Image via Tec Petaja

Thanksgiving often reminds us of the importance of gratitude. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the “little” things that have made 2016 so memorable for our team. Here are 9 things we are especially thankful for this year!

1. Coffee cups & wine glasses- need we say more?!
2. The Jawbone UP Fitness Tracker – when midnight hits and you have already walked 16 miles that day and you have another 3 or 4 hours of partying left before you can shut of the generator, sometimes the only motivation to keep moving are “step duels” and seeing who can out step and pace one another.
3. Land Line Telephone- no matter how technologically advanced this world becomes, there is proof in the age old addage of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Thank you AT&T business and Dean Adams of Bay Area Contracting for saving our sanity and assisting in the installation of a true landline into the new ADIM office. We considered carrier pigeons and smoke signals but they were both too messy 😉
4. The ADIM Mobile HQ– We can’t post or love on our 1971 Airstream Caravanner enough. On every job site she accompanies us on, we hear from multiple people, “what did we ever do without Ohmee?” And they are right, since 2014 she’s been the caboose to our party train (no really, Alicia tows her behind her truck) and the space shuttle strapped to our rocket ship headed to another galaxy. Did we mention that her stove top cooks a mean grilled cheese and navy bean soup on cold days?!
5. Waze App – Lish has a lead foot so now we know where the police are sitting 🙂 we are still adjusting to the new office location, 15 minutes further from town!
6. The new iOS update – We love the new GIF selection for text messages, because sometimes words just aren’t enough in this business. However, if you were Emily you would say, Bitmoji. Just ask Libby… according to her, Emily’s bitmoji game is stronger than anyone she knows!
7. Boxes on Boxes, Unboxed – 3 of us moved this year (Lish, Tana and the ADIM office!) so we have packed and unpackaged items in the same boxes numerous times!  Shoutout to Grand Traverse Container for the donated Drakes Crispy Fry mix boxes- neon yellow boxes make sorting much easier!
8. Our new UPS & FedEx delivery team- They were christened when we had a special birthday party this June. Two days in a row both of their vehicles were filled with Little Tykes Cozy Coupes and back to back wedding delivereies. Conveniently Tana seems to be out of the office on delivery days- did we mention she handles all POs?!
9. Gas Station Snacks – its a true art form creating a well-balanced meal from the gas station. Thanks to Sabra hummus packs, The Jerky Outlet, Sargento cheese sticks, and the occassional packaged pickle, we’ve learned to whip up a balanced meal from vacuum sealed packaged goodies, while on the county backroads we travel.

Finally, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude for good health, our amazing clients and team of vendors, our families and beautiful hometown in Northern Michigan, and the opportunities life has afforded us. Thank you for following along on all of our ADIM adventures! We send our love and best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Another Bridal Fashion Week has come to an end, and we couldn’t wait to round up some of our favorite gowns from the runways. From the bold bows at Oscar to the 3D floral seen at Marchesa, the fall 2017 collections were seriously stunning! Though it was hard to choose just nine, here are the dresses that had us swooning!

1. Marchesa Fall 2017 – Love the fresh floral used to embellish the statement jewelry featured with the collection! Watch as the designers chat about the Fall collection.

2. Reem Acra Fall 2017 – This dreamy collection continued telling the story of the designer’s Secret Garden.

3. Oscar de la Renta Fall 2017 – We love when brides choose dresses that make a statement from the back like this beauty! Yet again, the brand captures the effortlessly chic vibe all brides dream of.

4. Viktor & Rolf Fall 2017 – The couture designers made their bridal debut and it sure was stunning! Their attention to detail and craftsmanship shined in their  collection of “sculptural yet surreal” gowns – like this dress featuring a dreamy tulle skirt!

5. Monique Lhuillier Fall 2017 – A dazzling collection to celebrate 20 years in the industry! With each season, Monique beautifully updates and modernizes her classic silhouettes.

6. Vera Wang Fall 2017 – This season the designer found inspiration in 17th Century Verona, Italy and wished to make a statement with “silhouette, architecture, and a bit of pomp and circumstance.”

7. Carolina Herrera Fall 2017 – with just seven looks presented for fall, this long sleeve lace gown was a knockout!

8. Temperley London Fall 2017 – Bohemian Brides will be in heaven as they peruse the latest offerings from Alice Temperley. The embroidered details are truly divine! Be sure to check out Look 2 in the collection if you love a pop of color!

9. Marchesa Fall 2017 – aannnd because the collection was just so lovely (and we couldn’t narrow it down to just one dress!) here is another beauty from Marchesa.

All Images via Vogue.com

Though there are many great resources that can help you plan your wedding, we are quite fond of the books that you can add to your collection during the planning process. Here are 9 of our current favorites!

