jason + ashley
Jason and Ashley met on their first day of school at Michigan State University in 1999. They lost touch in the years after college, until 2006 when they reconnected while attending a mutual college friend’s wedding. The attraction was instant and they quickly became inseparable!
On August 1, 2007, Jason took Ashley on a picnic in Michigan State’s botanical gardens. After their meal and a walk through the gardens, Jason got down on one knee and proposed. They decided to get married one year later on August 2, 2008. Their goal was to have a wedding that reflected their personalities. With the love and support of their parents, they set out to create a wedding embodied by classical elegance.
A tradition in Ashley’s mother’s family is to have an all-white wedding, so Ashley wanted to be sure to incorporate that into the wedding. Instead of all white however, she chose neutral, pale, muted colors to uphold this tradition in her own unique way.
The bridesmaids wore champagne colored dresses and the groomsmen wore champagne ties and vests. Jason’s ivory tie and vest set him apart and complemented his bride beautifully. The wedding colors and style not only respected Ashley’s family tradition, but also added to the classic, elegant feel they hoped to achieve.
To compliment the neutral color palette worn by the bridal party, Ashley chose to include a touch of color with the flowers. She chose Anna roses, which are ivory with a hint of pink, along with stephanotis. Shelly Johnson from Shelly’s Designs Florist in Grand Rapids created exactly the look Ashley and Jason wanted. “Working with Shelly was awesome. She is such a talented individual, and her style was right up my alley.”
At the reception, everyone danced the night away to the tunes of D James Productions. “He was very willing to play exactly what we requested. His personality was great, and he kept the party going all night long.”
Kelly Sweet, of Kelly Sweet Photography perfectly captured every moment of the day. “Because photos are all that you have left after the wedding and reception are over, choosing the perfect photographer was really important to us. Kelly Sweet did such an amazing job with our photos. We wanted a photographer to capture the important moments of our wedding rather than the posed pictures. She did exactly this and more. She left us with memories and a book that will allow us to relive our wedding day year after year.”
When asked about their journey, Ashley and Jason shared: “Sometimes we look back to our college days and wonder why we didn’t realize this sooner, but everything happens for a reason. It took us 7 years to realize the connection, but now we can’t imagine spending the rest of our lives with anyone else.”
Ashley & Jason got exactly what they wanted: a classical, elegant wedding with the love of their life. Definitely worth the wait!
Flowers: Shelly’s Designs Florist, Grand Rapids, MI
DJ: D James Productions, Grand Rapids, MI
Rehearsal Dinner: The B.O.B., 4th Floor, Grand Rapids, MI
Photography: Kelly Sweet, Kelly Sweet Photography
