WEDDING: Seth and Clara
Suttons Bay, Michigan
Rain was in the forecast for Seth and Clara’s outdoor vineyard wedding. It’s not what anyone had hoped for and we all were scrambling for backup options. Our flurry of emails back and forth was all for naught; we had the perfect, ideal September day that Northern Michigan typically offers. And, as I knew it would be, all the hard work of planning was flawless. The local honey for guest favors, the display of Clara’s grandmother’s satin wedding gown, the old family wedding photographs, the wooden hand-painted box Clara found at a yard sale, the vintage cake topper, sorority sisters cheers and Viking hats — it all had an absolute unique Clara-and-Seth-one-of-a-kind celebration that I’m still pinching myself that I got to be a part of it all.
Ceremony and reception: Ciccone Vineyard and Winery
Invitations: Ashley Meyers
Florist: Field of Flowers Farm
Caterer: Uptown Catering
Baker: Baked by Josephine
Hair and makeup: Hanna Wagner Designs
Bridesmaids gowns: Jenny Yoo
Wedding shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridal gown: Watters
Furniture Rental: Fancy Fray
Tent and farm table rentals: Monstrey-McDonald
DJ: Bee Entertainment
Videographer: Traverse City Video
WEDDING: Andy and Katie
Charlevoix, Michigan
Andy and Katie have known each other for years. That’s because Andy’s brother and Katie’s sister are married. Yep, it was McLaughlin and Mingay nuptials 2.0. Two families already well-woven together so much so that Katie wore two special necklaces — her grandmother’s and Andy’s grandmother’s. Their two-year-old daughter was part of the whole day from getting ready to finally falling asleep on the dance floor. They were married in a place owned by Katie’s family at one time and the walls of the barn reception were decorated with quilts made by the bride’s grandmother and her sisters. When I first talked to Katie on the phone she told me she wanted her wedding to feel like “a fun party with lots of laughter.” I do believe you succeeded.
Ceremony and reception: Dunmaglas Golf Course
Hair and makeup: Vogue Salon & Spa
Caterer: A Matter of Taste
Bridal gown: BHLDN
Flower girl’s gown: BHLDN
Suits: Getz’s
Bridal shoes: Calvin Klein
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Band: Kellerville
WEDDING: Owen and Ashley
Whitehall, Michigan
Owen and Ashley, two compassionate doctors and really good people, wanted to get married overlooking Lake Michigan, a favorite place of theirs. They crossed their fingers for good weather and were married on a gorgeous August day at Michillinda Lodge. They exchanged vows underneath blue skies with an equally blue lake behind them. The two nature-lovers were engaged at P. J. Hoffmaster while hiking along the dunes so we revisited this special park on their wedding day. And how can I not love a bride who mentioned her love of yard sales during her vows, changed into a dress from a thrift store for the reception and wore a pearl bracelet she found in a dumpster?!
May your marriage be full of more hikes, adventure and lots of found treasures along the way!
Ceremony: Michillinda Lodge
Caterer: Ryke’s
Bridal gown: Allure Collection
Bridesmaids dresses: J.Crew
DJ: Modern Entertainment
Second photographer: Josh Rexford
WEDDING: Grae and Becky
Frankfort, Michigan
Grae grew up on the West Coast and Becky grew up on the East Coast but they both ended up in Chicago to attend college. Their first date was over coffee and the dates never stopped. The couple chose to get married in the Northern Michigan town where Becky spent her summers since she was six years old. She wore a gown made by her great-grandmother. It was the same dress that her mother wore and her grandmother wore before that. The bridal party (seriously, the most fun bunch I’ve ever had the chance to photograph) all gathered at the family cottage to get ready and then it was moment after moment until the sun set over Betsie Lake.
Event planner: Simply Exquisite by the Bay
Ceremony: Frankfort Beach
Reception: Elberta Life Saving Station
Caterer: Catering by Kelly’s
Bridal shoes: Toms
Hair: Infinite Beaute
Table and chairs: Design A Theme Party Rentals
Florist: Simply Exquisite by the Bay
Baker: Zingerman’s Bakehouse
Live band: Blue Dirt
Second photographer: Carrie Turner
WEDDING: Stephen and Sarah
Kewadin, Michigan
Stephen and Sarah met at Central Michigan University. They graduated and found work out-of-state but they decided to come back to Michigan where they were married overlooking Torch Lake. It was a place Stephen took Sarah, before they were even officially boyfriend and girlfriend, to meet his family. They planned their wedding from afar but when you put two people in love, surrounded by family and friends, back at the place where their love story began you get a lot of happy tears. I felt honored to witness this genuine love and I’m even happier that these two amazing humans are now back living in Michigan to finish their love story.
Venue: A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort
Bridal gown: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: David’s Bridal
Groom’s suit: Men’s Wearhouse
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Florist: Boyne Avenue Greenhouse
Caterer: Graystone Catering
Wedding cake: Torch Lake Bed & Breakfast
Second photographer: Nick Tremmel
Kewadin, Michigan
WEDDING: Clay and Nelu
Suttons Bay, Michigan
Technically, I shouldn’t be blogging this wedding yet. Clay and Nelu were originally supposed to get married in August in Lansing in a historic inn. Instead, we were celebrating their ceremony at a vineyard which overlooks Suttons Bay in May. Trust me, I’m not complaining. I have a feeling this was exactly the way things were meant to happen. And, with major changes like that, most couples would be stressed beyond measure but for Clay and Nelu, I do believe, the important part was the getting-married part. Even with some super, crazy wind, this was the perfect day to do just that.
May you always face change in your marriage with the same grace. Congratulations!
Ceremony and reception: Ciccone Vineyard & Winery
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Dress maker: Lula Kate
Bridal slippers: Betsey Johnson
Bridesmaids gowns: Donna Morgan
Flower girl dresses: Olivia Kate Couture
Groom and groomsmen suits: Tommy Hilfiger
Florist: Flowers by Marla Courtney Wood
Hair and makeup: Drop Dead Gorgeous
Disc jockey: Avatar Media Productions
Guitarist: Gael Eschelweck
Caterer: Catering by Kelly’s
Wedding cake: Aunt B’s Cakes
Cake topper: LeRustic Chic
Kendra Stanley-Mills Photography 