On Sunday, I was lucky enough to participate in the first annual Marry Me In Milford Bridal Show. It was fantastic! I really did have a lot of fun. Not only did I get to spend time with some of my favorite people (Jamie Honce, Nicole Ladonne, Gina’s Bridal & Posh Hair and Makeup), but I also got to meet and chat with tons of brand new brides to be! There is something so refreshing about hearing stories of the sweet proposals and seeing the gorgeous rings! (And tasting the cake samples doesn’t hurt either!) It was exactly what I needed to get back into wedding season mode, which starts in just a couple weeks! Can you believe it? This winter has just flown by!

My favorite part about this show, and what I believe made it so special, was the fact that only hand selected, small businesses were invited. This created such a comfortable environment right from the start. There weren’t any high pressure sales, or nagging vendors following your every move. It was laid back, easy going and just a really good time!

Just so you all know, Nicole, Jamie and I are still offering the $300 off special. So, if you are looking for a planner, photographer and a videographer, let me know!

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Gina & Kari, and their staff members, for putting on a great show. I can’t wait for next year!

I am a HUGE advocate on buying handmade and supporting your local economy. Recently, I came across a few great resources for helping brides and grooms around the web do just that! Do yourself a favor and check out these amazing ideas for everything from inspiration to execution.

Emmaline Bride: This pretty website packs a huge punch. I could spend hours searching through the handmade galleries, reading the beautiful blog. Not only can you buy some gorgeous accessories to make your day a little more unique, you can also find some of your favorite vendors! Bliss is one of the lucky companies listed on their preferred vendors list, which is sorted out by state! So, no matter if you are from Kentucky or Michigan, Minnesota or Florida, you can find the perfect vendors for your perfect day.

Etsy Weddings: Who doesn’t know about Etsy? If you don’t, you must be living under a giant rock, because it is everywhere right now! Even Bliss has an Etsy page for our wedding and everyday accessories! In order to have a shop, you must sell handmade or vintage items. You can even search by state, if you want to apply the “Buy Local” idea to your planning!One of my absolute favorites is Paloma’s Nest.

Don’t forget to Google your own local resources for interesting finds! Detroit’s Eastern Market is a true gem to the wedding industry. From flowers to fruit, you can find tons of locally grown and supplied items. They even have an Artisan Market, where crafters sell their goods! Ann Arbor has the fabulous Farmer’s Market all year round, too! There is nothing better than heading to Zingerman’s Next Door for some delicious coffee and treats and taking a stroll through the bustling AA Farmer’s Market on a sunny day.

I hope this helps you a little on your search for the perfect components for your big day and beyond. Please feel free to email me (amanda@yourblissweddings.com) regarding some of the best local resources for Michigan!

Just to give you all a little idea about how awesome Sunday’s Marry Me In Milford bridal show is going to be, check out the deal below! You have to sign in at one of the tables to get the deal, so don’t miss out!

For more info on the show, click here.

Trust me. You DON’T want to miss this show! Only the most creative, compassionate and fantastic companies in the area will be there. Including yours truly.

Bridal shows can be a bit intimidating if you haven’t been to one before, maybe even if you have. Make sure you come prepared. The best thing you can do is create a label with your name, wedding date, email address, phone number, and any other pertinent information you can provide. This will prevent you from having to fill out 18 bajillion information sheets and sign ins. You can thank me later, when you aren’t icing your sore hand! Also, wear comfy clothes and shoes, leave your purse in the car (but put your ID, some cash, credit card and a few checks in your pocket or in a friend’s purse, just in case.) and have a game plan. Who do you want to see? Which vendors are you looking to book? Keep an eye out for good deals, too. Good luck!

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!

I received a very sweet email from Jess & Nate over at Mod 4 Photographic and just had to share. First of all, they sent this adorable little picture, with a bonus for Bliss clients!

