by admin | Jul 21, 2020 | Ballroom Weddings, Church Ceremonies, Weddings, Winter Weddings
How would you like to celebrate your anniversary once every four years? Dani and Matt were game! Their winter Inn at St. John’s wedding was a Leap Day wedding (February 29, 2020). Not only was it a gorgeous winter day (even with a little snow on the ground), but we got SUNSHINE! If you’ve ever photographed in February in Michigan, you know that sunshine can be hard to come by.
This winter Inn at St. John’s wedding was my final wedding before our state shut down for COVID. At the time, the virus wasn’t really on everyone’s mind. My how times have changed!
Maybe you remember their downtown Detroit engagement session last spring, but Dani and Matt are truly a perfect match. Dani is exuberant, outgoing, and bubbly, while Matt is more reserved, very sweet, and super steady. You can tell that Matt has a way of truly calming Dani’s energy; and I felt that on the wedding day. As Dani recalled on their reception, their meeting changed the course of her life in all the best ways.
After a first look in that magical Inn at St. John’s hallway, we took photos with Dani and Matt around the property, followed by a ceremony in the chapel. There really isn’t another chapel in the area like it! How beautiful! Dani looked stunning and Matt super dapper. I think Dani was made to be a bride. She told me that she thinks all the America’s Top Model watching paid off and I AGREE. STUNNING.
I love the classic and timeless look that they put together for their wedding. And peep the Millennium Falcon cufflinks…letting Matt’s personality shine through! They also went to Disney for their honeymoon, and definitely made sure to spend time at Galaxy’s Edge. Dan also surprised Matt with a huge Star Wars lego set. Probably the most unique wedding gift I’ve seen!
I couldn’t get over how kind everyone was to us all day long at this winter Inn at St. John’s wedding. The entire wedding party and all of the family was just wonderful to work with. We actually ran ahead of schedule because everyone was so cooperative and the Inn at St. John’s wedding staff was on top of things! Of course, everything was running perfectly smoothly with day of coordinator Cindy Decker, who I love to work with! Cindy is always on top of things and I highly recommend having her come coordinate your day so you don’t have to worry about a thing!
The more weddings I go to, the more I realize how much joy they have. There weren’t many tears shed (okay, a few by Dani…but her makeup held up amazingly — thanks Rosa!) because this was such a happy occasion of two families coming together to celebrate. No matter the wedding I’m at, the joy is contagious. I can’t help but leave with a smile on my face. It’s why I can’t stop doing this job.
Dani and Matt, it was a pleasure. I loved your day, loved your people, and loved working with you. I wish you both ALL THE BEST!
Vendors:
Assistant: Megan Faraj | Coordinator: Cindy Decker Weddings | Videographer: Bearded Wolf Productions | Florist: Flowers for Dreams | Cake: Cakes by Stephanie | Donuts: The Donut Bar | DJ: Forella Events | Hair: Melody Alyse | Makeup: Rosa Alcantara| Gown: White Arbor Bridal / Stella York | Bridesmaids: Birdy Grey | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Rings: Tiffany & Co / Tappers Jewelry | Men’s Attire: The Black Tux | Paper: Minted
by admin | May 27, 2020 | Ballroom Weddings, Fall Weddings, Outdoor Ceremony, Weddings
On a rainy October Friday, Cheyenne and Carlos were married at The Grecian Center. Remember their winter downtown Wyandotte engagement session?
Despite the rain, they were still able to be married outdoors thanks to the large awning over the ceremony space. And yes, it rained and stopped (typical for October weather) and we made it work. All was well! What’s very special about a Grecian Center wedding is the beautiful garden, which was still colorful despite it being mid-October.
Cheyenne, who is incredible and did HER OWN makeup and hair for her wedding, was the maid of honor in my very first wedding. In fact, Sarah, my very first bride (and old cowoker) was the maid of honor in this wedding! I love being able to work with friends of old couples.
Something to know about Cheyenne and Carlos is that they love music. They both have great voices! My favorite part of the wedding day was a surprise Carlos had planned for Cheyenne, where he sang to her. The best part? She joined in! I haven’t been to many weddings where the couple provided part of the entertainment. It was truly a sweet moment and one that made the day even more special.
