Low-Key North Michigan Wedding: Diane + Nick

The air was heavy and hot as we journeyed to the top of the lower peninsula for this Up North wedding in Tustin, Michigan. Diane and Nick both wanted a very laid back wedding celebration with family and friends and planned a whole wedding weekend where everyone camped, swam, fished, enjoyed cool beverages, and enjoyed the summer days together. The bridal prep, the ceremony, and the reception would all be taking place at the secluded woodland retreat, The Kettunen Center, which also had a beautiful lakefront view. Throughout the morning family and friends enjoyed this hidden, off-the-beaten-path retreat and also prepared for the afternoon celebration.

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The flowers for the centerpieces and decor were assembled by mothers, grandmothers, and cousins during the morning of the wedding day while Diane and Nick began to get ready. As a friend sang and strummed her ukulele, Diane seemed to glide down the aisle towards a beaming Nick, in a blush-colored and crystal embellished wedding gown.

So much love surrounded this fun couple as poems and pretty things were spoken at the ceremony and as Nick and Diane recited their vows to each other through teary eyes and ecstatic bursts of laughter. After some quick family portraits, the bride and groom took a few moments to be alone and to cherish this very special time in their relationship. As the sun began to set, we then took Diane and Nick down by the water to capture some beautiful and romantic pictures of them before they headed to join family and friends at the reception.

The yellow lightning bugs buzzed and cries of laughter rang through the air as this outdoor reception continued on the beach. Some younger guests took to the glassy cool water to swim, canoe, and fish while others enjoyed people watching from the beach or from around the bonfire. Once the sun had officially gone down and the sand was cool, ladies and gents kicked off their shoes and danced the night away barefoot on the beach beneath an inky black sky full of twinkling stars.

I want to wish Diane and Nick so much love and happiness and congratulations on being MARRIED!

Love Always,

Courtney Carolyn

***I met Diane and Nick while freelancing my photography skills and secondarily assisting Brittany Alies Photography and I enjoyed capturing all the amazing details of their low-key up north wedding in Tustin, MI!***

(To read more about why I collaborate and work with other photographers, check out this post.)