Your wedding day is probably the most important event you will plan in your life. It is such a momentous occasion not just because of its significance, but also because of the sheer scale and logistics of it all. Newly engaged couples often feel at a loss on how to handle all the details. Here are a few tips you may want to keep in mind. Don’t Rush Anything Take your time in planning your wedding. The more you think through each aspect of your wedding, the better the results can be. Being in a hurry can be costly and disastrous. Start with the Big Picture and Work Inwards First, envision the overall event. Do you want the wedding to be outdoors or indoors? For an outdoor wedding, will it be at a country club, by the lake, in a garden? If indoors, what venues will you choose from? After getting a general idea of the whole thing, you can start working your way into the more detailed decisions, such as color theme, décor, and food. Separate your plans into “needs” and “wants” to make sure you cover all basic requirements before blowing the budget on unnecessary additions. Speaking of budget, be triply sure what your budget is before anything. Figure this out even before making any reservations. This will help in determining what are “needs” and what are “wants.” You will want to spend a little extra for professionals for… read more →
As Tom Santilli of the Detroit Wedding Examiner writes, “Michigan, and specifically the Detroit-Metro area, is a uniquely beautiful place to have your wedding. We experience all 4 seasons (sometimes in the same week!), which gives you the perfect atmosphere no matter what you prefer: The bright summer day, the cool spring, the white winter wedding, or all the colors of fall.” Tom has been to weddings at over 400 locations all over the state. He knows some of the biggest names in the industry that people from all over the country choose for their most special day: Cherry Creek, Addison Oaks, Concorde Inn, and the Roostertail, among others. Soon-to-be-weds in Michigan are truly blessed for having such beautiful places to tie the knot. And now, there is another reason they are at an advantage when planning their weddings: Jenna in White. On a couple’s special day, everything should – and can – be perfect. While the selection of the venue is partly done with the guests in mind, the creation of the bride’s outfit is something that’s all about her. Although open only since November 2013, Jenna in White has over 25 years of experience in creating wedding dresses, custom wedding veils, wedding shoes, and accessories. Jenna uses only the best quality fabrics with exquisite embroidery and lace, and incorporates elements such as seed pearls and Swarovski crystals, according to each bride’s personal style. The Shoes While the bride’s dress… read more →
The wedding gown is the height of meaningful symbolism in marriages. Brides-to-be come to bridal gown shops full of hope. Their chosen gown is seen as an opportunity for happiness – a symbolism of the transition from single life into a married happily ever after. As Sheryl Paul wrote in The Conscious Bride: “The wedding dress symbolizes both the untouchable purity of a princess and the regal perfection of a queen.” It is understood that on a woman’s wedding day, she wants to feel like a princess. A woman sees her special day as a time when she can be transformed and “elevated to a spiritual state.” At this point, “the wedding dress ceases to be merely an object that will help make her ‘look perfect’ but rather can be utilized as an amulet to assist her during her rite of passage.”
Like dolls on an assembly line, models rotate to make-shift hair and makeup stations. Two girls jokingly squabble over whose turn it is to go next. All the while, photographers capture the candor of the backstage prep happening in the “Golden Room” – a banquet space inside one of Michigan’s major bridal show venues. Jenna Huntley’s spot is near the grand curtain, which gives way to the runway that will soon house her collection. She’s surrounded by clear garment bags, which see through to elegant ivory, white and sparkle. Huntley instructs the models out of their comfortable flats and into high-heels. She helps them step into structured petticoats for a pre-show catwalk through. “You can lean on me,” she says. Petticoats must be held up at the sides, not in the front. She demonstrates the unflattering effect otherwise. The models walk the runway as Huntley supervises and fluffs trains. Showtime is near. Huntley, 23, has been designing for just three short years, but she’s stitching with over 30 years of experience behind her. Huntley’s mother-in-law is a successful bridal and sportswear designer overseas. She and Huntley design together and are now looking to branch out to the U.S. “She wanted me to start early,” Huntley says. Jenna in White was opened in November, 2013. Huntley owns the bridal shop with her husband, a scientist at the University of Michigan. Before the shop opened, Huntley took in-home appointments. She never failed… read more →