Anna + Bryce: The Sack Wedding

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Anna + Bryce: The Sack Wedding

Oh man, where do I even begin with these two! Bryce and Anna are two incredibly special people in my life and having gotten to know them over the years leading up to this special day made being able to be a part of their wedding an unbelievable gift, blessing, and joy to be real.

I first got to know Bryce on a trip to Africa a few years ago and while I had known of him prior that trip since we attended the same university, it wasn't until that summer that I realized just how great of a man he was and truly got to see the heart he had for Christ. We went through a lot on the trip, experienced things that changed us both, arguably forever, and honestly he quickly became like a brother to me.

A couple months later once he and I returned state-side I officially met Anna on corporate shoot and while they had already been dating for sometime at that point I'm pretty sure one of my first things I told Bryce was how absolutely brilliant she was and how he needed to put a ring on her finger ASAP. We both laughed, he agreed, and sure enough a year or so later, these two were engaged and I was over the moon.

I've watched them grow together through the seasons of graduating, finding jobs that they loved, moving to a new city that they loved more, find newer jobs, organizing a huge and gorgeous wedding, and beginning the process of planning the rest of their lives together. There is no doubt in my mind that they are the perfect balance to one another, a blend of two similar yet complimentary persons and souls that lift one another up, sharpen the other daily, and care for each other on a deep level that I cannot put into words.

 

This wedding, their beautiful day, is one of those that I'll look back on with a giant grin for years to come; overwhelmed by pure joy and excitement for two of my dear friends, Mr+Mrs Sack.

-Matthew

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Aparna + Ankit: Novi Wedding Trailer

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Aparna + Ankit: Novi Wedding Trailer

There are some weddings that we truly wish would never end, and when we think back to the amazing, colorful, joy-filled weekend that was A+A's we have those exact feelings. By the time we got to their wedding weekend, they were already dear friends of ours—so obviously we got swept up in all the magic, the love, and every single second of celebrating these two.

Coming together with this close-knit community to cheer these two on as they entered into this new season was honestly indescribable. The shared experience, taking part in a moment that transcends all of us there. We've talked about that a lot over the last few years and the reality is that this feeling doesn't fade away in the least bit — it only grows stronger and for that, we are deeply thankful.

Heaven help us, this blog could be pages on pages long about everything that was so wonderful about this weekend. Really, all we can say is how thankful we are for these two beautiful humans. Their wedding weekend was more than an honor to be a part of, and to get to be a part of their story, and to call them friends, is more than we could ever ask for.

Wedding Planer: Rajul Pillai of Blissful Events

Photography and Cinematography: ShadowShine Pictures

Florist: Butterfly Flowers

Garba Hair and Makeup: Houda Hourani at Salon West Dearborn

Wedding and Reception Hair: Raimonda Gjekaj

Wedding and Reception Makeup: Tammy Pore

DJ: Umesh Manani

Wedding Cake: Sweet Dreams Bakery

Linens & Chivari Chairs: Modern Art Party Rental

Catering & Bar: Krishna Catering & Ashoka

Henna: Niki Patel

Henna Gown: Frontier Heritage

Grah Shanti Gown: Utsav Fashions

Garba/Sangeet Gown: Anushree Reddy

Wedding Gown: Raja Fashions

Reception Gown: Shyamal & Bhumika

Venues: Diamond Center, Patel Residence, & Shah Residence

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Lauren + Nick: Grand Rapids Engagement

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Lauren + Nick: Grand Rapids Engagement

My friendship with these two wonderful and amazing world changers started some years ago. I first met Nick as we both were paying for a relief and educational trip across seas to Zambia, Africa. Nick struck me as one of the most level headed, down to earth, and incredibly caring people I have ever met. Our friendship grew over those twelve days of traveling around dirt roads and visiting villages and seeing the relief work happening by the locals in those communities.

