I have rewritten this sentence so many times, trying to find the right words to express how I feel. Ally and Jon’s wedding was a special one for me…probably because with all the couples that I have had the privilege of documenting on their wedding day, I have witnessed Ally grow up in a way that brings me so near to the experience of being a father myself. Knowing Ally’s family for the past decade has given our family a front row seat for witnessing the Smith kids grow and mature before our eyes. Watching her dad Kevin walk Ally down the aisle gave me a powerful glimpse of what my future might possibly hold, if either of my dear girls ever choose to get married.
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!
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.
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.
i am so excited to share this wedding! i am pretty sure cassie, tom, and their families single handedly helped me fall in love with charlevoix. i have had the privilege of shooting weddings all over the state and yet i hadn't shot in this stunning little costal town yet...i have been missing out! from the engagement session along the water, to their wedding among the spires of castle farms, i was blown away by the beauty of it all*
with the very best of vendors helping make this wedding all of what it was, cassie and tom celebrated alongside friends and family from all over. speeches that make you cry, details that make you swoon, and a couple who lived in the moment...every minute of the day!
thank you c&t - i hope i was able to capture the beauty of the day that was all around me. you two and your families have been so very gracious to me, and i count it a true blessing to have shared in your wedding celebration with you. congratulations again - here's to a life of joy, journeying together!
all the best,
-npe
after last weekend's wedding..i am pretty sure its hard to beat colorado in september. what a privilege it was to land in the centennial state and make my way up into the mountains for jessica and dylan's wedding celebration. when your views look like they did for me, you have to tell yourself over and over to keep your eyes on the road...such a beautiful place!
i actually met dylan and jessica via Skype when our family was still living over in oxford for the year. it was so incredible to have a chance to get to know them and plan for the wedding day, while we were living nearly 5,000 miles away from each other! but everything came together, and oh how magical it was! from the detailed direction of our wedding planner juls, to the perfectly timed snow gracing the tops of the surrounding peaks..it was a perfect day!
thank you d&j for such a lovely weekend. it was a true pleasure meeting your friends and family, and an honor to document such a joyous occasion! say hi to those pups for me, and blessings to you as you start this new and beautiful chapter together!
all the best,
-npe
this past weekend saw the third saturday in a row that it rained here in michigan. and it just didn't matter!
amanda and jeff handled the weather the same as my couples the two weeks before...with smiles, joy, and a relentless pursuit of embracing the beauty of their unique wedding day, downpour and all. and what a beautiful day it was. i actually don't get the privilege of shooting on the east side of the state that often, so a&j's wedding was a special treat. and even though the skies opened up in the middle of the day, things cleared to make way for a beautiful evening full of wedding celebrations!
jeff and amanda, thank you for letting me tag along on your wedding day. it was such a breath of fresh air in so many ways. blessings to you two as you start this new chapter of life together. i hope you love your wedding preview!
- npe
it is always exciting when you get the chance to shoot at a new location, especially when it is for such an awesome couple like mallory and brian. even with a bit longer commute to this past saturday's wedding, it was so worth it to document these two and their beautiful wedding celebration.
and you could totally tell that this wedding..well, it was all brian and mal! from the unique and super cool antler woven into the bridal bouquet, to the stunning backdrop of the northern michigan wilderness..it was a wonderful day*
thank you so much m&b for inviting me to come along and share in the celebration. it felt like we had known each other for years, and that is such a gift to me as I strived to capture all the details and beauty of your wedding. blessing to you two!
much love,
-npe
