What an elegant wedding, with such fabulous people. Meet Sam…who has a degree in Bomedical Science, who moved to NYC to pursue her love of jewelry design..check her stuff out here….you’ll see she wore her own design for her wedding, as did all of her bridesmaids. She is an amazing artist. Her wedding day was threatened with rain…but, as it usually does for all of my weddings…(I have good luck) it stopped and the celebration began! It took place in sw michigan at the residence of one of their closet friends, whose home her father designed. There were orchids everywhere, including each cupcake, in addition to a touch of island accents. There guests were graced with the music of a gentleman who played with Jimmy Buffet for many years….he was fantastic. There was one catch, Sam wanted NO posed pictures…I did manage to steal the two of them for a a minute or two, just to get a few….other than that, I was a fly on the wall! I rented a lensbaby for this wedding, but realized I’m not a huge fan, but got a great ring shot with it. We got a few pics with the horses, but both of them kept wanting to eat her dress ~ that was no good! **and let me just add…that I was in love with that red wood floor….and plan on doing that in my next house! Enjoy my favorites….

What a fun wedding with unending amounts of great friends and family surrounding them. Billy was totally different than his engagement session…and completely himself! Jess was amazingly beautiful…I always take a few face shots of all of my brides near a window and when I had finished a series there for her – as she gets up she says “did you get anything?” are you kidding me??? how could I not?! Her bridesmaids – had the most fabulous *glamorous* dresses and *sweet* zipper heels…who could ask for more??? We found some really fun places to shoot on our trip on the party bus *including inside a private airplane hanger! Then headed over to the country club where we were greeted with our very own home made jar of salsa, 4 different types of food stations to choose from, and light pouring in from the giant windows on their celebration. Congratulations you two & enjoy some of my favorites in you preview!

A seriously adorable couple inside and out….I really enjoyed their interaction, and natural ability to be comfortable in their own skin. Their wedding is in only a week!! I can’t wait – – enjoy my faves! here is their slideshow **click here**

What an adorable couple!! Aaron & Holly won “me” from a contest on Jen’s blog a year ago. What a gracious, vivacious personality Holly has…you should see all the faces I caught from her the whole day! Aaron is incredibly sweet and so in love with her…you two were meant to be together! Here are just a few I picked out before I move onto a whole night of editing! It rained for most of the day, except for a small window during the reception, where I whipped them outside for a few! So glad I met you two and I really enjoyed being apart of your day!

I can’t wait to shoot their wedding in August! I can just tell that it’s going to be fabulous….
I met them to shoot, down in St. Joseph, MI at Kilwins (it’s her aunt’s store) and had the most amazing ice cream flavor *toasted coconut* which is packed full of yumminess! They grew up in the area and are high school sweethearts~ how cute is that?! I really enjoyed touring around town with you two! Can’t wait until August!

Things I have learned from destination weddings…you truly will have the best, stress free, memorable wedding you could ever imagine…and everyone gets a fabulous vacation! Seriously ~ I don’t think any bride who chooses it this way ever regrets it. I am honored to have been included! Connie of Elegant Banff Occasions was the most organized planner I have ever seen…which is why maybe everything went flawlessly and stress free! Please call her if you’re even thinking about going there. We all stayed at the Fairmont in Lake Louise, which is about 45 minutes north of Banff ~ another fabulous town. It was gorgeous and I am definitely going back. There were so many awesome photos, and really hard to choose as usual…but this was the first official wedding I have ever shot strictly by myself…I think I faired well~ Enjoy these luxurious images….I really hope I can see you all of you again at the local reception this weekend! **huge 400+ slideshow**

Real quick before I hop on my plane….here are just a few of the million that I shot…..aren’t they smashing….

**ps.. families….the count was 2432….for the whole trip.

WOW ~ is all I can say.  My whole drive to my hotel…looked like the pictures below….every second of it!  Yesterday, I went with Nathan & Ashleigh into town to obtain their marriage license and we just made a day of it, stopping everywhere to enjoy the area!  What a great way to spend earth day!  Today is their wedding and I can’t wait!!  This is all I have time to share right now!    more later!    **I really do love my job!  

what a fabulous workshop!! I didn’t teach I actually attended! Lindsey DeYoung and I hosted a workshop at our studio, that Ali Hohn flew in and taught us!!! It was so fun to learn this lighting technique. We did it the entire weekend…so I am pretty sure I’ve got it down! The first five pics were taken in full sun! and the rest (except the sunset ones…) were all shot during daylight in well lit areas! Here are the fabulous results…way too many favorites!

Really, when I shoot weddings and details, I am trying to capture all these amazing details that the bride, her family, friends, or planner have spent so much time for and most likely will never see again! So, it’s really fun to see your photos and your brides ideas and art at their wedding inspire other planners, brides, and photogs….here are just two wedding blogs featuring my work over the weekend!

Pearls Events here is GR….weekend eye candy from Ben & Abby’s wedding.

Melissa’s Smitten in southern cal…..Tim & Sarah’s fabulous white glass vases and flowers.

Speaking of blogs….if you are looking to spiffy up your own blog….please check out Theresa’s business Blogs for Photogs….she does amazing work! …and also helps me fix things that I screw up on while trying to fix things! There on sale this week!

More very special babies and weddings to come!