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

Northern Michigan Weddings at Bay Harbor

For destination brides looking to capture the scenic beauty of northern Michigan, look no further than Bay Harbor. Perfectly situated between Charlevoix and Petoskey, along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Bay Harbor offers world-class accommodations and some of the most luxurious wedding facilities in all of Michigan.

With breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, Bay Harbor Lake, and the Village, Bay Harbor’s Observation Platform provides the perfect panoramic backdrop for your big day. And if you’re dreaming of a romantic beachfront ceremony, Bay Harbor provides several options, including the Marina Lawn Panel and Sunset Beach, for a picturesque lakeshore setting.

For indoor celebrations, Bay Harbor Resort & Marina’s Conference Center is the ideal location for a wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, or post-wedding brunch. The front room of the Conference Center is anchored by a large bay window, overlooking magnificent Bay Harbor, and, from the lobby and grand hallway, guests will be amazed by magnificent views of shimmering blue water.

Bay Harbor embodies the natural beauty, and the crisp, clean elegance of high-end nautical society. Quaint area shops, world-renowned golf courses, beautifully appointed ballrooms, and of course, majestic views of Lake Michigan make Bay Harbor the perfect destination for your northern Michigan wedding.