New, modern venues have been popping up all over Michigan lately, and the Marriott at Eagle Crest in Ann Arbor might just be one of my favorite new venues! From a photographer perspective, the nice things are you can have everything in one place! It makes it so easy to step out for portraits anytime, whether that be at getting ready, first look, after the ceremony or golden hour. Also, its on the lake, and its hard to beat waterfront locations (or those nice waterfront breezes in summer). The flow of the venue is so nice with cocktail hour outside and doors/windows that open…it never feels too crowded with so many places for people to go. Also the lobby and hotel rooms are modern, which gives us nice backdrops for getting ready photos. And lastly, parking is so easy! For those getting married in the Ann Arbor area, we all know how tricky parking can be but it’s not at this venue since it has a large parking lot. This is definitely a must see venue if you are looking for one in the Ann Arbor area!

Now on to Katie and Chris! These two are one of the most laid back couples I have ever worked with. At the same time, they were tuned it to what would make the day go smoothly and stress free. We worked together on their timeline, and even with a last minute “timeline emergency”, we were able to rework it so that no one felt the pressure the day of. When you are having a wedding Art Fair weekend in Ann Arbor, a timeline allowing for extra traffic is essential. The results of all that planning were lots of pictures with smiles, happy people and laughter. Even though I might have forgotten my sunblock (not something you want to do on a sunny day on a golf course in July, trust me) and walked away with a sunburn, I am so happy with the results. Congratulations to Katie and Chris! Here are a my favorites from the day.

Mary and Mark were married on the most beautiful spring day! They, their family, wedding party and vendors were an absolute dream to work with. Their venue, the Midland Country Club, was gorgeous and the food was excellent. I’m so happy with how their photos turned out and here are a few of my favorites!

Megan and Brad were originally supposed to be married in April 2021, but indoor weddings were still restricted in Michigan at that time, so they decided to postpone until spring of 2022. They ended up with the most gorgeous weather- sunny and no humidity, in the 70s with a light breeze. There were pink and white blooming trees everywhere which really made the portraits look extra beautiful.

They started their day getting ready at the Dearborn Inn and then headed to St. Hugo of the Hills for their ceremony. St. Hugo is such a beautiful cathedral. Then, it was back to the Dearborn Inn for portraits and the reception. I absolutely loved this wedding and how the photos turned out. Here are a few of my favorites!

Hannah + Martin’s wedding at the Dearborn Inn was one of my favorites of 2021. Hannah’s classic style gave off Kate Middleton vibes, and they scheduled their day so that we had an ample amount of time for photos. We literally got so many bride and groom creative portraits just spending an hour walking the beautiful grounds of the Dearborn Inn. I love the Dearborn Inn because there are so many spots for photos with different backgrounds from gardens to brick archways. You never run into another wedding party and you can have everything in one spot (getting ready and ceremony and reception). It makes things so easy. Also, there are spots for photos if it rains! There is a gorgeous lobby and several covered porches that are beautiful and perfect for photos- rain or no rain! Hannah and Martin were so happy and calm; it made the day a pleasure to photograph!

County Farm Park

This park is the perfect place for a spring, summer or fall session. My favorite is late summer, because their community gardens are in bloom and it makes for a great backdrop. This park has wooden fences, a wooden pergola, nature trails, and gardens. In the spring they have a large daffodil garden. I used to live next to this park and it is one of my absolute favorite locations for a session. Bonus are the easy parking (free lot on site) and bathrooms.

Law Quad

The Law Quad is my go to in late fall and winter because the architecture is so beautiful. In fact, all of the photos below except for about 5 were taken in November and December! The Law Quad is great in any season though, and is a great location formal or casual. It’s within walking distance to other beautiful campus buildings as well as the Nickels Arcade and downtown State Street for more urban looking photos. Many start at the Law Quad with a more formal outfit and then change into a casual one for downtown A2 photos. Parking is a little trickier with street parking only and there are bathrooms a block or so away at the U of M Student Union. The one downside to the Law Quad is that every one knows about it and it can be very busy in all seasons except winter, as families, seniors and weddings also like to come here for photos.

Nichols Arboretum

This is a fave of so many for obvious reasons! My favorite time to shoot here is when the peony garden is in bloom from Memorial Day weekend to mid-June. It is very crowded, so one hour before sunset is the best time to go so you don’t have tons of people in the background of your photos. On Sundays, you can park in one of the U of M lots for free, but otherwise it’s pretty difficult to park at the peony garden entrance (there are only 3 parking meters out front on the street). I think there may be bathrooms but not sure! It’s pretty in fall too, but in summer the mosquitoes are really bad so I tend to avoid the area down by the river when they are out.

