welcome

I'm mandie, photographer & Videographer

Hey there! Welcome to the Mandie Forbes Blog! I'm Mandie, a Traverse City Photographer and Videographer. Grab a cup of coffee or maybe a glass of wine and enjoy the blog! I try to provide as much valuable information as I can for my brides and I'm here to answer any questions you might have!  I can't wait to talk to you! Use the "Contact Mandie" page to email me today! 

quick links

Looking for something in particular? Here are few places to start browsing:

Find me on: 

View Categories

welcome

I'm mandie, photographer & Videographer

Hey there! Welcome to the Mandie Forbes Blog! I'm Mandie, a Traverse City Photographer and Videographer. Grab a cup of coffee or maybe a glass of wine and enjoy the blog! I try to provide as much valuable information as I can for my brides and I'm here to answer any questions you might have!  I can't wait to talk to you! Use the "Contact Mandie" page to email me today! 

quick links

Looking for something in particular? Here are few places to start browsing:

Find me on: 

View Categories

by Categories

Photography

Videography

Weddings

Engagements

Personal

Caitlin & Andres: A Lakeside Wedding in Northern Michigan

Last August I was able to shoot a lakeside wedding for Caitlin and Andres in Northern Michigan. They are a super sweet couple who really cared about being able to spend time with their friends and family during their wedding. One of the most important things Caitlin and Andres wanted for their special day was to make sure everyone was comfortable and included, and I was more than happy to be there to capture this amazing day for them! 

They wanted to have their wedding at Caitlin’s family’s lake house on Lake Burt, so they brought in Tom and Shannon from Thomas Heath Events to build the entire ceremony and reception from the ground up! Both Caitlin and Andres had a ton of great memories at this location, so it was the natural spot for their wedding. And Caitlin’s father was all too happy to oblige!  

Getting Ready

As the day began, Caitlin and her bridesmaids got ready at the lake house while Andres and his groomsmen got ready at a nearby hotel. Something that was sort of unique to this gorgeous lakeside wedding, was that Caitlin had all of her bridesmaids wear ivory dresses. Caitlin herself wore a simple and elegant dress of white. Her style was elegant and minimalist, and I absolutely loved the way she pulled it off! 

Collage of gold wedding heels and the bride's engagement ring in a teal velvet box.

Collage of the bride looking at herself in a mirror while she gets her wedding hair done.

The bride drying her teary eyes as she reads a card from her fiance on their wedding day.

Collage of Caitlin's wedding dress hanging in their lake house and Caitlin gently touching it as she gets ready for their wedding.

Caitlin smiling with her bridesmaids at her lake house in Northern Michigan as they get ready for her wedding.

Collage of Caitlin being helped into her wedding gown and a detail photo of her clasping her hands in front of her waist in her wedding gown.

Caitlin being hugged from behind by her mom as they get her ready for her Northern Michigan Lake House wedding.

First Looks

Andres and Caitlin decided on a first look and we were able to take a bunch of portraits before the ceremony. First, was the first look with Caitlin’s dad. It was super sweet and they both cried. Then Caitlin had a first look with Andres. I don’t think either of them cried, but they were so happy to finally see each other. It was a perfect moment. They were so in love, and you could just see it!  

Collage of Caitlin crying and hugging her dad during their first look on her wedding day.

Caitlin and Andres standing in a grove of trees during the first look on their wedding day.

Caitlin and Andres hugging with two trees in the foreground.

Collage of Caitlin and Andres smiling in a grove of trees at their lake house in Northern Michigan on their wedding day and a close up of Caitlin softly smiling while Andres whispers in her ear.

Collage of Caitlin and Andres kissing on their wedding day and the two of them walking along the pier of a lake in Northern Michigan in their wedding day attire.

Collage of Caitlin and Andres standing on a Northern Michigan lake pier in their wedding day attire and Andres hugging Caitlin from behind.

