derek + amanda | wedding | amway grand hotel | grand rapids, mi

so i shot a celebrity wedding this past weekend...

well, if you ask derek and amanda, they may not agree..but i know the truth! i even told amanda "hey, i didn't know i was shooting the wedding of two celebrities!" when your bride is often on tv sharing her abundance of knowledge in the health and wellness field, and your groom seems to have constant VIP access to some of the biggest shows in the music and entertainment industry, that has the makings of a power couple for sure, haha.

but all kidding aside, these two were so much fun! against the backdrop of the elegant amway grand plaza hotel in grand rapids, a stunning day unfolded with all the details and joy a photographer could hope for. surrounded by beloved friends and family, derek and amanda committed their lives to one another, and i had the honor of witnessing it. what a privilege it is to do this job!

d&a, thank you so very much for the gift of your trust all day. it was such a great day and to share it with you was an honor! blessings to you guys in your marriage*

- npe

caleb + jessica | wedding | air zoo | kalamazoo, mi

part of the joy of photographing weddings is witnessing couples find their stride when it comes to having their picture taken. i often share with couples that my job, among many things, is to foster a relationship between us that allows them to feel at ease in front of some intimidating lenses.

when i first met with jessica and caleb, they both mentioned how getting his photo taken was not high on the list of things caleb loved to do, haha...but i have to say, when the true emotion and bliss of their wedding day arrived, these two owned it and their love for one another showed time and time again in the photos of the day. no amount of camera intimidation prior to last saturday would keep j&c from expressing their captivation for one another and a wonderful sense of appreciation for every moment of the day.

and to top of a day full of laughter and joy, in the spirit of flight (as jessica is a pilot!) the party truly started once we arrived at the air zoo in kalamazoo for a reception to remember.  its not every weekend that you get to not only photograph in such a unique and stunning venue, but also enjoy the childlike thrill of doing barrel roll after barrel roll in a flight simulator like you actually know how to fly!

j&c, thank you so very much for an incredible day...for taking the time to make me feel truly welcomed into your families and into your lives. it was a privilege to take your trust and guide you through photos that i pray will remind you year after year, of the vows you made. many blessings my friends!

- npe

eric + emily | wedding | the h hotel | midland, mi

this past saturday was truly the perfect april day, crisp morning air, sun burning off the clouds, and wedding to celebrate!

i met emily and eric at a wedding i photographed last year and was especially humbled and thrilled when they asked me to be a part of their own wedding. from the beginning of the day when i went skeet shooting with eric, his dad, and best man...to the gorgeous sunset over midland's unique tridge, it was a wonderful day. there was plenty of laughter from start to finish, with a couple who embodied hearts of generosity and kindness while enjoying their wedding day to the fullest!

e&e..thank you again for taking a chance on me and offering me your trust.  i hope you find you made a good decision.  it was my honor to spend the day with you and your families and friends. blessings,

-npe

ross + erin | wedding | watermark country club | grand rapids, mi

i sometimes find it hard to communicate my heart as it relates to the work i do. certainly my aim is never to speak in arrogance or pride...but to honestly recognize the gratefulness that rests in my mind week after week, as i continue to find employment as a wedding photographer. yes, this is my job. yes it required and still requires a lot of sacrifice and dedicated hard work. yes i have my bad days. but as cheesy as it sounds, i honestly often forget that i am working...when photographing a wedding.

this past saturday was yet another day where the lines between work and play were blurred...where spending those hours with erin, ross, and their family and friends had me focusing on the details not for the sake of expectation, but for the sake of pure enjoyment and the fulfillment of capturing a gorgeous day with honest beauty.

those that know erin and ross will tell you that you would be hard pressed to find another couple who is more welcoming, accommodating, thoughtful and gracious. my wife and i had the privilege of spending time with them in arizona for their engagement session and we were witness to some of the very best hospitality we have ever experienced...i guess it might help a little that ross is a manager at one of the country's most premiere resort hotels. and that essence of accommodation carried over into the wedding day, with a couple who graciously gave me their trust and lived in the moment...the moment of a day to remember.

thank you e+r for everything. its hard to sum it all up, but i am sincerely grateful. i hope you enjoy the peek into your day, as it was a true pleasure to share in it with you. blessings to you two on your marriage.

grace and peace,

npe

tim + helena | wedding | downtown market | grand rapids, mi

surrounded by light and in the midst of family, friends, and the sweet aroma of a greenhouse...tim and helena pledged their lives together in marriage.

just over a week ago, those that were closest to them gathered in grand rapids to witness the intimate ceremony against the stunning backdrop of a room of light at the downtown market. it was chic, eloquent, and an privilege to be a part of.  i met helena and tim through a friend at church and even in the brief time we had together, i could tell that they both had an air of genuineness about them. i felt privileged to witness a small window into their lives through the morning ceremony and brunch..and needless to say, the two had no trouble looking fabulous and offering me some incredible moments to capture.

