tyler + alia | wedding | crystal mountain, mi

lets just say there were a lot of tears shed this past saturday...the best kind of tears*

alia and tyler truly wear their hearts on their sleeves...and to watch them take in their wedding day, moment by moment, was really quite beautiful. when i first met these two for their engagement session up in manistee, right away i knew they would be a blast to work with! and the transition from hired hand to friend seemed to me as seamless as ever....and that made for a really spectacular day, really!

i know i might say it a lot, but northern michigan absolutely put on a show with a forecast of perfection, from start to finish.  the bluest of skies, the nearest of family, the dearest of friends, the stunning beauty of the crystal mountain resort and spa made for a day to remember!

t&a, thank you for being completely and wholly yourselves on your wedding day. for embracing the emotions of the day and allowing me to capture those moments that hopefully will remain close to your heart and in your head for years to come.  your gracious words were so very encouraging and i am so thankful for the opportunity i had to witness your wedding.

all the very best!

-npe

david + kathryn | wedding | the peninsula room | traverse city, mi

there truly is something magical about traverse city in the summer and fall.  i remember the first time my wife and i stumbled upon old mission peninsula. having grown up on the west coast, northern michigan was a mysterious land of beauty i had only heard about...but upon witnessing the stunning landscape of the peninsula, with is rolling hills, lush vineyards, and incredible views of lake michigan, i finally realized what people were always raving about!

well, fast forward a few years to just over a week ago, and i found myself amid those very rolling hills, documenting the wedding day of david and kathryn, and what a stunning day it was. these two were such a pleasure to spend the day with - enjoying every moment of their wedding day. you could certainly tell they were living with eyes wide open and full hearts! even david, who had told me pictures were not his thing, had joy written on his face all day...you could certainly tell these two loved each other tremendously!

from our beginnings at the grand traverse resort and spa all the way to their romantic reception at the elegant peninsula room on old mission peninsula..it was day full of celebration* katie and david's retriever paisley even made a cameo and smiled for the camera! and with the stunning details, gorgeous flowers, and organization from jenn of modern day floral events and design, it was an evening to remember!

d&k, thank you so very much for inviting me up to beautiful traverse city for such an incredible day. from your engagement session to the sparkler send off at your wedding, it has been an honor to get to know you! blessings in your marriage as you move into a new and exciting chapter!

all the best,

npe

michael + marci | wedding | the homestead | glen arbor, mi

sometimes there is a little distance between my clients and i, and as much as meeting in person is something that i love to do as often as i can...sometimes a skpye chat with my couples is the next best thing.

such was the start of my relationship with mike and marci, getting to know each other a bit via the wonder of technology. and when the day came, the physical distance we had shared before their wedding seemed to fade away instantly. i felt like an old friend, reunited for the privilege of witnessing a new chapter in their lives.

marci looked absolutely stunning in her dress, and mike wore his suit like a pro, channeling his inner model to make one gorgeous couple, inside and out. every detail in the day sung...stretching views of the lake...vibrant shades of green and blue...rolling hills of northern michigan splendor...a perfect day!

thank you again m+m...so very happy for you two. love each other well, as i know you will...always putting the other first, in everything. blessings!

- npe

tyler+alia | engagement | manistee, michigan

joining tyler and alia in manistee for their engagement session was such a perfect partner to the splendid weather that unfolded for us. its always best to learn a new town by means of a local..and i had that such privilege with tyler and alia.

among the locations that we shot at, we went back to the very beach that tyler proposed and were quite glad that we didn't have to contend with the wind and snow this time around!

spending the afternoon with these two was so much fun, and just another reminder why engagement sessions are such a blast for me...having the chance to just spend some time with my couples outside the schedule and business of the wedding day...all with the goal of getting some gorgeous images...and i think we did just that!

your beautiful smiles shown through t&a...thanks for trusting me for an afternoon - can't wait for the wedding!

- npe

andrew + nichole | engagement | holland, michigan

i graduated with my undergraduate degree from a small bible school in west michigan - grace bible college...a whole lot of memories there, thats for sure! the love story of my wife and i began there, and we share that same beginning with with andrew and nichole, two grace grads who met and fell in love on the humble grounds of a small school with great vision* certainly, it was a great way to connect with these two, have something so profound in common right off the bat.  we knew many of the same faces from school and so it was great to finally meet them in person and hear their story.

with their wedding not far away, we wanted to squeeze in an engagement session, and I am so very glad we did. beautiful morning light. the serene beauty of lake michigan in the morning. the subtle charm of holland's streets.

i can't wait for their wedding in traverse soon - how splendid a day it will be! blessings, my friends...

- npe