Amway Grand Plaza- Kathy and Donnie

Amway Grand Plaza, Grand Rapids MI

CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHY AND DONNIE!! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, ELEGANT CELEBRATION OF THEIR STORY, AT THE AMWAY GRAND PLAZA.

THEY MET AT THEIR 1ST CLASS, MONDAY MORNING THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR, AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY. SEVEN YEARS LATER, DONNIE PROPOSED AT THE FAMILY'S CABIN IN TORCH LAKE. THEY WERE COOKING AND EATING IN THE KITCHEN WHEN DONNIE ASKED KATHY TO GRAB THE CHAMPAGNE OUT OF THE FRIDGE. WHEN SHE TURNED AROUND, HE WAS ON HIS KNEE WITH THE RING. AWWW. I KNOW, RIGHT?! 

IN CASE YOU MISSED THEIR FUN ENGAGEMENT SESSION AT THE DEQUINDRE CUT, YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT HERE:

http://lookatthebiggerpicture.com/blog/engagement-session-kathy-and-donnie

THE WEDDING DAY WAS SPECTACULAR. WE STARTED ON THE ROOFTOP FOR THEIR FIRST LOOK, OVERLOOKING THE RIVER AND DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS. SUCH SWEET MOMENTS WITH THIS SWEET COUPLE. THROUGH THE CEREMONY AND THE REST OF THE DAY, YOU COULD FEEL THE LOVE COMING FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR THESE TWO.  JUST GENUINE, WARM AND LOVING PEOPLE ALL AROUND. 

KATHY CHOSE TO HONOR HER VIETNAMESE HERITAGE THROUGH HER OUTFIT AT THE RECEPTION AND THE TEA CEREMONY BEFORE THE WEDDING.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ON THIS DAY... CATCHING HER DAD NUMEROUS TIMES LOOKING AT HER WITH SUCH CHERISHED LOVE.
ANOTHER FAVORITE WAS DONNIE FIDGETING WITH HIS HANDS THE WHOLE CEREMONY. IT WAS REALLY CUTE. 

BEST WISHES TO YOU BOTH ON THE NEW ADVENTURES! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHOOSING ME TO TELL YOUR STORY. ENJOY YOUR PREVIEW:

Townsend Park-DENISE AND KATHY

Townsend Park
Rockford, MI

Congratulations to Denise and Kathy!!! These two lovely ladies have been together over 14 years!! They met through a mutual friend and a mutual interest (soccer). This wonderful friend kept on trying to set them up and would not give up. Persistence. Good thing, too!

After waiting for so long for gay marriage to pass, Denise popped the question while on a trip together at Strawberry Fields. She remembers that she had the ring in her pocket all day and kept getting interrupted. Kathy was drinking champagne and couldn't be happier.

The wedding day was a beautiful fall day, and Townsend Park gave us a great backdrop of streams, rivers, and leaves just now changing colors. It was intimate, low-key, and was a fun family celebration. The reception was warmed by the fire and smelled like a log cabin. My favorite part was the break in the day for a euchre tournament!! How fun is that?! I got whooped by the Henning family. They are some intense but fun euchre players. 

I am so happy for Denise and Kathy. Both ladies are hilarious, energetic, positive, and beautiful- inside and out. Thank you so much for choosing me to document your story. Enjoy the preview: 
 

Eastern Market, Detroit-ANDY AND JULIANNE

Grosse Pointe Academy
Eastern Market, Detroit   Shed 5

Congratulations to my old friend, Andy, and his beautiful bride, Julianne!! I am so happy for these two! What a great celebration of their story. 

Andy and Julianne met online, and coffee led to more coffee, more food, and more adventures. Andy proposed in a very "organic" way, while they were walking by the water and talking about how grateful they were for each other. Little did Julianne know that Andy had the ring in his pocket the whole day. Awww, right?! 

So, again, rain on the wedding day is a sign of good luck for the marriage. We had rain. We had bouts of monsoons, but enough time to enjoy the scenery of Grosse Pointe, and Eastern Market.

It was such a unique venue, with amazing ambiance! The colors, the lighting, just being in Shed 5... People were lively and excited about the food trucks, the pierogis, the doughnuts... The wooden barrel where the guests signed their wishes was also a different take on the guest book. So creative. 

My favorite part of the day? The homily. The priest had relayed the fact that good things come to those who wait. And to always be grateful for what you have.

Thank you so much for choosing me to document your story! I am truly honored.

Enjoy the preview!