I’m pretty sure that was one of’ the longest pauses between posts that the Bliss Blog has ever had. And for that, I can’t really apologize. :)

Well folks, I have moved into the realm of super busy, soon-to-be-Super Mom! That is right, friends. There will soon be a new little Bliss team member in the family and we couldn’t be more excited. Nick and I are over the moon because of the news, and our families are excited for the very first grandbaby on BOTH sides. I am convinced that this little bug will be spoiled rotten!

So, without further ado, meet our little “Figgy”!

This ultrasound was taken a couple of weeks ago and I promise to post a new one very soon. We call our little one “Figgy” because when we first heard the heart beat, Nick said to me “I feel like it is all a FIGment of our imagination.” So, Figgy just stuck. This little bundle of joy will be arriving on or around January 9th, 2012! Just two weeks before the 4 year anniversary of our wedding day!

In the midst of all of the changes to my belly, we have also made some changes to our work/home life. I had originally started the booking season with the idea of taking less weddings so that I could work part time to supplement the income that will be lost when Nick goes into his full time program at school. I, oddly enough, was offered a full time position doing marketing, social media, and charitable outreach for a local company. Crazy timing, right?  With the impending double hit to the bank account, I couldn’t refuse. So, not only do we have a baby on the way, but I have also decided to take it back to the office life. It was a strange adjustment, going from full-time work from home, to working two full-time jobs with a baby on the way. The change basically happened over night. I remember when I first started doing weddings, I worked 40+ hours at my day job and another 30+ hours on Bliss. The building of Bliss was one of the most rewarding, crazy and time consuming things I have ever done.

With these new changes has come a new way of thinking. I want to enjoy this pregnancy, so I have limited myself for 2011/2012 weddings and have decided not to book 2013 until I have a better idea of my schedule post-baby. We don’t know how long it will be until Nick is done with his program, or how many hours I will be working for the months after Figgy is born and I want to only take on clients that I know I can provide an excellent service for. For current clients, there is no reason to worry. I am still focused on your weddings, whole-heartedly. But, I want to get this news out there for all to see.

So, how will this affect everything else? The blogs, MWEP, Wish Upon A Wedding? Obviously, this will take a little more time management on my part, but I am hoping to have a nice schedule for the next few months. It might take some getting used to, but I think this will all work out perfectly!

Well, that is it! Now you know where I have been and what has been going on. If you have questions, comment, concerns or just want to chat, feel free to shoot me an email. Have a great day!

How beautiful are these? Will you be able to decide on just one favorite?!

Below you will find our Top Ten Finalists in the Global Category in our 3rd Annual Photo of the Year Contest. Please take a look at all 10 and decide which one is your favorite. To get a closer look, click the photo, wait for it to load and then click again. You will be able to see the set at full size, if you really want to inspect each one. ;) In order for your vote to count, you have to click the number of your favorite photo in the Poll at the bottom of the post AND leave a comment telling us which one you voted for and why you love it so much. If you don’t do both, your vote will not count, so make sure you follow the rules! Only one vote per email address.

Voting for the Global category ends on April 16th.

Your votes will be tallied and the Top Three in each category will be announced during the week of April 18th!

Emma is another one of my Twitter friends, who I have never actually met in person (but we do have plans in the very near future!). This is especially crazy to me because we have been chatting via Twitter for years and live less than 40 miles from each other. Nuts, right? Emmaline Bride is quite possibly one of the coolest projects I have seen in a long time and I am finding myself recommending it to different people on an almost daily basis. This is definitely something to add to your daily read. Seriously.

From Emma: Hi! I’m Emma Arendoski, the CEO and Editor of Emmaline Bride which promotes the use of handmade throughout the wedding planning process.  We offer a curated Marketplace featuring the best in handmade, inspire DIY creativity with clever how-tos, and showcase Real Weddings by photographers across the country.  I live in the beautiful state of Michigan with my handsome husband and our two cats, Geppetto and Shadow.  I love travel, music, fashion, DIY, writing, coffee, and of course, all things wedding.

Wedding Photography Faves:

Wedding photography inspires me because it is able capture the love story of each couple. I especially admire candid and photojournalistic approaches, which convey the emotion of the event and take you through the wedding day as if you were in attendance.

Advice for the engaged:

If you’re looking for your perfect photographer, I’d recommend viewing ‘Real Wedding’ examples to get a sense of their approach.  With so many blogs and websites available, it’s now easier than ever to view portfolios and locate photographers in your area.  When you narrow it down, hire the photographer for an engagement session.  This is a wonderful opportunity to get a sense of the photographer’s style, approach, and professionalism, as well as make you feel more comfortable on your wedding day

Just a reminder that The Bliss Blog will be going silent on Friday, March 18th at midnight, in honor of the suffering that continues in Japan. To help, donate and to learn more about the movement, please visit For Japan With Love. Thank you!

