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Workshops Summer Programming 2019
Floral Design in Northern Michigan
 
 

Welcome to Sweetwater

we design beautiful wedding flowers in northern Michigan.

 
 
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We are so glad you found our corner of the internet. Whether its flowering for your wedding day or hosting something special for you here at the farm, this brand is dedicated to making the special moments in life feel that way.


We are obsessed with Northern Michigan, flowers, lavender, jumping in the lake and bubbly beverages.


Sweetwater was born from our love of the fresh water that surrounds us. We cannot wait for you to experience a bit of what we do.

 
 
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Flowers

Wedding Floral Design
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Lavender Love
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The Team. The Team. The Team.
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Spent yesterday being showered in love by my girl tribe of Northern Michigan badass women who all found their way into my life over the last decade. ⠀ ⠀ I don’t know much. But I do know this: we need our friends. ⠀ ⠀ Real deal notheretotalkabouttheweather friendships. ⠀ ⠀ Friends who are there for you when you’re not the easy and fun friend to have. When you’re the “I’m going through some stuff” friend. ⠀ ⠀ Friends who get you to your core. And know that your version of the perfect morning is a 2-hour brunch outside with lots of good food and no bs. ⠀ ⠀ The ones that make you laugh so so so hard. ⠀ ⠀ Find these women. Find them. And keep them close. Tell them you’re grateful for them. Save them when in a bind. Buy the coffee. Drop the thing on the porch. Celebrate their exciting moments and hold space in the heartbreaking ones. ⠀ ⠀ Starting a new week grateful beyond words for the ones that circle the wagons for me in the best way. ⠀ ⠀ Clinks ⠀ xo ⠀ ⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral ⠀ ⠀
Water first. Then coffee. A splash of organic half&half. Then peanut butter toast. With a banana sliced on top. ⠀ ⠀ Then jeans. Sweetwater T-shirt. Headband. Braid. Sunglasses. ⠀ ⠀ Shuffle down to studio. Still working on that toast. ⠀ ⠀ Load the van. Off we go. ⠀ Wedding Saturday. ⠀ ⠀ Happiest of days to all our couples today. Thanks for being a part of our tribe and trusting us to create things for you. ⠀ Thanks for loving dogs and good music. ⠀ Thanks for believing in the little company that runs out of a garage. ⠀ ⠀ We love ya right back. ⠀ Clinks ⠀ ⠀ Xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #Upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral
I'm Kalin. ⠀ ⠀ I'm loud and tall and left handed. ⠀ I'm loyal and honest and officially have a Northern Michigan accent now.⠀ I love swimming and bonfires and champagne. ⠀ I enjoy time with my siblings and my dogs and my best friend Matt. ⠀ I can't watch a lot of tv in the summer but plop me on my sectional on a cold winter day and I will out Netflix you. ⠀ I’m no athlete but I’m a big sports fan. I get this from my dad. I adore sports and the storylines and underdogs. ⠀ Pizza is my favorite food. 4th of July is my favorite holiday. Cosmos are my favorite flower. ⠀ I like to “take my chances” and not pay the meter very often downtown when I’m just gonna be 30 minutes (why am I like this?), I own way too many pairs of $20 sunglasses & I take “lighting” very seriously. ⠀ I enjoy my own birthday too much, laugh at my own jokes too loudly & talk to myself while alone in my house quite often. ⠀ I’ve got a soft spot for wreaths, pop hits of the early 2000’s & well written copy. ⠀ I’m mediocre at household cleaning, above average in the kitchen & excel at talking to strangers. ⠀ ⠀ I design wedding flowers for couples who make each other laugh. I run a tiny farm for people to escape to and remember what matters. I am a fierce cheerleader of women who start businesses they love. ⠀ ⠀ Thanks for being here & happy #fridayintroductions ⠀ ⠀ Clinks ⠀ Xo⠀ K ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral ⠀ ⠀
I love Pride. ⠀ ⠀ I love seeing everyone's posts from all over the world of how they are celebrating. Parades, events, a flag hanging in a window. ⠀ ⠀ One thing I crave to see more of, is the spirit of Pride here in Petoskey, where our small town oftens defers to the 'big city' nearby of Traverse City to carry the torch on these types of things. ⠀ ⠀ You & I can't fix it all. Or change everyone's mentality. But what we can do; speak loudly and proudly of our support of the entire LGBTQ community, be an ally, create businesses / families / homes that are inclusive & not be asshats. ⠀ ⠀ Its pretty simple if you think about it; human rights go to all human beings. Love is love. ⠀ ⠀ Happy Pride.⠀ Clinks⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral ⠀
The infamous "good vibes only" flag went up in 2017. The year we moved into this garage.⠀ ⠀ The first studio, (scary addition room on the barn that now houses all wreath stuff) had our Tibetan prayer flags. Still does. ⠀ ⠀ This studio, the flag everyone points out and loves. ⠀ ⠀ The new studio - who knows. ⠀ ⠀ But the flag will come with us. Because I didn't know it then but I was unintentionally trying to set a tone for the work we do in here. ⠀ ⠀ Our studio always has: music, snacks, lots of sharpies & a laidback attitude. ⠀ ⠀ We work really really hard in here, but we have fun. We picnic lunch. Whoever needs a comfy seat sits on the lawnmower for break. We lay in the sun for a few 'creative brain' break moments. ⠀ ⠀ If you're building a space or a team or anything, I encourage you to make it yours. Put your vibe in there. Your weirdness. Your loves. Get rid of the stuff you hate. Don't make it like some photo your saw on Pinterest or in a magazine. Make it yours. Make it work for you. ⠀ ⠀ Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe and its so spot on for the space you create in as well. ⠀ Clinks to a busy day in the studio.⠀ ⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral
You see the studio and the tiny and the farm and the wedding flowers and the dogs and the house renovations and the blooms. ⠀ ⠀ "I want your life"⠀ "This is a dream world."⠀ "Its literally perfect." ⠀ ⠀ These are all really nice things to message me. And I do so appreciate them. But I always always remind people, its so much hard ass work. ⠀ ⠀ Someone reached out to me a few weeks ago with a very kind email. About how her and her partner were about to buy a tiny homestead and wanted to do it all. Pigs, chickens, flowers, a roadside stand, host events.. etc. ⠀ ⠀ These emails make me so happy. Because I remember so well when this place was just a zillow listing and we were making those same lists. ⠀ ⠀ Lavender, a tiny house, a flower studio, a garden, events, apple trees.... ⠀ ⠀ My sweet dreamer : You will do it. But please please please remember this is just the highlight reel. Even though I work so hard to be like 'this isn't just the highlight reel' at the end of the day it is. ⠀ ⠀ Be ready to work. And sacrifice. Then work some more. Be ready to build your business- no matter what it is or what service it provides- painstakingly from your couch and kitchen counter and with more emails than you ever thought humanly possible. ⠀ ⠀ And be ready to look at the numbers for said business and have hard talks with your person. About budgets and what projects are greenlighted this year and what needs to wait longer. ⠀ ⠀ All the power and advice and grit you need is in your tribe. Its in your partner. Its in books and podcasts and on YouTube. ⠀ ⠀ If it helps my favorite lines I repeat to myself all the time are:⠀ -If I'm not paying myself this is a hobby. ⠀ -If it wasn't hard everyone else would do it. ⠀ -Anything worthwhile takes time. ⠀ -I really love this crazy ass ride. ⠀ ⠀ Do the work & the work will get done.⠀ Sit and wait for your dream life to happen & you'll be sitting a long ass time. ⠀ ⠀ Clinks⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #brid
As your wedding day draws closer I want to gently remind you its all gonna work out. It really will. Best news: the people you've hired for vendors? We do this for a living. While its maybe the first wedding you've hosted- its not the first rodeo for us. We got you. We want nothing more than for this day to be perfect for you. ⠀ ⠀ If you're obsessively checking the weather forecast 30 days out and believing it to be true- let that go my sweet. Yes its been a rainy summer. Yes, it might rain on your wedding day. Yes its still going to be the most amazing day of your life. I promise you. ⠀ ⠀ You're over it. I know. I always laugh during my final call with our couples because they are all like 'I'm so excited and so.... ready for this to be over.' I say it all the time but the best part of your wedding is waking up the next morning married to your best friend and able to recount all the memories from the best day ever. It's like a magical bubble you never have to leave. You're so close to this moment!⠀ ⠀ So many people love you. Whether there's 4 of you at an elopement of 275 of you in a ballroom - the love people are sending you is legit. It's such a special time- that week of your big day. Enjoy every second. ⠀ ⠀ And lastly, remember to eat food and drink water on your wedding day. Like a normal amount. Yes the dress will fit you. I promise. ⠀ ⠀ I cannot wait for your day!⠀ ⠀ Clinks ⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ Image: @kayymariephotos⠀ ⠀ PS- Breathwork tonight at the farm at 6! Learn how our breathing makes all the difference in our day & practice helpful tips to ease an anxious mind. $20 - no registration required. See you here. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral
When I realized this baby was going all the way, I had a hard decision to make. ⠀ ⠀ It was the one where I have to schedule weekends off this summer in order to guarantee I can make it all summer at a good clip until maternity leave time. ⠀ ⠀ You know, like being an adult and respecting my body and stuff. Real fun. ⠀ ⠀ So I wake up today, a Saturday in June, not working. ⠀ And as badly as my 'busy brain' and 'business brain' say- 'man I wish we were loading the van right now'⠀ My body is saying 'thank you thank you thank you.' ⠀ ⠀ Today, I rest. Tomorrow too. Monday we start up on a 17 day run that'll bring more events than you can imagine and the largest flower order I have ever had delivered (that should be hilarious) + all the usual insanity of a fully booked tiny house and tiny farm to run. ⠀ ⠀ And my mom is back in town and she'll drop off cookies to the studio and tell me to sit down when I'm designing. ⠀ ⠀ I could not do any of this without our amazing team. Who I told to spend today and tomorrow getting 'rest. rest. and more rest.' ⠀ ⠀ You too. Rest rest and more rest. ⠀ ⠀ Big love babes⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral ⠀