jennwebber photography | michigan photography | grand rapids & detroit photographer

a letter to my husband & an announcement...

2010-11-28T15:40:00.000-05:00

What a year it has been, 'eh? Lord knew that marriage wouldn't be easy, but I never thought we would face so many joys and challenges in our first 12 months.

The mountain tops were high: We rented our first apartment together and made it our home. We traveled the states and beyond. You completed your bachelor's degree - with flying colors! We found a great church community and made lots of new friends together. We joined one of my best friends as she said "I do" and witnessed as other dear friends jumped into forever with each other. You began your seminary journey - Yay Greek! We shared the joy of adding another little nephew to the family and celebrated with our families during great accomplishments.

The valleys were terribly low as we stood with family and friends during heartbreak and tragedies, carried the casket of one of your best friends, experienced deep grief and confusion, juggled broken cars and pinched pennies, sometimes with only our trust in God to carry us through the days and weeks.

Merging two lives together has been an exciting, difficult and rewarding thing.

As I proudly and confidently took the leap into joining you as your wife, I am now finally taking the leap into rebranding as Jenn Anibal. Thank you for loving me, supporting me, laughing with me and holding me when the days were too much to bear. It's been a crazy dance through the minefields, but you are the best dance partner I could have. I love you, hubs. Don't give up on me.

Becoming Jenn Anibal... from jennanibal on Vimeo.

"i do" are the most famous last words, the beginning of the end. but to lose your life for another, i've heard, is a good place to begin. because the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down and i believe its an easy price for the life that we have found.

we're dancing in the minefields. we're sailing in the storms.

this is harder than we dreamed, but i believe that's what the promise is for

we bear the light of the Son of man so there is nothing left to fear. so i'll walk with you in the shadow lands until the shadows disappear. because He promised not to leave us and His promises are true. so in the face of all this chaos, baby... i can dance with you. don't give up on me.

the announcement . . .

I alluded to "something big" happening recently on twitter. To all of you who thought I was pregnant... I'm sorry, you're wrong. Ladies, gentlemen, friends and family. This concludes my journey as JennWebber Photography. It has been a rewarding path, but from this point forward, I will be walking on a new path. Don't worry, I'm not putting the camera away, this is a simple rebrand that has been a year in the making...

Change your bookmarks, folks.
You can now find me at:

www.jennanibal.com

etsy.com & the chasey family

2010-11-19T11:46:00.001-05:00

I have to admit something. I have a recent fetish with etsy.com and all things etsy. It started when I was planning my wedding - oh the wonderful ideas and crafty pieces - I wanted it all. Now, even in the past couple months, I still find myself wandering to etsy.com - just because. Last week I attended a local home tour and even found a fabulous new store in Grand Rapids - both featuring etsy artists. In another life, I think I'd even love to be an etsy artist. But for now, I'll ooh and ahh over intricate pieces and fancy crafts and then hang it on my wall and secretly be extra-happy because it's from etsy.

Now, confession over... I HAVE to tell you about a fabulous etsy artist named, Heather. I met Heather a few months ago when her little babe Analiese was just about 2 months old. Her and her husband invited me into their home to capture some moments with their first little one. As soon as I stepped into their house, I knew that Heather was a creative soul. That was confirmed when I received Analiese's birth announcement a few weeks later - a beautiful, handmade card designed by her momma. When I heard that Heather was opening up her own etsy shop, I was thrilled! The shop is called { pipe|up } and she specializes in custom card designs for life's special events - birth announcements, save the dates, wedding invitations and even holiday cards. So, looking for a fun way to share some of your favorite portraits or engagement pictures with your loved ones? Order a custom design from pipe|up and send them some love or holiday cheer. To check out Heather's store, just click this cute little button here:

Speaking of Heather.... her fabulous little family of three joined me for an autumn session a few weeks ago. I couldn't believe how much Analiese had grown! She is now a bubbly 9-month old and as cute as ever. Heather had lots of fun ideas for the shoot - including bringing some homemade pieces to add some flair. Together, we bounced ideas and locations back and forth until we landed on the perfect setting for their session. It was hard to narrow down favorites, but here are a few...

megan & jake {engaged!}

2010-11-18T23:58:00.001-05:00

Occasionally, while walking around town during a photo session, I may run into someone I know or that my clients know. Its always a nice surprise, but not out of the ordinary as my connections in West Michigan continue to grow. However, during this engagement session, we ran into one of my best friends, Kate. This was very out of the ordinary though, because Kate lives on the other side of the state. That evening, we just happened to be in the exact same spot in the city of Holland! And then... a few minutes later, we also happened to run into Megan's little sister on the Hope College campus as she was walking to dinner at the exact moment we were walking through campus. Oh, coincidences :)

Anyways, without further ado, let me introduce Megan and Jake. This wonderful couple will finally be tying the knot this coming summer after seven years of dating (yes, seven!!). Until then, here are a few of my favorite images from their autumn engagement session...

alison {senior 2011}

2010-11-16T18:37:00.040-05:00

Well, autumn is quickly fading. It seems almost all the leaves have fallen and the days are become chillier and chillier. Part of me is mourning... you see, autumn is my favorite season and as quickly as it comes, it also departs. But the part of me that is hoping for snow any moment is not sad. I do love snow and the change of a season - especially as we enter into the holidays.

