Portfolio – Michelle Elaine Weddings

Christina & Anthony | Southampton, NY | Trent Bailey Studio

October 12, 2019

Nicole & Bryan | Westhampton, NY | Chaz Cruz Photography

September 7, 2019

Nicolle & Dan | New York, NY | Trent Bailey Studio

Elizabeth & Michael | Rumson, NJ | Thérèse Wagner Photography

Meg & Christian | Mifflinburg, PA | Dreamlove Photography

Liat & Sean | Brooklyn, NY | Dave Robbins Photography

February 24, 2018

Dani & Lou | Lake George, NY | Judy Pak Studio

September 30, 2017

Olivia & Steve | New York, NY | Stout Studio

September 23, 2017

L & M | Quogue, NY | Chellise Michael Photography

September 16, 2017

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Michelle Elaine Weddings hitting the 10 year mark

Michelle Elaine Weddings hitting the 10 year mark is certainly a good reason to break my IG silence (just for today, rebranding still in progress 💕)

I had planned to write this “yay 10 years!” post but the below is much more truthful …

I don’t think people realize how challenging this pandemic has been for us working in the wedding industry. Not to mention how exhausting it was moving dozens upon dozens of vendor contracts over and the stress x1,000,000 us planners had to endure from couples and vendors alike.

I have been working on the same weddings for over 2 years and didn’t make double the money for it. Some people have said to me “be lucky you’re still working.” I am NOT lucky, I have worked my damn ass off.

Other people don’t understand the 2+ year timeline : one couple hired me in March of 2019 having originally planned their wedding for Sept 2020 and got married July 2021. That’s 28 months.

If you don’t understand what full planning/design means please feel free to genuinely ask/understand instead of assuming my job is just posting pretty photos to social media or not even acknowledging I have a “real job” because I’m not at a desk from 9-5 m-f 🙄

When I started out in 2011 I was just excited because I had no clue the hellish up & down rollercoaster I was about to take a ride on. Many lovely couples I’m still friends with, many not so lovely couples I saw 75 red flags but worked with them because I had to pay my bills and eat.

These last ten years have been some of my best days and some of my worst.

Starting YOUR OWN, ACTUAL company from the ground up, and running it successfully (I equate success to how happy my staff are, some having been with me for the last 7+ years, as well as how happy my couples have been, feel free to look up Michelle Elaine Weddings reviews : 5/5 stars across the board) takes strength, guts, and tenacity; it’s NOT for everybody.

Business has been rough and the pandemic nearly broke me but I’m damn PROUD of what I’ve created and am trying to feel hopeful for the future 💕

Key note to make : my 2020>>2021 couples have been some of the most incredible humans, I never would’ve made it through the pandemic w/o them.

9 months in, 9 months out. I’ve been reminisci

9 months in, 9 months out.

I’ve been reminiscing my pregnancy a lot lately. Telling my family was not at all how I’d imagined … we didn’t have the cute, funny experience - I’d told my mom over the phone out of uncertainty to tell everyone else because I felt guilty sharing such happy news when my uncle was losing his battle with cancer. We lost him just days later, the one person who was like a father to me.

I had to hear Nolan’s heartbeat for the first time alone.
I had to go to my doctor appointments alone.
I had to go to my sonograms alone.

I had several anxiety attacks worrying about if John could even be in the room with me during the delivery. Worried what would happen if he tested positive for Covid the day I went in?

Then we got home just days before Christmas and only had each other to depend on. We didn’t come home to a “village” or family to greet us in anticipation to meet Nolan.

I had to jump right back into weddings, suffered from postpartum depression, and just powered through; I thank god for John’s support through those first 4 months.

I chose to not take on any new clients.
I chose to keep just my 2020 > 2021 couples because I felt they deserved all of my attention; having to deal with the pandemic.
I knew 2021 was going to be brutal, that vendors would be beyond overwhelmed.

I have one wedding left for 2021, and am beyond grateful for the truly amazing couples I’ve had through this insane time (for all of us!)

