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For the 1st place photographers in each category, one of my most favorite items ever! If you haven’t seen these frames, by The Vintage Crush, you will probably have the same reaction as when I first saw them. How gorgeous are these? I am DYING to add a few of these to my office and the lucky three winners will get their choice of any color/style 8.5×11 frame in the collection. Lucky!

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All 9 of our Top 3 in each category will receive some super awesome lens bracelets courtesy of amazing photographer Adam Elmakias. How PERFECT are these for the contest? When I came across the Lens Bracelet website, I just had to contact Adam. I am so glad I did!

In early 2010, Adam Elmakias created his first set of Lens Bracelets© to be used as a promotional tool for his photography. Starting off with a single design, based on the 50mm, Elmakias began sharing the bracelets with friends, photographers and fans, giving away nearly 250 wristbands as he toured throughout the US and Canada.

After only six months, thousands of Lens Bracelets© have now been sold and shipped to individuals in over 50 different countries. The buzz around the bracelets has led to an expansion in Elmakias’ offerings: a multitude of focal length designs to choose from. Photographers and fans can now show off their favorite lenses, even when they aren’t shooting.

The timeless design was created by a photographer, for photographers and features classic embossed lettering and lens grip ridges that replicate actual lenses. The silicone wristbands are available in two different base styles and focal lengths of 50mm, 35mm, 85mm, 14-24mm, 17-40mm, 24-70mm, 24-105mm and 70-200mm. Size choices for Lens Bracelets© include 7″ circ. x 1/2” and 8” circ. x 1/2”.

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For our Michigan Photo of the Year winner, the always fabulous and business savvy Anne Ruthmann, has offered up a free pass to her Smarter Business Workshop in Michigan! How awesome is this? The workshop is going to be a really great resource for local photographers and she has a few scheduled around the US. Even if you aren’t in Michigan, you should definitely check this out. Anne has helped me in more ways than I can count and I just know this workshop will be amazing.

From the website: Photography can be an incredibly rewarding career, if you make smarter business decisions every step of the way. Success comes with great ideas AND great implementation. Too often photography workshops forcus on ideas, but without implementation, sustainable success doesn’t follow. I want to change that. I want to help you create a plan of sustainable success–ideas put into action–to move your business forward- from wherever you are now. Photography has empowered my creative life, and I can help you have the same.

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Each of our three First Place winners in each category will also receive a one year ad placement on The Bliss Blog! Pretty awesome, right?

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I call 2010 the “Year of Roller Coasters” for so many different reasons. No, I didn’t head to any theme parks, but I did enjoy my fair share of ups and downs. Thankfully, there were way more ups than there were downs. I think we will focus on the positives only here, so we can leave the year on a happy note!

Photo by: Bates Photographic

2010 Loves:

• Lots of new babies for family and friends.
• Beautiful weddings, both professional and personal.
• Wonderful people. Countless wonderful people.
• Crazy circumstances that we can only look back and laugh about.
• Growth and change that inevitably comes with age and the feeling that life is only getting better as we grow.
• A few really great vacations, including the “Girls Trip” I took with my Mom and sisters.
• Making Things Happen 2010
• My very first speaking engagements and taking the role of teacher.
• Taking the role of President of the Michigan Chapter Board of Directors of Wish Upon a Wedding.
• Expanding the biz.

2011 Hopes:

• Continued growth.
• More celebration.
• Epicness. Yes, Epicness.
• Discovery and education.
• Babies. Lots of babies.
• Making mistakes and taking them as lessons.
• More time for myself with friends and family.
• Tons of dancing, either in my living room or out in public. I didn’t dance enough this year! :)

What are your hopes for 2011? Or your favorite moments from 2010? I would LOVE to hear them!

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Photo Source: Aruna B Photography from the fabulous Bliss Weddings renewal of Anat & Nick at River Birch Lodge

If you are looking for something that screams Michigan wedding, check out the following locations. Keep in mind that these are just a few examples of the thousands of venues the Mitten State has to offer.

