A Colorful District 5 Schoolhouse Wedding in Zeeland, Michigan
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“So today is to celebrate us because we’re really cute and in love” pretty much sums up Meryn and Lizzy’s wedding perfectly. 😂
Their District 5 Schoolhouse wedding was colorful and full of details that felt personal to them. Think disco balls, wildflowers, matching wedding-day socks and a first look in the schoolhouse bell tower. They even made their own bouquets with Trader Joe’s flowers!
Meryn and Lizzy originally told me they were drawn to the “colorful and fun energy” in my wedding films, and I LOVEEEE that because their day had exactly that kind of energy.
Watch their District 5 Schoolhouse wedding film below, then keep scrolling for more from their day (including some film stills) and a closer look at the venue!
About District 5 Schoolhouse in Zeeland, Michigan
District 5 Schoolhouse is a historic wedding venue in Zeeland, Michigan, about 10 minutes from Lake Michigan. The current schoolhouse dates back to 1908 and still has so much of the character that makes the building feel different from a modern event space.
The venue can host weddings with up to 180 guests and offers both indoor and outdoor spaces. Couples also have access to getting ready lounges, outdoor decks, tables and chairs, linens, decor, lawn games and a bonfire area.
It’s also temperature controlled for year-round weddings, which is always a nice thing to have in Michigan because we all know the weather likes to do whatever it wants!
District 5 Schoolhouse Wedding Venue Details
- Located at 9354 Port Sheldon Street in Zeeland, Michigan
- Accommodates up to 180 guests
- Indoor and outdoor ceremony options
- On-site getting-ready spaces
- Outdoor event areas and decks
- Tables, chairs, linens and select decor available
- Bonfire and lawn-game area
- Free on-site parking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Approximately 10 minutes from Lake Michigan
*Venue information last verified September 2026. Always check directly with District 5 School
How Much Does a District 5 Schoolhouse Wedding Cost?
If you’re wondering what a District 5 Schoolhouse wedding costs, no worries. I did a little investigating so you don’t have to.
As of September 2026, wedding rentals start at $2,900 for Monday through Thursday, $3,900 for Fridays and Sundays, and $4,900 for Saturdays. Indoor or outdoor ceremonies can be added for $500, and there’s also a $7,500 full-weekend option.
The rental also includes quite a bit of amenities, like tables, chairs, linens, select decor, lawn games, setup and teardown, and an on-site facility coordinator.
*Pricing was last verified in September 2026 and can change, so be sure to check District 5 Schoolhouse’s current pricing while you’re planning.
Meryn & Lizzy’s Friends-to-Lovers Story
Meryn and Lizzy are a classic friends-to-lovers story. They met at Hope College, quickly became close friends and even ended up majoring in social work together.
After college, they both came into their sexualities and realized their feelings for one another went a little deeper than friendship. Knowing that history made filming their wedding even sweeter. There was such an easy comfort between them all day, from the way they made each other laugh to all the little looks that happen when you’ve known someone for years.
Getting Ready at District 5 Schoolhouse
One of the things I love about having so much of a wedding day happen at one venue is that everything gets to feel a little more relaxed. There’s no rushing across town or trying to squeeze everyone into cars between different parts of the day.
District 5 Schoolhouse has on-site getting ready spaces, so Meryn and Lizzy were able to spend the beginning of the day there before heading into one of my favorite moments: their first look.
And because these two apparently couldn’t resist being adorable, they also had matching socks and shoes for the wedding. 🥹
A First Look in the District 5 Schoolhouse Bell Tower
Meryn and Lizzy did their first look in the bell tower, which is high on my list of the cutest places I’ve filmed one. They had spent time trying to guess what each other’s wedding dress would look like beforehand, so there was a little extra anticipation leading up to finally seeing each other.
The bell tower was the perfect space away from everything happening downstairs. First looks are already such a fun part of wedding video because you get the anticipation, the reaction and whatever gets said in those first few seconds together. Their location made it feel even more private.
An Outdoor District 5 Schoolhouse Wedding Ceremony
Meryn and Lizzy held their ceremony outside at District 5 Schoolhouse, where the venue has an open grassy ceremony area surrounded by trees. It’s a really pretty option if you want to be outdoors while still keeping the whole wedding day in one place.
