Our Real Wedding: May 20, 2021
“Mike Staff went above and beyond our expectations. We will be recommending you to all of our friends and family.” – Happy Bride, Mary-Margaret
Our Love Story
Fernando purposed during the gondola ride at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. He is originally from Las Vegas and we were visiting his family at the time. I didn’t think anything of it when we were on the ride and next thing I know he’s on one knee. He ended up flying my parents out so they could be there as well.
We met at the University of Alabama during a football game. As most relationships are, we’ve had our ups and downs and the summer before we both graduated he spend with my family in Michigan. We both knew then that we would end up marrying each other.
He graduated 6 months before me and moved to Texas for work and we started a long distance relationship. After I graduated he got transferred to Iowa and I went to back home Michigan to find a job and he proposed 4 months later. After I moved home I was going through my things and found a drawing I did in middle school of someone I called Fernando. I sent a picture to his mom and she sent me a picture of Fernando back that looked identical to what I drew. We both knew everything was meant to be at that point. We did long distance up until June of 2020 when we were originally supposed to get married (thanks Covid) and finally tied the knot on May 29, 2021.
Our Wedding Vision and How the Pandemic Changed Our Plans
We wanted an elegant and classic wedding with an outside ceremony. Nothing over the top, no sparkles or bright colors. We knew it would be in a ballroom but we didn’t want it to feel like a ballroom wedding.
We had to push everything back a year from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, our new date was three days away from Michigan opening up venues. Unfortunately our venue would not budge and allow it to be inside even though everything lifted in three days. Therefore, we had to have a tent and everything was outside.
Our Wedding Photography
We absolutely loved Dennis. Not only did he captures our night perfectly, but he made sure everything was what we wanted and he really got to know us. You could tell he made an effort to learn everyone in the wedding party’s names and that he loved doing what he does. The wedding photos are so important. They capture moments that you don’t necessarily see and are something special to look back on.
Our Wedding Videography
We wanted to be able to watch the wedding back and experience items we may have missed out on. From my view I wasn’t able to see everyone walk down the aisle and I missed our ring bearer making it half way down and then running back up it. The videographer caught that and now we get to look back and laugh at it.
Both our professional wedding photos and video were captured so well they make you feel like you were there. We had family that weren’t able to come due to Covid and now they are able to see everything that happened.
Our First Dance
Yes, we danced to “Lady” by Lionel Richie with Kenny Rodgers. Fernando said every time he heard it, it reminded him of me.
Mary-Margaret and Fernando’s Wedding Vendors
- Ceremony & Venue: The Dearborn Inn
- Florist & Invitations: Emerald City Design
- Bakery: Pastry Palace
- Grooms Attire: Men’s Warehouse
- Wedding Dress: Elizabeth’s Bridal Manor
- Hair & Makeup: The Salon Bliss
- Officiant: Reverend Shawn Blackmon
- Guest Favors: Cioccolatini & More
- Mike Staff Productions: Wedding DJ, Photography & Videography
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