TRUE HEART.  True heart, are the words I would use to describe Helen and Sean’s wedding.  Everything about their day was sincere and full of joy and excitement.

We started the day with something borrowed from the Matron of Honor.  The ankle bracelet that Helen wore, was a gift that her Matron of Honor received on her first date with a boy (quite a story behind that one, too).  A boy that became her husband, and today was also the Best Man.

Then we got a delivery from Sean to Helen.  He had made a box of charms for her to put on her bouquet.  The charms were photos of loved ones who had passed.  It was a beautiful display and a very thoughtful gift.

Shortly after that emotional gift, we realized that Sean’s wedding band had been left at home, hours away.  After the initial shock of “what do we do now” passed, a spectacular remedy was figured.  Sean’s grandfather offered up his wedding band to be used for the ceremony.  Sean’s grandmother had passed within the last year, and the look in Grandpa’s eyes when he told Sean that he had not taken that ring off in 63 (and a half) years, was just heart-melting.  Sean’s crystal blue eyes became radiant with tears as he held that ring with his grandfather.  Truly a moment to remember.

Continuing with the day, Linda, the owner of Castle Farms (the wedding venue) had just installed a butterfly house and let us play with her Monarch butterflies.  And then we had a little rain.  But rain is good when it rolls in after the ceremony and allows us to create some fun nighttime art.

All together, a wonderfully full wedding day.

And the award goes to . . . seriously, this group!  The children were so well behaved, the fun-loving connection between all six of them was just wonderful, and the ease and joy of all involved made me so happy to be a part of their story.

It was a day that threatened rain, but we had perfect timing.  We started with a first look on the beach, traveled to Krista’s family beach, stopped and played in a vineyard and then went for a ceremony in yard of the Boathouse on Old Mission peninsula.  We made it through all of the outside things that were planned, with perfect weather.  It wasn’t until we got in the car to leave that the rain came.

Excellent day, with happy people and flawless timing; there is nothing else I can ask for.

Angie and Brian were married and the Cedar Bend Farm in Mancelona.  Surrounded by her daughters and family, they said their vows in the little rustic church at a morning ceremony.  There was laughter, some tears, and a step stool for the first kiss!

The farm belongs to Alice, one of Angie’s good friends, and is a really cool location.  If you are ever looking for a roaming farm-style venue, look Alice up.

Fei & Hui had a wonderful fairy tale wedding at Castle Farm in Charlevoix, complete with perfect weather, horse and carriage, sparklers, and fireworks!  It is now my firm opinion that every wedding should have fireworks!  Fei had the most beautiful veil I have ever seen, and just when I thought this woman couldn’t be any more beautiful, she changed into her red party dress for the evening.  Just stunning!

Megan and Steve were married at the Homestead in Glen Arbor on a beautiful sunny summer day.  Her color choices were great for the season.  And they had a gorgeous sunset to end their evening!

Lauren and Josh have a way about them that brings you in and makes you feel like family in an instant.  The way they are as individuals; solid in their self, giving in their nature, gentle in their soul, and commanding in their faith, makes being around them an absolute pleasure.  To be a part of their marriage journey, has been a gift.  We were given a perfect early summer day for a wedding at Castle Farms in Charlevoix.  Their attendants, family, and guests all had the best attitudes in anticipation for this union.  Lauren and Josh took a moment to pray together (from opposite sides of a door) just before the ceremony, that took the anticipation to a new height and led to great emotion as Lauren walked down the aisle.  Tears flowed.  As soon as these two touched, you could feel the connection, the joy, and the love they have for each other.  The rest of the day and into the evening echoed with happy laughter and touching family speeches.  We rounded out the evening with a sparkler send-off and watched them drive off to begin their lives together.

Courtney and Josh had the perfect May day for a wedding in Leelanau county!  The sky was clear,  the temperature was mild, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and a gorgeous sunset rounded out the evening.  The perfect day itself, highlighted by Coutney’s classic beauty and Josh’s winning smile, was flawless.  I just love it when days come together like this!

Jen and Tim had a lovely indoor wedding ceremony at the Perry Hotel in Petoskey.  They had great weather for the end of April and were graced by one of Michigan’s finest sunsets.  These two were so easy to smile in each other’s company, you could just feel their happy connection.

I had a little fun over this past week and created some new things for you to borrow for your wedding!  Feel free to ask to borrow anything!

I am so incredibly happy to tell this story!!  It’s not very often that I get to be at the beginning of a life story!

In November of 2014, Zach was working with me as a second shooter for weddings.  We were working Kelle and Jeremy’s wedding in Charlevoix when Zach happened upon a lady of beauty, virtue, faith in God, and a smile of equal ability as his to light up a room.  She left him speechless and captured his heart.  Slightly over a year later, I received that phone call that Zach had asked Lauren to be his wife.  Which leads us to this day!

The gentlemen prepared at a family friend’s house, Lauren and her ladies prepared at her parent’s home.  Lauren had a first look with her father that was emotional and heart-warming to witness.  A father’s tears at seeing his daughter dressed for her wedding, always make me a little weepy.  Her mother and father prayed together and then we went off for a first look with Zach on the blue bridge downtown.  From there we went to the ceremony in the greenhouse of the downtown market.  The whole day was just lovely!