There’s been some changes over at paperhatweddings.com if you haven’t noticed. New look, new colors and new services, still crafting timeless celebrations together with you.
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design: @katiemakesco
We’ve got you covered for everything from an askew sign to a ripped dress with our wedding emergency kits
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator
Let’s get this straight. A venue coordinator is NOT the same as a month of or ‘day of’ coordinator.
This does not mean a venue coordinator does not have wedding skills or is not necessary. It’s actually quite the opposite. Both are essential to making sure your day is perfect!
A venue coordinator is responsible for your venue. Your wedding coordinator is responsible for YOU and your wedding. Together, they work together to serve you best.
A Venue Coordinator makes sure the location that is housing your event is functioning to serve your wedding. Lighting, heat, parking, kitchen for the caterers, bridal suites; all these things are under their care throughout your wedding day.
A Wedding Coordinator takes care of YOUR details. Your timeline, decorations, music cues, vendor management; all THESE things are under their care before and throughout your wedding day.
Together, their team work makes your wedding dream work!
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator
Every coordinators’ services are different. Some offer limited help before the wedding and more help on the day, others start only a month before, and some start even a year out. (hint* the last one is us!)
It’s important to figure out exactly what the planning service you’re looking at offers, and to make sure it checks off your worry points. Will they help you find the vendors that best fit your vision, not just a giant list? Will they advocate on your behalf to your venue to make sure your day can function as promised?
We’ve made it easy to see every task we cover and the entire process with the Paper Hat team the moment you book. Link in bio
If you have to ask, the answer is usually YES.
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #weddinghumor
An homage to some of the bridal dresses we’ve had the privilege of fluffing, carrying & bustling throughout the years 💫
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cover photo
bride: @xan.mackenzie
photo: @danstewartphotography
venue: @missionpointresort
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #weddingdress #mackinacisland #mackinacislandwedding
It rains in Michigan. 🌧️
But we’re having our entire wedding outside! Don’t stress. Michigan rain is kind of like Florida. It’ll rain for a bit then clear right up. And with us, you’ll have 3 rain plans for the different type of rain anyway (sprinkling, quick hard rain, and all day deluge.)
And we find that some rain makes for the best parts of the day, with pictures to prove it.
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photos:
@innakovaphotography
@leilabrewster
@jdarling_photo
@spencerpenfield
@danstewartphotography
@maestier
@yanabenjaminphoto
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #wedding #weddingrain
Get ready with us!
It’s the official Paper Hat uniform! We wanted our attire to be functional and neutral, while east to spot in the crowd if you need something. “Go ask her over there in the hat!”
Adorned with a hat, of course, and our new custom @oatmeallace aprons, stuffed full with everything from scissors and sticky candle wax, to an electric drill and glue gun. Right down to our matching @vans checkered slip ons. We’re ready to hit the ground running. 🏁
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #wedding #uniform
When your guests find their table early…
The follow up from “when your guests TRY to find their table,” to when they actually succeed. Trying to be humorous, but also not totally inaccurate.
Your coordinator and vendor team will have painstakingly set your chairs to be perfectly in-line, your napkins meticulously folded and signage to facing the perfect way. All to be disrupted by a wayward coat or purse.
You’ve spent months (even years) designing and planning your reception space, maybe you want to do a room reveal to see it all put together first, or have your photographer shoot everything in it’s entirety before it’s disturbed.
Let a coordinator help you (and your vendors) to set the most purposefully perfect party scape, and get pictured proof of it too!
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #wedding #weddinghumor #weddingphotographer
“I just want to set my bag down.”
We get it. It’s like checking your gate at the airport just to make sure it’s there. Your guests just want to find out where they are sitting, maybe plop down their purse, or just make a mental note of where they’ll be heading to later.
If your reception is in a different area, it’s beneficial to have it closed off, or have your seating chart put away until it’s actually time for your guests to find their seats for many reasons:
Depending on when you can get into your venue, your vendors may still be setting up.
