It started with a game of pool. Maybe before then – or perhaps just a bit after that. Mike and Hanna looked at each other with big grins as they talked over the other one’s sentences trying to remember the details of their story. As we walked along the lush green forest trail towards a river (their adorable dog, Archer, happily scurrying around us), it was clear these two were more than just a future husband and wife, these two were best friends. They complimented each other in a way that gave a sense of confidence, a feeling of home. Hanna squeezed her eyes and tilted her head back with laughter in response to a comment Mike made, trying to recall the days they were both students at the same university in a northern point of Michigan. But it was almost as if those details weren’t the story at all. Rather, their “story” was in the way Hanna smiled when Mike gazed at her, it was in their comfort of just being near one another. It was clear that their love was ongoing, it was natural – it was, though cheesy as it may sound – meant to be.

After a hot & humid day, there really just isn’t any other way to end it…

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Amy stepped away from spending time with her family while visiting them in Michigan and checked her phone. A surge of butterflies swept up inside of her when she saw a message from Timothy. He was from California, where Amy had been living, and the two of them had been talking daily since connecting through a dating website they both had made profiles on. With each new message she eagerly responded and waited for another, until she was finally back in California and read the words from Timothy, “Do you want to grab a cup of coffee?” “COFFEE!” Amy thought, being an avid coffee lover herself, “This guy is already a winner!” And the date was set, starting with a concert at San Jose State followed by coffee at a favorite cafe.

But Amy and Timothy’s first date almost didn’t happen. When Kevin, Timothy’s brother, said he was coming into town and wanted to hang out, Timothy nervously debated canceling his date. “Dude, you can’t do that!” Kevin said, urging him to go meet Amy at the concert. So Timothy went, and boy was he glad he did. They enjoyed live music from a symphony and continued on to a cafe where they talked for hours over coffee. It naturally continued into a second date, and a third date, and before they knew it, they were spending each year together falling more in love.

Memorial Day Weekend rolled around, and Timothy was trying to keep his calm as they were stuck in traffic. It was supposed to be a romantic day re-living one of their favorite dates they have ever had together –  driving down a gorgeous California road and catching the sunset. The road, effectively named “17 Mile Road,” winds between the most gorgeous forest and ocean views along Carmel, California. Timothy hoped to make it to the same point they visited on their original date in time to watch the sunset, but Amy sat in the passenger seat looking up tourist spots and gift shops hoping to make a stop along the way. When they finally made it to their spot for sunset viewing, Timothy looked around frustrated. “This isn’t it,” he said with certainty, “this isn’t the spot!” “Oh but it is, babe, look!” And Amy pulled out her phone with photos from their first time there still saved, confirming they were exactly where Timothy wanted to be. He set up his tripod to take a picture – where he planned on surprising Amy with a ring right before the camera snapped the photo, but nerves and giddiness over took him, and Timothy ended up falling on the rocks as he went to run into the frame. Hiding scrapes all over his elbows, he brushed himself off and casually tried it again, this time perfectly running into frame and surprising Amy with a proposal. She – of course – said yes!

Amy and Timothy incorporated Filipino tradition into their ceremony, including the items you see in the photo above: Unity Coins which symbolize prosperity, a white veil to symbolize purity or the presence of the Lord, and a knotted cord to symbolize the couples bond.

 

Flowers: Econo
Hair + Nails: Salon 323
Ceremony Venue: American Martyrs Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Pine Grove Country Club
Coffee (Amy + Timothy’s favorite, as seen pictured): Philz Coffee
Cake: Julie McConnell

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“Heck YES!” Carrie exclaimed to Ben as he was paused in the midst of their mountain biking adventure with ring in hand. Back up to only a short time before that, and the two were making their way to Marquette, Michigan to spend the weekend. These weekend excursions had become a habit, and though they were staying with Carrie’s parents, the two usually ventured out during the days to hang with friends. But this time was different. As Carrie made plans with girlfriends and spent her time around town, Ben decided to hang close to the house and spend time with Carrie’s father. It was then that her mom paused and thought “This is it, he’s going to ask for permission to marry Carrie.” But hours turned into days and as the days rolled over into a new week, Ben and Carrie had packed up their things and made their way back home once again. “He didn’t ask you??” Carrie’s mom asked her father, “I was CERTAIN that’s what he wanted to do!” “Oh hun, he just wanted to hang out with me!” – But Carrie’s mom knew there was more to it, and it wouldn’t be long before their phone would ring and Ben would be on the other line, finally having worked up enough courage to ask that very question.

As Carrie made her way through the church doors and down the aisle, Ben lost it. And of course, everyone else lost it, too. Everything had built to this moment, to this day celebrating with their most treasured friends and family in the most northern point of Michigan. They were married in the sweetest little church, and guests stayed for the weekend in log cabins surrounding the reception venue.

Carrie wore her mothers wedding dress, with just a few alterations made to fit her.

Ben and all of his groomsmen are avid mountain bikers – not to mention mountain biking was involved in the proposal – so as a unique touch to their wedding details, Carrie and Ben added bike cogs to the men’s boutonnieres (I mean, this is amazing).

The gloomy weather held off with just enough time to capture photos around Hunters Point and Brockway Mountain – and just as we made our way into the reception venue, rain began to fall (so perfect!).

Carrie and her bridesmaids made the table centerpieces themselves the night before the wedding – including using greenery they gathered from the forest (which may or may not have been planned, but how INCREDIBLE did they turn out!!?).

Each table arrangement included these amazing Stormy Kromer drink koozies for guests to take home with them as a token of the day.

And fighting for possibly the best moment of the day, Ben and Carrie decided to take ballroom dancing lessons to prepare for their first dance, as they both admitted to not having any idea what to do. “Neither of us really know how to dance, so we figured why not take a few lessons and surprise our guests?” It truly was the sweetest surprise to everyone in the room – and when the MC of the night accidentally stopped their song near the end, he played it cool by saying how much everyone didn’t want it to end, started the song over from the beginning, and had Ben and Carrie dance to the song once again!

Hair: Alexandrea Larson
Makeup: Gisele Ryan
Flowers: Flowers by Sleeman
Ceremony Venue: Bethany Lutheran Church
Reception Venue: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Entertainment: Frank An Da Beanz

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