Northern Michigan Wedding Photography

Grand Hotel Wedding on Mackinac Island // Norma + Mark

2013-05-21T16:15:57Z

(the image above was taken right after Norma+Mark's vow renewal ceremony at Ste. Anne's Church, as they started out their carriage ride closely followed by the wedding party! SO MUCH SNOW!!!!)

Our first wedding of the season on Mackinac Island had it all... sun, rain, snow, and the BEST PEOPLE EVER! Last weekend, Norma+Mark celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary by renewing their vows in front of their children and closest friends at Ste. Anne's Catholic Church on Main Street. Norma was beautiful in her vintage inspired dress, and Mark was one of the calmest guys we've ever photographed.

They followed up their ceremony with a dinner celebration at Grand Hotel in the Cottage Restaurant. The table was FABULOUSLY set with all the soft colored Hydrangea's and Roses (Margaret's Garden out did themselves on this one!)!!!

Norma+Mark, we had so much fun getting to know you. You are both quick to laugh, easy to make smile, and obviously crazy in love with each other. We wish you the best over the next 25 years and beyond!

Enjoy this preview of your Mackinac Island wedding photography collection!

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mackinac island, mi

day of coordinator • Marty Haines, Grand Hotel
hair • Astor's Salon, Grand Hotel
makeup • Astor's Salon, Grand Hotel
florist • Margaret's Garden, Grand Hotel
church • Ste. Anne's Catholic Church on Mackinac Island
reception venue • Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
photo booth • Snapit Photo Booth
cake • Bella e Dolce
mackinac island wedding photography • McCoy Made

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norma + mark

q. where did you first meet? a. Grade school......St. Charles Borromeo

q. who said "I love you!" first? a. Norma did!

q. When did you get married? a. 25 years ago!

q. what is your first dance song? a. Can't Help Falling in Love With You

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Weren't these shoes amazing! They were Norma's "Something Blue"...

We coaxed Norma+Mark out of the carriage one time during their ride (of course, it was REALLY coming down at this point!!!), but we all laughed and had a great few minutes standing out the by the water getting blown around by the gale winds! =)

Kensington Metropark Engagement Session // Kerri+Danny

2013-05-19T21:58:35Z

A sneak peek from today's engagement session at Kensington Metro Park!

More to come soon...

Grand Hotel Wedding on Mackinac Island // Norma + Mark

2013-05-16T11:42:20Z

Here it is!!!! Our first event of the season on Mackinac Island, and we had the honor of documenting the beautiful 25 Anniversary - Vow Renewal of Norma + Mark at Grand Hotel!

It may have rained, it may have snowed...but nothing kept this family from smiling.

More to come soon...

2012, we thank you // Northern Michigan Wedding Photography

2013-02-01T04:18:42Z

2012 was an adventurous, busy, and wonderful year for us. We witnessed the marriage of so many amazing couples, we were welcomed into other peoples families like long time friends, and we felt blessed to our innermost being.

We chased brides and grooms in horse drawn carriages while riding our bikes and taking photographs. We shot in the rain, sun, freezing cold and the blistering hot. We tripped over things, we stepped knee deep in the lake, and ran through flocks of birds to get them to fly around our couples. We laughed a lot and, well, yeah, we just pretty much laughed a lot. Oh. And we got some images that truly touched us, and hopefully the people we shot.

We wanted to share a small sampling of some of the couples we met, and photographed, on one of the most special days of their lives during 2012. Enjoy!

Traverse City Wedding Photographer // Keisha+Partrick

2012-11-11T21:04:06Z

It was a chilly afternoon for Keisha + Patrick's downtown Traverse City wedding a few weeks ago, but that didn't stop this group from hosting an outdoor ceremony at F&M Park! Afterwards, we headed over to West End Beach for some romantic photo's by the water, and then Front Street and the Mackinac Brewing Company (a special place for these two lovebirds!) for a few more pictures, before heading over to the Park Place Hotel for their festive wedding reception.

Keisha + Patrick, we hope you LOVE this sneak peek into your collection, thank-you for letting us document your special day!

SO beautiful!!

I LOVED the pipes that the guys had!

Three generations of women, this is one of my favorite images (it's so special!)!!!

loved Loved LOVED the fall color everywhere around downtown Traverse City!

