A Whimsical, Book-Themed Wedding at Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Michigan

Chris McGraw (24 and a video producer) and Kate Bezak (24 and an English teacher) met while attending college at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. After four years together, Chris surprised Kate by taking her on a date visiting all of the memorable places they had been together in Grand Rapids. After a day of overcast and rain, the sun finally came out for the last stop. Chris led Kate to the pier on Lake Michigan where he got down on one knee and proposed. The newly engaged couple decided to have their wedding ceremony at St. Mary's of the Assumption and their reception at Castle Farms in Charlevoix, MI. "We fell in love with all the stone work, the beautifully maintained grounds and gardens, and whimsical architecture," Kate said of the restored castle. When Kate was younger, she would peruse wedding magazines finding all of her favorite dresses. Now that she was older, she knew she wanted an elegant and modern dress. She chose a fit and flare dress with a ruching on the bodice and a detail fan design on the skirt and train. Bridesmaids wore short purple dresses pairing nicely with the charcoal gray suits the groomsmen wore. With a combined love for reading and writing, Chris and Kate had a literary theme for their wedding. Hand-picked antique books were set around the reception space. Library cards were made into escort cards and table numbers. The whimsical color palette of purples, pinks and whites made for a softer touch to the decor. Almost every inch of the reception had a personal touch for Chris and Kate. Even the wedding cake was decorated with lyrics to their first dance song, "Your Song," by Elton John. Chris and Kate's personal details were sure to make their day one specially designed for them.