Bissell Tree House John Ball Zoo-Kara and Coleman

Bissell Tree House
John Ball Zoo
Grand Rapids, MI

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Baar!!! Coleman &  Kara met at a Memorial Day party, which Kara was hosting at her Chicago apartment. They met through mutual friends. His fraternity brother Rich (who was their officiant) is married to Kara's college friend Krysten (who was a bridesmaid). At the time, they were engaged and planning to go watch a band they were considering for their wedding after making an appearance at the party. Coleman went to watch the band and then insisted that the three of them return to the party because he wanted to spend more time with Kara.

They ended up spending the remainder of the weekend together & every weekend after that... Coleman lived in Michigan and Kara was in Chicago,  so they did the long distance thing for about nine months before deciding to buy a home together in Grand Rapids. They spent their first anniversary moving into that first house.

The second anniversary was at Cedar Point and that is where Coleman proposed!!  They planned the wedding day to take place on their third anniversary. Needless to say Memorial Day Weekend is a significant weekend for these two because of all of these important relationship events occurring in May.

Coleman & Kara have a dog named Eileen and a Juliana pig named Ramon! Yep! (Lots of pig jokes at the reception). Ha! They started a small business together and have gone on a few vacations.

Their big day was soooooo fun, laid back, and upbeat!! They really are a cool couple. I had a blast! I was so impressed with the dancing! I mean, Kara and Coleman did an awesome upbeat number, but the guests were doing swing dances and all sorts of other numbers too! Props to everyone on that. It was a great celebration. Thank you so much for choosing me to capture the big day! Enjoy the preview:

Ann Arbor Wedding- Tom and Michael

St. Andrews, Ann Arbor MI
Vinology, Ann Arbor MI

Congratulations to Tom and Michael! What a laid-back and happy couple. Tom and Michael met online and then at church, and have been together since that first meeting five years ago. Their lifelong goal is "to own a lakeside bed and breakfast where Tom will do all of the cooking and baking and Michael will manage the front of house, and yes, we both do realize just how gay that really sounds." By the way, Michael made all the individual cakes at the wedding. I had crème brule cake and it was spectacular.

The proposal--Thomas decided that he would like to celebrate St. Nicholas Day with Michael. "Two stockings and one glitter pen later, ... Michael found a special small box at the bottom of his stocking." Tom got on one knee and proposed to Michael.

I am so honored to capture the big day! Thank you fellas so much. I wish you the best and a very Happy St. Nicholas Day this year!

Here is a preview of the day:

Blue Dress Barn Wedding, Rebecca and Jessica Roost

Blue Dress Barn, my new favorite venue! Benton Harbor, MI

Congratulations Mrs. and Mrs. Roost!! Whooo hoooo!! I have been so excited for this wedding. I have known Rebecca for years and I am so ecstatic that these two found each other. These two just fit and make sense. Both Jessica and Rebecca are completely out-of-this-world-gorgeous, both inside and out. They make your day better by just being around. Both personalities bring light to the room.

Rebecca proposed to Jess while picking apples at a local orchard. These two are so so fun. Lots of giggling. The Roosts had moved away to New York and lived out there for a bit, but a whole lot of people are glad they made the move back to Grand Rapids (including me!).  They have a huge circle of close friends and family. Amazing people, seriously. Dan, a good friend of the girls, made his debut as Dan the DJ/MC. How fun was that?!! He did a fabulous job and kept everyone dancing all night.

I had so many favorite parts of the day! One was the getting ready part. The room was divided by a sheet and the girls were not to see each other. Twenty people getting ready in one little divided room- super fun. Everyone was so excited! Another was how the sun rays kept falling right on the two of them during the ceremony, giving me goosebumps! Also, right after the ceremony, the entire bridal party ran to the bridal suite and we could hear them all jumping up and down and screaming. It was such a cool finish to the beautiful ceremony and a fun sign that the party was about to begin.

I am so honored that I was chosen to document their big day, and I am always honored to be called their friend!! Thank you, ladies. You're the best.

Enjoy the sneak peek!

Thank you to my second photographer, Lauren Nicole!!