Claire & Chris - A Breathtaking Wedding in the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana

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It’s a rarity to meet a couple as entirely magnetic as Claire and Chris. Their sincerity, shared excitement for life, and their dedication to those dear to them have merited them a fiercely loyal group of supporters from every corner of the world where their adventures have taken them.

The Swiss beauty and the congenial Aussie gent share an enthusiasm for life that is simply contagious. Their first meeting was arranged by mutual friend Shaun during university – he and Chris had been pals since primary school, and Shaun befriended Claire during high school. It was over a luncheon arranged by Shaun that Claire first met Chris. Both were immediately taken with each other. From that day on, they became their own inseparable team.

The next six wonderful years breezed by, a happy blur of traveling together, enjoying their favorite foods, spending time with friends, and Claire cleaning up after Chris. Both of them make a regular practice of reflecting on how very lucky they feel to have found each other and to navigate life together side by side. Their days of partying into the wee hours and pushing through the next morning’s tequila hangovers slowly gave way to quiet dinners and watching Netflix together over steaming cups of tea. Their respect for each other’s values and individuality has strengthened their bond over the years.

7th July, 2018: The day dawned warm and bright over the Alps in Valais, with only a few wispy clouds among the mountain peaks. Claire and Chris had spent a blissful week in Switzerland with their families in celebratory preparation for the long-awaited day. The wedding day was laid back from start to finish: as exquisite and organic as Claire and Chris themselves. The ceremony took place at Notre-Dame de Crêtaz d'Asse - a little chapel at the panoramic apex of Crans Montana, and a place of special significance to Claire and her family. A gracious reception followed at the Hôtel Royal in the heart of Crans, where guests enjoyed an opulent dinner punctuated by heartfelt toasts and dancing late into the night. What a day to remember!

Ceremony Venue: Notre-Dame de Crêtaz d'Asse

Reception Venue: Hôtel Royal, Crans-Montana

Planning and coordination: ALEX WALES Weddings & Events

Hair and Make up: Salon Camille Albane

Flowers: Stephanie Juon: Au Fleuriste

Lasercut decoration: Laserhaus GmbH

DJ: DJ Valentin

Vintage VW Beetle "Sunny" provided by Family Glässer

Guest transportation: SMC Crans-Montana

Briana & Kit - A Beach Wedding in Traverse City, Michigan

Sometimes, the greatest blessings in life come out of the hardest circumstances.

Kit and Briana became that unexpected blessing to each other the day their paths met, and a steady source of renewed hope and joy for one another. Their first meeting came in September of 2016, after a mutual friend set them up for a date. They spent the afternoon hiking with their dogs and enjoying one another's conversation. They would soon discover how many separate occasions they'd been in the same place at the same time, as far back as an 8th grade dance! The connection was strong and the hikes continued over the course of the next year. Kit joined Bri and her family on a Christmas trip to Florida in 2017, carrying something small and sparkly along with him. It was over family dinner one night, earlier than he'd planned, but seizing the perfect moment, that Kit made his proposal to the love of his life. 

6 months later, on a similarly balmy day back home in Northern Michigan, Kit and Briana read their vows to one another on the beach along Grand Traverse Bay. With their toes in the sand, and surrounded by their closest friends and family, it was truly a beautiful start to a great new chapter for both of them. 

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Cookies/Cupcakes by Brulotte's Cakery

Wedding Cake by Potters Bakery

Mini Cheesecakes by Underground Cheesecake Co

Bride's Gown: To Have and To Hold

Dinner provided by Uptown Catering

DJ: DJ Mikey

Flowers: Peggy Griffiths

Lauren & Mark - An Exquisite Vineyard Wedding at Aurora Cellars - 5/26/18

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Mark and Lauren - or MoLo, as they are affectionately known to their circle - have decidedly set the standard for the modern power couple. Each their own driven and determined individuals before they met, they had already mastered the art of taking hold of life and living to its fullest. Once they joined forces, well, the rest became history.

