Maggie and Eli live in North Carolina, but celebrated their nuptials at at Eli’s family lake house in Michigan. 1928 Planning Co. designed the event which included details in a palette inspired by the scenery—berry-hues reflective of the vineyards and light blues that mirrored the serene colors of Lake Michigan. Invitations are by Sable and Gray, florals by Fresh Flowers by Anna and a cake by Sweet Mandy B. The couple loves the Danish concept of hygge (or coziness) and set out to incorporate the feeling into their day and we love that Kati Mallory Photo & Design captures it all so beautifully.
What made the wedding special and unique?
Eli and I live in North Carolina but had our wedding in Michigan, which was very stressful at times. Even though our wedding had almost 200 people, I wanted everyone to feel like it was an intimate party, so that’s where the planning began. I was really inspired by the lush greenery in southwestern Michigan and my color palette closely mirrored the surroundings: the vineyard (berry, burgundy) and Lake Michigan (light blues). There is something so peaceful in this region of the country – slightly chilly in September but surrounded by farms, vineyards, and the clear blue water.
We said our vows at Eli’s family lake house – a place that is always open to friends and family and is very special to us. Eli’s dad and aunt made the chuppah themselves. The covering was made from a piece of fabric from both families – a hand-quilted blanket made my my great-grandmother and Eli’s tallit (prayer shawl), which was a gift his late grandfather brought Eli from Israel. It represented the two families joining as one, and also as a reminder of the love and presence of the special people who are no longer with us. We exchanged our handwritten vows while overlooking Lake Michigan, and to look out during our ceremony and see all of our favorite people sitting on our front lawn was very special and emotional for us.
My dog Humphrey, whom I rescued 7 years ago and has moved across the county several times with us, was our ring bearer and walked down the aisle in his tux. He was also featured on the invitations, menus, signature cocktail, and on goodie bags – he was like our own wedding crest!
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
I wore a dress by Vera Wang. I tried on what felt like a million gowns and nothing felt quite right! I came across a gown on Instagram and knew immediately it was meant for me! I had already been to Vera Wang but went back to try it on and the staff was so helpful. I wanted to customize the dress to my exact vision, and their seamstress executed it perfectly. The dress was classic, yet modern, and the beading and ornate belt gave it an extra “wow” factor.
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
For the reception, I wanted it to be lit mostly by candlelight and filled with florals to give the night a cozy feel. We love the Danish concept of hygge (or coziness), and wanted to incorporate that feeling for our guests. I sourced almost every detail from incredible designers on Etsy and really enjoyed customizing several items. One of my absolute favorite items were our place cards – each hand painted by Newly Scripted, and embedded in moss. Because I absolutely LOVE dessert, and I knew I wanted an entire dessert table with a non-traditional cake from my favorite bakery in Chicago, Sweet Mandy B’s. Eli & I lived in, met, and fell in love in Chicago, our pre-military home, and the dessert table was the perfect nod to our time there. Our cake was a banana cake with chocolate buttercream filling and vanilla buttercream frosting, and we also served cookies, cupcakes, and Sweet Mandy B’s famous rice crispy treats. They were to-die for! Another favorite unique touch for the reception were our koozies. Each side gave a nod to where we come from, with Eli’s side showing Illinois with “Congrats You Guys” and my side representing Arkansas (my home state) with “Congrats Y’all”.
Eli is an Army JAG Officer and we have many friends serving our country. Though we were sad some very close friends were deployed at the time, we were honored to have every branch of the military represented at our wedding. Eli’s and my first dance was to “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder, a song he sang to me when he joined the military and we lived apart.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
It’s impossible to pick a favorite moment from the wedding day, but walking into the reception tent and seeing all of the details I had worked hard on come together was so special. Not just because of the design elements with plenty of warm candlelight, tons of flowers, and heat lamps keeping it warm, but because it was a room full of all our favorite people filling it. Best feeling ever!
Photography: Kati Mallory Photo & Design // Event Planning: 1928 Planning Co. // Invitations: Sable and Gray // Floral Design: Fresh Flowers by Anna // Wedding Dress: Vera Wang // Hair & Makeup: Reva Salon & Spa // Bride’s Shoes: Louboutin // Cake: Sweet Mandy B // Bridesmaid Dresses: Shona Joy // Groomsmen Attire: Generation Tux // Custom Signature Cocktail Signs: Rubi And Lib // Engraved Wine Barrel Head (Guest Book): Midwest Barrel Company // Calligraphy: Newly Scripted // Custom Signage: Rich Design Co. // Vow Books: The Ambrosia Rabbit // Catering: CK Catering // Band: String Theory // DJ: Style Matters DJs