WHEN THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK hit earlier this year, the wedding world ground to a halt. With stay-at-home orders in place, strict limitations on public gatherings, and fear of spreading the virus running rampant, couples across the country were left wondering what to do about their upcoming wedding celebrations. But when the world turns upside down, sometimes all you need to do is shift your perspective.
For Ajay Gokhale and Keerthana Sankar, the pandemic gave them an opportunity to look at their wedding day from a new angle (page 78). The couple was originally planning for a large, 500-guest celebration on May 31, 2020. When the pandemic forced them to change their plans, they decided to keep their original wedding day and strip it down to the essentials. “We had everything we needed to move ahead with the most important part of getting married, which is that core wedding ceremony with your core family,” Gokhale says.
Whether you are newly engaged or planning a wedding that was delayed by the pandemic, we hope this issue helps you focus on what matters most on your own wedding day. Whether you’re planning an intimate affair for 10 guests or a blow-out party for 500, choosing a location is one of the most important decisions you will make. Choosing the right photographer to capture and preserve the memories from your big day is equally important, so we asked some of metro Detroit’s top wedding photographers to shed some light on their favorite venues for a picture-perfect wedding day (page 68).
Once you book your venue and photographer, it’s time to focus on the details of your day — as always, our pages contain plenty of inspiration. If you want to create a memorable dining experience at your reception, try one of the unique seating arrangements suggested by Aimee Paquin of Modernly Events + Rentals (page 30). To look your best and have a clear conscience on your big day, look no further than the beauty products curated by vegan and cruelty-free makeup artist Jessica Haze (page 38). And for an artistic way to capture your wedding memories in the moment, turn to Drawn on Your Day, artist Sarah Nisbett’s live illustration wedding service (page 26).
Perhaps nothing is more inspiring than seeing the details of other couples’ wedding days, so in this issue we are bringing you our biggest Wedding Album yet (page 85). We are thrilled to feature more than 100 pages of gorgeous local weddings. After all, when the world feels upside down, celebrations of love are more important than ever.
Cheers,
Rebecca Voigt
