I feel terrible that this wedding is just now getting on the blog. I seriously adore this couple! Jenny & Brenden’s wedding day was nothing short of fantastic. These two just radiate love for each other and love having a good time. Their wedding was the perfect representation of all of that and I was so lucky to have been involved. The photos, by Rachel Shomsky Photography, really speak well for the tone of the day, so I won’t bore you with words. Enjoy this big post of gorgeous pictures of pretty people and adorable details.

The Crew:

Rachel Shomsky Photography, photography
Bliss Weddings & Events, planning and coordination
Ysa Makino, wedding gown
Julie Strating, makeup
Owen Video, video
Domestic Arts, wedding cake
Main Street Dueling Pianos, entertainment
Adam Czap Photography, photo booth
Slows To Go, catering
Max M Fisher Music Center – The Music Box, venue

Visit Rachel Shomsky Photography’s blog post for a few  more photos!

I am seriously one of the luckiest girls in the world. I have a great job, which I love a lot. I get to work with awesome people, who are more friends than vendors. I get to help pretty events come together like a giant life size puzzle. And my clients are the absolute best. Shannon and James are definitely a fun couple and I knew from the very first moment, when I met Shannon and her mom, that I was going to love everything about the wedding. I was totally right.

Shannon and James are one of those amazing couples that you can just sit back and watch. The way they interact with each other and those around them, is nothing but pure compassion and I was really fortunate to be a part of their wedding day.

The day started off like most weddings that I work on. Generally very smooth, a few little hiccups that need to be worked out, and a level of excitement that surpasses anything anyone can imagine. This day had one tiny little difference… the threat of lots of rain. Which normally would be easy to roll with, but with an outdoor ceremony planned, we were all on high alert. Ready to move chairs indoors at the very last second if need be. I am a true believer of putting good out into the world and getting good back, and Shannon and James sure do put a LOT of good out there. Wouldn’t you know it, after raining for a couple hours on and off, just about an hour before the ceremony start time, the clouds parted, the sun came pouring in and the rain completely stopped. It was PERFECT! We couldn’t have asked for a better day. Honestly. Just look at that view!

Pine Knob Mansion is one of my favorite places for a wedding. I adore the outdoor ceremony area, the perfect patio for cocktails under the stars and the inside just can’t be beat. My very first wedding was held at Pine Knob Mansion, so I think it holds a very special place in my heart. My first wedding and Shannon and James’ wedding had another couple of awesome things in common with each other… I also got to work on both with Dionne of The Shooting Gallery and Mary Ann Ross, the DJ extraordinaire who is on my top 5 list of favorite vendors ever. Fun, right? I also got to work with Liz at The Parsonage for flowers and linens, The Home Bakery for delicious cake and Deux Adore, who provided the hair and makeup. Three more of my favorites!

During the rehearsal, the night before, James came up to me and asked me to call The Parsonage and add a sweet love note into Shannon’s bouquet as a surprise. It was beautiful!

The scratch off lotto tickets and luggage tags that doubled as escort cards really added a sweet touch. James’ Nintendo controller cufflinks were also pretty awesome!

I am a big fan of personal ceremonies and having their family friend officiate was like a breath of fresh air.

I know what you are thinking. Was the cake as tasty as it looked? Absolutely. In fact, as I sliced and packed up individual servings for the guests to take home and all of the leftovers I sent with Shannon’s family, it was hard not to eat a ton of it. I was basically bathing in frosting that night! But it smelled amazing.

These two shots are my favorite. I love the look of the first, but Dionne is the first to actually catch me without my “business” face. This moment, as I helped the flower girls down the aisle, was one of my favorites of the day. Especially since I had Mary Ann by my side to keep the smile coming.

I mean, Come On! Look at this place. How could you not love Pine Knob Mansion?!

Shannon & James, Thank you so much for allowing me to be there to celebrate with you and help everything come together. Working with you for the long time that we did was an absolute joy. I said it often here, but you really did make me feel like a very lucky girl. Congrats on your marriage! I hope life treats you well in the Lonestar State! xo

While trying to type this post, I am quickly learning that finding just the right words is harder than I originally thought. Katie and Ed are two of those people that you can relate to right off the start. During our first consultation, I remember laughing hysterically and listening to some really great stories. I left that meeting feeling like I had hit the lottery! After working together for a few months, and changing our minds on colors a couple of times, Katie and I had developed the perfect backdrop for their beautiful wedding day.