Nickels Arcade

This is a perfect spot for urban photos! It’s also covered and blocks the wind, so good if the weather isn’t so great on the day of your shoot. There are always people walking through so it can get busy. Parking is street only and can be a challenge to find a spot. Expect to walk a lot. Bathrooms available at the student union down the street a few blocks.

U of M Campus Buildings

There are so many beautiful buildings on campus, literally everywhere you turn can yield a good photo if the light is right. Parking is a challenge, but it can be fun to just walk around and take photos when you see something cool. Bonus to shooting on campus is that there are no fees because because it’s a public university. Bathrooms at the student union on State Street, but other buildings are pretty restricted.

Ann Arbor City Parks

There are so many great parks in the city of Ann Arbor. I mentioned County Farm Park above (because it deserved it’s own section), but other parks I love in Ann Arbor are Barton Nature Reserve and Island Park. They are both a ways from downtown, so only choose these spots if all you want are casual nature photos. Parking on site. Bathrooms available at Island Park, not sure about Barton.

Congratulations to Trin and Matthew, who celebrated in my first indoor wedding since 2019!! It was so fun to finally celebrate in a pre-pandemic way!

Venue: Grosse Pointe Yacht Club with Alondra Kennedy as Event Coordinator for GPYC

Church: Ss Peter and Paul Church in Detroit

Florist: Bellisario

Day of Coordinator: Alexandra Weddings and Events

Videographer: Spencer Whiteman

Band: Your Generation in Concert

Trin’s Makeup: Juliette Rose Lux

This winter, I am catching up on blogging past weddings. Becky + Upendra’s wedding took place in 2019 in Grand Haven, Michigan and is one of my favorites! Upendra is from India so there was Indian music and dancing…it was so much fun to watch! One of the things I really enjoy in photographing weddings is the cultural aspect: I get to see how different cultures celebrate weddings and it’s fascinating!

Becky + Upendra had not one, not two, but THREE weddings! They were married in India first so Upendra’s family could have a celebration. Then, they got married in the church which was important to Becky’s parents. And finally, they got married on Lake Michigan with Becky’s family and college friends of both Upendra and Becky (they met in graduate school!). They were married at the beautiful and modern Camp Blodgett, which sits directly on a sandy cliff overlooking Lake Michigan! It was GORGEOUS. If you’re looking for a lakeside modern yet laid back venue, you have to check out Camp Blodgett.

The day started at a beach house rental with getting ready, a first look and portraits. Then, we headed over to Camp Blodgett for the ceremony and reception and more portraits on the beach. It was so nice and relaxing to have the ceremony and reception in one place and then we could sneak away to the beach for portraits whenever Becky + Upendra had a moment. I absolutely loved the final images, and can’t wait to get back to Camp Blodgett soon- it’s become a favorite of mine!

Paige and Mac had quite the pandemic wedding experience. We had to reschedule their spring engagement session numerous times due to the 3 month shutdown. When we did finally meet up for the engagement photos, Paige and Mac mentioned that their original wedding plans taking place at the MSU Alumni Chapel and the East Lansing Marriott still stood, and that they would reduce their guest count to meet indoor event executive orders. Well, the following week, there was a COVID outbreak at Harpers brewery in East Lansing one block from the EL Marriott (we all saw it on the news!) and Paige and Mac immediately knew— their wedding plans were in jeopardy.

With just one month until their August wedding, new indoor executive orders were introduced, and Paige and Mac had two choices: reschedule or somehow plan an entirely new wedding in just 4 weeks at a new location. Living in Chicago with a wedding in MI, this would be quite a challenge. However, they did it! They decided to have a backyard wedding at Paige’s parents house on Crystal Lake! Not only did they plan an amazing event in such a short amount of time, but they also did it safely, reducing guest count, holding the entire event outside, providing masks and sanitizer, and spacing tables far apart. Paige kept in close contact with me, asking which way they should face their ceremony, working with me on portrait locations and crafting a timeline that would allow them to get all the photos they wanted. Paige kept stressing how important photos were to them, and kept me involved in the planning process the entire time. Being that this was a backyard wedding, they had total control which provided so much flexibility— it was amazing! It was also nice that since everything was in one location, we didn’t have to spend any time driving and could spend all the time we needed taking photos.

Congrats to Paige and Mac on their beautiful wedding that they were able to execute quickly, beautifully and safely!

I mentioned last week that I hadn’t blogged in 1.5 years! However, in the last week I’ve blogged 4 times and this post will make my 5th! Giving myself a pat on the back!

