Michigan Weddings

When you have my job, you just have to deal with the fact that night in and night out, you are going to be dreaming of gorgeous weddings (not that it’s a bad thing). The moment I laid eyes on the first image of this soiree from Heather Saunders Photography, I was smitten, and knew I was in for a night or two of dreaming. But then I realized Parsonage Events was behind the absolutely stunning design (um, those flowers? I could die) AND TwoFoot Creative was the planner. Not to mention the beautiful sweets table from Sweet Heather Anne, because that would just be too much pretty. I think we’re all in for an afternoon of gallery perusing, and at least three weeks of wedded dreaming!

From the designer … As an event and floral designer, Naseem Ramin was a dream client come true. She came to our first meeting with a a stack of photos showing gorgeous, unconstructed bouquets and centerpieces. Other than her desire for big open blooms and a color palette of silver, raspberry, blush and hints of dark blue, she left the entire design up to Parsonage Events.

Because she was having her wedding and reception at The Whitney, one of Detroit’s beautiful and historical landmarks, we felt it appropriate to design with the age and style of the building in mind. The reception space spanned many rooms so we decided to use an eclectic mix of vintage or vintage style vessels. We used milk glass, pressed glass and an abundance of silver and gold mercury glass. Each arrangement was different but when you looked at the design together, it coordinated perfectly.

Parsonage Events used a beautiful mix of flowers including dahlias, garden roses, ranunculus and foliage like dusty miller and geranium leaves. Each of the boutonnieres were made up of a different floral element and the attendant’s bouquets were wrapped with different fabrics including grey and white chevron, raw silk and burlap.

Candle light was also very important to Nasseem. Parsonage Events filled every ledge and little nook with different shaped candle holders.

Lastly, Nasseem explained the importance of the pomegranate to her Middle Eastern culture. We incorporated full and sliced pomegranates in the long centerpiece of her beautiful head table.

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Photography: Heather Saunders Photography | Floral + Event Design: Parsonage Events | Event Planning: TwoFoot Creative | Venue: The Whitney | Invitations: Bella Figura via Pulp and Ink | Shoes: Kate Spade | Dress: Oscar de la Renta | Sweets Table: Sweet Heather Anne | Envelopes + “Please Seat Me” Sign: Molly Jacques Illustration

“Fairytale weddings are made at the Grand Hotel.” Said by the bride, and truer words have never been spoken. For those of you who are naive to the magic that is Mackinac Island, we’ve got today’s wedding to bring you into the loop. The little island has no cars, just bikes and horses. It’s filled with gorgeous beaches, stunning views, and a hotel so grand, it is enough to inspire a wedding this gorgeous. You won’t want to miss this gallery from McCoy Made. It’s like a pretty, pretty, wedded dream.

From the beautiful bride … Don and I met when we were 18, in the fall of our freshman year at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. We were assigned to the same dorm, and even the same floor. By Christmas that year, we were inseparable. I’m happy to report that things really haven’t changed, since! He proposed on my birthday while we were vacationing in Florida. We had gone to an early dinner that night and I knew something was “up” when he almost chased the waitress down to get our check so that we could make it back to the beach in time for sunset! It was perfect.

Why Mackinac Island? For a girl born and raised in Cincinnati and a guy from Fort Wayne, Indiana, it didn’t seem the most likely of places to the majority of our friends and our extended family. But, I think we had a pretty good reason! Mackinac is one of those places that people either know of and LOVE or have never even heard of at all. A few months into dating, I happened to mention the island and how much I loved it. Don looked at me in disbelief and said “You’ve been to Mackinac?!”. We suddenly realized that, while our paths hadn’t crossed until college, both of our families had been vacationing to the island every year since we were, quite literally, babies. The common vacation destination turned into our yearly destination as a couple, shortly thereafter. When we got engaged, the location of our wedding wasn’t even really a question – we’re from two different cities, but we wanted the destination to have real importance for each of us separately and as a couple. Plus, I told my parents the only church I’d ever get married in was St. Anne’s on Mackinac…

Where to start with Grand Hotel? Well, for starters, I’ll mention the fact that prior to our wedding night, neither Don or I had stayed at the hotel-ever. Growing up, our families had either stayed off the island and visited on day-trips, or visited and stayed at Mission Point. Don is one of five kids and I’m one of three; staying at Grand wasn’t really in the family budget! So, Grand Hotel, for both of us, had always been a kind of magical, elusive place. When it came to our wedding, Grand represented a new start to our shared island experiences, as well as, truthfully, the only place on the island that could accommodate our 225 person wedding with style and grace. Plus, just look at the place! Fairytale weddings are made at Grand Hotel.

The inspiration for our wedding colors, invitations and overall “feel” was summer on Mackinac Island. We knew our reception location at Grand Hotel was dramatic, to say the least, so we wanted to make sure our wedding was as relaxed and fun as the island itself. More importantly, we didn’t want to compete with the decor that already exists at Grand Hotel – who are we to question the genius of Carleton Varney? So, we kept things pretty simple and preppy to counteract the over-the-top hotel embellishments! Our colors were navy blue and yellow to give a hint of nautical feel, and Don and the groomsmen wore J.Crew khaki three-piece suits instead of traditional tuxes. My fantastic bridesmaids wore Ann Taylor knee-length dresses and I wore “new” Anne Barge-with “old” pearls from my hubby, a “borrowed” bracelet from my mom and “blue” heels. One of the touches that has been complimented and is also apparently Pinterest famous is a photo of the display that my mom created for our reception welcome table-she gathered Pottery Barn lanterns, flowers, and framed our seating charts in a way that was just perfection!

The reception at Grand was equal parts classy, elegant and fun. We maintained most traditions – from the cutting of the cake to the first dance, ate a delicious five-course meal and then let our band take over from there. Don and I actually came across our wedding band, the NashVegas All Stars, while YouTube-ing wedding bands. We watched a couple of videos and knew that we had to have them for our reception. Looking back, that was a bit of a risk, as the first time we ever saw/heard them in person was at our wedding. BUT, we, and the rest of our guests, were blown away by their performance. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a wedding where every last person was up dancing for the. entire. night.

Our wedding would NOT have been possible without our wedding planner, Carole Erbel of For The Love of Mackinac. For as much as Don and I know and love the island, there is no way we could have coordinated 225 of our closest family and friends from the church to the cocktail hour to the reception without a hitch! Or, our band, photographers, flowers and cake to one location when we were planning for 8 hours away! We were so impressed and Carole’s dedication allowed Don and I to relax and enjoy the day!

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Photography: McCoy Made | Flowers: Margaret’s Garden at Grand Hotel | Event Design + Planning: Carole Erbel, For the Love of Mackinac | Ceremony Location: Ste. Anne’s Catholic Church | Reception Location: Grand Hotel | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Dress: Anne Barge | Wedding Carriage: Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Carriage Tours | Hair and Make-up: Astor’s Salon at Grand Hotel | Cake: Bella e Dolce | Band: Nashvegas All Stars

Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is one of those places that is filled with personality. Which, of course, makes it ideal for a certain kind of romance, namely, a wedding. McCoy Made is here to prove that to us all with a wedding so fabulous, it could have only been held at the stunning hotel. We’ve got a gallery you definitely won’t want to miss, so click here!

From the stunning bride … Gregg has been going up to his family’s Northern Michigan summer home every year for the past 20 years. It is a very special place for the family and has became a big part of Sally’s life also over the past 8 years. We were really drawn to the ‘destination wedding’ concept and The Grand Hotel was perfect for the occasion. The Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island is a beautiful place that we have visited frequently over the years.

As it was a destination wedding, we were really inspired by the vintage airmail look for the Save the Dates and most of the printed material for the wedding. We were also driven by the concept of contemporary meets vintage with a mixture of old and new. The contemporary color combination of charcoal, ivory and orange along with the contemporary flower choices of ivory calla lilies and white orchards mixed with Sally’s ornate lace dress and historical setting of the Grand Hotel created a great blend of old and new.

