A Detroit Wedding Day Adventure

Jeana + Kyle

‘Good Vibes Only’ was the objective of the day. Even with marathon traffic, unusually humid temps for September, and a veil that decided to make a break for it, Jeana and Kyle’s downtown Detroit wedding checked that box and then some.

Every moment of this day was filled with equal measures of intentionality and personality. From surprising Jeana with their favorite saying embroidered on the inside of Kyle’s suit jacket, to their college professor officiating the ceremony — from Jeana’s aunt coming to the rescue with a backup veil after her’s went flying through downtown to a dance floor complete with giant cardboard cutouts of their cat’s cute face, the Bindas wedding day was through and through a genuine reflection of these two festival-going-love-birds.

Jeana’s vision for the wedding was clear from the very beginning: get all their friends together and have a giant party. And one massive party did they throw. While we bounced around downtown to various locations for photos, we ended at The Colony Club where the elegant drappings of the ballrooms created a gorgeous backdrop for both their ceremony and the reception.

Contributing Vendors

Photography & Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Bride’s Dress: Maggie Sottero

Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey

Groom's Attire: Indochino

Groomsmen Attire: SuitShop

Floral Design: Viviano Flower Shop

Floral Designer: Livito Event Rentals

Hair: Cammie Reed with Knot and Tie Bridal

Hair: Nicole Rochon

Makeup Artist: Emily Rose with Detroit Glam

Stationary: Zazzle

Rentals & Decor: Livito Event Rentals

Officiant: Dr. Len O'Kelly

DJ: Derald Gray with DG Visionaries

Catering: The Colony Club

Bar Service: The Colony Club

Wedding Cake: Summertime Baking Company

Venue: The Colony Club

Explore More From This Day Long Party below

A Fall Engagement in Downtown Detroit

An Elegant and Timeless Wedding Day in Grand Rapids

Peyton + Egan

Contributing Vendors

Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Photography: Alasandra Photography

Bride’s Dress: Enzoani through Renee Austin with alterations by A Perfect Fit

Wedding Shoes: Bella Belle

Bridesmaid Dresses: The Dessy Group 

Menswear: Rehmann’s Clothing

Wedding Coordination: Venue3Two

Floral Design: Jessica Hunt of Vada Made

Hair & Makeup: The Pretty Committee

Rentals & Decor: Events by I. Candy

Rentals & Decor: Consider it Done - Event Rentals

DJ: QC Event Sound

Catering: YoChef’s Catering

Bar Service: With A Twist Bartending

Wedding Cake: Little Cake House 

Venue: Venue3Two

A Modern Grosse Pointe Farms Wedding at the Classic War Memorial

Megan + Michael

Contributing Vendors

Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Bride’s Dress: The Wedding Shoppe 

Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey

Menswear: State & Liberty

Wedding Coordination: Samantha McNally of Whole Hearted Events

Floral Design: Willa Rose Floral

Rentals & Decor: Alpha Lit Detroit

Rentals & Decor: Fleur Galore Wall Detroit

Hair Stylist: Isabelle O'neil Beauty

Makeup Artist: Danielle Paquin Beauty

DJ: Elysium Experience

Catering & Bar: The War Memorial

Venue: MGM Grand Detroit

Venue: The War Memorial

Designing Your Dream Layflat Photos

At the heart of it, your wedding is a collection of decisions all affecting each other, culminating into the look, feel, and “vibe” of one of the most important days in your life together. From your venue to the cake topper, everything interplays with one another. Your layflat details are no different.

While they may seem small compared to most of the obstacles you have to hurtle while planning your wedding, these details reflect all of your choices — from a top-down view of sorts. There are so many ways that you can design and pull from various other moments in your day to create a proverbial synopsis of your wedding in photo and film form.

Here are 9 tips for designing the layflat photos of your dreams!

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1. Planning, Planning, Planning:

It should come as no shock that the first place you want to start when planning anything for your day is just that — get a game plan together. Even if you haven’t ordered your invitations, start a physical checklist of the details you know you’ll want to include. Keep adding to this list as you get other pieces of planning tackled. Did you just finish deciding which perfume/cologne you’ll be using? Put it on the list! Do you know you’ll have wax seals for the invitations? Put them on the list!

There’s so much going on in the final months leading up to your day that if it isn’t in writing chances are you’ll forget it.

2. Dedicated Invitation Set:

As a general rule of thumb, you always want to order an extra 2-3 dozen invitations. You’ll need additional stationery to send invitations out to your B list guests as “no’s” roll in, and you’ll ALSO want one dedicated, pristine stationery suite for your layflat photos.

The moment these come in the mail place the dedicated suite into a “lay flats box” or inside a vellum jacket for protection.

Also, whether you are doing printed or hand-addressed envelopes, make sure that one envelope set aside with your invitations is addressed to “The Future [insert your names here]” at your married address. That way you don’t have to have a random guest’s address featured in all of your photos 😉

3. Floral, Bouquets, and all things Plants:

Anything and everything plants really will take your lay flats to another level and again will sprinkle in elements featured elsewhere throughout your day. Are you doing a potting-ceremony during the wedding? Do you have tropical centerpieces at the reception? Tie these in by having your photographer include a cutting or a leaf.

Similarly, be sure to coordinate with your florist to ensure that your bouquet will be ready when your photographer will be taking your detail photos. Also, ask if they can supply a few extra loose cuttings of flowers and greenery either incorporated in your bouquet or from other moments such as your ceremony or reception.

