Michigan Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Northern Michigan Romantic Autumn Wedding

Adorned with perfectly pink blooms and autumn air, this Northern Michigan affair is chock-full of lovely. From the Brides cute yet comfortable shoes, to the newlyweds autumn-hued portraits, the gallery is the definition of perfection. Straight from the lens of Kelly Sweet with assistance by Jen Lynne, see the entire day unfold here!

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Fall Weddings

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Religious Institution Rustic Weddings

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Rustic

From The Bride… We decided the Leelanau Peninsula was the perfect location for our timeless, classic, romantic wedding. It just had the perfect amount of character we desired.

Tim had proposed to me on the Sleeping Bear Dunes overlooking Lake Michigan roughly a year before our big day so we had a tie to the area. We also thought it would be the most lovely place to getaway every year for our anniversary.

Both romantics at heart, we loved the thought of having an intimate and quaint wedding. The Willowbrook Mill was the first place we visited after getting engaged and just fell in love with the venue! The rustic yet elegant-feel had us swooning! To add to the classic elegance we were going for, a sweet couple from the Leland area offered to drive us from the wedding to the reception in their 1946 Cadillac Limo (!!!!).

Having a fall wedding, I’m sure everyone expected to see deep tones of reds, oranges, and browns but we took a completely different route based on our personal style and taste; romantic, airy, and light. Lush greens, ivory and blush tones with a mix of silvers and golds, were accompanied by small fall tie-in’s such as pinecone name tag holders, and a coffee bar serving warm caramel apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes. The cocktail hour was entertained by a 2-piece classical band playing the keyboard and saxophone.

With all the wedding details aside, this was the most perfect day we could have ever hoped for, or imagined. Being surrounded by our family and friends that we love so dearly, as we committed our lives to one another, was so special and will be treasured all the days of our lives.

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Bridal 2016

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Preppy Gold Michigan Vineyard Wedding

Not only can this bride rock a topknot bun like nobody’s business, but she makes planning the cutest of cute weddings (in five months flat!) look like a total walk in the park. Set at a gorgeous vineyard venue, it’s one part glam and one part rustic with a dose of preppy stripes thrown in for good measure. More pretty from Amanda Crean’s lens sitting here.

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Summer Weddings

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Outdoor Weddings Weddings in Wineries

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Rustic

From The Bride…Brian and I met at the wedding of two of our very best friends in the summer of 2012. He quickly went from my wedding dance floor partner, to my long-distance boyfriend, to my fiance in the January 2014. I have to admit, before we got married, I had planned just about every theme of wedding in my head. An outdoor fall wedding, a beach destination, even a New Year’s Eve bash. It wasn’t until Brian brought up the idea of having a summer wedding in the same town as my family’s lake house that I felt like the dream wedding started to become a reality.

I tasked our extraordinary wedding planner (my mom) with finding an unforgettable venue and boy, did she deliver. I still remember her calling me at work to tell me the date options that were open: June 28 or July 5 of 2014. I laughed at the idea of both. Planning a wedding in 5 months? There was no way. Little did I know this was my first glimpse into how married life is done – jump right in with both feet and figure out the small stuff together along the way. So we booked the date, 5 months to plan, and slowly July 5 started to feel like it was meant for us all along.

Our vineyard venue was off the beaten path, so I loved the thought of having guest feel like they had stepped out of the country and into a summer soiree. I picked gold as our main color to give a touch of glam to the rustic surroundings and used the pops of coral and greenery to highlight the natural colors in the vineyard. As for the navy, I have to give credit to my now husband, who’s only request for our big day was to wear a “really cool” blue suit.

Before we got married, I prepared for all the small details that I thought would define our big day. And while those details turned out beautifully, I must say now what defined our day was the love that was put into making all those details come together. My sister and sister-in-laws surprised me by painting the 300 gold vases and candles we used as our center pieces because they knew I had a lot on my plate at the time.

My mom won the blue bicycle at an auction because she knew it would be the perfect accessory for the beach and in the vineyard. She even asked for a bike basket as her Mother’s Day present so she could fill it with flowers for pictures. My dad let me stretch the wedding budget just a little bit further to get the white bulb lighting of my dreams and then patiently screwed in the 500 light bulbs while checking to make sure each one worked. And Brian stayed up with me until 3:00am making the stop-motion video we played during our reception, allowing me to ask him for “just one more picture” over and over again.

No matter the theme, colors, decorations or dress, the most important part of our wedding was the people who came to support us. We ended our first night as husband and wife in our big white tent on the dance floor surrounded by the best family and friends two people could ask for. I couldn’t have imaged starting our new lives any other way!

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Reem Acra

Spring 2015

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Traditional Ballroom Wedding at Detroit’s Henry Ford Museum

This loving couple chose to be wed halfway between their two homes: Cleveland and Grand Rapids at the historic Henry Ford museum in Detroit. This intimate affair, captured by Lauren Gabrielle Photography oozed sophistication. Every detail from 3-tiered cake draped in lush florals from Sweet Heather Anne to mad libs on each table created a sense of comfort the bride and groom hoped for on their special day. See every detail here!