Exhibit 1: Lauren. a lovely and quick-witted personal trainer and Pilates instructor not for the faint hearted. Exhibit 2: Mark. An ambitious orthopedic resident with a timely week off work and a clever mother who decided to set him up for a session with the aforementioned personal trainer. This session set things in motion which would eventually bring Lauren and Mark to the center of each other’s universe. As Lauren put it, “I kicked his ass, and he fell in love”. This thoughtful pair have no shortage of adventure, affection, and gusto for life between the two of them. In fitting fashion, their wedding day was absolutely packed full of meaningful details and treasured memories honoring the friends and family that surround and support them both. As a wedding gift, Lauren presented Mark with a box full of significant items she had saved and collected since their relationship began, including the key to their first apartment, and the first love notes they ever exchanged. Mark had a necklace custom made for Lauren, engraved with her new initials. Their emotional ceremony was a beautiful tribute, incorporating anecdotes and loving advice from their family and friends. The couple put out a thoughtful display of photographs of them with each of their guests, welcoming them to fill up the display with new Polaroid photos over the course of the celebration. After an incredible gourmet dinner and a blazing red sunset over the rolling hills of vineyards, the Dan Rafferty Band rocked the dance floor into night.

Venue: Aurora Cellars, Lake Leelanau, Michigan

Catering by The Cook's House, Traverse City

Beverages by Tonic & Lime Boutique Bartending

Bride's Gown: J Mendel

Entertainment by the Dan Rafferty Band

Floral Design: Department of Floristry

Christine & Derek - A Spring Wedding on Old Mission Peninsula - May 25th, 2018

Psalm 143:8: "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

The greatest love stories are the ones forged in patience and faith, with the groundwork being laid long before two soul mates ever meet. The strongest bonds are the ones that stand in defiance of adversity and odds, in perfect accordance with the purposes of God.  Such is the story of Christine and Derek.

Though both serving in the US Air Force, Christine was stationed in Germany while Derek was 7500 miles away in Hawaii. It was the winter of 2016, and Christine and Derek had struck up a connection while playing Destiny online together. Destiny. Ironic, right? It didn’t take long for them to discover their vast commonalities; most important being their shared faith. It seemed that this friendship was the answer to much earnest prayer by both Christine and Derek and their families. But this friendship was soon to become something much deeper.

Across 7 time zones and countless hours spent on Skype, Christine and Derek grew closer under the direction and protection of God. In the spring of 2017, Derek made the long trip to Germany to meet Christine – in the flesh – for the first time. Their adventures included a Hans Zimmer concert (since both of them are lovers of epic scores) and lots of European sightseeing. In September of that same year, Christine made the trip to visit Derek and his family. Upon her arrival to the airport, with the whole Hobbs family surrounding them, Derek presented Christine with a rose. But not just any rose – a velvet one with a lid and something precious inside. Derek explained that, any other time, he would have given her a real rose. “But this rose will last forever, just like us”. Then getting down on one knee, Derek asked Christine to be his wife. Less than a year later, Christine and Derek would fly from their homes on opposite sides of the world to stand on a shady hill together beside the sparkling waters of Grand Traverse Bay and establish a new life together as one. Their wedding day, like their love story, was beautiful and deeply significant. Full of joyful tears and the heartfelt prayers of their tightly knit families, these two lovers will have an amazing network of support and encouragement for their road ahead together.

Venue and Catering: The Peninsula Room. Traverse City, Michigan

Bride’s Gown: Stina, Cinderella Brautmoden: Landstuhl, Germany

Styling by Grace of Epiphany Salon

Floral by Custom Creations.  Kingsley, MI

Heather & Nick - A Springtime Wedding in Traverse City - May 12, 2018

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Spring has finally arrived in Michigan's great North. With the combination of blossoming trees and long-awaited warmth in the air, it's the perfect time to celebrate beginnings. For  Heather and Nick, this new beginning has been a long time in the making.

Heather and Nick first met in 5th grade when their separate elementary schools merged. In those days, Heather admits that she was actually a bit of a bully to poor Nick, but she is quick to point out that it was because she had already developed a crush on him. Their paths didn’t cross much during the rest of their time in school, until senior year of high school in AP Psychology. Ah, psychology class. Doorway to the earliest revelations about humanity’s dark side, and the scene of the kindling of a friendship that would become for both of them the love of a lifetime. The two went on to attend Central Michigan University together. Despite separate internships taking them to different areas, they maintained their relationship across the distance.  In the spring of 2014, finished with school, Heather and Nick settled into their careers and a home together.

On the happy arrival of May 12th, 2018, with a lifetime of shared memories between them, and their tightly knit families surrounding them, Heather and Nick made their vows to each other. In an added dash of serendipity, the first of Traverse City’s iconic cherry blossoms picked that beautiful day to make their debut!

