As Justin and I were dreaming up the structures we would scatter between the trees at Petite Acres, we didn’t immediately realize that we were standing on the shoulders of our family before us. But as we include our parents in the plans, we keep being reminded of the familiar influence of what we’re building today.
Justin’s maternal grandparents, the Talents, created a life for themselves and thrived in the wedding business. At Bride&Groom Ltd, Grandpa Mark built the relationships and Grandma Luba had the creative eye for wedding production. They had no idea their link to what we’re building at Petite Acres, but we like to think it would make them proud.
We aim to bring their influence of partnerships and big vision to the grounds. We think about that every time we look at the architectural drawings of the event space. When the team gathers to talk about the space and think about its utility, we ask ourselves, “How will people make this space feel like a piece of their own unique story?”
And Karen Anderson, my mom, spent years working with catering companies and bringing me along to sweat my way from load-in to load-out at weddings in Minnesota’s humid summers. She didn’t expect her influence to reach into New Buffalo, Michigan where we’re planting our spot to Stay, Play, Host and Move. But I saw the way she valued the experience of each and every guest she encountered and kept an eye on the details that make or break an experience.
After the words “event venue” fell out of our mouths, we called my mom and started asking her questions (and hoping that she could find her way to working with us eventually). Each time we make a change to the catering kitchen, my mom is the first text or call to double check gut instincts and let us know what will make our catering and chef partners feel welcome and excited to feed guests in the space.
And my favorite influence - the gardens. I grew up in a family firmly rooted in gardening and composting. Our yard was portioned off into distinct garden spaces. Our vegetable garden was next to an heirloom rhubarb plant and just out of the shade from our mulberry tree. I ate mulberries off of the tree and collected buckets full for my mom’s signature mulberry rhubarb pies that graced our table midsummer. As time went on, we dotted the yard with an increasing number of flower beds that were cared for by the specific family member who chose what bloomed there. I had a real love of snapdragons, so those always got my top billing at the greenhouse each spring. Justin’s thumb isn’t green (yet), but his father’s family moved from Russia to a tiny town in southern Illinois where they bought and ran a farm.
We’ll bring the love of our family into every veggie, herb, berry and bloom (and every green bean eaten right off the vine).
That’s why the gardens we’re creating at Petite Acres with the help of our team at Arcadia Gardens will have two uses: creating beauty and fresh, delicious food. We envision couples getting married on the property spending time taking photos in the gardens, surrounded by flowers. We look forward to sending guests home with boxes of fresh goodies from the garden. And our real love language will be in hosting dinners that feature guest chefs creating from what’s fresh in the gardens and what can be found nearby.
Want to help?
- We’re building partnerships in the wedding and events space now. Email Jeana@Petiteacres.com if you’d like to explore or if you have ideas.
- As we finalize our fundraise, we’re continuing to explore southwest Michigan - send us your favorite places to visit in the region. Hidden gems, restaurants, gardens, state parks! We love it all!
- Want to hear more about the project? Justin and I would love to chat with you.
