Dana & Jesse

Weddings are full of moments that take your breath away. Dana and Jesse gave us a whole day of them! From their emotional first look to the personal touches, this Hamilton Farm Fall wedding, was nothing short of extraordinary.

Dana and Jesse’s love story began in the halls of a Michigan hospital where they met as colleague. Dana was just beginning her journey as a physician assistant and Jesse was finishing his internal medicine residency.

“We didn’t start dating until a year after meeting each other, but once we did we knew very quickly this was end game!” – Bride, Dana

…Their connection may have started professionally, but it quickly transformed into something undeniably powerful once timing aligned.

Their proposal was just as thoughtful as their relationship. While Jesse’s original plan to propose on a bridge in Grand Rapids had to be scrapped due to construction, he had a beautiful backup. During a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, he got down on one knee on a picturesque bridge in Middleton Place. Dana was caught totally off guard…

“I cried like a baby and he even surprised me with one of my best friends who dressed incognito to take pictures of our proposal” – Dana

…The rest of their trip was spent celebrating and soaking in the excitement of being newly engaged.

When it came time to choose their venue, Dana had a vision and knew she wanted to be married in a mansion. A Hamilton Farm Fall wedding delivered that and more! With its iconic Brady Mansion, airy reception space full of windows, and convenient location for their many out-of-town guests. It felt timeless, elegant, and perfect for their September wedding.

The Hamilton Farm Fall wedding ceremony itself was filled with love and beautiful music. Dana walked down the aisle to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli (cue the goosebumps)…

“I walked down to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli because it captured the sentiment that I knew I was going to have, staring at my future husband with butterflies in my stomach as I walked down the aisle.” – Dana

…and they recessed as husband and wife to How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)—a perfect reflection of the joy they radiated.

The Hartpences didn’t hold back when it came to sentiment—personal touches were woven into every part of their day at Hamilton Farm Golf Club. From a bouquet charm with photos of their grandparents to personalized cocktails inspired by their cats, Napoleon and Cleo, every detail had meaning. Their guest book featured the skylines of NYC and Chicago, and even their welcome bags told a story—with New Jersey M&Ms and Garrett’s Popcorn from Jesse’s hometown.

For couples planning their big day, Dana and Jesse offer advice worth remembering… 

“Have fun and don’t stress! Enjoy the day. Leave some wiggle room in your timeline so you don’t feel rushed and have moments to breathe and soak it all in. Stay together the whole day. My husband and I said that we wouldn’t leave each other’s side through the reception; it was great to be mingling and dancing together the whole night.” – Dana

Photographing the Hartpences’ fall wedding at Hamilton Farm Golf Club was a joy from start to finish. Their story, their people, and the way they celebrated each other—it was all magic. 

Scroll down to see some of the most beautiful moments from their day!

BRIDE’S PEACH & PIT:

PEACH: “We both agree that the best part of our wedding was the first look. There was so much emotion and it was so great to finally see each other and be able to spend the rest of the day together.”

PIT: “We couldn’t figure out how to bustle my dress so we ended up having to use safety pins for parts of it. I just wanted to be comfortable eating, drinking, and dancing without tripping on the dress and this worked! My husband’s twin brother cut his finger on his suspenders and didn’t realize he was bleeding. So when he was helping my husband with his shirt collar, there ended up being blood on it. Luckily, there was a Men’s Warehouse close by and we got a replacement shirt. Our officiant even ironed the new shirt for him.”

VENDORS

Venue – Hamilton Farm Golf Club

Photographer – Peach Photography

Wedding Dress – Allure Bridal

Bridal Shop – Park Avenue Bridal

Bridal Shoes – Betsy Johnson

Groom’s Suit – Suit Supply

Groom’s Shoes – Mezlan

Bridesmaid Dresses – Birdy Grey

Hair Stylist – Sarita Norman

Makeup Artist – Jolien Avena

Florist – Jardiniere Fine Flowers

Music/DJ – Jared from Mystical Entertainment

Wedding Cake – David’s Custom Cakes

See more of Peach Photography & Hamilton Farm Golf Club Here