Source: Heather J. Photography Cobblestone Farm – Ann Arbor

1. River Birch Lodge, Hartland. When I think of Michigan, I picture places like this. Picture a beautiful lodge, the size of a small mansion, with natural wood and stone. This amazing location is charming, warm and inviting. All things that give a wedding that cozy feeling that Michigan is known for.
2. The Rattlesnake Club, Detroit. If you are looking for something a little more modern, consider this fabulous venue. With world renowned food, a river front view and fantastic customer service, the Rattlesnake is a winning locale.
3. The Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island. This place is straight out of a fairy tale! Not only is it located on one of the most amazing islands in the US, it also is one of Michigan’s most popular wedding destinations. It is the perfect mix of nautical, nature and high-end resort.
4. The B.O.B., Grand Rapids. This location is just plain fun in the heart of a great city. The BOB features exposed brick walls and lots of windows.
5. The English Inn, Eaton Rapids. The name says it all. Once you walk onto the property at The English Inn, you are taken to a completely different place. It has the feel of the English countryside and the amenities of a 5 star wedding venue. You can even host your ceremony in the beautiful gardens!
6. Don’t forget the amazing fields and farms, beautiful beaches, plenty of museums, vineyards, orchards and more! This list could go on for ages!

Photo Source: West Park Photo at Comerica Park in Detroit

Photo Source: Abby Rose Photography of Detroit Skyline

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Us Michiganders love our lakes and spend as much time in the or on them as possible. A wedding by the water only seems a natural way to start our Married in Michigan series.

Photo Source: Dusty Brown Photography

We are pretty lucky, here in Michigan. Not only do we have all of that water, the beaches of the great lakes are some of the most beautiful in the world. White sand that stretches for miles, clean & fresh water, warm breezes, cute little beach towns… we have it all in the summer time! And, we don’t have to worry about hurricanes and shark attacks! Hosting a beach wedding is the perfect way to treat your guests to something special.

Photo Source: Inner Circle Photography

1. Go barefoot. Treat your guests to the calming feeling of having their toes in the sand, by setting up a shoe storage area and sand rinse near the beginning of the ceremony site!
2. Always have a Plan B. As much as we all dream of perfection on a wedding day, always have a back up plan for rain, heat, and unpredictable Michigan weather.
3. SPF & Shade. If you plan on getting married in the heat of the summer, a beach wedding brings the perfect cooling breeze. The downside is that there is usually direct sunlight and no one wants a sun burn! Provide your guests (and yourself!) with some sunscreen, parasols or some sort of shade where they will be sitting.
4. Hydration. As the summer sun heats up, people need to stay hydrated. Consider serving bottled water and refreshments while your guests wait for the ceremony to begin.
5. Dress lightly. A ball gown and sand just do not mix. If you are getting married in the sand, or near the water, select a dress that flows nicely, is light-weight and allows easy movement. Also, think about your shoes. Those super hot satin pumps won’t mix well with the beautiful Michigan sand. Make sure you let your guests know that they should plan on wearing something beach friendly as well.

Photo Source: Edward John Photography

Waterfront wedding can happen in bustling downtown areas, too!

Photo Source: Anne Ruthmann Photography

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Source: Chelsea Elizabeth Photography

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Flirty at the Fair | Carnival Inspiration Shoot from Jamie Honce on Vimeo.

Have questions about the shoot? Leave a comment or shoot me an email! I would love to answer questions and hear your feedback.

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It might sound strange, but my entire design concept was based on two things. Cotton Candy & our Blue Striped Paper Straws. In order to keep the setting feeling soft and light, I went with a cotton candy pink and a lighter shade of a teal blue. The linens were actually poly cotton with sheer striped overlays. The combination of the two was under $25 per table, which is really good for linen pricing!