You want to utilize all the spaces of your venue and want your guests to stay in cocktail hour and enjoy it
You’ve spend months (even years) designing and planning your reception space, maybe you want to do a room reveal to see it all put together first, or have your photographer shoot everything in it’s entirety before it’s disturbed. Either way, giving your guests the opportunity to find their seat should be when it’s time to enter, making it an event in itself!
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #wedding #weddinghumor
Working with Shannon was an absolute dream! Her vision of modern boho mixed with rustic chic elements really shined through on such a moody Michigan day. It was really difficult trying to pick our favorite images that @yanabenjaminphoto captured.
Also, Higher Love will always have a place in our forever weddings soundtrack.
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photos: @yanabenjaminphoto
baker: @shebakesalotmi
bar: @tonicandlimemi
caterer: @smokeandporter
DJ: @2baysdjs
florist: @bloomfloraldesign
hair/mua: @teamhairandbeauty
photobus: @themagicshuttlebus
rentals: @307events
venue: @nature_michigan
first look: @sleepingbearnps
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #wedding #sleepingbeardunes #naturemichigan #northernmichiganwedding
“Can’t you just show up on the day?”
There is no way…
If we were to just show up on the day, we wouldn’t magically know what needs to go where, who is who, what your expectations are, or what the timeline is (speaking of which, who makes the timeline beforehand?)
For us to do our job well, we need to come on board at least 3 months before your wedding to get caught up to speed on everything that’s been done, assign all key players involved, confirm everything everyone is handling, make sure nothing is missing, and make a plan for the day.
Your Wedding Coordinator will have discussed your vision prior to the day. They will then be able to run your event without any further direction, so you are able to enjoy the times leading up to, during, and after the big day.
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#michiganwedding #michiganwedding #grandrapids #michigan #weddingcoordinator #michiganweddingcoordinator #michiganweddingplanner #grandrapidsweddingplanner #grandrapidswedding #midwestwedding #theknot #mibride #weddingplanninghelp #michiganweddingcoordinator #westmichiganwedding #engaged #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #dayofcoordinator #michigandayofcoordinator #wedding
Reason #1 million why I love weddings in Michigan. One day you’re on the lakeshore, the next you’re saying “I Do” underneath a willow tree in the middle of a vineyard.
Anne + Austin’s Aurora Cellars vineyard wedding now on paperhatweddings.com
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band: @nkgbanddetroit
catering: @catering.by.kelly
florist: @indiegrowflower
hair/mua: @teamhairandbeauty
photos: @weddingsbycheyennellc
rentals: @307events
transportation: @themagicshuttlebus
venue: @auroracellars
“I’m Type A. I can handle wedding planning. I don’t need a coordinator.”
Even if you get through the initial stages of planning, there are things that are physically impossible for you to do yourself on the day of your wedding.
Venues may not allow you into the space until the day of, sometimes even later in the afternoon, leaving you zero time to set up your own decorations. And aren’t you supposed to be getting ready then?
Are you going to be vigilant to your own timeline on the day to know exactly when each event is scheduled? (Your watch doesn’t really go with your outfit…)
Whoops! You missed the cue for your song to walk down the aisle because you couldn’t hear it being around the corner. Have fun fluffing your own dress.
Ring ring! Your caterer calls, they want to know if they can shift your dessert table to the other side of the wall so it will be easier for them to serve, but you don’t know if that will affect your layout. You say “okay fine,” and yikes! It’s now set up directly in the path for your grand entrance.
Without a coordinator, the day of decisions fall to you. Even with the most meticulous pre-planning, there are still day of details that will need to be managed. Having a coordinator not only ensures that all details are accounted for before the day, they also have it all handled on the day.
When you don’t schedule in time to bustle your dress, you end up having to leave cocktail hour, arrive late to your grand entrance, or end up pinning it in the middle of the room while on the go.
Adding “bustle dress” into the timeline once photos are done and before you’re meant to move around ensures you don’t trip on your train.
Thank you, thank you! To all our couples that left reviews and voted for us, this always starts off our new season in the best way. 💫
2 of our most challenging wedding seasons ending in @theknot Best of Weddings is like a giant hug saying “you did it!”
Let’s do it again!