Make sure you head on over to their blog to check out the phenomenal deal that they are offering for Boudoir photos, just in time for Valentine’s Day! I know that v-day seems very far away, but time seems to be flying by faster than ever these days and this is a gift your honey-pie is sure to love. On top of the already amazing deal, Bliss clients save 10% on the Boudoir pricing! Awesome, right?

Their new and improved website, blog and logo are so much fun! The boudoir site shows some of the sweet and sassy pictures. We know you’ll love Mod 4 and the photos the capture so much that we just had to post this.

I know I have said it before, but bookmarking websites really is one of my guilty pleasures. Nerdy, I know. When I see something that I like, I instantly bookmark it. About a month later, I will come across the link and sometimes ask myself “What did I bookmark this for?”. Every once and awhile, I will see a link that brings back an instant memory of why I loved it so much. Those are the links that I hope to share here. They are not always wedding related, but I have been known to apply the ideas to events in any way that I can. You will see what I mean, I am sure of it!

1. Original Idea: DIY Easter Baskets. With a Bliss Twist: Instant Flower Girl Baskets. These are ridiculously adorable! Head on over to Twig & Thistle (One of my favorite blogs out there) and check them out for a quick, easy, super fun alternative to the typical plain ole basket.
2. Original Idea: Set Your Table. With A Bliss Twist: Set Your WEDDING Table. This is the coolest tool. Bloomingdale’s and Brides tag-teamed to create a fun way to experiment with tabletop design without having to purchase a single thing. Put a Bliss Twist on it and use it to figure out the tabletop design for your wedding day!
3. Original Idea: Best Twitter Lists. With A Bliss Twist: Easy & Efficient Wedding Advice. With millions of people using Twitter each day, there is bound to be a wealth of information floating past you without even knowing it! Listorious created a database of Twitter lists featuring everything from Celebs, Gossip, and News to Weddings, Design, Food and more! *While you are checking out Twitter, make sure to follow us and some of our wedding related lists!
4. No Twist on this one! Mike Staff Productions created a fabulous how to guide for Michigan couples. This explains everything you need to know about getting a marriage certificate in the Mitten State!
5. Just one more! You have to see this adorable project on Once Wed. Great tips on how to dress up your vases and containers for your celebration!
6. Just a heads up! Make sure to check out the updated galleries and slide shows of Real Weddings on the Bliss Website!

I found this in my Inbox from Roma Sposa and just had to share with all of my Michigan readers. Such a great deal and a wonderful cause.

In honor of giving Thanks this holiday, Bliss is offering a Black Friday Special! Contact Us for specific details.

Need planning or coordination for your upcoming holiday party, wedding, graduation, reunion or shower? Now is the time to book! Book your consultation by Friday to qualify for our special discounts. Consultation must take place by December 15th. Open to new Bliss clients only.

Well, we have a huge announcement! Are you looking for something pretty? Visit our brand spankin’ new Etsy Page! We are offering handmade hair accessories, birdcage veils, corsages, boutonnieres and other gorgeous details for your wedding day and more!

Just a reminder: You can find us every day at the following places.

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

Today marks our very first “Fun Finds Friday”! In these posts, I will share a couple of my favorite finds for the week.
This week, I would LOVE to feature an online marketplace by brides, for brides. It is called Bravo Bride and is basically a giant classifieds listing. You can find everything from designer dresses to candle holders, all being sold by brides just like you! Buy or sell gently used or brand news items. I haven’t personally used it yet, but it looks like a great site and definitely worth sharing.

Another great classifieds style website is PreownedWeddingDresses.com. A fabulous selection, very easy to navigate and it looks like there are some really great gowns! This is perfect if you are looking for a designer gown without the designer price tag.

Our final find of the day is Brideshare! Developed by the amazing BrokeAss Bride, Dana LaRue. Bride$hare is another fabulous classifieds site committed to helping couples plan a green, eco-friendly wedding while saving tons of cash. This is by far my favorite of all of the sites we have discussed today! Do yourself a favor and check this out. Your wallet and Mother Earth will thank you! (Brideshare is also our “Must See” this week!)