But, let's not rush it. We still have Thanksgiving to finish off autumn... and, I have a few more fall sessions to share with you! One of those sessions is a beautiful 2011 senior named, Alison. Alison is the sister of a former groom, so I was thrilled when she contacted me! Together, we braved a chilly autumn morning for her senior session - laughing and talking about college plans.

This is "her" coat... she's known for it! We had to grab a couple sassy images of her in this sassy jacket!

fall, family and horses!

2010-11-10T22:42:00.001-05:00

To me, in order to grow in photography, I need to continually be inspired and continually stretch myself. When the three families invited me out to Clare, MI for a few family sessions, I knew I was in for a fun afternoon, but I would also be stretched as a photographer. Yes, I have photographed many families and children before, but these moms had an additional subject for me - their horses. The ladies invited us out to one of the family farms - a piece of land filled with glowing trees, a vast field, a vintage barn, a creek... it was a dream. Add a few adorable families and some horses to the mix and we had the recipe for a wonderful afternoon. Here are some of the results!

It was then that the husbands and kids stepped aside to let these cowgirls have their time to shine ;)

Beth, Jamie, Tori and companies... thanks so much for a fun afternoon an excuse to play on the farm!

stephanie & patrick {engaged!}

2010-11-03T11:05:00.002-04:00

"But I promise you this, I'll always look out for you. That's what I'll do... My heart is yours. It's you that I hold on to. That's what I'll do..."

When Pat & Steph contacted me for their wedding photography, I was thrilled! These two are so fun and so in love... I knew we would have a great time together. They have been patiently planning their wedding over the past year and I know they are beyond excited to finally tie the knot this coming May! We spent the evening wandering around downtown Grand Rapids, chatting about wedding plans and making pretty pictures. Here is the result...

Mmm.... just a little ArtPrize love!

Insert funny story here... Immediately after we took the picture above, we walked over to this wall. As I was setting them up for the next series of pictures, we noticed THIS written on the wall behind them:

Get it?? Pat... hopping... Yes, it was weird! Ok, sorry for the interruption... back to pretty pictures!

"... Yea, I saw sparks"

luke & natalie {married!}

2010-11-01T11:46:00.002-04:00

To all the brides out there who fear rain on your wedding day.... don't! It is often said that rain on your wedding day is lucky... bringing wellness and fertility. If reference to the symbolization of "tying the knot", some cultures believe that rain is lucky because a wet knot is harder to untie than a dry knot. Yes, I googled it.

LUCKILY, Luke & Natalie's wedding day was a rainy October Saturday. Despite the weather, the day was truly beautiful. There was a sense of anticipation and celebration in the air all day as these two lives were joined together. Luke & Natalie didn't let the rain stop them - they rocked out some awesome portraits in downtown Birmingham and enjoyed a warm autumn reception in the gorgeous Iroquois Club of Bloomfield Hills. Capturing their wedding day was an honor!

taylor & david {engaged!}

2010-10-31T16:07:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween! Whether you love this "holiday" or not, hopefully you can spend some time outside in the beautiful fall weather or enjoy a football game and fall activities and/or share the afternoon with loved ones. Autumn is quickly leaving us, so enjoy it while it is here! Personally, Jonathan and I are spending our first Halloween as newlyweds by carving pumpkins with friends and passing out candy to cute little trick-or-treaters... if we don't eat the bowl of candy before 6pm ;)

And in lieu of this day, here is a little autumn treat for my readers... an engagement session :) Taylor and David are one of my fabulous 2011 couples. We were able to spend some time on her dad's property a couple weeks ago celebrating their love and enjoying the amazing fall colors. Along for the afternoon was their beautiful daughter, Annabelle - adding a little extra delight to the session!

