The Livery

Evening Before Social

Inn at Harbor Shores

Ceremony & Reception

Ceremony

Reception

Mason Jar Cafe

Saturday Brunch

Our Wedding

His Side:Sara Tripp stumbled across my profile on okcupid 11 years ago on February 6 th . I can’t retrieve her message but I remember her asking about my farming activities and if I had ever considered raising bees or Alpacas. I responded I had not. And also I was allergic to bees. It wasn’t particularly romantic. Our conversations continued however. Perhaps because we opened up just enough of a crack into each other’s souls with every text. We saw something in each other that was the same. But different enough to be extremely attractive. At least for me. I eagerly waited for her to text me when she was finished with work. And I pushed hard for us to meet face to face. We did. The first thing we did together was a project. I don’t think either one of us had the slightest idea how to do it. But we pressed forward. Joking and laughing most of the time. We each had things to sort out on our own and our initial romance was brief. But I felt deeply in my soul that I should keep this determined, big hearted expert excavator operator close. Keep her close for when I was ready and man enough to be deserving of Sara’s beautiful soul as a companion. We have loved each other for exactly who we are from the start. We have learned and will continue to learn how to deal with what life throws our way as the awkward team putting up a faux kitchen backsplash 11 years ago. We may even go into bees. And alpacas.

Her Side:I showed John Schoon's profile to my best friend and he asked "Did you write this?" I had not. But that's how similar John and I were from the start. I believe OKCupid had given us a 91% match actually. While we did do a project, and John did buy me a James Taylor album on our first date, I remained tentative. I wasn't sold until the second date, when John rented an excavator and taught me how to use it and let me pull out trees by myself. Shortly thereafter he taught me how to weld. For the last 11 years he has supported me in anything I wanted to try, with a patience that I can only hope to learn myself. Now the part which John is leaving out is that shortly after we started dating, he decisively broke up with me. This provided me two years as a close friend to ask him out over and over again, only to be rejected by the stone cold no of a skinny Dutchman. It wasn't until I had met someone else that John said "What if I want to date you though?" Perfect timing. Insert grumpy Sara face. And so it goes. I knew we belonged together the whole time. He's the calm to my storm. I'm the tidy to his chaos. I'm the excel spreadsheet to his metal garbage picking. I feel lucky to have this guy by my side as we navigate life and everything that comes with it. We found each other when we were a bit older and I think that was important for both of us.

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

What Is Cocktail Wedding Attire?

Cocktail Dresses to Add to Your Cart ASAP

What Guys Need to Know About Dress Codes

We are looking to show up and show out a little bit at this wedding. Not quite formal, but definitely elevated attire. Men should wear a suit. Women should wear a dress or a classy jumpsuit.

Dress Code

Q + A

We want this celebration to be as simple as possible for everyone, so both our Ceremony and Reception will be held at The Inn at Harbor Shores in St. Joseph, Michigan. We have rooms blocked for both Thursday and Friday, February 5, &amp; February 6, 2026. Use this link to book rooms through our party:<a href="https://www.reseze.net/servlet/SendPage?hotelid=1441&amp;skipfirstpage=true&amp;page=253181" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.reseze.net/servlet/SendPage?hotelid=1441&amp;skipfirstpage=true&amp;page=253181</a> Book by January 6, 2026 to receive discount!

