This Colorful Wedding at the Bride's Family Lake House in Northern Michigan Featured a Punchy Yellow Aisle

Anna and Asa met on a dating app in October of 2020, and when the digital connection felt strong enough, they decided to meet in person. “Our first date was at the Del Mar dog beach in San Diego where we walked our dogs followed by tacos at the Taco Stand,” Anna remembers. The spark was strong, and the two quickly became an item; by early June of 2022, they were engaged. As soon as they began wedding planning, the couple knew they wanted to host their nuptials in Northern Michigan, where the bride's family has a lakefront summer home in Rapid City. “I grew up spending summers up north at our cottage and it was actually the first place Asa went when we first moved to Michigan,” Anna says. “We have made so many special memories up there.”

The couple pictured an intimate celebration with their closest loved ones on the water, but beyond that, they weren't sure what they wanted the day to look like. That's where wedding planner Ann Travis of Ann Travis Events came in: Anna and Asa asked her to consider the property and decide what would be best based on the setting's existing design. “I’m so glad I trusted her and let her go with it because it turned out beyond what I could have expected,” the bride says.

Because they wanted their guests to experience the best that Michigan has to offer, Anna and Asa focused on hiring local vendors and giving guests a true taste of the state during their traditional Jewish ceremony and lakeside dinner reception. The couple personalized their September 2, 2023, wedding with unique touches like custom welcome bags, a punchy aisle and reception tent, and a silent disco after-party. Read on to see the details of Anna and Asa’s big day in photos by Kate Headley.

Anna and Asa hired Sweet Zion Paperie to customize their invitation suite and day-of paper products. They selected white bi-fold invitations with a custom illustration of the venue subtly debossed on the front. Each invitation was mailed in a yellow envelope as a nod to the wedding’s color scheme and the venue’s décor. “The main door to the house is yellow and the house is mostly neutral with large pops of color,” Anna says. “Our vision was a vibrant but intimate wedding where everyone felt like they were welcomed into our home.”

Upon arrival, guests received welcome bags full of local goodies including chocolate, preserves, potato chips, and hats emblazoned with Torch Lake, where the wedding took place. It was important to the bride and groom to work with as many local vendors as possible for their wedding, so even their welcome bags featured goodies from Michigan-based businesses.

Anna took a trip to New York City with her mom and future mother-in-law in search of her dream wedding dress. Luckily, the getaway paid off: She fell in love with a strapless Vera Wang gown with a sweetheart neckline and subtle embroidery along the bodice. “It was not at all what I thought I wanted. It was suggested by the salon and was the fourth dress I tried on,” she remembers. “I just knew.” She styled her dress with Manolo Blahnik shoes with bow details and a pair of earrings she borrowed from her mom. “They are also the same earrings my sister-in-law wore to her wedding so it felt very special,” Anna says.

Because she doesn’t typically wear much makeup, Anna says she was nervous that she wouldn’t look like herself on the big day. Luckily, she enlisted a hair and makeup team that she's known since she was 13, so she trusted them with a timeless and elegant beauty and hair look. She chose a low bun hairstyle to keep her hair out of her face but took it down later for the after-party.

Anna’s bold and bright bridal bouquet consisted of yellow blooms including oncidium orchids, lisianthus, and local zinnias.

The couple envisioned an intimate wedding from start to finish. To them, that included a private first look, which gave the couple an opportunity to share a moment together before their guests arrived. “Plus, we wanted to have photos done before so we could focus on celebrating once people arrived!” the bride says.

Asa wore a classic black tuxedo, which he accessorized with a new watch Anna gave him as a big-day gift.

As guests found their ceremony seats, they were given custom wedding programs featuring the same illustration of the property that was seen in their invitation design. The ceremony took place on the lake, where a custom yellow aisle was lined with wildflower-inspired arrangements in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and ivory. "Bloom Floral did an amazing job!" the bride says. "We focused on the chuppah and the piece above the dance floor but it was all beyond my expectations. The flowers going down the aisle were spectacular."

The aisle ended at a chuppah which was adorned with lush blooms the same colors as the aisle, but arranged in an ombré design.

The couple hired acoustic musicians to perform at their ceremony. Asa walked down the aisle to James Taylor’s “Something in the Way She Moves” while Anna chose Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”, which was the song her parents danced to at their wedding. “Our parents walked each of us as is traditional in a Jewish wedding,” Anna says.

Anna and Asa exchanged personal vows they wrote for each other. “Because everyone felt like family, we wanted to share what we love about each other,” the bride remembers. 

The couple’s cocktail hour took place in the home’s yard, where guests gathered in the grass to enjoy each other’s company and the couple’s signature drinks. “We had two signature cocktails, both named after our moms and their favorite drinks!” Anna says. They served a dry vodka martini with a lemon twist and a tequila cocktail with muddled orange.

As a fun surprise for guests, the couple hired a pilot to fly by with a trailing message before dinner. The sign had the bride and groom's names surrounded by hearts.

The couple's reception took place underneath a yellow open air structure that was designed specifically for the wedding and was embellished with fresh green smilax. “Michigan weather is impossible to predict,” Anna says. “We debated over and over about tenting. In the end, I could not have been more impressed with the open tents we ended up with.”

Bloom Floral added an installation above the dance floor and tons of greenery throughout the tent structure to bring the outdoors in. The couple worked with Sophie from Sweet Zion to create a custom illustration gallery wall. “All the illustrated paintings were nods to us, such as cherries from Traverse City, our two dogs, and a portrait of Asa and I," Anna says. “We repeated this gallery wall pattern on several elements like the lounge space pillows, and our Kippahs.”

Long mahogany tables were left uncovered to incorporate a Northern Michigan rustic aesthetic while other tables were covered in a pattern linen. That pattern was later repeated on lamp shades and the reception's dance floor. In keeping with the day's bold color palette, reception centerpieces were made from vibrant flowers including dahlias, ranunculus, tulips, and marigolds in shades of yellow, orange, and purple, along with fresh fruits like peaches, limes, and blueberries. The tablescapes also included tea candles and taper candles in various glass holders. Each place setting had floral dishware with dotted borders, woven chargers, and matching woven napkin rings. Gold half-moon place cards doubled as menu holders.

Dinner was a highlight for the couple. “We hired a local catering team and focused on all local ingredients such as lake trout, and smoked white fish,” Anna says. “It really made it feel like a family meal and both of our parents just gave the most amazing speeches that made everyone laugh and cry.”

Live musicians from Gold Coast All Stars performed throughout the reception. Anna and Asa shared their first dance on the custom-made dance floor to “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges. As guests hit the dance floor, desserts were passed around, including the bride’s personal favorite treat: Krispy Kreme donuts. Later, the couple cut into their angel food cake wedding cake.

The night ended with a silent disco after-party, but not before Anna and Asa danced the hora with their guests, which ended up being a highlight of their day. “We wanted a long and wild hora and that’s exactly what we got,” Anna remember.

The couple jetted off to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for a minimoon after their wedding. To couples planning their own weddings, Anna shares these words of wisdom: “You can plan and stress leading up but once that weekend hits, don’t focus on entertaining your guests or worry if they think everything is perfect, just enjoy being with the person you love," she says.