Green Weddings in Michigan

When it comes to eco-friendly weddings, Michigan brides have the world at their fingertips. With the largest fresh water coastline in the world, and a seemingly unlimited supply of locally grown products, Michigan’s natural splendor provides plenty of opportunity for the environmentally conscious bride to show her true color - green!

Exceptional Events will help brides select the absolute best green products and environmentally responsible wedding vendors - from organic flowers and centerpieces to recycled invitations, your guests will be amazed at just how elegant a green wedding can be.

We’ll also work with you to select cuisine from top local farmers, like Michigan-grown apples and cherries, and organic wines, coffees, and cheeses. Even wedding fashion can be environmentally friendly - have your groomsmen and bridesmaids wear an outfit they’ll use beyond your wedding, and for the yourself, consider a vintage dress or a gown designed with the environment in mind.

When the party ends, your eco-friendly wedding can have a life of its own - recycling after the reception, arranging carpools for guests, and a honeymoon at an eco-resort are all great ways to do your part to help our planet. And giving trees as wedding favors is a fantastic way to save the environment, while giving your guests a lasting memory of your big day.

West Michigan Wedding Photographer - Jennifer Mayo Studios

Located near the Lake Michigan shoreline, Jennifer Mayo Studios wedding photography has been featured in magazines, like the Knot and Brides, and on theknot.com. For Michigan brides, Jennifer Mayo Studios is the premier beach and vineyard wedding photographer, and their artistically diverse team travels to Northern Michigan, Detroit, Chicago, and around the country to capture urban architectural and natural landscapes.

Jennifer Mayo Studios’ wedding photos are delicate and rich, always alive and in the moment. Jennifer attributes her artistic eye to her children, seeing the world through their lens and translating that awe inspiring vision to her photography - sunlight coming through a window, creating rainbows, the feel of touching snow for the first time. “ It might sound silly,” she said, “but these little things that I used to disregard have reconstructed the way I think and the way I see.”

These Jennifer Mayo Studios wedding photos are taken from a recent Exceptional Events wedding -
Jennifer holds a degree in art and design from the University of Notre Dame, and has studied under photography legends, such as Denis Reggie, Yervant, and Joe Buissink. Combining her artistic background and personal passion, Jennifer says, “we take a documentary approach to photographing every wedding. My single piece of advice to every couple on their wedding day is to just have fun and live in the moment. As long as you're happily married at the end of the day and you enjoy every moment, planned our surprise, we'll capture great images for you to enjoy for the rest of your lives.”

In designing your big day, Exceptional Events will help Jennifer Mayo Studios capture each breathtaking moment of your wedding. “In our experience working with Exceptional Events,” Jennifer said, “all the details were managed to perfection and the staff's direction of the timeline for the day allowed us to focus on photographing in real-time rather than directing people all day long. From an aesthetic standpoint, Exceptional Events designs unique and sophisticated celebrations that are visually breathtaking, which, of course, makes capturing beautiful images that much easier for us. We always look forward to working with the Exceptional Events team.”

Michigan Wedding Dresses

Dresses - they are a changing, and Metro Detroit brides are on the cutting edge of trends in modern wedding gowns. Michigan’s diverse styles and beautifully varied seasons often call for more than one dress design during the course of the evening.

And while a classically elegant wedding gown will always be a hit, there’s no reason you can’t change it up, even midway through your big day. Many Michigan brides are opting to change dresses between the ceremony and reception, allowing you to wear a luxurious princess gown to the ceremony, and a sleeker dress to the reception.

Other brides are opting for convertible wedding dresses, with detachable bottom skirts. These convertible wedding dresses offer a quick and easy way to change into something shorter for dancing at the reception, while retaining the style of your gown.

For a sampling of hot wedding dresses this season, visit Brides.com, and check out naturalbridals.com to view convertible dresses from Morgan Boszilkov.

Whatever style dress you choose - or should you choose more than one style - Exceptional Events will help you find your favorite designer and select your dream gown, ensuring your dress is uniquely you, no matter how many you wear.

*Photo courtesy of Jessica-Johnston Photography

Ann Arbor Wedding Cakes from Zingerman’s Bakehouse

Part of Ann Arbor’s famous Zingerman’s community of businesses, Zingerman’s Bakehouse is a southeast Michigan institution, custom designing gourmet wedding cakes for Metro Detroit brides. Zingerman’s team of artisan bakers uses traditional baking methods and only the most flavorful ingredients, and they most certainly understand how to add modern flair to your Michigan wedding cake.

Exceptional Events is committed to designing intimate, personal weddings, and one spectacular element that can help make your wedding memorable is an individualized wedding cake. No matter what your wedding theme, Zingerman’s Bakehouse will design and bake a fun, elegant cake that perfectly matches your unique taste - both in style and flavor. Zingerman’s prides themselves on making beautiful wedding cakes that “taste good too,” giving your wedding guests plenty to rave about.

