A Casual Waterside Wedding at Lake Shore Resort in Saugatuck, Michigan

Robert Fleming and Michael Biegel sought to plan a wedding that would surprise their guests. "It was very important to us that we had an original or unique spin on everything," Robert says. The surprise factor started with the save-the-dates, which only included two bits of information—the location (Saugatuck, Michigan) and the date—to build excitement. The ceremony took place on their friend's front lawn overlooking the beach, and guests sat on folding chairs beneath tan umbrellas. A single small arrangement of hydrangeas kept the focus on the natural beauty of the space. For the reception at Saugatuck Center for the Arts, tables were decorated with small-stem flowers in mixed vases, tea candles and an eclectic patterned tablecloth. The grooms had a specific dress code for the wedding: Women wore white or muted solid colors, and men donned neutral suits. That way, their green and blue suits (worn without ties) stood out in every photo. The pair also changed into patterned shirts for the casual first dance. 
Our favorite #MakeTradition moment: Robert and Michael wrote handwritten notes for their wedding guests. The notes "let them know how special they were to us," Robert says.