Why I'm Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

On this awesome holiday, I wanted to take a second to thank each and every one of you for your support.  You've helped me make my company into more than I EVER thought it would be!  I always expected to do maybe 10-15 weddings in a year, always be solo, and just have a nice small following.  But 2013 marked our best year yet - 31 weddings, 2 events, 2 planners and 4 interns!!  I had NO idea that my company held this kind of potential, but now that I know it does - I'm RUNNING with it!  Let's keep going and make 2014 even BETTER!

Like everyone else, I look forward to this Holiday as a reminder to be thankful for what I have.  So here it is, here's what I have that I am most thankful for…

- My awesome, supportive, loving husband who is always ready to help out (even if it means being my assistant on New Years…) and more than ready to step up and take solo care of our children Every. Single. Summer. Weekend.

- My beautiful, rambunctious, loving daughters.  They keep me on my toes, keep my world in line, and make me want to strive to do better every day.

- Yes, even my two crazy black labs… Let's face it - they were our first "children" and will also hold special places in my heart.

 - Nicole.  Without Nicole, my company wouldn't be what it is today.  She was my first intern, my first side kick, and my first official employee.  She does AMAZING work and I'm hoping to hold onto her for the rest of her life. :)

- Our Interns - all 4 of them did awesome this past year.  They made Nicole and my jobs easier - and kept us company during long setups, long drives, and even longer weddings.

- YOU!  Like I said, our fans and our support system is why we do what we do - and we couldn't be successful without you!

- Coffee.  I don't even need to go into detail on this one - most of you understand (especially if you're a mother).

This list goes on and on and on… but I'm not honestly sure how many of you are actually reading it on Thanksgiving but go back to EATING and thanks for sparing some of your time.  That, and the fact that my "littlest" blessing is now getting up from nap, means it's time to sign off and get some good food myself!

So again, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone - let's make it the best one yet!!

~ jennie ~

Wedding Trends

January 2014 will mark my company's 5th Birthday and the start of our sixth year in business.
Throughout these past few years, I've watched trends emerge, change, gain popularity, loose popularity, and come full circle yet again.  Here's just a sample of a few of these trends…and where I think we're going for 2014!

Trends of Weddings Past:
Chocolate Fountains!
Photo Booths
Wedding dresses that featured accent colors (not just your Grandma's white dress!)
Purple… if you got married in 2011 or 2012, you had like a 75% chance that your wedding colors included Purple.  Bonus points for using shades of purple as your only colors!

Trends of Weddings Present:
Photo Booths
Video Booths (gaining steam…)
Vintage Weddings
Rustic Weddings
MASON JARS!!  Centerpieces, favors, place card holders, hanging with candles, let's see how many crazy uses we can come up with for these things!
Including color into your wedding day style in other ways (example, shoes)

Trends of Weddings Future: (My guess at least)
Photo Booths (I just don't think they're going anywhere)
Continuation of the Rustic Theme
Continuation of the Vintage Theme
Explosion of the use of candles…candles...and MORE candles!!
Strolling Dinners
COLOR!  I see more brides getting away from the muted, "traditional" wedding colors and expanding into new territories!
Non-traditional head pieces…not just your normal veil any longer!


Let's see how "right" I end up being for this coming year!
~ Jennie ~

The "Fall"-ing Trend

Five years ago, when I started Beautiful Day, wedding season was wedding season....May thru August.  After August, things settled down and we go to “relax” a little before it picked back up the following Spring.  I mean, it’s not that we didn’t have ANY weddings, but we weren’t running like chickens with our heads cut off every weekend.  That my friends, has changed.

The past two years or so has seen a drastic shift towards Brides “Falling for Fall”.  I mean, let’s face it, we live in Michigan - you’re going to wonder about your Wedding Day weather no matter what time of year you choose.  More Brides seem to be realizing this and starting to appreciate the colors and beautiful scenery that a Michigan Fall can provide.  Coupled with the latest trends towards Rustic, Cider-Mill themed and colored weddings, and it’s really no surprise that more and more brides are moving into the cooler months.

Now I’m not sharing this trend just as an “FYI” (although it is an FYI, you’re welcome) but also as a heads up.  If you are one of these newer Falling for Fall Brides, get your vendors booked now!!!  Years ago getting married in September / October / November meant you could wait a while to book your vendors and venues and still have a good choice.  Not so much any more.  October of 2014 is currently in the lead as our busiest month next year... yes, that’s right - even more than May...or June..or July.....

Sara & Don, Beautiful Day Planning, October 2013

So, my Falling Brides, get those vendors booked now!!  And while you’re at it, contact Beautiful Day to see how we can help make your Big Day perfect!

Hey, did you see we were featured online again?

Can't remember if I posted this or not, so thought I would again just to be safe. :)

Big thank you to Shannon with Clicking Through Life Photography (www.clickingthroughlife.com) for helping to get us all published!

Nina & Brett's wedding came out AMAZING and I'm so glad we are able to share it with all of you!  Over a year of planning, a lot of man-hours and a wonderful vendor team really pulled it all together!

Check it out!
http://fabyoubliss.com/2013/10/11/purple-and-gray-wedding-historic-meadow-brook-hall/