This Grecian Center wedding was all about the party. I don’t think the dance floor cleared at all! Cheyenne and Carlos’ friends and family were boogying down all night long!
by admin | Apr 28, 2020 | Ballroom Weddings, Weddings, Winter Weddings
Winter weddings are honestly under-rated. I really wanted to have one — they’re just such warm events! Sarah and Brandon’s Lafayette Grande wedding took place a few days after Christmas, so the holiday vibes were present. I think that’s probably one of the best parts about getting married around the holidays — there’s always extra decorations everywhere and you don’t have to provide them!
This Lafeyette Grande wedding wasn’t holiday-themed. In fact, Sarah and Brandon infused aspects of their personalities and relationship into the day. From the Game of Thrones and Harry Potter table numbers to the many books to sign at the guest book table to the beautiful personal vows they shared…they really made the wedding day their own.
Perhaps you remember from their University of Michigan engagement session, Sarah and Brandon met as freshmen at the University of Michigan. During their engagement session, we even visited the dorm they met in (a small 70-something person building). Their friendship (and love) blossomed as the years went on, as roommates in the later years, and through graduate school and moves to Florida and now Wisconsin. Ten years later, they tied the knot at the Lafeyette Grand in the Grande Ballroom.
Things I loved about this wedding: Sarah’s dress (that pattern…so good), Brandon’s custom suit, the mismatched wedding party attire, the simplicity yet beauty of the florals (perfect for winter), and how much Sarah and Brandon seemed to enjoy the day. The Lafayette Grande was perfect for a winter wedding because it’s so beautiful inside. Super easy for photos! I can’t wait to be back this fall.
I really enjoyed working alongside Sarah, Brandon, and their closest friends and family. Sarah was one of the most organized and thoughtful brides I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. It was such an honor to capture this day for these two!
From the bride: “Madalyn was probably the best photographer we could have asked for, it was like having a friend instead of a vendor do our photos. Her photos obviously speak for themselves but she was so incredibly organized and professional throughout the entire process, she got us our timeline and I was able to use that to build the rest of our day of schedule around it. She communicated early and often and always made sure she got the list of required photos we wanted so we didn’t miss anything. Since she also hadn’t photographed at our venue before, she set up her own meeting with the venue before the wedding to get a tour and walkthrough so it wasn’t a surprise on the day of the wedding. She was assertive when she needed to be to wrangle our families for photos but otherwise was extremely flexible in getting shots if the plans changed! Especially since our wedding was late in the winter and we decided against a first look, she made sure to have a lighting assistant on hand to help coordinate additional flash and we got some great evening photos, and the second shooter who helped out had some awesome ideas for important shots too! Also, she got us engagement photo sneak peeks within 24 hours and got us our wedding sneak peeks (40+ photos!) within 48 hours of our wedding. Madalyn used the engagement photo session to get to know us and she just does a great job of capturing candid and genuine emotion and just made the entire planning experience and day of photos so comfortable and fun. So excited to get the rest of our photos! Thanks Madalyn!”
Vendors:
Venue: The Lafayette Grande | Florals: The Flower Kitten | HMU: Beauty by Sara | DJ: T&M Entertainment | Baked Goods: Mannino’s Bakery | Expresso Cart: Java Java | Dress: Amelishan Bridal | Alterations: Cinch Tailoring | Groom’s Suit: NL Suits | Photobooth: Prestige Entertainment | Officiant: Down the Aisle Ceremonies | Macarons: Inny Macaron
by admin | Apr 7, 2020 | Ballroom Weddings, Church Ceremonies, Fall Weddings, Weddings
by admin | Feb 17, 2020 | Ballroom Weddings, Fall Weddings, Outdoor Ceremony, Weddings
In the depths of winter, I always miss fall. This Trillum Event Center wedding from early October was just the perfect early fall day. Jasmine and Ricky’s Trillum Event Center wedding had a first look, plenty of time for photos, outdoor ceremony, and the rain held off completely until we got inside for the reception. It made for some beautiful photos at the end of the night…make sure to scroll down for those!
In 2019, I was so lucky to photograph the weddings of former bridesmaids of mine! Jasmine was the maid of honor in Carissa and Chris’s wedding in 2018 and I was so flattered when she reached out and hired me for her and Ricky’s wedding.