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From the beautiful Bride… I met my husband in a hospital in Cleveland. He was my clinical instructor, and I told him I wasn’t interested in dating anyone in the medical field. A few months later, I graduated and moved to Grand Rapids, but he managed to keep hold of my heart. After a year and a half of long distance dating, he completely knocked me off my feet with a surprise proposal. We chose to get married in Detroit, halfway between Grand Rapids and Cleveland, because that’s where the majority of my friends and family lived. Two weeks after getting engaged, we met up in Detroit and set out on a slew of appointments to find a venue and church.

We were just in awe as soon as we stepped foot into Lovett Hall and First Congregational Church. The Henry Ford Museum inspired the feel of our wedding. We both wanted something classic and traditional without being stuffy. I planned the wedding in a hectic 8 months, and I couldn’t have done it without some serious help. We hired a day of coordinator and it was one of the best choices I made. If there was anything amiss at the wedding, we had no idea because she made everything run smoothly. I’m not the craftiest person, and I’m so grateful for my dear friends that helped me make beautiful invitations, place cards and a website.

I’m eternally thankful for my childhood friend and wonderful photographer Lauren who captured the magic of our day. My husband was my calming voice of reason when I would get carried away on impractical elaborate ideas and my biggest supporter to get what needed to be done. Together we planned the biggest party of our lives and we were so thrilled to celebrate our marriage with the people we love.

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Justin Alexander

Spring 2016

Spring 2018

Justin Alexander Fall/Winter

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Rustic Elegant Fall Farm Wedding

This Oscar De La Renta dress caught my attention from the start but I fell even more in love with this wedding, and this beautiful couple, after reading the Bride’s story and learning just how much thought, time and care went into creating their celebration with the help of VLD Events. Don’t miss both clips by 3rd Street Films and Beale & Wittig’s gorgeous gallery so you too can see every beautiful bit of this bash.

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Al Fresco Rustic

From the Bride… Our traditional American wedding was held at Cornman Farms in Dexter, Michigan. I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan which is just 15 minutes outside of Dexter. It was important to me to get married close to where I grew up, surrounded by family and friends. My finance – now – husband’s family is mostly from Chicago, IL, so it was only a short four hour drive for them to join us!

When we started planning this wedding, our goal was for everything to be simple! We didn’t want to over-theme, or have too much color coordination. We just wanted the day to be a declaration and celebration of our love for each other. The wedding was a combination of neutrals, metallics, and greenery with chic and sophisticated decor in a rustic setting. Even though we were on an actual working farm, we decided to play up the natural beauty of the environment versus adding in haystacks, burlap, etc. We chose our venue because we wanted our guests to have plenty of space to walk around, explore, and enjoy themselves in a casual and beautiful environment. A farm venue allowed us to have a separate ceremony, cocktail, and reception site, yet kept everything within walking distance. We loved the contrast of having a formal event at a non-traditional non-formal space, and the farm venue provided the perfect backdrop for that.

Going with a clear-top tent was the best decision we made. In the tent, we had long, clean, wooden farm tables, with ivory table runners, and a collection of flowers, vases, brass candlestick holders, and green moss balls made by my mother. The chairs were my favorite. Instead of the chiavari chairs, we chose a woven bamboo chair. It gave a new texture and design element to the overall look. We also had absolutely beautiful lighting installed. Rows and rows of tiny twinkle lights set a magical tone to the entire tent, alongside three rustic chandeliers.

One of the most special touches to our wedding were the flowers. My mother is a floral designer, and she designed the entire concept. The flowers were a variety of whites, ivories, and greens – all different shapes and textures, including succulents, hydrangea, bells of ivory, and kale. We didn’t have formal arrangements, but kept each vase holding a single variety of flower. For vases, my mother, sister, and I collected both new and vintage (starting a month after I was engaged!), from garage sales, antique stores, and flea markets. We wanted an eclectic assortment. We also used my mother’s collection of ivory and white McCoy pottery that she displays at home. It was so special to have such a personal touch at every table!

We did a few DIY projects as well. My mother made a card box covered in beautiful green moss, and we spray painted some mason jars with copper and gold paint. For our favors we gave scratch off lottery tickets, along with pennies (to scratch) that had a heart stamped in them! We added a note that said ‘Wishing you love & riches, from the new Mr. & Mrs.’. My sister made a few signs for seating and the flowers. My groom also made the table numbers out of pieces of wood and copper numbers. He was very proud of them!

I added sleeves to my Oscar de la Renta dress, made out of the extra length from my dress. Loved how they turned out. I asked all my bridesmaids and maid of honor to wear a neutral colored dress – ivory, nude, metallics, patterns, anything was fine! I wanted them to feel comfortable, beautiful, and uniquely themselves. My mom wore pants, which was so her style. She’s just not a dress person, and we wanted her comfortable, so she wore dressy pants and looked beautiful! All the groomsmen wore black suits. Instead of spending money on renting a bad suit they would never see again, we just asked them to wear any black suit they had in their closet. Craig bought them all different gray/black/white bow ties from The Tie Bar (Chicago company).