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Photography: McCoy Made | Flowers: Margaret’s Garden at Grand Hotel | Venue: Grand Hotel | Wedding Carriage: Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Carriage Tours | Hair and Make-up: Astor’s Salon at Grand Hotel | Cake: Bella e Dolce | Videography: Mackinac Island Video Productions

Weddings from Bryan and Mae are some of my favorite for two reasons. First, a whole lot of the beautiful celebrations they capture are in my gorgeous home state (Michigan) and I love the little piece of home. And second, they are phenomenal at capturing a couple’s love. You can see the tenderness in the way they embrace, hear the laughter, and feel the excitement. And, the coolest couples choose these two talented photographers to capture their big day. You won’t want to miss the rest of this one… click here!

From the gorgeous  bride … We wanted our wedding to be a celebration not just of our love, but also the love of our family and friends, and ultimately, God’s love for us.

When we first started the planning process we realized that there were so many wedding traditions that we knew nothing about. While we appreciate tradition, and did include a few traditional elements, we wanted to try our best to make sure that each part of our wedding had personal meaning to us. It was initially a little hard for our moms, aunts, and grandmas to understand why all of our bridesmaid dresses were different and why we didn’t have a three-tiered cake to cut together and shove in each others faces, but I think our reasons became apparent once everything came together. Everything from the music, to the vows, to the decorations, to the way we introduced our bridal party felt like us, just as a wedding day should.

It is impossible for me to choose a favorite part of our wedding day because really, the entire day was just incredible. Getting ready was a blast. A couple of my bridesmaids and I started the day with an early morning run. I am normally a pretty quiet and shy person, but I was literally yelling out to strangers that we passed, “I’m getting married today!” and I honestly couldn’t help it! I was just so excited and I wanted everyone else to feel it too. We spent the rest of the morning, just hanging out, listening to music, and laughing about everything as we took turns getting our hair and makeup done. There were also some tears as my friends presented me with a homemade book of pictures and sweet notes from each of them.

The first look was another part of the day that I could just play over and over again in my mind. We had been talking about our wedding for months and it always seemed like this distant thing that I had to look forward to. But as I was walking up behind him it just hit me that it was finally here. It was so great to just stand there giving each other teary-eyed hugs with everything finally feeling so real.

We had the ceremony at a park, which actually had neither traditional value nor personal meaning. For some reason I had just always envisioned myself getting married under a big tree and we happened to drive by this park and find the perfect one on the same day we booked our reception at the Goei center. There were so many parts about the ceremony that stood out to me but my favorite part was probably the prayer at the end. There is really no other time in life when all of the people that you love and care about most are all together. There are people from every phase and friends from every circle and they are all there to celebrate with you. It was such an amazing and unifying experience to see all those people from my life and all those people from Bryan’s life join hands with us in a prayer of blessing for our marriage.

As for the decorations, we made most things ourselves, which I really enjoyed. I was in the midst of a busy grad school semester up until four days before our wedding so I just gave myself frequent study breaks during which I worked on wedding crafts. We spent hours decorating mason jars, cutting fabric and burlap for banners, and searching thrift stores for the perfect plates to use for our dessert tiers. The doors we used at the ceremony were an exciting (and free!) find from the basement of the house Bryan was living in at the time. The doors started out with an aesthetic purpose and became a visual reminder of our vows. All of us make choices each day that are like opening and passing through a door; Decisions to be kind, to express love, to do what is right, and so on. The vows that we made on our wedding day were like opening and passing through a door that we also locked behind us. It was and is a commitment to a lifetime of decisions for grace, hope, love, and faithfulness. Now, those same doors are our reminder of those vows every morning because we made them into the headboard of our bed.

My advice to current brides would be to keep in mind that your wedding day is only the kick-off to a whole lifetime with the person you love. It’s easy to get wrapped up in planning the details for the wedding, but I found myself much less stressed when I was able to take a step back and regain this perspective. I think that because of this, I was truly able to enjoy the entire process of planning and especially the day of the wedding. It was an absolutely beautiful day filled with so much happiness, excitement, and love, and we are so glad to have not only the memories, but also the photos that capture it all so perfectly.

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Photography: Bryan and Mae | Ceremony Venue: Johnson Park | Reception Venue: Goei Center | Flowers: Eastern Floral

I’ve never had such an immediate adoration for wallpaper as I did when I started sifting through these images but seriously Detroit, you’re bringing it with that wall decor. You know who else is bringing it? Julie Pepin Photography, that’s who. Because tucked inside this day are portraits as timeless and gorgeous as they come. They are the kind of photographs that children and grandchildren are going to be coveting years from now. They are family heirlooms in the making and you can see them all right here.

From the Bride…Right from the get go, Steve and I knew we wanted to get married downtown Detroit. The first few months were trying because we couldn’t find the right venue in terms of size and price. We looked into every place that that had experience hosting weddings (museums, theaters, and clubs) but the cons outweighed the pros for most of them. when I was just about to give up hope and let my mom convince me to have a banquet hall (which isn’t our style) our started researching places that aren’t known for hosting spaces. I was reading up on the old buildings in the business district…like the Dime, Guardian, and Penobscot. In my readings, I discovered that these places once had clubs and ballrooms in the upper levels. I contacted some building managers to see if such places still exist in these buildings…but many of them have gone through renovations and changes and have learned such spaces don’t really exist within these buildings (very sad!) The Dime Building Manger gave my contact info to Yvonne, the manager at The Madison and she contacted me saying, Madison is finishing renovations. Once it was Detroit’s 1st Film theater, and now it was being turned into a space and rooftop that can be rented for all kinds of events (quite the opposite most of these old buildings have gone through!) We were hesitant at first but when we saw the roof and view we were incredibly charmed. It was even better than what we envisioned. The reason we wanted Detroit was because our families are from there. Steve was born there, we went to school there, and some of are favorite places to be are there. We know the city has a certain stigma it can’t shake off by some family and friends, but the Madison venue is in the heart of Campus Martius where some of that splendor still shines. I couldn’t have asked for a better representation of what we wanted.

Favorite Moments… 1. When driving to the salon to get my makeup done, I had this epiphany that everyone we care about is in town ALL AT ONCE FOR US! I got overwhelmed and had to pullover. 2. My dad himself is a favorite moment all his own. Seeing him in that tux was amazing. My dad is a pretty casual guy and it was just cool to see him looking suave like that. He was totally out of his element but I could tell he was digging how he looked. His moves on the dance floor took me off guard and were unrivaled. Gerald the DJ was even impressed with my dad’s crazy music knowledge. Even crazier is how current my dad’s info is. He knew every pop and rap song that Gerald dished out when things were getting rowdy. 3. Seeing Steve on the roof for the first time. I can’t really describe what I felt. But it was pretty darn magical and perfect.

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Photographer: Julie Pepin Photography | Floral Design: Tim Grebik Jr, Arden Park Detroit | Catering: Golden Spice Catering | DJ: Gerald Roesser | Hotel: Book Westin Cadillac | Cake: Groom’s Mother + Costco | Wedding Venue: The Madison | Wedding Dress: J.Crew | Shoes: BHLDN | Earrings: Fenton Fallon from J.Crew | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Vera Wang | Make Up: Rouge | Hair: Juaquin Cameron, Scissor Candy

This gorgeous wedding takes place in the town where I grew up. I spent my girlhood days daydreaming about all the beautiful soirees that happened at The Henry Ford, convinced they all embodied the romance of the history of the place. And today my dreams have finally been brought to fruition, as this sweet wedding, from Jeffrey Lewis Bennett Photography, has fulfilled them all. It’s filled with a certain kind of vintage romance that could only happen on these magical grounds. I’ll be living out my childhood fantasies in the gallery, and I’m sure I’ll see you in there!

