When I thumb through bridal magazines (who can resist all the gorgeous photos?!), I’m always astounded by the creativity given to every aspect of the planning. Individuality runs head-to-head with tradition, and it’s nice to see such diverse personalities.
But I shouldn’t be surprised, as I had an untraditional wedding. My husband proposed while we were on vacation visiting my family in Michigan, and three days later we were married (while still on vacation). We had the honeymoon before the wedding at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island—a stay we won at a silent auction. Gen Xers may remember the hotel as the setting for “Somewhere in Time,” a movie starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.
Guests of The Grand Hotel are required to dress up for dinner, so I happened to have a frock with me. Our best person, my niece Sydney, had a similar dress, and the color scheme was black and white. So, I guess I’m a vanilla bean cake.
Classic film references played into our special day, as we got married on the lawn of the Marquette County Courthouse in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. That courthouse was a recognizable background in the 1959 James Stewart film “Anatomy of a Murder.” The entire visit ended up being- a movie-lover’s guide to the region-—every meal surrounding our wedding was held at other locations from the film, such as the saloon Duke Ellington played in.
Our wedding was unplanned, but it was playful and historic. It was inexpensive, but unforgettable, and it perfectly captured our personalities.
No matter how much time or money you’ve got to spend on planning your wedding, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in our Wedding Issue. Discover trends just begging to be personalized and read about the businesses voted Best of Wedding by you, our readers. We also take you on a journey through our favorite honeymoon destinations.
Then, after reading about Orlando’s best statement cakes, don’t miss the aforementioned quiz, What Wedding Cake Flavor are You?
Continue your journey of inspiration by reading our special Women Who Move the City section, highlighting some of the business, civic and education leaders who work to bring about positive change in our community.
No matter if your wedding is large or small, spares no expense or is done on a budget, be sure to keep two things in the forefront: your love for your sweetheart and a healthy dose of personality.