A Michigan Garden Wedding
Alpena, Michigan
Bethany and Damon’s Michigan garden wedding was a true celebration of nature and community, held among the lush orchards of a family friend’s charming cidery. As an eco-conscious florist, I was thrilled to bring their vision to life, creating arrangements using 100% Michigan-grown flowers—a dream realized in full bloom.
Set in mid-August, the wedding was perfectly timed to showcase the richness of late-summer blooms. I collaborated closely with local flower growers to select the freshest, most vibrant seasonal flowers, curating arrangements that embodied Bethany and Damon’s wildflower-inspired aesthetic. From cascading bouquets to whimsical centerpieces, each floral detail was designed to honor the couple’s love for nature, sustainability, and the unique beauty of Michigan’s gardens.
The result was a magical, sun-drenched celebration, where every flower felt at home among the orchards, and every detail reflected the couple’s personal style and deep connection to the local landscape.
Vows amongst the Wildflowers
Bethany and Damon said their “I do” surrounded by close friends and family in a truly flower-filled ceremony. To create an intimate and enchanting setting, we designed ground gardens that formed a crescent moon shape around the couple, inviting everyone to feel immersed in the beauty of nature. The love in the air was palpable—not only from Bethany and Damon but radiating from every friend and family member present.
Being in late August, we wanted to celebrate Michigan’s native flora, highlighting blooms like Black-eyed Susans, Goldenrod, and Queen Anne’s Lace, which grow abundantly in the wild fields near their venue. These native treasures were paired with locally grown cosmos, zinnias, and dahlias, creating layers of texture, color, and whimsy. Together, they set the stage for a dreamy Michigan garden atmosphere, perfectly capturing the couple’s vision of a wildflower-inspired, locally rooted celebration.
Every detail was carefully considered to honor the couple’s vision and their commitment to sustainability. The flowers weren’t just decoration—they were an extension of the orchard itself, echoing the surrounding fields and creating a sense of harmony with the natural environment. From the soft sway of Queen Anne’s Lace in the breeze to the golden warmth of Black-eyed Susans catching the sunlight, the floral design felt alive, joyful, and deeply personal.
Dinner under the Maples
During the planning process with Sincerely Ginger Events, we explored multiple ways to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside the tented reception space. Our goal was to create a space that felt both elegant and connected to the orchard surroundings, blurring the line between the natural landscape and the celebration inside.
One of my favorite ways to make a bold, organic statement is by incorporating branches into the design. For this reception, we carefully selected and arranged branches to frame the space, drawing the eye upward and echoing the surrounding trees outside. The branches not only added visual interest and texture but also helped highlight the tents’s stunning pendant lighting, casting warm, inviting glows across the tables and creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere.
By combining natural elements with thoughtful lighting, we were able to transform the tent into a garden-like sanctuary, where guests could feel the magic of the orchard even while seated under the tent. The result was a reception space that felt alive, layered, and welcoming.
For the tabletops, we designed petite, thoughtfully layered arrangements paired with natural beeswax candles, allowing bursts of color from the flowers to shine without overwhelming the space. The delicate scale of the arrangements let each bloom be appreciated up close, while the warm, golden tones of the beeswax candles added a soft, organic glow.
As the evening progressed and the sun dipped behind the horizon, the candlelight began to dance across the foliage, highlighting the textures and colors of the arrangements in a way that felt magical. The combination of flowers and candlelight created a warm, inviting ambiance, turning each table into a cozy, intimate vignette that invited guests to linger, celebrate, and soak in the beauty of the late-summer garden.
Vendors
Planning - Sincerely Ginger Events
Florals - Pachamama Floral Design
Photography - Mike Murphy Photography
