phil + christie | wedding | grand traverse resort | traverse city, mi

it has been a bit of a crazy week...but every moment spent on this wedding day preview for christie and phil was a breath of fresh air.  so many details, so many smiles, so much laughter, so much celebration...and to live it over again through the editing process was just a joy.

traverse city was stunning as always and the grande traverse resort was a perfect backdrop for phil and christie and their gathered friends and family to dance the night away. it was said during the toasts for the evening that nearly everyone if not every single guest had come from out of town to join these two on their wedding day...and if that doesn't speak of the incredible support that surrounds phil and christie, i don't know what does! 

thank you p&c, for the incredible privilege of joining you on your wedding day. it was beautiful from start to finish, and capturing those moments and memories was a true honor. blessings in your marriage as this new chapter of life unfolds. love you guys!

all the best,

-npe 

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

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

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

cody + amanda | wedding | stormy lodge | entiat, wa

i couldn't stop smiling. seriously...editing this preview for amanda and cody's wedding two weeks ago in washington continued to bring a smile to my face. there is certainly a story to tell...but lets start at the beginning...

i remember meeting cody in middle school, when i was called to the school office. our principal told me that a new student had moved to leavenworth and asked if i would welcome him and show him around the building. that was the beginning of a friendship that would last through some of the most formative and formable years of our lives. there are very few people on this earth that i know who have the heart and courage that cody has.  i have seen his faith stand firm in the face of the very hardest of life's trials, and i have been witness to the man he has become, which has been truly a joy to see!

fast forward in the story to meeting amanda...i'm pretty sure God hand picked these two for each other. she has such an incredibly warm and nurturing spirit, and the type of kindness you can see in ones eyes.  these two just seem to go together perfectly! their wedding week was certainly not without drama, as wildfires throughout washington threatened to force a change of plans last minute.  but what a spectacular week it turned out to be - and to have the honor of documenting not only the wedding day, but the memories leading up to it was a joy*

c&a...it will certainly be a week to remember, haha. and at the end of it all..was really no end, but the beginning of a new adventure together. thank you for the gift you gave me in allowing me to document the festivities. i am so very grateful for our friendship and wish you two the very best.

blessings in your new marriage - much love 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