And as a full-service bakehouse, Zingerman’s is on the cutting-edge of all the latest wedding trends, like groom’s cakes, gourmet cookie trays, cupcake spreads, and any other sweet you can imagine sinking your teeth into. As Zingerman’s says themselves, “[we’re] driven by our passion for great bread and pastries and a desire to share them...” Once you get a taste of their wedding cakes, we’re sure you’ll share their passion too.

For a sampling of cakes, visit Zingerman’s wedding cakes page.

New Ann Arbor Studio for Michigan Wedding Design

Now located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor on the corner of Main St. and E. Liberty, Exceptional Events is proud to announce the opening of our newest Michigan wedding design studio.

Having moved from the quaint Ann Arbor suburbs to chic downtown, Exceptional Events' new wedding studio is truly located in one of Michigan’s most unique regions, with a taste big city glamour in small town America. The streets of this University of Michigan town are lined with glamorous boutique shopping, gourmet dining, beautiful natural surroundings, and a vibrant nightlife, making Ann Arbor the perfect fit for our warm, welcoming service and sophisticated wedding design.

For brides in Ann Arbor, Brighton, Okemos, Grand Ledge, and Lansing - make an appointment by calling our new Ann Arbor design studio at 734.929.4499, or email RSVP@MyExceptionalEvents.com to schedule a complimentary consultation. Let Exceptional Events get started planning the Michigan wedding of your dreams.

Ann Arbor Weddings at the University of Michigan Union & League

Nestled in the beautiful heart of campus, the University of Michigan Union and League will add sophisticated class to your Ann Arbor wedding, delighting Michigan brides with extravagant ballrooms and intimate details.

The Michigan Union is the perfect setting to make wedding dreams come true. Warm, oak paneled walls and slate floors give the Michigan Union a classic, tradition-rich feel. The hand painted murals, dramatic windows, and a crackling fireplace set the perfect backdrop for an elegant wedding in the Blaine Room. And the Grand Ballroom’s lavish 35 foot ceiling adorned with sparkling chandeliers will mesmerize your guests.

The Michigan League also offers a diverse set of wedding options, from the intimate elegance of the Blagdon Room, to the grandiose stained glass and dramatic ceilings of the Ballroom, the Michigan League is beautifully appointed with oak and walnut paneling and Pewabic tile floors, giving the League an air of high-society.

Helping local brides choose from over 30 uniquely decorated rooms, Exceptional Events will design your fairy tale wedding at the University of Michigan Union and League, incorporating Ann Arbor’s charming downtown and the pristine campus into every celebration.

Barton Hills Country Club Weddings in Ann Arbor

For Ann Arbor weddings, look no further than Barton Hills Country Club, with its lavish banquet facilities, beautifully groomed grounds, and dedicated catering staff. Exceptional Events recently enjoyed the pleasure of planning a wedding at Barton Hills Country Club for 175 guests.

The wedding was spectacular, and the unique ceremony was rich in both Jewish and Scottish tradition, complete with kilts and bagpipes.



Photos courtesy of Widdis Photography

Ann Arbor Weddings at the Polo Fields Golf & C.C.

The Polo Fields Golf & Country Club of Ann Arbor is one of southeast Michigan’s most exclusive wedding and event venues. Covering over 420 acres of rolling Michigan Hills, the Polo Fields is an exclusive country club and resort, featuring the finest golf courses and recreational activities, as well as the most prestigious wedding and event services, combining beautiful grounds and event venues with mid-western hospitality.

Accommodating up to 260 guests, the newly renovated Grand Ballroom offers classical elegance and charm, with panoramic views of the grounds, perfect for your big day. The ballroom’s neutral color palette is accentuated by the soft lighting from both the delicate chandeliers and the natural light from the ballroom’s three French doors. The Grand Ballroom also provides access to the resorts brick patio, overlooking the pool and world-class golf course, and the room itself boasts 3,800 square-feet of space.

With meandering creeks, stately, mature trees, and a perfect blend of classic taste and modern sensibility, the Polo Fields Golf & Country Club captures the natural beauty and sophistication of Ann Arbor. For the best of southeast Michigan, Exceptional Events will work with The Polo Fields’ professional banquet staff and award-winning chef to design the wedding of your dreams.

Jessica Johnston - Featured Photographer

Winner of Top Knots 2007- best wedding photographers in the country award, Jessica Johnston Photography’s artistry is renowned, both locally in Ann Arbor and on a national stage.

Owners and photographers, Jessica and Nathan bring their unique, trend-setting style to local weddings. Their diverse backgrounds in graphic design and architecture, coupled with a cinematic-inspired eye, creates a one-of-a-kind blend of vision and form, sure to delight area brides.

For classically-inspired images or avant-garde beauty, Jessica Johnston is one of Exceptional Events’ favorite southeast Michigan photographers. In addition to their magazine features in Brides and The Knot, and their numerous accolades and awards, Anna herself says, “Nate and Jess are warm, wonderful people, and they’re a joy to work with.” Their combination of talent and service has earned Jessica Johnston Photography the respect of brides and industry insiders throughout Michigan.

Enjoy this small sampling of their work – and for complete information, visit their website at www.jessica-johnston.com.