A Beautiful Fall Wedding in Michigan
Fall Weddings, especially in Michigan, are always so beautiful! The cool crisp air and the leaves’ changing colors set the perfect tone for a cozy and romantic wedding. Here at Hilltop Memory Makers, our fall availability tends to get booked up first! Dan and Ashley are one of the lovely couples who snatched up one of our fall dates. They got married on October 14th and it was the most magical day! The weather was beautiful, their decor was stunning, and it was just the perfect fall Michigan wedding day! In this blog, I share all the details of Dan and Ashley’s wedding and also give you some tips on how to plan your own fall wedding in Michigan!
Dan & Ashley’s Love Story
“Dan and I met 6.5 years ago in the way that it seems everyone meets today; online. He was from a small town in northern Michigan and I was from the suburbs of GR. After making long-distance work for a while, he decided it was time to make a move and headed downstate. Long weekends of traveling to see his family, and spending time out in the woods together or fishing, continued to grow our love for each other. For the last few years, we would go on camping trips just the two of us to Copper Harbor. Nothing but nature and the quiet to enjoy. I always thought it would be the perfect place to get engaged and I guess he did too! Finally, after 5 years, he popped the question while we were watching the sunset on the point of a wooded beach. It was perfect! The rest is history.”
Getting Ready in the Farmhouse
Like most of the couples that get married here at Hilltop Memory Makers, Dan and Ashley took advantage of our beautiful farmhouse. This space has separate getting-ready areas for each wedding party. It’s a beautiful space that is perfect for tons of getting-ready photos! And right outside of the farmhouse is a stunning area for even more photos.
Dan and Ashley were both so excited to be getting married and it truly showed. They were both all smiles the entire time hanging with their closest friends and family.
First Look With Her Parents
Although Dan and Ashley opted to not do a first look with each other before the ceremony, Ashley did one with her parents and it had me tearing up. The look on their faces said it all. They were so proud of her and so excited for this next chapter of her life! 10/10 recommend doing a first look with your parents or even your bridal party!
Outdoor Fall Wedding Ceremony
Our 5-acre property has 5 different ceremony areas to choose from and 6 if you include inside the dinner barn. Dan and Ashley chose the brown arbor which is one of our most popular ceremony sites. It’s located on a green lawn with corn fields behind it which truly elevates the feel of fall. It’s a simple ceremony space but has so much character with the brown arbor you can add flowers to, the red barn in the background, and the beautiful views in every direction!
Dan and Ashley added a stunning floral arrangement to the center of the brown arbor which was the perfect addition. The arrangement had lots of greenery with hints of orange and white flowers.
Their ceremony was absolutely beautiful with heartfelt moments, laughs, and of course some tears were shed.
Time for Some Photos
After their ceremony, I stole Dan and Ashley away for some intimate bride and groom pictures! I love doing this right after the ceremony so they can have some alone time for the first time as husband and wife. We walked all around the property getting photos in front of the red barn, in the grassy areas, and near the corn fields. I am absolutely obsessed with these photos! They looked so amazing together and the gloomy skies, and fall wedding colors were the perfect match!
After their bride and groom photos, we grabbed the rest of the bridal party and took tons of fun photos with all of them!
Beautiful Fall Barn Reception
Our fall dinner and reception barn is the perfect space for a fall wedding. Its rustic yet elegant feel works so well with fall colors and decor! Our long wooden dinner tables were decorated with a burnt orange table runner, pops of greenery, and simple white and gold dinner plates and utensils. And the beautiful chandeliers truly set the mood for this fall barn reception!
Although their decor was simple, they didn’t need much because our dinner barn truly speaks for itself. It has so much character on its own meaning you don’t need to add much if you don’t want to!
Their reception was so much fun with great food, lots of dancing, and tons of heartfelt speeches! Dan and Ashley had the most beautiful wedding day and we are just so happy for them and excited to see what their future holds together!!
Tips For Planning Your Own Michigan Fall Wedding
Okay now that I have shared all of the details of Dan and Ashley’s amazing wedding day, I wanted to share some tips to help you plan your own fall wedding in Michigan!
1. Pick Your Venue Early
Fall weddings are super popular in Michigan so venues get booked out very quickly! I recommend trying to book your venue at least 1-1.5 years in advance and even more if possible. Here at Hilltop Memory Makers, we currently only have a couple of 2024 fall dates left.
2. Pick a Venue that has Both Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
The weather in the fall months can be unpredictable so I highly recommend picking a venue that has both indoor and outdoor spaces. This way if the weather isn’t cooperating onthe day of your wedding, you have the option to have your ceremony indoors. And for the reception, I recommend having it indoors in the fall months as it can get pretty cold at night!
3. Use Colors of the Season
If you are choosing to have a fall wedding, I highly encourage you to use a warmer color scheme. With the leaves changing colors, it just creates such a cohesive feel. You could even add in some darker blues, reds, and purples if you want a moodier fall wedding feel. If you want to keep it simple with your flowers, you can bring some color in with candles, decors, and props!
4. Lock Down Your Vendors Early
Just as you need to book your venue early, you also need to book your vendors early as well. The fall months are typically the busiest for wedding seasons so vendors get snatched up quickly. Book those vendors early so you aren’t scrambling to find them later on.
5. Thrift For Unique Wedding Decor Pieces
For fall weddings specifically, you can find some super unique pieces like candle holders or even glassware that add a vintage feel to your wedding day. This is a great way to save some money and be more sustainable with your wedding planning!
Dan & Ashley’s Wedding Vendors
Catering: Mission BBQ
Hair: Emily Nickles
Makeup: Alexis Sumney
Coordinator: Weddings With Brittany
Photography: Lexi Lauren Photography
Videography: Mitten Films
Grazing Table: Nikki Hubbard
Dress: Bridal Elegance
Suits: Jurgens and Holtvluwer
DJ: DJ Fade
Looking for A Fall Michigan Wedding Venue?
Consider Hilltop Memory Makers for your big day! Hilltop Memory Makers is a West Michigan barn wedding venue that offers it all and more. With five different ceremony sites, beautiful views in all directions on the 5 acres of property, and access to all the facilities and amenities, Hilltop Memory Makers is the perfect Michigan barn wedding venue!
We currently only have a few fall wedding dates available for 2024.
Book Hilltop Memory Makers to be Your West Michigan Wedding Venue
