winter planterra conservatory wedding in west bloomfield by kari dawson

i do {weddings}

a winter fairytale planterra conservatory wedding full of lush greenery and twinkle lights

Winter black-tie Planterra Conservatory Wedding in West Bloomfield, Michigan provided by Kari Dawson, top-rated Detroit wedding photographer, and her team.

Getting ready…

Aaron and Kristi’s Planterra conservatory wedding day was so incredibly special. Their hotel rooms at the Graduate were directly across the hall from each other with zero stress about colliding before they were both dressed and ready. Kristi was surrounded by her two sisters and her bestie plus her mom and step mom. Kristi and her sisters have an incredible connection that reminded me so much of my own girls. Aaron had his two best guys with and his father across the hall. Gunner, Kristi’s 14-year-old pup and little Vinnie joined the ladies getting ready before the little ladies, Kristi and Aaron’s rescues joined the group. There are two types of people in the world: those who rescue and foster dogs and those who don’t. So when you meet the one AND he has that rare foster heart you snatch him right up.

How they met…

Aaron and Kristi met in California, where Kristi is from, while Aaron was stationed there. They explored the west coast and traveled together while building the foundation of their relationship before parting ways when Aaron was deployed to Syria. That didn’t last long though and they rekindled long distance. Aaron was re-stationed in Alabama and Kristi packed up everything she owned to meet him there. Aaron’s career in the military as a trauma surgeon has come to an end and U of M snatched him up landing them in Ann Arbor.
Together they focus on health and fitness and saving the world one dog rescue at a time. I have never seen a dress like Kristi’s… I have also never seen ABS like Kristi’s and she wore it so well. Kristi is short, like me, and I worried she might get lost in the skirt but she owned it and looked so stunning. I loved her simple, elegant, high pony which kept her wedding gown playful just like Kristi. Her ladies wore dresses that were not only unique to each other in style but so unique in general. You have to scroll to see them. The gentlemen all looked stunning in classic black!

The magic of Planterra…

Planterra absolutely stunned me with their floor plan. Having worked extensively at Planterra I know how difficult it can be to make an intimate wedding look full in such a large space. And they did it. They created a u-shaped floor plan placing guests on both sides of the table. The floor plan took up a lot of space while keeping the experience for the guests quite intimate by facing each other and being completely surrounded by twinkle lights, candles galore, and the most stunning tall centerpieces created with greenery, white hydrangeas with blooms as big as my face, yet kept whimsical with orchids draping out the sides. Stunning just doesn’t describe the genius behind the magic that was Kristi and Aaron’s meal.

The ceremony…

The set for the ceremony was just as unique with floral arrangements and an aisle runner dotting the way up the aisle. The chairs were set on an angle and in pairs so that each couple could sit together. Together with David at Planterra, Kristi and Aaron created a unique experience for their guests to enjoy each other and their special day.

Aaron and Kristi have huge hearts set on leaving this world better than they found it. Thank you to you both for allowing me a small peek into your lives together and for trusting me with your most precious friends, family, and memories. Welcome to the married couple’s club!

Wedding day vendors provided at the end of this post.