From the stunning bride … Mark and I met on a walk though Lincoln Park in Chicago. We had an instant connection and four years later he proposed to me in my favorite place, the Lily Pad Pond in Lincoln Park. Although we love our home in Chicago, we are both from Michigan and wanted to have a wedding that celebrated our roots. I absolutely love flower gardens and it was my dream to be married outside in one. Lovett Hall at the Henry Ford was perfect because it allowed for an outdoor ceremony with a beautiful dance hall that Henry Ford built to teach his children ballroom dancing. The colors of the venue perfectly matched the look that we had wanted: soft and romantic. We especially loved their library where we had our Ketubah signing ceremony. Yas from Quill and Fox helped design a custom invitation just for us and it really set the theme for our event.

Because both Mark and I are quite studious, and I love family heirlooms we decided to collect vintage books, teacups and assorted vases to decorate our tables. Close family and friends helped to find the collection and by our wedding we had gathered over 300 pieces. I worked closely with our florist, Marena Boddy, from Viviano Flower Shop and she helped to make beautiful bouquets and arrangements with anemones, lisianthus, ranunculus, Queen Anne’s lace, succulents and beyond. I designed a stamp and other printed items with Sarah LaTarte from Good Creative, and for wedding favors, Mark and I hand-stamped Moleskine journals. With the help of our Mothers, we tied up each one as a little present and also used it as the place card. We recycled extra invitations to make name tags and other labels and asked guests to take all of the flowers and collected books and vases as an extra gift.

Before the ceremony we took a carriage ride through Greenfield Village and took pictures with our amazing photographer, Jeffrey Bennett (JLB Wedding) in the Cotswold’s English Garden. Shane Tincu videoed the event and my Father, Jerry Silecchia along with Mark Heckert, keyboardist from our wedding band, Intrigue edited the footage and made an incredible video for us. All of the hard work paid off because everything was so personal. We were so happy to have our family and friends celebrate our new lives together!

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Photography: Jeffrey Lewis Bennett Photography | Cinematography: Shane Tincu Films, edited by Silecchia | Flowers: Viviano | Event Design: Heather Silecchia | Event Planning: Amy Cox at Lovett Hall | Ceremony Location: Ginger Meyer Garden at The Henry Ford | Reception Location: Lovett Hall at The Henry Ford | Invitations: Quill & Fox | Programs and other printed items: Good Creative | Shoes: Seychelles from Nordstrom | Dress Designer: Mikaella by Paloma Blanca | Bridesmaid Dress Designer: BHLDN, Neiman Marcus, + Maggy London | Men’s Ties: TopShop | Jewelry for bridesmaids: custom made by Dragonfly Designs | Band: Intrigue

Old Detroit’s history and glamour. That’s what this wedding is all about. I capital LOVE that. Well, old Detroit and a ridiculously adorable couple. VLD put together a “Four Seasons” soiree (with the help of Parsonage Events‘ fabulous florals) all the while honoring the sweet couple and all that was Detroit in it’s glory days. A winning trifecta, captured by Jess + Nate Studios. The gallery whisks you away to another time and place. Click here to see it!

To celebrate the completion of my PhD, Viet planned a week and a half escape to the island of Bora Bora. It was a dream trip. We stayed in one of those over-water bungalows and everything! Little did I know it really turned into our engagement trip! On the second night, he planned a special 4-course private dinner on the beach. HE popped the question after the first course, because he said he was too excited and couldn’t wait til the end. I really don’t remember the rest of that dinner at all. It was the proposal of my dreams!

We love the glamour and history of old Detroit and the Westin Book Cadillac is the epitome of that. It is absolutely gorgeous and was the perfect setting for the look and feel we were going for. We also loved having a hotel as the venue, which easily accommodated everyone and allowed us to skip dealing with limos or having our guests drive from place to place. We wanted a location that allowed everyone to have a great time and still be safe.

We were very lucky to be able to reserve the entire fourth floor of the Westin Book Cadillac for our event, which consisted of four separate spaces. Our incredibly talented wedding planner, Alison from VLD, immediately conceptualized the “Four Seasons” theme. Having access to 4 separate spaces is so rare, so we really took advantage of it.

Guests were brought to the fourth floor by escalator and arrived in the Italian Garden room, which was decorated to resemble Spring. Submerged tulips lined the room and pastel colored French macarons and flavored water was offered.

Guests were then allowed to enter into the Crystal Ballroom, which was where the ceremony took place. It’s theme was Summer and the lighting set the mood to a beautiful summer sunset with candles everywhere.

After the ceremony, guests were led to another room decorated for Fall for our cocktail hour. The room was decorated with different Fall elements and images of Fall trees were projected onto the walls. A specialty Fall cocktail made with apple cider also added to the effect.

Finally guests entered the Venetian Ballroom for the reception, which was decorated for the season Winter. This room made the biggest impact and we really wanted our guests to feel like they were walking into a completely different world. Branched trees lined with little white flowers lined the tables and gave the effect of snow on branches. The lighting gave the entire room a cool, yet welcoming feeling. Our team did an incredible job with this room and even the staff at the Book Cadillac were in awe of how the room looked. They kept commenting on how they had never seen it transformed like that before. It was pretty incredible!

One aspect of the wedding that was very special was a handkerchief that my Mom made from the fabric and lace details of her wedding dress from when my parents were married. I carried the handkerchief with me down the aisle and will always cherish it. It will be something that I will pass to my daughter on her wedding day.

My favorite memories from the wedding is dancing and celebrating with all of our friends and family. The whole day went by so fast, but we were prepared for the reception and made a point to enjoy ourselves there. After being told when to walk and where to go all day, it was great to just let loose and dance the night away as a newly married couple. Our goal was to just throw an amazing party and I think we did just that!

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Photography: Jess & Nate Studios | Videographer: Two Penny Productions | Wedding Planing & Design: VLD | Lighting: Shane P. Designs | Venue: The Westin Book Cadillac | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bride’s Gown: Two by Rosa Clara from Le Salon Bridal | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Allure from ChiChi Styles | Men’s Fashion: Vera Wang, The Men’s Warehouse | Rings: Metals in Time | Veil: Nuage | Hair: Katie Terranova, Hairs to You | Makeup: Renata Makeup Inc & Andrea Duchesneau | Flowers: Parsonage Events | Cake: Decadent Delights | String Quartet: Panache Entertainment | DJ: DJ Addison

We always say that it’s the little details that you add into your day that will leave your guests with that warm and fuzzy feeling. So, so true in today’s wedding. Although the beautiful bride admits, her DIY projects took a little bit longer than anticipated, they were a big part of creating her wedding, her way. With Ana Skidmore of TwoFoot Creative and Jeffrey Lewis Bennett Photography by their side, this bride and groom have tons of wonderful memories to cherish forever. Take a look at the gallery for more of this delightful Ann Arbor wedding.

From the Bride… I met Steve at my summer job shortly before I left for
 graduate school. He was essentially my supervisor, but all of our 
co-workers were rooting for us. They used to spy on us from the second 
floor windows when we ate lunch together, and they conspired to leave 
us alone after work at happy hour. A couple of years of dating, 5
 years of engagement, a move to Michigan, and one Ph.D later, we
 finally tied the knot. We had spent most of our relationship living
 in southern California, but we quickly came to love Ann Arbor and knew 
it would be a beautiful place to plan a wedding. I knew I wanted 
a classic estate feel, and Earhart Manor was perfect. Located on the
 Huron River, the home has beautiful stone architecture, early 20th
 century furnishings, and mature landscaping. We were married between 
two white hydrangea trees on the west side of the manor, had cocktail
 hour on the stone patio, and moved on to a gorgeous tent for the 
reception. Out of some unholy combination of ambition and insanity, I 
decided to make the table numbers, bunting, menus, signage, and bar
 decorations, but in the end I think it came together well. We also 
brought in two ridiculously high-backed chairs from our living room 
and used them for our reception table. It’s actually a lot of fun to 
look at them every day and remember how much fun we had. We also
 planted the two hydrangea trees in our yard, side by side. It was a
 perfect day, due in no small part to my amazing planner and her staff.
 And I couldn’t be happier with the pictures, which I know we will
 always treasure.

