Emily + John: Grand Rapids Wedding Trailer

Thinking back to this day there are so many things we absolutely fell in love with. There are of course the usual elements that get us all kinds of excited — a summer wedding, a mix of both Lake Michigan and Grand Rapids to give us all the West Michigan vibes, and of course a gorgeous couple like Emily + John. But if you thought the list ended there you would be VERY wrong.

This day was made up of so many intentional and thoughtful decisions that it was hard fitting them all into their trailer! From Emily's siblings, her people of honor, delivering a heartfelt and beautiful joint speech, to a dash of tropical aesthetics spilling out from every bouquet and every centerpiece — we are officially requesting every wedding incorporate monsteras somewhere in the design details, please and thank you — to stealing away in the middle of the evening to soak in the day atop the JW, overlooking all of Grand Rapids. 

It was everything and so much more.

This day will be living rent-free in our memories for quite some time, and we are fully okay with that. Here's to the continued blessings and best fortunes for the wonderful Mr. + Mrs. Birney!

Contributing Vendors

Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Photography: Nathan English Photography

Planning and Coordination: Modern Day Events and Floral

Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander, through Renee Austin Wedding

Menswear: Suit Supply

Floral & Event Designer: Modern Day Events and Floral

Rentals: Events by I Candy, Special Occasions, & Alpine Events

Hair & Makeup: Hanna Wagner Design

Officiant: Father Tim Birney

Band & MC: Mainstreet Soul

Wedding Cake: Amway Grand Plaza

Photo Booth: Smitten Booth

Venue: JW Marriott Grand Rapids & St. Robert of Newminster Parish

Robin + Kosta: Grand Rapids Wedding Trailer

There are not nearly enough words in existence to adequately describe how much we adored this wedding, and even fewer to articulate how much we love this beautiful, kind, and darling couple. Robin + Kosta's day encapsulated so many of our favorite things, and even though this covid-postponed celebration went through a few re-imagines, it was perfect in every single way.

See, when plans for their Grecian destination wedding couldn't come to fruition, these two brought Greece to the west side. From hosting their day in the ever dreamy greenhouse at the Downtown Market, to incorporating traditional Greek Orthodox elements into their ceremony, to dining under the warm glow of the lights that night, we were transported to another time and place outside of our own. It was everything we could have asked and dreamed of for these two.

It was truly the wedding of their dreams, and a couple such as these two — so hard working, so caring, so giving, deserved nothing less. We'll forever be reliving this day, gathered together with all of R + K's favorite people, caught up in all the excitement and joy as this new chapter in their story together began.

Contributing Vendors

Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Photography: Kat Sherman Photo

Planning and Coordination: Paper Hat Weddings

Wedding Dress: Rebecca Ingram, through Renee Austin Wedding

Menswear: Suit Supply

Floral & Event Designer: Rhiannon Bosse

Rentals: Event Theory

Hair & Makeup: Kelli Brown of KJ Hair Spray & Emily Frew of The Pretty Committee

Officiant: Reverend Bethany

Band & MC: Bluewater Kings Band

Wedding Cake: Sara's Sweets Bakery

Late Night Snack: Love's Ice Cream

Venue: Grand Rapids Downtown Market Greenhouse

Katherine Anne + Jake: Lake Leelanau Wedding Trailer

There are some days that are worth every second you spend waiting for them. Even when the pandemic is the cause for delay. They're the kind of days you daydream about and get more and more excited for as they draw near. Then, when they've finally arrived you can't contain yourself.

This perfectly sums up how we felt going into Katherine Anne + Jake's day!

Nestled on the shores of Lake Leelanau, KA + J brought together all of their family and friends from across the country for an unforgettable adventure in northern Michigan. It was perfect — the warm summer sun on our skin, the cool breeze rolling in off of the lake, everyone laughing and having the time of their lives. It was the absolute best party, and boy do these two know how to throw one amazing and gorgeous party.

We could not have asked for more for these two. Yes, the date may have come 9 months later than we all originally planned, but it was completely worth the wait to be able to share in the Koury’s story!

Contributing Vendors

Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Photography: The Weber Photographers

Planning and Coordination: Fox & Fern Events

Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero

Floral & Event Designer: Bloom Floral Design

Stationary: Rebecca Green Creative Design

Hair Stylists & Makeup Artists: The Hair + Beauty Lounge

Decorations & Rentals: 307 Events and BBJ Linen

Band: First Call Crew with E3 Detroit

Catering: Island Thyme Catering

Wedding Cake: Sweet Tartlette

Late Night Dessert: Moomers Homemade Ice Cream

Venue: Fountain Point Resort

Zachary + Matthew: Lake Michigan Proposal

Even after well over a decade of telling stories, it's such a surreal and funny feeling writing about your own. It's equally strange spending years helping couples plan and prepare for their weddings, now to be on the flip side of that paradigm. It's been a crazy season planning for our own day thus far, but I want to take a second and reflect back on how our current chapter began.

