Simone and Keith - Kalamazoo Bell's Brewery wedding

Simone and Keith are the perfect example of making your wedding day your own. Simone is a rabbi and has seen her share of weddings, so they took the pieces of a traditional wedding that really meant something to them, and customized everything else. Instead of having a wedding party, they included close friends and family in the wedding ceremony readings. Instead of floral centerpieces, they placed non-perishable food items on the tables to be donated to a food pantry afterwards. They took themes of both family backgrounds, as well as their own interests (her bouquet was made from pages of Harry Potter books!) and incorporated them wherever they could.
Their ceremony was so full of laughter, and the reception was full of loving people who were ready to dance.
Simone and Keith, I hope you always have this much joy in your life, congratulations!

Maddie and Connor - Kalamazoo Bell's Brewery wedding

Maddie and Connor had so many special details woven through their day that really personalized their wedding in a wonderful way.
Their venues of St. Thomas More and Bell’s Brewery traced back their Kalamazoo roots (and by the way, that church is completely stunning). Maddie wore her mom’s veil, and wrapped her bouquet with a piece from her grandmother’s dress. Every detail was gorgeous, and we were in heaven documenting it.
Their midday portraits took place in the beer garden under direct overhead sun. That can typically be pretty challenging to make sure everyone is in consistent lighting, but the setting and complimentary lighting we pulled together made these some of my favorite sunny day portraits. Of all time.
These two exceptional people compliment each other so perfectly, and I’m so excited we got to be a part of their day!
Congratulations Maddie and Connor!

Hannah and Zach - Kalamazoo Bell's Brewery wedding

Hannah and Zach are the perfect example of doing a wedding their own way, and absolutely rocking at it. They wrote their own vows to each other promising the things that really mattered to them, they opted out of a formal wedding part in favor of photos with all their family and friends, and decided that for portraits they wanted to adventure around downtown Kalamazoo to capture the city they fell in love with together.
Also, Bell’s Brewery is easily one of my top wedding venues of all time. Everything about the day was a dream to photograph, especially Hannah and Zach.

Congratulations you two, I hope your life together is every bit as beautiful as your wedding day!

Emma and Bryant - Kalamazoo Al Sabo engagement (featuring Bell's Wedding Ale)

These two are beautiful and unique individuals. They are full of joy and adventure, and they have built the sweetest life together. Emma contacted me about their Bell’s Brewery wedding a few months back, and I was over the moon (Not only are brewery weddings pretty much my favorite, but Bell’s is an incredible venue. Come on). We started talking engagement ideas, and Emma and Bryant’s adventurous nature led us to Al Sabo preserve as our location.

Just a few short weeks before the engagement session, Bell’s releases their wedding ale: an Imperial Wheat Ale brewed with honey, coriander and orange peel, sure to make any wedding day a party. Between the name, the venue and the description, clearly we needed to incorporate it into their engagement session.
After a weather reschedule (Thanks Michigan false spring), we ended up shooting on the absolutely perfect golden afternoon in May. I could not have asked for nicer conditions, or more pleasant people to share them with.

Congratulations Emma and Bryant, I’m so glad I get to celebrate with you next year!