Marcelo & Justine’s Wedding 

Saint Michael The Archangel Church

Wedding Ceremony with Catholic Mass

The Ridge at Verterra Vineyards

Wedding Cocktail Hour

Wedding Reception

Morning After the Wedding Intimate Family and Friends Breakfast

Our Wedding

Marcelo and Justine met during the first week of the 2020 spring semester at Michigan State University on January 8, 2020. Marcelo was with some of his best friends, including Trent, Carter, Hunter, and Ryan, and Justine was with her college roommate, Kirsten. Kirsten is from Grand Haven, so she recognized Marcelo and his friends. This is when Justine introduced herself to Marcelo. Once they met, they were inseparable for the rest of the night!

The Day We Met

Marcelo and Justine consider the day they met the day they started dating because they have been together ever since that night. Within a few days of meeting, Marcelo and Justine started going out on dates. They knew they loved each other within those first few weeks. This is their first picture together!

The Beginning 

Justine went camping for the first time with Marcelo! Marcelo and Justine went camping in the Upper Peninsula in August 2020 during their first summer together. They spent most of their time at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and they also visited Tahquamenon Falls and Marquette. Marcelo and Justine had a great time, and camping has been a favorite hobby of theirs ever since. Marcelo and Justine have gone camping every summer since then, and their favorite camping activity is going wine tasting when they camp in the Leelanau/Traverse City area.

Camping

Over the years, Marcelo and Justine have enjoyed many holidays together. Every year they attend the Christmas Tree Tailgate with Marcelo’s family and closest family friends. They enjoy this fun, winter festivity where everyone spends quality time together and everyone gets to cut down a Christmas tree. Marcelo and Justine also enjoy snowboarding and skiing with their best friends.

Winter

During the summer months, Marcelo and Justine like to spend their time visiting each other (Marcelo lives in Grand Haven and Justine lives in metro-Detroit), traveling throughout Michigan, spending time with family and friends, and attending events such as the Faster Horses country music festival and the Tulip Time festival.

Summer

Marcelo and Justine love traveling together. They are very blessed to have had many opportunities to travel together and create precious memories in beautiful places. They often travel alone or with their closest friends and family.

Travel

Justine studied International Relations at Michigan State University’s James Madison College and obtained her degree in December 2021. She then attended law school at Michigan State University College of Law where she will graduate from in May 2025 with honors and a job offer (just in time for the wedding!). Marcelo studied Construction Management at Michigan State University and obtained his degree in December 2022 graduating at the top of his class. Marcelo works in commercial construction for EV Construction, and Marcelo works on the side in residential construction and hardscaping through his business, Blue Coast Construction. Marcelo and Justine are both very pleased with their careers and continue to make great strides as growing professionals. They feel truly blessed to have careers they love and thrive in. Go green!

Résumé Tidbit

When Marcelo and Justine went wine tasting at the Ridge at Verterra back in 2022 during a camping trip at Leelanau State Park, and they fell in love with the beautiful atmosphere at Verterra. After Marcelo proposed, they knew that Verterra was where they wanted to get married. They are beyond excited that their closest loved ones will get to experience their favorite place with them on the happiest day of their lives!

Wedding Planning

Marcelo bought the couple’s 1st home in West Bloomfield! He is putting his brilliant talent to work renovating the home. Marcelo is loving every moment of the design and construction process and totally geeking over every little detail. Marcelo and Justine cannot wait to live in their beautiful home where they will begin their journey as a married couple! 

Our 1st Home

Our Story

The Proposal | 7/1/2023 | Charleston, SC

Engagement Photo Session | Traverse City, MI

Photo Gallery

Gabrielle Sharak

Isabela Laranja

Meghan Mackenzie

Kellie Kress

Sophia Sarti

Catherine Weddle

Lexy Kocsis

Adam Nelson

Carter Williams

Trent Perkins

Hunter Brown

Ryan

Adam Guliana

Aris Guliana

Angelo Guliana

Leo Faraj

Wedding Party

These cities: Northport, Leland, Lake Leelanau, and Suttons Bay are all between 5 and 15 minutes from the venue! Other popular locations for lodging that are a bit farther away include Traverse City and Glen Arbor which are 40 minutes from the venue.

<a href="https:" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.airbnb.com/</a> and <a href="https:" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.vrbo.com/</a> are also good options for lodging!

Sunrise Landing Motel

The Northport Inn

Leland Lodge

Whaleback Inn

Falling Waters Lodge

Jolli-Lodge

Visit the wedding venue and do a wine tasting! Verterra, as well as the many other vineyards in the area, offers wine flights for a fun wine time!

The Ridge at Verterra

Enjoy delicious coffee and pastries.

Pedaling Beans Coffeehouse

Enjoy breakfast, bread, pastries, coffee, pizzas, wine, and more.

9 Bean Rows

This unique winery offers wine and coffee to enjoy.

Dune Bird Winery

The park covers the entire tip of the Leelanau Peninsula and it is a must-see! Enjoy the lighthouse, trails, and beach. The park also has a campground where Marcelo and Justine have camped three times!

Leelanau State Park

Be sure to visit USA Today's No. 2 Beer Garden in the U.S. 2024!

Hop Lot Brewing Co. & Beer Garden

Enjoy a unique cider flight here while enjoying the beautiful view!

Suttons Bay Ciders

Visit Leland, aka "Fishtown," and enjoy the downtown area! Visit the shops and dining and see the famous Leelanau Dam in downtown. While in Leland, be sure to visit Verterra Winery which is a tasting room serving wines from the wedding venue, The Ridge at Verterra.

Leland

Traverse City has much to offer! A few of Marcelo and Justine's favorite spots are Clinch Park where they took engagement pictures, Right Brain Brewery where the beer for the wedding is from, Firefly Kitchen &amp; Bars, Red Ginger, Pangea's Pizza, North Bar TC, and Grand Traverse Distillery.

Things to Do