The best part was that after all this careful planning… it rained. And it didn’t just sprinkle a little bit, it thundered and stormed, and turned the power off on half the lights in the tent. We made our official entrance to the tent under a sea of umbrella’s held by the gracious staff of Cornman Farms. They literally had everyone help with this – from Ari Weinzweig (one of the founding partners at Zingerman’s), all the servers – anyone that could hold an umbrella was helping out! But it didn’t ruin anything, in fact, it was absolutely magical – the sound of the raindrops on that tent, gazing up and not just seeing a dark sky, but seeing thousands of raindrops pouring down at you. We really enjoyed ourselves, and as my father mentioned in his speech, noting the Hindu tradition “We have a very old saying that we believe in, anything important that has to happen, and which is auspicious, it has to rain, and so, this is just like God is smiling up there, and he approves, and he is blessing this couple”.

Elegant Woodland Wedding Inspiration

Rustic elegance is what wedded dreams are made of, but add in beautiful berry tones and metallic accents and it’s got SMP written all over it. From gold place cards that double as menus, to floating macaroons that surround a beautiful Sweet Heather Anne cake all amid an autumn woodland, this inspiration from the lens of Sarah Dunn Photography is downright dreamy.

From Kaitlin Parisho… The vision for this shoot was a mix of both rustic and elegant details. These images are full of natural details, and pops of beautiful berry tones, aubergine and metallic accents. We had several amazing vendors participate in the shoot from all over the US, and I am proud to showcase their talents – some new to the industry and others well established.

We have several lovely and unique details that range from gold hand lettered place cards that double as menus when opened, to floating glass orbs filled with macarons that surround a beautiful cake all amid an autumn woodland.

I scouted all over SE Michigan for our location and when I stumbled across the towering pine forest in Wixom, MI where the light flooded so gracefully though the tree canopy I knew it would be perfect location. The photos that Sarah was able to capture are absolutely stunning and clearly show the talent she has. The day of our shoot was a chilly 30 degrees outside (Michigan weather is always keeping us on our toes), and, from the light filled images she captured, you would never be able to guess.

Sarah chose to shoot digitally but, more importantly, also with film. I adore the romantic look that film captures, and it’s not something you see all photographers using. Lastly, our models were a real-life couple named Colleen & Ryan, who were high school sweethearts and had dated for over 9 years before recently becoming engaged! It is visibly clear in the photographs how in love they are and how comfortable they were with each other and in front of the camera!

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South Manitou Island Anniversary Session

When an anniversary shoot involves a muted color palette and and a gorgeous bouquet full of wildflowers, you know it’s going to be sweet perfection. With the help of Weber Photography- Cory Weber, this couple looks like they’re having the absolute best.time.ever! And the backdrop of gorgeous Northern Michigan pairs perfectly with details of this shoot here.

From Weber Photography… Weber Photography photographed Kate and Justin’s northern Michigan wedding 3 years ago and couldn’t be more thrilled to photograph their anniversary session on the far side of South Manitou Island in Northern Michigan. With the incredible talents of Tableau Events and BLOOM Floral Design, we took full advantage of the island’s breathtaking scenery and the best view in all of northern Michigan (no joke). As part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the island boasts dunes that roll on forever as Lake Michigan lays beyond.

Kate’s family owns one of two privately owned cabins on this island of the national park and so she spent summers growing up there. Given her family’s special connection and its stunning scenery Kate and Justin dreamed of having their wedding on the island too. Unfortunately, the island isn’t easily accessible and wasn’t logistically possible for their big day in 2011 but they knew that it would provide the perfect backdrop for an epic anniversary.

To celebrate their anniversary, the two enjoyed a romantic picnic as the sun set over the lake. BLOOM’s amazing creative direction, styling and floral design and Tableau Events’s gorgeous papery, props, and styling completed the special and intimate event. Kate wore an amazing flowy dress and Justin wore a suit with no tie that kept the evening feeling a little more casual. It was almost as if they were stranded on an island after going out on the town for a romantic evening.

Rustic Chic Michigan Cabin Wedding

Would you believe me if I told you this piece of pretty was put together as Part Two of their Big Day? From their sweet City Hall nuptials to the sentimental cabin ceremony that followed, every moment is sure to bring a sincere smile. Overflowing with lasting love, every detail Tuan B & Co captured is waiting for you in the gorgeous gallery, here!

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Summer Weddings

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Backyard Rustic Weddings

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Rustic

From the beautiful Bride… Elsie and I had the pleasure of having two weddings! Our big deal, giant party wedding we wanted to have at my family cabin in Northern Michigan. The spot we chose couldn’t have been more scenic or ideal. It’s a place I had been going since I was a child, and a place my father had been going since he was a child – so we’re talking about 80 years of history there.

But, Michigan does not recognize same-sex marriages, so we got legally married a month before in Chicago (where we live). We planned to treat the ceremony in Chicago as just “completing paperwork” – but when we got there, we were surprised by our photographer who showed up to capture what we didn’t realize would be such a moving day (How awesome is that!?). After waiting in a long line and a terrible government office basement, we were ushered into the judge’s chambers, where the judge picked up his “Ceremony for Same-Sex Couples” cheat sheet and officially married us. That morning, we picked flowers from our garden and tied a ribbon around so I had a bouquet. We were joined by my parents and my cousin and then had a few friends over to our house afterward. I cried during the ceremony, and Elsie, excited beyond control basically couldn’t stop giggling and smiling. After that day I thought, “Huh, maybe it can’t get better than this.” It was so simple, beautiful and emotional. But one month later was when we planned the “big event”.

