Abbey + Caleb | Colorful Chapel Wedding at the Ivy House | Holland, MI

August 7, 2024

Weddings

Color. Everywhere. The white walls and lush lawn of Ivy House seemed like the perfect canvas for the explosion of color that had arrived for the evening. Abbey’s request for her guests to wear color was not taken lightly, as vibrant shades of pinks and blue flooded the outdoor lounge in a rainbow wave. Ironically, the bright, joyful colors seemed to cast a jovial mood across the crowd, and the night had only just begun. At the heart of the crowd stood Abbey, dressed in white, her wedding dress perfectly setting her apart from all others. And as he looked at her, Caleb was blown away by a single thought: “That’s my wife. She’s my wife now.” As he slowly adjusted his ring, he made his way through the crowd to her, to not only begin the evening but also the rest of their lives together.

While most people would find a bride relaxing on the morning of her wedding, Abbey is not like most brides. The morning of her wedding found her doing what she loves most, running; as final preparations were made by the team at the Ivy House. Across town, Caleb and his groomsmen enjoyed a leisurely morning of laughter and memories before heading out for the day, leaving Caleb with a few quiet moments to ponder and reflect on the day to come. With most of the morning still ahead of her, Abbey spent quality time with her bridesmaids throughout the morning, as they shared gifts and cards which harkened back to the sweet memories they had created with each other. The greenhouse at Ivy House provided a magical space for Abbey to don Georgia, her Truvelle bridal gown, and spend a few sweet moments with her mother before departing to the ceremony. The white steeple of Pillar Church towered above the surrounding architecture; and in front of this same steeple, Caleb was finally able to turn and see his bride for the first time. Although short, the time before the ceremony felt like an eternity as Abbey and Caleb patiently waited for the wedding to begin. Tears flowed, vows were shared, and before long, Mr. And Mrs. Jonkman were literally leaping out of the church to the thunderous applause of their friends and family. The reception at Ivy House was already well underway by the time they arrived, and as they milled through the crowd, it felt like their entire worlds had come together to celebrate. The sunset softly crested the trees as Abbey and Caleb were able to steal away for a few minutes during the reception, with the knowledge that they would soon be dancing their hearts out on the dance floor long into the night.

Abbey and Caleb, we truly felt like we were leaving friends as we departed your reception last weekend. You both have such an ability to draw people in and help them feel validated, loved, and accepted; and now as husband and wife, we can only see that ability becoming even greater. Your pursuit of Jesus is evident, just as your pursuit of each other, and it is so beautiful to see how you have brought Him to the center of your relationship. We are so excited to see you two thrive as husband and wife, as you draw each other closer to each other and ultimately closer to God.

All our best!

J + A