Detroit Michigan wedding photography at the Waterview Loft at the Port of Detroit provided by Kellie Saunders and her award team of Detroit, MI wedding photographers. Michelle and Mitch love adventure and discovering the unknown. They met in elementary school and their lives mirrored each other where they went to the same high school and attended Michigan State for their undergrad degrees. However close they were in their childhood, they never dated until later in life, when they both found themselves living in the Royal Oak area. They just kept running into each other and finally after the universe spent 18 years trying to put this puzzle together, Mitch asked Michelle on a date. Their proposal story is unique and a preview to the adventures that are waiting for them in life. Michelle tells it best in her own words, so here's a little snippet. "We walk our dog almost every day after work. On the Friday he proposed, we were going to be on vacation for the next week. I got home first (or so I thought) and was relaxing in the backyard when he got home. He was all eager to go on a walk so we changed and started our walk on our usual walk. Sometimes on our walks we will go into houses as they are being built, we like to check out the floor plan and imagine what goes where. As we were walking he pointed out a house that was being built and wanted to go check it out. We walked in and looked around downstairs and then he said "let's go check out the upstairs." He let me go first and as I neared the to of the stairs I noticed that there was stuff up there, it took a moment for it to register, but I then saw on the floor rose petals spelling out "Will you marry me," there were flowers everywhere, and a big picture of us from our Costa Rica trip. I turned around and he was down on one knee, it was all happy tears, smiles, and kisses from there on out. We sat in the house calling our family and drinking champagne for a while, just enjoying the moment. It was perfection and so us. I am not easy to surprise and I was completely stunned." Now you know dear friends, that when Mitch and Michelle told me their proposal story, I asked the hard questions. Did Mitch have keys to this builder’s house? Did he find the builder and ask permission? While I'm not at liberty to say publicly what I know to be true, I can say that I can say that Mitch is quite a thrill seeker and Michelle has one fantastically fun future ahead of her! Their wedding day was nothing short of spectacular. The bridal party gathered at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center for the typical preparations. The staff at the Marriott were gracious and kind as always! Michelle wanted to have a "non-first look, first look", so we used our imaginations and set it up for them. They decided to sign their marriage license before the wedding and exchange gifts but they didn't want to see each other until walking down the aisle. This created some challenges because there were many places we could do something like this at the Ren-Cen, but we found a spot that worked perfectly.Once their gifts were exchanged and marriage license signed, Michelle headed over to the Waterview Loft to wait for the official nuptial exchange. The Waterview Loft is one of my favorite wedding venues of all time! The location on the Detroit riverfront is perfect, with stunning views and a busy pedestrian thoroughfare. On a hot summer day it makes for fun people watching, especially if there is a festival. After vows were exchanged and first kisses had we quickly photographed the immediate family and then took a fast stroll down the riverfront to take a few wedding portraits. Michelle and Mitch chose not to have a traditional first look where would have extra time for wedding portraits before the ceremony. This was the right decision for them, and I fully supported it. But for those who are deciding between a first look or not, it's important keep expectations in mind. Michelle and Mitch understood that by not having a first look it would affect the amount of wedding portraits they received of the only the two of them, because we literally had fifteen minutes to work with them after the family formals. Because they are thrill seekers and able to roll with the flow, this worked for them. If you are a couple who wants more stylized and editorial type imagery, your photographer will most definitely want to discuss a first look. The day following the wedding, Mitch and Michelle left for an extended honeymoon in Europe. They spent 9 nights in Italy and then cruised the Mediterranean Sea for seven more nights. Their future plans include fixing up their Royal Oak home and starting a family. Since they are both hard working and motivated, they will continue to grow their careers. They love learning new things and travel and since they live in my neighborhood I'm excited to run into them so I can hear all about the new adventures they experience! Congratulations Mitch and Michelle! I can't wait to see what life brings your way!  