Meet little miss Annabelle...

lindsey & johnrob {engaged!}

2010-10-29T20:30:00.001-04:00

As the wedding season slows down (don't worry, there are a few more to blog and a few more to shoot!) the senior sessions & engagement sessions have filled up my schedule... and I can't complain! I've been able to spend lots of time over the past few weeks with new faces and old acquaintances celebrating life and love. Lindsey & JohnRob fit the second label. I've known these two for a while now and have been able to watch their love flourish from afar. The time has come for them to plan their own wedding starting with a fall engagement session in Holland, MI where they are finishing their final months of college. Here are a few favorites from our evening together...

We traveled over to the lakeshore for a few snapshots of the location that JohnRob proposed... a quiet lakeshore park where they have spent many dates together!

josh {senior 2011}

2010-10-27T12:16:00.000-04:00

If you've been following the blog for a while, you know how much I have come to love West Michigan. It's true... I love it... from the thriving, artful city of Grand Rapids, to the crashing waves of the lakeshore... it's pretty wonderful. However, it is also no secret that I am a hometown girl... and I love every chance I have to be back on the east side of the mitten to spend time with family, friends and eat at a Coney Island! So when Josh contacted me about wanting to do his session in downtown Detroit, I was thrilled! Josh loves the life and potential that the city of Detroit possesses. We had a great time hanging out at some of the city's key spots and I loved the way this session turned out. Thanks for letting me explore the city with you, Josh! I hope you enjoy the preview...

emma {senior 2011}

2010-10-22T15:38:00.000-04:00

I have loved having the opportunity to spend time with so many great seniors this season... and Emma is one of them! She is so sweet! We spent the afternoon walking around the apple orchard and grabbing some beautiful portraits as the sun started to set. A perfect fall session and a perfect kickoff to her last year of high school!

the berent family!

2010-10-22T11:52:00.001-04:00

This beautiful family met me in Northville, MI a couple weeks ago for a family session. They are full of fun and personality... It was a joy to interact with them and chase around these precious little girls all morning! Kenny & Amy, the four of you are fabulous - I hope you love the preview! Here are a few of my favorites from our autumn morning together...

james {senior 2011}

2010-10-18T23:40:00.002-04:00

You know those people in your life that remind you that you are getting older? This senior is one of those people to me. I can easily remember when he was in kindergarden! My, how time flies! Blog, meet James... he is one of my many, many cousins and he is graduating high school this year! James is pretty awesome, sweet and super intelligent. No, I'm not biased... he just is!

We recently spent a rainy Saturday hitting up all of James' favorite hangout spots in Rochester.... and here's a preview of what happened! Thanks for the adventure, James! :)

His cousin is just so funny!! ;)

bob & michelle {married!}

2010-10-15T19:54:00.000-04:00

As soon as I heard the details about this wedding, I couldn't wait for September to get here! Bob & Michelle described the wedding as "a pig roast & barn dance, casual attire encouraged" - a perfect entrance to fall? I think so! From the beautiful outdoor ceremony to the exquisitely decorated barn reception, this wedding did not disappoint! You saw their engagement session a couple months ago, now here they are on their wonderful wedding day...

jenna & daniel {engaged!}

2010-10-13T15:45:00.000-04:00

Jenna and Daniel are a delight to be around. When I first met them, I knew I would love getting to know them more and spending time with them. The both of them are full of life, energy and joy. They keep each other laughing, love having a great time together and are up for anything! I cannot wait for their December wedding! Enjoy the preview...

holly & will {engaged!}

2010-10-13T09:30:00.000-04:00

Holly & Will are in love... just wait, you'll see ;) A few weeks ago, they asked me to capture their love and celebrate this special time of engagement between them. How wonderful it was to spend a couple hours with them and learn more about their lives, love and wedding plans. I had a hard time picking favorites... but here are some of them!

alyssa & josh {engaged!}

2010-10-04T11:45:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago, Jonathan and I spent the evening walking around Ann Arbor, MI. Ann Arbor, as some of you may know is a beautiful little city in Southeast Michigan, home to the University of Michigan and by default... it is enemy territory. But, Josh is a UofM grad, and that's where they live... so it just made sense to do the session there :) We spent part of the session in the gorgeous arboretum, some time in the Law Quad, and then as the sun set, we finished in the Children's book section of the library. This elementary school teacher and social worker are perfect for each other and I can't wait for their West Michigan wedding in June!

the molhoek family!

2010-10-04T08:49:00.000-04:00

Blog, meet the Molhoek family! Sally & Andrew have five kiddos - their youngest is Amelia, born in August. With five kids under the age of 10, I knew I was in for a treat :) It was fun to see all the kids interact with each other. The four older kids love her to pieces and couldn't wait for their turn to snuggle and hold her!

