Brittany + Donald - A Beautiful Beach Wedding at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, 6/18/23

Chloe Leach July 27, 2023

On a warm summer evening in 2019, Brittany and Donald were introduced by mutual friends over what seemed to be a casual dinner like any other.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, this meeting was far from coincidental. Having discussed their plans at length, these mutual friends had decided that the two would be a perfect match for each other.

Though native to the state of Michigan, Donald was living in LA at the time, visiting home to be with friends and family. As dinner came to a close that night, he mused out loud what a shame it was that Brittany didn’t live in LA. The two had quickly hit it off, with Brittany enjoying Donald’s easy personality and lively conversation. The two exchanged socials and contact info before parting ways that evening, resigned that the 2,000 miles between them meant they might not meet again.

Fast forward to November. The two had lost touch since their meeting. Donald was tagged in a post on Facebook that Brittany commented on, which prompted Donald to send her a text. They continued talking after that, deciding to meet up over the holidays the next month. Sparks flew. Brittany made the trek to LA from Michigan to visit Donald in January, and they took turns visiting one another each few weeks during the next couple of months. March of 2020, during the last half of a visit to LA to meet Donald’s family, the rise in Covid cases was causing widespread alarm, and lockdowns began. Rather than be separated, Donald and Brittany decided to “flatten the curve” together in Michigan for the next two weeks. Two weeks turned into several months, and the two lived together in Brittany’s Michigan bungalow until June. At that time, Brittany downsized her possessions to 2 suitcases worth of things, and relocated to LA with Donald. After three years together, Donald proposed. 6 months into their engagement, they both decided to bypass the big wedding in favor of an intimate beach celebration. In just 30 days, they planned and coordinated the whole celebration exactly as they had hoped.

With Northern Michigan holding a special place in both their hearts, it was their first choice for location. They found their perfect venue at Grand Traverse Resort’s Beach Club. With a picturesque views of East Grand Traverse Bay, Brittany and Donald exchanged vows under the summer sky on June 18th, 2023.

Miranda & Justyn - An Idyllic Country Wedding in Northern Michigan - 9/14/19

Chloe Leach October 4, 2019

Miranda and Justyn grew up fairly close to one other, attending neighboring schools and even sharing some of the same friends, but somehow managing to never cross paths. In college at Northwood University, Justyn played football and Miranda was on the dance team. Despite sharing similar schedules, both of them going for the same degree in business management, and Miranda literally dancing at the games in which Justyn was playing, still no introduction was made.

Years went by. In July of 2016, a mutual friend had a going-away party. Finally in the same place at the right time, Miranda immediately caught Justyn’s eye. Something made her stand out to him, and he spent much of the night after their introduction just trying not to let her catch him staring or wiping the drool from his mouth. For her part, Miranda hadn’t noticed Justyn at all. But Justyn’s hopeful patience payed off when he finally got the chance to talk with her alone and buy her a beer later that night. He got her Snapchat info, and that was that.
About a month later, Miranda had graduated school and was looking for a job. Justyn and Miranda had been casually talking, and Miranda mentioned her job search to him. Justyn had a golden opportunity to play the knight in shining armor, and he was able to get her a job at his own workplace. Although Miranda had a strict policy never to mix work and personal life, Justyn was persistent in his flirtations. Miranda eventually agreed to go out with him. It was a Red Wings game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The two new friends spent hours after the game just talking, and Miranda was drawn in by the easy conversation (and Justyn’s great beard).. A few weeks after this, Miranda left for Florida to celebrate her 23rd birthday. After only a few days apart, it was clear that being apart wasn’t what they wanted to be. The rest, as they say, is history.

To begin the newest chapter of their adventure together, Miranda & Justyn chose Cobblestone Farms in Michigan’s Northern countryside. It was a sunny and comfortable September day that ended in a perfect evening of dancing and celebrations under a clear, starry sky.

Laura & Kyle - Spring Wedding on Old Mission Peninsula - 5/26/19

Chloe Leach July 10, 2019

Laura and Kyle spent their college years at Olivet running in the same Greek circles. They became fast friends, but things hadn’t progressed past that point – much to Laura’s disappointment. It wasn’t until 2012, after they had both graduated and gone their separate ways, that Kyle called up Laura and asked her to be his date to a holiday concert. And the rest, as they say, was history.

