Kelsey and Mike met as camp counselors at a leadership summer camp but didn’t actually connect until they were at a camp friend’s wedding. Little did they know at the time, but that camp friend would be the officiant at their own wedding just a short while later. The couple is the first to say that they are forever thankful to her for getting married and inviting them both to the wedding, and they are even more thankful for a camp that gave them a meeting place in common. Keep scrolling to see how this special wedding day came to fruition with the help of Blue Elephant Events & Catering and all captured by the talented OkCrowe Photography.
A pair of earrings with a family history
Kelsey’s mother gifted her a beautiful set of earrings that have pearls gifted to the bride by her aunts as a child, as well as diamonds from the first pair of earrings the bride’s father bought her mother. These same diamonds were later a part of Kelsey’s mother’s original wedding ring, making them an incredibly sentimental addition for the bride’s earrings on her own wedding day.
A family DIY affair
For their wedding, Mike and Kelsey opted to write their own vows, which felt really special for them to have something written that captured this moment in time. They included some nods to camp, also, mostly through their music choices. The bride’s father built their arbor, while her mother created the florals. She even hand-painted wooden flowers to include on each of the tables during the reception.
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After-the-fact advice for other couples
“When wedding planning starts to feel stressful, picture the specific moments you’re excited about. For us, it was imagining reading our vows and our first dance. This helped keep the day in perspective and reminded us that anything “left” to plan wasn’t prioritized for a reason. Prioritizing and budgeting for a wedding planner definitely helps make things easier, also!”
There’s no better after-party than a concert!
What better way to celebrate saying “I do” than heading off to a live concert still in your wedding outfits! Mike and Kelsey celebrated at a non-traditional after-party: a Guster concert! During the concert, they were able to go out on stage and celebrate their wedding day with the band and all of the concertgoers, creating a whole bunch of “forever” memories and countless fun photos to remember it by!
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