once again t&h, the honor was mine to join you on your wedding day.  thank you for the invitation, the warm reception as a friend, the delicious food, and a chance to help you remember these moments forever*

- npe 

mike + anne | wedding | grand rapids, mi

when you get to spend the day with just six special people as two families are joined together, you have the privilege of truly feeling like family as well.  

this past friday anne and mike were married in an intimate ceremony of just their parents and sisters, amid a lot of joyful tears i might add! mike and anne met on the slopes of caberfae as members of the ski patrol, and a mutual love for the slopes is certainly something we shared right away! the ceremony took place in a charming little chapel in grand rapids with a private reception at the 19th century mansion turned restaurant of mangiamo* talk about incredible food!

m&k, thank you for such a wonderful day.  you braved cold weather and shared such a special and intimate day with me, and i recognize the privilege it was.  blessings to you two in your lives together.  and yes, we still need to hit the slopes together someday!!!

- npe

derek + kristin | wedding | westphalia, mi

no amount of cold these past few weeks could keep these two from joy and jubilation!

derek and kristin got hitched on valentine's day and made the most of the romantic day, even with the negative 15 degree windchill*  i am pretty sure i am starting to get an idea of how the communities of fowler and westphalia celebrate weddings, holding nothing back!! i had the privilege of photographing a wedding here a few years ago for one of kristin's bridesmaids, and even with rough weather, kristin and derek's friends, family, and guests made sure to be present to witness and celebrate their marriage, thats true commitment to a couple!

thank you d&k for keeping me warm on a cold day, for all your organization and willingness to smile into the wind.  blessings to you two in your marriage as it was an honor to witness your vows and dance the night away with you!

all the best,

-npe

james + tressa | wedding | withinsodo | seattle, wa

i am so grateful for the people i meet and the relationships i discover in my line of work. when you work in the world of people's memories and life changing moments, you get a unique perspective on the power of relationship and the beauty of sacrificial love.  all in all, i don't think shooting weddings will ever get old to me. and i don't mind a bit*

for the first wedding of 2015, jana and i made the trip out to the pacific northwest and my home state of washington.  i had the privilege of meeting james and tressa through jana...who actually grew up just a few houses down from tressa when they were kids.  how cool it was to jump the gap in time and join them on their wedding day after tressa and jana and shared so many childhood memories before families moved away.

when the soon to be married couple invited us to be a part of their ceremony in seattle and photograph the day, we jumped at both the excitement of being with them on their special day and also the chance to revisit seattle and the surrounding beauty that is pretty much all of washington!

needless to say, it was a great trip, filled with old friends, new friends, great coffee, evergreen trees, rain, sun, and a whole lot of adventure! j&t, thank you so much for allowing jana and i to share in your day.  it was an honor, and i hope you enjoy this little preview of what was an incredible start to 2015!

- npe

freddy + stephanie | wedding | goei center | grand rapids, mi

its a funny story...the circumstances in which we first met. but you'll have to ask stephanie about that one! ;D

a little over a week ago, i spent a colorful fall day in grand rapids with two new friends. freddy, along with his new bride stephanie, were smiles at every turn, every moment! trying to get a vogue look from these two was a pretty awesome challenge, because lets face it..who doesn't love people who exude happiness and laughter. and laugh we did!

with some of the most vibrant fall color i have seen here in michigan, the day itself was vibrant as well with true celebration as steph and freddy said 'i do.' it is always a gift to just be one of the party, and thats how i felt, right from the start...feeling far away from 'work' and very close to the profound reminder that my job is such a privilege...and SO MUCH FUN!

thank you f&s..for picking me out of a lineup of endless photographers and for trusting me with your day. it was fabulous and a joy for me to be a part of.  i hope this preview lets you relive a little of how great your wedding truly was. i wish you two all the best!

much love,

- npe

zane + nicole | wedding | spring lake country club | spring lake, mi

so fall here in michigan has really been on point...i mean, really* fantastic color with some really great weather combine for a photographer's dream, especially when you have clients who are hoping for an outdoor ceremony in october!

but nicole and zane probably could not have gotten any better weather.  as the sun shown down through the rustling leaves of the willow looming over the wedding party, these two pledged their lives to each other.  i love shooting at spring lake country club and especially ceremonies that take place under those weeping willows...right off the water, it was all so lovely!

nicole, thank you so very much for your trust and gracious words.  you gave me the opportunity to creatively see the day moment by moment and it was a gift* and zane, for a guy who hates getting his picture taken, i have to say..you did a pretty stellar job.  i hope i won you over to the belief that taking pictures with nathan isn't all bad, haha.  you two were a joy to work with and i wish you all the best in your marriage - here's to 60 years and more!

- npe