Metro Detroit Michigan wedding photography at the elegant Meadowbrook Country Club provided by Kellie Saunders and her team of creative Detroit, MI wedding photographers. I sure have hit the jackpot with my wedding couples this year. I couldn't ask for better couples who are more in love! It makes my job so much easier when my couples are not only excited about each other, but excited for me to capture their day. I met Jessica at a bridal show that I did last year. I remember she had the most spirited energy of anyone I met that whole day. She beemed with excitement as she talked about marrying Chuck. Obviously she didn't hire me right on the spot, but a couple of months later, she called to talk about her big day and I felt like we were old friends - kindred spirits! She told me more about Chuck and how they met in Colorado. She said that they moved back to Michigan and wanted their wedding to express not on their love for each other but their love for their friends and family. She said she wanted an exciting day - and boy was it ever exciting! These two are tough! I often talk about my tough couples, but they were just made tough. They were not only married on the hottest day of the year - yes it was toasty as can be - but the day also came with a thunderstorm! You would think between the unbearable heat and rain they would have run out of energy and just said to heck with it. Let's just call it a day and figure photos out later. They did just the opposite of that. When the rain started they just told their bridal party to go on inside - but they looked at me and said - let's keep going. Boy am I glad they had that attitude because we were able to really capture some lovely images for them! Jessica and Chuck have a love for each other that really is selfless. Jessica's love for Chuck extends far past him but also to his two children. I always love when kids are part of the ceremony. It was such a pleasure photographing their wedding as they became a family. Please join me in wishing them a long happy life filled with love and laughter! To Jessica and Chuck - I adored you guys! I hope you love my favorites that I've included below. Enjoy!

Metro Detroit Michigan wedding photography at Zingerman's Cornman Farms provided by Kellie Saunders and her team of the best wedding photographers in Michigan. As much as I want this to be a blog post telling everyone all about Linda and Randy's Zingerman's Cornman Farms wedding day, I have to switch things up a bit this time. I can't stop smiling when I think of their day. Even editing their photos was a joy. I have never met two people like Linda and Randy - EVER. I decided I wanted to tell them exactly how I feel about them and their wedding in the letter below. Dear Linda and Randy, I really just love you guys! I don't know any other way to say it except to come out and say it. I've witnessed many love stories in my time as a wedding photographer. To be completely honest I don't really know your exact story. We met over the phone and again in person on your wedding day. I didn't have a lot of time to really get to know you guys or your backgrounds before your big day. Coming into your wedding I thought it would be a normal wedding day. But you guys, your wedding for me was ANYTHING but business as usual. Your love - it moved me. You are good people. Real people. Geniune, kind, loving and fair. You love each other, you love your friends and families and they love you. How couldn't they love you? You put them and everyone else before yourselves. This is what I saw. You are unselfish, considerate, authentic and wise. There's absolutely NOTHING not to love about either of you. You both laugh from your heart and you smile with your soul. I'm not sure if you know that outsiders can see this or not, but we can and we do. That's what I saw in both of you. You told your friends and family not to bring gifts to your wedding. You had no card box because you wanted to nail this point home. You just wanted people to celebrate with you. And when you gave your speech - you told them that this day was about THEM not you. It was about celebrating THEIR support and love for the two of you. You wanted to throw this party for them. Never have I felt so much love from a group of people. I could feel the energy - the kindness you had for your family and friends. It was nothing short of beautiful. I could not hold back my own tears, so I let them flow and let my mascara run. I had to rely on my camera's autofocus because my eyes were a bit watery during your speech. Thank god it worked. :-) I just want to thank you both for sharing your day with me. Showing me what selfless love is. Showing me how good people can be. I'm old. We get cynical as we age (which some of you reading this know). But Randy and Linda, you made me a believer in goodness once again. I will forever be greatful for photographing your wedding. You actually gave me a gift. Please enjoy my favorite images from your wedding.  XOXOXOXO Kellie

Metro Detroit Michigan wedding photography at the Royal Oak Farmers Market provided by Kellie Saunders and her team of creative Detroit, MI wedding photographers. First let me start off by saying I have NEVER seen the Royal Oak Farmers Market look better! If you are having your wedding at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, you might want to check this blog post out, because Erin and Dustin could give you some major pointers. I'm having a hard time articulating how much I love this wedding, this couple, these two families, this little girl, this dog, these sisters and brothers, these moms, these friends, these dads - oh the list goes on and on. Erin works in the wedding industry. She knows so many vendors and has so many friends in this industry. But she just so happened to meet met at a bridal show and picked ME to photograph her wedding. She literally could have had anyone do it, but she picked me. Someone she didn't know very well - but she had a "hunch" we would get along. Well I want to tell Erin right here and now that I am HONORED that she picked me and and that she was right, we get along just fine! I adore her!!! Here are some of the things I love about Erin and Dustin's wedding day. Jane Austin. Batman. Superheros. Homemade wedding cake. Comic books. Bloody Mary's. Spiked lemonade. Classic cars. Rock and roll. Dogs. Converse. Spiderman. Farmers Market. Food trucks. Pineapple upside down cake. Homemade ice cream. Guitars. Friends as officiants. Two people madly in love! A little girl loved by two of the nicest people I've met! I honestly think the images below tell their wedding day story. I can't say it any better. What a beautiful day for two beautiful souls! Please join me in congratulating Erin and Dustin on their wedding! Leave some love for them on the blog, I'm sure they will be happy to read it!

