Green Grapes & Figs: WeddingDay’s Exclusive Southwest Michigan Cover Shoot

Photos ByAutumn & Hive

Written By

Date

September 4, 2025

The Vision

For our Southwest Michigan spring/summer cover shoot, Jaime Weinfeld Zeltzer of JW Designs was inspired by the vibrant green that’s flourishing in our gardens this season and making its way into modern wedding design. She explains, "This color can easily transport you to a lush space but also add a fresh sophistication to any design." Her vision was to channel that green in a way that felt luxurious and intentional—think old-world elegance reimagined with a modern twist and unexpected details. Captured beautifully by Autumn & Hive, the interplay of bright green with rich fig purple created a dynamic palette that balanced vibrancy with softness, ensuring no detail—no matter how delicate—was overshadowed.

The Venue

The Grand LV, built in 1928 and thoughtfully renovated in 2019, is a historic gem in downtown Niles, Michigan, offering timeless character and a versatile space. Its abundant windows in the Kull Memorial Stateroom flooded the shoot with beautiful natural light, enhancing the fresh, sophisticated aesthetic Jaime envisioned. We also fell in love with the grand staircase and opulent chandelier! By leaning into these standout architectural features, we created a setting that felt both timeless and inviting—perfectly complementing our theme.

The Décor

The décor was a true collaboration of vision and artistry between JW Designs and Blue Sky Event Rentals. "The core details of the shoot were their showstopping silver candelabras, lush velvet and majestic satin linens, with plateware of natural stone, crystal and rattan, glassware of green crystal and bronze flatware," Jaime explains. These core pieces laid the foundation for a look that felt both luxurious and intentional. AAYS Event Rentals elevated the ceremony setup with soft, romantic pipe and drape, creating a dreamy backdrop that added depth and texture. This editorial reflected some of 2025’s hottest wedding trends—from old-world fabric draping and layered velvet linens to chic satin gowns with statement bows. We also loved the grand reception table that brought a sense of intimacy and elegance to the celebration!

The Florals

For the florals, Jaime wanted the florist's creativity to take center stage. After sharing the overall aesthetic and vision, Flowers by Anna ran with the concept, sourcing blooms first by color and then by texture to bring our lush, abundant vision to life. The arrangements cascaded from the silver candelabras and spilled across the tablescape, thoughtfully composed to feel as if they had naturally grown wild in the space. Every flower was chosen to complement the rich shades of green and plum, adding organic movement and depth that perfectly tied together the entire design.

The Looks

CBTKbrand drew inspiration from the luxurious design, showcasing three of their stunning new creations. The selection included two breathtaking ballgowns—both with flowing satin and cathedral trains. One featured an oversized bow and off-the-shoulder long sleeves for a classic, romantic look, while the second combined drama and versatility with a detachable skirt and train, complete with a mesh corseted bodice and off-the-shoulder neckline. The final look was a playful party dress with a short satin bubble skirt, sparkling appliqués and a corseted bodice of mesh. To complement these looks, BÜK Weddings chose soft, natural makeup that defined the bride’s beautiful features—especially her soft blue eyes—without overpowering them. Warm tones of peach and gentle browns enhanced her eyes and lips, keeping the overall vibe fresh and romantic. Blushing Beauty & Co. styled her hair in loose, soft curls cascading down her back in a half-up style, which paired effortlessly with the cathedral veil and added to the graceful, ethereal feel of the entire shoot!

The Stationery & Art

Noteworthy by Design truly embraced this bold, luxurious palette. They crafted an invitation suite that played beautifully with texture and color, incorporating a custom-printed watercolor vellum pocket paired with a rich plum velvet ribbon. We love the hand-lettered, scroll place cards and layered, die-cut menu and thank-you cards, lending a personal, artful feel to each guest’s seat! Custom paper fan programs, tied together form and function in a way that was both elegant and memorable. One of our favorite additions to this shoot was the chalk art by Abundance Live Wedding Art, This thoughtful and detailed accent brought additional color and fun to our vibrant shoot!

The Cake

The cake was an edible work of art, adorned with fresh fruit and lush florals. Mimicking the billowing movement of the drapery from the ceremony, this delicate three-tiered masterpiece brought together all the elements of our luxurious shoot in one stunning centerpiece!