A Flowery, Playful Summer Wedding With Bulgarian Traditions in Grand Rapids, Michigan
From their first date to their wedding day, coffee seemed to be a running theme for Maria and Austin. They attended the same college, some years apart, so their first meeting wasn’t until their two best friends began dating. From there, the two exchanged Instagram messages before having their first date in the Grand Rapids hotspot, Roots Brew Shop. Over the next 5 years, the couple’s connection grew even stronger, and on a rainy October day, down one of their favorite walking paths, Austin proposed. “My best friend Emily was hiding in the bushes with my camera,” Maria says of capturing the moment in a photo. “And then we had an after-party at Roots Brew Shop to follow! The very place that we had our first date.”
Landing on June 29th as their wedding day, keeping their guests cool with sweet treats was a must. And yes, that included coffee. Maria says, “I wanted every guest to feel served and to delight in every detail from gorgeous florals, to hands-on vendors, delicious cocktails, shots of espresso or scoops of Michigan-made ice cream.” The ice cream held a sentimental purpose for the groom, since Austin once lived across the street from Furniture City Creamery in Grand Rapids. It was a classic summertime dessert for the couple long before their wedding day.
And the Michiganders found the perfect venue for their “whimsical and warm… modern and playful” wedding theme at Venue Bella Giornata, a ranch-style property with sprawling green lawns and what Maria described as a “blank slate” to put their own stamp on the day. “I wanted wild and springy florals that felt organic and painted a color story for the day… I dreamed that florals would fill the space with peachy, creamy [and] purpley hues,” she says. Her team of vendors crafted the garden party with textiles vibes she and Austin were searching for, with a mix of summer blooms like orchids, amaranthus, anthuriums, dahlias and scabiosas.
They also incorporated organic elements, like stone, fresh figs and grapes, to offset the rich oranges of the invitation suite and custom menus on each place setting. With ivory linens and pink tapered candles, there were bursts of color throughout the reception space, and the ceremony spot on the lawn of the venue was elevated with florals. The green area had a white picket fence, so vendors utilized white pillars in various heights to display colorful flower arrangements. Matching the pillars and the fence were white chairs for guests, facing the tree-lined space where Austin and Maria would say their I do’s. Even the bridesmaids’ dresses were floral, in different patterns, textures and hues, according to the bride.
Playing up the flowery aspect of the day, Maria chose a wedding gown that spoke both to her style and the venue. The fitted gown, with its pops of 3D petals on the sweetheart neckline, gave the “vibrant summer” feel she was looking for, while having a mix of simplicity and standout features. On customizing this dress, the bride says, “I love the drama of a long train, but knew I didn’t want to carry it around with me all day, so I opted for an over-skirt that completed my look.” Her groom chose a classic black tux with his own botanical spin: a white tie in a purple, floral pattern.
The ceremony, with its blend of Bulgarian wedding rituals and customs to honor Maria’s culture, was one of their most anticipated moments of the day. “It was important to Austin and [me] to serve our friends in some way during our ceremony, and we decided there was no better way to do it than communion. It was truly magical,” she says of this spiritual and traditional ceremony.
The newlyweds wanted the day to be a celebration for their loved ones, especially those who traveled across the ocean. “My family from Bulgaria flew in, as I am a first-generation American. We incorporated traditional Bulgarian liquors, and had traces of the language peppered throughout the evening,” Maria says. Other traditions included a Bulgarian line dance and breaking a loaf of bread over each other’s heads during the reception. “So our favorite parts of the wedding were getting to embrace our loved ones and listen to the speeches that we know our family and friends spent so much time crafting [with] love,” she adds.
It’s this sense of community and connection from their friends, family and loved ones that they say has carried them through these early days of marriage. Maria says, “My only advice would be that as much as the wedding day is incredible, keep your eyes on the marriage that is to come, and let your wedding day be a precious symbol and stake in the ground of the commitment you are making for every day AFTER the wedding.” She also adds, celebrating “your socks off” during your wedding day and beyond is the key to it all.