Couple walking in front of Michigan State University campus clocktower, Beaumont Tower

Michigan State Alumni Chapel Wedding || Kirsten & Jeff

Weddings

If you’re a Michigan State University alumni or just a big Spartans fan, having your wedding on campus sounds very tempting, right? Right.

Michigan State fans in their soul, Kirsten and Jeff knew that they wanted to be intentional with their wedding and intermingle their love for the Spartans in some way. Their love for the team inspired a few different elements of the day. From green and white being part of the color scheme and Jeff’s green suit, all the way down to the spot they tied the knot.

Planning their Michigan State Wedding

As luck would have it, the school actually offers a couple of different options for couples looking for a venue. Kirsten & Jeff’s chose the Michigan State Alumni Memorial Chapel, located on the northeast side of campus, as their ceremony venue.

The chapel accommodates all faiths while comfortably seating 160 people. It also has a heaps of Old-World charm with beautiful stained glass windows and English Tudor styling. While the soaring timbered ceilings and mood lighting can make for a tough lighting combination in the sanctuary, their lower level has beautiful light from traditional multi-paned windows. The space was a perfect backdrop for Kirsten and Jeff’s family portraits directly following the ceremony and some of the wedding party photos to escape the cold. The chapel is the perfect space for couples wanting to have their ceremony on-campus, while having a reception off-site. It was this element that had Kirsten and Jeff choosing to go with it, followed by a reception at Eagle Eye Banquet Center in Bath, MI.

The venues were a perfect backdrop for their elegantly classic and moody vision. What they didn’t plan for was the first Michigan snow-storm of the year to hit the night before the wedding. Heavy snowfall, ice, and wind combined for a frosty weekend of weather. But guests braved the harsh conditions to join Kirsten and Jeff for their special day.

About the Couple

Kirsten and Jeff met on Tinder of all places over five years ago. He super-liked her profile, and as Kirsten likes to say, the rest is history. The two got engaged just over four years later on Mackinac Island — a detail they incorporated into their engagement session with some beautiful champagne flutes. They’re big fans of trying out new bars and restaurants, scrolling tiktok, and watching their favorite sports teams, especially the Michigan State Spartans.

Before Tying the Knot

Before the ceremony, the couple decided to spend their morning with their respective sides of the wedding party.

Jeff and his friends embraced their game-day spirit with ESPN-worthy game-day entrances. They looked as cool as the frosty morning air felt, sporting an array of different styles; Jeff even rocked an “I ❤️ KP” shirt in Kirsten’s honor. After freezing their butts off for their personal photoshoots, the guys retreated to their hotel room to begin putting on their suits and other accessories.

Kirsten and her friends, meanwhile, were tucked away in their suite. The room was a flurry of activity as Kirsten and her eight bridesmaids got their hair and makeup done, with assistance from their hair and makeup team. When it came time to put on her dress, Kirsten was helped by her maid of honor, Melanie, and her mom, Tina. It wasn’t long before the moment became emotional, with Tina being the first to shed a tear. After putting on her jewelry and shoes, Kirsten walked out to the living room where she was greeted with oohs and ahhs from her bridesmaids who were sprawled on the couch. After that, the group prepared to head to the chapel.

Opting to see each other for the first time down the aisle, Kirsten and Jeff retreated to their separate wedding suites in the basement of the chapel when they arrived. The wait was worth it, and Jeff shed a tear upon seeing Kirsten.

Down the Aisle

Justice Megan K. Cavanagh presided over the ceremony with readings from family and where Jeff and Kirsten exchanged rings and personal vows. It was an incredibly touching ceremony that brought laughter and happy tears to the couple, wedding party, guests, and photographer team. As the couple walked back up the aisle, a Taylor Swift song played – which made my Swiftie-soul super happy. They proceeded to the basement where they embraced their friends and family during an incredibly emotional post-ceremony moment. Making things official, they signed their marriage certificate, overlooking the river.

Time for Photos

For their photos, the Ramseys embraced the cold. They did a lap around the chapel for a few photos together and with their full wedding party before retreating to the warmth of the party bus. Once aboard, Kirsten ditched her heels for the night in favor of her bridal crocs, complete with a fuzzy liner to keep her toes warm while braving the cold. Their next stop was the MSU’s iconic clock tower, Beaumont Tower, to participate in a campus tradition. Legend has it that if you kiss your sweetheart in the shadow of the tower, you’ll be together forever. The two did just that, sealing their relationship with a kiss the MSU way, before retreating to the warmth of the bus once again.

And what Michigan State campus wedding would be complete without a trip to visit Sparty? The statue was the last stop of their photo tour as the last bit of light left the sky. Kirsten and Jeff popped a bottle of champs with their wedding party at their side, cheering them on.

The group loaded back onto the bus and the mood switched to party mode as seltzers and shooters were passed around.

Kicking it into Party Mode

Meanwhile, cocktail hour was well underway at Eagle Eye Banquet Center. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while playing short Ramsey-related games, such as a giant crossword puzzle. They transitioned to the reception space, awaiting the grand entrances from the wedding party and guests of honor.

Guests didn’t have to wait long as the bus arrived ahead of schedule to join the festivities. Upon entering, the newlyweds cut into their beautiful heart-shaped cake and Jeff gave a welcome speech. That was followed by speeches from the maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride. To finish things off before dinner, the father of the groom gave the blessing, reading a piece of original poetry.

The traditional elements finished up after dinner with the first dance, a dance between the bride and her dad, a dance between the groom and his grandmother, and the anniversary dance.

As the dance floor opened, light sticks were passed out to guests. Tt wasn’t long before the floor was full of people movin’ and groovin’. Snow continued to fall outside, as Kirsten and Jeff partied into the night. For them, it was the best day ever.

Need a Photographer for your Michigan State Wedding?

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