We dodged rain drops and ran around the cider mill for this session, but Jonathan and I had a great time with this family! Here are a few favorites...

allison {maternity}

2010-09-30T09:52:00.000-04:00

It's so so beautiful to watch a family grow. I have been there to capture Matt & Allison when they were engaged, when they said their vows, and now they are about to have their first baby, a little girl named Xayla Belle. This time, Matt couldn't be there for our photo session though. Two weeks after this couple found out they were expecting, this U.S. Marine was deployed to Afghanistan. Shortly after his deployment, Allison moved back to Michigan from the base in Arizona to spend the 7+ months near family. My heart broke when I heard that Allison was spending her first pregnancy thousands of miles from her husband and I insisted that I do a session with her to celebrate the joys and challenges of this time in their lives. Don't worry, we made sure to involve Matt somehow into this session! The two of them are troopers and Matt will be home very soon... in time for his daughter's arrival into the world. Yay!

With Marine camos and Matt's dogtags, it was like he was spending the afternoon with his wife and baby girl...

Allison is one hot momma... don't you agree? :)

Come home soon, Matt!

chad & christine {married!}

2010-09-29T10:33:00.001-04:00

Chad & Christine were married in the beautiful Chapel on Fir Hill at the University of Akron in Ohio. The ceremony was perfect - a wonderful display of a couple's love for each other and their desire to be united under one purpose. A lot of details, preparation and prayer went into this day and that made for a much anticipated and wonderful celebration. One twist on this wedding for JWP? Chad and my husband's family are dear friends which means instead of having Jonathan as my second shooter for the day, he stood alongside Chad as a groomsman and I photographed him! Chad and Christine, thank you for inviting me to capture your wedding weekend. Many blessings on this marriage journey. You two have what it takes and I can't wait to see how your love blossoms!

If you keep your eyes open, you may just see these two cuties on the blog in a few weeks... just saying :)

heather {senior 2011}

2010-09-28T16:04:00.001-04:00

Heather and I have been talking and plotting about this session for a while now. When our session had to be rescheduled because of rain, the news was devastating. We were both so excited for this session and just wanted it to be sunny... not cloudy and rainy!! Fortunately, on our second attempt, we scheduled the session on the perfect day. It was a delight to spend a few hours with Heather. She's a beautiful, joyful teenager who is in the midst of her final year of highschool. When she "grows up" she wants to be a music teacher and I think she'll be an awesome one! Here are just some of my favorites from our session together...

the vanwerden family!

2010-09-24T13:43:00.001-04:00

Over five years ago, I met this beautiful woman named, Jen. She lived in the first floor of my dorm. I lived on the third floor. My very first memory of Jen was a chair that had her named embroidered on it. Seeing it be unloaded from her car during campus move-ins, my brother said, "Jenn you should be her friend because she has the same name as you!" My response? "No... she its not the same name. She spells it with one 'n'!" A few weeks later, I found myself sharing oreos and ice cream with Jen and other new friends in her dorm room... the rest? It's history. Her family? Just as amazing as Jen. Here is a preview of a little evening session we had a few weeks ago...

This is the newest addition to the family. His name is Noah and he is so handsome!

This little guy is kinda loved a lot... can you tell? :)

stephen & melissa {married!}

2010-09-24T11:39:00.002-04:00

This post has been a long time coming, but it is here! I have been planning this post for a while now and then when I sat down to upload and finish it up, 72mph winds decided to knock our power out for over 48 hours. My productivity plummeted and popsicles melted in the freezer... but with much rejoicing, I am here to tell you that it has returned! Yay! So far, the only tragedy is my delay in delivering blog posts and red popsicle juice all over the freezer. I've cleaned up the popsicle juice, but can you forgive my delay? Please? :)

Now, back to the news at hand... Stephen & Melissa tied the knot! It was a beautifully intimate ceremony in Muskegon, MI followed by a reception filled with friends and family to celebrate this union. It all took place on the shore of the great Muskegon Lake in the gorgeous Shoreline Inn Conference facilities. It was a delight to spend the day with the two of them, and here is a peek into their day...

The new husband & wife drinking from a traditional German toasting glass... it was so cool!

Congratulations, Stephen & Melissa!

katie & mike {engaged!}

2010-09-15T11:27:00.000-04:00

I've mentioned many times here that I love how photography allows me to meet so many awesome new families and couples, but it also gives me the opportunity to get to know acquaintances better, too! Katie & Mike are two people that I have met on many occasions and we have a lot of mutual friends through school, but we have never had a chance to spend a significant amount of time together. That all changed when they asked me to do their engagement session for them. It was a delight to hang out with them for a couple hours, getting to know them more and hear about their stories and capture their love! Here's a little preview of our time together...

the miller family!

