Wedding Day

Saint Mary Our Lady Of The Snows

Ceremony

Beacon Hill Golf Club and Banquet Center

Reception

Our Wedding

How we met&nbsp; The year was 2021. Two separate paths continuing to forge down the road of life. One for 35 years the other for 31. Wendy had just finished her 6th year of teaching while I had just completed a wild 7th year which was entirely virtual. Wendy teaching part virtual and in person was accomplishing herself and becoming a great teacher while I had just completed my first year as a self contained cognitive impairment teacher. I was floating along fresh off a break up that ended peacefully and mutually and so terribly frightened of starting over. While Wendy had just started to dip her toes into the dating world on her own terms without breathing a word of it to any friends or family. Little did we know our paths would soon cross and forge together forever.I had struck out on dating sites for years. Crushing blow after crushing blow. Wondering if this thing called love would ever come to my doorstep again. Wendy had her first major date and finding what I had found so many times before which was nothing worth talking about.However one magical day as I sat and rested after finishing up my virtual classes as usual and having nothing on my schedule for the rest of the day. I started to scroll Facebook dating liking every profile under the sun when this beautiful blonde woman comes across my iPhone screen. The most beautiful smile. Blonde hair and amazing outfit. I was struck with awe. However with my track record I was not optimistic. I figured this girl was out of my league and she would not even bother messaging me back. I read her profile and she checked every box imaginable.Teacher, a graduate of Central Michigan University and just so freaking adorably cute.&nbsp;I throw a shot out saying fire up as we chips do as I am also a teacher and a proud CMU grad. At first no response but a few days later I see message from Wendy.We began to engage and learn the early stages of our stories. She knew a few of my older fraternity brothers and was also in the same honors fraternity of my ex. Relieved we both were&nbsp;&nbsp;weren’t axe murderers we began to share interests and family information.&nbsp;We discussed our love of musicals and certain songs and teaching. She shared both her parents were also teachers and I shared about my mom and sisters and my dad passing.We didn’t stop talking for two weeks when I finally got up the nerve to ask her out to coffee. She suggested meeting in Howell thinking I was still in Lansing but I was currently living in Saginaw due to covid.&nbsp;I knew I really liked this girl and there was something different about her and I was willing to drive to Florida and back for her if it meant I got to spend any amount of time with her.So we set a date to meet on July 23 2021… a day that would change both our lives forever…So the day came I was nervous and excited but loose.&nbsp;On previous dates I be scared and uptight.I made it to the coffee shop and I walked across the road her waving at me and me think oh my god there she is. She had this gorgeous green sundress on and I thought I looked pretty good myself and smelled amazing.She then hugged me for the first time and squeezed me so tight. It sent me a life altering vibe that this was special and different and that somehow everything’s gonna be okay. I had only one other hug in my life that sent me such a vibe and that was the last time I hugged my dad… So we began our date. We laughed and exchanged pleasantries and got so comfortable with each other. An hour or so passed and it was lunch time. We journeyed down the road to a pizza place which served wine and that is where we would spend the next 7 hours together. The people working there kept asking us if we wanted more food or wine since we were there for so long.&nbsp;Finally the night came to an end and I walked her back to her car and we shared the most amazing first kiss of our entire lives. I floated back to my car smiling from ear to ear and as I put my car in drive I began to feel faith and hope return. I called her to thank her and she said thanks too and then as I got home to greet my mom sister and Annette my brother in law Jake’s mom I said it was an amazing date. Stephs dog Tater was also there a new puppy and a new outlook on life. She and i kept texting to the point to where she says “So am I your girlfriend now? And I said of course.From then on we began to do everything in hyper speed and meet our friends and family within the first few weeks. It was going so smoothly and neither one of us cared cause we knew we wanted it and it was working and we had faith in our bond and each other.&nbsp; However the crazy story doesn’t end there.I felt so confident in my new found life I decided to apply for a job down by Wendy. She lived at the time in Walled Lake. I applied to Novi, Walled Lake, and Liovnia and thinking there was a small chance I could get a new job near her I figured why not try. Plus my sister Stephanie and future brother in law both lived in that area it be amazing to get a job down there near them as well.&nbsp; A few weeks later Wendy was up north at Frankfort a special place for both of our families and is a childhood staple for both of us.Her grandma used to live up there and rented a place for her family and amazingly she invited me up for a few nights. I got to meet her grandma, Aunt Liz and cousin Zoey.During the trip I get the dream call for an interview for a job in Livonia.Next thing you know I’m getting a call after the interview that the job is mine.Next thing you know I’m moving down near Wendy and we continue to grow our love and bond.&nbsp;After many dates and family get togethers May of 2022 rolls around and I am sure I want to make this woman my wife. I journey to a local jeweler and pick out the perfect ring to plan a proposal in Frankinmuth on the 7th of May…She says yes and here we are living together and planning our wedding. It’s been an amazing journey and we are so excited to share our day with all of you!! God bless you all for being there every step of the way and loving and supporting us… cheers to the new Mr. And Mrs. Putnam…

Our Story

Photos

Melissa is Wendy’s cousin, and the closest thing she has ever had to a sister.