On a bright spring day in Northern Michigan, the two longtime friends finally tied the (literal) knot in a ceremony overlooking Grand Traverse Bay. It was a day full of love, laughter, and happy tears. Not to mention lots of dancing late into the night!

Venue: The Peninsula Room, Traverse City

Floral by Hooper’s Farm Gardens

Bride’s gown: Moonlight, A’doraBelle Bridal

Hair and makeup styling by Urban Modern Hair and Arbonne Kim

Entertainment by Casey of Rusch Entertainment

Shannon & Brandon - An Elegant Spring Wedding at the Blue Dress Barn - May 10th, 2019

Chloe Leach June 5, 2019

Shannon’s first night as a Chicago resident was a snowy Tuesday in December of 2013. She and her roommate were holed up at a local pub over celebratory drinks, when they were approached by two boys. One of these was an acquaintance of Shannon’s roommate from their time studying abroad in Spain. As the two of them swapped old stories and caught up, Shannon struck up a conversation with the second boy, who introduced himself as Brandon. The two of them made a connection instantly, and met up again that Saturday. It was the beginning of a long friendship for the two of them. Two years of memories, inside jokes, and nights on the town together later, Shannon and Brandon began dating officially.

When it finally came time to propose, Brandon had a plan. When in their early stages of friendship 4 years earlier, they had watched an episode of “Freaks and Geeks” together, in which the character Jason stages a romantic atmosphere in his parents’ basement and serenades the object of his affections to Styx’s “Lady”. At the time, Shannon had mentioned how she thought that would be the best way to get proposed to. Brandon was already taking notes. On December 27th, 2018, Brandon set about filling their Chicago apartment with candles and mood music by – you guessed it – Styx. The plan went off perfectly, and the two longtime friends began planning their future together.

The wedding day was set amidst the rustic elegance of Benton Harbor’s Blue Dress Barn. An abundance of bright floral and vibrant greens filled the venue and adorned the banquet tables, while string lights sparkled in the barn’s loft above. The celebrations began early that clear morning along the waters of Lake Michigan, and went well into the night with lively music by Motel Breakfast keeping the dance floor packed.

Shannon’s Gown: Pronovias
Catering by On the Spot BBQ
Venue: Blue Dress Barn
Cakes and Desserts by Sarah Paulson and Chris McNeil
Live entertainment by Motel Breakfast
Floral by First Avenue Flowers
Appetizers by Veronica Soto

Hair and Makeup by Nicole Marie Salon

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

Chloe Leach November 16, 2017

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

Heather & Brett - Wedding at Aurora Cellars, Leelanau Peninsula

Chloe Leach June 22, 2017

"Do I know you?" These were Brett's first words to the woman who would turn out to be the girl of his dreams, who would consequently change his entire life in ways nobody thought possible. His next words were to ask this girl to dance, and fortuitously, she did. Heather had just made the move to Northern Michigan for a new job, and Brett was returning to the same town for his third season working aboard the Tall Ship Manitou. This chance meeting was in May of 2012, and over the course of the following summer, Heather and Brett spent every spare moment together. They explored the area's wineries, enjoyed the beaches together, and became quite taken with one another. When fall came around that year, the time Brett would usually have left Michigan until next season, he stayed to be near Heather.

It wasn't until June of 2016, on a surprise getaway to upstate New York, that Brett proposed to Heather with a beautiful family heirloom diamond. Exactly a year after that night on the balcony of empty Bolt Castle, an excited crowd of friends and family gathered on the sunny lawn of Leelanau's Aurora Cellars to witness the two lovers give their vows to each other. Brett and Heather had the entire group wiping away tears along with them as they read their heartfelt vows to one another in the shade of a giant willow tree. What a perfect day for a beautiful beginning!

Floral by The Blossom Shop, Traverse City

Bride's Gown by Stella York

Hair Styling by Salon Moxie, Traverse City

Makeup by Calla, Traverse City

Catering by Laura Cavender

Cake by Potters Bakery