Their ceremony felt just as fun and personal as the rest of the day. At the end of the aisle, they even pulled out a film camera and took photos of each other, which was SUCH a cute addition. I later got to include those actual film photos in their wedding video, and I loved getting to mix another piece of their day into the finished film.
A Colorful District 5 Schoolhouse Wedding Reception
If there was one thing Meryn and Lizzy were not afraid of, it was COLOR. Their District 5 Schoolhouse reception was filled with disco balls, wildflowers, and bright little details that made the space feel completely different from a traditional wedding reception. They also made their own bouquets using flowers from Trader Joe’s, which I LOVEEEE.
It all felt playful without feeling overly themed. The disco balls caught the light, the flowers brought in even more color, and every detail felt like something they genuinely liked rather than something they chose because they thought a wedding was “supposed” to look a certain way.
That’s one of my favorite things about a venue like District 5 Schoolhouse. There’s already so much character in the building, but couples can still bring in their own style and make the space feel totally different.
LGBTQ+ Wedding Videography That Celebrates You
Being an LGBTQ+ affirming wedding videographer is something I want couples to know before they ever reach out to me. You should never have to wonder whether the person documenting your wedding genuinely celebrates your relationship. All love is welcome here.
I want you and your partner to feel comfortable being completely yourselves around me, because that’s when the best moments happen anyway. The laughs, the weird little things you do together and the way your people love you are the things I actually want your film to remember.
Getting to document Meryn and Lizzy’s relationship and the people celebrating alongside them was such a joy!
Planning Your Own District 5 Schoolhouse Wedding?
If you’re planning a District 5 Schoolhouse wedding, I hope Meryn and Lizzy’s day gives you a little inspiration to make the venue feel completely yours. Bring in the color. Make your own bouquets if you want to. Wear matching socks, hang disco balls everywhere or sneak up into the bell tower for a first look. Your wedding gets to look and feel like the two of you.
And if you’re searching for a Michigan wedding videographer who wants to capture the laughter, voices, movement and all the fun little moments happening in between, I would love to hear what you’re planning. If you want to see some sweet words from Meryn and Lizzie, learn a little more about me and what it’s like to have me there on your wedding day, keep scrolling!
Love From Meryn & Lizzy:
“Holly was absolutely incredible to work with! She videoed our queer wedding and made us feel so safe and comfortable. Right from the beginning, Holly was very easy to communicate with. She was upfront about the process and steps that would take place. Holly communicated with us up until the big day, which helped us feel so at ease.
When the day arrived, she seemed right at home! Holly made every part of the day feel easy and taken care of. She produced the sneak peek in almost no time at all! We were so surprised when we got the email that it was ready. It’s clear that she worked really hard on the final product and got it to us in two months, which to me seems very impressive.
Holly’s style is so fun, the final product was a blast to watch, and not just because it was the best day of our lives! She used the best clips from the day and really made the memories come to life. I would absolutely, no question, recommend Holly to anyone looking for a creative, comfortable, accepting, and genuinely kind person to work with. LGBTQ+ folks especially!!!”
Meet Holly, Your Michigan Wedding Videographer
Hi, I’m Holly! I’m a Michigan wedding videographer based in Grand Rapids, and I’m all about creating wedding films that feel fun, emotional, and actually like the people in them.
I love the big reactions and emotional vows, but I’m just as obsessed with the weird little moments in between. The matching socks. The uncontrollable laughing. Your people cheering you on. The things you might not even notice happening until you watch your film back later.
Meryn and Lizzy’s District 5 Schoolhouse wedding is exactly the kind of day I love filming because it was colorful and centered around celebrating who they are together. And yes, all love is always welcome here.
You can learn more about me on my about me page and check out my wedding videography packages here. If you’re looking for a travel or Michigan wedding videographer who will happily hype you up while capturing all the laughs, happy tears, and beautifully chaotic little moments, you can inquire here. I’d LOVE to hear what you’re planning!
Vendors:
Venue: District 5 Schoolhouse
Photography: Alyssa Mcelheny Photo
Videography: Holly Kell Creative
Catering/Bar: Marthas Catering
Hair: Kelli Brown
Makeup: Sydney Gonzales (their friend)
Officiant: Judith Myers (their pastor)
