{Bridge Street Chapel Wedding // Erin + Steven}

{lansing, michigan // june 2020}

Erin + Steven

Erin’s favorite memory of the day: Taking off that heavy and hot dress at the end of the night! (Kidding! ... mostly.) In addition to the entire ceremony, I loved hugging each one of our guests afterwards while dismissing rows, my cousins' baby blowing me kisses during dinner, and doing The Twist with my Grandpa on the dance floor!

Steven’s favorite memory of the day: Standing at the altar, the double doors open, and I see Erin standing there.

Honeymoon location and activities: We spent three days in the Traverse City area, spent 4 days with Erin's family at the cottage in the UP, and spent 2 days on Mackinac Island. Highlights were lots of time on the beach (with killer sunburns), tubing with family, biking, kayaking, wineries, breweries, a hot air balloon ride, parasailing, and lots of great food!

Ceremony Venue: Bridge Street Chapel | Reception Venue: Hope Sports Complex | Getting Ready Location: Private Residence | Florist: WoodlandFlowerCo | Reception Music: Music Unlimited | Dessert: CortneyGirls’s Cake Closet | Bridal Gown: The Dowry Bride | Groom Suit: The Black Tux | Shoes: Kate Spade | Rings: Sweet Custom Jewelry | Invitations: Zazzle

{TKHS Senior // Christel}

{mackinac island, michigan // june 2020}

This session up on Mackinac Island with Christel was amazing! We rented bikes and headed out on our adventure to get great senior photos! I do have to say that I was hurting after riding that bike for so long.. oh well. Worth it!!! Christel’s family was really sweet too. They rented my bike for me and got me some ice cream! It was a super hot day so the ice cream was great!

Christel Hoskins. Class of 2021.

{Frankfort Engagement // Alisha + Caleb}

{frankfort, michigan // june 2020}

I actually met Alisha two years ago when I took their son’s 1st birthday photos. I was happy when they reached out to me to photograph their wedding. For their engagement photos, we started out at Pointe Betsie Lighthouse just north of Frankfort. Sadly the actual lighthouse grounds were closed but just before there was a great area with some gorgeous tall trees. We then headed down to the beach in Frankfort and got the best sunset.

I asked them how Caleb proposed. Alisha said she was completely shocked! They had talked about it for a while but thought it would never happen. Little did she know that her life was about to change. She was taking her test to get certified as a nursing assistant and Caleb texted her saying they were going out to celebrate her passing her test. They ended up meeting for a little hike through the woods by Copper Ridge behind the old State Hospital and to her surprise, at the top of the look out, he had roses everywhere and a sign asking her to marry him. When she saw it she thought it was meant for someone else and that they needed to get out of there before those people got there but then he started talking and saying all the “mushy” sweet things. He got down on one knee and asked Alisha to marry him.

Some advice from these two for future couples planning their wedding:

Don’t get too stressed out. It can be overwhelming but just try to plan things out one day at a time and everything will fall into place.

Just a little over a year until these two cuties get married and I can’t wait!

{Grand Rapids Engagement // Nikki + Chase}

{grand rapids, michigan // june 2020}

Nikki + Chase are cute, but have you seen their pup Charlie?! I’m joking!… kind of ;)

We started our session at Robinette’s Apple Haus + Winery in Grand Rapids. The apples on the trees weren’t as big as we thought they were going to be, but that’s okay! The sun was coming through the trees perfectly though. Charlie didn’t want to sit for very long as their was a ton of space to run around and explore but we got her attention for a couple photos. And if anyone was around, they would’ve had a blast watching 3 girls try to get a dog to look up. We then went over to Provin Trails, which happened to be just down the road. In the middle of the trails is a sand dune with a gorgeous view. And I might have had them run part way up it… twice. Sorry guys!

Nikki told me about their engagement and I’m jealous! Back in February they went on a trip to South America. It was their last night there before heading back home. They were at a beautiful fountain in Santiago, Chile and Chase got down on one knee and asked Nikki to marry him. She was in complete shock as they had talked about getting married but she didn’t think it would happen when it did. Once she finally came back down from the clouds, she was so excited and couldn’t stop smiling!

When asked what their favorite part about being engaged was, they said:

The only advice I have is to go with the flow and enjoy this time! It is so special and goes by so fast, so there is no time to stress and be worried! Everything will end up working out.

I can’t wait to photograph their special day in November!

{Holland Engagement // Brittany + Hayden}

{holland, michigan // june 2020}

I had so much fun on my session with Brittany + Hayden! Brittany contacted me after they had to move their original wedding day because of COVID 19. It makes me sad when I hear about couples having to move the day they have been dreaming of and planning for because of what’s happening in the world.

To start our little adventure, we heading into downtown Holland near Hope College. After a little time there, we headed over to their venue which happened to be down the road. Seeing the venue, Port 393, got me even more excited for their August wedding as it is such a gorgeous place. Then we headed over to our final destination of Dorr E. Felt Mansion, which I didn’t know used to be an insane asylum until Brittany told me. I think buildings that could possibly be haunted are amazing! We had to keep an eye out to make sure we didn’t get hit by any disc golfers while we were there. As the sun was setting, we made the decision to make the hike to the beach. And when I say hike, I mean hike. But it was definitely worth it!

Brittany told me about their proposal story and it is adorable. She said Hayden wanted to do a scavenger hunt leading her back to where they met in Hawaii, but sadly it wasn’t feasible at the time. So instead, he made a slideshow of their journey together so far. When she got home, the living room was decorated with flower petals, candles and twinkle lights which confused her a lot. The slideshow started with them meeting in Hawaii, their two and half year long distance military relationship to him asking if they could continue their life journey together. When she turned around, he was down on one knee asking her to marry him! She was not expecting it at all but it was a great surprise!

When asked what their favorite part about being engaged was, they said:

Being able to be together in person and not being half way across the world anymore! Having fun dates, seeing family, and now planning 2 weddings!

Only a couple more weeks until their August wedding!