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