Because I haven’t blogged in 1.5 years, I have so many weddings and portrait shoots to share. Today, I’m sharing Brittany and Nick’s summer 2019 wedding at Oceancliff in RI. It makes me so happy to share these photos, especially since I wasn’t able to travel to RI/Boston this year for work due to COVID. Looking through these photos, it reminded me how sunny it was that day, how warm and breezy the ocean air felt, and the extreme happiness that Britt and Nick emoted. They and their families are seriously so fun and kind, and I can’t help but smile when I view these photos. Luckily, Britt and Nick purchased an album, so I get to work with them a little longer! It’s always hard to say good-bye to clients when you work with them closely for a year and experience one of the most important days of their lives with them, so it’s always nice to continue that relationship with an album design process.

Brittany and Nick were married at Oceancliff in Newport, RI, which has amazing views, an incredible experience, and great food. Every wedding I have photographed there (and I’ve done a lot!) has run so smoothly; couples are so relaxed and don’t have to worry about a thing due to their stellar team and service.

They started their day getting ready in separate AirBnb’s (which are always a great choice so your wedding party can spread out and you have room for photos!) and then headed to Oceancliff for a first look. I love the series of photos from their first look- they look so, so happy! Because Britt and Nick wanted to join in their cocktail hour to mingle with their guests, we did all of their photos prior to their ceremony, including wedding party and family portraits. This is a great way to schedule your day if you want to be at your party the whole time and not worry about missing any portions of it to take photos. Not to mention, we got some great candids of them greeting their guests at cocktail hour and some fun shots with college friends and extended family that weren’t in the portraits earlier in the day. Don’t miss the dessert bar photos towards the end— it was seriously amazing and every time I look at them, I feel the need to run out and get a doughnut!

Congrats, you two!!! Looking forward to the album!!

Kelsey and Brandon had the most beautiful barn wedding! They started their day with a dramatic first look in the pouring rain! Brandon waited by the pond while Kelsey made her way down from the bridal suite. Because it was raining, I provided clear bubble umbrellas to use. Fun fact: I carry several of these in my trunk all wedding season for my clients to use! You don’t have to buy your own :) . Even in the rain, outdoor photos are prettier, and as long as the umbrellas are clear (colored umbrellas throw a weird cast on your skin), we can capture stunning photographs.

Some clients are on the fence about doing a first look (and I totally understand!), but with two photographers and the right set up, we can create some pretty amazing photos if you choose to do one. Kelsey and Brandon’s first look images are some of my favorites ever, probably because they are so dramatic!

A few other interesting things about Kelsey and Brandon’s wedding- Kelsey arrived to the ceremony in a horse and carriage and Brandon built the arch they were married under by hand with his dad- how amazing is that?! Also, Kelsey’s mom surprised them with all of the flowers…they had no idea!

I loved all of the tall candles, and I also loved that the forest green candles matched the bridesmaids dresses. I’m always a fan of the earth tones because they photograph so well!

Congrats to Kelsey and Brandon on their stunning wedding!

As I planned my move from Rhode Island to Michigan in 2016, I began to advertise in the Detroit area. Alyssa was one of the first brides I connected with, and we instantly hit it off. We found out we went to the same graduate school in Boston, and she had lived there about as long as I had. Having just made the move from East Coast to Midwest herself, she counseled me and told me what to expect. She felt like an old friend so much so, that when she hung up from our initial consultation, her now husband Phil asked who she had been talking to because it had sounded like an old friend.

When we finally met in person in Ann Arbor for their engagement shoot, Alyssa introduced me to “crack fries” at Hopcat downtown. She and Phil zipped me around Ann Arbor, showing me where to park and the best places to shoot.

When their wedding finally came, I was so excited. It was my first wedding in downtown Detroit and I was nervous! I had location scouted to select photo locations to help prepare, and Alyssa had arranged transportation for me so that all I had to focus on were the photos. Their wedding at Old St. Mary’s and reception at the Palazzo Grande were stunning. The church was one of the prettiest I have ever shot in and the Palazzo Grande had some of the best food I’ve ever had at a wedding. On top of great food, Alyssa + Phil sat us at a table with guests so that we were able to enjoy the multiple course meal along with their guests. We felt like family!

Thank you, Alyssa + Phil, for trusting me to document your beautiful wedding!

Sometimes when you wake up on your wedding day, it isn’t the sunny, beautiful day you have dreamed about, but rather pouring rain and high speed winds. This was what happened on Nicky + Joey’s wedding day, so when I arrived at the beach home they had rented in Newport, I fully expected some nerves and stress. Rather, I found the opposite. Some of the first words out of Nicky’s mouth were, “I’m so glad we rented an indoor/outdoor venue. I haven’t been stressed out at all.”

By indoor/outdoor venue, Nicky was referring to her venue, The Newport Beach House , which has gorgeous space inside for both ceremony and portraits (as well as outside). It was so nice seeing how relaxed Nicky + Joey were, and we were able to capture some amazing portraits in the newly constructed Oyster Lounge with it’s modern cement floors and walls full of windows.

