1. Real Weddings

A Nautical Wedding at Detroit Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan

Josephine Cook (31 and a nonprofit executive director) and Justin Roberts (29 and an architect) both grew up in Lake Charlevoix in northern Michigan,

Josephine Cook (31 and a nonprofit executive director) and Justin Roberts (29 and an architect) both grew up in Lake Charlevoix in northern Michigan, and they met at the Detroit Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan, where Josephine is a competitive sailor. So it made sense that they’d get married at the yacht club too, a place that holds such special meaning in their lives. “We kept trying not to make our wedding nautical-themed, but once we started nailing down what we wanted, we were drawn to everything that had to do with being on the water and in boats,” Josephine says. Their palette was navy, copper and wood. In addition, their officiant was the club’s former commodore, and they exchanged vows at the end of the main dock near the yachts (and used passages from Jimmy Buffet's “A Salty Piece of Land”). To highlight their love of sailing the day, Josephine and Justin raised their own custom nautical flag from the club’s mast, had a champagne toast on a yacht cruise around Belle Isle and had their first dance to "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin. “Joining of lives isn't picture perfect," Josephine says. "It's a combination of all sorts of traditions, tastes, cultures and people. Your wedding should really reflect who you are as a couple.” —Chrissy Sorenson

“Joining of lives isn't picture perfect," Josephine says. "It's a combination of all sorts of traditions, tastes, cultures and people. Your wedding should really reflect who you are as a couple.”
The couple gave each other Shinola watches, manufactured in Detroit, Michigan, before the ceremony.
A delicate anchor charm bracelet went perfectly with the overall sailing theme.
Josephine wanted stylish sandals that wouldn't catch in the slats of the dock during the ceremony at Detroit Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan.
Justin's personality shined through in his colorful floral tie and fish hook tie clip.
Josephine and Justin each selected one person to stand up for them. The best man and maid of honor chose their own attire, with the only request that the outfits go with the nautical theme.
Flower arrangements consisted of pink roses, orchids, oversize leaves and baby’s breath. “Our flowers were special because they were picked up fresh from the Eastern Market that morning and assembled into bouquets by the women in my family,” Josephine says.
Justin wore a J.Crew navy suit jacket, a white shirt from Brooks Brothers, white chinos, and a floral tie from Sprezza; his best man followed a similar dress code.
The flower girls wore navy-and-white-striped dresses and walked down the dock (aisle) to Elvis Presley's “Can't Help Falling in Love.”
Josephine's father walked her down the dock (aisle) to “Wedding Dress” by Tae Yang.
Josephine and Justin had to get special permission from the yacht club to get married on the main dock, where the yachts are parked. Their wedding officiant was a former commodore who donned his navy whites for the occasion.
Guests left messages in tiny bottles for the couple.
The ceiling of the tent was decorated with striped lanterns and stringed globe lights. Tiki torches were placed around the tent and near the bar area.
Dining tables were decorated in navy linens with navy pin-dot runners, nautical lanterns, driftwood (washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan), candles and minisucculents (also used as place cards and favors).
The three-tier cake featured navy and white nautical stripes, a middle layer resembling weathered wood and an anchor.
The couple's first dance was to Bobby Darin's “Beyond the Sea,” a fitting song for a nautical couple at their nautical-themed wedding at Detroit Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan.