A black-tie celebration unfolded at Greencrest Manor, where romance and restraint met in a setting defined by timeless elegance. As guests arrived, they were welcomed by a dramatic floral installation climbing the estate’s grand staircase—soft vines and blooms leading the way to the bridal suite and setting the tone for a day steeped in classic beauty.
The bride and groom prepared separately before exchanging vows in the manicured garden, where meadow-style florals in blush, peach, and ivory lined the aisle. The ceremony felt refined yet organic, framed by the estate’s grounds in full spring bloom. As evening approached, guests transitioned to an outdoor reception beneath flowering dogwood trees, where green toile linens, gilded china, and thoughtful design details created a setting that felt elevated without excess. Every element worked in harmony to create a black-tie affair that was graceful, intentional, and quietly stunning.
How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?
We met in the summer of 2020 at a little wine shop in my hometown called Port Winona. I was working there during my college summer break, and Andrew was a frequent customer. He later admitted he was trying to figure out my schedule so he could come in on the days I worked — but even then, it took him until the end of the summer to finally ask me out. After our first date, we both knew there was something special there. We did long distance for my last year of college and never went more than three weeks without seeing each other. Fast forward five years later, Andrew is now my husband, and I’m the owner of Port Winona. Looking back now, it’s pretty amazing to see how fate works — I ended up with both my husband and the place where it all started.
Tell us a funny story relating to your wedding day or relationship!
Everyone at our wedding was fully engaged at the reception — dancing, singing, and genuinely having the best time. At one point, the speaker died for a brief moment, and without missing a beat, everyone just kept singing the song anyway. Our reception was so lively that when it was time for Andrew and me to run through the cold sparklers for our exit, we had so much fun that we did it again — this time with everyone joining us for an impromptu dance party right in the middle of the sparklers.
Describe a hurdle you had to overcome in your relationship or during your wedding planning.
The biggest hurdle we faced was planning a wedding in a very short time frame while I was running a business full time and Andrew was traveling most of the time for work. We got engaged in July with our wedding set for April, which gave us just nine months to plan our fairytale wedding. It was an intense season balancing my business, wedding planning, and long stretches of time where my fiancé was on the road. We truly couldn’t have pulled off the wedding of our dreams without the incredible team at Greencrest Manor.
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?
It’s not exactly family history, but a meaningful moment that tied the history of our relationship into our ceremony. For our unity ceremony, we chose to blend wine together. It symbolized the two of us becoming one and reflected our journey together — wine has been at the center of our story from the very beginning, bringing us together and now uniting us on our wedding day.
What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you?
It’s impossible to pinpoint just one moment. If I did a highlight reel in my mind, it would be all the beautiful moments that made the day feel like a romantic fairytale — from first looks to vows to dinner. From waiting in the bridal suite with my mother just before the ceremony, listening to the birds chirping and the string quartet playing while watching guests arrive, to walking down the aisle with my dad. From laughing at the altar with our officiant, to saying vows that mirrored each other perfectly without planning it, to our wine-blending unity ceremony. A strolling cocktail hour through the gardens, signing our marriage license followed by a Champagne tower, and the most intimate dinner on the veranda with all our favorite people at one table. The reception was full of energy, ending in a cold sparkler dance party in front of the manor — every moment felt meaningful.
What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another?
One of the best things we’ve learned is the importance of always being a team. We navigate life’s ups and downs together, wholeheartedly supporting one another and facing everything side by side.
What is your favorite thing about each other?
Alexis: I love how supportive and loving Andrew is. His loyalty runs deep, and he gives everything he has to the people he loves. He is my calm and provides a steady presence I can always rely on.
Andrew: I love how empathetic and caring Alexis is. She feels things deeply for the people close to her. She can tell immediately when I’m having a bad day and always finds a way to make it brighter.
What was your favorite part about planning your wedding?
Our favorite part was working with our incredible team of vendors. Greencrest Manor and their design team at Modern Day Collective made the entire process seamless and stress-free, turning our vision into reality with so much care. Seeing everything come together during our design meeting — the china, linens, candles, and floral inspiration — was especially exciting. Our photographer, Courtney Rudicel, captured every moment beautifully and was such a joy to work with, and our videographer, Devon Foster, perfectly captured the romantic aesthetic we had envisioned. Together, they exceeded every expectation.
If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be?
Do not feel pressure to make everyone happy. Make decisions based on what truly reflects you as a couple and what you want for your day. For us, having a small, intimate wedding was incredibly important, even if it went against expectations. If you’re leaning toward a smaller celebration but worried about upsetting others, we encourage you to consider it — being fully present and connected with every guest made our day even more special.
What is the most honest thing you can say about love?
Love is choosing each other. It is forgiving, patient, and always worth it.
Venue: Greencrest Manor / @greencrestmanor
Planning, Design & Florals: Modern Day Collective / @moderndaycollective
Photography: Courtney Rudicel Photography / @courtneyrudicel
Videography: Foster Films / @fosterfilms
Hair & Makeup: Blushing Ivory Bridal Co. / @blushingivorybridal
Bridal Boutique: The Bridal Bar Fort Wayne / @thebridalbarfw
Music: Kalkaska Quartet / @kalkaskaquartet
Catering: Millennium Catering and Events / @millenniumcateringandevents
Cake: Sweet Details Grand Rapids / @sweetdetailsgr
Cold Sparklers: Detroit DJ Entertainment / @detroitdj
Publisher at The White Wren and Bajan Wed, Award Winning Photography + Videographer at Live View Studios, Dad, 80s music lover, crunchy health advocate
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