Rachel + David: Charleston Engagement

While Michigan continues to try and make up it's mind which season it's going into next, we are day dreaming back to this gorgeous sun filled day down in Charleston, wandering all around the city with these two beautiful humans!

We've known Rachel for what feels like forever at this point and when we had heard the news that David, this southern gentlemen that we had seen photos of and heard all about, had asked her to marry him we were swooning from all the emotions! And the only thing better than that news was getting to spend a day with them down in the warm ocean breeze and southern sunshine. It was our first time meeting David that day, but it was apparent almost immediately how perfectly he complimented Rachel. They both are incredibly selfless having two of the purest servant-hearts you could ever find, they're constantly focused on caring for the other, they laugh loud and they laugh often, but above all they live out their lives as an ongoing act of worship to bring glory back to God.

To say we are looking forward to spending a weekend with them this fall down in the gorgeous Hilton Head area is a LEGIT understatement. Aside from the trip down south, the beautiful backdrops that will be aplenty, and some time to hangout beachside, we are just stoked to be spending time with these two wonderful souls who have captured our heart completely.

Seriously counting down the days till this Fall!

Paige + Noah: The Lehmann Wedding

There are few things that get me more excited than spending a day with dear friends, and when those friends ask you to spend their wedding day following them around taking photos of them, obviously I'm in, no question about it! I've had the privilege of knowing Paige and calling her a friend for a few years now, and we've even traveled the world together a bit. I remember hearing about Noah when he first caught Paige's eye and there was something about the way she talked about him that you just knew he was the love of her life. Needless to say it's been an honor and privilege watching these two grow together and lift one another up in the highs and lows of life and I cannot say enough how thankful I am for their example of love and devotion.

In complete honesty this day was a dream in every since of the word - it wasn't work, it was a celebration; it wasn't an event, it was this beautiful unfolding moment of joy; it was everything you ask for in a wedding, especially for your friends' wedding. Getting to watch these two love on each other, make the other laugh, have quiet moments of rest, and then also ecstatic "oh my gosh we just did that!" moments; it was amazing through and through.

I think all our team ever truly wants for any of our couples, above everything else, is just for them to have the absolute perfect day. Now, yes, 'perfect' looks like a lot of different things, but it's more than the perfect weather, the perfect location, the perfect backdrop. Those are all great and important, but the perfect wedding day is something that transcends all of those aspects, in fact it's simpler than those; the perfect wedding day is solely a day focused on your love. This day right here embodied this hope, desire, and idea beautifully and holistically, and I could not be more overcome with thankfulness that Paige + Noah had this perfect day together.

These two have an amazing and bright future ahead for them, and while I may or may not be ugly crying over here because I don't know when I'm going to see them again next I know that these two wonderful souls are setting out in the direction the Lord is leading them, working to love those around them unconditionally, and to bring glory back to their Creator in eveyrthing that they say or do.

Here's to the beautiful and gorgeous Mr+Mrs Lehmann, two of the most kind, silly, most intentional people you will ever meet - and two people I am never going to stop loving!

-Matthew

Roopa + Ryan: Grand Rapids Wedding Photography

How we end up with the most wonderful and beautiful couples is a question we may never know the answer to but they are a blessing we are eternally thankful for. And no, we aren't just talking "beautiful" in terms of how gorgeous they look - because like for real, they certainly have it going on! - but beautiful in the sense that they lift one another up, comfort each other, and point the other to joy and life even when stress and emotions swell up and feel overwhelming. The ones that wipe the tears away, meet their Love where they are at, and walk them through difficult moments. Roopa and Ryan are a shining example of just such a couple, and throughout their entire wedding weekend they reminded us just what we are called to in this life - unconditional love.

Whether it was making sure the needs of the other were being attended to or showering each other with affection; whether it was making sure the other always had their favorite drink in their hand or keeping a smile on each other's face with an endless supply of dad jokes, these two were in a world all their own. Roopa and Ryan are the type of couple that we are so greatly humbled by, the ones that consistently teach us what care and compassion truly looks like. All we can say to these two wonderful and gorgeous humans is thank you - thank you for allowing us to pay witness to your love over your wedding weekend. Thank you for pointing us back to love, and thank you for throwing one hell of a party. You both will forever have all our love!

Lauren + Nick: The Manzer Wedding Trailer

If you were to ask us to name two people we believe could not be more deserving of a lifetime of happiness with their best friend by their side, our answer would undoubtedly be Lauren + Nick. These two love each other both equal parts fiercely and tenderly. They are never without grace for the other, and they model a Christ-like love on a daily basis to everyone they come in contact with. We cannot say it enough: we are truly blessed to call them two of our dearest friends!

We met Nick before he and Lauren started dating, on a trip to Zambia, where we saw firsthand his servant's heart on full display. Nick is a tall man, and one of few words, and one might be intimidated by him upon first glance, but it takes just a minute to realize how kind, compassionate, and deeply loyal he is. Watching him hold the hands of so many orphans and hurting Zambians in Africa showed us this was a man who deserved the most amazing love in the world — one that he would later discover in Lauren.