After driving home from their rehearsal, I knew it was going to be an interesting day (in the best way). Their bridal party, friends and family all have the same awesome personality. So much fun, lots of laughs and constant smiles all around.

To top off all of the awesomeness, I got a chance to work with a few of my favorite vendors. The Shooting Gallery rocked the photos, The Parsonage provided the flowers (How gorgeous is that bouquet?!), Elite Entertainment kept the dance floor moving, Rev. Kirk Haas married them, Christine’s Cakes made the yummy cake, hair and makeup was done by Posh, Rochester Limos drove everyone around and Bliss Weddings & Events helped with planning and coordination.

On the day of the wedding, things couldn’t be more relaxed. Honestly, there was no rushing around or huge fires to put out. We did have our hands full with set up and coordination of the day, but once things got moving it was a really great day. The threat of rain in the morning was the only real stress of the day, but that passed and the skies opened up to a bright blue. Here are a few of my favorite details…

Yes, the girls ordered Jimmy John’s before the ceremony. See, I told you they were relaxed!

We went back and forth with a couple of color schemes, but I am really glad we decided on the punchy combo of pink and orange with touches of green in the flowers. The feisty colors really played to Katie & Ed’s personalities.

I remember this moment and exactly how I felt as I watched it unfold. Katie and her dad have a very special relationship and you can see it in these two shots.

There was a LOT of laughter and quite a few tears during the ceremony at conservatory at The Royal Park Hotel. The simplicity of the ceremony, the gorgeous music and the sun pouring through the windows… sigh.

Delicious cake and bumpy cake cupcakes. Swoon! All of you who aren’t in SE Michigan probably don’t know what bumpy cake is and I feel so terrible for you! PS… I had my reception at The San Marino Club, too! The food and service is always outstanding.

Just a little side note, those who know me, know I love my phone and Twitter. Ed was live tweeting throughout the day, and Katie even left me a little tweet once everything was said and done. Seriously, I love these two.

They climbed a tree. On their wedding day. Enough said.

I really hope you enjoy these photos half as much as I enjoyed working with the new Mr. & Mrs.! Katie & Ed, if you are ever in the ‘hood, please call me up. I miss working with you and know that your marriage is going to be filled with lots of laughs, great stories and a world of experiences. Please stay in touch! xo

Big thanks to Dionne from The Shooting Gallery for sharing these photos. Please visit her website and blog. You will love her work, I basically guarantee it!

I have been waiting a long time for this wedding! Not only are Melissa and Todd two amazing people, they are also a TON of fun and have some of the most genuine friends and family I have ever met.

One of the reasons that I was looking forward to their big day, besides the outstanding team of vendors we chose, was the location. If you haven’t been to the Horticultural Gardens on MSU’s campus, you are surely missing out. The arboretum has a few different garden areas, including the Japanese garden where the girls did their finishing touches and the English garden where the cocktails were served. The day was perfectly sunny and a little warm, so we made sure the guests stayed hydrated with bottled water during the ceremony. A must on a hot August day!

The ceremony in the round was the perfect mix of sentiment and celebration. Rev. Kirk Haas officiated, and Melissa’s brother surprised everyone by playing & singing the recessional song. It was incredibly heartwarming.

I loved the personalized ties for the guys and the perfect shade of purple on the bridesmaids! Melissa was STUNNING in the dress she purchased from my favorite bridal salon, Gina’s Bridal. Look at those shoes!

After the ceremony, Alison took Melissa and Todd out for some photos and I am in awe at how beautiful they look!

One of my favorite moments from the day was right before the reception began. I was standing outside of the tent with the happy newlyweds before the grand entrance and turned to look at them. The smiles on their faces and the smitten look in their eyes let me know that the day was a huge success. During the reception the dancefloor was packed! I swear I have never seen so many awesome dance moves. Pretty sure someone pulled out the running man, at least once. :)

I had a lot of favorite moments during the day, but watching Todd and the bridesmaids serenade Melissa was by far the funniest scene all day. The girls choreographed the routine flawlessly and Todd belted out the lyrics to Cover Girl, by New Kids on The Block. Yes, it was the perfect addition to an already entertaining day.

At the end of the night, I was able to just sit for a few minutes and really take in the day. Days like this really remind me why I do what I do. Watching something that we have worked so hard on for so many months, with so much emotion and excitement, and seeing it come together in the most perfect of ways, is rewarding. It all boils down to the people involved. The bride and groom, the mom and dad, the best friend, the vendors… nothing brings people together like a good ole-fashioned wedding. ::Sigh:: I love my job.

