White Dress Events

Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Aaron Frank

The following is a photo journal of my wedding on June 21, 2008.

My inspiration for our wedding was a classic white affair with just hints of light color throughout. I wanted a romantic event in the beautiful outdoors amid waterfalls and delicate flowers. I chose a flowy silk organza and lace mermaid silhouette dress, with white calla lilies to complement the romance of my gown. Orchids were laced into the details, putting the finishing touches on the bridesmaid bouquets and the groom's boutonniere. A large white trellis, hand crafted as a gift from Kyle's brother, framed the entrance to our ceremony aisle.

The cocktail hour featured beverages with a taste of Michigan. Wines from Tabor Hill, a distinctive winery in Buchanan, were served throughout the night. For our beer drinkers, we offered a selection from New Holland Brewery.

At the reception, the place settings were decorated with a personalized menu for each guest. Seatback signs were designed for the newlyweds, and for the parents of the bride and groom. After the sun began to set, a slideshow was hosted on the lawn, giving the production an old drive-in theatre feel. The evening concluded with hours of dancing to a perfect blend of songs old and new, and guests of every age filled the dance floor.

All photos are courtesy of Dan Johnson Photography in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dan and his wife Jodi were a blast to have at the wedding. They are a couple of truly great people.


Getting my makeup done in the bridal room.
The maids wore flowy, silk charmeuse dresses and pearls, perfectly complementing my gown's romantic feel.


The bridesmaids carried mini white callas and orchids, wrapped in white silk.


The gentlemen wore classic black tuxes. The groom was distinguished with a white vest and tie; the men added a sharp touch in black.
Before the ceremony, gifts were delivered to the bride and groom.


The groom's boutonniere was a classic calla and orchid.


Before the ceremony, the ladies had fun snapping photos with white parasols.


The aisles were lined with white gardenia scented candles and rose petals.
Each guest was greeted at the outdoor ceremony with a wooden fan.


The ceremony programs, given by the ushers to each guest upon arrival, were designed, printed, and assembled by me. They featured our own monogram and the following anonymous quote on the front: "Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale."


A beautiful trellis made the entrance to our ceremony aisle.


Our ceremony singer, Candice, sang, "I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman during the unity sand ceremony. Adding to the symbolism of uniting sand as one, I poured sand from the beaches of Florida (my home state) while my husband poured sand from the shores of Lake Michigan (his hometown). A string quartet played the prelude, processional, recessional, and postlude music.
We departed in a white carriage, a dream of mine since childhood.


A large seating chart situated on an easel welcomed guests into the reception pavillion, indicating their respective tables.
Each guest had a designated place setting at the table, garnished with a place card and a personalized dinner menu.


Our cake was draped with a white canopy, adorned with the words "I do" around the base. We chose three unique flavors of cake for the reception. Guests selected from carrot with maple buttercream, honey lavender with honey-infused buttercream, and hazelnut dacquoise with espresso buttercream.
We cut the cake to "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" by James Taylor. Our gorgeous cake cutting set was "something borrowed" from a very dear friend and bridesmaid.


The bride and groom's seats had chair back signs displaying their new names. Parents of the wedded couple also had chair back signs to distinguish them at the reception, accenting the table decor as well.
We chose to sit at a sweetheart table. We wanted to relish in our newlywed bliss by sitting separately and having a few moments alone. Members of the bridal party and their dates sat at tables to the right and left of us, distinguished from other guests.


We both sported funky and fun attire at the feet. Showing them off in this photo, I completed my look with pink heels, while my husband wore yellow argyle socks.


Once the sun was setting, we hosted a movie on the lawn. It was reminiscent of the old drive-in theatres, and it was a blast watching a slideshow of our lives leading up to when we met.


We danced the night away and ended the evening with "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. All our guests surrounded us, singing and swaying. It was the perfect end to a perfect day!