Where Beauty Blossoms: A Romantic and Intimate Wedding at Apple Blossom Chapel & Gardens

Photos ByArielle Peters Photography

Written By

Date

July 19, 2018

The Vision

There’s something about the fresh, airy nature of the outdoors that exudes a beauty and romance that’s hard to rival. The entire inspiration for this issue’s cover centered on the gorgeous spaces Apple Blossom Chapel & Gardens has to offer, including their beautiful, blossoming trees. To bring our dreamy, organic vision to life, we settled on nothing less than a star vendor team led by Holden Alee of Holden Michael Events and photographed by Arielle Peters Photography. Styled around the concept of a couple celebrating their very intimate wedding day surrounded by family and friends, Holden and our team infused the perfect mix of color, romance, elegance and whimsy.

The Venue

Nestled away in the quaint town that is Fennville, Michigan, located in the heart of Southwest Michigan, Apple Blossom Chapel & Gardens possesses a unique charm that can’t be ignored. From its sprawling grounds to all the outdoor spaces it offers for either a ceremony, reception or intimate celebration, the natural backdrop it provides isn’t only private but gorgeously picturesque. “It’s definitely one of the most beautifully landscaped properties we've seen for weddings,” says Holden. “Apple Blossom does an amazing job maintaining their space. Everything was green and perfect. I also loved that we had so many different spaces to work with. It worked great with the style because it looked like something that just appeared in the middle of the woods.”

The Look

We turned to Becker’s Bridal, Michigan’s premier bridal salon, for our stunning dress. As a destination location visited by thousands of brides near and far, we knew their three floors of impeccable gowns would lend itself to the perfect design for our beautiful bride. Holden says, “I knew I wanted something blush with great movement and beautiful details but wouldn’t take away from our model’s natural beauty.” The gorgeous gown featured a beaded, lace bodice and A-line tulle skirt with a train. A cathedral length veil edged with delicate, sparkling beads completed the look. Tova Salon expertly swept the hair into a dramatic chignon and the stunning makeup, designed by Makeup by Jamie, was perfectly soft and romantic, featuring a darker, more dramatic eye and soft pink lip.

The DÉcor

There’s no better color to complement the freshest of blooms than today’s ever popular but classic blush. To make an even more alluring mix, we added sunset hues such as orange, yellow and magenta. Holden explains, “We combined that with the natural greens of the property and added a bunch of gold accents to really elevate the palette.”

Some of our favorite details included rustic farmhouse chairs juxtaposed against more formal place settings, textured linens and gold. “I love mixing unexpected elements together, and I think this table was a great example of that,” says Holden. The lovely ceremony space and cocktail area included a variety of vintage settees. Using items such as ornate, green chairs and a white settee within the bar area, we created a lounge space that was as fun as it was practical. All of the stunning rentals were courtesy of The Rental Company.

The Florals

Shelby of The Day’s Design dreamt up the beautiful, creative arrangements that included garden roses, ranunculus and flowering branches. Holden says, “I’ve admired her work for awhile now and was thrilled to finally be able to work with her. I gave her the color palette and the overall aesthetic and let her run with the concept.” In keeping with our vision, the florals added the perfect amount of drama and whimsy.

The Stationery

Jamie Lynne Creative infused both the natural beauty of the venue and sunset-inspired palette with a watercolor-like design element featured throughout the stationery suite. The calligraphed apple place cards were a darling addition.

The Desserts

Our delicious Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery fruit pies were the perfect complement to our intimate, whimsical wedding. Located just minutes from Apple Blossom, this family-owned business has been a Michigan favorite for decades. In addition to being a great alternative to a large cake display, the pies and other fruit accents added a beautifully unique element.