MODERN DAY FLORAL » phrene: exquisite photography

Downtown Grand Rapids Wedding Recap: Lauren and Brent’s Wedding

jenn — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:23:47 +0000

Lauren, an alumna of Modern Day, was married in May of this past summer season. She and her husband, Brent, are currently living down in Florida while Brent studies to be a Naval Aviator! We’re so beyond excited for these two as they start a remarkable adventure together in the south!

A special thanks to Phrene of Phrene – Exquisite Photography for sharing these beautiful (and sultry!) images with us! Enjoy everyone!

When Lauren first starting talking to me about her wedding, she wanted romance with a rustic flair. As you can see this sassy little lady has a very romantic side herself! A huge round of applause to Cheeky Strut for making Lauren’s stunning features truly pop!

Lauren’s bouquet was definitely something to talk about. Our designers created the most beautiful, lush, romantic bouquet made of roses and white peony… the handle had beautiful beaded details sewn to a champagne double swiss ribbon which was finished with pearls pins.

The bridesmaid bouquets were similar to Lauren’s bouquet, only we used plush white hydrangea instead of white peony!

The reception was held at Ottawa Tavern and Bite in downtown Grand Rapids. This unique venue served to be the perfect fit for Lauren’s desire for a rustic atmosphere. The hardwood floors and wood wall details were perfect!

In this picture, you can see the crates hanging above the tables? These were made by Lauren and Brent themselves! Filled with pillar candles, they proved to be the most dramatic light fixtures I have ever seen!

The table centerpieces one again showcased the beautiful and lush look Lauren wanted… the linens from La Tavola and the chairs from the venue captured the rustic side!

Thank you again Brent and Lauren for letting us be apart of your special day! We wish you the best of luck in Florida and hope you come back to the cold and soon-to-be-snowy Michigan to visit us!!!

Event Recap: Engagement Party at Meijer Gardens

jenn — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:45:49 +0000

Last month, we worked alongside a beautiful bride-to-be and her mother to design a homespun engagement party located at the Michigan’s Farm Garden. This well-kept secret is a three-quarters replica of the home that Lena Meijers grew up in as a child. The home had all the sweet touches you would expect–an adorable red barn, a gorgeous garden, farm animals represented by bronze sculptures and a perfectly appointed farm house in butter yellow, of course. The setting was straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

The beautiful gardens surrounding the property served as our design inspiration for the material and colors used in the florals. Garden roses in shades of pink, coral and butter yellow coupled with several fantastic complimentary materials brought this country-style engagement party to life.

Images courtesy of Phrene Exquisite Photography

For those of you who have yet to visit Frederik Meijer Gardens, I would strongly recommend you take time to visit this absolutely stunning location. They not only host weddings and events, they host outdoor concerts, an annual butterfly exhibit and the gardens and sculpture park are truly spectacular. And now through September, Frederik Meijer Gardens is hosting a stellar collection of Chihully pieces. Thanks to Chaparral Shimko, the event coordinator, I was given a private tour during our event design meeting. I couldn’t help but leave feeling awe-inspired and creatively recharged.

Going to the Chapel: Lauren and Brent

jenn — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:44:12 +0000

It seems like only a few short months ago we were blogging about Lauren’s engagement. But now, the wedding is less than 2 weeks away and we couldn’t be more excited for the happy couple. Brent and Lauren wanted to bring a slight “northern Michigan” vibe to their reception. Candle light, textured flowers and rich, lush linens will play a key role in making their special day.

Tell us about the very first time you two met!

“Brent and I met while attending Grand Valley. He was wearing a shirt that said something about the Upper Peninsula so I went over to talk to him. We had so much in common! We’re both from the U.P., both love being outside, both majoring in Public Relations. School was almost done and he was graduating but thankfully we were both moving back to the U.P. and had the entire summer to get to know each other. We joke that we moved so far from home and ended up with something who lived right around the corner.

What is your idea of the perfect date?

“We have a 3 year old beagle name Quincy that we can’t spend enough time with and love taking her for long walks. We also love going to new restaurants and playing sports. But the ultimate date would be heading to the U.P. for a weekend and spending time on the lake…making s’mores of course!”

What is the one thing about your wedding you’re the most excited for?

“Well the flowers and decor of course! We’re also really looking forward to seeing all our friends and family. A lot of our guests are making the long trip from the U.P. and we couldn’t be more thankful and excited to see everyone.”

Tell about your proposal!

“We were spending a week at Brent’s families cottage on Lake Superior. We have done with every summer since we started dating so we were both looking forward to a week of sun and relaxation. Since there is a really large group of us we take turns cooking for each other. On the night Brent and I were supposed to cook he was no where to be found! I was a little upset because I had to make the whole dinner myself! Just as everything was coming off the grill Brent showed up. Then I was extra upset! After dinner he really wanted to take a walk down the beach. I wanted to take Quincy with but Brent said she was probably too tired. I should have know because Quincy is never tired. A little while into our walk I saw tiki torches. I thought someone was having a party on the beach so I told Brent we should turn around and not bug them. He insisted keep going and check it out. As we got closer I saw a ton of rocks spread out and Brent told me to go read it. I must have read it 20 times before I turned around to see Brent on one knee with a ring asking, “So will you?” We hugged, cried, laughed and then walked back to tell his entire family. The next thing I knew his Dad had gave me such a big hug he had lifted me off the ground!

All images courtesy of: Phrene: Exquisite Photography