by admin | Mar 29, 2022 | Outdoor Ceremony, Summer Weddings, Tent Weddings, Weddings
I start by saying how lovely Lauren and Seth are the sweetest people and they had the sweetest Botanic Gardens at Historic Barns Park wedding in Traverse City, Michigan. These two Ohio natives (yes, Ohio natives) turned Michigan residents chose the perfect setting for their wedding in the Botanic Gardens at Historic Barns Park. The grounds are not only beautiful, but make for the perfect tented reception site.
Seth and Lauren have been together a long time (since college days at Ohio Wesleyan…another D3 school like I went to!) and have followed each other across the country – Denver, West Virginia and now Michigan. Recreation and the outdoors are so important to them – Lauren works in parks and recreation and Seth works in sports psychology. This made the Botanic Gardens at Historic Barns Park wedding perfect for them.
After meeting Seth and Lauren in person at their engagement session (failed once by rain my gosh!), I was so very excited for their wedding day. It was my first time away from my son, who was three months old at the time, but very much worth it to capture their day!
We started at a loft space just down the road from the venue, where Lauren’s party was getting ready. Once Lauren put on her absolutely stunning gown – and I was in awe of this gown…it was stunning – we headed to the walled garden at the venue for their first look.
After portraits across the Botanic Gardens, the pair were married on the stone labyrinth in a very heartfelt, personal ceremony officiated by by Seth’s dad. Then the party truly began! And what a party it was. I don’t think I’ve ever attended a wedding with more people who were truly excited and happy to be there! Maybe it was post pandemic feels or because every person had traveled from somewhere to be there for this wedding, but the energy was truly so so good.
One of my favorite moments was Seth and Lauren’s little first ice cream date – Lauren’s surprise for Seth was a Moomer’s cart! – right after dinner as we went out for a short portrait session.
One of the best things Lauren and Seth did for their wedding was hire an incredible vendor team. I’m still in shock that I got to be a part of that team! From planning and coordination by Kendall from the Revel Rose to the florals from Bittersweet and Co. to the hair and makeup team led by Carlena, everything was literal perfection. A solid vendor team really can’t be beat and I 110% recommend having at the very least a day of coordinator to take the reins on your day.
Seth and Lauren, thank you so much for allowing me to capture this day for you.
Vendors:
venue: Botanic Gardens at Historic Barns Park
planning/coordination: The Revel Rose
floral: Bittersweet & Co.
dj: 2Bays DJs
hmu: Hairpins and Happiness – Carleana Delacruz
catering: Catering by Kelly’s
gown: Alice in Ivory \ Jane Hill – Bridal
rings: The Personal Jeweler c
ake: The Flour Shop – Kelsey Barnes
by admin | Feb 2, 2022 | Outdoor Ceremony, Summer Weddings, Weddings
Abby and Alkin’s Pine Knob Mansion wedding pivoted, like many others in 2020. What was going to be a full day at the Pine Knob Mansion turned into a part day there and the reception elsewhere!
I’ve known Abby a long time – we go way back to playing rec softball together when we were like 10! It was an absolute honor to be asked to shoot her and Alkin’s wedding. These two met at work at a bowling alley, which sounds like an absolutely fun place to start a romance. Their dog Ollie join us for their winter downtown Detroit engagement session. These two are so fun and so down to earth. I loved working with them!
It was truly the perfect September day for a Pine Knob Mansion wedding! The last weekend of September usually brings the last beautiful summer weather, and it’s one of my favorite weekends for a wedding.
What I loved most about the change of pace of this day was the small wedding party, small ceremony, and just overall intimate, laid back vibes. There’s something to be said about smaller weddings and how you can truly enjoy your day that way.
Best moment? Surely Abby’s first look with her dad. She is an only child and this was a special moment for their family.
Vendors:
Ceremony/Getting Ready: Pine Knob Mansion
Reception: Andiamo’s
Gown: Essence of Australia
Invites: Ann’s Bridal Bargains
by admin | May 5, 2021 | Summer Weddings, Tent Weddings, Weddings
Early September is such a beautiful time to get married in Michigan, and this Watermark Country Club wedding in Grand Rapids, Michigan was one of those perfectly beautiful late summer days, complete with the most perfect golden hour sunset.
I don’t get to work on the west side of Michigan too often (maybe once or twice a year) so I was excited to be able to work with Erika and Will on their Watermark Country Club wedding. Maybe you remember their gorgeous Grand Rapids engagement session (complete with puppy Nala…she makes an appearance at the wedding too!)? After spending time with these Central Michigan lovebirds, I was so excited to photograph their day!
Erika and Will made minimal changes to their wedding to still keep their original date. Their largest sacrifice was cutting their guest list down to 100 and moving to a tent on the Watermark Country Club lawn rather than using the beautiful indoor space at the venue. BUT, it all turned out so beautifully; making this one of the most beautiful tented weddings I’ve been to.
One of the best parts about this Watermark Country Club wedding was that everything was in one place! That’s my favorite – makes it so much easier on everyone (including guests) and lets us be a little more laid back about the day. After an emotional first look, we did couples portraits on the golf course. The ceremony was perfectly placed in front of a gorgeous fountain, and these two said their vows just as the sun peeked out!
One of the most emotional moments of the day was Will’s dad’s speech during the reception. It is usually very emotional for a father of the bride to speak at a wedding, and often fathers of the groom don’t speak. But Will had asked his father to be his best man and his dad had fun stories to tell and wonderful things to say about his son and his new wife.
