Planterra Conservatory Wedding with Koi Fish and Tropical Plants
This luxury Planterra Conservatory wedding of Lauren and Chris was an absolute summer dream. The couple chose the botanical garden venue North of Detroit to host their guest list from all over the US. The Michigan greenhouse provided a unique setting for a summer wedding – elegant blush florals with gold accents combined with a grand floral wedding arch, koi fish and tropical plants.


Michigan Wedding Venue of Summer Dreams
The couple wanted a Michigan wedding reminiscent of who they are and what they value – their families, faith, and love for being in nature. Planterra Conservatory was their dream venue because of its intimate interior full of botanical features. The couple booked the wedding venue the weekend before the world “shut down” due to the COVID-19 pandemic and spent the following year planning from an apartment nearly 400 miles away.









Romantic Couple Opted for a First Look at Planterra
Chris and Lauren met as undergraduates at the University of Michigan in 2015. While they didn’t end up dating until a few months after they initially introduced themselves on the steps outside of Lauren’s dorm in Ann Arbor, they became fast friends and spent many hours talking. Talking apparently led to flirting, and they often sent little poems to each other through texts and on pieces of scrap paper. Since Lauren and Chris wanted to spend a few minutes on their own before the wedding festivities started, they wrote each other letters and read them during their first look.




Chris proposed to Lauren on Valentine’s Day 2020 in true Chris-fashion: through a poem. They entered a train car that had been turned into an event space and she immediately noticed pieces of paper and string lights lined up on the floor. He printed out every poem they had ever written to each other and laid them in a path. It led to the middle of the car where he got down on one knee. Lauren says it was the perfect proposal: thoughtful and private, just like her partner.





Planterra Floral Designs and Sweet Heather Anne Wedding Cake
When it comes to wedding planning, David DiVincenzo and the venue staff were quick to assist the couple with organizing the romantic Planterra Conservatory wedding. The team helped put together floral designs that would work with the wedding’s color scheme and transformed the tables with massive candelabras and gorgeous table settings. To stick to the romantic theme, Chris wore a classic black tuxedo and Lauren’s grandmothers helped her purchase a Hayley Paige ballgown. Sweet Heather Anne, a boutique Ann Arbor bakery, designed an elegant cake that featured a modern take on the wedding colors and fit right in with the venue.







First Dance under Planterra Greenhouse Glass Ceiling
The couples’ wedding night at Planterra was magical as ever. Chris and Lauren were both emotional throughout the ceremony, crying and laughing during the vows and the ring exchange. As the sun set and the reception began, they dined and danced under Planterra’s glass ceiling, surrounded by those they loved most.


























To see another beautiful garden wedding in California’s Filoli, click here.

Hi lovely, I am Yana, a Michigan based wedding and elopement photographer. When you book me as your Traverse City wedding photographer, you’re also booking my knowledge of stunning locations in the area. But that’s not all. I spend hours scouting new locations, researching activities and vetting vendors to be able to provide my expertise for a unique experience. I will also become your sounding board to consult ideas about your dream elopement adventure. Through all of this, we will most likely become friends and I will silently shed a tear hiding behind my camera when I witness you exchange your vows with your one and only. To book your complimentary consultation and chat about your plans, fill out the form below.