Ally & Kyle’s Dream Wedding in Downtown Detroit

By Rebecca Voigt•Published On: June 16, 2025•

A Dream Come True

A picture-perfect wedding day overlooking the Detroit River

By Angela Flynn | Photography by Alicia Frances Photography

It was a gorgeous summer day in downtown Detroit — not a cloud in the sky with the sun's bright rays glistening off the Detroit River. On July 13, 2024, the city produced a most picturesque backdrop for the wedding of Allyson and Kyle Connor.

While they split their time between Michigan and Canada, where Kyle plays professional hockey for the Winnipeg Jets, saying "I do" in Detroit was an easy decision for the couple.

They met in 2017 through Instagram. "Throughout talking, we realized what a small world it was," Allyson says. "Our family homes were only a few miles from one another, and we had grown up in the same area of Michigan as each other. We finally went on our first date the summer of 2018. From that point on we were pretty much inseparable."

About five years after that first date, Kyle planned a romantic weekend in Traverse City, including winery tours, a private sailboat ride, and an idyllic walk on the beach, which is where he popped the question. "It was perfect, and private, and I was so excited to say yes!" Allyson says. "I couldn't have imagined a more incredible, intimate, thoughtful proposal. It was perfect, a dream come true."

With Kyle's hockey season taking a break during the summer, they knew it would be an ideal time for their big day. "We chose to get married in July so that we would have some time to enjoy newly married life together before the hockey season started back up in September," Allyson says. "Also, you can't beat a Michigan summer and the beautiful weather that it brings."

They chose to wed at The Icon in Detroit after it was recommended by their wedding planner, Lauren Postma of Lo and Co Event Design. "I can't imagine going about without our amazing planner," Allyson says. "Her vision for creativity and detail was next level and is truly what made the overall design of our space come to life on the wedding day."

Wedding planning — especially long-distance wedding planning — was made seamless with the help of Postma, which is why Allyson strongly recommends couples partner with a planner if possible. "If hiring a planner is in the budget, I think that it's 100 percent worth it to do so," she says. "Having someone to keep you on track with a timeline and checklist was a life saver."

On the morning of the wedding, both Allyson and Kyle prepared for their day at the Shinola Hotel, booking suites with a terrace so they could relax, play cards, and snap fun photos while getting ready with each of their wedding parties. From the Shinola, they made their way to The Icon, where they became Mr. and Mrs. Connor in front of 130 of their family and friends.

"We loved the idea of our ceremony being outside on the grounds, alongside the Detroit River," Allyson says. "The large outdoor patio area was perfect for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres following the ceremony, and we loved the bright and airy feel of the atrium for our reception."

With their first anniversary approaching and the entire planning process behind them, Allyson has some simple advice for couples to remember from start to finish.

"Just have fun!" she says. "Enjoy the wedding planning process and the wedding day, because it really does fly by. Try to soak in every single detail and spend as much time with your partner as you can."