Planning a wedding? Choose an indoor/outdoor venue to ease your nerves :) . If your dream venue doesn’t have an indoor option, see if you can rent one nearby for portraits. Botanical centers, libraries, and museums are great options that often rent space to wedding parties for a fee. If all else fails, grab some umbrellas and schedule a day after session :) . The lesson here is if there is rain- don’t fret! You can still get the photos you have dreamed about!

Lauren and Garrett were married on the most beautiful June day at Meadowbrook Hall in Rochester, Michigan. Lauren and Garrett planned a simple stress free day, getting ready at the Royal Park Hotel nearby, and then having both their ceremony and reception all at Meadowbrook so they didn't have to drive anywhere. The grounds of Meadowbrook are stunning, so we took all of the photos on site. Here are some of my favorites that tell the story of the day below. Congrats to Lauren and Garrett!

Madison + Tom were married on the first real spring day of 2018. April had been a doozy with snow storms and ice storms, so I was thrilled for them when the snow stopped and the sun and warmth appeared. The venue was the gorgeous as always Dearborn Inn.

Madison and Tom opted for a first look and to do most of their photos prior to the ceremony. Nothing felt rushed, and the day went perfectly as planned. Congratulations Madison and Tom!!

Alicia and Logan have the most romantic story of how they met. Hearing how couples meet is one of the most exciting parts of my job. I have heard some really incredible stories! Alicia and Logan met at mass....in Mallorca, an island off the coast of Spain! Alicia was working on the island for a couple of years, and Logan was in the navy and his ship docked on the island briefly. They both decided to go to mass on the same night in Spain and met at church. They kept in touch but continued on their own paths, which took them around the globe- always to different countries. They finally were able to be together in the U.S. several years later and are now married! They held their wedding at the beautiful Bloomfield Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in the middle of February during a snow storm! Here are some of my favorites from their wedding day...

Second Photographer: Brian

Florals: Alexandra Zikakis/Morningview Gardens

Venue: Bloomfield Hills Country Club

Eberly + Taylor planned the most stress free wedding day! They did a first look and the majority of their portraits prior to the ceremony, and then had an hour gap in between the ceremony and reception which gave everyone a bit of time to relax before finishing the portraits during cocktail hour. Nothing felt rushed and Eberly + Taylor seemed so relaxed! For those couples seeking a stress free wedding day, doing a first look can really help relieve some of those time constraints that make everything feel so rushed. And, even though they did a first look and saw each other prior to the ceremony, both Taylor and Eberly were teary eyed and emotional during Eberly's walk down the aisle at the church. First looks don't seem to make that moment any less emotional or less special (at least from a photographer's perspective when capturing these moments!).

Eberly and Taylor were married at the Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester, MI. Eberly's hair and makeup was done by Mie Salon in Rochester, and the floral and event design were by Floral Designs by Lori.

Congratulations, you two! Have an amazing time on your honeymoon in Hawaii!!

Ashley + Keith were married on the most beautiful fall day at the Belle Mer Island House in Newport, Rhode Island. The weather was a gorgeous 71 degrees, sunny, and humidity free....a stark contrast to their engagement shoot, held exactly one year to the day prior, and foggy and chilly! I loved everything about this wedding. It was so relaxed! Ashley and Keith decided to do a first look and all of their photos prior to the wedding so that they could enjoy cocktail hour with their guests, many who had traveled from out of state to come to the wedding. Their ceremony took place at sunset, with sailboats on the water in the distance. I mean, does it really get better than that?

I also loved the details, from Ashley's dress from SAKS, her hair and makeup by Jennie Kay Beauty, the classic cream and greens floral arrangements by Greenlion Design, and music by DJ Luke Renchan. The nautical navy and white napkins, driftwood place cards, and mermaid bottle opener favors were the perfect accents to a Newport nautical wedding.

Congratulations, you two!!

Annie + Austin's wedding was a dream! They got ready at the Dearborn Inn, had their ceremony at a church in downtown Detroit, and had their reception at Lovett Hall at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI. Annie purchased her dream gown at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York, and chose a dress inspired by Kate Middleton's.

The historic brick buildings at the Henry Ford and Lovett Hall reminded me of downtown Boston and Providence and made me feel as if I were shooting on the East Coast again. The lighting was absolutely perfect, and Annie and Austin couldn't have been gifted with a more gorgeous day.

Congrats you two!

Meghan and Andy were married on the most beautiful June day! I was mid-seventies, no humidity, with beautiful blue skies and a light breeze. They held their wedding ceremony at the Stone Chapel at St Hugo in Bloomfield Hills and had their reception at the Birmingham Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan. They actually met at the BCC, so how great is it that they could hold their wedding at the place that they met?! Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding day. Congratulations again, you two!

{A big thank you to my second shooter Brian, who captured a few of the images included in this wedding day story}.