In August, just about 100 of our friends and family made a trek to a remote spot in Northern Michigan to celebrate with us. We did nearly all planning and preparation ourselves and it was SUPER stressful. We did everything – menus, ceremony programs, escort cards (including finding sticks in the woods, sanding them, varnishing them and slicing slats in them to fit the escort cards). Our “welcome bags” featured all Michigan products and included our own personal recommendations of places to eat and things to see in this tiny town. (Our friends, mostly from New York, DC and San Francisco, kept asking about cabs, not really knowing what they were getting into). But the care and the planning we put into all of these details made everything so special and perfect in the end. Our rehearsal dinner was one of my favorite moments; we had one long giant table and white linens running down the deck of the cabin with fresh picked wildflowers from the property that our friends had foraged that day. My mom and step-mom made the food, and after dinner I convinced a solid number of our friends to go jump in the lake with me off the dock at sunset. It was beautiful and magical, and again I thought, “How could it get any better than this?”

On the big day, we stood under a ceremony canopy made from Elsie’s mother’s veil and her father’s Barong tagalog – a traditional shirt worn by Filipino men during special occasions like weddings. Both of her parents have passed, and so my 89-year-old grandmother, a seamstress her whole life, sewed the canopy together making it one of the most meaningful pieces of our big day. Two of our best friends – both musicians, played and sang “Here comes the Sun” as I walked down the aisle and other friends did surprise readings that fit the day perfectly. After the ceremony, Elsie and I walked down the aisle, married this time in front of all of our loved ones, and hopped on a John Deere gator decorated like a “Just Married” car for a quick round trip spin through the woods. Our food was made by one of our friends who is a Chef back in Chicago. The highlight was the whole roast pig that he stayed up tending to for 14 hours straight, but the entire menu was amazing and seasonal and from farms somewhere along the route from Chicago to Northern Michigan. My cousin made the wedding cake – a skilled and trained chef and baker himself. He made probably the best tasting wedding cake I’ve ever had.

While I could really go on and on about how perfect our day was, the one other moment I’ll mention is our “first look.” Tuan, our photographer, picked a trail that leads from our cabin to what was my great-grandfather’s cabin next door. That trail is lined with tall old pines – pines that were planted by my father and grandfather. And the first look photo that Tuan captured was just so breathtaking. The biggest surprise of that day was how quickly we got overwhelmed (in a good way) by the sheer fact that so many people came from so far to celebrate with us. Ever since August, I’ve just wanted to have that day, that weekend, all over again (crazy, right?). I not only got to marry the love of my life, but we did so surrounded by so much love and meaning – I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Photography: Tuan B & Co | Coordination: Sincerely, Ginger Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Sincerely, Ginger Weddings & Events | Bakery: Cornwall Bakery

Elegant Gold Infused Detroit Art Museum Wedding

Sometimes, a wedding is so lovely, it’s hard to find the right words to give it proper credit. Such as the case with today’s affair. A wedding that literally glows from the moment she dons her dress, to the very last dance. With a design by VLD Events, linens from La Tavola, photography by Jill Devries and a golden cake by Sweet Heather Anne, make sure to spend some time basking in the beauty.

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Fall Weddings

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Museum

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Classic Weddings Modern

From the beautiful Bride… When we started planning our big day, we had a few themes in mind. We wanted a wedding that was respectful of the day and what it meant; we wanted a wedding that was personal, without being cliché; and above all, we wanted a wedding that was super fun and memorable for everyone. And all of this on a budget, of course. Detroit’s incredible art museum (the Detroit Institute of Art, or DIA) provided the perfect atmosphere for the event, and with the help of a rock star team of vendors, the day was everything we wanted and more (we are only slightly biased).

Wedding day festivities kicked off with the Bride (Erin) and 20 yoga-inclined wedding guests venturing to Yoga Shelter in Midtown Detroit for a morning vinyasa class. The bridal parties then hurried to the historic Westin Book Cadillac to get ready. The bridesmaids and bridesmen sipped on champagne (a gift from the Groom, Scott) while the maids had their hair and makeup done; Erin returned the favor with an 18-year-old scotch for the groomsmen.

One of our favorite moments of the day – the first look – took place outside of a cool, urban garden in Detroit. Those emotions, that moment – we’re so grateful to have all of that captured by our amazing photographers. Detroit’s fickle fall weather was even cooperative, and we were able to take pictures outside of the museum with the bridal party and as a couple in the fading afternoon light.

The ceremony was held in the DIA’s magical Rivera Court. The room’s walls are covered with floor-to-ceiling murals painted by Diego Rivera in the early 1930s. We added nothing to the room, which was already lined with beds of calla lilies, except for a hand-drawn map of the museum, courtesy of the talented Kristen Drozdowski. Weeks before the ceremony, we presented the vows we had written to our officiant, JR Roberts. Each of our vows began with a short anecdote, which we planned to share with the audience. The surprise of the day came when – while Scott was delivering his vows – it became apparent to Erin that we had both chosen the same anecdote. Perfect.