So much led to this moment — me and my best friend standing on the dunes looking out onto Lake Michigan, me with Zack's late father's ring in my pocket, and my team hiding behind some tall grass and trees. Between a pandemic, a couple of rounds of long-distance, house hunting, you name it, we had already been through so many seasons together. I knew without a shadow of a doubt this was the person I wished to spend the rest of my life with.

After talking with Zack's parents, taking a month and a half to plan everything out, carefully constructing a reason for us to drive across the state to end up at the beach without him suspecting a thing, slipping a lapel mic on in the bathroom before hiking 15 minutes out to the water, finally getting to "the spot", I was just about to get down on one knee when he looks over at my collar and asks, "Are you wearing a microphone?" I laughed so hard. The jig was up. I gave him a playful shove as he laughed, bewildered yet catching on real fast. I took him by the hands, gave him a kiss, and then proceeded to get down on one knee.

As they say, the rest is history, and this film tells the rest of the story far better than I can myself. 

I am so incredibly thankful to be able to do life with this man by my side, and what's more, I can't wait to adventure through every new season with him. Over every mountain top and through every valley, I am blessed to call him my person.

- Love you, Zackary William Tyler Skinner, to Proxima Centauri and back -

-Matthew

Contributing Vendors

Photography & Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Destination: Saugatuck Dunes State Park

Ann + Crispin: Novi Wedding Trailer

Friends, we cannot stop smiling when we think about these two. Ann + Crispin make us so happy and having spent this weekend with them, sharing in all the laughter and the celebrations was such a blessing. We've said it before and we'll say it again, wedding planning is tough, and doing so in the middle of a pandemic is even more so. These two absolutely knocked it out of the park though!

Even when plans had to shift, these two threw such an elaborate and gorgeous wedding. We will always be obsessed with their intimate backyard reception, their integration of both new and old traditions, and their ability to just have fun with it. Will someone please let us know when they invent time travel so that we can go back to this weekend and relive it over and over again?!

Words can't express how excited nor how thankful we are for these two. Forever cheers’ing to Mr + Mrs Elackattu and this new chapter in their story together!

Contributing Vendors

Photography & Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Wedding Planning and Coordination: Bespoke Events DFW

Wedding Dress: BHLDN

Menswear: Jos. A. Bank

Floral Designer: Endless Flowers By Amy

Hair Stylist: Hair By Aysha

Makeup Artist: J Hobby Makeup Studio

Henna Artist: Radhe Henna

DJ: Srihari Potter

MC: MC Abiv

Venue: St. Joseph Chaldean Church 

Elizabeth + Nathaniel: West Michigan Engagement

It's no secret that weddings get us all kinds of excited, but when one of our own is officially tying the knot we are beyond ecstatic! So you can imagine how full our hearts were when Elizabeth and Nathaniel came to us with an idea — a film telling their story to share with all of their guests just before walking down the aisle to say “I Do”.

We were in LOVE! We set to work planning and preparing, all culminating in the perfect late summer day out on the dunes of Lake Michigan. Between all the laughter, the soft embraces, and every heartfelt glance, this afternoon filled us with so much excited anticipation for their day.

We've been looking forward to sharing this story, Elizabeth + Nathaniel’s, with all of you these last few weeks. What’s more, we are so eager to watch these two as they take on every new adventure waiting for them out on the horizon.

Contributing Vendors

Photography & Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Destination: Saugatuck Dunes State Park

Kristina + Selco: Grand Rapids Wedding Portraits Adventure

If the last sixteen months have taught us anything, it's that weddings — celebrations, adventures, elopements, however you choose to describe it — can look a hundred different ways and each one be absolutely perfect. They can be giant parties in elaborate banquet halls, they can be multi-day events, they can be adventures afar, and they can even be afternoon adventures the week before tying the knot.

When Kristina first messaged us letting us know that she and Selco were coming to town to do a session with his cousin (the brilliant and amazing Eldina!) the week before their wedding we LOVED the idea of joining them for their adventure! Something between a gorgeous styled shoot, an extended wedding portraits session, and an elopement, this was such a fun and beautiful day to be a part of. These two are so sweet and kind and we instantly fell in love with them. By the time the sun had set we were head over heels for them and had made two wonderful new friends!

We are so lucky to share in stories like this, documenting the moments that truly matter. We cannot say thank you enough to these two for letting us join them on their adventure around town. We'll always have this golden hour to swoon over and we'll always have K+S to thank for it!

Contributing Vendors

Cinematography: Shadow Shine Pictures

Photography: Inna Kova Photography

Venues: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Civic Auditorium, and Cherry Valley Resources