Hotel

Best of SW Michigan in Winter(St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Region) ​Here’s a summary of some places to visit and things to do while in SW Michigan for Sara and John’s big event. Remember, it’s February. It’s cold. There could be rain or snow, rain and snow, or it could be perfect. You’ve been to Chicago and felt the cold wind off the lake? We’re like that but with the wind blowing over 50 miles of ice. Be brave. Dress in layers. Take boots. For the worst, take a good book.​First a little orientation. St. Joe and Benton Harbor are sometimes called twin cities, though you will soon see they are quite different. They sit on opposite sides of the St. Joe River, which flows basically from south to north, starting somewhere in Indiana. South Bend? That’s the southern most bend in the river. St. Joe is the white, middle/upper class city; Benton Harbor is the rust belt, gritty, decaying in parts, but beautiful in its own way, with a vibrant arts community, diversity, and lots of hidden gems. Of the two communities, our hearts are with Benton Harbor.​The City is named after, well, Thomas Hart Benton. Who knows why? Benton was one of the driving forces that led to Michigan becoming a state and the state said thanks by doing this. Benton Harbor was an industrial center and eventually became the headquarters for Whirlpool Corporation. originally known as the Upton Machine Company (remember Rep. Fred Upton? By the way, David Stockman is a native too. Both were in the Reagan White House). Whirlpool has a hilarious history of success, failure, bankruptcy, and success. Among other things, its early model electric powered washers had a tendency to electrocute their users, which may be why for many years its biggest selling product was an air rifle, relatively safe compared to the washers.​Benton Harbor was also home to the House of David, a religious cult known for its stellar baseball team consisting of men who never shaved or cut their hair, highly talented musicians (Clarence “Chic” Bell being the most famous), and an amazing amusement park and beer garden. Of course, who wouldn’t be attracted by a life of celibacy, vegetarianism, and turning over all worldly possessions for assurance that you would never die? There are remnants of the House of David in the area (including a museum with an amazing collection of baseball and other artifacts which you can see by appointment) SPECIAL ALERT: ICE FEST 2026: It’s Ice Fest weekend in St. Joe February 6-8. Come downtown to see the ice carving, ice sculptures, magic shows, and all sorts of cold weather fun.<a href="https://stjoetoday.com/icefest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://stjoetoday.com/icefest</a> Best CoffeeForte Coffee, St. Joe and Benton Harbor:2045 Niles Rd. Saint Joseph, MI • (269) 769-0050138 Water St. Benton Harbor, MI • (269) 934-5181222 State St. Saint Joseph, MI • (269) 281-0057 Forte is a local business, started and run by local people. Animal lovers. Specifically Labrador Retrievers (our soft spot) and cats. They roast their own. Rising Kites 4158 Lake St.Bridgman, MI 49106 Rising Kites is our local shop, just down the street from Faith and Gene’s home. Its mission is to employ people with disabilities and support families, particularly those who have Down Syndrome. The Rising Kite bag program helps parents of newborns with Down Syndrome to resources, education, and encouragement. And they make terrific coffee. Come visit us in Bridgman! Infusco CoffeeIn the Market in St. Joe on Main Street (where there are other shops and things to buy), or in Sawyer, across the street from the Sawyer Garden Market, a destination all its own (see below). Another locally owned shop, really dedicated to the fresh coast of Western Michigan. Yes, there is a Starbucks, actually several, but skip them and come visit with our local roasters instead. Best BreakfastThe Mason Jar2010 Water Street, Benton Harbor. OK, its just the best. In an old gas station in the arts district, the Mason Jar serves some of the best food in the area. We hope to see you there on Saturday morning. Best Burgers and SandwichesThe Chatterbox390 Territorial Rd, Benton Harbor, MI 49022It's a local sports bar with the best burgers around. 4.6 stars on Google. It's Sara &amp; John's favorite burger place period, not just in the area. The Brick House in Benton Harbor has really good smash burgers and a wide variety of other sandwiches and dishes. Located in the Arts District near the Livery and Mason Jar. The Buck Burgers &amp; Brew in St. Joe is also good and where most of the locals will go for good bar food. Best Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, SnowshoeingFor cross country, if the snow is good, Love Creek County Park has over 5 miles of great groomed trails, including trails for all skill levels. They also have brand new snow shoes this season.Hiking—We live next to Warren Dunes State Park in Bridgman. Good hiking mix of forest and beach. Same for Grand Mere State Park. For more adventure, try Saugatuck State Park in Saugatuck. Fun fact: Pope Leo went to seminary in what is now this park. And, then there is the town of Saugatuck nearby, one of the best shopping and harbor destinations nearby.For inland hiking, we like Fernwood Gardens, which is near the St. Joe River, or Sarrat Nature Center near Benton Harbor. Also in Saugatuck, Saugatuck Wilds Nature Preserve is supposed to be excellent for snowshoers. If you need snowshoes, go to Landsharks in town and they can rent you some good ones. But, remember, if there is ice on Lake Michigan, beware. Even the huge ice bergs near the shore can have undetectable voids and send you down so far no one can see or hear you. CasinosI have to admit not knowing much about casinos, but we’ve been to Four Winds in New Buffalo and it seemed pretty cool. There is also one in the Watervliet area. CannibisGeez, there are so many shops in the area, though most of them are clustered around New Buffalo, catering to the Chicago and Indiana crowd. Buchanan has a few smaller operations and then you will find others in the area. Weed is cheap and strong in Michigan, though the price might be going up thanks to a new tax meant to balance the budget. If you try it, go easy. Breweries and Wineries and DistilleriesYou could go on and on about both. For beer, I like Transient in Bridgman and Green Bush in Sawyer (which has good food too). The best venue is probably River St. Joe, a rustic place on the River. Round Barn on Hills Road (not the one by the highway) has good beer and spirits Best spirits, by far, Journeyman Distillers in Three Oaks. It’s in the old Featherbone Corset Factory. If you like whiskey, this is your destination. They no longer sell corsets. For wine, the best is probably Dablon on Shawnee near Baroda. They make some very good wine and the venue is great. There are too many more to name. The Wine Trail is one way to get to several. MuseumsThese are fun so try a couple. One of the most memorable is the House of David museum operated by Chris Siriano in St. Joe on Main Street. It’s in an old house and is jam packed with House of David memorabilia, including a lot baseball and amusement park things. Chris, who wrote and produced the Canne Best Documentary film “Life Everlasting: The House of David” a few years ago will talk as long as you have time. But, you should call to be sure he can meet you. (269) 325-0039. You will never forget the experience. If you can’t make it, watch the movie which is streaming somewhere.There are other House of David Museums, but I have only been to this one. You can drive through the remains of the commune just to the east of Benton Harbor just off Britain Ave. The Box Factory. This is a local volunteer run gallery in an old, well, box factory in St. Joe. John has had a show there and they often feature other interesting locals. The Krasl Art Center, 701 Lake Blvd, St. Joe. Excellent small collection of art. <a href="https://krasl.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://krasl.org/</a> Morton House Museum, on Morton Hill in Benton Harbor. Learn something about the history of shipping and the fruit business in the area. The Studebaker Museum, South Bend. It’s not that far but not close either. It has an amazing collection of Stude’s from a hearse that carried Abraham Lincoln to the Muppet Mobile. Some interesting sights in South Bend beside this one. Maybe on your way back to Chicago? The Maritime Museum in South Haven. Less than a ½ hour north on the lake. Good collection of Great Lakes shipping artifacts. South Haven has lots of nice shops and places for lunch too

Sara & John

Sara & John

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