Katy and Austin’s wedding at Heritage Wedding Barns felt like the best kind of northern Michigan summer day—warm sun, wide skies, and laughter that carried through every part of the celebration.
For Katy, the venue choice was more than just a pretty backdrop. Her family had spent summers at Silver Lake Sand Dunes, and bringing their loved ones to a place so close to those memories made perfect sense. Heritage Wedding Barns gave them room to share their story with everyone they love.
The morning started with both of them getting ready on site. Before guests arrived, they shared a first look on the grounds, followed by a few quiet portraits that set the tone for the day. From there, friends and family wandered through open fields until they reached the shade of a massive oak tree—where Katy and Austin promised forever. The sunlight filtered through in that effortless northern Michigan way, but the real brightness was in how much these two laughed together.
Afterward, cocktail hour stretched across the patio, and inside, dinner led seamlessly into the kind of dance floor you don’t want to leave. The band had everyone moving, but Katy and Austin still found time to sneak away for golden hour portraits that glowed with the same energy they carried all day. Later, friends from their alma mater, Wittenberg University, joined for group photos that turned into a joyful reunion.
And then came the outfit change—Katy surprised everyone with the most adorable reception dress (AMAZING Betsy Johnson), showing off her style and keeping the celebration going late into the night.
A summer wedding at Heritage Wedding Barns offers all the things that make Michigan special—fields, sunsets, and space to just be together. For Katy and Austin, it was also a way to connect the roots of family tradition at Silver Lake with a new beginning of their own.
Venue: Heritage Wedding Barns
Wedding Planner: | Futtitinni
Dress Designer: | Alyssa Kristin
Dress Store: | The Wedding Studio
Hair Stylist: | The Pretty Committee
Makeup Artist: | The Pretty Committee
Bridesmaids Dresses Store: | Birdy Grey
Cake Maker: | Catered Creations Inc
DJ/Band: | Bluewater Kings Band
You can also find their engagement session here!