Wedding Photography: Jeffrey Lewis Bennett / Wedding Venue: Earhart Manor, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan / Wedding Planning: Ana Skidmore of TwoFoot Creative / Floral Design: Wedding Flowers by Heidi / Cake: Sweet Heather Anne / Dress: Ivy & Aster (Blossom) via The Gown Shop Ann Arbor / Earrings: Haute Bride Design via The Gown Shop Ann Arbor / Rentals: Chair Covers & Linens / Lighting: Quest Productions / Ceremony Music: The Panache Group / Band: Collision 6 / Hair + Makeup: Posh Hair & Makeup Studio / Bouquet Preservation (on Canvas): Curly Art

Planning your wedding creates so many new memories and pretty often, so many new friendships. You work side by side with your vendors – usually for months – and as Ana, the principal event planner at TwoFoot Creative will tell you, when the sun sets and the day is done, it’s often a bittersweet moment. Such is the case of Ariana & John’s classic Ann Arbor wedding. Seeing all of your clever collaborations come to life is a breathtaking moment that few planners – or couples ever forget. Brides around the globe will agree that the day goes by way too quickly – but these knock-your-socks off  images from A Girl In Love  do a phenomenal job of conveying this couple’s story – from first look to closing bell. Join us in the gallery for a tasty macaron from Sweet Heather Anne and the museum wedding reception!

From Ana of TwoFoot Creative… Ariana & John were married on May 12th, 2012 in the Pendleton room at the Michigan Union in Ann Arbor, MI. I worked with them for the past year and it was bittersweet to see all their amazing details come to life – I am going to miss talking to them all the time! I arrived with Zingerman’s bagels and coffee in hand at 11am to the Bell Tower to make sure the ladies were getting off to a good start that day. Imagine Three did an amazing job with their hair and makeup, and then everyone got dressed and ready to go! Ariana & John had their first look at Ingalls Mall. Before the ceremony, as Ariana & John signed their ketubah downstairs in the Tappan room, guests began to arrive. They were given non-alcoholic welcome drinks with gold and white twisted straws that Ariana had imported from New Zealand. A quartet that her brother Jason organized played music in the background.

Immediately after the ceremony, guests were ushered downstairs for a group photo on the steps of the Michigan Union. We flipped the room for cocktail hour, and when they came back up, they were served drinks and appetizers for over an hour while all the details for the reception were finished. At 7pm on the dot, guests began their walk across the street to the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)! Ariana & John greeted guests as they entered the Museum. Guests found their seats via escort cards tied to champagne glasses. Once seated, they were greeted by a platter of Zingerman’s crudités (just in case they were still hungry after cocktail hour). After the couple’s grand entrance, we heard a few toasts and then dinner began!

Bill Hamilton Designs did an amazing job with all the decor for Ariana & John. A friend of hers (Sloane Harmony Design) created all the beautiful paper products. Zingerman’s served salad and a third course, and then the band (the amazing Killer Flamingos) came on for their first set. Almost everyone got out of their seats to dance! After a 30 minute dance set, guests sat back down to enjoy the third course which was followed by chocolate éclairs and coffee. The party really got started with the hora – and it was non-stop from there!

From the bride… We met in Ann Arbor, Michigan while going there to graduate school. We decided almost immediately after getting engaged that it would be the perfect destination for our wedding since I am from New York, John is from Wisconsin, and our family and friends are scattered throughout the country. We loved the beautiful atrium of the University of Michigan Museum of Art for the reception, but decided to hold the ceremony in the Michigan Union. John and I wanted the ceremony to be intimate, personal, and a real celebration of our relationship. One of our best memories was the letters that we wrote to each other that were read during the ceremony. My brother, a violinist, arranged all of the instrumental music for the ceremony, processional, and cocktail hour. We also invited a number of our close friends to participate in our ceremony, and we loved hearing their wishes for us.

Since the wedding would take place in two different venues, we decided that the ceremony décor would be natural, rustic, and capture John’s love of the outdoors, and the reception would have a more modern, romantic feel. We entered a room flooded with candles, walked down an aisle lined with floating lights and flowers, and were married under a chuppah constructed from branches.

After the ceremony and cocktail hour, we proceeded across the street to the reception. Since the museum is elegant and airy, we did not want to compete with the beauty of the space. Rather, we tried to complement it with neutral colors, burlap linens, simple table design, and gorgeous white and blush flower arrangements. After we had difficulty finding the perfect tables, our event planner, Bill Hamilton, built by hand long wooden farm tables, which became one of our favorite touches. We did add a little brightness to the space with a colorful photo booth backdrop, created with my mother’s help and a lot of crafting glue on the floor of our hotel room in the days leading up to the wedding.

John and I agreed that the most important aspects of the wedding were those that directly contributed to the enjoyment of our friends and family. We wanted our guests to have an endless amount of food, champagne, and delicious desserts. We hoped to encourage a dance party throughout the evening, so we both felt that live music was crucial. Although the day went by far too quickly, it was everything we hoped it would be, and we had such an incredible day with all of our favorite people.

Wedding Photography: A Girl In Love / Wedding Ceremony: Michigan Union / Wedding Reception: University of Michigan Museum of Art / Wedding Planning: TwoFoot Creative / Floral Design & Decor: Bill Hamilton Designs / Wedding Cinematography: Owen Video / Catering: Zingerman’s Catering / Cake: Zingerman’s Bakehouse / Macaron Favors: Sweet Heather Anne / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge / Rentals: Chair Covers & Linens / Band: Killer Flamingos / Paper Products: Sloane Harmony Design / Hair & Makeup: Imagine Three

Good morning SMPers. We have a treat for you this fine Thursday. Today’s eye candy comes in the form of a sweet-as-pie lakeside soiree. Photographed by Harrison Studio it’s a little DIY, a little rustic, and totally charming. With pretty pastels everywhere you look, this Lake Leelanau celebration is a wedding crush just waiting to happen. The beautiful bride and her handsome groom enlisted style guru Rhiannon of Hey Gorgeous Events to bring their vision to life… and what they crafted is an absolutely beautiful event as flawless as it is fun and as relaxed as it is romantic.  Go ahead take a looksy in the gallery. We guarantee you’ll be smitten.

From the Bride… Our wedding ceremony and reception both took place at Crooked Creek Ranch on Lake Leelanau. We chose the ranch for its natural beauty, water view, and location in the heart of Leelanau County where I grew up. From the beginning, Tom and I wanted to create a memorable wedding that truly represented us as a couple. As a bride, I wanted pastel tones, full blooms, petite arrangements, and elements that fit our personality and style. One of the best things about the wedding planning process was that Tom and I were able to strengthen our ability to work together as a team. Also, we were lucky that we had many family members who were willing to help with tasks such as favors, yard games, refurbishing dressers, and making directional signs. All of these things combined, allowed us to execute a personal and flawless wedding. It was our hope that throughout our wedding week, family and friends would kick back, relax, and enjoy northern Michigan for its true beauty. Thursday afternoon kicked off our official wedding festivities, when our wedding party and family members participated in a wine tour throughout Leelanau County.

We wanted our wedding ceremony to be unique to us. With that, one of the things that we did was create a time capsule where we each wrote letters to one another that we will read in the future. Also, we had a ring blessing where our wedding bands were passed among guests. Another component that we added was wedding words of wisdom given by Mary and Tom, who are family friends.

