By Nora Sullivan
September 28, 2026
For Ginny and Gordon, saying "yes" to forever meant returning precisely to where it all began. Surrounded by history, deep-rooted hometown connections, and a meticulously crafted aesthetic blending classic black-tie elegance with a cozy, cinematic ambiance, the couple celebrated their late-September wedding at the Country Club of Detroit—the very venue that hosted their first date years ago.
Captured through the lens of Little Black Book photographer Liz Banfield, the black-tie ceremony and subsequent reception unfolded as a masterclass in sentimental storytelling. Event planners and designers Alicia Fritz and the team at A Day In May Design translated the couple’s vision—loosely inspired by the cozy, layered worlds of filmmaker Nancy Meyers—into a late-September celebration defined by rich raspberry and moss tones, hand-blocked linens, and English countryside florals curated by Studio Terrain.
The Planning and Design Vision
While Ginny and Gordon did not enter the wedding planning process with a rigid aesthetic blueprint, they shared a clear overarching goal: the weekend needed to reflect their shared history, their cozy domestic life, and the timeless formality of a black-tie affair.
A Day In May Design guided the couple through balancing those elements, elevating everyday spaces while preserving deeply personal milestones. Choosing the Country Club of Detroit was an easy decision. Not only do both of their families share a rich history of memories at the club, but it also marks the exact location of their very first date. Returning to the grounds allowed the couple to honor their past, celebrate their hometown roots, and transition gracefully from summer into the warmth of early autumn.
According to Alicia Fritz of A Day In May Design, the venue provided an ideal canvas for the celebration. Overlooking the historic clubhouse and the expansive golf course, a sailcloth tent created an inviting, effortlessly elegant atmosphere. The tent glowed from within as evening approached, casting a warm golden hour light over hand-blocked table linens and lush, English-inspired floral arrangements that incorporated rich raspberry and deep moss colorations.
The couple’s journey to the altar also featured an unforgettable engagement story. Back in May 2024, during a birthday vacation through Switzerland, Gordon orchestrated a surprise proposal at the Bürgenstock Resort. Under the guise of a routine property tour—complete with historical anecdotes about Audrey Hepburn’s wedding at the resort—a concierge led the couple to a secluded, hidden cave overlooking Lake Lucerne. There, surrounded by breathtaking views, Gordon dropped to one knee and proposed, creating a lifelong memory before the wedding planning even began.
High Fashion and Sentimental Wardrobe Choices
Ginny’s wedding day fashion paid homage to classic cinematic icons while incorporating deeply personal treasures. She wore a timeless Mark Ingram strapless faille ball gown featuring an elongated drop waist, petite tailored bows on the bodice, and a full cathedral-length train accented by cascading covered buttons. The dramatic silhouette balanced architectural structure with tailored elegance, evoking a distinct Audrey Hepburn aesthetic enhanced by sleek, tulle opera-length gloves.
Her structured veil featured a delicate satin trim designed to align with the bow-belted details on the bodice. Meanwhile, her jewelry told a story of shared milestones and family affection. Gordon gifted her custom emerald earrings wrapped in diamond halos with bridal pearl details from ShayStone Inc. in Birmingham, Michigan, chosen to celebrate their shared birth month in May. To complement the look, her parents surprised her with a matching emerald and diamond necklace from Edmund T. Ahee Jewelers.
For footwear, Ginny wore ivory satin Jimmy Choo platforms, ensuring comfortable height to showcase the gown’s striking skirt. However, the most talked-about fashion choice of the evening was reserved for the after-party: Ginny surprised Gordon by slipping into the exact junior-year homecoming dress she had worn with him 12 years prior in 2013—a vintage bandage BCBG dress she had originally picked out with her mother in high school.
Gordon matched the evening’s formal dress code with a custom black tuxedo for the ceremony, later transitioning into a classic Ralph Lauren white dinner jacket for dinner and dancing. The groomsmen complemented the black-tie theme with traditional black tuxes, while Ginny’s bridesmaids selected their own dresses using a curated green-and-patterned mood board, ensuring comfort and style for everyone, including four pregnant members of the bridal party.
Personal Details and Evening Festivities
The reception was imbued with a remarkable sense of community. Many of the catering servers were individuals Ginny had known her entire life—including staff members who had chaperoned their very first date at the club’s bowling alley. This full-circle atmosphere extended to the evening’s musical and spoken performances.
The Georgia Bridgwater Orchestra, part of the Jordan Kahn Music Company, delivered a standout musical performance. Among the highlights was a moment when vocalist Georgia serenaded guests table-by-table with a rendition of "Skyfall" as the sun dipped below the golf course, casting a golden cinematic glow over the celebration.
Heartwarming and humorous speeches added further depth to the evening. Ginny’s father delivered a dedication to mothers and humorously referenced the 18th green, where he and Gordon had won the club’s Member-Guest golf tournament the previous year. Ginny’s sister, serving as the maid of honor, delighted guests by producing nostalgic props from high school memory boxes, including an old T-shirt of Gordon’s and a collection of paper-plate awards. The best man speech, delivered by Gordon’s brother, celebrated the couple’s daily warmth, humor, and shared "Hufflepuff energy."
Design elements carried sentimental themes throughout the venue. A custom dance floor wrap, designed by Lucy Barfield Creative, prominently featured calla lilies—a direct nod to the first bouquet Gordon ever gave Ginny when they were in high school, a tradition also carried onto the custom invitations.
As the formal reception concluded, guests traveled to Gordon’s parents’ backyard for an extraordinary after-party. Arriving at the property, attendees were greeted by massive glowing marquee letters spelling out "Ginny & Gordon" in the front yard, while more than 1,500 tea lights illuminated the entire backyard for a magical late-night celebration.