As a plant parent, this might be biased but I’ve never said no to more florals and all things green!

4. Don’t Forget Letters and Vow Books:

Whether you're exchanging letters before the ceremony, or sharing your vows publicly or privately, DO NOT forget to include these in your lay flat box. While there is no shortage of significant, meaningful moments during your wedding, these are two of the most important ones.

And if you aren’t planning to do either — write each other a letter for your first anniversary and include those instead! Do not underestimate the power of putting pen to paper, especially when it comes to your detail photos.

5. Details can be three-dimensional too:

Layflat details don’t have to be limited to only the ones that can lay on the floor — they can also be the ones you wear. From the train of a dress, a cathedral veil, a bow tie, or watch, all of these can have a place in your layflat photos. Not only can they help add dimension, but they can also add texture and contrast to various backgrounds.

Now, this may require some coordination, especially if you are getting ready in separate locations. But all of these can add elements that reflect each of you individually to weave them into the greater story of you together.

6. Include the Shiny Details:

More specifically, your jewelry! Anything from bracelets, earrings, cufflinks, watches, necklaces, and most importantly your rings; add these to your layflats box. Even If you’re between two options for any of these, give them to your photographer and they can find ways to interweave multiple options into smaller vignettes. It’’s possible that one watch will pair better with the invitations and one better with the shoes, or one necklace can be placed lying across the bouquet and one can be posed with your perfume.

Also, you get a 2-for-1 tip here — Make sure that your engagement ring and your wedding bands for both of you are cleaned and polished. This might seem like a no-brainer but make sure to add this to your week-of To-Do list so you don’t forget.

7. Two Layflats Can be better than one:

Branching off the last two tips, again, especially if you are getting ready in different locations or have a lot of options when it comes to details — no one said you have to stop at just one lay flat setup. You can have lay flats for each of you, one where elements are combined, and one of the latest trends is to even have a layflat from just your reception as well.

Having more than one layflat setup can give you countless new ways to incorporate elements from throughout the day.

8. It’s the little things that add up:

The Devil is in the details as they say, and that extends to all of the little ones too. Your layflat can not only incorporate the major decisions like your flowers or dress, it can also showcase the smaller, more subtle choices for your wedding. Add in loose ribbon (that either 1. matches the wedding party or 2. will be used to wrap your bouquets), a handful of wax seals from your invitations, your signature perfume for the day, and even little trinkets such as a ring box/plate or even a jewelry case.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to adding significance to these photos. The key is finding the right ones that bring meaning to your images.

9. Necessity is the mother of inspiration:

Which brings us to our last tip — deciding what to include!

Have you ever heard the old phrase, “Good artists create; the great steal?” The same goes for wedding planning. When you begin trying to envision any element of your wedding day, scrolling Instagram and Pinterest looking for ideas and inspiration is one of the best places to start. Your layflat details are no different. Look through detail photos from your friends’ and families’ weddings. Ask your photographer if they can share some inspo photographs that they have taken as well.

The moment you see something you love, add it to your list.

 In no time at all you’ll have a collection of details perfect for designing the layflat photos of your dreams!

A Fall Inspired Indian-Western Fusion Wedding

Holly + Aaras

Contributing Vendors

Photography & Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Hindu Ceremony Lehenga & Sherwani: Chrysalis Couture

Western Ceremony Dress & Tux: The Wedding Shoppe and Todd's Menswear

Wedding Planning & Coordination: Utsav Planners

Floral Designer: Chris of Utsav Planners

Hair and Makeup Artists: Drake Artistry

Hindu Ceremony Preist: Sri Sastry Ji

Western Ceremony Officiant: Kristi Brooks

Live Instrumentation: Jacob Steinberger

DJ: DJ Nimz

Wedding Cake: Q Bakehouse & Market

Venue: The Dearborn Inn and The Fair Lane Home

Emily + John: Grand Rapids Wedding Trailer

Thinking back to this day there are so many things we absolutely fell in love with. There are of course the usual elements that get us all kinds of excited — a summer wedding, a mix of both Lake Michigan and Grand Rapids to give us all the West Michigan vibes, and of course a gorgeous couple like Emily + John. But if you thought the list ended there you would be VERY wrong.

This day was made up of so many intentional and thoughtful decisions that it was hard fitting them all into their trailer! From Emily's siblings, her people of honor, delivering a heartfelt and beautiful joint speech, to a dash of tropical aesthetics spilling out from every bouquet and every centerpiece — we are officially requesting every wedding incorporate monsteras somewhere in the design details, please and thank you — to stealing away in the middle of the evening to soak in the day atop the JW, overlooking all of Grand Rapids. 

It was everything and so much more.

This day will be living rent-free in our memories for quite some time, and we are fully okay with that. Here's to the continued blessings and best fortunes for the wonderful Mr. + Mrs. Birney!

Contributing Vendors

Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Photography: Nathan English Photography

Planning and Coordination: Modern Day Events and Floral

Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander, through Renee Austin Wedding

Menswear: Suit Supply

Floral & Event Designer: Modern Day Events and Floral

Rentals: Events by I Candy, Special Occasions, & Alpine Events

Hair & Makeup: Hanna Wagner Design

Officiant: Father Tim Birney

Band & MC: Mainstreet Soul

Wedding Cake: Amway Grand Plaza

Photo Booth: Smitten Booth

Venue: JW Marriott Grand Rapids & St. Robert of Newminster Parish