This Upper Michigan Castle Wedding is a Fairytale Come True: The Real Wedding of Rachael and Josh Niemer

Rachael and Josh met during college. After seven years of getting to know each other, they knew it was time to take the next step in their lives. During the couple’s annual trip of going to an apple orchard, Josh got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife! “I was unbelievably surprised and incredibly happy,” Rachael gushes. “Our old tradition now has so much more meaning.”

We love the lacework on this gown! Because of the adjustments and alterations schedule, Rachael didn’t get to try it on for the final fitting until the day of her wedding. “When I put on my dress less than an hour before the ceremony, it fit and I received more compliments on my dress throughout the night than any other aspect of the wedding,” she says. “It was a perfect reminder to let things go and trust that it will all be okay in time.”

The couple planned on having a two-year engagement to give them plenty of time to find the right vendors. Rachael notes that Pinterest was her main inspiration, and she worked hand-in-hand with the coordinators at their venue to make her vision become a reality. She also had her sister, who recently got married, to help in any of the process!

What we love

This couple was blown away by the mixture of history and beauty that their venue provided. Modeled after the castles in France, this ceremony space was a European dream come true!

Advice from the couple

One piece of advice that Rachael offers is to set a realistic budget prior to planning and stick to it. “I can see how people spend $50,000 on a wedding, especially with how much the wedding industry has grown, but it isn’t truly necessary unless that’s something you’re both okay with and have planned for,” she says. “I’ve met quite a few people who let one day of their lives cause serious debt, and in my opinion, it’s just not worth it. Planning a wedding on a budget is possible. It will take work and quite a bit of research, but it’s more than possible.”

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