The Packard Proving Grounds Wedding of Caroline & Andrew

The Packard Proving Grounds Wedding of Caroline & Andrew: June 21, 2024

“10/10 recommend, I cannot say enough good things about Mike Staff, everyone did a phenomenal job!” – Caroline

Our Love Story

We met at college the day we moved in our freshman year, I was 17 and he was 18. We became good friends and stayed that way for the next 6 years! We met up for drinks in July of 2020 after college and we’ve been together since! He proposed at the Ford House in Grosse Pointe on March 18th, 2023 and then planned for some of our friends and family to be at Baffin Brewing Company (where we went on our first date) to celebrate with us after.

Our Wedding Vision

All we both wanted was a day to celebrate with the people who loved and cared about us, whatever that looked like. As we started planning, we wanted the wedding to have a very elegant and classic vibe.

Our Favorite Wedding Memory

We went into the Packard Car Garage about 30 minutes before our ceremony to share private vows and pray together. We didn’t want anyone there and didn’t even want it on photo or video. In a day of pure chaos where we were constantly with other people and being photographed and videoed, it was so nice to have a private few minutes just the two of us to connect before the ceremony.

Wedding DJ Experience

Our professional wedding DJ perfectly timed how we wanted our entrance to go! I was super particular about the timing of our main entrance with our bridesmaids and groomsmen and literally had time stamps of when I wanted them announced. He was on it, didn’t bat an eye when I brought it up and executed it perfectly! He also played all the songs we wanted to hear. Our first dance song was Lover (the first dance remix) by Taylor Swift. The main reason we chose this song was because on our second date, we were sitting in my car in a parking lot when the song came on and he asked me to get out and dance. It was also chosen because I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan.

Wedding Photographer Experience

Our wedding photographer was AMAZING. I literally cannot say enough good things about him. He was so personable and got every single shot you could ever imagine. We literally got 2000 photos back, which is incredible. We got every shot from every angle, I have no idea how I’m going to choose which ones to hang up in our house!

Wedding Videography Experience

A wedding video was important to me because I want to be able to look back and remember all our big moments from that day. Something I didn’t know we were getting was the full documentary which is over an hour of footage of all the big moments from our day. That is incredibly special to me because, knowing my parents and family members won’t be around forever, I now have this footage of us from that day. Plus, I got to see a lot of moments I planned but wasn’t there for like the beginning of the ceremony and cocktail hour which was cool.

Our Wedding Planning Advice

Stop stressing out. Everything is going to be absolutely beautiful no matter what. The people you’re hiring know what they’re doing and they will help you through it. Also definitely recommend a wedding planner! That woman kept me sane.

Wedding Vendor List

  • Ceremony & Reception: Packard Proving Grounds
  • Florist: Viviano’s
  • Wedding Cake: The Sweet Life
  • Wedding Dress: The Wedding Shoppe
  • Menswear: The Clarkston Tux Shop
  • Wedding Planner: Forever Memories Events
  • Hair & Makeup: The Cutting Pointe Salon
  • Videography: Mike Staff Productions
  • Photography: Mike Staff Productions
  • DJ: Mike Staff Productions

Royal Park Hotel Wedding Photography