As a very thorough bride, I did not want any element to be overlooked. Early on in our planning process, we invested in Rhiannon from Hey Gorgeous Events. Together, Tom, Rhiannon, and I spent many hours creating our vision and brainstorming ideas. A few of the major highlights we planned together for our wedding included our gorgeous cake and pie display, an oversized photo frame hanging in the apple tree for guests to take pictures, and the LOVE sign that created our alter. The biggest surprises from Rhi were the handmade pink and purple fabric garlands hung from the ceiling in the barn and the “hitched” sign (with old school tin cans painted in our wedding colors!) hanging from the 1950 Chevy I rode down to the ceremony in.

Although the entire day was truly amazing, there are a couple of moments that stick out in my mind. One of them was when I was walking down the aisle with my dad and I saw all of the design elements, people, and beautiful weather come together. In that moment, I let out a gasp in awe of the happiness I was feeling. Another favorite memory was when our band got the guests pumped up by spontaneously playing the Michigan State University and University of Michigan fight songs. One more memory was when all of my bridesmaids sang a remake version of “Call Me May be” by Carly Ray Jepsen. The lyrics told the story of Tom and my relationship and they were a perfect fit!

Looking back on our wedding about three months later I can honestly say, that we had the perfect day. We were blessed with 75 degree weather and rays of sunshine, a band that hit every note, family and friends who came from far and near, and at the end of the day; I was able to say that I married my best friend.

From the Groom… Overall, I enjoyed most of the planning process for our wedding. I was excited about having the opportunity to impart some of the things that I thought would be fun at a wedding. As soon as I saw Crooked Creek Ranch in person, I knew that Mary Beth’s vision to have our wedding there was spot on. It was the perfect place for our “style” to be fully represented. I liked the fact that we were able to custom-make yard games for our guests to enjoy during the cocktail hour and the barn was the perfect place for our band Joyride.

Overall, the things that mattered to me most were the ceremony site, cocktail hour, and the band. These were all fulfilled beyond my expectations by having a perfect water view, an amazingly designed social area for cocktail hour, and a beautiful large barn to dance and enjoy the evening in.

I would have to say that my favorite part of our wedding was sending off the wish lanterns at dusk. The moment they took flight and I saw my new wife’s eyes fill with joy will be something that I will remember forever. My wedding experience was perfect. It was a laid back, but formal affair on the water with beautiful and thoughtful design elements that made it ideal for both us as a couple, as well as our guests.

Photography: Harrison Studio / Planning, Design, Coordination & Cake Florals: Hey Gorgeous Events / Venue & Catering: Crooked Creek Ranch / Flowers: Flowers by Marla Courtney Wood / Decor Rentals: Events by I Candy / Tent: Gjs Rentals / Entertainment: Joyride Band / Cake: The Everything Gal / Lounge furniture, Linens & Lights: Special Events Rental / Videography: Bay Area Wedding Films / Bride’s Dress: Augusta Jones via Mimi’s Bridal Boutique Ann Arbor, MI / Bride’s Hair + Make Up: Kristin Romaine  / Bride’s Bracelet: Divine Jewel via Etsy / Bridesmaids gowns: Amsale / Pies and cupcakes: Chimoski Bakery / Officiant: Rev. Robin Long / Men’s Suits: Alfani via Macy’s  / Cupcake Pinwheels: Paula Designs via Etsy / Cake Bunting Banner: Company B via Etsy / Flower Girl Dress: Katina Katoo  / Jam and Cookie Mix Favors: Groom’s Mom / Directional Signs: Groom’s Dad / Yard Games: Groom’s Brother

This next little number simply gives me the warm and fuzzies. And although I can’t pin point the precise detail that is charming up my Monday morning, I’m pretty sure it’s the combination of all the lovely nestled in this Lake Michigan soiree from stephanie n. baker. It’s the type of party where you can just tell people hugged a bit tighter and smiled a bit wider, and it all made for one delightful day. Click here for more.

And there is more lovely to be had thanks to Larisa Graham Videography…

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From stephanie n. baker… Meghann and Dylan got married on a brisk, fall day in Bay Harbor, located in northern Michigan. Their ceremony took place on the breezy shoreline of Lake Michigan where they nixed the traditional sand ceremony for a joining-of-waters ceremony to reflect their love of the outdoors. They gathered water in mason jars from their four favorite lakes and joined them with the help of family members (the moms did the first joining.) After the ceremony, we drove to the event’s barn, but on the way we stopped and got some fun shots on the shoreline as well as a few fun shots in downtown Charlevoix on the drawbridge (which opened for us!)

The reception was an awesome event! There were plush couches for people to sit comfortably, bocce ball, corn hole, all the food served was locally raised and organic, the drinks were creative, and instead of doing a traditional wedding cake, they had pies! After dinner, the party began with FABULOUS music from the fun and energetic Lucas Paul Band. These guys were a good time!

From Larisa Graham Videography… Meghann and Dylan’s wedding started on the amazing shoreline of Lake Michigan at Bay Harbor. The absolutely picturesque ceremony took place outside with waves and a perfect fall day in the background. Meghann and Dylan are a truly genuine couple who are so obviously in love, they were the perfect couple to shoot and made my job so easy since they are so comfortable with one another and in front of the camera. The reception continued in Charlevoix, Michigan at a farm set around a barn that was surrounded by white tents, chairs, a bar and some lawn games for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. Dinner was held in the tent outside the barn and everyone moved inside for music and dancing where the details inside the barn were just as beautiful as they were at the wedding and cocktail hour.

Wedding Photography: stephanie n. baker / Ceremony Venue: The Inn at Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor, Michigan / Reception Venue: Dhaseleer Events Barn in Charlevoix, Michigan /  Wedding Design + Planning: Nicole Beaudoin of Emerald City Designs / Floral Design: Emerald City Designs / Wedding Cinematography: Larisa Graham Videography / Music: The Lucas Paul Band / Wedding Dress: Lis Simon Bridal / Bride’s Sash: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Ivanka Trump / Bride’s Jewelry: Anthropologie / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Hair: Ilaria Hair Studio / Makeup: Emily Jones / Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse / Men’s Ties: Nordstrom

Working at SMP, my eyes have been opened to some of the prettiest places on the planet all via the weddings that show up on our screens – and Door County, Wisconsin is my newest hidden travel treasure. It’s beyond easy to see why this lakeside heaven hosted this breathtakingly beautiful Bride’s favorite childhood memories, and why it simply had to be the place where she said yes to her Mister. And when that day came, I’m pretty sure it turned out beyond her wildest childhood dreams (complete with the most perfect lace up booties I ever did see), because it only takes one look at the images in the gallery from Emily Steffen to see that this wedding was an absolute treasure in itself. See it all here!

From Emily Steffen Photography… Kate and Connor LOVE Door County, so OF COURSE they had to plan their dream wedding in their dream location! Kate’s family owns a house in Door County so one of her fondest memories is waking up to the waves of Lake Superior crashing against the rocks of the shore. They wanted to feature some of their favorite surroundings to some of their favorite people attending the wedding!

The colors were intentionally subdued and monochromatic to give a casual elegance to the affair with strong hints of vintage. Kate spend a lot of time incorporating personal details such as custom “Door County” totes that greeted guests as they arrived, family-heirloom type bagpiping music at the ceremony, mini cake toppers painted to resemble the Kate and Conor and the array of family photos of mothers’/grandmothers’ wedding!