Collage of Caitlin and Andres standing on the lake pier with their foreheads together taking in their wedding day and Andres kneeling in the grass while Caitlin stands over him and their dog.

Collage of a detail photo of Caitlin and Andres' dog and Caitlin and Andres kissing on their wedding day while their dog sit at their feet.

Collage of Caitlin standing in the grass of her lake house with the lake behind her and a detail photo of her lush white and green wedding day bouquet.

Collage of Caitlin standing in the grass of her lake house with the lake behind her and a detail photo of her lush white and green wedding day bouquet.

Andres straightening the tie of his blue wedding day suit as he looks out over a Northern Michigan lake.

Collage of Andres buttoning his blue suit jacket while he looks out over the water of his lake house and a detail photo of Andres straightening his tie.

Andres spinning Caitlin on a Northern Michigan pier during their lake house wedding.

Collage of Caitlin hugging Andres as he smiles during sunset at their lake house and a detail photo of the back of Caitlin's wedding gown as Andres hugs her.

 

 

Caitlin smiling with her bridesmaids in light cream dresses at the lake house on her wedding day.

Collage of a detail photo of Caitlin's wedding day bouquet and her bridesmaids smiling and laughing as they walk across the lawn of the lake house.

Caitlin and Andres smiling with their wedding party on the lawn of their lake house during their Northern Michigan wedding day.

Caitlin and Andres kissing as their wedding party gathers around and smiles at them on their wedding day.

Andres smiling in his blue suit as he stands with his groomsmen in their grey suits on the lawn of his lake house on this wedding day.

Andres walking with his groomsmen across the lawn of his lake house on his wedding day.

A Lakeside Wedding

Again, a unique moment for Caitlin & Andres’ lakeside wedding was their stunning wedding ceremony. The ceremony would take place with friends and family on the shore of the gorgeous Burt Lake here in Northern Michigan. The ceremony was set up looking past the shore, towards the dock and the lake.  Andres and his groomsmen recessed down the aisle as is expected. However, the bridesmaids came from the dock behind the aisle arch to stand in their expected places. Finally, Caitlin came in from the water (the family had hired a captain of a Chris-Craft boat to navigate) and that was her grand entrance! 

Their vows were super sweet during the ceremony. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the audience! 

Collage of greenery and white flowers decorating chairs and the altar at Caitlin and Andres' Northern Michigan lakeside wedding.

Caitlin and her bridesmaids arriving to her wedding ceremony by boat.

Collage of Caitlin and her dad walking down the pier to her wedding ceremony after she arrived on a boat across the lake.

Andres and Caitlin's dad hugging as he hands her off during her wedding ceremony.

Caitlin and Andres holding hands as they both look at their officiant during their lakeside wedding ceremony.

Collage of Caitlin and Andres saying their wedding vows to each other during their ceremony.

Caitlin and Andres kissing for the first time as husband and wife during their Northern Michigan lake house ceremony.

Cocktail Hour

Another special moment from Caitlin and Andres’ lakeside wedding was their cocktail hour. After the ceremony, they wanted to be able to spend time with friends and family. So, we finished the family photos, and sent them to the front of the house where the cocktail hour had been set up. There was even a small live band performing that Tom and his team brought in! Andres’ family had flown in from Columbia, and the bride and groom wanted to make sure that they all felt included and this moment was a perfect one for everybody!  

Collage of reception and cocktail hours details for Caitlin and Andres' wedding

Detail photo of little white cupcakes with raspberries on top sitting on a tray at Caitlin and Andre's lake house wedding reception.

An overview of the enchanted reception set up for Caitlin and Andre's Northern Michigan lake house wedding reception.

In The Meantime…

When everyone left the ceremony (at the back of the house) and went to the cocktail hour (at the front of the house), Tom and his team were already hard at work. The family went to the front of the house where the planning team had already prepared a cocktail space. So, while everyone was out there with live music and drinks, the amazing planning team overturned the entire ceremony space and turned it into the reception space! All so the bride and groom could not only have a lakeside wedding, but a lakeside reception as well. Tom & Shannon, from Thomas Heath Events, absolutely masterminded the entire event and helped make this day so special! 

