Totally original. Totally loving it.
Barb Hoek of Sweet Cakes has done it again!
And total score for me (and Matt and Becky!), having Aletha from Pearl's Events keeping everything in check again this week.
The toasts were so heartfelt and loving. What wonderful people this couple has in their lives!
And the table arrangements and details were fabulous...all different, all elegant and amazing.
After dinner, the guests sauntered out onto Mangiamo's expansive lawn to enjoy some time outdoors. It was perfect with the chairs set up the sun brightly shining.
And I snuck the couple away for a few pictures by themselves.
Becky is a competitive skater and you can't have a whole team together on one's wedding day and not get some team pictures!
Random adorable kid.
Do these earrings rock or what?!
Grant isn't so shabby either!
You know how I love making couples jump for joy. This picture totally cracks me up!
Amy had two of her friends with her...her 'maids for the day...making sure everything was 'just so'. They were fabulous!
Congratulations Amy and Grant! Again!
Lynn and Bryan will be welcoming a baby boy very soon...as early as next week in fact!...and I was honored to come and document this time for them at their lovely home on the river.
This is one lovely mamma-to-be.
Seriously...how cute are they?!
Becky and Matt were married this morning in a beautiful ceremony at the Calvin College Chapel which was followed by a luncheon reception at Mangiamo's. (You can read more details on Aletha's blog, who was there to make sure everything was perfect!) I'll share more details later this week but I will say that the amount of planning and amazing details that this couple put into their wedding made for one spectacular event! 
Congratulations Becky and Matt!!
Guess who made this amazing cake...the fabulous Barb Hoek of Sweet Cakes!
Their favors were the "I Do" brew and the guests LOVED this gift of a custom beer.
And the lovely Aletha poised for organizing action!
Congratulations Juli and Andy! I hope your honeymoon was fun, fabulous and relaxing. Thank you for letting me be part of your day!
Sometimes the stars align perfectly and everything just falls into place. That was exactly the case tonight with Amy and Jordan's engagement session. Amy and Jordan are getting married next July and both live in Buffalo, NY. They happened to be in town this week and it worked out perfectly to have their session this evening. Amazing spring weather, great lighting and an all-around fabulous session.
Being in love makes you want to jump for joy!
You know I couldn't resist this shot!
Amy really had a hard time getting that 'sassy' look mastered just so.
Obviously...I'm completely joking! She was rocking that sassy look!
Amy and Jordan...you know I'm looking forward to your wedding next year after such a fun session. I hope your drinks and desserts at La Dolce Vita were fabulous this evening!
I had the wonderful opportunity to work with this family (all of whom looked like they were ready for their Ralph Lauren photo shoot!) late this afternoon. They admitted it had been quite a while since they had a family picture and sometimes just the idea....a family picture....can bring on dread! and fear! and clothing choices! to mind. But I told everyone to have fun, relax and let me do the work. Let the kids be kids and the parents enjoy the time. And what a fun time we had! I loved playing around in the cool grass on a perfect spring day.
It does not get any more precious than this my friends.
It wasn't all work and no play though! These kids just received their trampoline yesterday and were excited to show it off. I even taught them a few tricks from when I had one of these (sans safety netting around the side) when I was a kid.
Ahhh...city skylines...love it!
The windy city was living up to its name!
Kyle and Melissa...you two are fun, fierce and fabulous. I can't WAIT to see you both for your wedding this fall. 
There are many things I love about my job, but one thing that I truly love is travel, and it's made even better when traveling with a friend.
Jen will be posting her pictures from this engagement session soon on her blog here.
Growing up, my absolute most favorite thing in the entire world was horses. I was obsessed. My best friend and neighbor, Tina, and I would spend hours flipping through books about horses and picking out our favorites. We were going to grow up and run a horse farm someday.
So yesterday was my birthday. I turned 29 for the first time. I say first time, because I expect I'll want to stay this age for a few years to stave off being 30. But I'll worry about that next year and that's really not what this post is about.
Erin, my friend and the girl behind all of the hair magic at my boudoir sessions, welcomed her new son Brody into the world on Saturday. Of course I had to go see the little guy and take a few pictures of his cuteness!
Congratulations Erin and Ron! He's perfect.
Congratulations to Juli and Andy who were married at the beautiful Fallasburg Park in Lowell today. Look for a preview gallery later this week!
Amy and Carlo met while they were at their law school orientation at Notre Dame. Carlo hails from Los Angeles and Amy is born and raised here in the Mid West. Carlo hasn't spent a great amount of time in the downtown GR area so I took them around the area finding cool parks and my favorite back allyways.