Working with these two was such a treat. Remember their fall engagement session at Lincoln Brick Park? They are so freaking cute, amirite?
There were a couple of things I really liked about this Trillum Event Center wedding:
- The first look: Not only did Jasmine and Ricky decide to do a first look but they also read letters to each other during this time. It was a nice way to start the day together and I highly encourage this if you feel compelled.
- The after-ceremony sneak away: I don’t often get to just take the couple off-site for photos, but since we had some time and these two didn’t care much to participate in cocktail hour, we headed to a nearby park for some portraits of the two of them. They are some of my favorites from the day. It was nice just to hang out for awhile, not feeling super rushed!
- The colors: The perfect fall palette!
- The magnetic boutonnières: Can every florist get on this? I didn’t have to pin any boutonnière and that is a MIRACLE. I’m not the best at it but I can do it. Magnets save time!
I had a blast photographing these two and wish they lived over in Detroit so we could hang out. Until they move, I guess I’ll just have to look at their photos all the time…
vendors:
venue: Trillum Event Center | Florals: Chalet Floral | Cake: Nothing Bundt Cake | DJ: Modern Entertainment | HMU: Studio V | Gown: America’s Bride | Favors: McDonald’s Candies
by admin | Feb 3, 2020 | Ballroom Weddings, Church Ceremonies, Fall Weddings, Weddings
Sometimes it’s just the perfect day for a wedding. Perfect weather, perfect location, perfect group of people, perfect couple. Everything just seemed to come together so perfectly for Kelsey and Kyle’s Ann Arbor Polo Fields Golf Club wedding last September.
When we first met back in September 2018, a year before their wedding, Kelsey and Kyle shared their story with me over beers, including their amazing proposal in Iceland. This pair of engineers are truly as sweet as they come and working with them over a year was an absolute treat!
How does a Nebraska boy with interests in aeronautical engineering and a Michigan girl with a mechanical engineering background meet? The University of Michigan. Kelsey and Kyle’s love for the maize and blue was evident throughout their Ann Arbor Polo Fields Golf Club wedding and their Ann Arbor engagement session held a few homages to their alma mater, including planning the wedding on a bi-week for Michigan football, as well as a rendition of Hail to the Victors and the appearance of the Michigan flag during the reception dance party.
If you know me, you know that engineers seem to be a reoccurring theme in my life. My husband is an engineer, my college roommate is an engineer, and many of my clients are engineers, including Kelsey and Kyle! I find that engineers follow and take direction really well. So if you’re an engineer, you’ll find yourself at home with me! Haha!
I truly had an amazing time at this wedding, but I think my favorite moment was the whole first look. Kelsey and Kyle were really intentional about this moment being private and just for them. They decided to read their personal vows to each other during the first look. I thought this made the moment more special and less about the photos and more about THEM. Sometimes it can be daunting to share such personal words and memories in front of 150+ people. Sometimes your church service doesn’t allow for this (most all Catholic ceremonies do not). But if sharing personal vows are still important to you, I highly suggest doing it at the first look or taking a moment after the ceremony, maybe after signing the license to do so. You don’t regret it.
After a ceremony at the historic First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor, we headed to the Law Quad with the wedding party for photos. After we finished up there, we had one more stop at the Big House for a few photos under the big M scoreboard. Iconic.
The reception at the Ann Arbor Polo Fields Golf and Country Club was absolutely perfect! Bob and the staff there are incredible and I highly recommend them! We ended the night with a beautiful sparkler exit as the couple got into the getaway car…a Lincoln of course!
I was so sad when this wedding ended because I truly loved working with Kelsey and Kyle. The end of the wedding was emotional for their friends and family, especially Kelsey’s who are local to the area, because Kelsey would join Kyle in Tucson, Arizona where Kyle had just started a new job, to make their first home together.
Enjoy these images, some of my favorites of 2019!
Vendors:
Florals: Great Lakes Floral Design Co | Cake: Cakes by Stephanie | DJ: LuFru Entertainment | HMU: Beauty by Maria | Catering/Reception: Polo Fields Golf & Country Club | Gown: The White Dress | Bridesmaids: Azazie | Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Men’s Attire: Generation Tux | Transport: Bozzo’s | Paper: Minted.com | Ceremony: First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor
