Kristin & Alex: Summer Wedding in Mackinac Island, MI

At her childhood summer destination, Kristin met the man she was to marry. So it was only natural that the pair celebrated their love with a huge August wedding on the island. The Bride Kristin Lewand, 28, foundation director The Groom Alex Graham, 31, music director The Date August 23 Since childhood, Kristin Lewand has spent her summers on Mackinac Island. As an adult, she became the executive director of Mackinac Island Community Foundation. In the summer of 2001, she was invited to a season opening cocktail party, where she was introduced to the Grand Hotel's new music director, Alex Graham. We clicked immediately, says Kristi. Over the next few days she found excuses to watch Alex perform with the Grand Hotel Orchestra. He saw through that quickly and asked me out on a proper date. Their first outing was on Kristi's birthday. After breakfast together, they explored the island on bicycles, one of the few modes of transportation, along with horse-drawn carriages, allowed on Mackinac. A year later, Alex convinced Kristi to take a break from her busy schedule and have lunch with him at their favorite waterside restaurant. Then, while walking along the beach, he proposed. The ring had just arrived from the jeweler, Kristi says. He said he couldn't wait another minute. Plans for a wedding began right away. Having lived on the island, I had a really good sense of what would work well, says Kristi.