Nature-Inspired Michigan Wedding With Boats and Birches

Photographer’s Comments: “From boat rides, to birch arbors, to beautiful DIY details, Erin and Ben wanted their wedding to fit seamlessly into the beauty of the Les Cheneaux Islands of Northern Michigan.

“The 40 guests arrived at Erin’s family’s summer house in the Les Cheneaux Islands by all manner of watercraft – wooden boats, speedboats, and pontoon boats. For the waterfront ceremony overlooking the channel, they were seated on wooden benches created by Erin’s dad and Ben to witness Erin and Ben exchange vows under a handmade birch arbor crafted from trees on the property. For the ceremony, the officiant, a dear friend of theirs, created a wooden book from a piece of driftwood that their dog had dropped at his feet during his first visit to the property.

“Family and historical connections continued throughout each aspect of the day. Ben’s grandmother had passed away shortly after they were engaged, so he used a piece of the dress she had intended to wear as a pocket square in his suit. Erin took pieces of several of her relatives’ wedding dresses and wove them together as a braid on her bouquet. Pictures of their grandparents rested atop handmade birch tables. After the ceremony Erin and Ben set off in a classic wooden speedboat sporting a “Just Married” banner to visit the historic cottage that has been in her family for over a hundred years.

“The gorgeous tablescapes and vibrant local food from the Les Cheneaux Culinary School showcased the bounty of the region. For cocktail hour, guests enjoyed two signature cocktails named after the couple’s dogs Rowan and Bowie. Guests took home a small bottle of local maple syrup – a nod to the couple’s first fight during which a bottle of maple syrup spilled all over the wall that they had just finished painting in their house.

“An effortlessly beautiful bride, pristine natural surroundings of woods and water, and the many rustic yet elegant DIY details made this wedding stand apart for me. Not only does each aspect of this wedding have a story, the love between Ben and Erin and the joyful ease with which they and their guests approached the day made this wedding a dream to shoot.”