We closed the wedding with a “champagne box” ceremony: We each wrote two letters, one to read that morning and another to read in the future. All four letters went into the champagne box to open on our five-year anniversary, along with a bottle of bubbly. The idea is that marriage and our love was something to celebrate, all the time. We sealed the box with a champagne toast during the ceremony.

Guests exited the ceremony through the American Art gallery, and headed to cocktail hour in the DIA’s Woodward Lobby. Although the museum’s Modern and Impressionist Galleries were open for guests to explore, almost everyone headed right to one of two specialty bars: the first, a champagne bar complete with a bar cart, fruits, herbs, juices, and champagne flutes adorned with gold sugar rims; the other, a scotch bar with five different kinds of scotch, served with large “ice spheres,” and decorated with the Groom’s cake representing the “Old Well” at the Groom’s alma mater, UNC Chapel Hill. Guests snacked on fancy passed apps, but the highlight was cheesy bread delivered hot from local favorite, Jet’s Pizza. As a bittersweet touch, we also set out a memory vase to honor Erin’s grandfather, whose funeral was the day before the wedding. The memorial helped us recognize the important emotions from the day before without putting a damper on the joyous emotions of the wedding day.

Guests then moved upstairs to dinner in the DIA’s Great Hall. With its to-die-for ceiling, gorgeous armor displays, and beautifully tiled floors, we wanted to complement rather than compete with the already amazing space. Reception decor included clean ivory linens, creative flowers to bring it life, and subtle (as subtle as gold foil can be) print materials. We also slipped Rivera Court postcards behind each guest’s menu as a souvenir. Erin and Scott entered the reception to “Lose Yourself,” by Detroit’s own Eminem — and later had our first dance to “The Luckiest,” by Ben Folds. The couple joined the bridal party at a long banquet table decorated with seasonal flowers, an armor-colored table runner, pears, ribbons, and gold acorns – and sat at chairs adorned with greenery and flowers (one of our favorite design elements). A Midwest-sized dessert spread followed dinner, including Georgetown Cupcake (the couple lives in DC), the Pumpkin Maple Groom’s Cake, and Mexican Spiced Chocolate wedding cake — both from Sweet Heather Anne. According to most guests, the traditional speeches before dinner – father of the Bride, little sister/maid of honor, and twin brother/best man – were the highlight of the wedding. Late night snacks of Michigan cider and donuts from Yates Cider Mill came in a close second.

DJ Mary Ann Productions rocked Top 40 and Motown tunes all night, with only a brief interlude when the bride lip-synced “The Jackal” for her fellow West Wing fans (pictures intentionally excluded). After the party, Royal Transportation drove a crowd to Cliff Bell’s – an art deco jazz club downtown – for live jazz and cocktails. And finally, after the after party, a few guests (including the parents of the bride!) visited iconic rival coney dog restaurants: American and Lafayette Coney Islands.

Although we leaned heavily on our incredible vendors to keep everything elegant and polished, we still “DIY’d” a few items. The mother of the Bride made over 150 ice spheres for the scotch bar (in sets of three, no less). And the Bride took online calligraphy lessons through I Still Love Calligraphy, allowing her to calligraphy the invitations, day-of signage, and welcome bag tags.

If we could change anything, we wouldn’t. We’d just have the same party again and again.

Romantic Pastel Countryside Wedding

When a summer romance blossoms into a lifelong adventure, you know the wedding that follows will be filled with significance and serious style. From the family venue located on a lake, to the DIY blooms, to the gorgeous cake made by the Groom’s grandmother, every detail is downright delightful. Julie Pepin captured every moment in one gorgeous place, and it’s all waiting for you here!

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Summer Weddings

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Industrial

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Classic Weddings

From the beautiful Bride…. Ryan and I met the summer after my sophomore year of college. I traveled down to Hilton Head Island where I had obtained an internship for the summer. Ryan had previously worked at the very same internship, and had stayed in the area after graduating to try and start a career.

Once the summer started, it didn’t take us long to meet one another. We had both been invited to the same gathering, and the host introduced us to each other since he knew we were both from Michigan. As if that wasn’t coincidence enough, we then found out that we were both from neighboring small towns.

After a short period of time we both knew that are relationship had developed into so much more then our initial first meeting. So when the summer was over, along with my internship, Ryan and I traveled home to Michigan together.

Just a year later, right around the time we met, Ryan popped the question after I came home from a study abroad program in China.

Being married on my family’s property was near and dear to my heart. Being the first person in my family to be married there, and knowing that there had been so much history that took place on that land was an irreplaceable feeling. The love and support of every one who had traveled to celebrate with us on our special day is a feeling I will never be able to replace.

Our family property was everything I had in mind. It was beautiful, natural, located on a lake, and had a stream that ran throughout. Everything was done personally by a select few. For our florals my bridesmaids, my mother and I did it all: from the floral centerpieces, to the boutonnieres, to our bouquets.

Being that we were getting married in August many florists were not confident with peonies. Knowing that I had no experience with florals other then gardening I knew we had to be up for the challenge. They turned out lovely and I could not have asked for more.

Our amazing cake came from my husbands grandmother. Over the course of two years of us being together I quickly picked up that she was the go-to lady for dessert, and I had no doubt in my mind that it would be delicious. The real floral decorations made the cake come alive, and did I mention she is 83!!

