Grace Scarfone and Eddie Nepi’s relationship grew out of years of shared proximity. Their families had known one another since childhood, their social circles overlapped through high school and college, and Eddie’s close friendship with Grace’s cousins meant their paths crossed long before romance entered the picture.

After four years of dating, Eddie proposed during an Easter weekend trip to Siesta Key, Florida. His brother suggested they head to the beach to see manatees. There were none—just a quiet stretch of sand where Eddie dropped to one knee. “When we came up from the beach, his entire family was waiting to celebrate with us—and I was completely surprised to see my parents and brothers, who had flown in as well to celebrate!” Grace recalls.

From the beginning, the couple knew they wanted a local wedding. Both are from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and having their grandparents present was non-negotiable. The setting needed to reflect that sense of closeness while honoring the traditions and cultural touchstones that mattered to them. “Throughout the planning process, I kept coming back to a few guiding ideas,” Grace explains. “I wanted it to feel like everyone was coming together for an intimate and delicious dinner party. I wanted it to evoke the charm of the Italian countryside and traditions; and above all, I wanted it to embody simple elegance.”

They found that balance at Country Club of Detroit, where Grace’s parents are longtime members. The familiarity of the space, paired with the club’s willingness to accommodate a menu reflective of the couple’s tastes, sealed the decision. With Over The Moon Directory Planner Ann Travis Events leading the charge and design, the celebration unfolded seamlessly.

For the ceremony, Grace wore a strapless lace look by Dana Harel, selected at Mark Ingram. While she had always known she wanted lace, it was the softness and delicacy of this design that set it apart. To suit the church setting, she added a high-neck, long-sleeve bolero, giving the look a timeless finish. Her earrings were borrowed from her mother’s twin sister, and her “something blue” was a handkerchief gifted by her mother at the rehearsal dinner. Beauty was kept natural, with hair styled in a bun to highlight the lace details, courtesy of Girlie Girl Salon. Bridesmaids wore chocolate brown dresses by Jenny Yoo, while the groomsmen opted for peak-lapel tuxedos.

On August 9, 2025, Grace and Eddie were married in a traditional Catholic Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. “Our faith is incredibly important to us, so being married in a Catholic church surrounded by our loved ones made the ceremony deeply meaningful,” Grace shares. “Everything—from the music to the homily to the actual exchange of vows—felt perfect. It was truly one of the most unforgettable parts of the day.”

The day was documented by Jake Anderson and Olson Film, who captured the intimacy of the ceremony alongside the warmth and energy of the evening that followed—a celebration grounded in family, faith, and a sense of home.

Later in the afternoon, the reception leaned into the couple’s belief that food brings people together. “We really wanted the food to reflect who Eddie and I are—we both love to cook and believe that food is one of the best ways to bring people together,” Grace says. The tables were layered with candlelight, exposed wood, and greenery, with floral design by Katie Wachowiak grounding the space in a sense of ease rather than formality.

Music guided the night’s momentum. The Simone Vitale Band set the tone during cocktail hour and dinner with classics like Frank Sinatra before shifting into ’80s music as the party picked up. The couple’s first dance to “Your Smiling Face” by James Taylor offered a moment of calm before the dance floor filled with guests. Later, DJ Jared Sykes took over for the after-glow, moving the sound into a house-driven direction.

“The reception was an absolute dream,” Grace reflects. “What made it so special was being completely surrounded by love. Having all the people who mean the most to us—those who have shaped us individually and as a couple—together in one space, celebrating us, was amazing.”