brandon + ferrin

High school sweethearts Brandon and Ferrin have a classic love story: They started dating their sophomore year, got engaged in picturesque Grand Mere State Park overlooking Lake Michigan, and when it to their wedding day, they planned a romantic theme for their springtime nuptials.

But, like most brides, the morning of the wedding brought some anxiety. “It’s not that I was scared of marrying Brandon,” Ferrin explained, “It’s just that I was frightened of being the center of attention and being in front of so many people.”

But once the ceremony began, “everything was perfect,” the bride recalled. “The church was filled with flowers from Easter, and the sun was shining beautifully through the windows. It was a wonderful, happy moment being there with everyone I love.”

One of the reasons everything went so smoothly was Ferrin’s careful planning ahead of time. She had a vision for every element of their big day, including the wedding’s elegant color palette: “I chose navy for the bridesmaids and gray for the groomsmen because they are timeless colors that look good on everyone, and still seemed springy,” she shared. “I wanted flowing dresses because of the delicateness they exuded, and they complimented all the girl’s body types so well. Lavender, blue and white flowers pulled everything together and really blended, yet popped against the more neutral apparel.”

Approximately 220 guests joined Brandon and Ferrin to celebrate their ceremony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Westphalia—the site of Ferrin’s favorite wedding memory:

“Our priest asked us ahead of time to secretly write why we want to marry the other person, how we met, why we love them and why we see ourselves spending the rest of our lives with each other,” she said. “What Brandon wrote was so heartfelt and beautiful … I still tear up just thinking about it. I will never forget how I felt sitting next to him, holding his hand, occasionally glancing at each other, listening to what he wrote about me.”

And an unexpected wedding day twist made for another unique memory. On the way to their reception venue, the Grand Ledge Opera House, the wedding party’s bus broke down in a blueberry patch.

“It was a gorgeous day, and everyone had a blast in the blueberry patch!” said the optimistic bride. Timeless Elegance Photography was there to help Brandon and Ferrin make the most of the opportunity. “We got some exceptional pictures!” said the bride. It is a memory they will hold onto for a lifetime together.

Photography: Timeless Elegance Photography, Charlotte, MI
Reception Location: Grand Ledge Opera House, Grand Ledge, MI
Wedding Dress: The Wedding Bell, Okemos, MI
Bridesmaids Dresses: Becker’s Bridal, Fowler, MI
Cake: The Sweet Cake Company, Portland, MI
Party Rentals: Doves in Flight Decorating, Lansing, MI
Guest Accommodations: Lexington Lansing Hotel, Lansing, MI