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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This was almost 5 years ago [omg how?! 🙃] … j

This was almost 5 years ago [omg how?! 🙃] … just a girl living her dreams in NYC 🚕

Fast forward to today : covered in Nolan’s milk drool 🍼, food stains on John’s oversized t-shirt that I’m wearing for the 2nd day in a row 😬, having little meltdowns here and there thinking about where my life was and where it is now 😵‍💫

Motherhood is probably the most incredible journey I have ever chosen but it is also really, REALLY hard [like, so hard!]

It IS ok to say goodbye to who you were in that picture, video, time … but it is also OK to want that back (just in a different form of course 💕)

ICYMI I have removed “weddings” from the company name and will be moving forward as ‘Michelle Elaine’ [something I’ve been wanting to do for YEARS!] I will be marring my love of weddings 🥂 with my passion for fitness 💪🏼 + sprinkle in some mama/family things 🥰

It’s a new chapter and it has been scary, challenging, overwhelming and exhausting … but as the saying goes “a comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” [Gina Milicia]

I want to thank @twahphotography for connecting me to @constanthousela 😘 I finally have the clarity that I need [and it’s the greatest gift!] 👀 for my rebrand as it blossoms through this year 🌸

Photographer @judypakstudio
Makeup @victoriaelizabethofficial

The process of piecing your wedding together can b

The process of piecing your wedding together can be extremely nerve wracking 😵‍💫 for many couples [understandably so!] I LOVE using @merri post-rental meeting to provide a deeper insight 👀 to the full vision … but truthfully speaking, this is the time where my couples completely let go, trust my eye & know that I have their best interest at heart always 💕 … swipe left to see the final guest table look on Katherine & Davis’ wedding day 🤩 #MoFunAsADale
Planning & Design #MichelleElaineWeddings
Rentals @broadwaypartyrentals
Floral Design @designsbyahnnyc
Stationery Design @bettylupaperie
Dyed Ribbon @stellawolfeco
Catering @graciousthymecatering
Tent @sperrytentsnj
Photography @kyleeyeephoto
Videography @nstpictures
#trusttheprocess #weddingtabledesign

My sweet Nolan Wolfe is 1 year old today 😭💙🍰👶🏻 I do not even know what to say or where to begin, but becoming a mom has changed me forever and probably in the best way possible. If you know me, and know me well, I could have never ever planned this right here to have been my future. I am SUCH a mom and I eat up every single second. Days can be HARD, really hard (let’s be honest!) but I can’t even put our special bond into words, he’s just my everything 🥰 #NoWo #FirstBirthday #MamasBoy #121820 #HomemadeSmashCake

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