Traverse City Engagement Photography // Brandi + Rusty

2012-11-04T18:29:42Z

Mark and I had SO much fun getting to know Brandi+Rusty a few weeks ago as we drove around Traverse City for their engagement session. It was a beautiful day (and by beautiful, I mean a cold and rainy day!), but we couldn't help smiling when we were around these two as they laughed and cuddled on cue in front of our cameras.

Brandi+Rusty, we're looking forward to documenting your wedding next summer at Snow Moon Ranch! We hope you enjoy this sneak peek from your engagement session!

One thing that's awesome about shooting when everything is wet from rain is that the colors are so, well, so colorful! And Brandi+Rusty, because it rained during your engagement session, I'm almost positive this means that you will NOT have rain on your wedding day!

Brandi... you look BEAUTIFUL!!

And ladies and gentlemen, my FAVORITE image from the day (well, one of my favorites!)!!!

Mackinac Island Wedding at Mission Point // Kelsey+Anthony

2012-11-02T17:37:18Z

This Mackinac Island wedding was one of our last for the season and we couldn't have met nicer families, with more supportive friends, than those of Kelsey and Anthony's. And although the weather was starting to take a turn to the chilly side, you would never know it by the pictures... I suppose everyone's laughter kept them warm.

Kelsey+Anthony, THANK YOU for letting us witness your wedding day at Mission Point Resort! We wish you the BEST in your new life together... ENJOY these images from your wedding day!

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Ceremony + Reception // Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island, Michigan

Mackinac Island Horse Drawn Wedding Carriage // Arrowhead Carriage Company on Mackinac Island

Birds that were flying EVERYWHERE!!! // were provided my Mother Nature

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Just the other day, Mark and I were talking with a future 2013 bride+groom, and I mentioned to them that we take our jobs very seriously. It is such an honor, and a responsibility, to document someones wedding day.

I also noted that while we take our jobs seriously, we don't always take ourselves too seriously. So I thought I'd start sharing some "behind the scenes" images with you!

So, what do you do when the aisle is too narrow? Well, you take a seat next to the aisle so you can be sure not to get in the bride's way as she and her dad walk down it. Right!

I think one thing Mark and I love is when brides and grooms don't take themselves too seriously, and enjoy themselves on their wedding day!!

So, as you have been able to guess, there were a TON of Canadian Geese at Mission Point this fall. So, here is HALF of the wedding party humorously surprised by the oncoming flock of birds, while the other half is smiling totally unaware of what is about to hit...

Because I was looking through the lens, I didn't realize the birds were about to fly right over us until everyone joined in by pointing and covering their heads! (as seen in the next picture)

And, here are the birds. THANKFULLY, no bird decided to drop a small present for anyone.

Here is Mark trying to convince Kelsey that, "it's really NOT that cold, and the sun is really not THAT bright! It will all be worth it, you have to trust us!!!"

And I'm glad you two did trust us... your images turned out beautiful.

Traverse City Wedding Photography // Keisha + Patrick

2012-10-26T22:08:09Z

More images coming soon!

Mackinac Island Wedding Photography // Shelley + Jim

2012-10-25T17:00:22Z

Shelley+Jim are such a cute couple. We loved the way they made each other laugh, how they looked into each others eyes so effortlessly, and we loved that they chose to elope on Mackinac Island.

Thanks you two, for allowing us to capture the special moments of your day. We wish you the best in the years to come, and we hope you love this sneak peek from your carriage ride around Mackinac!

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somewhere in time gazebo // mackinac island, michigan

shelley + jim's day was coordinated by // Carole Erbel, For the Love of Mackinac

their wedding ceremony was officiated by // Minister Marie Steensma

their wedding ceremony music was performed by // Mary McGuire

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Grand Hotel Wedding on Mackinac Island // Sally+Gregg

2012-10-24T23:09:57Z

We had so much fun shooting Sally+Gregg's wedding at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island! The weather was perfect, the sunshine was warm, and the breeze was cool. Oh, and Sally+Gregg looked fabulous and in love.

Sally+Gregg, we wish you the BEST in your years to come as you walk through life together. We hope you enjoy this sneak peek into your Collection from your carriage ride and reception!

This was Mark's view...

And this was my view of the same moment...

This is one of my FAVORITE images from the time we had to shoot some fun portraits at Grand Hotel (which is actually the same moment as the image above! I love how Mark can shoot the exact same thing, yet see things so differently when we are shooting! One of the benefits of having two photographers!)!!