The day began with giggling ladies filling Kate’s family’s home on the shores of Lake Michigan…mimosas in hand and Door County chocolate covered cherries in the other! Followed by some photos and a ride in the famous Door County trolly. It dropped everyone off at the ceremony site, where guests were greeted by the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocky shores and the view of the beautiful, sunny picturesque backdrop as Kate and Connor promised their lives and hearts to one another! The reception soon followed with a live jazz bank, old fashioned drinks, amazing cocktails, funny stories from family and friends as well as tasty food and good company! The night proceeded with dinner, dancing with another LIVE band, drinks, photoboothing, an AMAZING chocolate bar and a surprise fireworks display that had everyone oooo-ing and awweee-ing! It was the night of a lifetime!

Wedding Photography: Emily Steffen Photography / Ceremony Venue: Beach Park in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin / Reception Venue: Woodwalk Art Gallery in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin / Floral Design: Flora / Wedding Coordination: Carrie Baldwin of Door County Meeting & Event Planners / Wedding Cinematography: Miller Studios / Wedding Catering: Mission Grille / Wedding Stationery: Sarah Drake (invitations) / Ceremony Music: Allegro String Quartet (band) + Michael Sommers (bagpiper) / Cocktail Hour Music: Mar Caribe / Reception Music: Bumpus / Door County Totes: FLS Banners / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Shoes: Something Blue via BHLDN (ceremony) + Jimmy Choo (reception) / Bride’s Hair, Bride’s Makeup + Bridesmaids’ Makeup: Toni Scott / Bridesmaids’ Hair: Door County Wedding Stylists

Yesterday we paid a little visit to a gorgeous soiree in my home state, but I wasn’t quite ready to leave the Great Lakes State, so we’re back this morning with a second helping. This one comes to us from Jen Lynne Photography, who captured a day filled with personality and heart. Seriously, this bride has got it all, and we love her and her new groom. With Stella Event Design on hand for the big day, it was every bit as perfect as we would expect. Click here to see more!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

From Jen Lynne Photography … Emily and Aaron’s ceremony and reception took place at MillCreek Barns in Watervliet, MI on a sunny day in August. Guests sat outside sipping iced tea and lemonade while Emily and Aaron said “I do,” then moved inside the barn where they enjoyed appetizers and cocktails. Cocktails were served to guests in their own personal mason jar which doubled as a favor. Emily painted chalkboard paint on each mason jar so that guests could write their names on the mug, use it throughout the night, then take it home with them. The mugs were perfectly paired with paper straws in yellow, pink, and blue which made them even more fun. After guests had time to enjoy apps, cocktails, and yard games, they were treated to a delicious stationed meal. A salad station, a meat station, a veggie station, and my personal favorite a mashed potato bar with all the toppings. Dinner led right into dessert and coffee. The dessert table was one of my favorite parts of the wedding. Emily and Aaron went all out: four flavors of pie, three types of cookies, two flavors of cake, and brownies!

Emily’s style came out in all the details: the stationary, her jewelry, the guestbook, her shoes and dress, and especially in the coffee filter flowers she made herself. I would describe her style as vintage, mix-and-match, and romantic. All things I absolutely love, so it was a real treat helping her pull together the centerpieces using Simply Stella’s vintage rentals. We created three different centerpieces that alternated between the tables. The first was a vintage crate with a collection of mason jars. The second was a tea tin paired with a stack of old books. The third was a collection of milk glass. The flowers from Crystal springs brought everything together. Baby’s breath, ranunculus, garden roses, stock, craspedia, queen anne’s lace, and dusty miller to name just a few of the stunning blooms.

After dinner and a heartwarming slideshow, guests danced the night away and were treated to hours of fun in the open air photo booth, complete with props. Guests enjoyed a true Midwest barn wedding (there was even a bonfire after dark!) and everyone left wishing they could stay longer!

Photography: Jen Lynne Photography / Ceremony & Reception: MillCreek Barns / Officiant: With This Ring, Carleen Burns / Catering: CK Catering / Pies: Achatz Bakery / Cake: Dee’s Specialty Cakes / Bartending: With A Twist / Liquor: Liquor Locker / Flowers: Crystal Springs Florist / DJ: Music Express / Open Air Photo Booth: Diverse Sounds / Day-Of Coordination: Stella Event Design / Vintage Rentals: Simply Stella Events / Bridal Party Transportation: Fantasy Carriage / Guest Transportation: Cardinal Buses / Bride’s Dress: Judd Waddell Style # 4067 / Bride’s Veil: Custom made from Designs Nouveaux / Bride’s Jewelry: Ann Taylor / Shoes: Lulu Townsend “Valencia Wedge” from DSW / Flower and Crystal Hair accessory: EmiciBridal / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hilfiger / Groom’s Shirt: Thomas Pink / Groom’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Ties: Tuxandtulle / Cufflinks: Kohana Jewellery / Bridesmaids’ dresses: Bill Levkoff collection at Demetrio’s Bridal in Glacier / Bridesmaids’ necklaces: Earrings Nation / Groomsmen Suit & shoes: JoS A. Bank / Customized name hanger: Burlap Babe / Vintage window frames: Handmade Betty / Coffee Filter Decorations behind altar: Made by Bride / Vintage Soda Crates: Flea Markets found by the bride

As a true Michigan girl at heart, I love seeing beautiful images from my home state – but when they are from an extra fabulous wedding, it’s just lots more icing on the already stunning cake. K. Holly Photography knows how to capture it well – both my beloved state and gorgeous weddings like this one. It’s somewhat simple opulence (go with me here) has won over my heart a thousand times over. Click here to see what I mean in the gallery!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

The inspiration behind our wedding was entirely about the location. We wanted our friends and family to celebrate with us in the city we love so much: Grand Rapids. We chose downtown because we wanted that city feel. We were blown away by the Amway Grand and knew we had to have our wedding there (it helped it was right across the street from the bar where we met in college). I knew I wanted an elegant (but without being stuffy) wedding and I had always loved plush looking flowers and candlelight. After changing my mind several time on colors and design (my florist and fiance might have hated me) I finally chose blush pink, ivory, and grey to be the main colors. Our florist really pulled everything together. She knew how to convert my babble about flowers into something beautiful. I couldn’t believe how amazing it all looked when we finally walked in.

Our day was better than I could have imagined. My favorite memory was running in the rain with Jeff at the end of the night. However, getting ready with my best friends and my first look with my dad are at the top of my list too. At the end of the night we just kept smiling and talking about how much we loved everything and everyone that was involved in our wedding.

My tip for future brides would be to relax more than I did with the planning. Your day will be beautiful because it’s yours!

Photography: K. Holly Photography / Flowers: Modern Day Floral / Ceremony Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church / Reception Location: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel / Shoes: Ivanka Trump / Earrings: Windsor Jewlers / Dress: Casablanca / Bridemaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom and Groomsmen’s Suits: JoS. A Bank / Groom and Groomsmen’s Ties: Calvin Klein / Hair: Hair by Erin Brown / Makeup: Julie Strating / Flower Girl Pomanders: Etsy / Table Numbers: Etsy / Dress Hanger: Etsy

Are you ready for an entire day of inspiration, lovelies?  We sure hope so, because it’s time for another Wedding Wednesday and that means hours upon hours of drop-dead gorgeous details and heartwarming moments are coming your way.  Kicking it all off?  A stunning Michigan affair that is all kinds of crazy wonderful with a fab ballroom setting and an entire gallery of pretty captured by Allie Siarto Photography.  See it all here.

From the Bride… We met working at a summer Shakespeare Festival (he’s a musician/band conductor, I’m a dancer/choreographer) in Flint, Michigan where we both grew up. Even though he was about to start graduate school in Montana and I was only in my second year of college in Florida, we decided to give things a try and never really looked back. Eventually, we ended up in New York, and five years after we met, Eric proposed at home on a quiet morning in February- simple, understated, and completely perfect!

