A Modern, Rustic Wedding at The John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Despite the number of lush gardens, grand ballrooms and historic venues available in Grand Rapids, to-be-weds Alyssa Bowerman (22 and a photographer) and Andrew Schultz (24 and a marketing consultant) looked to the sky in order to secure their dream wedding space. "We booked The Bissell Tree House at The John Ball Zoo before it even opened!," the bride says. "We wanted a new venue that our guests hadn't been to before." Nestled among the trees overlooking one of the city's highest points, the brand new tree house was a natural fit for the couple's modern, yet rustic aesthetic. "The flowers were very important to me and they turned out beautifully," Alyssa says of the lush, succulent-filled arrangements crafted by Hastings-based florist Ambiance Expressing You. The natural blooms popped against vibrant Vera Wang bridesmaid dresses and even served as simple cake toppers for Alyssa and Andrew's three tier buttercream cake. In keeping with the natural theme, the couple even gifted guests with succulent favors as a way of expressing their gratitude. "We just wanted our guests to be comfortable while enjoying good food and drinks," Alyssa says. "I think that we succeeded!"