1. Martha Stewart Weddings: Ideas and Inspirations
2. The Knot Outdoor Weddings – we are proud to have our work featured in this gorgeous book!
3. Style Me Pretty Weddings: Inspiration and Ideas for an Unforgettable Celebration by Abby Larson
4. Vogue Weddings: Brides, Dresses, Designers
5. Weddings by Tara Guerard
6. Matthew Robbins Inspired Weddings: Designing your Day with Favorite Objects and Family Treasures:
7. Simple Stunning Weddings by Karen Bussen
8. Preston Bailey’s Fantasy Weddings
9. The New-Fashioned Wedding: Designing Your Artful, Modern, Crafty, Textured, Sophisticated Celebration

As event planners we often say that we spend the fall and winter months in “planning” mode while summer is the time we execute for event season. September almost feels like we are going to back to school as we begin to spend more time in the office as the 2016 season draws to a close and we look to 2017! Here are 9 of our favorite desk essentials for the year ahead.

Pictured from top left to right:

1. Appointed Workbook in Navy – Our go to brand for modern, monogrammed desktop products that elevate the work experience. These notebooks offer durable heavyweight covers and a pocket to store swatches and business cards. Bonus – all of Appointed’s products are American Made!
2. Corkcicle Canteen – Keep your beverages cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours in a sleek thermos. It will look chic on your desk and also works perfectly for travel or meetings on the go!
3. Motivation Pen Set – “Bust a Move”…”Make it Happen” …”You Got This”….with this pen set, you’ll have the perfect writing utensil for any occasion.
4. Sugar Paper Organization Rack – Store hanging files or your favorite bridal magazines to avoid clutter and keep your desk tidy.
5. Pineapple Mousepad  – incorporate a fun pattern or cheeky design to your desk with a fun mousepad! Etsy has tons of great options.
6. XOXO Note Set – stock up on pretty stationery to send to important co-workers and clients!
7. Straight Up Magic Sticky Note Set – at ADIM we adore sticky notes and always have them handy on our desks.
8. 2017 Blush Agenda – this gorgeous planner combines beauty and function! Perfect for tracking daily appointments and to-do lists!
9. Strike Gold Stapler – it may seem silly to splurge on luxurious desk supplies like this gorgeous gold and lucite stapler, but some days they truly can inspire and help you work better 🙂

Image via Cory Weber

How gorgeous is our July bride, Bailee, in her Galia Lahav gown pictured above?! Selecting your bridal gown is one of the most exciting parts of the planning process. Trying on exquisite gowns with your friends and family is one of the moments when the excitement of the wedding planning process and the fact that you are a bride truly sinks in! With many talented designers and fabulous bridal boutiques across the country, we have compiled our top 9 favorite bridal designers who will make you look (and feel!) your best on your wedding day!

1. Monique Lhuillier – there is a reason Monique Lhuillier is the most popular designer amongst our ADIM brides…her designs are sophisticated, stylish and embody a playful, femininity! The acclaimed designer cites nature as one of her biggest inspirations, thus hosting her gorgeous Spring 2017 collection at Ladurée’s gardens made for the perfect setting!
2. Oscar de la Renta – Oh Oscar…so classic and so chic! The line can bring out the romantic in all of us with the stunning silhouettes made of the most luxurious fabrics. Lead Designer Peter Copping strikes the perfect balance of classic and modern elements. We especially adore Look 10 from the Spring 2017 collection – a sculptural trumpet gown with satin organza bow!
3. Vera Wang – Vera is an iconic bridal designer. She effortlessly captures the modern bride through her work. This season Vera opted to create a film with director Gordon von Steiner, instead of showcasing her collection in a showroom or atelier. While Vera has moved to a moodier aesthetic, we adore her use of floral and pearl embellishments on her gowns.
4. Ines di Santo – Raised in Buenos Aires and studying in Milan, the influence Ines de Santo finds from her Spanish and Italian heritage is evident in her work. The dedication to feminine form and exquisite craftsmanship is evident in every collection.  A sense of movement and stunning lace and embroidery can be found in the designer’s gowns!
5. Marchesa – There is always a sense of fantasy in Marchesa’s bridal collections – they are seriously dreamy! For Spring 2017, designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig cite “fairytale gardens” as their biggest inspiration. Marchesa understands the allure of destination weddings and multiple ceremonies. They have created gowns with detachable skirts, allowing brides to wear two different silhouettes!
6. Reem Acra – An upscale bridal market favorite, Lebanese-born Reem Acra launched her eponymous bridal line in New York in 1997. Her romantic dresses are adorned with beautiful beadwork and embellishment. When discussing her Spring 2017 collection, Reem says it is “where the trend begins and the tradition continues.” Her gowns are perfect for brides who wish to be in style but timeless!
7. Galia Lahav – Based in Tel Aviv, Galia Lahav designs elegant gowns for the modern bride. The dresses are acclaimed for their illusion backs, cascading silk tulle skirts, and Italian ivory lace, each hand made by a team of expert seamstresses. The level of detail and the fit of these gowns are truly breathtaking…I mean have you seen Bailee in her gown above?!
8. Jenny Packham – British Designer Jenny Packham creates the loveliest gowns with a slight bohemian flair. The gowns exude old romance, while capturing modern touches. Our bride this past weekend wore Jenny Packham and looked absolutely divine!
9. Elie Saab – Spring 2017 marked the designers bridal collection debut! Elie Saab is always glamorous and never afraid of creating grand, embellished red carpet looks. It is easy to say his debut collection did not disappoint! Swoon!