Today’s real wedding feature is an epic one! Emily Tishhouse, from Emily Kay Photography, sent these photos over and I am thrilled to share them with you. Cat and Josh seem like one of those awesome couples that you want to be friends with. I would have loved to have been at this wedding. How cute is that green crinoline, by the way?! Love it!

A little more about Emily and this shoot…

Fun Details: Cat & Josh used an oathing stone when they repeated their vows. More info about oathing stones here and they can be purchased on Etsy here.

This is Emily Tishhouse, owner and lead photographer at Emily Kay Photography. Our studio is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and we specialize in weddings and boudoir photography for the modern bride. We had the pleasure of photographing Cat and Josh’s fun vintage inspired wedding day! I love it when I get brides like Cat, who have unique, relaxed weddings where everyone has a good time. Their venue, Cobblestone Farm is my absolute favorite location to photograph weddings! There are so many great natural spots to take pictures and their barn is fabulous!

Want to see more? Check out Emily’s blog post here. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Weddings are a time for celebration, excitement, love and personality. All of those are very important, but this isn’t one of those posts. It is time to BE REAL.

Photo by Bates Photographic from the awesomely personalized wedding of Melissa & Todd

There are hundreds of thousands of weddings around the world every year. A few thousand of those are featured on blogs, websites, in magazines, and spread around like wildfire via Facebook, Twitter and other social addictions. It is pretty obvious which trends are in and which ones are out, but did you notice how quickly that seems to change recently? The speed that these mustache holding, “vintage modern”, DIY, cupcake towered, candy buffet having, tea party looking events go out of style blows my mind. Don’t get me wrong, each one of those things can be beautiful. My question is… Is it really you that you are planning for? Or are you planning for the blogs and magazines?

1. Sure, we all love to look at the gorgeous pictures of the mismatched chairs and twinkle light filled trees, but we also have to get a grip on what is right for us. We need to keep in mind that these shoots may be staged and, even if they are real weddings, may be WAY out of our budgets. It is important to do your research and really learn what you can get for what you can afford. Trust me, if I had an unlimited budget, I could spend $200,000 in about an hour without blinking. Should I spend $200,000? No way in hell. If you dig yourself a huge hole filled with debt before your marriage, you will spend a huge chunk of your newly minted relationship in a whole lot of stress that you just don’t need. Be real with your budget.
2. Just because we see something we like, doesn’t mean we’ve found something that is right. I am personally not a fan of overly frilly and girly details. The “tea party” theme is all the rage right now. If I were to do that and my friends all showed up, they would probably come over to check my pulse and temperature. Those details are great for some, but wouldn’t fit my own personality at all. If you pick a theme or motif that isn’t really you, your guests will be left with a feeling of disconnect and will probably wonder what was really going on. Just because the blogs say this theme is awesome, or that theme is the best, doesn’t mean it is right for you. Be real with your personality.
3. If you are a bride who has always been considered a Tom Boy, or a groom who is more of a lumberjack than an executive, pay attention to your style for the event. If you don’t typically wear a ton of makeup, DON’T! Instead, wear just enough. The most important thing you can remember is to be yourself. That is the love of your life standing across from you. If they can’t even recognize you, how are your guests supposed to? Be real with your style.
4. Throw out your old ideas of what a wedding should be and get with the program. Today’s events are filled to the brim with personality and unique details that make them the perfect representation of the couple who is being celebrated. Just because brides are supposed to wear veils, doesn’t mean you have to. Or because most grooms wear a tux, doesn’t mean you can’t wear something a little more comfortable. Be REAL. Period.

Why, yes, they do!

Anthropologie recently announced that they will be launching their new line of bridal gowns on, of course, February 14th! The new project is called BHLDN. What do you think of these gowns? I am personally a huge fan of Anthropologie, but have heard some mixed reviews on the new dresses.

Images via Glamour.com

Not only does Michigan have wonderful venues, fantastic settings and lots of fun activities. It also has a wonderful population of small business owners, unique shops and unusual finds. I am a huge supporter of buying local, as many of you know, but this also extends to the way I conduct business.

Photo Source

Weddings are the sum of many, many parts and if you use local companies and individuals for each of those parts, you are creating a huge amount of revenue for the state and local region where you are holding your event. Below are a few of my favorite ways to support Michigan economy AND possibly keep some of that hard earned wedding budget in your wallet!

