Exceptional Events Birmingham Michigan Wedding Planning Studio

In May, Exceptional Events announced the opening of our newest design studio at 219 Old Woodward Ave in Downtown Birmingham, Michigan. We’ve been hard at work putting the finishing touches on our newest location, making sure the attention to detail and style in the studio mirrored the same artistic design and individuality we put into all our Michigan weddings and events. Enjoy this selection of photos by Jessica-Johnston Photography of our new Birmingham Studio -

Dawn Owen Designs - Royal Oak, Michigan Wedding Florist

Devoted to modern and luxurious floral arrangements, Dawn Owen Designs is located in Royal Oak’s chic downtown, providing personalized service and couture quality to bridal clients throughout metro Detroit.

Owner, Dawn Owen took her experience as a bridal gown designer at a high-end boutique, combined it with her passion for dramatic art and flowers, and establish one of the most renowned floral production companies in all of Michigan.

To date, Dawn Owen Designs has worked with Ralph Lauren, Elton John, and Mexican President, Vincente Fox, and has received praise from the likes of Vera Wang and Renee Zellweger. Local and national publications have also taken notice, with features of Dawn Owen Designs appearing in the Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, Style, Detroit Home, and Metro Detroit Bride.

As a wedding industry expert, Dawn Owen Designs occupies a rare space, as a florist that understands overall wedding design concepts, and how to make the flowers an intricate part of the decor. Dawn Owen Designs’ evocative arrangements and industry prowess has earned this florist the respect of Exceptional Events.

But it’s our mutual affection for our clients that makes Dawn such a joy to work with. As she said, “I love what I do. I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world. I wake up every day and work with people who are celebrating the happiest days of their lives. What a blast!” You took the words right out of our mouth.

Michigan Winter Weddings

The Michigan summer is winding down, but that doesn’t mean the whirlwind wedding season will slow as well. As fall and winter rapidly approach, so does a new season of possibility, bursting with fresh, elegant designs and limitless opportunity to capture the delicate sparkle of perhaps Michigan’s most beautiful time of year.

As the ground is blanketed by snow and the festive holiday spirit encompasses the region, winter brides can choose from a variety of unique themes to capture Michigan’s intrinsic beauty, like color schemes, including deep blues, warm reds, and shimmering silvers and whites, to mirror the natural colors of the seasons.

Winter also lends itself to formal, black-tie ballroom affairs or casual, fireside receptions, adding a cozy charm and sophistication that will set your wedding apart from all the others. The inclusion of seasonal dining options and warm drinks, like cocoa and spiced wine, is another great way to take advantage of the colder weather.

Whether winter is your favorite of all the seasons, or your busy calendar requires the flexible scheduling options a winter wedding provides, Exceptional Events will capture Michigan’s snowy glow. Working with the best service purveyors in the area, we’ll design a magical winter wedding, ensuring your big day is the hit of the season.

* Photos Courtesy of Arising Images

Henry Ford Weddings at Lovett Hall, the Museum Plaza, and Greenfield Village

The Henry Ford’s enduring elegance is guaranteed to enchant Detroit area brides. Honored as the “Most Unique Venue” and “Best Banquet & Reception” facility by Michigan Meetings & Events and “Best of Weddings” 2008 by the Knot, the Henry Ford’s uniquely appointed ballrooms, plazas, and gardens are sure to inspire Michigan couples.

With a seemingly endless array of accommodations, the Henry Ford can host weddings of any size and style. Exceptional Events will help you select the best option, perfecting your vision by choosing from the refined 1930's Lovett Hall Ballroom, with its sparkling chandeliers and grand staircase, the Henry Ford Museum Plaza, decorated with highlights from the museum’s collection, and Greenfield Village, accommodating up to 10,000 guests.

Additional package options for the Lovett Hall Ballroom include the Lovett Lobby, with chic marble flooring and a 14-foot-high crown molding ceiling, the intricate brickwork and cultured-limestone of Ginger Meyer Garden, and the lush landscaping of Lovett Courtyard.

