Sydney and AJ | Downtown Market Wedding | Grand Rapids, MI
Sydney and AJ’s dreamy greenhouse wedding took place at the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids, MI. The day went off without a hitch, and I’m so happy I was able to see Sydney’s modern garden party wedding dreams come true. The couple moved to North Carolina for Sydney’s graduate school about 2 years ago, and their wedding was the perfect opportunity to catch up with their friends and family in Michigan.
Sydney and AJ met in the first grade! They even have the class photo to prove it. They were friends throughout their school years, and actually dated for a little bit in middle school, but they didn’t officially become an item until the summer after graduating high school. They will be together for 8 years in August!
AJ proposed to Sydney shortly after their move to North Carolina. They wanted to explore their new state, so they decided to go hiking to the top of Pilot Mountain. Little did Sydney know, AJ had more than reaching the summit on his to do list. When they took a break from their climb, Sydney turned around and AJ was down on one knee! She said she wasn’t completely surprised by the proposal, but that didn’t make it any less memorable.
When it came to planning, the couple knew a summer wedding would work best with Sydney’s graduate school schedule, and they wanted to be able to celebrate in their home state of Michigan. Planning a wedding from another state wasn’t easy, but Sydney and AJ pulled it off.
Sydney knew from the beginning she wanted their ceremony to take place in a greenhouse, so she was ecstatic when they secured the Downtown Market as their wedding venue.
The couple said “I do” surrounded by greenery in the Downtown Market’s rooftop greenhouse. The space was dreamy and didn’t need much décor. The plants did all the work for them. Greenhouses are a great option for couples who prefer an outdoor ceremony but still want to be protected in case of bad weather.
During the ceremony, Sydney, AJ, their parents, and their grandparents contributed items to a time capsule, which I thought was so cool and unique! The items could be anything from small mementos to letters or words of advice. Sydney and AJ plan to open it on their 10-year anniversary.
The reception took place just across the hall in Downtown Market’s light and bright event space. The couple’s garden party chic green and gold décor complemented the space perfectly. Sydney and AJ loved that their ceremony and reception could take place in separate spaces, but their guests didn’t have to travel between the two.
Sydney and AJ, thank you for choosing me to be a part of your big day! I wish you many more years of love and laughter!






























Of course, no wedding is possible without the vendors! Here is a list of Sydney and AJ’s Michigan wedding vendors:
Venue- Downtown Market, Grand Rapids, MI
Florist- Stems Floral Market
Caterer- Slows BBQ
Cake- Dreamscape Desserts
Hair/Makeup- Simply Stunning Bridal
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