We were really excited that we were able to have our wedding in downtown Flint and showcase the city in a way many people never get to experience it. We fell in love with the energy downtown, which is currently having bit of a revival, and when we first visited The Durant, we knew right away that it was the perfect location. The old-world elegance came through in all the details maintained from the 1920s – the big, beautiful windows, the original black and white tiled floors, even the gold silk wallpaper. It was perfect for us! Once we chose our venue, the rest of the planning took off. We decided we wanted to stay true to this image of The Vehicle City in the 1920s, with a little extra touch of fairy-tale romance. We raided my grandparents’ antique store and chose antiques around which to build our centerpieces, then we paired them with old books as homage to my love of reading (and as a nod of thanks to literature, since we met at a Shakespeare Festival). I also loved the dreamy quality that all the baby’s breath gave our entire venue. They were simple, fresh and lovely, and made an appearance everywhere you turned. We tried to put a personal touch in everything we could – from the photo backdrop featuring a favorite poem by Pablo Neruda, to the antique washstand displaying wedding portraits of many generations of our families. Our wedding was almost entirely DIY – including the paper goods (menus, programs, etc.) that I designed and printed myself, the wire sculpted cake topper of a dancer and trumpet player and the large door-turned-chalkboard seating chart.

All of the time and effort definitely paid off – our wedding day was truly the happiest (and surprisingly stress-free!) days of my life! I was very lucky throughout the planning process to have a husband-to-be who actually liked being involved in the decision making (and not just when it came to staying within budget). There were quite a few personal touches that he was determined we should include (like the beautiful trees we brought into the ballroom and strung with lights) that wound up making the day even more special.

Wedding Photography: Allie Siarto Photography / Wedding Venue: The Durant in Flint, Michigan / Floral Design: Vogts Flowers & Gifts / Wedding Catering: Fandangles / Wedding Cake: Tasty Layers / Wedding Dress: Alyne by Rivini via The White Gown / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Jewelry: The Iron Grate / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor / Groom + Groomsmen’s Attire: JC Penney

At the risk of being a little too cheesy, this couple has got chemistry – and I’ve totally fused right onto it. Petals Planning Company planned a soiree perfect for two self-proclaimed chemistry nerds, complete with blooms in beakers. Based on Heather Jowett‘s images, I’d say the day was a knock out, or an A+ if you will. Make sure to do your extra credit in the gallery – because that is some homework you’ll absolutely enjoy!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

We met at a company picnic in New Jersey while not taking part in the Electric Slide. After several additional awkward encounters, we discovered we shared the same love of music and roller coasters. Our time together was short lived as I had to return to my home state of Michigan to finish out my last year of college. Not to be discouraged, Dan hopped on a plane and met me on Labor Day weekend. A trip to a theme park sealed the deal.

We decided that the two most important qualities in a venue were our ability to provide our own caterer and one that would have an intimate feel. We are planning to travel to Japan for our honeymoon and we wanted to bring Japan to our guests in the form of the dinner menu.
As soon as we visited the Matthaei Gardens we knew it was the place we wanted to get married. The conservatory used natural elements to create a quiet space that was ideal for the small, intimate ceremony we envisioned. We were also able to reserve the auditorium space to host our reception (using our own caterer!) which allowed us to keep the entire event under one roof.

We are both chemistry nerds at heart and wanted to pay tribute to this mutual love. At the same time we didn’t want it to overwhelm the senses. We wanted our wedding to be subtly nerdy while brightly elegant. Purple has always been my favorite color, and I loved how it played with the equally prominent cornflower blue. Pink and yellow were used as accents throughout the design.

What made our wedding so special to us were all of the personal touches we had included. My grandmother passed away two weeks before the wedding, so I wanted to honor her at the wedding. Dan’s mother passed away when he was younger, so we had already planned to incorporate a small dedication to her that would be more personal. We set the tributes by one another in the reception area so they would be a part of the celebration. I also attached my grandmother’s engagement ring to my bouquet for my “something old” and “something borrowed.”

We took every opportunity we could to insert bits of our personality into the wedding. Music was one of the things we clicked over, so we used songs by the first band we bonded over during the ceremony. At the reception, flowers were in flasks and test tubes, and we added stacks of science fiction novels from our book collection for an extra personal touch. Our wedding favors were small flasks with almonds to honor the Italian tradition.

Photography: Heather Jowett / Flowers: Sweet Pea Floral Design / Event Planning & Design: Petals Planning Company / Venue: Matthei Botanical Gardens / Invitations: BlimpCat / Shoes: Kate Spade / Dress: Modern Trousseau via The Gown Shop Ann Arbor / DJ: Mike Staff Productions / Videographer: Mike Staff Productions / Caterer: Food For All Seasons / Bride’s jewelry: YJ Design / Cake topper: Tilly Biedron / Flask favors and beakers: Lake Charles Manufacturing / Almonds: Oh! Nuts / Sash: Ivy & Aster via The Gown Shop Ann Arbor / Veil and headpiece: Sara Gabriel via The Gown Shop Ann Arbor

If getting married in the place where this Bride’s adorable hubby got on one knee isn’t sweet enough, the rest of the details in this Michigan fête from Stevie B Photography will surely have you beside yourself. It’s just all so darling, so personal and so be-yond pretty. With happy pops of yellow around every corner and one oh so happy couple, it’s safe to say you’ll want to spend some time in this gallery today.

From Stevie B Photography… You’ll often hear a photographer refer to clients as a “dream” couple. Lauren and Matt are definitely my dream couple, but to be honest, dream details, dream guests, and a dream day don’t always necessarily accompany the dream couple! Luckily, in this case, everything Lauren and Matt planned fell together for a relaxing, beautifully-detailed, fun and loving day for every guest and vendor, start to finish. All the details were so personalized, from their hand-picked vintage place settings, hand-painted signs, vintage handkerchiefs, lawn and board game fun, gah! Lauren and Matt are a reminder to all brides and grooms to make your wedding true to you rather than trying to copy what you see, it will be beautiful and unique and you’ll feel at home on your big day. I can’t wait for them to share more about their inspiration for making their wedding day their dream day!

From the Bride… As a couple, we could not imagine a more perfect place to say our “I Do’s” than the very spot where Matt proposed to me. Sharon Mills is a beautiful and secluded little spot in the Michigan countryside outside of my hometown of Ann Arbor, and lends itself perfectly to the elegantly laid back, intimate, and vintage vibe we wanted for our wedding. With a little under 80 family and friends in attendance, we wanted each guest to feel like they were a special part of our day. And most of all, we wanted all involved to have fun! 

In the months leading up to our wedding day, nearly all of our spare time was spent crafting and DIY-ing, with extra help from our awesome families and friends. A few of my favorite touches were the handmade signs Matt painstakingly painted on glass, the beautiful ceremony backdrop my mother sewed, and the adorable buttons we designed and fixed to each place card. It really warmed our hearts to see our guests wearing those buttons through out the night. We tore strips of fabric, tied them to dowels, and handed them out to guests to wave in the air as Matt and I walked down the aisle as husband and wife. Instead of a traditional guestbook, we set out vintage postcards and an old mailbox. Our guests penned sweet and often times hilarious notes to us before “mailing them off”. We spent weeks collecting vintage china from antique markets and set the dinner tables with the mismatched pieces. Each plate was unique but looked so beautiful paired together. The centerpieces were made up of my own collection of vintage vases and milk glass. We mixed in pieces of family heirloom silver to give an extra special and personal touch.

Before the ceremony, guests enjoyed lemonade and a sweet mint tea bourbon cocktail. We set up lawn games (croquet and bags) and laid out board games on picnic tables draped in vintage tablecloths scattered across the grounds. We constructed a homemade photo booth with props and everyone enjoyed hamming it up in front of the camera. And once the music started, we danced till we nearly dropped, stopping only to light sparklers and toast to our new life together as the sun set. From start to finish, our wedding day completely embodied the type of party we might throw in our very own backyard. Our vendors were a dream and all the dedication and hard work our family and friends put in to helping us achieve our vision, made our wedding day the most beautiful and amazing day of our lives thus far. So imagine just how tickled pink we were when guests shared with us that our wedding was the most personal and fun they had ever attended!

