The dress code for our wedding is cocktail/black tie optional. Ladies should opt for full-length dresses or classy classy cocktail dresses, and gentlemen should wear a suit and tie, tuxedo, or dress pants with a fashionable sports coat. IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT TO WEAR, WEAR BLACK. If you're confident in your fashion choices, go with a fun pop of color! We would prefer if guests steered away from loud prints as we would like for group photos to feel cohesive and this will help. If you still have concerns visit the URL below (copy and paste into your browser) and read the descriptions of Formal Black Tie Optional and Cocktail https://www.brides.com/story/wedding-dress-code-explained
The Ceremony will be held at St. Paul's on the Lake and will start at 2:30 pm EST. Please plan to arrive at 2 pm. This is half a mile up the road from the Grosse Pointe War Memorial where the reception will be held. This will be a catholic ceremony that will have communion meaning it will run a full hour. Please do not feel obligated to make the mass if this time seems daunting - we are just as delighted to have you join just the reception if that's preferable!
The cocktail hour will be held outdoors on the balcony and on the patio/lawn of the back side of the war memorial overlooking the water. The rest of the reception will be held indoors. In the case of inclement weather the cocktail hour will be held in the grand hallway just ahead of the ballroom and would be indoors as well.
If you come to the ceremony, there is obviously a period of time between the ceremony end and the cocktail hour beginning. The wedding party and family will be sticking around to take pictures at the church before embarking to take photos downtown before heading to the reception at the war memorial. We recommend visiting Atwater in the park for a beer and snack OR traveling back downtown to visit a number of places before the reception. Our recommendations? The monarch club for a drink and a view, Leila for hummus and pita and a drink. Or lafayette coney island for a quick snack. Traveling downtown will be a 20-minute drive as compared to a 5-minute drive to Atwater or other bars in the area.
Know that you will be missed! We chose our guest list carefully but we understand that not everyone will be able to attend. Please contact Sarah or Brandon and reply RSVP 'will not attend' on the website link as soon as you are able.
For the ceremony, we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early if not a full hour. It is a smaller church so arriving earlier means a better seat and view. On top of this, we want to make sure that we get the party started on time!! If you know Brandon this is of UTMOST importance to him. Parking is behind the church and entry is through the doors closest to the parking lot, not the water. The bridal party will be entering from the doors closest to the water.
Please respond about whether you'll be attending on or before July 17th, 2023. You can do this using your QR code - open your camera and point it at the QR code. A Yellow link should pop up, click that. It will take you directly to the RSVP page online for you to submit your response and menu choices.
Please refrain from taking photographs during the ceremony. We know you'll want to sneak some snapshots and some are OK! However, please remain out of the aisle ways and do not approach the altar to get photos as St. Pauls does have rules regarding what is acceptable regarding photography. We have also selected very talented photographers that will be working on getting the best shot during this time! Even more importantly, please make sure your phone is on silent!
Parking is available at The War Memorial. However, guests may NOT leave their cars there over night. Please plan accordingly. Reminder: there will be shuttles available to and from the reception to downtown.
We love your little ones, but we know that it affects your ability to truly be able to relax and enjoy yourself. We want to make sure that our wedding is an event where you can make memories and spend time with those around you. Therefore, this will be an adults-only event. Might even go so far as to say parents gone wild. We appreciate you making arrangements ahead of time and leaving the kids at home so you can celebrate with us. If you have any questions or need help finding arrangements for your children in the Detroit area, reach out to Sarah or Brandon ahead of time.
Your invitation will be addressed to you which will let you know whether you've been allotted a date or plus one. We tried our best to acknowledge those of you from our guest list who have significant others, fiancés or partners.
Of course! Please tag us in any photos posted so we can see them in the future - we'll be busy the day of and won't have time to see everything! Feel free to also use the hashtag #smythninthemitten There will also be QR codes at the reception for a group google pictures folder - feel free to upload any and all photos from the day to this location so we can share in everyone else's perspective and enjoyment of the day!