Joy in the Journey: How This Colorado Couple Planned a Destination Wedding in Michigan
How Zingerman’s Cornman Farms helped love find a perfect setting
When Zach Martinucci and Jacob Walden chose Zingerman's Cornman Farms for their August 2024 wedding, they weren't just selecting a beautiful venue — they were choosing peace of mind. The Denver-based couple wanted a celebration where they could be fully present rather than stressed about planning details.
"Our priority was that it would be exceptional and beautiful and that everything would be taken care of," explains Martinucci, a professional baker who owns a bakery in Colorado. "We had the exact low-key, beautiful Monday morning lunch wedding that we wanted."
The happy couple’s event, which drew guests from all over the country to the venue’s Dexter location near Ann Arbor, exemplifies what Tabitha Mason, managing partner at Cornman Farms, believes weddings should be: "The most memorable celebrations are those where guests walk away feeling like they've experienced something that truly represents the couple," she tells BTL.
A welcoming space for every love story
Before selecting decorations or planning ceremony details, Mason suggests reflecting on which elements of your relationship you want to showcase. "Consider the moments that define your relationship," she says. "Think about how you met, your shared passions or the cultural traditions that matter to you."
Planning a Michigan wedding from their home in Colorado added a potentially stressful dimension to the couple's experience — it also meant convincing loved ones that the Ann Arbor area near Walden’s grad school alma mater, the University of Michigan, was a worthwhile spot for a destination wedding. "It was definitely some propaganda to convince everyone Michigan's a good place for a wedding," Martinucci jokes. "Ultimately, of course, everyone absolutely loved it and we were so excited to share Michigan with them."
At Cornman Farms, with its charming historic farmhouse, restored 1800s red barn, sweeping grounds and multiple outdoor spaces, couples find not just a beautiful venue but a team dedicated to creating a stress-free, joyful experience. The warmth and genuine care of the staff is something couples consistently highlight.
Images from Zach Martinucci and Jacob Walden’s wedding at Zingerman’s Cornman Farms. Photos: Megan Hannon
"Tabitha was very generous, very kind and accommodating," says Walden. "She wasn't the coordinator, she had other things going on, but even so, she made a point to check in with us and see how things were going."
Cornman Farms exemplifies how a venue can create a truly affirming environment for LGBTQ+ couples. "We welcome all couples of the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate their devotion to each other," Mason emphasizes. "Our entire team and preferred vendor network has committed to creating a safe and welcoming place for couples of all genders, sexes, races and ethnicities.” This commitment is formalized through inclusion agreements that all staff and preferred vendors must sign, ensuring every professional involved in the celebration is a genuine ally.
Martinucci and Walden found creative ways to make their celebration meaningful, including a "family moon" after the wedding. "Both families went on a vacation afterward to Saugatuck," Martinucci explains. Walden adds, "Convincing the Californians that there is a swimmable inland sea in Michigan was part of it. But they were totally blown away."
Food and thoughtful design elements offer powerful ways to share your story with guests. As a baker and culinary anthropologist, Martinucci naturally placed special emphasis on the menu. "Food of course was the number one priority," he says. "We were very impressed. I thought everything was the best of the best."
Distinctive floral arrangements also helped the couple personalize their ceremony. "We had a flower circle on the ground when we got married," Martinucci shares. "It was just something I'd emailed the florist (Chelsea Hohn of Wildscape Floral Co.) about and she was down for anything. She made it all look exceptional."
Venue packages can offer freedom from decision paralysis
Over the past several years, venues like Cornman Farms have begun offering more options for couples that package together curated sets of vendors, suppliers and services. Couples still have opportunities to make decisions along the way but free from the burden of coordinating these amenities on their own.
"We didn't want to have to plan a huge party," Martinucci continues. "We really wanted to enjoy it ourselves as guests."
Walden appreciates how the venue saved them from vendor decision paralysis. "We don't live in Michigan. We didn't want to find our own vendors," he notes. "Even if we were local, we probably wouldn't have been able to find as great of choices as Cornman Farms did on our behalf."
Images from Zach Martinucci and Jacob Walden’s wedding at Zingerman’s Cornman Farms. Photos: Megan Hannon
The photographer, Megan Hannon, was one such standout vendor. "We talk about Megan all the time as an example of one of the many choices where we didn't have to do the level of vetting and calling dozens of people," Walden says. "All the recommendations were excellent."
This thoughtful curation extends to every aspect of the experience. "We were also just excited to see what they were going to plan for us," Martinucci shares. "They did a really incredible job."
The contrast became clear later. "We're planning an anniversary party now as a local reception essentially a year later," Martinucci reflects. "I'm realizing more just in retrospect how easy Cornman Farms made the process for us for what can be a really stressful day for people."
The most meaningful weddings create celebrations that authentically reflect who you are as a couple — both on your wedding day and in the life you're building together. At Cornman Farms, Tabitha Mason and her warm, attentive team ensure that the process itself becomes part of the joy, not the stress, of beginning that journey.
Zingerman's Cornman Farms is located in Dexter, just outside Ann Arbor. The LGBTQ-affirming venue offers multiple indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces along with customizable packages. Learn more at zingermanscornmanfarms.com.
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