Ceremony Venue: Christ the King Catholic Church, Williamsburg, MI

Reception Venue, catering and decor: Visions at Centerpointe, Traverse City, MI

Bride's Gown by Allure Bridal - Petoskey Bridal 

Cake and Cupcakes by Brulotte's Cakery & Sweets

Styling: MUAH by Shonda and Dawn Boyle

Lauren & Lucas - An Elegant Wedding Celebration on the Eve of the New Year at the Grand Traverse Resort - 12.29.17

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As kids, Lauren and Lucas grew up only one mile apart from each other. Despite their close proximity, they never met in their hometown.  
It was in 2007, when both of them were attending Michigan State University, that they finally got acquainted through mutual friends. Two years later, a romance began to develop that would be the start of a beautiful life together. 

Lauren and Lucas are an irresistible pair with their down-to-earth charm, easy humor, and great affinity for one other. They've secured a little piece of paradise in their home state, realizing their shared dream of life on their very own farm (along with their dog, 2 cats, 9 chickens and 2 horses). To celebrate their first day as husband and wife, Lauren and Lucas chose the airy and bright 17th floor of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. With panoramic views of Grand Traverse Bay and the rolling snowy hills surrounding, the tower view was the perfect setting for their exquisite and cozy winter ceremony. Despite the extreme cold outside, the warmth of love and excitement that day positively radiated!

Venue: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa - Traverse City, MI

Bride's Gown: Justin Alexander

Floral and Greenery Design: Field of Flowers North (Christina Pfeufer)

Hair and Makeup Design: Onsite Bridal

Katie & Tom - Winter Wedding in Highland Park, Illinois - 12/16/17

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It was a chilly New Year's Eve in a North Chicago suburb. Attending a party organized by her sister, unassuming belle Katie was enjoying the festivities from the sidelines, content to watch couples swing dance their way to the stroke of midnight. When seemingly out of nowhere, a handsome stranger made his way through the crowd directly toward Katie, pulling her out of her seat without a word and sweeping her onto the dance floor. 

Katie and Tom danced into the wee hours of the New Year with hardly a word, as naturally as if they'd been dancing together for years. Since they were both attending a Catholic adults retreat at the time, the two of them took a break around 2AM for adoration in the church. Katie, seated at the opposite end of the pew that Tom was in, recalls praying for him then. She prayed that he would find an amazing girl, wishing him a lifetime of happiness. Little did Katie know that she was to be the answer to her own prayer for her future husband.

Despite the distance between them, Katie and Tom made a connection that night that they would fervently fortify over the coming years. In the process of getting to know each other better, they discovered that their connection had been a long time in the making. They'd even attended the same summer camp at the same time without crossing paths! For this and a million other reasons precious to them, Katie and Tom are certain beyond a doubt
that God meant them for each other.

So it was, on a bright winter day near the place they met years before, Katie and Tom prepared for their wedding day in a culmination of excitement and joy. The anticipation was tangible as their families and friends came together to celebrate this most beautiful of beginnings. 

Ceremony: St Patrick's Catholic Church, Highland Park, IL

Reception: Highland Park Community House

Bride's Gown: Stella York (Here Comes The Bride, Traverse City)

Groom's Tux: Perry Ellis, Macy's

Floral: StemsMarket

Kendell & Dustin - A Lush Wedding on New Zealand's Northern Coast

The Taranaki region of New Zealand is resplendent in its varied landscapes, from shimmering beaches to the stark, snow-capped peak of its namesake mountain, and lush forests and gardens in between.

This part of the world seems a likely backdrop for a love story, but perhaps less likely is the Jujitsu gym where this particular tale of romance had its start. As fate would have it, Kendell and Dustin were paired up as sparring partners at Jujitsu because of their identical height. It was 2009. At the time, both were in separate relationships of their own, so their connection remained a platonic friendship for the next three years. In summer 2012, unconnected and spending time together in the same group of friends and sharing the same passions, the magnetism between them grew to a fever pitch and they became inseparable. Kendell says that Dustin has always been a master of the romantic, and a stealthy one at that. So it was that one night, awoken by their scuffling husky pups out in the hall, Kendell and Dustin went to go see what was causing the commotion. Once they had calmed and separated their pups, Kendell suddenly noticed something on her left hand ring finger that hadn’t been there when she went to bed. Dustin had deftly managed to maneuver a beautiful diamond engagement ring onto sleeping Kendell’s finger during the night. No sooner had she uttered her surprise at finding the ring on her finger, Dustin was down on one knee proposing.

