Nixon Farms rustic barn wedding in Dexter, Michigan provided by Kari Dawson, top-rated Ann Arbor wedding photographer, Kari Dawson and her team.

How they met…

Aaron and Laurel both grew up in the Ann Arbor area and found themselves transplanted to Austin, Texas. Neither of them knew the other growing up in Michigan. It took another Ann Arbor transplant in Austin to introduce the two simply because they were also both from the same area. And there began their life together. Their story continued when Aaron had a stowaway in a sock in his backpack as they headed for a trip to Spain. The stowaway as you may have guessed was a ring box. I have heard stories about groom’s who just aren’t quite themselves the day that they are going to propose. I can’t imagine how Aaron made it to Spain without bursting!

It’s all in the details…

Laurel owns Laurel Twist Design and designs Logo Design | Branding | Stationery | Graphic Design. Talk about having a perfectly coordinated wedding brand, the invitation suite of your dreams, and all of the lovely details to pull it all together which is exactly what Laurel and Aaron had because Laurel designed it all herself. It’s no secret I’m a sucker for the details and was loving everything. They really found a way to make the Nixon Farms space completely their own. One of the sweetest touches that comes to mind is a swag of the palest mint green fabric that ran the length of the tables which really softened the barn and created such elegance. Everything came together so beautifully for thier Nixon Farms rustic barn wedding.

A lil’ DIY…

The other DIY that I LOVED was the wall behind their dessert table. I won’t give away their secrets but it was a large install that consisted of large gold hoops, lots of florals, and a custom wood ‘Kosel’ piece. And the prettiest dessert table showed off in front of it. We’re talking glass jars full of baked goodies. Wooden dowels stacked with donuts. Cherry pie. And of course cake. Maybe I should have mentioned dinner before I got to dessert. Food trucks! Pizza and taco food trucks that released the guests and kept the wait to a minimum in a way that shocked me. The cocktail appetizers consisted of all of my personal favorites (which you know I ate during dinner) crackers, cheese, chips, salsa, and watermelon. And if their food game wasn’t strong enough they had a smore bar! You could eat them plain or stack those babies with a Girl Scout Cookie, Reese, you name it!

Going back to a perfectly coordinated wedding brand and color scheme, Laurel had this down pat. The bridesmaids wore different shades but it was so subtle and beautiful that you almost couldn’t tell they were slightly different. The blush was gorgeous against the soft blues combined with the perfect amount of gold to keep everything elegant without being overly feminine. The groom and groomsman wore suits in the sharpest, unique blue. Mr. Twist gets the best-dressed father of the bride award with his classic gray suit and floral necktie.

Setting aside time for YOU on your wedding day…

My favorite part of the day, as always, is sending the bridal party inside and walking away for just a little while with my bride and groom. I often get calls and emails after the wedding day from couples saying that was their favorite time of the day. If you’re a current bride, you have already heard me talk about pulling you away from everything and everyone for your portraits because you just don’t get to spend any quality time together on your wedding day. This is my way of giving you valuable time together while still using your timeline wisely. I’m sure Aaron and Laurel would agree that being the bride and groom can be a bit overwhelming with so much attention on you all day. So step away with me and I promise you won’t regret it.

Laurel and Aaron, your day came together so beautifully! My team and I truly enjoyed sharing your special day with you and loved meeting all your friends and family. Have the best time on your honeymoon!!

Full list of wedding day vendors provided at the end of this post.

Wedding Day Vendors
Photographer: Kari Dawson
Second Photographer: Elle Ticula
All Stationary/Invitation Suites: Laurel Twist Design
Ceremony: St Andrew the Apostle Church
Venue: Nixon Farms
Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulus + Nordstrom
Tux: Men’s Warehouse
Florals: Mary Ann Twist
Cake Artist: Courtney Foster
DJ: Rock Out Entertainment
Makeup: Makeup By Design
Hair Artist: Kimberly Jasper
Food Trucks: Bigalora + Cosa Sabrosa
Rentals: Knights Rentals