2010-09-13T10:04:00.000-04:00

I really love the way that my job has brought worlds together for me! Sarah, this wonderful momma, is an avid follower of my sister's blog and they met through a coupon class. After Laura shared about her family session this summer, Sarah contacted me about doing her own family session with her little girls and took husband. They recently met me in Grand Rapids for a long overdue photoshoot. These four individuals are loving, joyful and have so much fun together. We had to wait on the rain to stop for our shoot to begin, but it was well worth it! Here are a few of my favorites from the evening...

The Millers brought a beautiful butterfly to join them in some of the pictures. The butterfly symbol is a reminder of their second daughter who only lived to be one hour old. What a testimony to how a family can bond together, persevere the hard times and celebrate love. What an honor that they would trust me to capture these moments for them!

Thank you for allowing me to step into your lives and celebrate your family, Millers! And, Happy Birthday, Sarah ;)

lisa & john {engaged!}

2010-09-10T09:23:00.000-04:00

I don't know who was more excited for this session - me or John and Lisa! This engagement session has been a longtime-coming, but with all or our ideas and plans, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day... Or couple :) We explored some new favorite spots of mine as we hung out and captured their beautiful young love! The next year for them will be busy... With wedding planning, jobs and law school, but I cannot wait for their 2011 wedding! Thanks for a wonderful evening John and Lisa! Enjoy the preview of our evening in Holland!

Then it was a quick outfit change and off to the beach as the sun set!

jeff & chenoa {married!}

2010-09-09T08:46:00.001-04:00

It was a beautiful August Friday in downtown Grand Rapids. When I arrived, the bridal party was bustling from the busy morning. Even though there was a little stress in the air, you could easily sense the delight and joy that was present for the union of this beautiful couple. Surrounded by a close gathering of friends and family, Jeff and Chenoa vowed "forever" to each other. What a wonderful celebration to capture... Here is a little preview of the day!

The ceremony & reception were held in the banquet room at Tre Cugini in Grand Rapids, MI

Congratulations, Jeff & Chenoa!

the hayes family!

2010-08-30T12:15:00.000-04:00

One thing I have not done well during my first summer as a West Michigan resident is take advantage of the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan as much as I could. We have been able to go a few times for dinner on the beach, or to peruse the pier and splash in the waves a bit, but we definitely could have gone many more times. Fortunately, aside from the personal time on the beach, I have had plenty of opportunity recently to enjoy our state's beautiful beaches as I photograph families and couples in the sand and water under the golden summer sun. One such family was this adorable family of four. They met me at the Holland State Park recently. Here is just a preview of the fun we had that morning...

juho & kendal {married!}

2010-08-29T20:16:00.000-04:00

Every time I have the opportunity to capture a wedding, I am blown away by the couple's uniqueness and they way they incorporate their personalities perfectly into their wedding days. No two weddings are the same just like no two couples or their love are the same. I recently had the chance to spend a Sunday afternoon with Juho & Kendal as they said their vows to each other in an intimate ceremony and celebration in Ann Arbor, MI. It was a beautiful, sunny (and yes, very warm) afternoon at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens... with an outdoor garden ceremony and reception in the neighboring nature center. All the unique details put into the day were so fun and perfect and the day was bursting with love and smiles. Here is a little preview of their August union...

SO. MUCH. JOY.

Then it was inside to the reception...

Before the newlyweds cut their wedding cake, they made sure to recognize two special little ones' birthdays with their own little cakes!

Congratulations, Juho & Kendal!!

bailey {senior 2011}

2010-08-23T08:58:00.000-04:00

Bailey is a beautiful, bright, tennis-playing high school girl heading into her final year of high school. A couple weeks ago we met up in Holland for her senior session. It was the perfect afternoon and I had a blast getting to know her and learn about life and upcoming college plans. She's not sure where she'll be heading after this year, but whatever college she chooses will be lucky to have her! Thanks for being fun, patient and totally great, Bailey! Enjoy the preview...

My motto? Always end a beach session in the water. Then it doesn't matter how much the waves splash you ;)

brian & kelli {married!}

2010-08-21T15:50:00.000-04:00

Remember Brian & Kelli's engagement session from last month? Well, last weekend, we were honored to capture these friends as they tied the knot in Northville, MI. They were married at her parent's church, hosted the reception at Walnut Creek Country Club, and celebrated their union with a room full of family and friends who support and care for them. Here are just a FEW of my favorite snapshots from their day...

This little guy picked up every single petal that the flower girls dropped...

Typically, its bad news if the younger sister starts her toast saying, "Mom and Dad, I'm sorry you have to find out this way... Brian and Kelli, sorry for ratting you out..." Turns out, she had some great sister-of-the-bride stories to share and had the whole crowd laughing.

