July 18, 2025
By Shelley Ottenbacher / Photography by Amelia Mae Photography
Think of deep family ties and small-town upbringings — two of the best things about Macomb County life — and you’ll have a good idea of what matters most to newlyweds, Samantha [Perry] and Jeremy Jenuwine.
Samantha, a school social worker for Richmond Community Schools for nearly seven years, was born and raised in Richmond; and Jeremy, a pharmaceutical sales executive and sales team leader, grew up in Romeo.
Initially connecting through a dating app, their first date was at the Armada Bar and Grill in Armada – midpoint between their hometowns. They hit it off right away, even meeting again the very next day to play board games.
“Something that drew me to Jeremy was just how he had the most fun anywhere he went,” Samantha recalled. “He was always happy, and I knew if I was with him, I’d always be smiling.” She added, “Funnily enough, we now own a home in the town where we had our first date.”
Jeremy proposed to Samantha on November 24, 2024, which would have been his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. Jeremy’s father passed away 11 years ago and honoring that day made the moment even more meaningful.
True to their weekend tradition, Jeremy brought Samantha her morning coffee — only this time, he added a ring. Jeremy customized Sam’s ring in a distinct way, adding on each side of the main diamond, five smaller stones representing their parents, siblings, and themselves.
Getting married at the spectacular, more than 100-year-old, fieldstone St. Augustine Catholic Church in Richmond was important to them both and especially meaningful for Samantha who grew up attending the parish and school. It is also where many of her family members have wed, including her parents and grandparents, Pat and the late Fran Manchik, who were featured in the 2024 edition of Macomb Vow.
“We have grown both so close to our parish priest, Father Mark Livingston. Having him as the presider of our ceremony made it even more personal and meaningful.”
The Jenuwine bridal party numbered 20 people, including Samantha and Jeremy. While having a large wedding party can seem daunting to organize, the couple would not have done it any other way.
“Our inside joke was the ‘football team’ I would inevitably have standing by my side when it came time to get married,” Samantha said with a smile. “For me, there was simply no way I could have gotten married without those nine girls. My two maids of honor were my two sisters, because I couldn’t choose between them, of course!”
Jeremy said, “Having been a best man twice before in my life, I faced a difficult decision about who would be my best man — my best friend or my brother. However, my wife made that decision very easy when she told me she was going to have two maids of honor, meaning I got to have the two most important men in my life stand by my side on the biggest day of my life.”
Samantha says it was a happy coincidence that Crimson Hills Event Center at Big Red Orchard in Romeo opened just as the couple got engaged. She recalled that first visit, “Jeremy said seeing the look on my face walking through there, and he knew right away this had to be our venue.”
Most important, Crimson Hills offered the space they needed to accommodate their large guest list. The couple also loved that it was close to home, with rustic barnwood interior accents and large windows with a beautiful view of the orchard – plus a covered patio, gazebo, and a beautiful bridal room. Add to that the fact that theirs was the first large wedding hosted at the venue, making it uniquely theirs.
“Above all else, we fell in love with the people who worked with us while planning our wedding there. From the owners to the staff, everyone made us feel so welcome and loved,” said Samantha.
From a surprise serenade from Jeremy of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” for his diehard “Swiftie” new bride to a toast honoring Jeremy’s dad with Dr. McGillicuddy’s, their wedding was full of heartfelt and personal details. This included an all-ladies-only dance to “Dancing Queen” in lieu of a bouquet toss and featuring their dog, Murphy, at a puppy-themed wedding favor station.
As Jeremy puts it, “Throughout all of it, we really leaned in to ‘us.’”
For Samantha, the best moment was their first dance: “You often hear people in books and movies say, ‘everyone else in the room disappeared.’” Sam said. “During our first dance, I truly forgot that there were three hundred people in the room with us. It was the most surreal feeling.”
Jeremy agreed, “Because we were so close to everyone in attendance, the whole celebration felt so much more intimate than we could have ever anticipated.”
The couple also managed to slip quietly away to an outdoor gazebo on the grounds to simply soak in the moment together—an experience they highly recommend to other couples.
“It was just the two of us while our guests were finishing dinner,” remembered Samantha “I loved that! It was a little quiet moment as a newly married couple to ground ourselves.”
Jeremy added, “When getting married, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in every little detail, decoration, timeline, etc., I will never be one to say that that stress is invalid, because it is very real. However, just remember that … it’s about the marriage, and the new family you and your spouse are creating on that very day.”
Local Vendors:
Cake: Jenuwinely Sweet (Jordan Jenuwine), Ray Twp
Catering: Cass Catering, Clinton Township Ceremony: St. Augustine Catholic Church, Richmond Photo: Amelia Mae Photography, Macomb
Rings: Lucido Jewelry, Sterling Heights Venue: Crimson Hills Event Center at Big Red Orchard, Romeo
Video: Flower and Oak