Our parents really helped make our dream wedding come true and we can’t thank them enough. They contributed so much from all the hard work on the family property, to finding the perfect venue that was not open to the public, to the perfect rehearsal and the unimaginable place for us to prepare for the big day. It was a lot of firsts for many of our venues and I hope they continue to open themselves for many couples to come.

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WASIO photography + A Special Offer + A Giveaway!

Ask anyone I know and they’ll tell you I am rarely at a loss for words; I like to talk… a lot. But every once in awhile, I come across something sooo incredibly breathtaking and beautiful, words escape me. And that something is the brilliant work of WASIO photography, a talented team of photographers that know a thing or two about capturing your wedding day in images you’ll treasure for always. Made up of two husband and wife teams (Sasha & Yaneck + Magda & Marcin), WASIO photography is known for building personal relationships with each and every one of their clients; meeting them several times pre-wedding, bonding with them at their amazing engagement shoots and even inviting family members to the viewing sessions post-wedding. Which means that on your big day, you’ll have friends documenting all of those special moments, making their perspective that much more unique. And WASIO photography isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get the jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind image, whether it’s on the day of your nuptials, at night with their custom lighting or at one of their breathtaking sunrise engagement sessions. [iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/KZtDuEQCXM0 600 338] Visit WASIO photography today to talk to the team of photogs that will take your wedding photography to the next level. And don’t forget, if you book WASIO photography by June, 2015, you’ll receive a 16×24 beautifully matted fine art print printed on hand-made German 100% cotton museum paper ($450 value)!What: WASIO photography is giving away a sunset or sunrise 1-hour engagement session!* (Value $499)

How: To enter, go here!

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Colorful Winter Floral Inspiration

We’re snowbound here in New England and I’m struggling to remember what spring looks like, so this gem of a shoot by Mioara Dragan came across my desk at the perfect time. Bursting with epic flower crowns, necklaces, and more, it’s my new source for fresh winter floral ideas, and with Passion Flower Events’ talent and gorgeous gowns from The Ann Arbor Gown Shop, this gallery is a feast for the eyes.

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Winter Weddings

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Backyard

Styles

Classic Weddings

From Mioara Dragan Photography… Susan McLeary of Passion Flower Events, Stacy of The Ann Arbor Gown Shop, and I put together this stylized bridal shoot. We thought it would be a great opportunity to inspire winter brides with the dark colors against the white to juxtapose all the light pastels in warm weather that we usually see. Going for a winterized look was our way of thinking “outside the box.”

We worked with the following florals: hyacinth blooms, ranunculus, passion flower blooms and vines, astrantia, gardenia, andromeda, lilacs, cherry blossoms, burgundy echeveria, fritillaria, parrot tulips, silene, and heuchera foliage.

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Tara Keely

Fall 2016 Collection

Spring 2017 Collection

Fall 2017 Collection

Spring 2018 Collection

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Ivy & Aster

Through the Forest

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Elegant At Home Vow Renewal

This, my friends, is the be-all, end-all of vow renewals. A picture perfect outdoor affair featuring some of the most beautiful details you will ever see. Think ghost chairs and chandeliers meets lush florals from Claude and Augusta by Katie Wachowiak all held on the gorgeous couple’s very own property. Styled to perfection by VLD Events and captured in amazing images by Bryce Covey, this gallery is a must-see.

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Seasons

Summer Weddings

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Backyard

Styles

Classic Weddings

From VLD Events… Sarah and Phil Robbins joked that they had the worst wedding possible when they got married 10 years ago. They were 20 years old, they had very little money, and let’s just say that everything that could go wrong did. Dress got covered in tar on the way to the church – someone even ate their wedding cake in the freezer before their 1st anniversary. They laughed it off, but once their 10 year anniversary came around, they wanted a re-do. It was time to celebrate how far they’ve come together, and with their closest family and friends.

To do this, we enlisted a wonderful team of vendors. We wanted to mix luxury and comfort. Sarah is a true girly girl – she loves chandeliers, beautiful blooms, acrylic, fun patterns, and silk fabric. But at the same time she is incredibly down to earth and far from stuffy. This wasn’t going to be a party that no one felt comfortable at. This was going to be the kind of event you take your shoes off for and dance until the wee hours. It was the kind of event you are seated in ghost chairs, but are served mediterranean food. The kind of event that that has an awesome lakefront bonfire and a s’mores station. Not only that, this is kind of event that everyone could feel good about – because it wasn’t just to celebration two people in love and the ones they love; it was also to raise money for a cause they both so strongly believe in – Angel House (building orphanages in India).

They renewed their vows in the backyard of their home. Following the ceremony, there was a cocktail hour by the pool, with handcrafted cocktails by a local cocktail lounge, The Oakland in Ferndale, Michigan. Plum Market provided both the cocktail hour appetizers and the mediterranean family style meal. DJ Graffiti provided music; there was a make your own ice-cream sandwich station instead of a cake. Seating arrangements were little escort card flags in champagne flutes – they doubled as what the guests toasted with, to “cheers to 10 years”.