Melissa & Todd, You two already know how much I adore you, so I will skip the sappiness. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect match and can’t wait to see where life takes you. I know you will do amazing things together. Thank you for bringing me into your big day plans! XOXO

Make sure to check out the fabulous trailer below, by Owen Video! You will LOVE it.

Melissa + Todd | Wedding Trailer from Andy Owen on Vimeo.

Team of Pros:

• Wedding Planning & Design: Amanda of Bliss Weddings & Events
• Assistant Coordination: Courtney of Bliss Weddings & Events
• Photography: Alison of Bates Photographic, Delia Turner second shooting
• Video: Andy of Owen Video
• DJ: Sara of Platinum Mix Productions
• Officiant: Rev. Kirk Haas Secular Ceremony
• Cake: Family Friend
• Floral: Sebesta Design
• Linens: Bliss Weddings & Events
• Rentals & Venue: MSU Horticultural Gardens, CE Lewis Arboretum

What a gorgeous couple! When I met Nicole & Travis and Nicole’s mom, I knew that we would have a blast working together. I literally started working with them three days before their wedding day, when they realized that they needed an extra set of hands organizing the last minute details and keep things running smoothly on the big day. (Huge THANK YOU to Sylvia, of Bridal Beauty on Location for the referral!)

Nicole & Travis live out of state and planned their beautiful wedding in Michigan. Specifically at Beacon Hill! This was my second time working at the venue and I have yet to be disappointed. The staff is wonderful and attentive, the food is delicious and the scenery is outstanding. The weather wasn’t the greatest, with huge gusts of wind and lower than normal temperatures, but everything went off without a hitch and it ended up being the perfect day for a wedding.

Watching these two interact with each other and the 28 (!!!) members of the bridal party, including the ring bearers and flower girls, was an absolute joy. Everyone is insanely gorgeous and absolutely hilarious. What a great day!

Below are a few of my favorite shots of the day, taken by Jim Van Luven from Mike Staff Productions. Enjoy!

Team of Pros:

• Coordination: Amanda of Bliss Weddings & Events
• Venue: Beacon Hill Golf Course & Banquet Center
• Photographer: Mike Staff Productions
• Hair & Makeup: Bridal Beauty on Location
• Video: Dark Lake Video
• Officiant: Rev. Mike Fry
• DJ: Eddie Hakim of Happy Hour DJs
• Flowers: Flowers by Amore
• Photobooth: Qwik Picz
• Chocolate Fountain: Maximum Delights

These two are finally married, and I realized that I never had a chance to share their super cozy and cute engagement photos! These totally adorable engagement shots were taken by their photographer, the always awesome Alison Bates, of Bates Photographic. I love these shots and can’t wait to share their wedding photos!

The past few months have been absolutely crazy with events, two vacations and a ton of details in the midst. I promise to be back to the regularly scheduled program in the next week as things start to slow down. In the meantime, I will leave you with some eye candy from recent events. I hope this bribe little taste will keep you satisfied until we meet again. ;)

Photo 1: Bates Photographic Photo 2: Mike Staff Productions

I was beyond thrilled today when I got a crazy phone call from my friend, Robyn, asking me “Did you see it?!” I, in fact, didn’t see it or even know what “it” was!

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

I am beyond thrilled to be bringing you the first “Real” post of the wedding season and the fact that it is all about one of the most fantastic couples I have had the joy of working with makes it that much better.

Anat is definitely one of those genuinely kind people. She cares, and you know it from the moment you meet her. After working together for nearly a year, I was really looking forward to seeing all of the day’s details come together, but I was sad that I wouldn’t have an excuse to chat with her on a regular basis anymore. Anat & Nick had already been married, but wanted to have the opportunity to share the special occasion with family and friends. So after doing it on their own, they planned a relaxed and beautiful day that would revolve around the ideas of family and friendship.

The day started out like most others, but there was something a little different in the air. On a typical wedding day, there is at least a little anxiousness that greets me. Whether it is a mother looking for her earrings or a best man who got a stain on his shirt… There is always something. This time, friends were gathered downstairs playing a game of scrabble, the guys were kicked back having a drink and the girls were all cozy upstairs getting their hair done. No matter which room I went into, I was greeted with a smile and a completely calm “Hello”. It was unlike any event I have ever done, in the most wonderful sort of way.