Neil officially welcome Kelli into the family with her own baseball jersey, donned with her new last name and her husband's number.

Shout-out to my husband, Jonathan, for catching this action shot... yea! Fun fact - Brandon caught this garter and his girlfriend caught the bouquet at the previous wedding they were at... uh oh!

On occasion, you might catch me dancing. However, this is the first time a groomsman has taken my camera and documented it. I just love weddings, k?

Congratulations, Brian & Kelli!

baby parker {6 months!}

2010-08-18T08:09:00.000-04:00

Last week I had the chance to meet up with Parker and his family while they were on vacation in Charlevoix, MI. I can't believe it has already been 3 months since his last session! It was so fun to see how much he has grown and see his personality start to shine. He's so smiley and happy - I loved spending a little time with him by the lake! Here are just a few of my favorites from our time together!

dan & heather {married!} - Holland, MI

2010-08-16T14:30:00.003-04:00

For any of you couples that have planned a wedding from a distance, I totally feel for you. During my engagement period, I was commuting between both sides of the state every week, so sometimes it felt like I was planning the wedding from a distance. At least I was only a couple hours away so I could still schedule meetings and fittings with not too much problem. Dan & Heather, however, planned their entire Michigan wedding from California while he finished up his Masters degree and Heather worked. It takes a lot of trust in vendors and good recommendations from friends to pull together details and I'm so glad that Heather's bridesmaid recommended me to this wonderful couple!

Dan & Heather are both absolutely beautiful people inside and out. They are fun, intelligent, joyful individuals and I loved getting to know them and be a part of their first day of marriage. Their day was filled with family, friends, laughs and lots of love. It was a delight and honor to be welcomed into their celebration and capture this big day for them!

Dan & Heather chose to have a "first look" allowing us more time for lots of portraits before the ceremony! This is the perfect idea if you want to make sure you have plenty of time for photos, but don't want to keep your guests waiting at the reception!

The newlyweds and their bridal party left the ceremony by boat to go across the lake to the reception... so fun!

Dan's brother was counting how many years Dan has spent in undergrad & graduate school... next stop: his doctorate!

mitchell & carly {married!}

2010-08-13T18:14:00.000-04:00

I've been sitting here for a little while wondering what exactly I could say about Mitchell & Carly. It's not that I don't have anything to say about them... it's that I have too much! You, the blog readers, met Mitchell & Carly about 2 months ago when they graced the blog with their engagement session. I met the two of them a few years ago when Carly graced my life in my LIB-310 class at GVSU. We quickly bonded over our teacher's outrageous philosophies, our long-distance relationships and our love for Target (duh!). It wasn't too much longer that I met, Mitchell. I'm going to be honest... when I first met him, I did not understand how they worked together. Carly is an organized, clean, athletic individual. Mitchell had a messy apartment, long hair and has a plethora of tattoos. But it didn't take long for me to realize that they fit each other perfectly. They keep each other in line and make each other laugh, but above all that, they know how to care for and love each other well. I couldn't imagine either of them without each other... and that is a beautiful thing.

It is a blessing to consider the two of them dear friends. What a bigger honor it was to capture their wedding day and celebrate alongside them as they became united in marriage. It is something we've all been anticipating for a long time... and it was truly an amazing day.

Mitchell & Carly - Boyne City, Michigan Wedding

Ceremony: St. Matthew Catholic Church

Reception: Boyne Mountain Resort

Carly loves American Eagle... a lot.... so much so that they named a perfume after her. haha!

Love their rings... perfect for their personalities, too! Carly has a solitaire diamond with a matching white gold band. Mitchell's ring is a custom wooden ring... completely unique and complete him!

Yes, that is a tattoo on Carly's back. No, she's not taking after her man... she's just sporting one of the wedding favors - a Sunflower temporary tat! Yesss!Mitchell & Carly thank-you for your friendship, the laughs and all the love you share with each other and with us. We could not be more excited for the two of you and this new journey you have embarked on. Keep it spooky, kids. ;)

john & carly {engaged!}

2010-08-12T10:02:00.000-04:00

Isn't it funny how sometimes you need to go away to find something that was nearby all along?
About seven years ago, a graduate program brought John to Grand Valley State University (GVSU). A few years later, a teaching position brought Carly to GVSU. Both hail from Pennsylvania, but were brought to Michigan for different reasons at the same school. It wasn't long before the two of them met and bonded over the fact that they had the same home state.
Fast forward a few years later, John & Carly are engaged and planning their Pennsylvania wedding all the way from the Mitten. I have known John for a few years as a colleague at GVSU, so I was super excited to hear that he was engaged and asked me to do a session with him and his fiancee. For the session, we hung out downtown and then headed over to Allendale as the sun set on the place it all began...

