A Sailcloth Tented Wedding by the Lake in Michigan
Some wedding days feel beautiful because of the details. Others feel meaningful because of the people. Nicole and Aaron’s lakeside tented wedding was a beautiful blend of both. A celebration rooted in family and the place where their story first began.
Initially planning their wedding at the Detroit Opera House, Nicole realized she wanted to get married at the house she grew up in — her parents’ lakeside home along the water in Lake Orion, Michigan. Summers spent on the lake shaped so many of her memories, and it was also where her relationship with Aaron first unfolded. Choosing this space meant more than selecting a venue. It meant inviting their loved ones into a place that already held years of laughter, connection, and meaning.
Weddings like this are especially meaningful for me to photograph. When a celebration is tied so closely to a place and personal history, the moments tend to unfold naturally.
An Elevated Take on a Backyard Wedding
While the setting was personal and familiar, Nicole and Aaron intentionally reimagined what a backyard wedding could feel like. Rather than a casual lake gathering typical of summer weekends, their vision was to create something refined and elevated. They wanted a space that still felt like home while offering guests an experience that felt thoughtful, intentional, and beautifully designed.
Working alongside their planner, Kelly of All Buttoned Up Events, every design decision balanced intimacy with modern elegance. A stunning sailcloth tent became the foundation of the celebration, introducing soft draping, warm wood tones, and sweeping architectural lines that transformed the backyard into an airy, coastal-inspired venue.
Blonde wood elements carried throughout the design, from the blonde and white checkered dance floor to contemporary tables paired with bentwood chairs and black hairpin-leg accents. These darker details added contrast and sophistication, grounding the softer palette of buttery yellow florals and subtle blush tones.
Inside the tent, a mix of table shapes and chair styles paired with layered florals by Sycamore Design Studio and candlelight brought movement and personality while maintaining an effortless, elevated feel. The overall aesthetic blended preppy, coastal, modern, and playful elements.
Thoughtfully designed weddings like this are where I thrive, allowing space for imagery that feels both editorial and honest. Where details, light, and emotion naturally work together rather than competing for attention, which in turn, creates a setting I’m drawn to photographing.
Thoughtful Details That Told Their Story
Paper goods played an important role in setting the tone for the celebration. Designed in collaboration with Open Air Paper, the invitations introduced the wedding’s palette, typography, and overall aesthetic from the very beginning, showcasing a coastal stripe motif, highlighting the color blended color pallet.
Personal details were woven thoughtfully throughout the day, including custom cocktail napkins featuring handwritten notes Nicole and Aaron had written to one another — a small but deeply meaningful touch that reflected their relationship in an intimate and unexpected way.
Custom signage became another standout element, with oversized black frames backed in hand-stretched rattan adding warmth and texture. This detail carried across the welcome display, seating chart, bar menus, and cards-and-gifts signage, creating subtle continuity throughout the space.
A Celebration Rooted in Home
There was an unmistakable warmth in celebrating at the home where Nicole grew up. You could sense the memories layered into the space, now joined by new ones as friends and family gathered to witness the next chapter of her life begin.
As the sun dipped behind the trees and the evening settled softly around the sailcloth tent before dancing began, the celebration felt both elevated and deeply personal. A perfect reflection of a couple who wanted their wedding to feel meaningful, welcoming, and entirely their own.
Nicole and Aaron created a celebration that proved luxury doesn’t have to mean distant or formal. Sometimes, the most beautiful weddings are the ones that simply feel like home — just thoughtfully transformed.
Why Film Was the Perfect Fit for This Day
Some wedding days naturally lend themselves to film photography, and this celebration was one of them. Film allowed each moment to be preserved with a sense of warmth and nostalgia that felt true to the atmosphere of the day. And it also allows me to slow down and photograph with intention, rather than being trend-focused.
Film captures rich color and light in a way that feels organic and timeless. Against the textures of the sailcloth tent, the color and movement of the water, and the intentional details woven throughout the celebration, film added a quiet softness that complemented the feeling of home at the heart of their wedding.
You’ll see many images throughout this post captured primarily on 20 film, and a handful of dancing captured on 35mm. I always love getting to incorporate film into my wedding day process, adding an additional element of authenticity to your gallery.
Planning a Backyard Wedding in Michigan?
Backyard weddings can be some of the most personal and memorable celebrations when designed with intention. With the right planning, thoughtful design, and an experienced vendor team, a familiar space can become something truly extraordinary.
If you feel connected to what you see, I’d love to hear about your plans and begin dreaming alongside you — you can inquire here to start the conversation.
Mikayla Scheibe Photography | Michigan Film Wedding Photographer
Vendors
Planning & design: All Buttoned Up Events
Photographer: Mikayla Scheibe Photography
Content creator: Martini Content Creation
Florals: Sycamore Design Studio
Invitation suite: Open Air Paper
Entertainment: Stiletto Fire Band
MUA: Liv Morales Beauty
Hair: Brides on Location
Gown: Beloved Bridal
Catering: Cutting Edge Cuisine
Bar & Beverage: Miss Mixology
Cake: Nantucket Baking Co.
Sailcloth tent & dance floor: Knights Tent & Party Rental
Linens & rentals: Stradley Davidson, Modernly Events, Event Theory, Special Occasions MI
