I know what you may be thinking... an outdoor wedding in the middle of a blizzard? Kind of epic, totally freezing, and definitely worth it! On my very first call with Wynston, she described her dream wedding as a "snow globe winter wonderland." Not your typical wedding ceremony to say the least, but the day could not have been more perfect.
If you've ever seen a Michigan meme such as, "Welcome to Michigan where the forecasts are made up and the seasons don't matter" or, "Michigan weather is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." Just know there's some truth behind that. The day before the wedding was sunny and clear, but low and behold we woke up to a full-blown blizzard.
In true Michigan style, Wynston got her fairytale snowglobe wedding!
Getting Ready Moments
The Walloon Lake Hotel featured a rustic-chic meets modern-industrial design in all the best ways. The brightly lit bridal suite with big open windows was the perfect space for the girls to get ready. Wynston shared with me that each of her bridesmaids were childhood best friends who had all grown up together. Sounds like something out of a movie, right? It's so rare and special for a girl gang to stick together like that. But their strong bond and sisterly dynamic made it clear that these women are in it for a lifetime.
On the other side of the venue, Zack got dressed in his traditional black wedding attire and shared a few beers with the guys. We headed outside for a few shots in front of the hotel where they all put on their fur trapper hats. They really thought of every detail which made for such a fun and memorable day!
Bridal Party + Portraits
I'm a sucker for neutrals, but this neutral wedding color palette was even dreamier against the pure white snow. The bridal party wore satin/velvet nude-colored dresses with matching fur shawls and classic black tuxedos. Even the bouquets featured a soft blend of white flowers, greenery, and pinecones which perfectly complimented the striking winter landscape. Wynston rocked a sleeveless lace wedding dress which made her look like a snow queen!
Ceremony
When the ceremony finally arrived, everyone bundled up in their warmest winter gear and took their seats. Instead of an arch or wedding chuppah their ceremony backdrop was a gorgeous tall pine tree with naturally frosted tips. Their vows were short and sweet and everyone cheered as they were officially announced husband and wife. It was so much fun to see the amount of love and support they had despite the winter weather conditions! Nobody seemed to care. They participated in a sand pouring ceremony and then guests headed back inside to warm up by the fire.
Funny story! Wynston orderered 'his and her' vow books but the company assumed Wynston was a boy because of her name, so they sent two Mr. books... it was hilarious and something she has dealt with her entire life. We we instantly bonded over boy name struggles!
Reception
The hotel allowed the reception to be hosted (for the first time ever!) in the restaurant portion of the venue, the Barrell Back Bar. The moody lighting and big open windows created the perfect ambiance for a winter wedding reception with views of the falling snow just outside. Instead of a traditional seating chart, they decided to keep it casual with open tables and buffet style food stations set up throughout the venue. The laid back dinner was so unique and allowed guests to move around, mingle and eat as they pleased.
The Hotel
To end the night, the hotel suprised Wynston and Zack with a room filled with rose petals, a bottle of Vueve, chocolate covered strawberries, and wine for them to enjoy. It was such a thoughtful gesture and I'm so happy they let me sneak in for a few photos before I left.
I'm so happy to have been a part of Wynston and Zack's winter wonderland wedding. It was truly one-of-a-kind! They were care-free and easy going throughout the entire process which made the experience even better. Congratudations to W + Z!
Inquire about your day!
Vendors
Venue: Walloon Lake Hotel Coordinator: Beyond Eventful (Grace Gardziella) Florist: Flowers from Sky's The Limit (Jackie Burrell) HMUA: Olena Bielova DJ: 2BaysDJ's Officiant: Edward Hartfield Shuttle Service: Blue Lakes By The Bay Photo Booth: Happy Snappy Photo Booth Desserts: Simply Sweet by Jessica