Shannon from Thomas Heath Events helps turn over the reception space to make everything perfect while the bride and groom and their families enjoy cocktail hour.

The Reception

The reception was truly a special event. The Planner, DJ, Band Member, and Master of Ceremonies, Tom (he does #allthethings), made the start of the reception truly unique. He had learned a little Spanish, so he could not only introduce and announce things as they were happening in English, but in Spanish as well. Everyone wanted to make sure that Andres’ family felt included and cared for as guests of honor!  

After Caitlin and Andres shared their first dance, they welcomed everyone to Northern Michigan and thanked them for being a part of their special day. They invited everyone to the dance floor to share in an opening dance to celebrate before the reception moved to speeches. Once everyone returned to their seats, queue the waterworks that were their speeches! This was one of those moments I’ll never forget. First up was Caitlin’s father who gave the sweetest heartfelt speech. Everyone was in tears by the time he was finished! 

Another important speech came after the Maid of Honor and Best Man’s toasts and was a bit of a surprise. Caitlin’s original Maid of  Honor wasn’t able to come at the last minute because she had just given birth to the newest member of this sweet group of humans. So, the original Maid of Honor’s speech was read aloud by one of her family members. Which, of course, made everyone cry even more! 

Caitlin and Andres being introduced to their lakeside cocktail hour.

Collage of Caitlin and Andres sharing their first dance as husband and wife during their Northern Michigan lake house wedding.

Caitlin and Andres sharing their first dance as husband and wife as their guests look on.

Caitlin blowing a kiss at her dad as he does his father of the bride toasts on her wedding day.

Black and white photo of Caitlin and her dad during their father daughter dance on her wedding day.

Andres and his mom during their mother and son dance on his wedding day.

Bride and groom walk down dock to return to their wedding reception after enjoying some time together during their lakeside wedding on the shores of Burt Lake in Northern MIchigan.

Dinner and Dancing! 

Caitlin & Andres’ wedding dinner was one of the most interesting (and yummy!) wedding dinners I’ve ever experienced! It was Tapas-style, so there were multiple food stations with small plates for everyone to sort of mix and make their own unique food experiences. One particular station was Columbian food made by Andres’ family! They made hundreds of mini empanadas that were so good!

Finally the night ended with the DJ (Tom who does #allthethings) inviting everyone to the dance floor, and it was a party (with a Capital P.A.R.T.Y.)!  Everyone at this lakeside wedding was on the dance floor the entire night. Tom and his crew played a mix of Spanish and English for the two mingling families, and no one could help getting on the dance floor. 

Bride and groom tearing up the dance floor on the shores of Burt Lake in Northern Michigan.

Andres and Caitlin's wedding guests dancing during their Northern Michigan lake house wedding reception.

Andres and Caitlin's wedding guests dancing during their Northern Michigan lake house wedding reception.

Caitlin and Andres standing in front of their head table arch with their foreheads together taking in the last moments of their Northern Michigan lake house wedding as candles glow on the tables around them.

It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of the amazing team pulling together a gorgeous lakeside wedding for Caitlin and Andres.

Congratulations to you both!

Vendors:
Planner & Master of Ceremonies: Thomas Heath Events | Website
Photography: Mandie Forbes | Website
Florals: Monarch Garden & Floral | Website
Hair & Makeup: Vogue Salon & Spa | Website
Design, Decor, & Rentals: Heart Wedding Decor | Website
Desserts: Colin’s Confections & Catering | Website
Catering: Nancy Kelly’s Restaurant | Website
DJ: A+ Entertains | Website

Where to next?
Planning Tips
More about Mandie
Wedding Photography Information
Wedding Videography Information

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

@mandie.forbes

always timeless. on the daily.
Follow along: