Handmade Michigan Wedding
I have to admit, when I first saw this real wedding from Just Alex Photography, I was certain it was a styled shoot. Aren’t newlyweds Allie and Josh just the most gorgeous duo? We love that Allie didn’t give up on her dream wedding gown and finally had a dressmaker craft it, and it so perfectly suits her!
From the bride, Allie: When Josh asked me to marry him I knew exactly what we envisioned for our day. He’s a country boy and I am a sucker for anything vintage, shabby chic and rustic. We wanted the wedding to be us so we combined all of it!
We would describe our wedding as Vintage, Rustic, DIY, Casual, and Us. Our color theme was mint, and all accents were lace, burlap, and dusty rose. Everything you see in our wedding was special to us. I antiqued for every single piece, and hand created with help of family and friends every decoration. That’s what made our day so special. Everything in our wedding has a story that we will always remember.
I struggled with my wedding dress for quite some time. I bought one and felt like I was settling because I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. I drew up a design of the dream dress in my head and took it to a lady who helped make my vision come to life. I didn’t want a veil with my dress because everything was so casual and our day wasn’t traditional. I found my halo on etsy and knew it would go perfect with the belt I had for my dress. I found my shoes before we were engaged at an antique store. When I started planning our day I knew they would be perfect with the vintage theme. I was struggling with my jewelry and found an old locket on etsy. I got our date engraved on the inside and fell in love! Josh got me a bracelet that I added to the ones I already had. We exchanged gifts before we saw each other and his came with a long note. It was a charm bracelet that he explained would grow as our love does! He is so sweet!
Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? BE YOU. If you like something make it happen. Don’t change your style because your mom or friends don’t like it. You only get this day once so make it everything you have hoped and dreamed of. Also be in the moment all day. It goes by so fast and all your left with are the amazing memories!
View all images from this wedding in the gallery
Wedding Music:
Bridal Party Processional: “Gravel Lines,” Amy Seeley
Bridal Processional: “After Afterall,” William Fitzsimmon
Sand Pouring: “She Is Love,” Parachute
First Dance: “Wanted,” Hunter Hayes
Wedding Location: Ravenna, MI / Wedding Photographer: Just Alex Photography / Wedding Venue: The Hitching Post / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: ModCloth / Wedding Caterer: Branns / DJ: Greg Bugbee’s DJ Plus / Wedding Invitations: DIY by bride
Wow, this is an amazing wedding!!! The photography is phenomenal, and I love the bride’s dress and the rustic, vintage details…absolutely gorgeous!
love the bride’s style. everything about her is so stunning!
What a beautiful wedding – that bride is just gorgeous! Love to see Michigan weddings – since it’s where I am from.
Such a beautiful rustic wedding. Those little flower girls are just the cutest thing ever!
Thats some barn! Looks like a lot of fun!
Thanks for publishing our day! So fun to see it posted for everyone to see 🙂
Love this idea! My favourite shoes are my cowboy boots!!! So keeping this in mind, and the dress is fab too!
Such a beautiful wedding!!! I love how every last detail was perfectly thought out. The bride was actually the photographer for my wedding!! She is such a talented person and captured our day perfectly!! <3
I love your wedding! Our reception venue is really similar and we trying to figure out lighting. Our wedding is DYI as much as possible any advice? Did you rent or buy lights?
I love these photos and the style of this wedding! my fiance and I are getting married at the same place this coming summer so it’s great to see it all done up! The bride’s dress is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for and I haven’t been able to find it..if you have any info on where she had it made or if she’d be willing to sell it(??) I would be very appreciative. Thanks!!!
The stunning photography really tells a story.
I would love to know where your wedding venue was! I’m planning a rustic wedding and in your pictures, its exactly what I’m looking for! Would you mind sharing where you had it?
The barn venue was Hitching Post Events in Ravenna, just north of Grand Rapids MI, Thanks!
I LOVE this wedding! Beautiful dress and I want this venue myself!
I absolutely love your dress and want nothing more than to have one made almost identical to it of course adding my own style. Would you be willing to email me information about your seamstress so that I may possibly have one made for my wedding August 6, 2016. Thank you very much for your help