04/15/2023
Very good advice for couples planning their wedding...
Hi brides! I graduated April 1, 2023 and it feels great to be married. My husband and I joke though if we could do it again we would have eloped 😂 Here’s my top learnings and Michigan vendors highly recommended:
1. If you have any medical conditions (IBS, anxiety, etc) have a plan for that day because it’s natural to be overwhelmed even if you don’t see it coming.
2. Something about a wedding makes people weird. We joke our wedding hashtag was . If you make it to your wedding retaining all your friend/family relationships and everyone on their best behavior then congratulations I don’t know how you did it.
3. Things WILL go wrong and it’s ok if you look back on your wedding more fondly than how certain parts felt in the moment. There’s a lot of amazingness and everyone processes differently.
4. Have a maid/matron of honor who you trust will fully back you up and even be the bad guy to everyone else if you need a minute. I am eternally grateful to my MOH who kept an emotional buffer for me from anyone else that day having feelings.
5. The week leading up be prepared for little things to go wrong- cut your losses, move on.
6. Normalize personal therapy, even/especially leading up to the big day.
7. Everyone says take time during your wedding to be just you and your groom BUT one of my fondest moments of the whole week was sneaking away and getting brunch together early in the morning a few days before our wedding (at First Watch 😋).
8. Schedule as little as possible the day before & after, I know sounds impossible but it’s not.
9. Instead of tossing the bouquet we gave one to the couple who had been married the longest- 56 years- and then let them have the first dance- it was a really special moment and a highlight for me.
10. Even though we planned together, my husband and I still sprinkled surprises in throughout the day for each other. I got him a gift while getting ready and had his “first look” surprise him with his goddaughter/flower girl (such a sweet moment). He surprised me with a vintage getaway car rental to take us back to our hotel (Shinola).
11. The best thing my husband and I did for our relationship is schedule one hour wedding planning project manager check ins every Sunday at 6 PM for the 2 of us 😂 wedding planning is stressful and having a set day and time that you both will give it your undivided attention saves from lots of other little fights throughout the week. He tells everyone this tip now.
LOVE THEM:
Dress & headpiece: Elizabeth’s bridal salon
Shoes: Kate Spade
Venue- Planterra Conservatory
Rehearsal dinner: San Morello
Bridal Luncheon: 220 Restaurant
Flower girl- Ivy City Co (we got matching dresses I wore to rehearsal dinner- big hit)
Bridesmaids- David’s Bridal
Feather Bow ties: Jack and Miles
Photographer- Jean Smith Photography Jean Luckert Smith
Day of coordination: Heather Burrell
Girls getting ready- Mariam’s beauty salon
Guys getting ready- Shinola Detroit
Videographer- Two Penny Productions
String Quartet- Kalkaska
Officiant- A Simple I Do, Nichole Bertucci A Simple I Do, Wedding Officiants
Band & DJ- Sawa Band
Cake: Sweet Heather Ann
Small printed: Minted
Wedding website and RSVP manager: Zola
Shuttle: Uber vouchers
Hotel: Renaissance Baronnette
Skin & beauty prep- Beauty Culture Med Spa
Make-up: Meagan at Mariam’s Beauty Salon (insta: makeupbabe_meagan)
Hair (color, extensions, style)- Kelsey Martin (insta: hairartistKelsey)
Robes: Nordstrom
Jewelry: Rottermond
Welcome and memorial sign: Walgreens
Seating chart: Staples FOAM board (NOT poster board)
Seating names: Etsy Kustomized by Coyera
Everything else: probably Amazon and I’ll be posting stuff for resale when I can!
