pat + megan

Call it the luck of the Irish. Pat and Megan met through mutual friends one St. Patrick’s Day, and three years later, they got engaged on the holiday!

So perhaps it is fitting that their August wedding was filled with splashes of fresh greens. Bright white and deep purple rounded out their palette. Florist Gail Vander Laan carried out the color scheme with wowing boutonnieres and bouquets. “I wanted my bouquet to be classic, but flowing,” Megan said. “I was blown away when I saw it.”

At Pat and Megan’s intimate ceremony, the priest focused on the virtues of respecting and listening to one another in marriage. “It was very personal,” Megan said of his message. “Afterwards, people kept saying that they could feel he was talking to them. It really touched everyone.” But even in the heartfelt moments, it wasn’t tears that came across Megan’s face. “I don’t think I stopped smiling once,” she remembered.

Both the ceremony and reception took place at the timeless Leonard at Logan House. The stunning bed and breakfast in the heart of Grand Rapids was spacious enough to offer each member of the wedding party their own room, yet cozy enough that Pat and Megan felt right at home. The couple’s 80 guests were free to tour the facility during the reception and raved about its elegance.

Like any modern bride, Megan knew how to add some fun, quirky elements into a classy evening. She and Pat decided to use pictures of their four dogs and their friends’ dogs for their table numbers. In lieu of favors, the couple made a donation to the Humane Society of West Michigan on their guests’ behalf.

After a little smooching (Megan’s family started a kissing contest!) and a lot of dancing, the reception started winding down for the evening. Pat and Megan treasured their post-party time with their guests who were staying at the B&B that night. The newlyweds kicked off their shoes and chatted with the small group until 2 a.m. “We loved this part,” the bride explained. “We were just surrounded by our closest friends and family to enjoy the rest of the night.”

The couple chose Lynell Shooks of Lizzie Photo to capture their big day in pictures. “If I have any advice for other brides, it’s to not skimp on your photographer,” Megan said. “When we got our pictures, I cried. I get to relive our special day every time I look them!”

Photography: Lizzie Photo, Grand Rapids, MI
Reception Location: Leonard at Logan, Grand Rapids, MI
Flowers: Gail Vander Laan Florist, Grand Rapids, MI
Guest Accommodations: Leonard at Logan, Grand Rapids, MI
Cake: Amway Grand Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI
Wedding Dress: Renee Austin Wedding, Grand Rapids, MI
Rings: Juhas and Sullivan, Grand Rapids, MI
Party Rentals: Cascade Rental Center, Grand Rapids, MI
Beauty: Design 1, Cascade Location, Grand Rapids, MI