It is always a special gift, to play even a small role in the wedding celebration of a dear friend. This “off-season” has truly felt full of such gifts with friend’s weddings being on the whole all that I have documented this winter. Tyler and Ashlynn’s story is pretty amazing, and I know they both would testify to God’s grace in their lives, drawing the lines of their individual stories to intersect in such a providential way. I have known Tyler for several years now, really ever since we started attending our church. Playing music with him and watching him grow into the man I witnessed this past Saturday was inspiring. And to meet and befriend his lovely bride Ashlynn has been a delight!
Sometimes you just have to dance in the rain. I know, I know…cliche saying for sure. BUT! Sometimes I think it really is true, and we just have to take what we are given and still get groovy amid the clouds, and the rain, and the cold. This past Saturday began with clear blue skies and ended with a down pour…and the fact that Stephanie and Sasha’s photos pay tribute to that is a testament to their willingness to stop at nothing to enjoy their wedding day to the fullest!
“We are each other’s person,” Lauren remarked when we first met to talk about plans for their wedding. Their journey had taken them like ships in the night, through passing introductions from years past, to now on the brink of marriage. Stepping back, I could see so clearly why these two were such a stunning and compatible couple. Its not often that shared experiences and hobbies include triathlons and snowshoeing, but for these two..it just all made sense.
It has been a few years it feels like since I had the chance to shoot on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, and I have to say, it was so wonderful to be back. The appreciation for the beauty of this are in Michigan was only enhanced by the joy of celebrating Heather and Tim amid stunning fall colors.
It feels like every year I remember all over again why autumn is such a stunning and inspiring season. It is days like this past Saturday that remind me of the beauty that can be found in the shortening of days, changing colors, and crisp, clear air. Melissa and Tyler’s wedding was amid those seasonal changes, on the banks of the Grand river, in perfect fall fashion.
Meeting for the first time at a local coffee shop just South of the Golden Gate Bridge was such a wonderful way to jump into friendship with Bridget and Luke. The incredible blend of city sophistication and outdoor recreation that San Francisco has to offer fit these two so well. We decided to document that part of their journey with an engagement session in the city by the bay. And just this past week, we came full circle to their wedding celebration at the village by the lake.
It was several years ago that I first met Tori. She just happened to be a guest a wedding I was photographing as her sister was in the wedding party. And even though that was eight years ago, Tori still sought me out and asked me to document the celebration!
It is not hard to love Jackie and Matt. Everything about them as individuals and as a couple welcomes you in with open arms and honest smiles. Being in the spotlight was certainly not Matt’s favorite thing, and yet he endured the photos and attention with authentic happiness…and I credit that to the fact that he kept his eyes squarely fixed on the woman that he loved. The two were in it, 100%..and it was awesome to witness.
I have found that it is a key element to quality, honest, and captivating work as wedding photography - the element of trust. When a couple offers it to you as an artist, the canvas is blank you are given the chance to create in the midst of realtime moments of lasting emotional impact and gravity. All the more, that trust is a profound gift when the bride herself is an artist.
