A Black-and-White-Striped Greenery Wedding at Loft310 in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Natalie Probst (27 and a wedding photographer) and Brian Martin (33 and a territory sales manager) dated for seven years before Brian pulled off a surprise engagement during a family scavenger hunt. It was where Natalie had always envisioned getting married—the annual site of her family vacation—but knew it wouldn’t work logistically (no hotels or vendors nearby). Her clue led her to her favorite spot on the 6,000-acre property, a hill by a lake, where her family—and Brian’s family—were waiting. “Brian was down on one knee. I have never been so surprised in my life. I must have repeated ‘What is happening?’ a thousand times,” she says. “It could not have been a more perfect proposal.” As a wedding photographer who has seen dozens of weddings, Natalie knew what she wanted, and found the perfect venue at Loft310 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The photographer in her noticed the lighting first, and both she and Brian loved the Chicago feel, views from the rooftop area (great for cocktail hour), and same-site penthouse space, available for weekend rental. They decided on a black, gold and white color scheme, from the invitations to the champagne flutes, and decorated with palm leaves and greenery rather than traditional floral arrangements. Other elements included organic bouquets of hostas, ferns, palms, ranunculus and white garden roses, a gold spray-painted dachshund figurine on the bar (Natalie’s favorite dog), black-and-white-striped chairs, a champagne bucket on the head table to keep the bubbly within arm’s reach, a black-, white- and gold-tiered cake, coasters for guests to write sweet messages and advice, and a change of clothes for the bride at the reception, from a traditional gown to a strapless jumper (showing off her heels). Their rings also have character: Natalie wears two bands as stacking rings, and Brian wears his late father’s wedding band. It meant a lot to Brian to have a piece of his dad with him not only on his wedding day but every day. Says Natalie, “It felt really special to be putting that ring on his hand.” —Chrissy Sorenson