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Kevin & Casandra - Kickass Nerdy Outdoor Wedding

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Kevin & Casandra's wedding was one of the most unique weddings I've shot and a great way to kick off the 2015 wedding season. KJ, their son, was included in the wedding ceremony in a really awesome way (and he has some of the sweetest dance moves I've ever seen!).

They opted for a lifestyle wedding shot, forgoing the traditional family photos and opting for more photojournalistic photos that captured natural moments - mom and daughter laughing, Kevin & Casandra snapping post-wedding selfies, and friends showing off their shoes. Kevin is super into sneakers, and he exchanged custom-made sneakers with Casanda that were designed to show off their past, present and future together.

Check out this wedding for Star Wars, sweet kicks, and a whole lotta love below. Click to enlarge.

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Ismael & Kate - Texas Barn Wedding with BBQ

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Ismael & Kate got married on one of the rainiest days imaginable, but the rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of their family and friends that traveled from all over to see them tie the knot! (I think it even rained during their engagement shoot.) Check out this outdoorsy, laid back barn wedding - complete with Texas barbecue. Click to enlarge.

Nate & Kelsey - Scottish Barn Wedding

Nate & Kelsey's wedding has been in the works for a long time. Do you remember their zombie apocalypse engagement photos?

 

Their wedding was just as awesome! There is nothing I love more than seeing my friends from high school get married except being able to capture their big day through my lens. Click to enlarge the photos.

I met Kelsey at her hotel room to capture her getting ready moments. Getting ready including the usual - getting dressed, frantic phone calls and jumping on the bed to relieve some stress!

 

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They held their outdoor ceremony and in-barn reception at Celery Flats on the west side of Michigan - it's an adorable venue and perfectly suited to their personalities. Kelsey finished getting ready inside and I met Nate outside - did I mention he was rocking a kilt?! Kelsey & Nate shared a moment beforehand without breaking tradition by wrapping themselves around a tree. Kelsey came outside while Nate was blindfolded and we got her into position out of Nate's line of sight. It was a sweet moment that seemed to calm both of their nerves.

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The ceremony soon got underway. They were married by an officer in the Salvation Army, since Kelsey's mom is highly involved in the organization. Everything started with a traditional Scottish disarming ceremony - each of Nate's groomsmen removed a weapon from his person. Nate explained to me earlier that being physically vulnerable symbolized how you must make yourself spiritually and emotionally vulnerable before God and the one you love. After the ceremony, the weapons are returned to him in a rearming ceremony.

There was a funny moment during the ceremony when they were reciting their handwritten vows. Nate had just finishing reciting his from memory/off the cuff, when Kelsey whipped out typed, full-page vows of her own!

After the ceremony, there was the "placing of the colors," where Nate gives Kelsey a sash that is the same tartan (or plaid) as his kilt - officially bringing her into the family!

After the ceremony, we took some portraits. Nate & Kelsey's bridal party were a lot of fun and jumped at the chance to take some funny pictures.  We walked around the premises and captured the exhilaration that comes from just getting hitched! PS - check out Kelsey's unique amber ring. It's absolutely beautiful! Also, Kelsey made all of the paper flower in her bouquet by herself - they're made of maps and sheets of music.

After portraits, we walked back to the barn where the reception was taking place. They had a grilled cheese bar where guests could create their own cheesey, gooey delicious concoction and some of the most delicious cupcakes I have ever had for dessert! (Bailey's frosting and chocolate ganache anyone?!) They even had one giant cupcake to cut

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At the very end, Nate & Kelsey and their guests released paper lanterns - it wasn't quite dark out, but they were very pretty as they floated up to the sky and everyone had a lot of fun letting them go! 

DJ & Andrea - "Big Fat Slovak" Wedding

Oh. My. Gosh. DJ & Andrea's wedding was unlike any other I had ever been to. Andrea is from Slovakia and I was lucky enough  to photograph their US wedding (their second wedding will be held in Slovakia in a CASTLE - amazing!). DJ & Andrea did an amazing job of combining American and Slovakian traditions - and I have never met a more down-to-earth, fun-loving couple. Here's just a quick snapshot (pun intended!) of their day, as seen through my lens (click to see the them larger):

In keeping with Slovakian tradition, wedding portraits are done beforehand - this is the greatest thing from a photographer's point of view, especially since the ceremony traditional is a midnight! DJ & Andrea had their first look - something I really recommend to couples. They were able to enjoy a private moment together and read their vows to one another.

We took photos at an abandoned barn - complete with a rusty old Ford and a trunk that may have held some questionable content. The rest of the bridal party joined us for portraits - I absolutely loved all of the color in the bridesmaids' dresses and the sharp suspenders and striped socks the guys were sporting!

After the portraits, the party starts! Dinner was served while everyone enjoyed hearing a Slovakian band play. There was delicious cake to be eaten, enjoyed and smashed.

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At dusk, the wedding ceremony began - they opted to bump the ceremony up a couple of hours from the traditional time of midnight to afford more light. DJ's father officiated and looked sharp in his bolo tie. The couple recited their WOWs - memories and special things about their partner that made them go "WOW! I want to marry this person!" Andrea's mother, home in Slovakia, was able to watch the ceremony via Skype on an iPad.

After the ceremony comes dancing! Lots and lots of dancing. Technically, DJ & Andrea's "first dance" was to Will Smith's "Get Jiggy With It" - a personal favorite of mine - but they did a traditional Slovakian dance later in the evening. DJ & Andrea's friends and family are, in a word, awesome. They were so friendly, so welcoming and so energetic - not one slow song was played and yet the dance floor was always full! The Slovakian band continued to play sets, this time intermixed with a good selection of 90s hip-hop and 2000s dance music, played by one of DJ's good deejay friends. (Did I mention DJ is a deejay? Best name/occupation combo ever!)
 

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