It’s not very often that we coordinate our outfits, doll ourselves up and step out in front of the lens! But when we do there’s no one better than Tec to capture the silliness and realness of who we are and transform film to image showing us a vision that we don’t always see of ourselves.

Looking forward, 2017 marks our 10th Anniversary and it’s hard to believe all that this company has accomplished while dreaming of the dreams the future still holds. There are incredible opportunities that lay ahead, daunting mountains to climb and exciting changes that will carry us well into our next decade.  Yet, as I look at these beautiful women whom uphold the values of grace, respect and excellence not only for our clients but for themselves, I’m humbly reminded while all the hard work, sweat and bruises are worth it… because they are.

Thank you to our dear friend and oh-so-talented artist Tec Petaja for joining us one night this August for our team photoshoot- thankfully Casa de Caldecott was showing off with some stunning lighting and our Chief Snuggle Officer couldn’t resist getting in on the action either!

xoxo, Lish

Without further adieu, meet the team!!

{Alicia}

{Tana}

{Emily}

{Kerry & Libby}

{Brittany & Annette}

{Emily, Alicia & Tana}

{Murphy, our Chief Snuggle Officer and the Ladies of A Day in May Events}

{Murphy and his mom, Alicia}

{Brittany, Libby, Tana, Alicia, Emily, Kerry & Annette}

Photos by Tec Petaja Photography and Hair & Makeup by Victoria Sylvester of Escape Salon

We are in the midst of designing a lakeside wedding here in Northern Michigan for a special client next summer. They love the water and want to incorporate blue, particularly a slate or Lake Superior blue, while also working in other hues in relation to white. I’m currently experimenting with how blue and white interact, as our clients also love tonal, neutral colors but we are not going for a high contrast design.

Light and pattern are my greatest muses. I’m particularly drawn to the organic patterns that light can produce when passing through or being blocked by an object. This concept is perfectly exemplified in nature. The way light passes through the water is fascinating…nature produces the most beautiful patterns that cannot be duplicated.

Art installations and 3D art are also captivating me at the moment. Isn’t it incredible how art can spark dramatically different reactions amongst different people? Something seemingly simple in appearance can offer great complexity upon further examination. One must marinate on the concept, and unearth the layers of detail to fully digest the concept. Design should feel effortless, but the story and reason for the application is anything but haphazard. That is what we strive for in design…unique and effortless beauty that culminates to tell an interesting story.

Images From Top Left to Right: Navy Orange Tumblr; Evelina Blomquist; Juanjo Fernandez; Pinterest; Capilla Cardedeu; Naotamura; Tess Leopold; Free as a Bee Tumblr;  Sandy Cary Tumblr

To follow up on Caroline & Brian’s feature on Carats & Cake last week, we wanted to give you a behind the scenes look at their wedding weekend in Mullett Lake! It was a gorgeous weekend and we were thrilled to be able to celebrate two beautiful people (inside and out!) as they tied the knot before their loved ones in this special place.

Caroline & Brian’s waterside ceremony space overlooking Mullett Lake sure was stunning!

The Event Theory Team begins to construct the Reception Tent.

Meanwhile, we continue to prep and coordinate with vendors in Oh-mee, our Mobile HQ!

Our world in a nutshell – boxes upon boxes, each filled with decor, candle pieces and chandeliers for the big day! As you can tell we are frequent Amazon Prime users!

Mulletts in Mullett Lake 😉 Plus a visit from ADIM’s littlest event planner…Grady!

Once the tent structure is completed, the perimeter and ceiling draping begins!

Looking across the street from our waterside ceremony space toward Caroline & Brian’s cottage and the reception tent!

Lish and Todd from Event Theory prepare dinner for the dream team after a long day of set up!

Caroline & Brian’s wedding day is here…set up at the ceremony site is under way!

Meanwhile, tables in the dining portion of the tent are dressed with linens and ready to be adorned with floral, candles and place settings.

We adore C&B’s custom napkins. They were pressed and placed at each guest’s seat along with an individual wooden cheese board.

Tana’s brain child – the darling patisserie filled with hundreds of treats from the talented ladies at Bella e Dolce!

Sound Check with Elan Artists!

The chairs are set in the lawn and the greenery accents are placed for the ceremony! The decor was kept rather simple at the ceremony to allow guests to absorb the beauty of the lake and the exchanging of Caroline & Brian’s vows.

The guests have arrived and the ceremony has begun! Our talented documentarians capture the special moment that Caroline & Brian become Mr. and Mrs!

The reception is ready for guests and before we know it the party is in full swing!

Celebrating with both of our lovely Mullett Lake Brides – Caitlin and Caroline! We are so thankful to be a part of the Mullett Lake tradition and creating magic with such wonderful families!

Special thanks to the dream team of vendors who made this day unforgettable!

Photography: Jen Kroll Photography

Catering: Catering by Kellys

Desserts: Bella e Dolce

Entertainment: Rhythm Collective & Bob Mervak Trio

Sound: On Stage Services

Lighting: Visionary Sound Productions

Floral: Bloom Floral Design

Videography: Coastline Studios

Rentals: Event Theory

Bride’s Gown: Oscar de la Renta

Image via Pure Michigan

While Northern Michigan is the known for warm summers spent lakeside, there is something truly magical about this area in the Fall. As the temperatures cool and the leaves start to fall from the trees, the region boasts a new array of activities for visitors and locals to partake in…here are nine that we suggest adding to your to-do list!

Image via Chicago Tribune

Visit a Cider House – We love Tandem Ciders located just north of Suttons Bay on the Leelanau Peninsula. Their ciders are awesome (try the Smackintosh!) and we applaud their commitment to local growers and sustainability!

Take a trip to Gallagher’s.  They have the best pumpkin donuts…need we say more?!

Take aim! Shoot the apple canon at Hoxsies Farm Market in Williamsburg.

Image via Pure Michigan

Take a scenic drive along M22. Stop for some lunch fuel between Leland and Northport at Fischer’s Happy Hour Tavern (try the perch sandwich!)

Image via MyNorth

Looking for a relaxing day trip? Enjoy lunch at Chandler’s followed by an afternoon of shopping in Downtown Petoskey.

Image via MyNorth

Get outside and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather! We recommend a hike at the Grand Traverse Commons followed by an après appetizer at Trattoria Stella.

Image via 9&10 News

Grab a glass of wine (or two!) at Bonobo Winery on Old Mission Peninsula. The wine is delicious, the small plates curated by renowned chef Mario Batali are divine and the interior is a dream.  Not to mention, the terrace overlooking the vineyard perfectly showcases the beautiful landscape of Northern Michigan.

Image via Amical

Taste the Seasonal Fare –  Our local restaurants are some of the best and we love tasting the dishes the chefs create in the fall. The pumpkin risotto at the Franklin and the butternut squash gnocchi at Amical are two dishes we are eager to try! You also can’t go wrong with classics like the Tomato Spinach Swiss soup at Poppycocks!

Cozy up to the bar at our favorite taproom! 7 Monks has a fantastic assortment of seasonal brews on tap. The perfect meeting place with friends on a fall evening. Cheers!

Happy Halloween from the ladies of ADIM! We hope your day is spook-tacular!

xoxo

Lish, Tana & Em