Venue Locations

I have had quite a few requests lately for “different” venue locations. With the trend of personalized weddings, I am finding that more and more brides want a venue that is truly unique to the wedding couples personality (which I think is terrific). I love the challenge of finding that hidden gem for a bride and groom and seeing their face light up when they see it for the first time. I also enjoy the fact that couples are really celebrating their unique style and tastes. Just a few hints when thinking about such venues….

1.) Consider whether or not the venue offers rentals (tables, chairs, dishware) or if you will need to take care of that on your own.

2.) If the venue has not held a large event before, I highly recommend hiring a coordinator to assist you with the logistics.

3.) If the venue is outside, be sure to ask about a rain option.

Feel free to e-mail me at mrosenthal@merrittrosenthal.com, if you have held your wedding at an unknown place in Michigan.

Inspiration

Recently, I had a friend inquire about creating her overall wedding vision. She was in the initial stages of planning her wedding, but needed to develop a more concise theme and just did not know where to turn to for ideas (other than her wedding planner pal, of course). I suggested looking for inspiration in magazines and books. Actually, I told her she could look in anything from an architecture based magazine to gardening or fashion. Really, anything that evokes a wish, a feeling, a desire can and should be used when designing a dream wedding. She immediately went to her local bookstore and bought a handful of magazines and started tearing out pages and pages of ideas. Within minutes, she was inspired by a home design magazine showcasing a modern loft in NYC. The loft was filled with vibrant reds, oranges and yellows and clean lines. Then and there, she knew exactly what she wanted for her wedding (after, of course checking, with her soon to be hubbie), a modern art museum inspired event. Good job, Jen!

If you have any thoughts on inspiration, please feel free to e-mail me. Thanks.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Last weekend, I was thumbing through several wedding magazines and came across an interesting article on rehearsal dinners. While I agreed with the author’s opinion on finding the right venue and atmosphere for the occasion , I disagreed with the fact that the choice could not be more casual. To me, the rehearsal dinner should be more relaxed and playful while the wedding day should be opulent and formal. In fact, I love the idea of themed based rehearsal dinners without of course going over the top. Here is one themed based rehearsal dinner that I did with a past bride….

Venue-Mac & Rays

Dress-Cruising Attire

Everyone received a special monogrammed cap upon arrival

Invitations-Fun, chic invites with a sailor theme

When you are thinking about your rehearsal dinner, have some fun with it and enjoy!

Classes

Starting in March, I will be teaching a few wedding classes at the Troy Community Center. The ticket prices range from $26-$31 depending on your residency status. Here is some general information about the first two classes:

March 28 1-3pm

Congrats on your wedding. Now what? Join me for this introduction to wedding planning as I walk you through the steps to make all your wedding day dreams come true.

April 4 1-3pm

In this economy, every little bit helps. The class discussion will revolve around cost cutting tips and how to create a beautiful wedding on a budget without sacrificing elegance and class.

For more information, contact the Troy Parks and Recreation Department at 248.524.3484. Hope to see you there.

January Bar Mitzvah

A few weeks ago, I handled a Bar Mitzvah at the Troy Community Center. Following that, one day around lunchtime, I got a call from our front desk that a packaged had arrived for me. I headed to the front desk and saw a delivery man with two huge boxes of cookies. I quickly opened the attached card and realized it was from the mother I had been working with on the January Bar Mitzvah. I was so surprised and delighted all at the same time! I just wanted to take this time to say thank you. It was much appreciated by all (especially my husband)!

Dress Shopping

While I have many favorites of my job, wedding dress or bridesmaid dress shopping are definitely ranked in my top 10. I love to see a bride and her friends/family members delight in the new experience especially when they find a dress that they love. Yesterday, one of my brides found 3 dresses which thrilled me. To top it off, she could not decide which one she liked the most, so now comes the hard part of trying to make a final decision. What made the experience even better was the wonderful customer service, so thanks to the Macy's team at Somerset!

January 17, 2009 Wedding

Congratulations to Lauren & Wes on your beautiful wedding. It was such a pleasure to be a part of your event as your day of coordinator. When we met back in September, I knew your wedding was going to be fantastic. I immediately loved your chosen theme, décor, and vendors and knew organizing the day would be a great experience. In honor of your memorable day, here are some pictures.

Vendors
Florist-Breath of Spring
Linens-Chair Covers & Linens
Venue-Centerpoint Marriott
Cake-Home Bakery
Chuppah-Ron Herrin
Programs-Wes & Lauren Herrin