At the time he was smitten with, but not yet dating, a bright, charismatic, beautiful young lady named Lauren who I had yet to meet but had already become friends with other various members of our team. It was shortly after Nick and I returned stateside that the two dated and I actually got to know Lauren completely separate from Nick on various sets that she crewed for our team. Everything from a Second Assistant Director, to Production Designer, to even a Casting Director, Lauren's grown to be a member of our local film community that we have loved getting to know and for my own part, getting to create with.

Flash forward to today, the day before these two amazing, compassionate, and Jesus loving people say "I do" to forever after with one another. I don't think there is a member of our team that isn't stoked and excited about their wedding tomorrow and we are incredibly blessed to have had a front row seat to watching these two grow together over the last several years and we are going to for sure be crying like babies tomorrow as we get to witness Lauren+Nick become one.

Here's to happiness, love, and pure joy after a week that felt like it was lacking all three of those. Spread the love my friends!

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Aparna + Ankit: Novi Garba Raas

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Aparna + Ankit: Novi Garba Raas

Garba night is hands down one of our favorite events during the weekend-long Indian wedding festivities. In many instances, it's the first night where the majority of both families come together and celebrate these amazing couples. The night is often filled with unending laughter, dancing, AND THE COLORS ARE GORGEOUS!

It is without a doubt a night of excitement, parting, and unity. From the rehearsed dance numbers performed by Aparna+Ankit's family and friends, to Aparna's flowing and jaw-dropping dress, and every other breathtaking sari in the room that night — this was one of the standout highlights of their weekend for us.

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Veronica + Todd: The Korthals Wedding Trailer

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Veronica + Todd: The Korthals Wedding Trailer

There are wedding days when all we want to do is Instagram Story every single moment, right there on the spot, because it's too perfect not to share with everyone! Veronica + Todd's wedding was just such a day, and it honestly made for the best start to our wedding season earlier this year. It was like all the right moments, chances, and pieces fell into place and we were more than floored by all of the beautiful things happening all around us!

From every bright and beaming smile Todd had when he looked at Veronica, to the more than rambunctious and entertaining bridal party to keep us all laughing throughout the day, to Veronica's gorgeous lace-covered dress; all the details were perfect. But so were the moments, too! Their first look was wonderful and the rain held off as long as we needed it to. Their gift exchange seriously could not have summed the two of them up better. The toasts left us swooning for this entire family. And to top it all off the night ended with a dreamy paper lantern send-off, which ended up being even more eventful than we expected it to be.

All in all this day, this couple, their love - it all was one for the books!

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Aparna + Ankit: Novi Mehndi Party

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Aparna + Ankit: Novi Mehndi Party

For over a year we waited to kick off this special and wonderful weekend. From their gorgeous and colorful engagement ceremony to a dreamy evening of engagement photos out on Lake Michigan, we knew A+A’s weekend would be one of the most exciting ones of the entire year for us.

Aparna and Ankit's weekend-long celebration started at their homes with their family and closest friends gathered together for a night of traditions, games, mehndi, and so much more. That night alone was such a whirlwind of excitement, joy, and laughter and it without a doubt set the tone for what would be THE PERFECT weekend. 

So much love for these two, and this is just the beginning!

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Happy Father's Day from ShadowShine Pictures!

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Happy Father's Day from ShadowShine Pictures!

Dads come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Literally! Some are tech nerds, some our sports fanatics, some are basically clowns, and some are simply put our best friends. But no matter the type of dad we each have, biological or adopted, or discovered, our dads have been our hero's from day one. Whether it was tossing the ball around with us in the backyard, teaching us how to build our first working train set in the basement, comforting us after our first breakup, teaching us how to shave, helping act interested when we were picking out our dress for the first school dance, or simply being that shoulder to lean on whenever things got tough: our dads have been there, always.

We can all probably admit we don't call home enough, or show our best side to him as often as we should, but the dads in our lives never stop loving us. They continuously point us towards the path of truth, being a good person, and working with everything we have in us to make this world a better place - even if it's just one bad dad joke at a time. So this Father's day remember to celebrate the man in your life that gets to wear the title "dad" honorably.

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