Detroit Wedding from Amy Carroll Photography + VLD + The Gown Shop
I'm a Detroit girl at heart. Raised just minutes from this beautiful, old city, I love everything Detroit has to offer. Unfortunately, the image that Detroit demands in the minds of those who have never visited are not always positive. But today, we are going to change that. We've got a Downtown Detroit wedding from VLD that is be-YOND fabulous - and exactly portrays the city the way it should be seen - stunning and extra glamorous. The Gown Shop dressed this gorg bride from her dreamy veil, to her amazing gown, to the pretty peep toe pumps, and Amy Carroll Photography has helped us fall in love with her, her handsome groom, their amazing wedding, and the city they adore. Promise me you'll give Detroit a chance with the gallery!
Click here to see the video + here to see the gallery!
After college, “life” took Tony and me to Detroit, MI where we accepted jobs with KPMG. Thanks to long hours and out of town clients, we were forced to spend a lot of time together. After working together for only a few months, we decided we should go on a date. I took Tony out on our first date. We went to Notre Dame for the ND vs. MSU football game. Did I have game or what?! Tony repaid the kindness by treating me to breakfast at McDonald’s on the drive down and dinner at Hot ‘n Now on the drive back. I had Tony wrapped around my finger after our first date as (1) this is Tony’s idea of the perfect date and (2) MSU won. From that date on, the rest is history.
We decided to get married in Detroit, MI as we are both from Michigan and both our families live in the surrounding suburbs. We thought a downtown Detroit wedding would provide a fun experience for our guests. I have always loved Old St. Mary’s church. Old St. Mary’s is a beautiful church with a lot of history. We visited several locations for the reception, but as soon as we stepped into the Colony Club ballroom, we instantly knew that this was the place we would have our wedding reception. The Colony Club is a classic Louis the XVI ballroom, which features historic chandeliers, gorgeous hardwood ballroom floor, floor-to-ceiling two-story windows, and a charming mezzanine.
I am a numbers person…not a creative person. I did a ton of research, which resulted in a binder with hundreds of magazine clippings and online printouts. With much help from our wedding coordinator, Alison Laesser-Keck of VLD, and our florist, Irish Rose, we were able to mold my scattered ideas into a clear vision. Also, the allure of the Colony Club ballroom helped with the decision making. The ballroom is breath-taking in and of itself. I wanted to build on the ‘awe’ that the ballroom already provided upon arrival. We ended with what I thought was a very simple and elegant wedding. Black and white is classic and timeless. Purple has been my favorite color since I was a little girl, so we incorporated purple into the bridesmaid bouquets and groomsmen boutonnieres. The ornate features of the Colony Club inspired the table overlays with gold accents and the centerpieces. The texture and the color of the antiqued hydrangea paired with the height of the curly willow added to the glamour of the ballroom.
Photography: Amy Carroll Photography / Shoes & Purse: Benjamin Adams via The Gown Shop / Dress: Modern Trousseau via The Gown Shop / Veil: Sara Gabriel via The Gown Shop / Jewelry: Haute Bride via The Gown Shop / Flowers: Irish Rose / Ceremony: Old St. Mary's Church / Reception: Colony Club / Invitations: Minted / Hair + Makeup: Priss / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Tuxedos: President Tuxedo / Cupcakes: Just Baked / Favors: Vosges / Band: Higher Ground / Cocktail Hour Musician: Phil DeMarco / Ice Sculpture: Michigan Ice Carvers / Videographer: Shutter Speed Productions / Guest Book: Carrie Havranek Designs / Flower Girl Dresses: Flower Girl Dress Shop / Event Planning + Design: VLD