Stephanie & Nick

As a travel wedding photographer, I get to photograph weddings in so many beautiful places, but Wellers Carriage House is one of those venues that immediately stands out. Between the beautiful gardens, fountains, historic charm, and tree-lined ceremony space, every corner of the property feels romantic and timeless.

Stephanie and Nick’s story began in 2019 after they were introduced through a mutual friend. Nick was away at school when he reached out to Stephanie on Instagram and asked if he could take her on a date. Stephanie almost said no. She wasn’t excited about the idea of a long-distance relationship and wasn’t someone who loved change. Thankfully, her friend encouraged her to give it a chance, reminding her that some of the best things in life happen when you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. That first date turned into four years of long distance. While Stephanie was living in Grand Rapids, Nick was attending school a few hours away. During COVID, they even went more than a month without seeing each other because Nick was with his family in Ohio and travel restrictions kept them apart. Even through the distance, they never stopped choosing each other.

When Stephanie looks back, she says she knew Nick was different from the very beginning. On their first date, he made sure she was walking on the side of the sidewalk furthest from the road. It was such a simple gesture, but it showed the kind of person he was, and it’s something she still remembers years later.

The morning of the wedding started at a nearby hotel where both Stephanie and Nick got ready with their closest friends and family. The morning was calm, relaxed, and exactly what every couple hopes for before saying “I do.” Stephanie looked beautiful after having her hair done by Brooke Athrall and makeup by Brooke Lauren Beauty. She paired her timeless bridal look with a gown from Becker’s Bridal, matching the romantic garden party vision she had imagined.

Choosing Wellers Carriage House was an easy decision for Stephanie. She fell in love with all of the greenery, flowers, fountains, and historic charm the property offers. She also loved that the venue hosts open houses every Saturday morning, allowing couples to walk through the property without scheduling a private tour. After visiting just once, Stephanie and Nick knew it was the perfect place to get married.

Their vision for the day was simple: a romantic garden party. Stephanie wanted every part of the venue to feel beautiful without having to search for the perfect backdrop, and Wellers Carriage House delivered exactly that. From the tree-lined ceremony space to the gardens surrounding the property, every location felt naturally beautiful and gave their wedding a timeless feel.

One of the sweetest parts of the day was the first looks. Stephanie shared emotional moments with both her dad and stepdad before seeing Nick for the first time. Each first look was special in its own way, creating quiet moments before the excitement of the ceremony.

Stephanie and Nick included their golden retriever in the wedding with his own first look, and he completely stole everyone’s hearts. Watching the three of them together was such a fun reminder that your wedding day is about celebrating your entire life together, including the four-legged family members.

Before the ceremony, we finished nearly all of their portraits. This was something Stephanie intentionally planned because she wanted to spend cocktail hour with her guests instead of taking photos after the ceremony. It gave us plenty of time to create beautiful portraits while allowing them to fully enjoy the rest of their wedding day once they were officially married.

The ceremony took place beneath the trees at Wellers Carriage House, where guests sat on stone benches as Stephanie walked down a long aisle surrounded by soft summer light. The floral designs by Keepsake Designs fit the garden party aesthetic perfectly and added just the right amount of color throughout the ceremony space.

After saying “I do,” everyone headed to cocktail hour where guests enjoyed passed appetizers, two open bars, a cigar bar, and live music from a saxophonist. Because Stephanie and Nick had already finished portraits, they were able to spend this entire time celebrating with family and friends instead of being away from the party.

The celebration continued under the covered pavilion where Next Level DJs kept the dance floor full all night long. One person who definitely deserves a special mention is Stephanie’s grandmother. She had everyone smiling, laughing, and dancing right alongside her. Moments like those are some of my favorites because they’re often the memories families treasure most in the years to come.

Stephanie and Nick created a wedding day that was elegant without feeling formal, beautiful without feeling overdone, and centered on what mattered most: celebrating with the people they love. It was such an honor to document their day.