Julia and Shane got married in early June at the beautiful Aurora Cellars Winery in Northern Michigan. Tucked away in the Leelanau Peninsula, Aurora Cellars offers a peaceful setting surrounded by rolling vineyards, with the ceremony taking place beneath their iconic willow tree and plenty of local wine flowing throughout the celebration. It was the kind of setting that felt distinctly Northern Michigan and made the perfect backdrop for a day that brought together so many of the people Julia and Shane love most.

The forecast leading up to the wedding was less than ideal, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and rain seemingly determined to make an appearance. Thankfully, we had plenty of help from Etsy witches, buried sausages, and a whole lot of prayers to the wedding gods, and somehow the weather completely turned around. By the time the wedding day arrived, we were greeted with a beautiful Northern Michigan summer day, followed by one of the most breathtaking sunsets we have seen at the venue. With the weather finally on our side, the day unfolded exactly as planned, including a ceremony moment that required a little extra motivation from the couple’s Newfoundlander, who had made it very clear during rehearsal that walking down the aisle was not exactly at the top of his priority list. Somehow, he found a little extra spunk on the wedding day and made it all the way down the aisle without stopping for a mid-aisle walk.

Guests traveled from all over to celebrate Julia and Shane, including family who came all the way from Poland to be there for the occasion. The celebration was especially memorable thanks to the bride’s 89-year-old grandfather, who proved that age was certainly not going to keep him off the dance floor and still had plenty of moves to show off throughout the night. It was one of those moments that perfectly captured the feeling of the entire day: a room full of people who had traveled near and far to celebrate two people they love.

As the evening wound down, guests gathered around a bonfire and enjoyed the cigar bar, giving everyone a chance to relax and take in the beautiful Northern Michigan setting after a full day of celebrating. From the unpredictable weather and the stubborn Newfoundlander to family traveling across the world and a sunset we will not soon forget, Julia and Shane’s wedding was a celebration that felt completely personal to them and one we were so happy to be part of.

Vendors:

Planning: Stephanie
Photographer: @dave_and_ang_photo
Venue: @auroracellars
Floral: @calendulafarmsfloral