John & Carly asked if Leo, their 8lb. Papillon could be included in the session, too... of course!

08.09.10 - Happy Monday!

2010-08-09T16:09:00.001-04:00

(Left to Right: Rachel, Jonno, myself and the hubby, Jonathan @ Car & Mitch's wedding!)

Well folks, it's Monday, and I don't know about you, but I had an awesome weekend. If you follow me on twitter, you would have known that I had a lot going on this weekend as far as photography is concerned! In a matter of a few days I had an engagement session, a client meeting, two weddings and a baby session from Grand Rapids to Boyne City and a few cities in between. But with summer dwindling, we knew this had to be more than just another work weekend. We took the opportunity to stay an extra day up north on Sunday after our Boyne City wedding and found ourselves (along with two of our best friends) enjoying the local eats, swimming in Lake Michigan, exploring the area, hitting our favorite sites and making great memories. It was a perfect weekend to celebrate a couple stellar weddings and share moments with dear friends. Keep your eye on the blog for these fabulous sessions in the coming weeks...

John & Carly - {engaged!}

Dan & Heather {married!} - Holland, MI

Mitchell & Carly {married! ... finally :)} - Boyne City, MI

Parker James {6 months old} - on vacation in Charlevoix, MI :)

...Feeling blessed by great clients, great friends and great times in the Great Lakes state. :)

michelle & bob {engaged!}

2010-08-05T10:37:00.000-04:00

Last week, I met up with Michelle & Bob in Muskegon, MI for their engagement session. These two were a delight to spend the evening with. Not only are they fun and totally in love, but they are super intelligent people, too! Michelle is finishing her residency and Bob is an engineer. They have a little less than 2 months until they tie the knot, but I can't wait until they do! Here is a little preview of our session to hold you off until they get married in September...

Michelle is from Wisconsin and grew up on a farm. So the first part of our session was spent on an old farm in the area... complete with corn, tractors and cowboy boots!

Michelle told me that she was never a "Tiffany's person" and didn't ever think that she would get a Tiffany's ring. But Bob, being the sweet guy he is, surprised her with a beautiful ring from T&Co... Michelle isn't complaining :)

One of their first dates (and many dates after that) was spent on this beach in Muskegon... so finishing up the session there was perfect!

rick & ashley {married!}

2010-08-04T18:08:00.001-04:00

Rick & Ashley truly are a beautiful couple inside and out. I knew it the first moment I met them last year as we began chatting about their wedding day, it was confirmed when I spent a few hours with them capturing their engagement session, and it was solidified as I witnessed them become one this past weekend. They are both sweet, caring, fun and full of life. Ashley was a stunning bride, Rick was a handsome groom and the celebration was perfect. See for yourself...

Um, the image below, on the right, might be one of my all-time favorite wedding images. Just saying.

Second weekend in a row that we've had an awesome DJ to come out and lead some of the dances with the crowd. SO fun!

Congratulations, Rick & Ashley!

(Rick & Ashley were married at Westend CRC and held their reception at the Centennial Country Club both in Grand Rapids, MI.)

bruce & meredith {married!}

2010-07-28T16:03:00.002-04:00

I could feel the excitement immediately when I walked in the house. "She always wanted to get ready in her childhood bedroom," her mom told me as she led me up the stairs. I entered a bedroom bustling with bridesmaids, dresses, hairspray and makeup. The shelves were lined with medals, memorabilia and cards from her high school sweetheart... the same guy that was in every picture on the walls and taped to the mirror. It was her soon to be husband, and she was his bride. Joy filled the atmosphere that day... the day that was the culmination of 7 years of flirting, dating and falling in love. As I joined Meredith in that bedroom with the closest women in her life, I knew that it was going to be a good day full of celebration and lots of love.

Bruce and Meredith were married at Greenwood Reformed Church, 5 minutes from her parent's home where the beautiful backyard reception was held. The food was prepared by Essenhaus Catering, the dessert was served up by Coldstone Creamery (heck yes!), the videographers were Robiz Studio, the fabulous DJ was Scott "The Hurricane" Herriman, and Jonathan and I were there to capture the celebration... Here is a preview of what we shared with Bruce & Mere on their wedding day...

The morning radar said there was a high chance of thunderstorms all afternoon/evening...

Congratulations, Bruce & Meredith!

the degroot family!

