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

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

patrick + lizzie | wedding | the homestead | glen arbor, mi

it is certainly a privilege to journey with couples...to have the opportunity to join in the adventure of a 'destination' wedding and witness vows beneath new breathtaking sky tapestries. saturday led me to the homestead resort in glen arbor, mi. with stunning views of lake michigan and the warm invitation of a charming resort village, the homestead offered the perfect backdrop for patrick and lizzie. from their home among the skyscrapers of chicago, these two ventured around the lake to northern michigan to promise their lives to each other. it was a day full of vibrant joy and honest emotion...as pat and liz did an amazing job of living completely in the moment and taking in their wedding day, for all the beauty that it was.

and there was i, a humble but thankful guest at the table of a jubilant celebration. i have so much sincere gratitude for the work i am given.

p&l, you were beyond gracious and generous, offering me the very best compliment i could have asked for. blessings to you two. always strive to love each other more than yourselves. you have reminded me once again why i love what i do.

-npe

john + kelsey | wedding | orchard ridge farms | rockton, il

i often feel my relationships that blossom out of shooting couple's wedding days easily step into deeper levels of friendship right off the bat...even if for the only reason of sharing a single day, vibrant and bursting with life-changing moments. add to that the fact that for some of my clients, we are dear friends even before the thoughts of wedding bells or photography are even on the horizon....and you have a uniquely profound intimacy and camaraderie hard to match.

this is the very story of my day this past friday in rural rockton, illinois. john and kelsey, beloved by many and cherished friends at our church in grand rapids, were surrounded by their family and loved ones, preparing to embark on a brand new journey together. and my role as photographer was an honored gift i was given. these two are beautiful, inside and out, and it was far from work to spend the day with them, their wedding party, family, and friends. i hope you enjoy these moments from their day as much as i did...

j&k, jana and i love you, and are so very excited for the work God is doing in your lives. may He bless you in this new chapter. and the great news? it just keeps getting better!

-npe

tim + jess | wedding | byron center, mi

i have to often stop myself and take notice of what surrounds me. however simple and repetitive it may seem, weekend after weekend in the summer i am given a gift. it has kind of been a personal motto for me, and i still firmly believe that it is an incredible honor and privilege to be invited into a wedding celebration as the photographer, documenting these life-changing moments. and that privilege was supremely felt this past saturday, as i witnessed jess and tim promise their lives to one another, becoming one and beginning a new and beautiful chapter in their lives. it was a true gift, to watch the day unveil an incredible amount of love and support that surrounds these two. from the families and close friends, to the staff at the church they work at, and all the lives they have so intimately touched..it was powerful.

j & t, you know you are loved by many, and i am grateful to be counted as part of that crowd. you two are beautiful and are truly grasping life to the fullest as John 10:10 speaks of. may our good God richly bless you two.

much love, my friends -

-npe

san francisco {and.the.golden.gate.grandparents}

dreaming of warmer, western days.... last year my folks moved up the coast from san diego to the greater san francisco area - my father took a new job teaching in the town of brentwood, and jana and i figured it was a great reason to take the kids out west.  any excuse to see the grandma and papa, and explore the city by the bay!

we were blessed with a week of great wine, amazing landscapes, beautiful city skylines, california sun, and the very best company of my dad and mom (who may i say, are stepping into their roles as grandparents brilliantly!)

oh west coast, you are always an adventure!

-npe

- norah enjoying the pool!- perfecting the leap- taking advantage of the skin his momma gave him- it ain't portland, but we'll still put a bird on it- why hello- swingin singing ladies- yes ben, you can be loud here- into the city we go- bay bridge- embarcadero- flats with a view- from coit tower- let's take the stairs!- we found jana!- yeah...i bet i could swim from there....said me, never- skyline totally photobombing- crookedest street- where one chapter of my life meets another...- you sell rice-a-roni in your gift shop?- it was very hard to pull ben from this view- there's fresh...and then there is fresh!- to be a fisherman- a san francisco staple- 'so ehhh..you gonna draw me or what?'- street eats- a beckoning shadow cast upon the park- 'oh papa!'- 'your scratchy face reminds me of daddy's!'- some fine sign design- beauty in the details- ben digging the trains and working on expressing his enjoyment - nice thumbs up bud!- riding in style- a fixture on the wharf....i guess- into the mist- a lone bird, paying his respect- goodnight sf- signing the guestbook- my personal wine teacher- yep..i am in love- still in love!- someday this very tradition will be enjoyed amid the rolling hills of bordeaux- dapper indeed benjamin- sweet komali girl- working on form...and fun- want to watch them for a week?- total.hot.babe.- thankful- english ladies..now we just need eve!- these two put up with a lot from me...and they are still smiling*- harvest time- big ol' tree- grandma & grandson- discovery and wonder- oh the joys of youth- redwoods- photo dueling...- in the house of giants- golden gate bridge...as the fog rolls in- burnin' some calories- a new generation of goonie- ♬ 'everywhere you look, everywhere you go...' ♬- entrance to chinatown

matt+carly {enamored.engagement}

meet matt & carly* these two couldn't be more fun or more in love!  when a couple is ready, willing, and happy to tromp through an unknown amount of forest shrubbery to get to some train tracks for a shot, you know you have two dedicated people on your hands!

thanks friends for being such good sports, and for a great introduction to your wedding celebration in september..its going to be great!

-npe