Modern Trousseau For her sister’s wedding, couture bridal designer Sarah Kolis created a collection of looks that are unabashedly feminine By Mickey Lyons   |   Photography by Penny Ralene Photography It’s not often that a bridal designer gets the chance to create a full, old-fashioned trousseau for a client. Especially in the U.S., it’s no longer commonplace for a new bride to have separate, bespoke outfits for her shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding day and [...]

Natural Wonders Fragrances inspired by the beauty and power of the Great Lakes By Rebecca Voigt   |   Photography by Julie Page, Collab Creative From the fresh and aromatic lakes to the earthy aromas of the surrounding landscape, the Great Lakes are the inspiration for Great Lakes Olfactory, Connie Hicks’ line of handcrafted perfumes and lotions. Each scent is a tribute to the beauty, power, and diversity of these natural wonders, evoking everything from [...]

How Sweet It Is A Northern Michigan florist dedicated to spreading joy through flowers By Kerri Molitor   |   Photo by Michael Murphy IV Photography Kalin Sheick started Sweetwater Floral with $500 and a hand-me-down Ping-Pong table in her basement — but her passion for spreading joy through flowers grew the business into a successful wedding and event florist, a retail shop in Walloon Lake, and a schedule full of private workshops. Today, the Sweetwater Floral [...]

Artistic Delights Karen Williams crafts the cake of your lifetime By Giuseppa Nadrowski   |   Photography by Julie Page, Collab Creative For Karen Williams, the owner and self-taught artist behind Artisan Buttercream, her delectable, luxury desserts are “an unforgettable experience.” Known for her one-of-a-kind wedding and celebration cakes that feature her custom, divine flavors and her painterly decorations, Williams seeks to create lasting memories with every bite. So, it’s surprising to discover that it wasn’t always [...]

Lucky Charm Banter & Charm creates beautiful wedding stationery tailored to your style By Blake Miller   | Photo by Sarah Sage Photography When Sarah Guse Brown was planning her wedding in 2008, she knew exactly what she wanted her invitations to look like. But when she began searching for a stationer who would allow her to customize everything from the fonts to the paper, she says she “could not find anyone to do it without it [...]

Our Habitas AlUla A Desert Oasis Calls Magnificent honeymoon destinations for an unforgettable adventure By Shalee Super From Sahara dune camps to luxury sandstone retreats, escape to bucket-list-worthy desert honeymoon destinations. These hidden oases throughout the globe are equal parts romantic and mesmerizing. Ride camels at sunset, dive into infinity pools, or sip espresso as elephants make their morning commute. No matter which destination you choose, it’s guaranteed to be the adventure [...]

The Joshua Tree House Tucson, photo by Margaret Austin Photography Infuse your home with organic, contemporary home décor and accents that are simultaneously rugged and elegant By Blake Miller 1. Julo Blue and White Dinner Plate, $17, at Crate & Barrel, Novi; 248.643.6610; crateandbarrel.com. 2. Caraway Sauté Pan in Perracotta, $165, at caraway.com. 3. Greentree Home Rope Taper Candles, $30 for two, at Thistle & Bess, Ann Arbor; 734.369.6092; thistleandbess.com. 4. The Cozy [...]

Say Cheese GR crafts custom charcuterie boards meant to be savored together By Kerri Molitor | Photos by Arianna Zimmerman Photography In spring 2020, while the world was reeling from a pandemic, Chesley Thorn was looking to break out of corporate America and find a career that would allow her to spend more time with her young daughter. After getting furloughed from her sales job, Thorn was inspired to start her own business crafting custom [...]