I adore Amy's ring setting! Nice job Carlo!
This is Landen, all kinds of adorable and turning two in just a few weeks.
Sister Love!
The first reactions of the couple seeing each other is one of my favorite parts of the day...whether that be in a first meeting or during the walk down the aisle.
Practicing their first dance in the streets...fabulous!
Dana and Jeremy...I wish you two nothing but love and happiness in your journey together as husband and wife. Congratulations and thanks for letting me capture your day!!
And yes, I have permission to post these. Not by all, but by a select few (thanks girls!)
Andrea mentioned at the beginning of the session that she was shy. But she looks completely FIERCE here! You are one hot momma!
And here is Gibson, the sweetest dog. He was great!
You two just let me know if you want me to come out to the Chicago area once that little one arrives. I adored working with you both!
Beautiful wedding, fabulous couple and one Amazing Day! Look for the preview gallery later this week!
One of Heather's bridesmaids grabbed the mic later in the night to call Heather up to sing 'Love Shack' together. She claimed it wasn't a true party until they belted out this tune together. Love it!
This evening Katie and Dan and I got together for their amazing engagement session. Starting out at Tulip Time in downtown Holland, we had the most perfect evening. Warm temperatures, beautiful flowers and the smells of caramel corn and elephant ears (a personal favorite!) permeating the air.
After we had spent our fill in Holland, we headed up to Grand Haven. Katie and Dan met in Grand Haven working as servers at Portabellos. Because the town had such meaning to them, they called up to this establishment to have their "Save the Date" information put on the marquee. Fabulous!
And that ring? The proposal was set in New York City at Rockafeller Center. Yep...Dan is definitely a keeper!
Katie and Dan...I am SO excited to shoot your wedding next summer. You two are simply fun and fabulous!
Jenna and Karly are the adorable grandchildren of my friend Kelle. I've been taking pictures of these two since they were about one year old!
I also had a job shadow today helping out! This is Erick and he was shadowing me this morning for a paper he's doing for school. He did a fabulous job.
Fun Flashback: This was Jenna and Karly's first trip to the beach two years ago when I first began photographing them. This is one of my favorite pictures of these two!
Jack and Lily came into the studio today and I was completely captivated by these bright eyes and big smiles. 
Remington and her little brother Ethan came studio today and I couldn't have been more excited. I get the pleasure of seeing these two often and even though Ethan wasn't as excited to be behind the camera, Remington was. I happily obliged!
And my other little guy Ethan and his mom Gina that came to visit. How adorable!
The fabulous Kerri of Taylor Grey Photography graciously hosted a Cinco De Mayo get-together of some local photographers and area wedding vendors at her house this evening. Not only did I get to meet some new fab photogs, but my favorite cupcake baker, Becca, of Lil Miss Cupcake brought over...get this...Margarita cupcakes! Amazing! And even more amazing was the fact that they were vegan. Now I know what you're all thinking...vegan cannot be tasty. But I am happy to report that not only were they delicious, I actually think I prefer them to their egg-filled cousins.
Kerri, thanks again for hosting. Great to meet/see everyone this evening!
Heather and Tom were married today in the lovely (and bit rainy) city of Holland. I loved their spirit (they are walking above in the rain), loved their family and all of their dear friends. I am SO excited to share their preview gallery later this week, complete with a stop for elephant ears at the street vendors set up downtown to celebrate Tulip Time!
I am so thankful for the amazing friends that I have. I truly realized this tonight as my three girlfriends and I were talking about our upcoming (and one recent) birthday. All three of us met while we were in high school and I am happy to say, are still part of each other's lives.
When : : Saturday, April 26, 2008
I love watching the transformation as the bride gets ready. The applying of make-up, the addition of the veil...
I adored Sandra's flowers...all of the bright pinks, greens and whites...gorgeous! And pinks and greens are one of my very favorite color combinations so of course I was going crazy over the flowers!
Beechwood Church actually holds a very special and dear place in my heart. It's the church my grandparents attended and one that I would visit with them when I stayed with them as a little girl. It was bittersweet in some ways as they both have since passed. But what a beautiful church and what wonderful memories to be making here on such an amazing day.
Congratulations Sandra and Casey! I hope your honeymoon was absolutely fabulous!
And this is little Cameron
And also a big Happy Birthday to Tanner! That means a trip to the pet store to pick out a birthday toy and treat.