The ceremony was the epitome of personality. Everything from having their dog, Sammy, as the ring bearer to having Nick’s brother, Glen, officiate the ceremony, was perfectly executed. Of course, having the event at a place like River Birch Lodge, really lends to the relaxed feel they were looking for. Sammy even let out a little bark at the perfect moment, causing a chuckle to go around the crowd of guests. Anat & Nick’s family and friends are some of the nicest around!

I loved the reception almost as much as the ceremony. Just like the rest of the day, there was no rush to get through the time line. We left a lot of room in the timing for guests to mingle, give a toast, grab a bite to eat and just enjoy the time they spent together. With so many guests from around the world, it was important to Anat & Nick that they all had a chance to really kick back. Everyone pitched in during the hora, the music was perfectly chosen, and the food from A Movable Feast was delicious. Lisa, from Pot & Box, did a wonderful job creating the perfect flowers.

Looking back at the photos, by the amazing Aruna B Photography, I can’t help but smile. No detail was left out of the planning and the love that these two share just blows me away. I feel completely honored to have been involved in such a kind and sweet day.

Planning & Coordination: Amanda Freeman, Bliss Weddings & Events

There have been a few requests to see examples of the amazing films from some Real Bliss Weddings, so here you go!

The first is from Dawn & Rocky’s big day, filmed by the always amazing Jamie Honce.

Dawn and Rocky – Wedding Film | Our Lady of Sorrows, Shenandoah Country Club from Jamie Honce on Vimeo.

The second is by Two Penny Productions, from Lisa & Matt’s beautiful Detroit Wedding.

Lisa & Matt from Two Penny on Vimeo.

The third beautiful film is by Tri-Foot Productions, from Joanna & Tom’s wedding.

Tri-Foot Trailer: Joanna & Tom’s Wedding Day from Tri-Foot Productions on Vimeo.

Our fourth film is by Epic Motion and features the beautiful details from Kayu & Shannon’s wedding.

Trailer: Shannon and Kayu get married at the Michigan League in Ann Arbor from Epic Motion on Vimeo.

The fifth and final video is from Deanna & Cass’ big day, by the fabulous Days To Remember Media.

Deanna and Cass’ Preview from Lee Higginbottom on Vimeo.

WooHoo! Day Twenty Two! My task is to share a website with you today! Since I am very proud of the hard work behind it, I am going to share MY website! You can see photos of events we’ve done, learn about what our clients say and more!

Photo by Anne Ruthmann

Visit The Bliss Site, to learn more about me, Bliss and what we do!

2009 was such a wonderful year for Bliss Weddings & Events. We had the opportunity to work with amazing couples, beautiful designs and a great team of vendors. Some of my favorite highlights include:

• Having the opportunity to do what I love and help people at the same time!
• Getting to know my clients on a personal basis and spend one of the most important days of their lives with them!
• Watching past clients move forward with their lives and begin starting their families. So many new Bliss babies!
• Working with some fabulous and well respected vendors.
• Networking with other wedding industry friends via MWEP and a million different social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc.)
• Attending life changing seminars and workshops, including Eventology 09.
• Continuing to learn from some of my wedding planning idols!
• Teaching new planners and coordinators with the experience I have gained.
• Hiring on three new assistants and continuing our internship program!

A few of our favorite events from this year:

• Joanna & Tom’s beautiful pink and gray wedding with bridal party photos at Comerica Park
• Deanna & Cass’ heartwarming wedding at the beautiful Orchard Lake Country Club
• Lisa & Matt’s Oh-So-Sweet wedding at Mac and Ray’s
• Erin & Grant’s vintage inspired yellow wedding at Dearborn Ritz Carlton
• Anne & Aaron’s smile-filled wedding in Ann Arbor
• Amee & Matt’s chic & swanky wedding at Royal Oak Music Theatre
• Kim & Rich’s gorgeous blue wedding at Meadowbrook & Penna’s

We also had the wonderful opportunity to be featured in two major bridal publications this year! One was a 5 page spread for Shannon & Kayu’s wedding and the other was an article on Unique Reception Entertainment.

Our most popular posts on The Bliss Blog were about River Birch Lodge (One of our favorite venues!) and Barbie’s Boudoir shoot!

Two of my favorite parts of 2009 were the headshots sessions done by Nicole Ladonne Photography (Just for me, Amanda) & Dustin Francis Photography (The Bliss Team).

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post about what is to come in 2010! There are some big things brewing behind the scenes here at Bliss and I am beyond excited to share them with you!