A Creamy Blush and Gold Tent Wedding at Frutig Farms | Ashley and Lew

Weddings

Ashley and Lew both work in the athletic department at the University of Michigan but found each other one night while out on the town in Ann Arbor. Fast forward five years to a partly cloudy, warm summer day, and their love story continued with a romantic, creamy blush and gold tent wedding at Frutig Farms The Valley in Ann Arbor, Michigan

I’ve known Ashley for several years as she was one of my coaches in figure skating while studying at the University of Michigan. So when she reached out to me about her wedding, I was super excited and flattered. Getting to know their story and getting to meet and know Lew in the process was a treat. And I’ve come to learn that Lew is a great writer so who better to share their story than Lew himself. When I asked them how they met early on, Lew wrote this:

“I was out with coworkers and Ashley for dinner with friends when my group entered Grizzly Peak as Ashley’s group was leaving. Because of mutual friends that were in my group, Ashley ended up joining my group and the two of us sat next to each other. We shared good conversation and an overall enjoyable night next to each other with our friends alongside. In retrospect, I suspect this may have been an elaborate ploy by our friends to arrange a romance but nonetheless, a few days later, I received a text message from an unfamiliar number with an Ohio area code. Despite my somewhat intoxicated state on that fateful Grizzly Peak encounter, I was able to recall the important detail of Ashley’s hometown and immediately hoped it was Ashley. To my delight, it was in fact this wonderful woman, whom I otherwise may not have approached. Since then, we’ve been inseparable.”

Ashley, surrounded by her closest friends and family, had her hair and makeup done at their home before heading over to the venue. At The Valley, Ashley finished getting ready in the bridal suite while Lew was in the groom’s shed. Their exchange of gifts, before getting dressed, was a heartwarming moment, filled with laughter and inside jokes, setting the tone for a day filled with love and joy.

Before the ceremony, Ashley and Lew opted for a first look and it was perfect. Lew’s reaction to seeing Ashley in her Beloved Bridal dress, and Ashley’s excitement to seeing Lew in his State and Liberty suit was what anyone could hope for. For Ashley and Lew, celebrating with their friends and family was the most important part of their day. So in planning their timeline, we prioritized their immediate family photos before the ceremony. This way, they could spend more time ahead of the ceremony with their families as well as spend more time at their cocktail hour enjoying time with their guests afterwards. 

Ashley and Lew’s ceremony was stunning and memorable to say the least. Their close friend, Kevin, who is also a colleague of Ashley’s, officiated the wedding. His unique and intimate approach to the ceremony captivated the guests, taking them on a heartfelt journey through the couple’s love story. From the joyous anecdotes of how Ashley and Lew met to the touching stories of the challenges they’ve overcome together, it was a perfectly unique, personal and sentimental ceremony that guests truly enjoyed. To add a dose of cuteness, their adorable pomeranian, Pepper, (lovingly referred to as Peppi) played her part perfectly and almost stole the show.

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktail hour outside of the barn. Guests added photos to their polaroid wall and left notes in their guest book while we took a few more extended family photos. Ashley had a clear vision for her wedding – a romantic, creamy blush and gold tent wedding filled with stunning neutral florals throughout. Marilla Field and Flora brought her vision to life with an abundance of beautiful florals. (A moment for the amazing ceremony arch too, please!) 

I loved how Ashley and Lew gave their guests a bag of Zingerman’s coffee, an Ann Arbor local favorite, as a favor. Each with a personalized label, the coffee bags also served as a unique seating chart as guests entered the tent. After making their entrance, Ashley and Lew shared their first dance and cut the cake before some friends and family gave a few heartfelt speeches. After guests enjoyed dinner from Wesley’s Catering, everyone migrated over to the barn. Ashley danced with her dad and Lew with his mom and from there, the dance floor was going strong all night. Guests could mingle outside, dance in the barn, relax and play cornhole over by the bonfire and wander around the property. 

Ashley and Lew’s wedding at Frutig Farms The Valley in Ann Arbor, Michigan was a perfect celebration of their love and a beautiful summer night outdoors. With personal vows, heartwarming moments, and stunning florals, this creamy blush and gold tent wedding was one for the books. For more outdoor wedding inspiration, check out Ande and Ronnie’s colorful summer wedding at Stonegate Farms!

The Dream Team: