jennifer + paul
Clean. Fresh. Romantic. These are what Paul and Jennifer had in mind when they began planning their June wedding in Northern Michigan. After dating for nearly three years, the couple walked into a Tiffany & Co. while vacationing in Oregon and never looked back. Returning home, Paul officially proposed in what Jennifer says was, “the most adorable down-on-one-knee” event. The couple immediately began planning their dream wedding for the following summer.
Jennifer and Paul already knew that they wanted to get married “up north” where they enjoyed vacationing in the gorgeous Petoskey/Bay Harbor area. They chose Parr Memorial Baptist Church for its “beautiful interior, with stained glass windows and a giant domed ceiling painted with stars,” quotes Jennifer. Within walking distance is the historic Stafford’s Perry Hotel, where the couple planned their reception. The perfect location for a summer wedding, Paul and Jennifer were drawn to its versatility and impressed by the accommodating and hospitable staff.
The couple’s tiered cake featured white fondant with handmade yellow sugar paste flowers tumbling down the sides. Inside, the savoring tiers consisted of banana cake with chocolate and coconut buttercream filling alternated with yellow cake with raspberry and passionfruit filling.
As for the dress, Jennifer said it was the “only dress that made my Mom cry the moment I put it on.” While she tried many different dresses and styles, Jennifer was drawn to her dress’s simplicity. “The beauty was in its design, and the silk shantung fabric felt so natural,” she remembers. She chose white Cattleya orchids for her bouquet, completing the clean, fresh look. Her bridesmaids carried bouquets of yellow, white, and purple flowers, created by Modern Day Floral of Grand Rapids. Jennifer decided early in her planning to concentrate her wedding around the colors white and yellow and later decided to incorporate deep purple as an accent color, adding depth and richness to the combination.
Following the ceremony, the reception began at the Perry Hotel with a cocktail reception on the charming wrap-around porch, followed by dinner in the stately dining room. Finally, newlyweds and their guests enjoyed drinks and dancing on the Rose Garden Veranda, with stunning views of Little Traverse Bay. Ben Harrison Photography of Grand Rapids captured the entire day in their creative, modern, authentic style. The couple danced their first dance to “Lucky” by Jason Mraz/Colby Calait—a fitting title for two people fortunate to find one another.
Jennifer reminisces on her vision for their wedding and says, “Although the details went through many changes throughout the planning process, the vision was always clear: clean and fresh. I just wanted the day to be light-hearted and full of romance for everyone.”
Reception: Stafford’s Perry Hotel, Petoskey, MI
Flowers & Event Design: Modern Day Floral, Grand Rapids, MI
Photography: Ben Harrison Photography
