by admin | Feb 15, 2022 | Church Ceremonies, Weddings, Winter Weddings
January isn’t a popular time to get married in Michigan, but if you’re going to have an intimate winter wedding, this is probably the way to do it! Kaitlynn and Ben had originally planned on a larger backyard type wedding day in June but decided to move their date up and just tie the knot in January right after the holidays.
I have known Kaitlynn for many years – we met through my college roommate – and we have shared some fun adventures together, including the infamous Manitou Island backpacking trip that I took Josh on three months into dating. Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well. Kaitlynn also made our wedding cake – she is an incredible baker.
Their intimate winter wedding came together with the help of their families and I think it turned out absolutely beautifully. They were married in Kaitlynn’s dad and stepmom’s church, St. John’s Lutheran in Fowlerville, Michigan. The family helped decorate their reception space, with the absolute best element – a neon light right behind their sweetheart table. That light is now in their bedroom at home!
We were lucky to have a dusting of snow that morning which made the portraits all the more magical. No wedding party, under 30 people in attendance, it was the perfect way to celebrate in a low-key way. Winter is so underrated and I understand why people avoid it but when you get beautiful snow like this, it just makes all the difference.
My favorite part of the day was watching Kaitlynn and Ben read their vows to each other after their portrait session. So sweet!
I have to say, Kaitlynn insisted I go home with a doggy bag of food and it was some of the best wedding food I’ve ever had!
I feel like this day proves your intimate winter wedding doesn’t have to be super extravagant to be beautiful. Sometimes it can take a little more DIY, but simple is often better.
From the couple: “My husband and I have used Madalyn twice now and both times we have felt so comfortable in front of the camera. She has fun little tricks to get you out of your shell which has captured some pretty awesome genuine laughs. Our most recent session was our wedding and everything went so smoothly. She was so quick and kept things moving right along on the day. Our album also came out amazing and she was so easy to work with to get exactly what we wanted. We are using her again for a newborn session at the end of this year and I cannot wait to use her more as our family continues to grow!”
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 | Jun 9, 2021 | Couples, Downtown Detroit Wedding, Weddings
With covid impacting so many couples, it’s been a year with less weddings, but not necessarily less portraits. Shallana and Randy were married in a private, small ceremony over the summer and asked if I could take some Detroit Institute of Arts wedding portraits to celebrate their marriage. I said, of course!
I love photographing these two! Their Stony Creek engagement session was so beautiful and I’ve seen them a few times at my mini sessions with their pups.
Detroit Institute of Arts wedding portraits hold a special place in my heart because this location is where we took our wedding photos. Something about the classic look of the marble just always makes everyone look incredible. We used the back and front of the building, went across the street to the Detroit Public Library (another favorite of mine) and then stopped at the McGregor Conference Center on Wayne State University’s campus which has some amazing architecture that I’ve always wanted to use.
These two are too chic – don’t we love that burgundy suit? I’m so glad the trend is these non-black and grey suits, makes things so much more exciting! And Shallana’s dress is just to die for. So gorgeous. I wish them all the happiness in the world – they deserve it!
You can always do a session to celebrate an anniversary or just because. There’s nothing wrong with documenting your relationship right now – not just for a big event. Plus portrait sessions are much more laid back than weddings. More time to really relax and have fun in front of the camera!
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
by admin | Mar 2, 2021 | Church Ceremonies, Intimate Weddings, Summer Weddings, Weddings
So many of my summer 2020 couples made the hard decision to make changes to their original wedding plans so they could still tie the knot on their original date. Keri and Darin were no different and their intimate Divine Child wedding turned out to be just the loveliest day!
Maybe you remember Keri and Darin’s beautiful fall engagement session, with appearances by their adorable dog Callie — she makes an appearance in their wedding photos too, don’t worry! If you’re thinking of including your dog in your wedding photos, do it! I wish Nora was in ours – biggest regret for me of our wedding day for sure.
Keri and Darin met at Central Michigan University and were together almost eight years before their wedding day! They were originally planning a large 300+ person wedding, so what you’ll see below is very different from what we thought we’d be doing! These two are some of the most genuinely kind people you’ll ever meet. Keri and I had some long phone calls to discuss how best to proceed with the wedding and I never was upset to hear from her. She and Darin handled all of the changes with a lot of grace. They told me that they knew what was important to them about their wedding and planned around that. I think it turned out exactly perfect because it really centered around Keri and Darin in a very relaxed environment.
Keri is a teacher at Divine Child and it was important for them when re-planning their wedding to keep the day as an intimate Divine Child wedding. Surrounded by their wedding party and closest family, they said “I do!” on their original wedding date, followed by a backyard reception at Keri’s parents’ home. It was all beautifully put together and full of so much love! It was a hot day, but I had so much fun with these two and their people. It was one of those days where you feel like family. We took portraits at Nankin Mills which is one of my favorite spots in the Dearborn area for photos!
Though Keri and Darin opted against a first look, they decided they still wanted a special moment to themselves before they saw each other down the aisle. They opted for a first touch around a door where they exchanged letters. If you’re not into the whole first look thing, this is a great way to still have a special moment together before the ceremony! I love when couples exchange letters (whether in person or separately) and think it’s a beautiful private moment for you both. Sometimes you can say things in writing that just won’t come out otherwise.
Vendors:
ceremony: Church of the Divine Child | florals: Boland Florist | cake: Cakes by Stephanie | gown: Bombshell Bridal | alterations: Eva’s Bridal Salon | bridesmaids: Azazie | Rings: Orin Jewelers & Diamonds & Jewelry Unlimited | groom suit: Jos A Bank