We worked hard to source as many non-rental items as possible. We stalked Anthro for a long time to get 100 of those plates. Glassware came from One King’s Lane and Crate & Barrel. Believe it or not, it was just as cheap to buy than to rent and it gave it such a nice, intimate touch. We paired our findings with Katie Wachowiak’s stunning florals. Katie is a true talent; she poured her heart into this day and it showed.

We were told it was the best day of Sarah’s life. Whenever I hear “I wish I could get married again, but to the same person” – it makes me smile so big for them, because I know they had that chance. It was so cool to be a part of it.

Secret Beach Wedding Inspiration at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sometimes I fall so hard for the beautiful things we get to feature on SMP, I can barely contain myself. Well, that’s just what happened when I laid eyes on this seaside shoot from Lauren Kinsey. Because it’s basically my idea of perfection. With florals from Bloom Floral Design, planning from Sincerely, Ginger Weddings & Events and paper from Val Marie Paper – this gallery is sure to stick with you awhile.

Colors

Seasons

Summer Weddings

Settings

Lakeside

Styles

Classic Weddings

From Lauren Kinsey…While I was in Michigan for a wedding last summer, Rachel Moger of Sincerely, Ginger Weddings and I worked on a beautiful shoot showing off the beautiful coast of Lake Michigan in the summer. I could easily see wedding guests sitting around a campfire or sleeping under the stars here. Sleeping Bear Dunes is a hidden gem and such a beautiful, untapped location!

SMP Midwest Welcomes Our Advertisers + A Discount!

How do you spend the perfect Sunday? Getting to know the fabulous + oh-so-talented team of eco-friendly wedding vendors at the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance. Because when it comes to hosting an amazing event that is also socially conscious, this is a group of vendors that will most definitely deliver. Learn so much more about their mission… and their crazy cool wedding show, Committed, below.

From Chicago Green Wedding Alliance… The Chicago Green Wedding Alliance is a group of eco-friendly wedding vendors that is committed to making less environmentally impactful events. We connect vendors with the conscious consumer for mindful weddings and social events. Our vendors create gorgeous events that transcend people’s expectations of “green” weddings.

Check out the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

The GWA is hosting a wedding show on February 22nd at Greenhouse Loft! Any couple that books with the code “SMP” will get $5 off! The discount on tickets can be redeemed on the Eventbrite ticketing page.

Brideside + A Discount!

I’ll admit it. As much as I love being a bridesmaid (and, oh, do I love it), trekking to bridal shop after bridal shop to try on gowns is, well, seriously tiring. Which is why I am all sorts of obsessed with Brideside, the online retailer that brings the bridal shop to YOU by letting you browse bridesmaid dresses online and then try them on in the comfort of your very own home. Say it with me, loves: awesome.

With Brideside, you can choose from a plethora of style choices and colors, all with the help of an amazing stylist who works with you every step of the way to guarantee a fabulous (+ chic) bridal party. Just chat with the stylist about your dream wedding and vision, then let them take over and guide your besties through an array of different designers on Brideside’s online store. They’ll even provide instructional videos on measuring and selecting the best dress types for your body! And when every last dress is chosen, they’ll ship the samples to your home, so you can have that girl’s day with mimosas and cozy yoga pants. Soooo comfortable and soooo fun.

Ready to get started? Visit the Brideside website ASAP or, if you live in Chicago, make an appointment with a stylist here. And don’t forget this exclusive discount for SMP readers: When you buy your bridesmaid dress in February, the first $20 is on Brideside! Use discount code “SMP20” at checkout. (Terms & Conditions: Cannot be combined with any past or future promotions. Readers must purchase bridesmaid dress at full price on or before 2/28/15. Offer does not apply to the following designers: Joanna August, Donna Morgan, Jenny Yoo.)

DIY Pallet Escort Card Display

I absolutely adore all the sweet ways people display their escort cards, and thanks to Spark And Wildflower, Bloom Calligraphy and Dionel Photography we have yet another display to swoon over. It’s a totally doable DIY, and is a surefire way to impress your guests.

From Spark And Wildflower…This escort card display was originally inspired by the beautiful blue and white patterned drawer knobs I ended up using as escort tag hangers. I knew I wanted to create something centered around a classic, elegant style with just a touch of weathered and rustic charm, thus the pallet escort card display was born.

I chose a worn pallet that I painted grey, followed by a layer of dry brushed white paint to create a distressed look. My gorgeous, mismatched knobs served perfectly as hangers for the escort tags that were so beautifully penned by Linda of Bloom Calligraphy. When considering signage, I wanted something that would communicate it’s message while contributing to the variety of textures and the soft color palette that this display exudes. I selected romantic serif letters that I tied on using the loveliest powder blue velvet ribbon, to simply spell the words, “find your seat.”

This display’s soft airiness, antique, worn appearance and feminine touches make it perfect for wedding decor, and can easily be customized to fit a variety of styles and color palettes. My friend Dionel, the talent behind Dionel Photography, did an impeccable job of portraying the style and feel I was hoping to achieve through her stunning photos.

Materials

wood pallet
sander
paint
paintbrush
pencil
ruler
power drill
drawer knobs
letters
ribbon for tying on your letters
scissors
escort tags, hole punched
ribbon for your tags

Find your pallets. You’ll more than likely need multiple pallets to accommodate all of your escort tags (my pallet is 3 feet by 3.5 feet and contains 30 knobs, with about 10 inches of space between each) so consider your number of tags and the spacing you want before shopping. I went with a used pallet to achieve a worn, distressed look for my display, but you can purchase brand new pallets from any hardware store for a cleaner look. You can often acquire used pallets from flower shops, farmer’s markets, and other small businesses that are willing to give away their old ones, however some businesses hire pallet removal companies, so it’s important to ask permission before taking any pallets you see.

Sand. It won’t need a ton, but sand your pallet just enough to remove the larger wood splinters.

Paint. I chose a warm charcoal grey for the base layer, followed by white paint which I lightly dry brushed on to create a worn, antique look, allowing my dark grey to show through.

Measure + Drill. Once you know how many knobs you can fit on each panel (and have reserved a couple of panels for your letters) measure and mark a point for each knob to achieve even spacing and straight lines. Drill your holes and erase all pencil marks.

Attach your drawer knobs. Select the knobs you want for your display (all of mine were found at Hobby Lobby!) and decide how you want to arrange them. I found it useful to lay mine on the floor and map out what order I’d like them in before attaching them. This way, you can play around with the arrangement until you have it just right – I also took a picture of my ‘map’ as a reference.

Tie on your letters. The letters I selected were 4 inches tall (from Hobby Lobby) and required two panels of my pallet to fit the words, “find your seat,” comfortably. Using ribbon (I adore my powder blue ribbon, also found at Hobby Lobby) cut strands approximately 10 inches long. Tie one end to the top of your letter, wrap around the panel until it ends in the back, and tie the ribbon to itself. This will cause some letters to be crooked – an aesthetic element you may or may not prefer – so if you want all of your letters to be straight, simply loop the ribbon around the panel only once, tying the second end to the bottom of the letter.

Escort Tags. Once you have your hole punched escort tags, select a ribbon to go with them (this cream ribbon was found at, yes, Hobby Lobby) and cut into strands. String and tie to create hanging tags, which puts the finishing touch on your pallet escort card display. Voila!

Photography: Dionel Photography | Calligraphy: Bloom Calligraphy | DIY: Spark And Wildflower

Winter Wedding Inspiration in Leland, Michigan

Winter Brides, rejoice! Eliza Jean Photography, The Day’s Design and Sincerely, Ginger Weddings are serving up a heaping dose of seasonal pretty below, and trust me, you’ll want to take notes. With the prettiest paper from Gatlin Paper Co., stylish rentals from Gatherings Vintage Rentals and a drool-worthy cake from Traverse City Wedding Cakes – this gallery is winter wedding perfection.

Colors

Seasons

Winter Weddings

Settings

Lodge

Styles

Classic Weddings

From Sincerely Ginger Weddings…My friend Shelby and I, both wedding planners, wanted to join forces and show the power of collaboration in the industry. We are big believers that a strong vendor team will pull together a magical wedding day. Working alongside Shelby, the girls from Eliza Jean photography, and other local vendors to show off our amazing spot on the mitten was so much fun. Leelanau Peninsula is Michigan’s small slice of heaven. From picturesque wineries to miles of gorgeous lakeshore, the charming & historic town of Leland is an ideal spot for destination weddings. When Shelby (a fellow wedding planner and friend) and I started to work on this editorial shoot together, we knew we wanted to showcase the unique area of Fishtown. We were lucky to have one of my real couples model for us for the day! Aren’t they adorable? Margaret wore the “Ruth” gown from BHLDN with the Pearly Primrose Sash. We imagined a small destination wedding starting with the couple getting ready together. I love the idea of the bride securing her groom’s boutonnière, and he taking extra care zipping her dress. How romantic! First we ventured into downtown Fishtown, which, according to the Fishtown Preservation Society, is a collection of weathered fishing shanties, smokehouses, overhanging docks, fish tugs and charter boats along the Leland River in Leland, Michigan. We used vintage minnow buckets, wooden oars, and candles to set the mood for a private ceremony. Our color palette for the day was inspired by a winter sunset here in Michigan, gentle lilac that moved into a more bold blue with classic ivory accents. We loved the unexpected blooms in winter that hinted at spring that will surely, eventually come. White peonies, purple stock, and rich thistle were some floral elements that we paired. We also foraged cedar and evergreen the day before to bring in a hint of winter greenery. Our table was set simply with wooden produce boxes filled with bud vases for an open cluster of flowers. The couple toasted with a local bottle of bubbly, our favorite L. Mawby, Blanc de Blancs, produced right here on Leelanau Peninsula. The amazing stationery suite was dreamed up by our friend Nicole at Thistle and Bur. She hand designed and letter-pressed the whole suite inspired by the natural vibe here in Michigan (her home state!). I especially love the menu with items inspired by the little fishing village. Local raclette cheese, whitefish pate, pretzel bun sandwiches from the Cheese Shanty? Count us in! The last detail that sealed the deal was the cake! We installed a vintage toboggan from the ceiling and adorned it with a garland made from local, foraged greens and candles. Michigan is such an incredible and unique place for destination weddings, even in the winter!

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