7 Things to Know Before Planning Your Michigan Wedding
If you’re newly engaged and suddenly your entire Instagram feed is filled with wedding photos, venue tours, and Pinterest-worthy details, welcome to the club.
Fall wedding season is in FULL swing here in Michigan, and while we’re busy photographing some pretty incredible celebrations, there’s one thing I always think about this time of year: all the newly engaged couples watching from the sidelines, dreaming up what their own wedding day might look like.
After nearly 15 years of photographing weddings, I’ve seen just about everything. The perfectly planned timelines, the unexpected rainstorms, the emotional first looks, the dance floors that nobody wants to leave, and yes, the occasional wedding-day chaos.
And if there’s one thing I can tell you, it’s that the best weddings aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most elaborate details.
They’re the ones that feel like the couple.
So, if you’re engaged and starting to plan your own wedding, here are a few things I wish every couple knew.
1. Your Wedding Doesn’t Have to Look Like Anyone Else’s
Seriously. Read that again.
It’s SO easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, especially when you’re seeing gorgeous weddings all over social media.
But just because someone else had a champagne tower, a 20-person wedding party, or a black-tie reception doesn’t mean you need any of those things.
Want to skip traditions? Do it. Want to have a private first look? Love that. Want to spend half your reception on the dance floor? PLEASE.
The best wedding days are the ones where I walk away thinking, “That was so them.”
2. Your Photographer Is With You More Than Almost Anyone Else
Something couples don’t always realize when they’re booking vendors is just how much time they’ll spend with their photographer.
We’re there while you’re getting ready, during some of your most emotional moments, and right beside you when the timeline inevitably gets a little chaotic. Or if your wedding photographer is anything like me, she’ll be right in the stall with you lifting your dress up while you pee if you need another hand!
Which is why choosing your photographer should be about so much more than loving their Instagram feed.
Of course, you should love their work. But you should also feel comfortable around them, trust their experience, and know they’ll help you feel like yourselves in front of the camera.
That’s a HUGE part of what we prioritize at MG & Co. Beautiful photos are a given…the experience matters just as much.
3. Don’t Build a Timeline That Leaves You Zero Room to Actually Enjoy Your Wedding
This one is BIG. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen couples try to cram absolutely everything into one day without leaving themselves a moment to breathe.
Your wedding day shouldn’t feel like you’re racing from one obligation to the next and something I tell all of our couples…”your wedding day shouldn’t feel like an 8-hour photoshoot.”
Build in buffer time. Give yourselves a few minutes alone after the ceremony. Make sure you actually get to enjoy cocktail hour if that’s important to you.
And most importantly, work with vendors who know how to create a timeline that makes sense.
After photographing HUNDREDS of weddings, I can promise you that a little breathing room makes a massive difference.
4. Think About the Photos You’ll Want 20 Years From Now
I LOVE a good editorial moment. Give me the dramatic flash photography, the gorgeous architecture, and the fashion-forward details all day long.
But you know what else I love? The photo of your grandma laughing during speeches. Your best friends losing their minds on the dance floor. The way your partner looks at you when you don’t even realize anyone is watching.
Those are the photos that only become more valuable with time.
When you’re looking for a wedding photographer, pay attention to how they capture the entire story, not just the perfectly posed portraits.
5. Michigan Wedding Dates Book Earlier Than You Think
If you’re planning a 2027 or 2028 wedding, now is a great time to start having conversations with your favorite vendors.
Especially if you’re considering a popular Saturday, a peak fall date, or one of Metro Detroit’s most sought-after wedding venues.
You don’t have to have every single detail figured out before reaching out.
In fact, I’d much rather have a conversation early in your planning process so we can talk about what matters most to you and what kind of photography coverage actually makes sense for your day.
6. Your Wedding Day Will Never Go Exactly According to Plan. And That’s Okay.
The weather might change. Someone might run late. Your bustle might require a small army to figure out.
That’s weddings.
And some of my favorite photographs have happened during the moments nobody could have planned.
Surround yourself with vendors who can roll with it, problem-solve, and keep the energy positive.
Because at the end of the day, you’re marrying your person. That’s the whole point.
7. Don’t Forget to Actually Enjoy Being Engaged
Planning a wedding is exciting, but it can also turn into a never-ending to-do list if you let it.
Go on dates that have absolutely nothing to do with wedding planning. Celebrate the little milestones. Take engagement photos somewhere meaningful to you.
And remember that your wedding is one day, but your marriage is everything that comes after it.
Planning a Michigan Wedding? Let’s Talk.
If you’re newly engaged and dreaming up your 2027 or 2028 wedding, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.
Whether you’re envisioning a black-tie celebration in downtown Detroit, a romantic evening at Planterra Conservatory, or something completely different, Molly Grunewald & Company is here to document it all.
With both myself and my incredible photography team available for weddings, we offer different coverage options while keeping the same approach at the heart of everything we do: genuine connection, beautiful imagery, and a wedding experience that actually feels FUN!
Because you deserve to look back at your wedding photos and remember not just how everything looked, but how it all felt.
Let’s make some freaking good photos.
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