J&A’s Lake Michigan wedding was inspired by the sunsets they’ve witnessed over the years from the private residence where they got married. This incredible celebration was designed by Conradie Event Design and photographed beautifully by Chelsey Barhorst Photography. As their wedding invitations designer, I had the pleasure of working with them on their save the dates and invitations, as well as all the day-of-wedding stationery you’ll see featured here.
A "sunset" color palette for this Lake Michigan wedding
J&A said “I do” at a family home on the shores of Lake Michigan. Over the years, they’ve witnessed many beautiful sunsets and wanted their day to reflect this beautiful scene that’s so special to them.
To respect their wishes for privacy, I will not be sharing the save the dates or invitations I designed for them. Likewise, many of the details for the big day were personalized for each guest. What you see here may be a plain version of that, with the guest’s name removed. A huge “thank you” to Chelsey Barhorst Photography for curating this client-approved vendor gallery, that maintains the families’ privacy.
Ceremony and Reception Design Details
This tented wedding was an absolute stunner, thanks in large part to the creative vision from Conradie Event Design and the genius that is Bloom Floral Design. The tent was draped to perfection and no stone was left unturned.
Ceremony
The ceremony had the water as J&A’s backdrop. The sound of the waves lapping up against the shore made for the quintessential Lake Michigan wedding.
Ceremony programs were placed on each guest’s seat. For VIPs who walked down the aisle, the ceremony programs were personalized in hand calligraphy as a seat marker — and ultimately a special keepsake.
Cocktail Hour
Guests were greeted with beverages and delightful appetizers, paired with custom cocktail napkins I designed. The bar was positioned al fresco, with a perfect view of the lighthouse. If there’s a more perfect spot for a cocktail, I’m not sure what it could possibly be.
Tabletop Decor Elements
The tables were an explosion of sunset colors, luxe textures, and the most lush florals. And still, the lake as the backdrop for the whole space!
The table numbers I designed pulled from a section of the original painting I had created for their save the dates. The table numbers featured a sunset palette ombré background, with script text overlaid on that.
Each guest received a personalized menu, with their name at the top and the entrée section customized to reflect their meal selection. For privacy purposes, I’ve shown the “generic” version here, without the name at the top.
Bar and Late Night
The bar inside the reception was epic! And, to respect neighbors, the late night party turned into a silent disco. So fun!
Because the bar itself was such a statement, J&A kept the bar signage pretty low key and straightforward. Still pretty, but understated! They wanted to let the structural element be the focal point here.
Lake Michigan Wedding Cake
A moment for this!
Vendor Team
Event Planning & Design | @conradieeventdesign
Photography | @chelseyjbarhorst
Floral Design | @bloomfloraldesign
Tent & Production | @bluepeaktents @frostchicago
Stationery | @leahemoss (that’s me!)
Catering | @fortebelanger
Video | @coastlinestudios
Entertainment | @aragonartists
Silent Disco | @2baysdjs
Linens | @bbjlatavola @stradleydavidson
Rentals | @vivantrentals @tabletalesinc
@alpineeventsmi @gigiandlaclede
@timelesseventrental
Beauty | @rcbeautynews
Cake | @sweetdetails.gr
Transportation | @affodablelimogr @midwestparking
Hi there, I'm leah.
Luxury wedding invitations designer, likely with ink stains on my hands.
If you’re new around here, nice to meet you! I’m an artist who designs luxury wedding invitations — and all the rest of your stationery to coordinate. Sentimental lovers like you deserve to remember joyous moments forever. Learn more about my story or my services, to see if I’d be a good fit for your special day!
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