1. Do yourself a favor. Getting creative with a Michigan wedding is easier than one would think! If you have guests coming in from out of town, they would probably love a little slice of the Mitten State to take home with them. A few of my favorite ideas are some delicious ones! Check out local companies, like Too Hot Mamas and Valentine Vodka for unique favor ideas!
2. Lost & Found. The most simple way to make a discovery is to get lost. Take a drive around the town where you plan on hosting your event and you are bound to find some of the most unique stores! For instance, if you plan on getting married in Royal Oak, be sure to stop by Vintner’s Cellar, Dale & Thomas Popcorn, Write Impressions and Creative Arts Studio for brilliant ideas!
3. Homegrown discoveries. One of the most interesting reasons to get married in Michigan, is that this is a state where you can find almost anything you need in homegrown and local ways. We produce cherries, apples, wine, potato chips, soda (Pop, for all us Michiganders!) and so much more! We are also home to some of the most creative individuals in the world. Think photographers, videographers, event designers, and more!
4. Green comes in many colors. If you drive for 30 minutes in any direction, you are sure to come across a farmer’s market or two (or three, four, five)! This is especially helpful for those of you planning to DIY your own flowers or centerpieces, or even if you are looking for someone to do the flowers for you in a green way! Some of the most beautiful flowers come from right here in the area.
5. Make a difference. On top of the reasons listed above, one of the most important is the satisfaction you can get by donating to a charity in lieu of favors or gifts. Try out these local charities for inspiration: Camp Casey, Last Chance Rescue, Michigan’s Children.

If you live in Michigan, it can be difficult to acknowledge what a beautiful state you live in. On the flip side of that, if you are from out of town and planning a wedding in Michigan, you obviously know the beauty that will surround you. Why else would you chose it as your locale?

One way to make sure that your guests see the same thing is to turn your wedding into a vacation for them! Most of the time, people who are visiting from out of town want to experience the area in the best way possible. No matter what time of year you are getting married, there are tons of fun activities that will give your guests the best Mitten experience possible.

1. Winter Activities. If you live in Michigan, you either love or hate the winter. It is sometimes hard to see the perks of bringing in guests at the coldest and snowiest time of year, but there are fun activities that come with the negative stigma. Why not schedule some ski time or book a couple hours for an open skate at an ice rink? Even the smallest of activities, like building a snowman, can make for a memorable trip, especially if they are from an area where the temperature doesn’t drop below 70 degrees.
2. Spring Activities. Spring is my favorite time of year. I might be a little biased, since my birthday is in May (mark your calendars!). Trips to local gardens to see the flowers in bloom, or spending some time taking a stroll through one of Michigan’s Main Street areas would be the perfect addition to a wedding weekend. The fresh air, the beautiful surroundings and wonderful temperatures will definitely bring a relaxed smile to the faces of your friends and family.
3. Summer Activities. Sailing, sand castle competitions, sun bathing… the epitomy of a summer in Michigan. Your guests will love seeing fireworks displays, heading to the zoo, or taking in the sunny weather while flying a kite.
4. Autumn Activities. Fall is one of the busiest times for tourists in Michigan. You can’t beat the fall color tours and wine tastings. Instead of hosting your rehearsal dinner in a restaurant, why not schedule a day in the winery with a wine pairings to multiple courses? Tip: Check out the Michigan Wines site for great ideas and locations.
5. All year round. Regardless of the time of year, Michigan has everything from Museums to Aquariums to satisfy the tourist craving. The best thing to do is check out the local Tourist Information Center or community website in the area of your event information.

Photo Source

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

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 have been bursting at the seams with excitement about some really big news lately. While I was dying to share, I have to keep my lips sealed until everything was official and now that it is, here goes!

You may remember my post a few months ago about an amazing cause called Wish Upon A Wedding (if not, you can read it here). Well, guess who was asked to be the President of the newest chapter of this amazing organization?! That is right folks, your faithful blogger and planner is the newest addition to the WUW family and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It will be a lot of hard work, a true test of my emotions, and just an all around great experience. Right now, I am working on creating the perfect group of Board of Directors and the anticipation is insane, in a totally good way.

Wish Upon A Wedding can really use your help, too! Please share the organization with your family and friends, donate if you can, and be our “Friend” on Facebook and Twitter. All of the info is listed below.

• Website
• National Facebook
• Michigan Facebook
• Twitter

Wish Upon a Wedding is the world’s first nonprofit wish granting organization providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances regardless of sexual orientation.