This modern and chic wedding at Waterview Loft at Port Detroit almost didn't happen. I don't mean to sound dramatic but Amanda + John decided last minute (about a month before their wedding) to add on wedding cinematography. It was the best decision they could have made! Hey there's always time to add on a wedding cinematographer (hopefully we aren't already booked). And that was the case with Amanda + John's Waterview Loft wedding. It was a rare Saturday in July we weren't booked.
Ok so Amanda + John made a lot of great decisions for their wedding. They hired one of the best Detroit wedding photographers - Niki Marie Photography. And although they live in Texas they chose to have their wedding in Detroit. They got ready at the Detroit Marriott Ren Cen (an iconic Detroit landmark), went to the DIA for pictures.
Amanda + John also incorporated a lot of their love story/meet cute in their decor. At the front of the ceremony was a squat rack and during the ceremony to seal their vows they added weights to the bar. The top of their wedding cake was a barbell. Ok I don't want to spoil the whole thing. Check out their wedding trailer and read on to hear Amanda's story!
Amanda + John's Waterview Loft at Port Detroit Modern Chic Wedding Film.
Wedding Cinematography: 97 Films
Tell us about the wedding Location was at the Waterview Loft at Port Detroit in Downtown Detroit along the Detroit River. It was a modern chic style with a touch of Christian ceremony. It was a very unique non-traditional culture with a fun atmosphere where everyone felt like they could be themselves.
How did you two meet? At the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH back in March 2013.
How did he/she propose? We recently moved to Austin, TX and once we got our living room set up John wanted to take my mother and I out to dinner. My mother came down from Michigan to help us settle in a little. She was taking photos of us before we headed to dinner. As I went to get my purse he got down on one knee in the living room and asked me to marry him. I said, "Yeah" instead of, "Yes." I don't know why I said YEAH but it was just what came out and I loved every second of that moment.
What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning? A bunch of things! I was able to work and communicate with John to collaborate on ideas to make sure it wasn’t too over the top stressful. John really helped me stay grounded and make things a lot easier. For the most part, the wedding was exactly how I envisioned the big important things to be. Which is all that matters.
Amanda + John's Wedding Cake at Waterview Loft Port Detroit.
photo credit: Niki Marie Photography
What was your color palette and your style vision? Metallic colors, blush pink and navy blue.
What unique elements or DIY details did you include? The squat rack was definitely unique. We got a lot of help from Rogers Athletics to do that. Otherwise, some smaller items like the chargers for the tables, seating chart, memorial table items. The big thing was the squat rack and decoration of the flowers on the squat rack.
What was your favorite moment? Our first dance.
Amanda + John's First Dance at Waterview Loft Port Detroit.
photo credit: Niki Marie Photography
Describe your wedding day It was a surprisingly more relaxing than I thought. Leading up to the wedding and having people come in from out of state can always be stressful but I was very relaxed. John was relaxed for the most part as well. He always is worrying about something and making sure everything is where it needs to be. Once the ceremony started it was an absolute blast. We felt very loved by everyone and we loved catching up with a lot of people we don't see as often as we wish we could. The weather was great, a little more humid than anticipated, but it was great otherwise. It was a mixture of happiness and love.
Amanda + John's Wedding Ceremony at Waterview Loft Port Detroit.
photo credit: Niki Marie Photography
What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be? Slow it down. Don't try to make your wedding something to impress others. People who love and care about you will find a way to be there. It's all okay.
Is there anything else you'd like to share? 97 Films did an amazing job of capturing all the precious moments of our day. We are very grateful for their work.
Wedding Details
Bride Dress Designer Naama & Anat
Bride/Groom Suit Designer Peter Millar
Bridal Party Gifts Pajamas for the bridesmaids and custom made weight lifting belts for the groomsmen and grooms woman
Ceremony & Reception Venue Waterview Loft at Port Detroit
Photographer Niki Marie Photography
Other Details Promera Sports, Rogers Athletic, Titan Support Systems
Thank you Amanda + John for sharing your story! Are you getting married? Wahoo Congrats!! Send me an email [katie@97films.com] or fill out the contact form and let’s chat about how AMAZING your wedding day will be and how I can capture every single detail!
Check out these other weddings with Niki Marie Photography: