouldn't have been possible without a great team that worked together seamlessly to make the day come together so beautifully!~  Huge shout outs go out to: 

Photographers: March81 Photography 

Michael & Jennifer Miller
michael@march81photo.com
Instagram @march81photo Facebook @march81photography
www.march81photo.com

Venue: The Harris Building

Kelsi Gaunt - Director of Event Operations
events@theharrisbuilding.com / kgaunt@theharrisbuilding.com
Instagram @theharrisbuildinggr Facebook @harrisbldggr
www.theharrisbuilding.com

Videographer: Unnamed Films

Scott Hoek & David Garrett
scott@unnamedco.com
david@unnamedco.com
Facebook @unnamedfilms Instagram @unnamedfilms
Unnamedfilms.com

Wedding Dresses: Magnolia Mobile Bridal Boutique

Morgan McRay
Instagram @magnoliamobilebridalboutique
Facebook @magnoliamobilebridalboutique
https://www.magnolia-bridal.com

Accessories: Diane Marie Bridal Design

Instagram @DianeMarieBridalDesigns Facebook @DianeMarieBridalDesigns
dianemariebridaldesigns@gmail.com

Tuxes: Bunny Tuxedo

Morgan McRay
Facebook @bunnytuxedos Instagram @bunnytuxedos
www.bunnytuxedos.com

Hair & Make Up: Sarah Baughn

Sarah Baughn
Facebook @bluebeara Instagram @pinupandpole4life

Spray Tan: Sandbar Spray Mobile Airbrush Tanning

Hannah Campbell
Facebook @sandbarspraytanning Instagram @sandbarspraytanning
https://sandbarspraytan.com/

Florist: Forrester Farm

Ann Forrester
Instagram @forresterfarm Facebook @ForresterFarm
www.forresterfarm.com

Stylist/Wedding Planner: Tanya Lynnette Events

Tanya Lawrence
Facebook @eventsbytanyalynnette Instagram @tanyalynnetteevents
tanyalynnetteevents.com

Cake: Cakabakery

Jason Kakabaker
Facebook @THECAKABAKERY Instagram @thecakabakery
Thecakabakery.com

Rentals/Table Settings: Fringe Events

hello@fringe-events.com
Facebook @fringeeventsgr Instagram @fringe.events
http://fringe-events.com

Rentals: Events by I Candy

Alicia Lutz
Facebook @eventsbyicandy Instagram @eventsicandy
https://eventsbyicandy.com

Bar Cart: Popping Bottles

Danielle
Facebook @poppingbottlesllc Instagram @poppingbottlesllc
https://www.poppingbottlesllc.com

Custom Hangers: Bride & Bow

Nick
Facebook @BrideandBowWeddings Instagram @bride.and.bow
http://www.BrideAndBow.com/

MODELS

Couple #2 - TRADITIONAL

Amanda Hudak & Mordecai Njoroge

Thank you so much for jumping in  on short notice and having so much fun doing it. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!~ We wish you all the best.  You two are awesome!~

Vendor Social Media Quick List

INSTAGRAM

Photographers @march81photo
Venue @theharrisbuildinggr
Videographers @unnamedfilms
Wedding Dress @magnoliamobilebridalboutique
Bridal Accessories @DianeMarieBridalDesigns
Tux @bunnytuxedos
Hair & Makeup @pinupandpole4life
Spray Tan Artist @sandbarspraytanning
Florist @forresterfarm
Stylist & Wedding Planner @tanyalynnetteevents
Cake @thecakabakery
Rentals/Table Settings @fringe.events
Rentals @eventsicandy
Champagne/Bar Cart @poppingbottlesllc
Custom Dress Hanger @bride.and.bow

FACEBOOK

Photographers @march81photography
Venue @harrisbldggr
Videographers @unnamedfilms
Wedding Dress @magnoliamobilebridalboutique
Bridal Accessories @DianeMarieBridalDesigns
Tux @bunnytuxedos
Hair & Makeup @bluebeara
Spray Tan Artist @sandbarspraytanning
Florist @forresterfarm
Stylist & Wedding Planner @eventsbytanyalynnette
Cake @THECAKABAKERY
Rentals/Table Settings @fringeeventsgr
Rentals @eventsbyicandy
Champagne/Bar Cart @poppingbottlesllc
Custom Dress Hanger @BrideandBowWeddings

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Pure Wedding Joy in the Midst of Crazy Covid Changes



This past year, we had so many wedding couples change and adjust their plans as covid took a toll on just about everything in our big and wonderful world. As couples changed plans, dates, locations and more, Forrester Farm adjusted right along with them as much as we possibly could. All of our 2020 weddings and events were affected somehow or another. All of our 2020 couples handled the necessary changes with grace and made the absolute best decisions that they could in the face of the pandemic. 

The amount of grace and flexibility that I witnessed in our couples was extraordinary. Believe me, I saw and heard the tears, disappointment and frustration over not being able to move forward with weddings as they were initially planned, but as couples made plan B's, C's and even D's, it was oh so evident that nothing could stop love!~ 


We loved being a part of Lindsey and Niquo's wedding this past year, providing the floral for the ceremony and reception. After several reception location adjustments following covid guidelines, Lindsey and Niquo were offered a private property that would ultimately be the perfect solution for their celebration. The pandemic influenced re-planning and adjustments had not been a picnic and by the time the wedding date arrived, they were just so ready to really enjoy their special day.


I recently saw the professional photos of Niquo and Lindsey's wedding day, and the joy that was evident just looking thru the photo album was contagious!~  Elizabeth of Elizabeth Berghuis Photography absolutely captured the joy of the day perfectly. The beautiful shots, the beautiful moments, the beautiful memories. 



All photos in this post by:

 Elizabeth Berghuis Photography.

All floral by yours truly,

Forrester Farm.