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When the sun sets on Sleeping Bear Bay in Glen Arbor, Mich., on just the right night with just the right amount of clouds, the sky explodes with an interaction of color worthy of an impressionist’s palette. Alicia Caldecott, founder of A Day in May Event Planning and Design LLC of Traverse City, Mich., and her clients took that sunset as part of their inspiration for the design of a wedding ceremony and reception at the bride’s family’s home on the shores of Lake Michigan. “They wanted to create an experience that would allow their guests to enjoy the setting that helped to kindle their romance and ultimately fall in love,” Caldecott says.
Layering elements
Caldecott incorporated the bride’s love of purple in the tent liner, creating a space reminiscent of an intimate supper club. “We played around with different elements that reflect light and really made the evening glow,” she says. The 40-by-110-foot Losberger structure, installed by Event Theory of Warren, Mich., was positioned due north, with clear walls on the east and west sides, allowing the sun to pivot over the tent during the festivities. “In terms of layering elements, we wanted to keep things light and bright, while still creating contrast,” she says. “The bride loved soft pinks and rose gold accents, so we incorporated what I call ‘cotton-candy sky colors.’”
Engaged guests
A faux boxwood wall behind the stage provided an anchor point. “We were surrounded by native vegetation on both sides,” Caldecott says. “We wanted to bring in that element of greenery and vegetation.” With ceremony, reception and after-party all on site, the team was mindful of the fact that guests would need to be engaged throughout the event. “If I had to say an element was my favorite, it was that the evening progressed exactly how we had hoped it to be,” she says. “[The clients] were overwhelmed with how we maximized the use of the space. We truly weighed every element to make it the best that it possibly could be while still leaving room for life to happen.”