mod4 is fun

venue ~ St. Johns Plymouth

DJ ~ Panache

photo booth ~ Shutter Booth

cake ~ cupcake station

florist ~ Magnolia

Rachel & Steve were a referral from past couple Erin and Stefan (Erin is Steve’s sister). They were also married at St Johns!

Their wedding was classic and beautiful, everything you’d expect from a St Johns wedding.

They were very laid back and easy going throughout the day, which is exactly what I hope for every wedding dayThe timeline at St Johns can be a bit stressful on couples at times, but Rachel & Steve didn’t let that get to them and we had plenty of time to do everything we needed to and more!

venue ~ Meadow Brook Hall

event planning + flowers ~ Paper Moon

dress ~ Ines DiSanto from Roma Sposa

Juliet should be on the cover of The Knot. It’s undeniable. She has the most dreamy quality to her. I know I couldn’t stop looking at her so I can’t imagine how her friends + family felt, and especially Chris.

They are part of the growing group of super smart couples that choose to do a first look in order to do their portraits before the ceremony and have plenty of time. Like I say, I LOVE not being rushed! Meadow Brook is one of the most beautiful wedding venues I think this area has to offer. It is a gem and if you are lucky enough to celebrate your event there, you are lucky. There is never a shortage of goreaous places to photograph a gorgeaou couple.

Their wedding day was one of the classiest events I’ve been a part of. No detail was not tended to with absolute stunning perfection. The day was also one of perfection. The sky was the most amazing color blue during the ceremony, which, as a photographer, is always what I hope for, but it often does not work out that way.

When I walked into the tent to photograph the reception details, my mouth dropped. It was one of the most stunning set ups I have seen done in that tent before. They made that tent feel like a ballroom in the swankiest of hotels.

If your an editor from a wedding magazine reading this: Put Juliet and Chris is your magazine – you know you want to

portrait location ~ The Troy Historical Museum

ceremony ~ St. John Fisher chapel

reception ~ Addison Oaks

I get mad crushes on some couples. Like when I watch them together, I think “I’d like what they have”, or when they are just being awesome and hilarious, I’ll think “I want to hang out with them!”. Emily + Taras are my couple crush of the year.

Emily’s mom works at the Troy Historical Museum (think itty bitty Greenfield Village without the creepy people dressed up), so we met up there for their first look and bridal party portraits. They gave me so much time there, I was rally able to relax and create some super fun and unique images for them. That’s the best thing ever. I heart not being rushed.

The first image in this blog post may be my favorite one of the year. It is hilariously awesome. I got bit by a spider taking it and I still love it, so that tells you how much I love it. I hate getting bit by spiders.

Emily + Taras are so in love. All of my couples are in love, yes. But Emily + Taras have that certain something. That quality in their relationship that most people only have when they first meet. That intoxicating infatuation with one another that never leaves. Swoon.

After a beautiful ceremony, we headed to Addison Oaks for their reception. They had so many adorable, personal details. The first was a firken of homemade beer. A firken. Yup, I had never heard of it either. So it’s a tradition that the bride taps the firken. Turns out Emily was not only the bride, but a “firken virgin”! I laughed so hard. She had never tapped a firken before. So you hammer in this spike thing into the firken (barrel) and then you put in a spout and then you fill your cups. So, Emily, in her dress, is hammering this spike thing into a barrel of beer and it spurts. A lot. I think Addison Oaks may still have homemade beer on their ceiling. It was amazing. See images of spurting firken now.

Also, mustard as a favor? Yes! Please. I heart mustard.

Their wedding was close to the 4th of July and it happened to be Addison Oaks big fireworks night – so they got a gigantic free fireworks display for their weddingIt’s tricky to photograph fireworks and people together, but we conquered and created some pretty fun fireworks images!

Long story short: I heart Emily + Taras.

I heart Emily + Taras.

venue ~ Lovett Hall @ The Henry Ford

coordination, flowers, decor, linens + cake ~ christopher & company

video ~ 11-4 Productions

band ~ Lorio Ross

Where to begin?!

Brianne is the sister of a past bride, Lisa. Lisa’s wedding was amazing. Brianne’s wedding was amazing. Lesson learned? This family throws amazing weddings!

Brianne and Josh live out of state and her wonderful mother, Joy, did a lot of the leg work for her.  By the time the wedding  day came around I felt like Joy and I were old friends

Brianne was one of the most stunningly beautiful brides I’ve seen. She looked absolutely incredible. She and Josh had a traditional Jewish wedding (which I LOVE)! That meant we were able to do a first look and do the portraits before the ceremony.  The Henry Ford Museum and Lovett Hall are some of the greatest spots for wedding portraits. I feel so lucky every time I get to work there.

christopher and company did just about everything for this wedding, seriously. They transformed the ballroom, which I have seen many times, into something I have never seen before. This was a lavishly beautiful reception on a scale that I don’t often see.

venue ~ Detroit Yacht club

band ~ Good Gravy

florist ~ Downings

Leann + Jim had a destination wedding (lucky, I know!), and decided to throw an at home reception to celebrate with all of their friends and family. Since it was a reception only, there was no ceremony – they played their wedding video during the reception~! W started off shooting portraits around Belle Isle before heading back to the Detroit Yacht club for the party.

Leann’s dress was  the definition of amazing~! It was a bit chilly that day but she championed through the outdoor portraits and we got some amazing images.

There is something amazing about losing the stress that is inherently present when it is your official “wedding day”. Leann + Jim were so laid back and able to just fully enjoy their party, family and friends. It was pure wonderful.