Whenever I'm asked what was my all time favorite wedding to photograph, I say Stevie and Ryan's wedding! In the ten years I've been photographing weddings and working with couples in love, never have the stars aligned like they did for Stevie and Ryan on their wedding day. It's so easy as you are planning your wedding to get swept up in pinterest photos or amazing instagram shots that you find and want to try. I get it - I look around the web myself from time to time. But I try to remind couples as they are shopping for a wedding photographer that it's important that to keep in mind that things like chemistry, emotion, environment, allotted time and so many other factors affect your wedding day photography experience. When all of these things come together and flow properly, the chances of hitting a home run photographic experience are pretty high. Stevie and Ryan's wedding was one I won't ever forget. I doubt there will be another like it ever again. They were married under a lovely tree on a sunny day that had the bluest sky you've ever seen. The rest - well - the rest is below. You can see it all for yourself. If you can hang on until the very end, some of my favorite images are the ones we took at night, under the little homemade village in the woods created from old parachutes. Magic. Just magic. Stevie and Ryan, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Photography services for the wedding ceremony at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club was provided by Metro Detroit wedding photographer Kellie Saunders and her team. Ashley and Tom, I don't even know where to start. A couple of times a year I am blessed with clients who are just the most easy going, selfless and loving people. Now don't get me wrong, almost everyone who works with me is easy going and loving, but Ashley and Tom are exceptional. Meeting people like them is a blessing to me. They inspire me to be a better person. They inspire me to give a little more of myself than I thought I could give. They inspire me to just relax and spend more time with my own family. This is how I describe Ashley and Tom. I realize I was "just" their wedding photographer" and I don't really know them as intimately as their family and friends do. With that said, I can say without any reservation that most likely everyone who knows them - even those who just met them - can feel their genuine spirt and loving souls! Ashley and Tom are both doctors, and I've found that people who work in medicine tend to be very practical and down to earth. They understand human nature a little differently than most. They understand the delicate nature of life and how quickly it's taken from us. I don't know why, maybe it's because they deal with life and death on a daily basis, but the doctors and medical professionals I've had the pleasure of working with are just made from different stuff. Ashley and Tom wanted a beautiful wedding, but the wedding wasn't what they wanted the most. They just wanted to be married - to each other. They wanted to start their lives and get on with the show. Their wedding day wasn't about the party, to them it was about being together and celebrating their life and the love they have for their families and friends. They value relationships over things and wanted to showcase their relationships with others throughout their wedding day. They told me they wanted to just experience their wedding and enjoy it for what it is. They wanted to live in the moment of the day. It was truly special because of this. The ceremony and reception were both held at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, where Tom's dad is an active member. Ashley, her sister in law, and a couple of doctor friends actually put the floral arrangements together themselves on the wedding day. It was so much fun to watch them working together before getting ready for the day. Ashley and Tom decided to have a first look at the club and wanted to see each other for the first time on the drawbridge. I wasn't sure how that would work out photographically speaking, because at the time I had never worked at the club, but oh my goodness it was lovely! It was a beautiful moment for the two of them. We quickly went to a local park for a few portraits and then high tailed it back to the club so Ashley and Tom could get married and start their lives together! What an amazing day and what a lovely couple!!!!

Wedding day photography at the Detroit Institute of Arts (known to locals as the DIA) provided by Kellie Saunders and her team of Michigan wedding photographers. I'd like to introduce one of my all time favorite couples and one of my all time favorite wedding venues! Jenny and Erich have been nothing short of enjoyable and such a pleasure to work with and taking wedding pictures at the Detroit Institute of Arts or DIA was amazing! If I had to pick one word that describes Jenny and Erich best as a couple, the word is genuine! When I first meet my couples to learn about them and their wedding day, I try to ask the hard questions. I want to know what makes them unique. What drew them to each other. Why, out of all the people in the world did these two meet and fall in love? I have heartfelt discussions with most of my couples at the initial meeting and this was no different with Jenny and Erich. But at the end of our meeting, Erich looked a bit uncomfortable. I couldn't help but wonder what was on his mind. I could tell he noticed I felt the energy change in the room. Then he leaned in towards me and said, "Look Kellie, I'm pretty sure we are going to hire you. But I need to make one thing clear. I want to have fun on my wedding day. My motto is more party, less Bull$h!t. Are you going to be able to roll with that?" I couldn't contain