By Nick Lico / Photography by Lilly Mae Photography
On one of their first dates, Kristen and Anthony (Russo) went to a vineyard in Traverse City, so getting married at a vineyard was nearly a foregone conclusion.
“We wanted a vineyard wedding,” Anthony, 29, a traveling nurse anesthetist, said. “We went to Traverse City and looked at three to four vineyards before we settled on Youngblood Vineyard.”
“I wanted a unique spot because I was against a traditional setting for my wedding,” Kristen, 27, added. She’s a disaster recovery consultant and assists local governments after natural disasters.
The Chesterfield Township couple dated for about three years before getting married on September 16, 2023. They found out about Youngblood Vineyard from Anthony’s mom.
“My mom asked me to check it out. She had visited Youngblood Vineyard and thought it was very nice. We checked it out and agreed,” Anthony said.
One deciding factor was the new indoor wedding venue, which can seat up to 199 inside and can accommodate larger weddings – up to 300 – with outdoor seating during nice weather.
“Our covered, 4,000-square-foot patio is decorated with really beautiful Edison-style lights that are dimmable. It overlooks the vineyard and is a very popular place for guests to gather. During events, we have people out on that patio all evening long,” Jess Youngblood said.
“We hired Kristina’s Catering for the food. She really saved the day. The food was amazing,” Kristen said. The couple also had a coffee bar and a gelato truck for their guests.
“We would recommend Youngblood Vineyard to anyone who wants something unique for their wedding venue. Everyone who showed up to our wedding really liked it,” Anthony said. It should be noted that Youngblood Vineyard is in the process of installing a commercial kitchen, turning the popular vineyard into a full-service restaurant.
“And their wine is really good and unique. It’s not the traditional Chardonnay,” Kristen added.
Local Vendors:
Catering: Kristina’s Catering, Utica
Venue – Youngblood Vineyard, Ray Township
Gelato truck: Saucy Joe’s Italian Food Truck & Catering, Clinton Township
Photography: Lilly Mae Photography, Southfield