Wedding Photography: Stevie B Photography / Venue: Sharon Mills in Machester, Michigan / Event Design: DIY by couple + family and friends / Floral Design: Passion Flower / Cinematography: Andy Alguire / Catering: Food Art Catered Affairs, Inc. / Desserts: Achatz Homemade Pie Co. / Stationery: (invitations) Designed by Bride + Groom / Dress: Oleg Cassini for David’s Bridal / Shoes: Something Bleu / Bride’s Hair Bow: Handmade by the Bride’s mother / Bride’s Belt: Anthropologie / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Makeup: Sarah Bahlibi 

 

When these two decided to tie the knot in a backyard affair in lovely Michigan, they choose to keep it simple and sweet and let the commitment they were making take center stage. And it was lovely. Simply put, lovely. Bryan and Mae were the perfect team to capture a day so sweetly laid-back and charming, and capture they did – perfectly. Click here for more!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Basically, we decided to move 1200 miles, both start new jobs, sell a house in Michigan and buy a house in Texas and get married all in a span of 3 months, so the theme of the wedding was “keep it simple, make it happen, no drama.” Haha!

Advice: don’t sweat the small stuff. Hire good people you can trust their judgement in your absence. I never even tasted our food or desserts! I knew Jason Kakabaker at the Cakabakery was amazing at what he does so I just told him some ideas of types of things that Matt and I like and he went to town. We knew we wanted portable bite sized desserts so people could take them and play games, etc.

Patrick Fitzgerald is a long-time friend of the family. My grandfather was a florist, and Pat started his career working for my grandpa. We talked about the feeling we were trying to convey and how we wanted the decor to look like it belonged on the property. He literally drove his truck filled with cream and green flowers of all kinds (I let him figure out what was the most economical based on season) and set up shop filling all the different containers. It was an easier one for him because we didn’t want all the arrangements PERFECT … He did a few vases, I approved and then just let him do his thing.

Jamie and Terry from Heyday were the same thing. We had discussed overall vision and look and feel of the event via email and photos and they delivered! I didn’t try to control everything… I didn’t have the time or proximity to the event to do that. I think it made all the difference! My TWO amazing moms made signs and had other supplies prearranged for Jamie and Terry and they worked their magic.

It’s important that everyone working on your wedding knows what the overall vibe is… All the details may not be exactly like your inspiration pictures but in our case, it turned out even more beautiful than I ever could have imagined!

Photographer: Bryan and Mae / Coordinator: Heyday Event Lab / Desserts: Jason Kakabaker at The Cakabakery / Flowers: Patrick Fitzgerald / Signs: DIY, Mother of the Bride / Banners & Place Card Flags: DIY, Mother of the Groom

Ever since my first introduction to the world of barn weddings I have been fully obsessed with The Blue Dress Barn in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It’s quintessential rustic and so, so pretty. Plus, it seems to attract the coolest couples on the planet. Emilia Jane Photography has captured our latest installment – a Bride with a penchant for fabulous statement necklaces and a Groom dressed to the dapper nines proving that this wedding fits right in with The Blue Dress Barn legacy. Click here for the full gallery.

From Emilia Jane Photography… Megan and Kyle’s beautiful Blue Dress Barn wedding was so much fun! I’ve known Megan for almost three years, and it has been such a joy to see her love with Kyle flourish. We had a BLAST with their engagement pictures, and I knew their wedding would be amazing … I just didn’t know how amazing. Seriously! Megan is somehow both super laid-back (which I LOVE) and yet somehow incredibly detail-oriented. She had a beautiful vision for a barn wedding that was still completely put-together, and I think she pulled it off to a tee. The yellow and gray are beautiful tied together with pink accents in the flowers. Their first look took place on the pier at Silver Beach. And I think the Blue Dress Barn was the perfect background for a heartfelt, outdoor ceremony. It was such an honor to be included in their marriage celebration! I wanted to cry during their first dance to Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest,” and their delicious dessert table was a huge hit with no less than twelve types of sweets!

Wedding Photography: Emilia Jane Photography / Wedding Venue: The Blue Dress Barn in Benton Harbor, Michigan / Floral Design: Jenny Baerman, A Friend / Invitations: Alicia Sturdy / Programs: Megan Towell, The Bride / Wedding Dress: Anna Elyse via Bella Bridesmaid / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West

There are pretty weddings, and then there are PRETTY weddings. The weddings we feel honored that choose our little blog to live out eternity. The weddings that are filled with goosebumps and butterflies, beautiful brides and handsome grooms. Weddings like this Michigan soiree from Jeffrey Lewis Bennett, which will be sitting very pretty in the gallery whenever you’re ready!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Kevin and I are both busy people – I’m an Attorney and Kevin is in sales – and as busy, time pressed people….we happened to meet the “old fashioned” way: on an online dating website (da da ching!). Our first date was on July 23, 2008 and have been together ever since. Kevin proposed in Niagara Falls, ON and had the whole thing captured on video and in film. We used one of the photos to make a “movie” poster for our wedding.

Our reception was held at the Meeting House Grand Ballroom in Downtown Plymouth, MI. The Meeting House is just a quick walk from the Penn Theatre (our ceremony site) across the Park. The Ballroom was originally built in the 1950’s and was part of the old Mayflower Hotel. Since then, the Mayflower Hotel has been turned into luxury condos, but the Ballroom still remains. We fell in love with the high ceilings, wood floor and beautiful Czechoslovakian chandeliers. So much beautiful crystal! The Ballroom is simply stunning! It also features a beautiful open air patio for cocktails. The Penn Theatre – our ceremony location – was built in 1941 and still shows $3 movies. It is a beautifully maintained theater oozing with vintage charm. We frequently spend our evenings watching a movie there. In fact, the night before our wedding, we watched “The Lorax” at the Penn. With The Penn Theatre’s unique charm and the Meeting House’s mix of a gorgeous ballroom and welcoming open air patio – we were sold on this lovely location in Plymouth, MI.

I love DIY. I created nearly every detail for our wedding: my bow and crystal shoe clips, the bridesmaid’s mint green pearl jewelry, the bridesmaid’s mint green hair flowers, invitations, menus, “thank you” notes, “I spy” game for guests, the guestbook quilt, fabric bunting, vintage lace wrapped candles, table number photos (discussed further) and probably my favorite DIY – the Mr. and Mrs. chair signs.

If I didn’t make it, I diligently and tirelessly searched flea markets and garage sales for unique vintage items: milk glass, lace doilies, hankies, vintage pearls for the bridesmaids…etc.

We love our dogs and wanted to honor them somehow. The summer before our May 19th wedding we took LOTS of photos of our dogs. We made a chalkboard with an attached ribbon and manually changed the number (corresponding to a table number) after each set of photos with each Mutt. Each photo featured one of our 3 dogs with the chalkboard around his/her neck. We framed each of the photos in a mint colored frame. Since all our dogs are rescue dogs – we honored them and made a donation to the Michigan Humane Society in honor of our guests.

Our day was filled with love, laughter and peonies. The joy of the day was captured by the ever awesome Jeffrey Lewis Bennett of JLB Wedding. We truly enjoyed every detail of planning that wonderful day.

Photography: Jeffrey Lewis Bennett / Cinematography: Crossing River Wedding Films / Flowers: Heidi’s Old Village Flowers / Event Planning & Design: Bride / Ceremony Location: The Penn Theatre / Reception Location: The Meeting House Grand Ballroom / Invitations: DIY / Shoes: Nine West, DIY Shoe Clip / Dress: Casablanca Bridal / Wedding Cake: Elite Sweets