Metro Detroit Michigan wedding photography at the St. Mary's Shrine Chapel provided by Kellie Saunders and her team of the best Michigan wedding photographers. Heather and Chris had a traditional Catholic Mass at St. Mary's Shrine Chapel in Orchard Lake - and what a day it was! The day started at the hotel where Heather was getting ready. I could feel the nervous anticipation in the room as I arrived. Heather couldn't wait to see Chris! My favorite moment was watching Heather look out the window and just take a moment to herself. She was stunning! After the nuptials, we used the St. Mary's grounds for their wedding portraits. It was steamy hot that September day, but no one broke a sweat (well maybe I did a little)! Heather and Chris were just happy to be together. We left St. Mary's to head to Penna's in Sterling Heights where - oh my god - the most elegant reception awaited! I had no idea Penna's could look this good. Heather designed the room and worked with her florist and no detail was missed. High centerpieces and low centerpieces. The wedding cake was adorned with gold and lots of bling! Even the chaircovers were oh so fancy! I can't say enough about how this room wowed me! Heather and Chris danced the night away amongst friends and family. Please join me in wishing both of them all the happiness in the world! At the time of this blog post I found out they are EXPECTING a baby boy!!!! I'm so excited for them and can't wait to watch their family grow.

Metro Detroit Michigan wedding photography at the Lazy J Ranch in Milford provided by Kellie Saunders and her team of the best wedding photographers in Michigan. Now THIS is how a barn wedding recpeption is DONE! Before I begin this blog post and turn it over to Cindy and Dan themselves I have to say a few words about this very special couple. I adore - okay I ADORE (all caps people) - Cindy, Dan and their whole darn family! I knew from the very first time I met them that I was meant to be their wedding photographer. Yes, I'm getting sappy here - but this couple, their friends and family - they are amazing! Thank you Cindy and Dan for your hospitality during your big day! Thank you for allowing me the honor to photograph it! This couple turned the Lazy J Ranch in Milford into a magnificent ballroom. See for yourself! Normally I write about the wedding day and how it all went down, but this blog post is a bit different. Cindy and Dan sent me their story and I would love to include it in this post. She said... "The first time I saw Dan was a picture on match.com. There he was a tall, skinny guy with a lovable smile wearing a Tigers hat. What's not to love? I joke with him that in his pictures he looked like a boy, but the guy that came to my door was a man. I sent the first wink which led to our first date and I have never looked back. Each day I spend with Dan is better than the last. He constantly makes me laugh and always knows just what to say in any situation. I fell in love with his easy going, kind and goofy personality. Dan has a magical way of putting a smile on your face when you least expect it. Not only do I get to marry an amazing man but Dan also comes with an additional package of his wonderful family. I am a lucky girl." He said... "Cindy and I met in Chicago through match.com. I joke that I have no game and without internet dating I would have no hope. It all started with a wink and some drinks at Banger’s and Lace. I told her that she looked better in person than the photos on her profile.  I was very happy to find somebody from Michigan as we had numerous similarities. I couldn’t ask for a better person to start this next chapter in my life. She is an amazing person that brings all kinds of happiness to me. She’s nice, has a big heart, charming, goofy, and brings joy to everyone around her. We have fun and enjoy our time together from a lazy day on the coach to a nonstop busy day. I still can’t believe that she said yes and in a few short months she will be my wife." The proposal... It was important to Dan for the proposal to be a surprise. Months prior they had talked about getting engaged so Dan had to find a way to catch Cindy off guard. It was a Wednesday night in October, Cindy was in a hurry to get home for a call and Dan was putting the last few touches in place. Cindy got off the elevator at their condo to find candles and rose petals in the shape of the an arrow leading her through the condo and eventually to the back deck. The trail of rose petals then lead to the sliding glass door with rose petals in the shape of a question mark before she opened it. There was Dan on one knee, with a shiny ring, more roses, champagne and Frank Sinatra playing in the background. He asked her to marry him, which she asked him to repeat later because she was in shock and didn't hear everything he said. After a few tears of joy she said yes and they raced to call their parents. The wedding... See for yourself below.