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Bobby & Allison 

Describe Your Wedding Vision 

Bobby and I aspired to host a wedding that was unique, fun, and intimate. As we have both worked in the wedding industry and seen countless beautiful weddings while managing the Gillespie Event Center, we wanted to utilize the venue’s versatility to suit our fun-filled vision for our day. Our wedding was the perfect mix of fun, featuring our brunch menu of made to order omelettes, fresh guacamole, chicken and waffles, Bloody Marys and mimosas, as well as the donut flambaé dessert. We also chose varying wildflowers from Poppies for several tall floral centerpieces and numerous bud vases, supplemented by wildflowers grown by the Mother of the Bride. It was such a special opportunity to be able to grow these flowers together with my mom and see all of the beauty they produced throughout the year. 

Describe Your Wedding Day 

Our wedding day was more perfect than we could have ever dreamed of! My sisters, my mom and I all got ready together in my Bridal Suite at the Inn at Saint Mary’s. After my first look with my dad, we headed to Fernwood Botanical Gardens, where Bobby and I were engaged. At Fernwood, Bobby and I had a private first look and vow exchange, which made us so excited for the rest of the day. Shortly after our portrait photos and bridal party photos, we had our ceremony at the Gillespie Event Center, officiated by Bobby’s sister, Vanessa. After our beautiful ceremony, while Bobby and I cut our homemade cake made by my aunt and participating in family photos, guests were able to enjoy the bar and brunch. Our special day was beautiful, short and sweet, and full of meaning – exactly how we wanted it to be! 

Your Advice to Engaged Couples 

Our advice to engaged couples would be to enjoy every moment of your wedding day! The night before our wedding, Bobby and I read through well-wishes on cards from my Bridal Shower and notes on guest RSVPs to remind us how fortunate we are to be surrounded by such an incredible group of family, friends, and team. We are so grateful we took the time to do a private first look and vow exchange as well. This not only made us more excited for the rest of the day, but we were also able to focus solely on each other for those moments.

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Benton Harbor, MI

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Mishawaka, IN

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