Similarly, we also met Lauren prior to her and Nick beginning their relationship. We quickly fell in love with her passion for telling stories, her zeal and tenacity to accomplish anything that was put in front of her, and, above all, her heart and desire to love on those around her. Honestly, we couldn't imagine a more perfect match than these two. When we heard the news that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together, well, let's just say there were a lot of happy tears that day!

It can hardly be a surprise that their wedding day was absolute perfection. Everything was wonderful, every moment was filled to the brim with joy and laughter, and everyone that gathered together with them on this day was ready to celebrate one of the truest loves we've ever seen. Here's to wishing these two a lifetime of happiness and never knowing a day without the other!

Cinematography: ShadowShine Pictures

Photography: Radiance Photography

Wedding Event Design and Coordination: Grand Occasions

Florist: Christine Harne

Wedding Dress: Second Dance Bridal & Formal Consignment

Menswear: Jos. A. Bank

Hair and Makeup: Graycen Bailey - Hair Technique

DJ: Box DJ - Yon Bucher

Rentals: Kentwood Rental

Wedding Donuts: Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery

Venue: Wyoming Park Bible Church & The Harris Building

Claire + Rex: Grand Rapids Engagement

When two of your favorite, joy-filled, adventurous friends ask you to spend an afternoon with them going on an adventure it's hard to refuse, and it's down right impossible when it's Rex and Claire! Rex became a close friend of our team during a trip to Zambia Africa a few years ago and shortly after he helped us run a pretty intensive marketing campaign for our first major narrative short film project. It wasn't long after when we met Claire, whom Rex had been dating for a bit by then, and we truly could not think of a better match for this kind and caring friend we found in Rex.

Claire is Rex's equal in both grace and compassion, his guiding light, and his adventure buddy. You can see it in the way he looks at her with those stolen glances, you can hear it in her laugh when he holds and snuggles up close to her. No couple is perfect, but man, these two balance, strengthen, and raise up the other in such a beautiful and awe-inspiring way that the word feels quite right to be applied.

This late fall afternoon walking around Eastown, heading out into the sun laced woods, and venturing down a quiet river bank, was less like work and infinitely more like getting lost on an adventure with two of your favorite characters from a book you fell in love with years ago. Both are on their way to some amazing and ambitious dreams, but what we are most excited about for Claire and Rex is their wedding later this summer, when the two say "I do" and pledge their love to one another. We should probably start thinking about stocking up on tissues because there are no doubts that we are going to be bawling the whole day!

Seriously, love, love, LOVE these two!

Jahaan + Scott: The Warren Wedding Trailer

Oh please someone take us back to long summer days, warm summer nights, and breathtaking sunsets beachside. And more specifically, someone take us back to Jahaan and Scott's gorgeous wedding day! Seriously this day was absolutely flawless in every single way and spending it with these two was perfection. The weddings where everything just clicks and the bride and groom have the time of their lives are honest to goodness the best, and that was 100% Jahaan and Scott's day.

Jahaan was radiant and her mermaid style wedding dress by Matthew Christopher was to die for! Scott himself also could not have looked any more sharp and dapper in his suite and this entire bridal party was just on point the ENTIRE DAY! Oh, and through Benton Harbor, the Veranda, and the St. Joseph beach into the mix and you arguably have the most perfect wedding you could ever want or ask for!

All the love and joy and happiness in the world getting sent out to these two love birds this afternoon!

Cinematography: ShadowShine Pictures

Photography: Michael Koch Photo

Wedding Planners: 1928 Wedding Planning Co., Meg Madden, Lindsay Magee, and Janeen Blake

Florist: Love Greyson Floral Design

Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher with Bridal Stylist Theresa Smith

Hair and Makeup: Katherine Heinrich, Trish McEvoy

DJ: Monte Janssen with Wiser Productions

Wedding Cake: CK Catering

Venue: The Inn at Harbor Shores, The Veranda

Casey + Regan: The Smith Wedding Trailer

Venturing outside of our state to film a wedding is a special occasion for us; even more so when that occasion is the wedding of these two DROP DEAD GORGEOUS PEOPLE! We were so excited and honored when Casey+Regan asked us to come all the way out to Toledo to be a part of their day and we could not have asked for a more beautiful day to spend with these two. On a day like today it's hard to remember what warm sun feels like on your skin, but this wedding trailer is helping us to do so!

Seriously, we're not sure how we keep getting blessed with couples like Casey and Regan, but we are so beyond thankful for them! The love story between these two is a long one, and you can so easily see how deeply these two care for one another and how God has played such a central role in shaping these two over the years for one another. And there was no shortage of joy and laughter as everyone just purely celebrated these two, love, and the blessings bestowed on all of us. There's little thought we have to give when someone asks what we like, better yet love, filming weddings; all we have to do is point them to moments like these.

We're madly in love with these two, that's all we can say.

Cinematography: ShadowShine Pictures

Photography: Jessica Patton with Viridian Ivy

Wedding Planners: Bee for the Day

Florist: Beautiful Blooms by Jen

Wedding Dress: The Lovely Bride in New York

DJ: Brian Cahill with Ultimate Nights

Wedding Cake: Eston's Bakery

Venue: Gesu Roman Catholic Parish, Hilton Garden Inn Levis Commons