A Modern, Nontraditional Wedding at Red Ginger in Traverse City, Michigan

Caitlin Hirsch (30 and a teacher) and Nathan Smead (31 and a teacher) wanted an intimate restaurant wedding in one of their favorite places in the world: Traverse City, Michigan. "Not only is it drop-dead beautiful, but we have been visiting it since we first started dating," Cait says. They discovered that Red Ginger, one of the city's best restaurants, has an event space and they knew they had to book it. The private loft overlooks downtown Traverse City and Lake Michigan, and it features three separate spaces for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. For their modern ceremony, Cait and Nate were married against a grassy green backdrop that was decorated with an arch of coral and green roses, creating an eye-catching visual effect. Afterward, the newlyweds and their guests sat down to enjoy the reception meal at a farmhouse-style table arranged with black linens and contemporary white chairs. Bud vases filled with coral roses and green chrysanthemums lined the table as vibrant, minimalist centerpieces. Our favorite detail? Cait's stunning nontraditional dress, which featured intricate periwinkle details throughout the bodice and the skirt. Dan and Melissa Photography beautifully captured the day. See more, below.