Observation Platform Bay Harbor Tea Garden Perry Hotel

The joke of the day was how long this beautiful Bride and handsome Groom had been dating.

I can totally relate to a long courtship since mine was five years, and another six years before we had children. 🙂

The morning weather was kind of crazy in the area. It brought some concern, but in the end, it just brought gorgeous photography opportunities!

Kelsey and Brent came all the way from San Diego, California. They are World travelers and wanted to have a Lake Michigan Wedding ceremony.

They got their lakefront Wedding on an island at Bay Harbor called the Observation Platform and a beautiful million dollar sunset at the Stafford’s Perry Hotel tea garden Wedding reception.

The planning idea for Kelsey and Brent was to splurge in some areas of their Wedding and go with simple and do it yourself in other areas.

They had a close relative who did their two floral bouquets, and they went with a simple look at the Observation Platform Wedding ceremony at Bay Harbor. They envisioned a low key, relaxed Wedding day.

It was fitting for this couple who was VERY relaxed and easy going on the day. Kelsey wore this gorgeous JCrew Wedding dress that fit her body type perfectly. Her hair was put all up since the winds were blowing really hard off of the lake. No veil either which I personally prefer at beach and lake Weddings because of the possibility of winds.

Kelsey and Brent didn’t have any Wedding colors or a Wedding theme. Their plan was to have a simple Wedding ceremony and a rocking Wedding reception. They wanted beautiful images to remember their day with family and friends.

The Wedding reception had a thank you by the Groom, a toast by the brother of the Groom, and a toast/prayer by the father of the Bride. There were no other planned events, just to party. Kelsey and Brent joined the tail end of their cocktail hour and immediately sat for a always tasty meal prepared by Stafford’s Perry Hotel.

And party they did with the Collision Six band from Detroit! Collision Six rocked the house with their large band and ample equipment and lights. They had a wireless system that they moved around the Perry Hotel tea garden and sang with and to people. Very interactive band that kept the crowd dancing and having fun. Another thing that I loved about Collision Six is that they monitored and balanced their sound level and toned it down so that people could stand and watch the dance floor, but also socialize. Matt does a wonderful job with the band. Check them out if you are looking for a band anywhere in Michigan.

The sunset was another stunner. Always different but this night it was particularly beautiful. The twilight lights glowed for what seemed like an hour after sunset. People were dancing and talking on the dance floor and the sky was just lit up, awesome! Check out the beautiful images.

Kelsey and Brent hired me for six hours on their Wedding day. They wanted the beginning of the Bay Harbor Observation platform Wedding ceremony to twilight images at the Perry Hotel Wedding reception. I delivered 1500 stunning images to them. Kelsey has already contacted me wanting to write reviews for future Brides to find me. She LOVES her images! You can see the full set of images from the Observation Platform at Bay Harbor, Bay Harbor village downtown, Bay Harbor marina, Pennsylvania Park in Petoskey, and the Stafford’s Perry Hotel at http://www.printsbypaul.com/2015-Wedding-and-Event-Photogr/Bay-Harbor-Observation-Platfor/Petoskey-area-Wedding-Bay-Harb/i-m6cQdcP

Professional Wedding vendors and detail for the day:

Wedding Ceremony at Bay Harbor Observation Platform

Wedding Coordinator at Bay Harbor Molly

Wedding Reception at Stafford’s Perry Hotel Tea Garden

Wedding Coordinator at Stafford’s Perry Hotel Evan

Wedding officiant Jonathan Mays

Wedding Ceremony harpist Sylvia Norris

Wedding transportation by Mackinaw City Trolley

Wedding dress by JCrew

Wedding hair and makeup by The Spa at the Inn at Bay Harbor

Wedding cupcakes by Simply Sweet by Jessica

Wedding band Collision Six