We’re so excited to showcase the wedding of Castle Farms’ first annual Dream Military Wedding Giveaway winners! Andi and Dwayne were married at the Castle this past Friday, August 22nd. Back in February, Andi’s mother nominated the couple after hearing about Castle Farms’ ‘Salute to our Soldiers’ wedding giveaway contest. The couple’s wedding plans had been put on hold due to Dwayne’s two tours of active duty. Now, Andi and Dwayne are happily married, thanks to a collection of generous vendors who chose to participate in the wedding giveaway.
Northern Michigan wedding photographer Paul Retherford captured the entire celebration, from arriving at Castle Farms after hair was completed at Last Tangle Salon, to DJ Ryan Rousseau packing the dance floor at evening’s end. Pastor Jonathan David Mays of Charlevoix officiated at the intimate ceremony, and Mackinaw Shuttle Company transported the wedding party to and from their accommodations at Charlevoix Inn and Suites. The vibrant bouquets and boutonnieres were provided by Thyme Hill Designs. Guests enjoyed a fabulous meal prepared by Grey Gables Inn Catering, a scrumptious cake designed by Tas T Creations, and had a blast with the photo booth courtesy of Northern Michigan Shutterbooth.
A fun fact from the wedding: Andi first met Petra, her maid of honor, when she came to live with Andi’s family as a foreign exchange student. When Petra returned to Slovakia, she told Andi the next time they saw each other would be for one of their wedding days. After hearing about the Military Wedding contest, Petra gathered as many friends as she could to vote for Andi and Dwayne. She wanted to see her host sister again! For the wedding, Petra brought along a Slovakian wedding tradition: first, the bride must throw down a plate; then, together with her groom, they pick up the broken pieces to symbolize their cooperation as a couple.
We hope you enjoyed following Andi and Dwayne’s story during these past months. Castle Farms thanks all of our military personnel for their service to our country, and the family, friends, and loved ones who support them. The Castle will be hosting its second Dream Military Wedding Giveaway this fall!
