With a love story as pretty as the wedding it produced, this next wedding by Calynn Berry Photography is the perfect way to gush your way through your lunch hour. Also, may I just say, I am obsessed with baby’s breath bouquets these days? Because I am. Don’t forget, there is even more to gush about in the full gallery of images so don’t forget to stop on by!
Click here to see the entire gallery of images!
From the Bride…Jason and my story began at Jackson High School, where we were close friends but nothing more. After graduation we took a trip to Greece and Italy along with 20 of our friends and in one long bus ride, we determined that one day, we would get married. As we sat, talking, laughing, and eating pistachios, we revealed how we had secretly been interested in each other for a while but our timing was never right. That’s the moment that we decided we would have to make time and we devised a plan. We would start dating in college because maybe our timing would be right then, allow for a break-up along the way, pursue careers in fields that we loved and then, when we were 25 and still in love, we would get married. We called our conversation “the seven year plan” and promised over a pistachio shell that we would try to make it happen. We then split the shell, ate the nut, and each kept half.
Plans can’t always work seamlessly as there are the unanticipated setbacks – the fights and break-ups, my little sister’s TWO bouts with cancer, and just plain growing up in general, however on March 25, 2010, the day that we heard the beautiful words that my little sister was finally in remission from her Leukemia, Jason was secretly buying me a ring. One week later, on Good Friday, he proposed!
For our first wedding decision, choosing a venue and a photographer seemed to go hand in hand, and shortly after deciding on The Inn at Bay Harbor because of our long loving relationships with Northern Michigan, we found Calynn, a friend of a friend, and she. was. amazing! With the bulk of our budget going into our dream venue, I knew I needed to get creative if we wanted the spirit of our love and relationship shine though in the smaller details. With help and support from family and friends we were able to complete a lot of the design ourselves. My parents, Jason and I built our photo-booth, I designed the wedding invitations and the paper goods and our mom’s helped assemble them, Jason’s parents helped us assemble the programs, some wonderful friends of ours helped with the ribbon wands and the fabric wrapped favor popper boxes. The largest and most time consuming project was definitely our favors. I wanted our guests to have something that represents us, so I, along with help from friends and family, made and painted flower magnets out of pistachio shells. They ended up being a hit, and well worth the hours of effort.
We both feel that the actual day was a perfect dream. Everything seemed to fall into place, even the weather was perfection, and 8 years after determining to be together forever, we were able to share our love and celebrate our commitment to one another with 190 of our closest friends and family in beautiful Northern Michigan.
Wedding Photography: Calynn Berry Photography / Event Planning + Design: The Bride / Day-Of Coordination + Set-Up: Jacquline Dixon + Samantha Miguel of The Inn at Bay Harbor / Wedding Dress: Re-Designed Mori Lee via Beckers Bridal / Dress Alterations: Sew What / Bride’s Shoes: Guess / Sash + Pin: Family Friend / Hairclip: Kathy Johnson3 / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Warehouse / Invitations + Paper Goods: The Bride / Floral Design (with the exception of the bridesmaid bouquets): Bloom / Hair: Illaria Hair Studio / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Nantucket Baking Company / DJ: Sound Productions / Venue: The Inn at Bay Harbor