But, I am tired. Tired of posting on Instagram, and tired of trying to find things to talk about when all I really want to do is hang out with my sweet little Nolan now that I have some spare time 💙

I’ll be sharing my November wedding when that time comes, otherwise it’ll be radio silence here until sometime in 2022 (*rebranding & a completely new/different direction is currently in progress) … for personal/wellness related updates please feel free to follow @michelleelaineoley … and have a great rest of your year 😘

Kate & Steve, circa 2014, seating Not only did I

Kate & Steve, circa 2014, seating

Not only did I sand down and spray paint dinosaurs 🦕🦖, I spray painted these teeny tiny letters, and then one by one placed them in this deli board for a unique seating chart that the couple absolutely needed to have! (and I kinda loved it 🤩)

I’m not going to lie, I screwed up a few times on some names, had to then remove and replace some letters, my finger tips were literally bleeding and bandaged, it took me roughly 5 days from beginning to end (allowing the paint to dry before placing each single letter, and properly measuring out the space on the board) … everything I do for every couple is always a labor of love 🥰

After watching Respect and singing Aretha Franklin songs all week, I can’t help but think … me to my couples : “what you want, baby I got it!” I’ll always deliver on what you want and need! I’ll also give feedback when needed but always have your best interest at heart 💕

#MichelleElaineWeddingsTip I don’t suggest listing your guests by table because that can get confusing and time consuming for guests to figure out where they’re sitting … but if you hire a planner 🙋🏻‍♀️📋, we assist your guests with our own alphabetized list and can move things along smoothly, all while allowing you to have your unique seating idea executed … I guess today’s tip is really to hire a wedding planner 🤷🏻‍♀️🙊😂 or just keep following along for more tips and advice 😉💕

Photography @chazcruz
Planning/Design #michelleelaineweddings

Kate & Steve, circa 2014, ceremony I always rece

Kate & Steve, circa 2014, ceremony

I always receive A TON of questions, from up and coming planners, about various ceremonies and how, as a planner, I know what to do for each.

This here was my very first Jewish ceremony and there was A LOT for me to learn (to say the least!) I did a TON of research on my own so that I could be educated as well.

This couple and their families did things their own way and not every tradition I had researched was utilized.

Truthfully, what I had learned was that while my research and efforts were highly appreciated, it was also completely OK and necessary for me to ask plenty of questions to the couple!

This was earlier on in my wedding planning career so I was much more timid asking questions - as planners we are seen as the ones with ALL of the answers, and quite frankly, even after 10+ years of this I still don’t have all the answers!

Moral of the story is, definitely DO the research, you should put that effort in, BUT it is also ONE BILLION % OK to ask your couples questions to ensure you’re actually on the same page as them and can fully deliver what they need, want and envision for their day ☺️

Photography @chazcruz
Planning/Design @meweddings

#MichelleElaineWeddingsTip for planners 😉💕

Kate, circa 2014, before ceremony A little fun f

Kate, circa 2014, before ceremony

A little fun fact here … Kate had a whole other dress to wear for the wedding. I had recommended a seamstress but she insisted on using someone they had in the family … needless to say, she butchered Kate’s dress, and with just 3 weeks until the big day, Kate had to buy a whole new dress 😱

I think we all know where today’s #MichelleElaineWeddingsTip is going : please for the love of god, STOP hiring friends and family members when there are actual professionals out there who would do an impeccable job, that you can trust!

Thankfully, everything worked out and I think we can all agree Kate looked absolutely stunning! One of my favorite bridal looks of all time 🤩

Photography @chazcruz
Planning/Design #michelleelaineweddings
Makeup @ashleeglazer
Hair @stylesonb
Dress @sajawedding
Location @nolitanhotel

Kate & Steve, circa 2014, invitation suite Every

Kate & Steve, circa 2014, invitation suite

Everyone enjoyed their #savethedate so much I figured let me share their full suite!

Clearly they wanted something unique and out of the box [which I ALWAYS love!] … they also had a tear-off mad libs RSVP [too fun!] where they also asked guests for their favorite song to ensure their dance floor would always stay full and their guests happy! 💃🏻🎶

#MichelleElaineWeddingsTip of course it’s YOUR day, BUT you do need to consider those you are inviting … adding in that simple detail for guests to provide their favorite song DID keep their dance floor full and still kept the musical flow with the hired DJ [he actually LOVED this idea!] … be sure to always keep your guest experience in mind while you plan!

Photography @chazcruz
Planning/Design #michelleelaineweddings
Location @nolitanhotel
Invitation #villageinvites