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

JR + lindsay | wedding | valparaiso, in

sooooooo....last saturday was my last wedding of september, and it was spent in indiana with lindsay and JR!

i met lindsay a few years ago as she was in the wedding party of another couple's wedding that i was shooting. she is a photographer herself and the fact that she kept my info over the years and sought me out once she was engaged was amazing to me! it was a great reminder that even the simplest of interactions can leave an impression, for good or bad..and i was fortunate enough to have her call me in preparation for her own day - what a compliment!

to be honest, i haven't spent a whole lot of time in indiana..as it usually is just the state through which i travel to visit my brother and his family in tennessee or get to a shoot in chicago. but wow, did valparaiso surprise me in the very best way. my assistant james and i had very few words to exchange when we walked into the chapel on the university's campus. like so many locations with stunning beauty..words, and even photos do not do it justice. and it was in the beauty of such a room that JR and lindsay shared their vows.

and not only did the chapel and even the reception site deliver all sorts of eye-candy..but the late september weather was the stuff of dreams! from start to finish it was a wonderful day*

l&jr - you guys...it was such a great day! thank you for your trust and for making my job never once feel like a job during the day.  blessings to you two..i hope you enjoy the preview as much as i did working on it!

-npe

matt + heather | wedding | grand rapids public museum

word of mouth will keep you honest. it will keep you accountable. it will keep you focused on providing the very best, every time.

this past saturday's wedding day was spent with matt and heather, a couple who were referred to me by friends and colleagues...i actually had the privilege of shooting matt's sister's wedding a few years ago...but when you are actually living the day with couples like heather and matt, you gain a greater appreciation for those who have supported your dreams for years, and also for the couple who took the word of their friends and entrusted you with their wedding day.

well, m&h, it was an honor! thank you so much for choosing me and for allowing me to follow along on a crazy fun day! from the back halls of your family's greenhouse to the classy dance floor spread out at the public museum, it was all gorgeous! i hope these images capture how much you seemed to love every moment of your day, and i can't wait to get the full gallery to you, so you can relive it over and over again.

blessings my friends!

- npe

zach + carrie | wedding | bissell tree house | grand rapids, mi

i've said it a few times now, and maybe its time to make it a reality!

i hear some pretty entertaining, funny, sweet, endearing, ridiculous things on a wedding day, and i've said that i should write a book someday with all the memorable quotes i've heard at weddings. if nothing else, at least it would be entertaining for me, haha!

well, this past friday held yet another day full of memorable quotes and moments for zach and carrie...but there was one thing i heard more than once.  i actually heard it more times than i can remember, and it came from an absolutely stunning bride.

..."isn't he cute!?"

i heard carrie say this so many times and how she just couldn't get over how dashing her husband looked. honestly, its little things like this that prick my heart. they confirm in my mind that love is joyful, sometimes boisterous, often passionate, and always unashamed!

what a fabulous day* zach and carrie, you showed me time and time again on friday that you really did trust me, and for that i cannot say thank you enough. to put in my hands the task of capturing your wedding was a gift that i would gladly accept again in a heartbeat.

oh, and i'll be thinking of you two come this winter, when we are all enjoying another polar vortex and you two slip off to jamaica! love you guys, i wish you all the very best.

blessings,

nathan 

floral - horrocks market

photography - nathan english photography

cake - the cakabakery

catering - the catering company

dj - curtis avison

makeup and hair design - friends of the bride

eric + nikki | grand rapids | wedding

its not every day that you can say you got married and almost experienced a tornado in the same day!

well, that was this past saturday for eric and nikki, even losing power at the church! certainly an exciting start to my weddings in 2014! thank you friends for the privilege and honor it was to share in this celebration with you.

from the early morning hints of sunlight, to the dance party that ended the night, it was one fantastic day, all wrapped up in the beauty of witnessing these two promise to pursue each other for the rest of their lives, so awesome!

blessings my friends,

npe

nick + katie | wedding | perry hotel | petoskey, mi

when nick and katie first met, they told me they both shared a common vision of their own respective futures.  marriage was not in the forecast.  and yet, for these two...it seemed as though there was little either could do to steer away from the gift that stood before them...each other. i was moved to tears as nick read his vows to his stunning bride. truly a man of strength, stricken to the heart with an overwhelming love for the woman that walked down the aisle to meet him. and katie, with her honest joy, beautiful smile, and uplifting spirit...it was a gift to witness her take in every moment of her wedding day...from the sleet and downpours of the morning, to the magnificent golden sky at sunset.

i don't think i could work through this preview fast enough.  every image jumped out at me and helped cement in my mind two great truths. One, Petoskey is a remarkable place. And two, Nick and Katie are the type of clients that win my heart every time.

Blessings to you n&k...it was a privilege!

-npe

pj + elizabeth | wedding | st. joseph, mi

for a photographer shooting a wedding...i have to say, there is no better feeling that to have your clients just as excited to see you, as you are to see them! when i opened up the door of elizabeth's suite at the hotel this past saturday, her infectious smile and joyful hug reminded me why i do what i do...its all about the people. i felt like i had my own little cheering squad all day, and that cheer section was the bride and groom themselves.  i could not have imagined a better compliment than pj telling me that if elizabeth got stressed out about the planning process for her wedding, she would go to my blog and remind herself - 'at least the photos will be great!'

are you kidding me! i am so very honored and humbled to have the chance to do what i do*

and trust me elizabeth, if these photos are beautiful, it is because and and pj are beautiful, and your wedding day was one for the books. st. joseph hosted quite the celebration on saturday..and yes...i got to be there!

- npe

drew + katie | wedding | gull lake country club | richland, mi

it was an absolutely perfect september day. crisp morning. clear blue skies. the ceremony on the edge of the lake. it was one of those days that has the ability to stop you just admire it's beauty and serenity. and the funny thing was, it rained for their engagement session. but that didn't stop drew and katie then. we used the rain as a character in their story...but that character was far from returning as saturday showed not a cloud in sight!

i cannot say enough about these two friends and their incredible trust in me as an artist. i felt like just another member of the wedding party, with drew and katie up for any of my sometimes crazy ideas.  and for that, I am truly grateful! once again, it was an honor to be a part of this incredible chapter in a couple's life.

from our meetings at vivant and engagement session in the rain, to the last dance on the rocking dance floor - it has been a privilege d&k. thank you. rich blessings to you two.

- npe