Chris & Andrea's Wedding Site

Chris and Andrea live together in Lansing, Michigan, with their two puppies, Gretchen the beagle and Maddy the Brittany spaniel.

As a network analyst for the State of Michigan, Chris provides support for the DNR and the DEQ. Andrea is director of communications for the Michigan Pharmacists Association, a professional society for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

They spend their time riding road and mountain bikes, kayaking and watching hockey. They also enjoy their cabin, which sits on five wooded acres in Comins, Michigan.

How They Met
Chris and Andrea met at a bike shop open house in early 2004, but didn’t start dating until October later that year. They were introduced by a mutual friend, Dirk, who owned the bike shop.

The Proposal
In early November 2006, Chris and Andrea started talking about getting married. The more they talked about it, the better it sounded. Since it all happened somewhat unexpectedly, Chris wasn’t prepared with an engagement ring and a romantic scenario, so, rather unconventionally, the wedding planning started before the actual proposal.

The proposal took place during the first weekend in April 2007, at their cabin up North, with Gretchen and Maddy in attendance.

Why Key West?
Chris’ mom and stepdad go to Key West every year and got married there in 2004. Andrea started out joking about getting married in Key West, but somewhere along the way it became a serious idea. Andrea liked the idea of having an outdoor wedding, but didn’t trust Michigan weather in the least. Key West seemed like an ideal option, as the weather there is a lot more reliable.

Key West hosts a tremendous number of destination weddings. The unique atmosphere and temperate climate offer distinct advantages. A wedding in Key West features the characteristics of a tropical or Caribbean island, but with fewer complications due to the domestic venue.

One of the most important reasons for having a destination wedding in Key West is the opportunity for Chris and Andrea to share one of their favorite vacation destinations with friends and family, as well as to extend their wedding celebration with their guests throughout the entire trip.