Sam + Jason | Camp Carvela | Traverse City Wedding

A Traverse City Wedding at a Summer Camp

This one is super special to me. I met Sam and Jason years ago when we had the chance of working together for a client of theirs. You may know Sam and Jason through the empire they've created: Knightwing Media (a suuuuper talented Real Estate photography/videography business based out of the Traverse City area). All it took was that day and I've considered them really great friends since. It's no surprise that when they contacted me and told me they were finally tying the knot and wanted me to photograph it all, I was beyond ecstatic! They've been together as long as I've known them - not only a team in business, but a team in life.

Sam and Jason took finding a wedding venue to heart - they wanted something to incorporate their love for the summer camp vibe and a place that would welcome not only their love, but their dogs and nature. Camp Carvela was the PERFECT place to host everything they envisioned for their big day. The wedding weekend started off with a big Welcome Dinner at the camp, where everyone had cabins to stay in on site for the entirety of the celebration. The morning of the wedding everyone gathered for breakfast and a really fun scavenger hunt, then changed out of their hiking shoes and into their dancing shoes for the wedding to begin. Camp Carvela sits on 50 acres surrounding Bass Lake in Traverse City. We had woods to roam, beaches to explore and even a mess hall to house all the events they had planned.

The couple did a fantastic job designing their wedding around the day camp theme. They had a station for people that needed hammocks, blankets, flash lights and everything else you can think of to make their stay fun and comfortable. My favorite touch was the shirts they had made (you can see a photo of them in the gallery below) showcasing their beautiful pups (who were eager and patient to pose for photos, I must say!). You can find the dogs on the top of their wedding cake, also! Sam kept her style authentic with embroidered Vans and the cutest lace socks. The colors in their decor were as vibrant and bright, just like the blue sky above us. The entire tables capes were covered in the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen (thanks to Sunday Morning Flowers based out of Kalkaska). They had Mammoth Brewing Company create the most delicious cocktails (specifically, the Old Fashioned with their house made bourbon) I've ever had.

Let's take a look into Camp Lobdell..