For brides selecting the Museum Plaza, options include the Prechter Promenade’s grand entrance, for a lavish cocktail hour, the open-air Pennsylvania Courtyard, Michigan Café, and the art-adorned Flexible Exhibit Gallery Lobby, perfect for afterglows and desserts.

Greenfield Village options include the historical, candlelit Eagle Tavern, the Village Pavilion, overlooking the Village Green and carousel, Walnut Grove, and the 19th-century, New England style Martha-Mary Chapel, featuring a pipe organ, high ceilings, and a candlelit chandelier.

Combining and matching the best the Henry Ford has to offer, Exceptional Events will channel your vision for your big day to design the wedding of your dreams, for a storybook beginning to your fairy-tale romance.

Special Events Rental for Exceptional Events

Awarded "Best Rental Service" in Michigan by Meetings & Events magazine in 2007 and 2008, Special Events Rental boasts one of the most extensive and elaborate party rental collections in Michigan.

Special Events Rental supplies the finest, high-end wedding and event decor all throughout Michigan, and has experience working with a wide variety of clients and events, including Michigan Secretary of State, Terri Lynn Land, Hour Detroit magazine, Ford Motor Company, The NFL - Super Bowl XL, BET, and, of course, Exceptional Events.

Exceptional Events works closely with Special Events Rental to select the very best from their collection, ensuring a picture-perfect layout and beautiful decorative accommodations for your celebration. From their facility in Warren, Michigan, Special Events Rental provides everything and anything you can imagine - tents, tables and chairs, dance floors, dinnerware, catering equipment, linens, and everything in between - even casino equipment.

Visit Special Events Rental's website for a complete listing of their pricing and inventory. As always, Exceptional Events will coordinate every element of your big day, teaming with Special Events Rental to design the wedding or celebration of your dreams.

Area Attraction Lists for Out-of-Town Guests

Two weeks ago Exceptional Events suggested giving personalized Michigan gift baskets to your out-of-town wedding guests. Another nice consideration for guests unfamiliar with your wedding city is a list of your favorite local attractions - restaurants and bars, parks and museums, shops, and even walks or drives.

Your guests will appreciate suggestions for activities to occupy their free time before and after your wedding, and the personalized touch will show them you want to make their trip as special as your big day.

Be sure to include descriptions for why you chose each attraction - maybe it was the place you first met, a favorite date spot, or your decadent late night coffee shop - and don’t forget to include a map.

A personalized itinerary for you out-of-town guests can be the perfect addition to a local gift basket, and with Michigan’s natural beauty and cultural attractions, your guests will remember your wedding as the complete getaway celebration.

Around the World with Ian Johnson and Exceptional Events

Widely regarded as one of the top wedding photographers in the world, Ian Johnson Photo captures the story of every wedding with a flair for fashion and an eye for the artistic.

Shooting through his worldly, cosmopolitan lens, Ian Johnson hails from Sweden, and has received international acclaim for his breathtaking destination wedding photography, impressing debutantes and celebrities alike.

With studios in Los Angeles, London, and Stockholm, Johnson travels the globe to capture the most high-end, dazzling weddings in the Americas, Europe, the Caribbean, and anywhere in the world, including weddings in Detroit and throughout Michigan.

Ian Johnson Photo’s cinematic edge and wide-ranging style, from the classic to the avant garde, makes this international trendsetter one of Exceptional Events most highly recommended wedding photographers, for a Detroit wedding or an elaborate destination affair.

Visit Ian Johnson’s photo gallery to enjoy a sampling of his work, and check out the Ian Johnson Photo Blog to track this jet-setting photographer as he lends his “cinematic storybook reportage” to brides the world over.

Exceptional Events' Back Cover of "Brides: Michigan"

Renowned wedding magazine Brides: Michigan and Brides.com provide tremendous local vendor libraries, in addition to some of the most cutting-edge advice on wedding trends and bridal fashion.

Given Brides' impeccable reputation, Exceptional Events is ecstatic to grace the back cover the Fall/Winter edition of Brides: Michigan magazine. As the premier wedding planner in Michigan, we’re committed to working with the best service purveyors in the state, including top publications and websites, like Brides.