2010-07-27T11:36:00.003-04:00

If you've been following the blog for a while, you are well aware that this family is no stranger to this site. The DeGroots are more than clients, they are dear friends, former colleagues and even former housemates - opening up their home to me for a few months while I was engaged. It's a continual blessing to have them in my life and I love watching their little boys grow. A couple weeks ago, we met downtown to catchup and shoot a fun summer session. Here are the adorable results...

Wait a minute, wasn't it just yesterday that this big boy was a little baby??

Apparently, something... or someone is hilarious! ;)

my best friend's wedding.

2010-07-22T10:07:00.001-04:00

Alexa is one of my best friends. When she walked into my sixth grade classroom, she was the new, quiet girl. We sat at the same lunch table that year... talking occasionally, but nothing ever substantial. It wasn't until the following year, in 7th grade band, that our friendship solidified. We sat next to each other as much as we could, trying to pay attention and get our flutes in tune, but often giggling more than playing. As the years rolled on, we found ourselves spending many days and evenings at each others' houses doing not much of anything, but always laughing and having the time of our lives. We remained strong friends through high school and our college years. Together, we experienced joy, grief, stresses, heartbreaks and accomplishments. Through it all, I have come to find that Alexa is one of the strongest women that I have ever known. She is completely radiant inside and out. She is accepting, caring, intelligent and handles adversity with grace. Last week, I had the joy of standing next to her, along with our other best friend, Kate as her matron & maid of honor as she wed the love of her life, Nathan.

I left the professional camera duties to my friends Abby & Todd, but here are a few behind the scene images from the bachelorette brunch and getting ready on the wedding day...

the "bachelorette brunch" on Wing Lake (Bloomfield Hills, MI) at our friends' home...
The main decor inspiration for the brunch was buttons. Alexa is also a Mason Jar & wildflower kind of soul... so naturally, we incorporated those. Her wedding color palette included honeys, golds, oranges, browns and yellows, so we tried to keep all colors within that.

The menu was inspired by Alexa's favorite Food Network star, the Barefoot Contessa. The main dish was slow-roasted scrambled eggs mixed with goat cheese and fresh chives, topped with roasted asparagus and tomatoes. Accompanying the entree was oven roasted herb potatoes, greek yogurt & granola, two-bite scones and a homemade fruit salad made by my momma!

the wedding day. Ceremony @ Kensington Community Church (Troy, MI), Reception @ The Huntsman Hunt Club (Dryden, MI)

Before her grandma passed away years ago, she gave these diamond earrings to Alexa and requested that she wear them on her wedding day. The necklace she wore held a diamond that her dad gave her mom on their 10th anniversary. What a beautiful way to commemorate her loved ones!

Alexa's little brothers...

And then, I put down my camera to stand next to my friend as she became a wife...

Alexa, I love you. I find it a blessing to call you a dear friend and I am so excited that you have found Nathan to be your husband. Your wedding day truly was one for the books (no pun intended ;)) and it was a honor to witness this union.

rachel & jordan {married!}

2010-07-21T14:52:00.002-04:00

It is so great when my clients become my friends, but it is even a greater joy when my friends become my clients and I am invited to capture their special moments. Jonathan and I have known Rachel for most of our lives, so being a part of her engagement and wedding day was truly special for us.

The love her and Jordan share together is beautiful. They started as the best of friends at Wheaton College where they met. Finally, they fell for each other and turned their friendship into a dating relationship. In four weeks, they will move to Guatemala to serve for at least a year, but this past weekend, they finally became united as husband and wife in a personal, intimate celebration surrounded by their closest family and friends....

Soon after I arrived at the hotel to meet the girls, Rachel opened a present from her soon-to-be husband. In the box was Rachel's own copy of Jordan's piano composition entitled, "Mi Primavera Eterna" (My Eternal Spring - a nickname for Guatemala where the weather is always spring-like)...

The ceremony was held in the chapel of Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, MI. ...And the song that Rachel walked down the aisle to with her dad? "Mi Primavera Eterna" played by Jordan's grandmother.

The reception was held in the Gerald R. Ford Ballroom in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI

The bridal party dance was a soul train dance line... so fun! Oh, hey Chad & Angela!

Congratulations, Jordan & Rachel!

the allen family!

2010-07-15T13:02:00.003-04:00

This is the second time I have photographed the Allens. Last summer, Brendon was a bubbly 4 month old only child... now he is 16 months and ready to be a big brother to his two new family members. Yep, twins are on their way and will turn this family of three into a bustling family of five any day now!! I love watching families grow! Without further ado, here are the Allens (+) again!

Christina, you are one hot momma!

I told you she is a hot momma ;)

Are you kidding me with the little pose and those cute rolls?? Brendon, you are adorable!

Brendon, I can't wait to meet your new little brother and sister!