11 months later, a radiant Kendell and an awestruck Dustin stood together under the shade of a great tree in New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park to exchange their vows. What follows is a little window into the magic of their perfect day.

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Ceremony Venue: Pukekura Park - New Plymouth, NZ

Reception Venue: East End Surf Life Saving Club

Bride's Gown: The Bridal Studio, Palmerston North

Floral: Dobson's Marquee and Party

Jordan & Jarrett - Glamorous Barn Wedding in Gaylord, MI - October 28th

 Jordan and Jarrett are magnetic personalities. The kind of people you meet only once and feel that you've been friends with for decades. People with giant hearts and an equally large mass of people who adore them. At once effortlessly glamorous, charismatic, and proud self-proclaimed hillbillies, their seamless melding of perceptual contradictions has produced the most unique and delightful pair of humans imaginable. So it was that, on my first occasion discussing wedding plans with Jordan, I became instantly enamored with this woman and her refreshingly organic grasp on life, love, and exactly the way she envisioned the day that she'd marry the man who had possessed her heart and soul. 

Their story began beneath the atmospheric glow of indigo lights in Royal Oak's Tequila Blue one summer night in 2012. Bright-eyed beauty Jordan, then a junior in college, was out with her best friend Kara at coincidentally the same time and place as a group of merrily inebriated gents across the room. On the fringe of this group was a sober Jarrett, whom Jordan immediately noted was strikingly handsome, but oh-so-grumpy. In her characteristic low-key, gregarious way, Jordan piped up, "What’s wrong with you, you look like you need a drink!” The music was loud, everyone yelling to talk to each other over the noise. “What’s your name?!” she asked. “Jarrett.” Jordan shouted back, “Jerry?!” “No… 'Jarrett.'" "Oh okay, 'Jared?!'" Shaking his head no, Jarrett removed his ID from his wallet and showed it to her, the photo boasting his once full head of hair. With that, guards came down and the two became dancing partners for the rest of the evening, which ended with Jarrett carrying Jordan's heels out the bar for her. Before they parted ways, Jarrett asked for Jordan's number, which she gave him without much expectation. Two days later, he was back in touch. Their first date was to be a week later. On the entire drive to the restaurant, Jordan struggled to calm herself and muster the courage to walk inside. Was he even going to show up?  While she sat in the parking lot breathing into a paper bag, a text appeared on her phone from Jarrett; "“I’m here, sitting outside on the patio.” Inside, she found Jarrett who greeted her with a warm hug. Instantly, Jordan was home. His presence somehow calmed and excited her all at once, and the two were absolutely captive to one another in conversation for the next four hours. Jordan managed to eat only half a sandwich, despite having chosen the restaurant on account of their fantastic bread sticks. While they sat completely lost in catching each other up on the twenty-something years they'd lived apart from one another, the restaurant began to close around them. Jordan headed home that night on cloud 9, telling herself decidedly, "I'm going to marry that man". 

And marry him she did.

What follows is a small but moving glimpse at the glorious day that began this new chapter in their beautiful life together. This unstoppable pair is a joy and an inspiration, and we can't wait to watch the rest of their story unfold through the years.

Venue: Sonshine Barn, Gaylord, MI

Bride's Gown: Willowby by Watters

Bridal Skirt: Wtoo by Watters, B. Ella Bridal, Plymouth, MI

Suits: Nordstrom

Cupcakes: Betty’s Bakes, Plymouth, MI

Cake: Sandy Samp

Decor lovingly created by bride, groom, and their families.

DJ: Branson Wolfgang of Epic Beats, Clare, MI

Catering: BJ’s of Gaylord

Lindsey & Sean - Castle Wedding in Charlevoix - October 20th

Tale as old as time...

Sean and Lindsey met as kids at age ten on their first day of fifth grade elementary. But wait, it gets better; They both clearly remember one another as their first crush. While they possessed all the foundations of a great love during their early years, the strength and tenacity of that love was soon to be fortified in the wake of a tragic event that would change their lives forever. On a June day in 2012, the day before Lindsey's graduation open house, she and Sean were in a major car accident. The aftermath of this event left Lindsey especially with serious health trauma and a long, difficult road to recovery ahead. During those years fighting to return to normalcy, Sean remained by Lindsey's side as her rock and her biggest supporter. As with all great stories, the hard times gave way to a brighter future, and two stronger hearts ready to face it.