After the sun went down, Will, Erika and their guests boogied down on a grass dance floor, lit just by the lights of the tent. I kind of loved it and wished I could have stayed and danced the night away with them!
vendors
floral: stems market | dj: ace wedding djs | gown: becker’s bridal | bridesmaids: azazie | men: men’s warehouse | venue/catering: watermark country club
by admin | Apr 28, 2021 | Church Ceremonies, Summer Weddings, Weddings
After rescheduling their Odin’s Owl wedding from May 2020 to September 2020, Jamie and Trevor were very very ready to get married! I think this gorgeous day was truly worth the wait. They were the first couple to book me for 2020 back in January 2019, so we spent many many months planning together.
These two met at Michigan State University, which is where we did their engagement session in fall 2019. This spring, Trevor graduated medical school (anti-climatically without a ceremony) was matched into an ER residency in Cleveland, Ohio. Jamie, who is a speech pathologist, followed him there this summer. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know these two and really enjoyed working with them. They balance each other really well, which I always appreciate in a couple.
After separately getting ready at local airbnbs, Jamie and Trevor said their vows at the gorgeous St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The church was the perfect backdrop for Jamie’s stunning dress (that train, my goodness! so long and so beautiful!). We made sure to make use of some of the church’s architecture for photos.
After the ceremony, we headed to the reception venue. This Odin’s Owl wedding warded off the rain until we were safely inside the custom-made barn. I loved the interior of Odin’s Owl! Such a beautiful property and unlike any other barn I’ve visited.
We didn’t have a perfect sunset, but we were able to take some beautiful nighttime and blue light photos to end the night. Carving out a few minutes for this is highly recommended and gives you a chance to take a breather together before the night is over!
vendors:
venue: Odin’s Owl | ceremony: St. Lorenz Lutheran Church | cake: Sugar High Bakery | florals: Haist Flowers | dj: Rusch Entertainment | hmu: Bridal Beauty Couture | catering: Black Forest Catering | gown: Piera’s Bridal | bridesmaids: Joani’s Fashion Boutique | jewelry: McKenzie Jewelers | men’s attire: Eli of Troy Mensware | paper: Minted | bartenders: Slingin Sisters Event Bartenders
by admin | Apr 14, 2021 | Intimate Weddings, Summer Weddings, Weddings
Though many of my clients decided to move to a backyard wedding in 2020, Shelly and Michael planned on a weekday intimate Smiths Creek backyard wedding. On a beautiful August Wednesday, 20 or so of their closest family and friends gathered in Shelly and Michael’s backyard to witness their marriage. Though large weddings are fun, the simplicity of getting married in your backyard really can’t be beat.
After getting ready separately (Shelly’s look by the amazing Ashley MacPherson) these two had a first look (again, right in the backyard), and we used their property for portraits – no wedding party or anything, just the two of them. Usually I don’t get so lucky with so many different spots in one place. It all made for a very relaxed and fun time.
For this Smiths Creek backyard wedding, I was lucky enough to work with one of my favorite videographers, Katie from 97 Films. Shelly works alongside Katie which is how we all met! I was super honored when Shelly reached out to ask me to photograph her wedding day.
After taking some family photos, everyone gathered in the seats on their newly finished deck, and the pair shared personal vows overlooking their backyard pond. Their good friend presided over the ceremony, which I always find very special and personal. There wasn’t anything NOT personal about this day and I think it made it absolutely perfect.
After the ceremony (check out that rose petal recessional – super fun!), there was an informal cocktail hour, culminating in an Irish whisky toast with a special connection to their love story. This West Cork whisky, which was hard to obtain in the US from what I understand, was the whisky they drank after they got engaged in Ireland. Sharing it with their friends and family at their wedding seemed like a special way to start this new chapter of life for them.
A Smiths Creek backyard wedding maybe isn’t for everyone, but I really enjoyed being a part of such a laid back, chill day where the focus was on getting married rather than all the extra stuff that can come with weddings. That stuff is great and fine, but sometimes getting back to the basics feels good.
by admin | Apr 6, 2021 | Church Ceremonies, Summer Weddings, Tent Weddings, Weddings
Lisa and John originally did not plan to have a summer Detroit backyard wedding, but the pandemic had other plans. Instead of postponing their celebration, they decided to make some changes to the guest list and venue so that they could have their wedding on their original wedding day.
Lisa and John met in a kickball league, believe it or not! I think that’s the most unique way to meet and have never had a couple meet that way. John proposed at Acadia National Park in Maine. They love spending time outdoors and at breweries….my kind of people. We did their engagement session on Belle Isle and in downtown Detroit; it was honestly a blast!
This summer Detroit backyard wedding was graciously hosted by John’s sister and brother-in-law in their beautiful backyard. And I think it turned out wonderfully!
The ceremony took place at Lisa’s childhood church, First Presbyterian Church of Northville, which is right in downtown Northville. The church is smaller and quite beautiful inside! The stained glass just is my favorite. I loved the moment when Lisa’s mom walked her down the aisle. Super emotional for both of them!
Originally Lisa and John were not planning a first look, but they made a last minute decision to have one, and I don’t think they regretted it! It was such a cute moment and let them relax a little before the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the wedding party and I headed over to Maybury State Park for portraits. I love Maybury for sessions and was so excited we were able to use it for their wedding. We had gorgeous lighting – literally perfect for a summer wedding.
To cap off this Detroit backyard wedding, we took some nighttime portraits with the lights hung just outside the backyard. They are some of my favorite of the day and so MAGICAL. String lights just make a space, let me tell you!
Vendors:
ceremony: First Presbyterian Church of Northville | florals: Westborn Market | cake: Cantoro’s | dj: Rusch Entertainment | hmu: Studio 170 | catering: Italian American Banquet Center | gown: Essense of Australia | bridemaids: David’s Bridal | shoes: Badgley Mischka | jewelry: Blue Nile | men’s attire: Men’s Warehouse | transport: Millennium Limo | invites: Vistaprint | favors: Recycled Ideas Favors
