“You may now sniff the bride”
By Berry Kendall
Sun contributor
What started out as farcical matchmaking between two girlfriends steadily gained momentum, evolving into Up North nuptials to rival all others. The occasion was made all the more unique in that the betrothed are actually of the canine persuasion.
Lilikoi “Lili” Aucello is a 5-year-old Havapoo and Boomer Dunn-Campbell is a 7-year-old Morkie. One fine summer day in 2022, Glen Arbor residents Michele Aucello and Katie Dunn were enjoying an afternoon on Glen Lake, with Aucello in her boat and Dunn relaxing on her dock. Aucello recalls, “So about two summers ago, I came by boat to Katie’s…” Dunn adds, “I saw Lili in Michele’s pontoon and she was a true vision! The perfect girl for Boomer. I said something to Michele like, ‘They’d make the cutest couple!’ and Michele responded, ‘Well, Lili does have a wedding dress…’” Aucello concludes, “And that’s all it took.”
Insouciant spitballing became semi-sacred reality on Aug. 11, a picture-postcard Sunday afternoon of cornflower blue skies suspended over the turquoise waters of Big Glen. Dunn’s 1927 log cabin “Tonawatha” served as the wedding venue with the diminutive bride and her bipedal mother memorably making their arrival by pontoon. The processional required a protracted journey from the end of Towanatha’s dock up the steep steps to the deck where the ceremony took place. Draped in a pearl necklace (an homage to her mother-in-law) and swathed in a white silk and lace edged wedding dress and matching veil, Lili persevered, her eyes fastened upon the groom. Sporting a black pleather bow tie, Boomer patiently awaited her ascent with the support of his best [hu]man John Morrow who stood resolutely by his side. Lili and Boomer had officially met only two weeks prior to their arranged marriage but seemed genuinely happy to see one another, gently touching noses and wagging their tails in unison.
While a dog wedding might seem confounding to some, like all of Dunn’s parties at Tonawatha, it was rooted in charity.
“The wedding of Lili and Boomer was more than just THE society event of the summer,” Dunn says. “It served as a playful and lighthearted pretext for a fundraiser in support of Leelanau Christian Neighbors food pantry. Michele and I were overwhelmed by the generosity of our community—we raised $535 and collected 165 pounds of food! At the wedding we also had a table set up highlighting the Glen Arbor Arts Center (GAAC), in particular its Free Little Art Gallery. Both Michele and I recognize and deeply appreciate how the GAAC is instrumental in enriching the cultural fabric of Glen Arbor and Leelanau County as a whole.”
In addition to benefiting LCN and the GAAC, Aucello and Dunn took pains to locally source every component possible of the wedding and reception. Angela DeWitt of MyNorth Photography captured still photos and videos, Inn and Trail Gourmet provided the reception nibbles, beer and wine were purveyed from both Farm Club and Kate Wilter of Peninsula Provisions, 9 Bean Rows baked the wedding cake, and Omena Cut Flowers designed the multiple floral arrangements. The mother of the bride wore an embroidered white eyelet v-neck mini dress by Velvet bought at a pop-up event at Great Lakes Tea & Spice in Glen Arbor. The bride’s “something blue” was a leash purchased from The Front Porch in Suttons Bay. The mother of the groom wore a green and white floral printed bustier midi dress with an internal boned corset by Monique Lhuillier with custom alterations done by Coco Sews in Lake Leelanau. The groom’s bespoke bow tie was handmade by Meg Paxton of Two Fox Stitching Company in Maple City.
Strains of lilting music drifted across the garden courtesy of local musician Elizabeth Landry singing and strumming her acoustic guitar. “I’ve played at a lot of weddings but this is my first ever dog wedding,” Landry says. “I got to know Katie when she started coming to my shows a few years ago. And then she had me come and play at her dog’s birthday party and I’ve played at a lot of her political fundraisers and it’s all been a wonderful experience. I love Katie so much.”
With Lili’s dad recovering from surgery some 4,000+ miles away, Boomer’s grandfather, Ed “Biggie” Dunn stepped in to escort Lili down the petal-strewn astroturf aisle. Boomer awaited her, flanked by Aucello, Morrow and the Reverend Corinne Cochran, who officiated the ceremony. After a spirited riff from “The Princess Bride” that would’ve made her high school drama teacher proud, Cochran delivered an eloquent wedding homily on love, hope and sacrifice. Cochran became ordained through the Universal Life Church in order to marry the son of a friend over the July 4th weekend and saved the day for Lili and Boomer when their original officiant was unable to serve.
Upon affirming their vows with ventriloquism “woofs” delivered by Aucello and Morrow, the couple was pronounced husband and wife to the delight of their 40+ guests. They posed obligingly in a customized getaway vehicle: a dog stroller festooned with yards of white fabric, ribbon and balloons. For their honeymoon, the newly minted Mr. & Mrs. checked out a few local sights and spent some time at the Dune Climb Inn where they celebrated with a backyard champagne toast. Later, they explored the fire pit, stopped at Glen Haven, sampled a pup cup at the Pine Cone, then padded off to the M22 patio for a refreshing bowl of water.
Cheers to the newlyweds and may they live yappily ever after!