Their lives and identities had long been indelibly intertwined, but in 2016, Sean decided it was time to embark on the next chapter of their story. That November, on a much anticipated trip to the Happiest Place on Earth with their two best friends, Sean proposed to Lindsey in a picture-perfect moment in front of Disney's Cinderella Castle. For the next year, anticipation built to a crescendo as they planned for the big day that would mark the beginning of this new chapter in their lives. Majestic Castle Farms was the setting for the celebration, and the autumn day was an unseasonably warm one with sun bathed trees in full-colored splendor. Lindsey and Sean welcomed their friends and family to a lively celebration full of thoughtful little touches in homage to their mutual love for all things Disney. And as the saying goes, the prince and the princess "lived happily ever after."

Bride's Gown by House of Wu (Natalie's Bridal) 

Floral by Connie Misico, Elk Lake Floral

Wedding Cake by Judy Sayre

Music and Entertainment by Thomas Heath, A+ Entertainment

Amanda & Matt - Wedding on Old Mission Peninsula - October 14th

It was a late summer's night in 2010 at the beer Olympics for Michigan Tech undergrads Amanda and Matt. The two had been friends since they met at a pizza parlor earlier that semester, and they were both drawn by the other's genuine and caring personalities - but they were about to see each other in a completely new light. Toward the end of the night, after countless voyages to the bottom of red solo cups, Amanda watched Matt dance like a man who hadn't a care in the world. That was the first moment she realized that she might actually spend forever with this guy.

The bond they forged that semester withstood four whole years of long-distance while they supported each other through losses and victories. This well-humored couple attributes their tenacious love to several factors: Their core beliefs, shared Irishness, their love of skiing, and their great affection for their beautiful, stupid cats. Not to mention the steadfast love and support of their large families behind them. To celebrate this beginning of a new chapter in their lives, Matt and Amanda returned to Amanda's childhood home of Traverse City, Michigan; Against the sweeping backdrop of Grand Traverse Bay and peninsulas bedecked with rolling vineyards, they celebrated the first day of their newest adventure together.

Venue: Peninsula Room, Traverse City

Also Pictured: Bonobo Winery and Vineyard, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Brys Estate Winery and Vineyard 

Floral: Hooper's Farm Garden

Bride's Gown: To Have and To Hold Bridal Shop

Groom/Groomsmen Suits: Joseph Abboud, Men’s Wearhouse

Bridesmaids Dresses: Brideside, Chicago

Live Music: Chris Smith and The Broom Closet Boys. 

Trolley: Blue Lakes by the Bay 

Cake: Kingsley Cakes

Lyndze & Scott - Wedding in Traverse City, Michigan - October 13th

On a pivotal autumn evening in Northern Michigan in 2014, destiny brought two remarkable souls together in an unlikely encounter at Alpers annual Hog-A-Thon. After that initial meeting, Scott and Lyndze alternated following each other around for the rest of the evening, learning about each other and discovering a great deal that they had in common. Lyndze skirted out that evening without so much as a glass slipper or a phone number left for Scott...

But Scott would not be shaken so easily. Through social connections that he shared with Lyndze's family, Scott was able to get Lyndze's phone number from her father. In August of 2015, just before the first of many annual rides on the Ferris Wheel at the state fair, Scott and Lyndze officially began dating. One year later, beside the upper falls at Tahquamenon, Scott asked Lyndze to be his bride. 

Not by their own choosing but much to their credit, these two have faced mountains and been through the fire since they committed to be everything to one other. They have emerged from every adversity with a stronger, deeper love to show for it. What a joy to celebrate this remarkable couple and the beginning of their married lives together!

Bride's gown by Essence of Australia

Floral design by Premier Flowers, Traverse City

Wedding donuts by Peace, Love and Little Donuts, Traverse City

Reception: Greystone Mansion, Honor

Caitlin & Lawrence - A Medieval Wedding Celebration Under the Harvest Moon - Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, October 5th

"May they be to each other both strong and gentle. 
May all who follow their lives with interest and affection have cause to rejoice not alone in their happiness, but in their brave and generous living which makes life beautiful and significant.”  Áine Minogue, A Celtic Wedding

Caitlin and Larry are two souls from a bygone era, and the love they share is one for the ages. Their story began in 2010, when a significant friendship formed during their time working together in the same banquet kitchen. 7 years later, on the rolling green hills of this same special place, the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Caitlin and Larry began their lives together as one. Under a towering oak bathed in warm rays of autumn sun, surrounded by the love of those dearest to them, they exchanged sacred vows. In true medieval fashion, the celebration continued late into the evening over a bounty of rich food, lively games on the lawn, and roaring fires.

Venue, and Feast: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

Bride's Gown: Armstreet

Floral and Design: Sensational Events

Erica & Justin - September 30th - Mackinaw City

In a game of truth or dare on a girls night out with her besties, Erica was given a challenge: Give your phone number to a stranger in the restaurant. After scanning the room, Erica decided there was only one guy in the building she would give her number to. After a great deal of giggling and much prodding from her friends, Erica jotted down her number, signed it from "two blondes and a brunette", and reluctantly passed a napkin to the bartender, pointing out the dark-haired stranger across the bar from her. With a sly smile in Erica's direction, Justin tucked the napkin into his pocket and that was that.

Two hours later, the phone rang. Justin's voice came over the line: "Hello, is this the brunette?" So began the beginning of their friendship, which would grow into true love over the course of the next year. For 6 years, Erica and Justin have supported each other and pushed each other toward their dreams. 

On September 30th, overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Michigan, Erica and Justin exchanged heartfelt vows. Here's a peek at the magic of that beautiful day.

Ceremony and Reception: Headlands Dark Sky Park, Mackinaw City

Bride's Gown: Maggie Sottero

Katie & Greg - The Peninsula Room - September 16, 2017

Chicago natives Katie & Greg are the quintessential power couple. With all the congeniality and good taste you'd expect of a couple of die-hard Chicago sports fans, and a deep and genuine connection between them that irresistibly draws others in.

Katie met Greg on Thanksgiving six years ago in one of their favorite Chicago haunts. Their personalities made it easy to strike up a conversation, and their many commonalities have kept that conversation going since. They began their journey as best friends, and their friendship is the core of who they are together. As Katie so simply put it, "We are the best part of each other's day". 

The two made their vows to each other on a warm summer afternoon along the water of Grand Traverse Bay, surrounded by dear family and friends. The day marked an idyllic beginning to a beautiful chapter in their lives.

Ceremony & Reception: The Peninsula Room, Traverse City, Michigan

Bride's Gown: Dimitra's Bridal Couture, Chicago, IL

Floral: Hooper's Farm Gardens

Hair & Makeup: Cait Clark, Chicago, IL

Susanna & Jared - Greenville, Michigan, September 9

Down to earth by nature and both wonderfully congenial people, Susanna and Jared were destined to fit together as effortlessly as peanut butter and chocolate. It was in 2013 that their paths first crossed in an unexpected way. Susanna was a banker at Chase, and Jared was filling out a deposit slip in her branch when she saw him for the first time. Jared came in many times after that, never speaking to Susanna but always making a point to smile at her as he walked past. One day, following his usual routine, Jared got as far as the front of the bank before stopping and turning around to walk straight up to Susanna's desk. Visibly shaking, he at last mustered the courage to ask her out.

4 years later, they remain head-over-heels for each other. The two share an infectious sense of humor, a love for their pups, a strong bond with their families, and an adoration for beautiful Wabasis Lake, where Jared grew up and where their beautiful home is located on the water's edge. It only seemed fitting to start this new chapter together on the shores of this special place.

September 9th was bright and cloudless but perfectly cool as Susanna and Jared exchanged their vows by the shimmering water. The celebration that followed was as relaxed and welcoming as the bride and groom themselves: savory BBQ dinner, lawn games and bonfires, a lively dance floor, and a boat ride to the sand bar in the late evening light.

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Wabasis Lake Campground

Bride's gown: Becker's

Hair design by Shelly Alberts

Floral and decor by Laura Donavan

Lindsay & Ben - Bohemian Backyard Wedding in Traverse City, MI

Lindsay and Benjamin share an uncommon bond. Their love story is one of deep commitment to each other, a strong foundation of support and faith from their families, and a testament to the faithfulness of God. 

As children, Lindsay and Benjamin grew up as acquaintances in the same circle of families. But it wasn't until later into adulthood that their friendship would develop into something deeper. Both of them entered careers as firefighters, working in separate departments, and eventually rekindling their friendship over their shared profession. Benjamin left home for 3 and a half years on active duty with the Marines, and when he returned, they began dating. Eight months after that, Benjamin was on one knee in the snow at the top of a ski hill, asking Lindsay to be his wife.

Their August wedding day was, by contrast, warm and golden-hued. Lindsay and her girls wore ethereal gown and flower crowns, and the family home was thoughtfully decorated with little terrariums, generous blooms, gold-tipped feathers, and an abundance of magical twinkle lights. 

Bride's gown by The Faded Sunflower, flower crowns by Darling Headbands

Cake and cupcakes by Elise Zagore

Pies by Elijah Little, Grand Traverse Pie Co

Kathleen & Paul - Wedding on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales

Once upon a time, on an Isle in the Irish Sea, there lived a lovely and spirited Welsh princess with a heart made of gold. Her little daughter was her whole world, and they lived contentedly with their family and animals among the rolling green hills of their kingdom. Then one day, she caught the eye of a dashing suitor from the south with two little princesses of his own. With the eloquent prose and persuasion of a poet, he crafted the words that would be his first introduction to the woman of his dreams: “Hey there”.

From their wit and humor to their generous spirits, Kathleen and Paul were destined to be the perfect match. Add to the mix their three precious daughters with giant personalities of their own, and you have a recipe for one seriously wonderful blended family. All 7 of us met for the first time the evening before the wedding day. Though we’d been long-distance friends for about a year, it felt like we’d just picked up where we left of on a lifetime friendship. The weekend’s festivities included preparations at the family cottage, a magical ceremony at “The Church in the Sea”, 12th century wonder St Cwyfans, and revelry in tents on the lawn, glowing with warm lights late into the night.

Bouquets grown locally and designed by Emmy's Flowers. Floral displays for ceremony and reception by Helen Starley.

Bride's gown by Enzoani, Wedding Belles/Tlysau'r Briodas.

Live entertainment by "The Second Sons" with frontman Steve Blackstone.

Catering and cake by Lucy Bradley, Bradley's Kitchen.

Hair styling by Jess Molyneux, Mobile Hairdressing by Jess and makeup by Rhiannon Pritchard - Makeup Artist

Olivia & Craig - A Chateau Wedding in South France

A radiant London lady and a sandy-haired gent from Loch Lomond. With nearly 500 miles between them, their chances of meeting certainly weren't betting odds. Yet it wasn't until they had both simultaneously jetted 5,000 miles from home on the same week in summer 2013, that they found themselves staring at one another across a buffet table in Cancun, Mexico. Olivia and Craig would spend the rest of that pivotal day together, and by evening, Craig says he knew beyond a doubt that she was the girl for him. 

4 years of (substantially more picturesque) dates later, the two of them have secured a house in London and built a life together that they are absolutely enamored with. To celebrate the beginning of their marriage, they and their closest friends and family gathered at Chateau la Gauterie for the wedding week. Just the right amount secluded and every bit elegant, the chateau in Southwest France's rolling countryside made for the perfect backdrop for Olivia and Craig's intimate and exquisite affair. Where the days are bright and wine is plentiful, they began a happy new chapter in their lives together.

Venue and Decor: Chateau la Gauterie, St-Paul-Lizonne, France

Bride's Gown: Badgley Mischka

Bride's Shoes: Dolce and Gabbana

Makeup by Lol Overand

Hair by Gemma Welch

Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Forbes on the Square, Glagow. Shoes by Russell and Bromley

Wedding Cake: Cupcakes 16/ Aubeterre, France (Jane Bedford)

Naomi & Jody - Wedding in Honor, Michigan

The Scene: 

A little red brick playhouse in small-town Northern Michigan, situated at a cross street in view of the shimmering bay. It's 2013, and the newly assembled cast of Les Misérables is beginning to get acquainted before rehearsals. In the midst of an introductory exercise, Jody decides to confidently approach Naomi, takes a blurry selfie with her, and initiates a conversation that would continue for the rest of their lives.

During those months of production, Naomi and Jody would become inseparable, drawn in by the other's courageous openness and warmth. When Les Misérables wrapped up, the love story was just beginning. Years later and closer than ever, these two hold each other up with determination and respect, and the friendship they share is perhaps the most apparent thing about them. They effortlessly draw those around them into that friendship, and it's easy to fall in love with these two! What an honor to share such an important day in their story!

Ceremony & Reception, Décor and wedding coordinator: Greystone Mansion, Honor, MI

Bride's Gown: David's Bridal

Floral: The Flower Station, Traverse City

Cake: Brulotte's Cakery and Sweets

Hair and Makeup Styling: Up North Perfection and Sasha Rosenthal