Melissa Hopko

Allison and Wendy have been friends since the 3rd grade!

Allison Bartlette

Ashley and Wendy have been friends since they lived across the hall from each other in Calkins Hall freshman year at CMU!

Ashley Breeding

Laura and Wendy have been friends since they roomed together in Calkins Hall freshman year at CMU!

Laura Gadzinski

Natalie Murray

Stephanie Whitting

Emily is Natalie’s oldest daughter and Doug’s oldest niece.

Emily Murray

Margaret is Natalie’s 2nd oldest daughter and Doug’s niece.

Margaret Murray

Addison is Melissa’s daughter and Wendy’s goddaughter.

Addison Hopko

Nicholas is Melissa’s son and Addison’s little brother.

Nicholas Hopko

Katherine is Natalie’s 3rd daughter and Doug’s goddaughter.

Katherine Murray

Annie is Natalie’s youngest daughter and Doug’s niece.

Annie Murray

Edward who is  known as Ted and  we all refer to him as T-Coale. Doug and Ted met in the fall of 2008 at Central Michigan when Ted saw Doug walking up Main St on welcome weekend and called out and said hey kid come here. Doug would then follow Ted into the house where the Fraternity Lambda Chi was hosting a welcome weekend get together. Doug would then end up joining Lambda Chi and Ted and Doug have been best friends ever since.

Edward Coale III

Doug and Steve have been friends since 2004. Steve  came to Nouvel Catholic Central to play football for the Panthers and that is where Doug met Steve.  Since then Steve has moved out to South Dakota  and has 3 soon to be  4 beautiful children and an amazing wife Audrey. He has become a very successful football coach and teacher and has remained a very loyal and loving dear friend to Doug. Steve and Doug have always referred to each other as 74 and 78 since they played the same position in football and Doug backed him up and they’ve always had each others back. 

Steven Steel 

Nick also came to Nouvel in 2004 to play football for the Panthers. Nick and Doug met in the back row of 8th hour honors English class freshman year  where they would soon spend countless hours trying to talk to the popular girls.  They bonded over cards, love of Disney songs, and stupid quotes. They would end being the hosts of most friend gatherings and Nick would come over all the time to burn cds. Since then Nick and Doug have remained super close and he now lives in Illinois with his wife Krista and two wonderful children. Doug feared Nick would be a pompous popular jerk but little did he know he end up being one of dearest friends. 

Nick Awrey

Kyle and Doug went to separate elementary and middle schools. St. Stephens and St. Thomas were mortal enemies and played each other in sports. However once high school came Nick and Kyle formed a bond through basketball which led to Kyle coming around and starting a bond with Doug. and Kyle. Doug began to make Kyle laugh and crack up and Kyle began to help Doug work harder. It became a real bond in 5th hour chemistry sophomore year as they began to see each other everyday.  They would then play four years of football, win two state titles along with Steve and Nick and go onto CMU together and live together for the 2012-2013 school year. Since then Kyle has been an amazing loyal friend and supporting Doug. He now works and lives in Delaware with his sweet wife Samantha. 

Kyle Baranski 

David aka Suj has been friends with Doug since they were 5. Suj and Doug went through many firsts together. Graduation, heartbreaks, and countless parties. Suj has always been at Doug’s side and now works and lives in Down river Detroit with his wife Sara. 

David Sujkowski 

Nick met Doug in Ann Arbor  and was the first family member to meet him at the time as Natalie’s new boyfriend Doug and Nick since then has formed a special brotherly bond and shared many special moments. He is a proud member of the United States Navy and lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and four little girls.  Nick is an exceptional husband, father, and especially a big brother to Doug 

Nick Murray

Jake and Doug met in the middle of 2017. Doug played the tough big brother role but soon Jake and him would form an amazing bond and help Doug through the grief of his dad’s death. Jake and Doug have had countless adventures and laughs and find new ways to annoy Stephanie. Jake is an amazing man and an even better little brother. 

Wendy & Douglas

Wendy & Douglas

Registry