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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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When I took a 'warm up break' in the van on Saturday with the heat blasting during my arbor build - it felt like it was time. My hands freezing from a water bucket on a blowing 39 day.⠀ ⠀ The trees the most beautiful colors, but a chill in the air that can only signal what's coming next... the 'off season'. ⠀ ⠀ I use that term loosely because I'll fire on all cylinders around here until Christmas. But there's a certain change when the weddings come to an end. ⠀ ⠀ The routine and rhythm to my weeks changes. They feel a bit disjointed at first, as I readjust to no truck on Wednesdays and early Saturday alarms and stressful but beautiful Fridays. ⠀ ⠀ Everything is just slapped on a week long 'to do' list now. The black binder retired, the cooler turned off, the studio littered with cardboard that needs to go and half packed boxes as we prepare for a new space. ⠀ ⠀ It was an incredible wedding season, one not at all possible without the women pictured above. They are the reason we have so many happy clients. ⠀ ⠀ It takes a village and the one you see here rose to the occasion in every way possible this year. I am endlessly proud of them, of us. ⠀ ⠀ The wind hurt my face as I walked around the farm yesterday afternoon. Our neighbors snow fence is up. My muck boots on. Its time. Time for a new season. ⠀ ⠀ To our couples, thank you. It was so fun for us. Thanks for trusting and believing in what we do and letting us create as artists and treating us like family and being the nicest people ever. ⠀ ⠀ We'll be back and ready for you in May. But lets all raise a mug this morning to wedding season 2019... damn that was fun. ⠀ ⠀ Clinks⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀image: @thecompasspointshere ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral
Funny how it all comes back around to how it started right? ⠀ ⠀ Today is my final big wedding of the year. I’m going solo. The first wedding I’ve done solo in a long time. Since the early days. ⠀ ⠀ Usually Matt would join me but he’s home having boys day & running to Home Depot & so I load the van & drink the coffee & in the dark morning hours sneak off the farm. ⠀ ⠀ Every wedding season provides me so many lessons. I’ll write more about this next week I’m sure. And yes, I’ll still have my hands in the blooms for various things; my friends backyard smooch fest laidback wedding, a side event here or there, but today is the last real deal one. ⠀ ⠀ This entire thing started way back when I was literally just a chick obsessed with greenery. And blooms. But man did I love greenery. And I was clueless. So I started learning how to design flowers. Because it seemed so fun. ⠀ ⠀ And it is. All these weddings later it’s still fun. ⠀ ⠀ So today NPR will blare the entire way to the wedding & I’ll stop for a breakfast burrito & more coffee. And on the way home I’ll safely zoom back to my guys. Because I want family time. ⠀ ⠀ And I’ll think back to when it all started and I was looking for a creative outlet, a new skill, a fun thing to try & I’ll laugh at what it all became. ⠀ ⠀ The most fulfilling journey. Filled with a ridiculous amount of meals eaten in a minivan. ⠀ ⠀ Time to hit the road. ⠀ Clinks to you ⠀ ⠀ Xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral
This is actually the level of pure joy I have when teaching people how to make wreaths. ⠀ ⠀ That’s insane to me. It’s a wreath. I look like I’ve found the golden ticket. Nope. Just the moment I show ya a little wiring trick. ⠀ ⠀ Other things that make me this happy? Drumroll please....... ⠀ Good lighting. ⠀ The flicker of a candle. ⠀ My siblings. ⠀ Winning Euchre ⠀ A cold glass of champagne. ⠀ Lazy Sundays. ⠀ My birthday. ⠀ Any dip that involves cream cheese & a crockpot. (Could I be more midwestern right now?) ⠀ Listening to music too loudly. ⠀ Bridal bouquets. ⠀ Wagging tails. ⠀ A Walloon swim during golden hour. ⠀ Dinner on my parents porch. ⠀ Laughing so hard I cry. ⠀ ⠀ The list could go on. Essentially, if you plop me anywhere there are good people and good drinks and good food and good lighting I’m a very happy, very tall, very loud 31 year old woman. ⠀ ⠀ I’m Kalin. I design award winning wedding flowers. I teach a lot of workshops. I’m obsessed with wreaths. I’ve got a Wolfpack I take care of and a tiny farm we all live and love at. ⠀ ⠀ That’s about that. ⠀ Thanks for being here. ⠀ Happy #fridayintroductions ⠀ ⠀ 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 Sweetwater 2020 Calendar is hot and live people! Order one today! ⠀ ⠀ I created this with my friend @katherinecorden.art and it’s been so fun. ⠀ ⠀ Each month features a beautiful painted rendition of a Sweetwater original floral design from our studio. Bouquets, arrangements, wreaths, lavender... all the things we love here. ⠀ ⠀ Pro tip: grab a few- its the absolutely most perfect holiday gift for anyone on your list who is cool and likes flowers (hint: thats most people). ⠀ ⠀ DETAILS: (pay attention here friends) The pre-order ends October 24. Thats it. I repeat, on October 24 you will not be able to get this calendar anymore this year. So act quickly! These will ship the first week of November. ⠀ ⠀ More to come in the shop, head to Kath's page to grab your calendar! (@katherinecorden.art) ⠀ ⠀ Can't wait to see them displayed in your spaces⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral
Why is 2020 going to be such a busy wedding year? ⠀ ⠀ I feel like - because 2020 is cool to type? I dunno. I never know. But holy smokes if it isn't going to be insane. I mean, insane. So couples who are tying the knot here are some of my favorite planning tips as you jump in on a busy year. ⠀ ⠀ 1- Lock down then chill down. Get your deposits in with the vendors you love and trust, and then for the love of all things- please chill. Go enjoy your holidays with your family. Go ENJOY your engagement. I promise you that you are not 'behind' if we get cranking on details after the new year. ⠀ ⠀ 2- Plan a weekend or two to come up here and get stuff done, but also have fun. A note here that you have zero right to lose your mind that your vendors have plans on the weekends in March. We work every single weekend 6 months of the year, so sometimes- the Saturday morning in the off season you have planned to meet with 'every vendor' will not work. It's ok! We got this! Lets find another date OR chat on the phone some more.⠀ ⠀ 3- Unfollow all those wedding accounts. I'm serious. Its not helping you. Seeing other stuff for inspiration is great, but obsessively stalking all things wedding related on here or Pinterest is a dark hole. Save a few things you like. Trust your team. ⠀ ⠀ Which brings me to #4....⠀ ⠀ We do this for a living. Trust. I know how hard it can be to release a white knuckle grip on control. Its a BIG investment. Its a BIG deal. Its a lot of opinions and feelings and emotions and weird things bubbling up. Trust the team of people you have hired who do this professionally to make it great. ⠀ ⠀ Now go enjoy your engagement. And relax. We got this. ⠀ ⠀ Happy Wednesday loves.⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Image: @odenandjanelle ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral
Just gonna cut right to the chase, I'm giving a TED Talk. ⠀ ⠀ Even typing that is insane. When I read the email inviting me to speak I had just put a screaming baby to sleep and Matt was at a football game and it was 10pm on a Friday night and I immediately thought my insides were gonna come up. ⠀ ⠀ Shock. Honor. Excitement. Elated. All the things. ⠀ ⠀ So yes, I'm one of the speakers @TEDxDetroit next month. We are also going to have a booth at TEDxLabs so the crowd can come and learn about Sweetwater and all the weird awesome things we do. ⠀ ⠀ What am I speaking about? Flowers. Creativity. Career Changing. How we all can design a life we really really love no matter what we do and its ok that you turned out differently than everyone thought you would. Oh also a bit about how no matter how great you are at something you can do go something else and what made you great there will make you great here. ⠀ ⠀ Wow. Really great succinct explanation of my topic. 😉 ⠀ ⠀ In all honesty, this is a big thing. My family keeps telling me how big it is and I keep trying to act chill but I'm nervous and so excited and a million other things. ⠀ ⠀ Being a TED speaker was on my Bucketlist of 'crazy things before I turn 40' but on that list is also have an HGTV show & at one point or another actually putting myself together for family photos with brushed hair. SOOOO its a lofty list- but we are checkin. things. off it. ✅ ⠀ ⠀ Working on my talk. Its the hardest thing I've ever had to write. But also the easiest. Its weird. ⠀ ⠀ The following morning after hearing the news, the excitement had died back a little bit I heard Matt changing G's diaper in the nursery... ⠀ ⠀ "Guess what little man? Your mom is gonna give a TED talk, and that's crazy, and thats exactly why I married her..."⠀ ⠀ See ya in Detroit on November 6.⠀ ⠀ Tuesday clinks⠀ xo⠀ K⠀ ⠀ ⠀ image: @thecompasspointshere⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #upnorth #northernmichigan #puremichigan #weddingflowers #weddingplanning #flowers #floraldesign #petoskey #harborsprings #traversecity #ib oki leelanau #engaged #theknot #mackinacisland #goodvibesonly #vsco #walloonlake #charlevoix #bayharbor #bride #bridalbouquet #sweetwaterfloral #tedxdetroit
Saturday morning it dipped to 30° here. I thought of our guests out there snuggled up and the hum of the tiny heater for the tiny house doing its job. ⠀ ⠀ I poured more coffee. Maple laid on my⠀ feet. We walked outside to see the frost and this sunrise. The “orchard” aglow like it can only be in early October. ⠀ ⠀ Fall at the farm is special. It’s a hefty⠀ List of “to do’s” before the snow flies and knowing that sometimes that list needs to be ignored for a week or two and you should just enjoy the views. ⠀ ⠀ I have a weirdly insane week. One that is all the things to juggle. Spinning so many plates. ⠀ ⠀ I’ll admit I’m overwhelmed, but also grateful that amidst the chaos I get to call this place home. No matter how many things on the list go unchecked. ⠀ ⠀ Happy Monday babes. Here’s to a new week. We got this. ⠀ 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 officially made my final “need this” harvest from the garden yesterday. ⠀ ⠀ From here, anything we get is just an extra gift. It’s all a gift. But when I saw the thermostat hit 36° before bed last night - and then 34° when I got up at 4am. we know. The time is now. ⠀ ⠀ The days are numbered on the most beautiful, colorful, season of the year. ⠀ ⠀ I cut everything I needed to fill a small order. A bucket of dahlias, marigolds, cosmos and zinnias. ⠀ ⠀ I don’t lay blankets or put up hoops. It’s a tiny cutting garden. And when the calendar flips to October we all know what’s coming around here. So I always let nature run it’s course. ⠀ ⠀ I love you garden. Thank you times a million for such a magical summer. It really was the best. And next year we’ll do it all over again. ✨⚡️🌟⠀ ⠀ 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 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