In honor of National Puppy Day, we thought we would share some throwback photos of our favorite furry friends! How precious are these pups?! Clockwise from the top left, we have Murphy (ADIM’s Chief Snuggle Officer and official door greeter!), Holly, Levi & Finn, and Aries! We hope you will give your pups an extra snuggle today…although in our book, every day is puppy day!

Your guests have traveled near and far to share in your wedding ceremony – certainly the most special and sacred moment of your wedding day. The space where you and your beloved exchange “I Do’s” should be beautiful, but not overly designed so your guests can focus on you! They are here first and foremost to witness your vows and celebrate your love. To create a focal point at your ceremony that frames you as a couple, we love creating a beautiful alter or statement making structure. A beautiful arch adorned with floral, suspended chandeliers overlooking a hillside vista, or a backdrop of hanging glass candle votives are all stunning options. Your guests will be in awe of the beauty of their surroundings and most importantly, the extraordinary moment you become newlyweds. We hope the following designs will inspire you when planning your own ceremony!

*Photo by Jen Kroll Photography

This particular ceremony took place at Ciccone Vineyard atop the rolling hills of Leelanau Peninsula. With such beautiful natural scenery, we wanted to showcase the stunning views of the vines while incorporating thoughtful decor elements (that wouldn’t obstruct our guests’ views!). The gates adorned with lush floral lead the couple’s friends and family to the aisle lined with lanterns. The bride and groom stood beneath a suspended crystal chandelier to exchange their vows. It was truly breathtaking!

*Photo by Jen Kroll Photography

Imagine saying “I Do” beneath this gorgeous canopy with airy, white draping and a backdrop of hanging glass votives. This dreamy decor was the perfect, romantic setting for our beloved couple to tie the knot. The floral arrangements and lanterns flanking each side of the structure served as delightful accents that further enhanced the ceremony style.

*Photo by Jeremy Harwell

With views this awe-spiring, we certainly didn’t want to take away from the stunning lakeside scenery. Chandeliers that offered a pop of color, soft draping details and two floral arrangements to create an altar for our couple, set the tone for this waterside ceremony. The decor was just enough to accentuate the bride and groom while also creating a lovely setting for guests.

*Photo by Jen Kroll Photography

We loved the natural elements that created this ceremony arch structure. Talk about making the ultimate entrance! The greenery and floral arrangements with pops of purple and blue accentuated the sparkling lake waters that served as a backdrop for our couple.

*Photo by Jen Kroll Photography

A floral arbor and an aisle adorned with candles and rose petals created a romantic setting for our couple as they became Mr. and Mrs.  Their reception was bursting with color, however they chose to keep their ceremony more simplistic to focus on their vows and the commitment they were making to one another. The ceremony is a great way to introduce particular design elements; you can always build upon them and make them more dramatic at the reception!

Spring is officially here! To welcome the new season, we thought we would share one of our favorite spring tablescapes. ADIM designed this space at RG Studio, the private dining space at Red Ginger in downtown Traverse City. It was the perfect locale to bring the beauty of spring indoors. It is common to picture pastels for this time of year, but we love this fresh and unexpected color palette – green, white, gray with indigo and yellow accents! A highlight of the design is the unique place cards at each of the table settings. We used stone coasters and calligraphed each guest’s name with a metallic paint pen.

Be sure to check out our feature on Glitter Guide, where Alicia shares the ins and outs of hosting a great spring dinner party!

Happy Spring!

*Photography by Cory Weber

Mrs. Draper was a woman ahead of her time and one of the most influential interior designers in America. Her legacy continues with Dorothy Draper & Company, Inc. headed by our friend, and design icon, Carlton Varney. As we head into the weekend, we’re embracing our inner Dorothy and putting on our ruby slippers- who wants to play?!

(graphic from Dorothy Draper & Company, Inc.)

Last year, Emily and her darling mom, Anna, took a trip to Ireland in search of adventure and beauty only the great Green Isle can reveal. In honor of St. Patty’s day, we asked Emily to share with you her favorite Top 9 things to do in Ireland!

1. Dare to explore the countryside! Ireland is about the size of Indiana and very traversable by car.  Some of the best scenery is found in the most unexpected places. You may be driving down a two track in the middle of a hillside and come upon the sweetest coastal village, perfect for strolling around.
2. Talk with the locals. It is true that Ireland holds some of the friendliest people on earth. You’ll feel as though you’ve made a lifelong friend over the time it takes to enjoy a pint in a corner pub. Each little town offers the most amazing people and an evening’s full of stories.
3. Walk through the Library Trinity College. You may find yourself wishing for an extra tall roller ladder to zip down the aisles and aisles of books. The beauty is in the details at Trinity College. If the stunning architecture doesn’t move you, the rich wood banisters and soft-bound books are sure keep you perusing for hours.
4. Go to the Guinness Factory! Although the factory is well over 100 years old, you would never know it upon entering. Magnificently branded and modern in design, the factory is easily an afternoon’s worth of exploring! You can even learn to pour the perfect pint on one of the building’s many floors – that is if you’re willing to leave the roof top bar with 360 degree views of Dublin…
5. Eat a true, Irish meal. A delicious stew paired with a baked potato the size of your head and Ireland’s Brown Bread may be the best thing you’ve ever had. If you have to opportunity to enjoy some Fish and Chips as well, it is a delicious must – and don’t turn your nose at the mashed peas that are always served alongside!
6. Count the sheep! Along your travels you will find that it seems just about everyone farms sheep. These snuggly little things are all over the countryside and you may find yourself asking “how do the farmers know which ones are their own?”. Sheep Farming in Ireland is a massive industry and to keep all of the sheep accounted for, each farm tags their sheep with their own, intricate branding.
7. Never pass up the opportunity to explore a castle. Castles pepper the countryside and most all of them are open to the public. One of Ireland’s most popular castles, Blarney Castle, offers a stone to be kissed for good luck, but only if you’re willing to climb the 127 spiral staircase, wide enough for one person to climb at a time. If you do brave the climb, watch your step, as the stairs are intentionally created with varying rise heights and thread depths as ‘stumble steps’ so that invaders wouldn’t be able to rapidly climb the stairs in an attack. Crafty!
8. Visit the Cliffs of Moher. There so many stunning and wild places to see in Ireland, but nothing compares to the majesty of the Cliffs. Morning brings silent, slow rolling fog filled with the sound of Puffins calling to one another. Once the fog dissipates, the immense size and beauty of the Cliffs are revealed and you find yourself wishing you never had to leave.
9. Go with someone you love. Ireland is a country richly laced with a passion for family and friendship. ADIM’s own Emily had the chance to go with her mom in Spring of 2015 and such an experience is one she will never forget.

And lastly…remember, everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day! Sláinte!