For the flowers, I wanted to stick with mainly pink with punches of red. In order to mix it up a bit, I wanted the shades to be darker that the colors in the linens and paper products. I think it meshed beautifully! What do you think?

Now, I am a sucker for a good prop and I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to Terri, the owner of the super cute Frank & Me, in Clarkston, Michigan. While eying the amazing trinkets and vintage items in her shop, I stumbled across a beautiful 1940s smoked glass cake stand, a beautiful pink & gold frame, and the vintage cake server, among other things that I fell in love with. All worked perfectly for the design.

The adorable dress was made by our model, Allison, and the flower hair accessory was made by BlissAccessories! Flowers by Watkins Flowers, creative design and linens supplied by Bliss Weddings & Events. Photography by Nicole Ladonne Photography.

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Kerri mixed the perfect hues of pink and blue and created a very DIY inspired single layer cake. What is your favorite element? Mine are the little white dots on the cupcakes!

For the drinks, I had to have pink and blue, with a punch of red. That was definite. I went with a pink lemonade and a blue punch and mixed in some fruit and berries. They both tasted delicious, until they were heated by the million degree sun all day!

Robyn also created a cute little candy buffet for an added bit of sweetness. Mix that with some vintage Faygo and super cute details, and you have PERFECTION, my friends.

Photos by Nicole Ladonne Photography

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My favorite paper item of the shoot is the circular menu that is meant to be set in the actual plate. Not only did it fit perfectly, the amazing assortment of creations she brought along were exactly what I had envisioned!

Photos by Nicole Ladonne Photography

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When I first started getting involved in the virtual wedding world, one of the initial places I visited was Style Me Pretty. Not only is it an unbelievable resource for inspiration, it is also one of the most well put together and most visited wedding sites on the internet. The day I found it, I promised myself that I would make it onto the pages some day. Well, that day has come! I am so happy that the crew selected our recent Flirty at the Fair shoot to grace their beautiful site.

As for the shoot itself, I can’t even put into words how happy I am with the end result. What started as a little spark, grew into a full blown fire of creativity. I knew I wanted to do something sweet, charming and easy to recreate for brides and grooms of any budget. I am lucky enough to work with some of the most inspiring people in the world and a few of my favorites helped create this beautiful shoot at the St. Mary’s Polish Country Fair. I honestly couldn’t have done this without them.

When I get an idea, it is difficult for me not to put it into motion very quickly and moments after the initial idea popped in my head for this shoot, I was on the phone with Robyn (Meant To Be Sent) and Nicole (Nicole Ladonne Photography) trying to figure out how we could make this happen in one week. That is the only time when the carnival would be in town. I knew it was short notice, but these two were on board from the start and helping to come up with ideas and concepts. Within 24 hours, I had Jamie (Jamie Honce Productions), Watkins Flowers, Kerri (Cherry Chip) right along with us. Within 48 hours, I had the little touches ordered from HeyYoYo purchased and a trip planned to one of my favorite eclectic shops, Frank & Me in Clarkston. This was actually going to happen!

The night before the shoot, I called to check in with everyone involved and found out that Nicole and Allison, our model bride, were actually MAKING the little blue dress!!! Apparently they couldn’t find the perfect one, so they decided to literally make it happen. I was in awe of the talent and creativity that oozed from these fabulous people. Between the ahhh-mazing paper from Meant To Be Sent, to the beautiful video by Jamie Honce Productions, this was going to be a real treat.

The day of the shoot was HOT, beautiful, and magical. Watching these details come together was a true joy, especially since none of us had met in person to go over colors and details! This just goes to show that when you ask for the help of a true professional, they will handle it better than you could imagine. I am eternally grateful for the relationships that this industry, and Michigan in general, has blessed me with.

Please head over to Style Me Pretty and see what our hard work created. I would love to hear your comments! Over the next few days, I will be featuring some of my favorite elements from the shoot. I hope you enjoy looking at this as much as I did creating it.

XOXO,

Amanda

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