Be sure to turn to Brides for wedding advice and trends, and enjoy this preview of our back cover spread.

Make Your Wedding "Pop"

It wasn’t so long ago that wedding reception candy buffets were all the rage, but for brides really looking to stay ahead of the curve, consider going with a popcorn bar, the trendy alternative wedding treat.

Popcorn is a fun parting gift for your guests, and provides a healthy alternative to sugary candy. For an interactive experience, go with a variety of gourmet flavors, including butter, cheese, and carmel corn, giving your guests the option to mix and match their flavors.

Presenting the various popcorn flavors in glass jars is a great way to give your buffet a classic feel, and Exceptional Events recommends a personalized message on each take-home jar or bag - a memorable way to give thanks to all your guests.

Ann Arbor Weddings at the Polo Fields Golf & C.C.

The Polo Fields Golf & Country Club of Ann Arbor is one of southeast Michigan’s most exclusive wedding and event venues. Covering over 420 acres of rolling Michigan Hills, the Polo Fields is an exclusive country club and resort, featuring the finest golf courses and recreational activities, as well as the most prestigious wedding and event services, combining beautiful grounds and event venues with mid-western hospitality.

Accommodating up to 260 guests, the newly renovated Grand Ballroom offers classical elegance and charm, with panoramic views of the grounds, perfect for your big day. The ballroom’s neutral color palette is accentuated by the soft lighting from both the delicate chandeliers and the natural light from the ballroom’s three French doors. The Grand Ballroom also provides access to the resorts brick patio, overlooking the pool and world-class golf course, and the room itself boasts 3,800 square-feet of space.

With meandering creeks, stately, mature trees, and a perfect blend of classic taste and modern sensibility, the Polo Fields Golf & Country Club captures the natural beauty and sophistication of Ann Arbor. For the best of southeast Michigan, Exceptional Events will work with The Polo Fields’ professional banquet staff and award-winning chef to design the wedding of your dreams.

Exceptional Events - Your Michigan Wedding Solution

Exceptional Events is delighted to be one of the select few Featured Wedding Services on the Michigan Wedding Solutions homepage. “The Ultimate Guide for Michigan Brides,” Michigan Wedding Solutions is a one-stop online resource for area brides.

Thanks to our wide-ranging talent - from chic metropolitan affairs to romantic destination beach weddings - Exceptional Events is also proud to occupy MichiganWeddingSolution.com’s top listing in every city throughout the Great lakes State, upholding our reputation as Michigan’s premier wedding planner.

At Exceptional Events, we love making wedding dreams come true for Michigan brides, and Michigan Wedding Solutions is a fantastic website for helping us reach couples across the state. Check out our online brochure with Michigan Wedding Solutions, and be sure contact Exceptional Events for all your wedding planning needs.

Exceptional Events and Comerica Park - A Winning Team

For baseball fanatics and fans of the city of Detroit, Comerica Park is the perfect venue for hosting weddings, parties, or corporate events - sure to make your celebration stand out from all the rest.

Comerica Park can accommodate events from 50 to 40,000, and your guests will love the novelty of Comerica Park’s carousel, ferris wheel, and musical water fountain, not to mention the diamond itself, with packages for private tours, custom scoreboard messages, mascot appearances.

Comerica Park offers a wide variety of options, from luxurious dining halls, to more casual bars and private stadium seating, including the Tiger Club, Tiger Den, Chevrolet Champions Club, The Beer Hall, The Cigar Bar, The Brushfire Grill, and the Witherell Bar.

For catering, choose from a variety of gourmet, fine-dining options, or get creative and go with the “Bases Loaded” themed buffet, featuring beer-steamed hot dogs and nachos with cheese sauce, for an authentic ballpark dining experience - always a crowd pleaser, and a lighthearted touch to make your event memorable.

Whatever the theme of your celebration, Exceptional Events will work with Comerica Park to cover all the bases, making sure your next party is a resounding hit.