my laughter. I immediately fell in love with Jenny and Erich and I knew their wedding day would be outstanding. Jenny and Erich met in Ann Arbor in the fall of 2013. Both were new in town, Erich moving back from his time in the Navy and Jenny arriving for a job after finishing her psychology training. Wanting to make new friends, they joined a young professionals meet-up group. Well, one meet-up was all it took for their love story to begin. Erich tried his best to go deep undercover and ask for Jenny’s number under the guise of joining her trivia team. (It’s only fair to note that he has yet to go to trivia with her). They started dating and soon knew they were headed towards a life together. In May 2015, Jenny and Erich traveled to what I consider one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Florence, Italy. During an adventure-packed road trip into the Italian countryside Erich planned a stay at a historic castle overlooking a valley, where they could see the city of Perugia in the distance. As the sun slowly set, Erich asked Jenny to walk with her to the rose garden, where he then proposed. Their wedding day was just as Erich said it should be, “more party, less Bull$h!t.”. We started the day at the historic Book Cadillac where they prepared for the day with their friends and family. They opted to have a first look, but shortly after they saw each other it began to storm. Jenny and Erich are realists and did not stress over a little thunder and lightening. As luck would have it, they had the most spectacular venue to go to, so we had absolutely no worries. We headed over to the DIA a little earlier than expected and was able to create some beautiful wedding pictures in the museum and had fun while doing it. The Detroit Institute of Arts is an absolutely beautiful wedding venue! They don’t allow wedding day photos inside of the museum unless couples have their wedding there, so being able to work with Jenny and Erich was a special treat for me. The wedding ceremony was held in the Diego Rivera Court at the DIA. Painted between 1932 and 1933; the court contains a series of twenty-seven fresco panels painted by the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera. These frescos are considered Rivera’s most successful work. Jenny and Erich’s wedding reception was held in the Walter B. Ford Great Hall. It was lovely to photograph such an animated and lively crowd! Their friends and family certainly did not disappoint this wedding photographer! Before the night ended and since it rained so much earlier in the day, Jenny and Erich finished off their time with me by taking a few portraits outside at night. Those are some of my favorite and most authentic images from their wedding day. Jenny and Erich headed out to the Wild West for a honeymoon adventure at a dude ranch in Jackson Hole! They are currently enjoying their time in Ann Arbor as Erich finishes his MBA. Congratulations to Jenny and Erich! May your life be filled with happiness and smiles!

Wedding photographs at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit were provided by Kellie Saunders and her team of the best Metro-Detroit wedding photographers. Amy and Ian really knew how to throw a party, and they couldn't have picked a better venue for their wedding than the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit. I absolutely love taking wedding photos at the Book Cadillac because it's just so darn easy to do! When you start with the most classically timeless architecture and pair it with great food, excellent staff and modern decor - you get nothing short of fantastic! Amy and Ian held their traditional Jewish wedding ceremony in the Crystal Ballroom which makes a breathtaking backdrop for a wedding ceremony. Blossoms of Birmingham created a lovely Chuppah which adorned the already beautiful room. After they signed their ketubah, said their vows and made things official in front of friends and family they partied the night away with their reception in the Venetian Ballroom which is just about the most beautiful ballroom in Detroit. I like to talk about each of my couples in my blog posts, and this one will be no exception. Amy and Ian have been so wonderful to work with and I was incredibly honored that they picked me as their photographer. When I work with my couples I often get to see them in ways that others do not. After all they pay me to be observant. So I have to watch. And while I'm watching them I observe personality traits and I often get to see the good, the bad and the ugly. I can hands down one hundred percent say there was absolutely no bad and no ugly with this couple! They were so loving and genuine with not only each other, but their friend and their family. Amy touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes as I watched her hold her zaide's hand while he spoke to her. (Zaide is the word for grandfather in yiddish). She may not even realize that I was watching her, but she stepped away from her party and all her friends to go sit with her grandfather in a quiet corner during the height of her wedding reception. She held his hand softly, and as they sat there together, the room slowly faded away. At that moment it was just Amy and her grandpa. I could feel their love and it was so special to witness. Later than night as I was packing up my gear and getting ready to leave for the night I saw Amy and Ian dancing together, and Amy looked at Ian the same very way she looked at her grandfather. That kind of love isn't surface love. It's deeper than that. It holds you tight at your core. I can say with utmost certainty that with each other they have truly found their beshert. Congratulations Amy and Ian! I wish you a long life of happiness, love and of course laughter!