Like many other couples, Kevin and Emily's wedding arrangements underwent adjustments due to Covid. They celebrated internationally, but finally had the chance to gather with their loved ones in Michigan earlier this year. Many of the guests stayed at the resort giving a relaxed atmosphere to the day. This ambiance was enhanced by white blooms and lush greenery, perfectly complementing the springtime setting. As I wandered around observing people mingling and enjoying snacks, I couldn't help but feel as though I too were among close friends who had just been reunited.Simply put, the joy was palpable.

Nothing compares to the magic of Nick and Sarah’s intimate celebration on Lake Michigan under the late summer sun. They exchanged vows and held conversations at their favorite place with their closest loved ones. On bleak winter days like today, I close my eyes and I’m transported back, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, the wind tousling my hair, and hearing the gentle waves lapping the shore.

Kelsey and Dave exchanged vows on a late June day under cloudy skies. Not a single raindrop fell, yet it seemed Blue Dress Barn itself absorbed all the love they harbored, infusing the atmosphere with an overflowing green vitality. Our time spent together was wonderfully relaxed and seamless: sharing laughter with each other and anyone who crossed their path with a warm embrace of congratulations.

Theresa and Bob's wedding day had a timeless elegance to it. The unpredictable weather proved no match for their carefree attitudes -- a conscious choice to savor every part of their day, rain clouds or no. They chose to forgo the customary wedding party, placing undivided attention on their love story. This decision not only heightened the intimacy of the occasion but also allowed the pure essence of their love to shine brightly, taking the spotlight without any distractions.

Becca and Tony met in middle school and were high school sweethearts. I love these stories the most because I’ve found that marriage is about adapting and growing, yet staying in love through it all. Tony and Becca did just that and exchanged vows in a private ceremony during the height of Covid. They wanted to renew their vows with a true garden party amidst all their friends and family. Honestly, I’ve never seen Sundance Studios look prettier –

The past two years, I’ve spent my days looking for these moments that happen in a blink of eye. I “see” more now for my clients because I understand the significance of the smallest act of caring. ..I’m no longer creating the perfect picture. I’m searching for the perfect picture and that is already in your wedding day — over and over again in the smallest moments.

I don’t know if it was fate or soulmates or maybe just the perfect timing of life, but Kelsey and Will were meant to be together. I knew it as they shared their vows privately prior to their ceremony. Their vows mirrored each other – the same stories, the same events special to their relationship. Everything that mattered, mattered to both. It was going to be a perfect day to celebrate love. Their Hidden Vineyard wedding was held in August with warm winds and the most romantic sunset. The day was hot, but it was that heat that fades from your mind because all you remember was the magic.

Matt and Ashley’s wedding day was about their love. They didn’t schedule it around others or pick traditions they didn’t want to do. Instead, they met with each other privately prior to the ceremony to read sacred vows. They set aside time for pictures for just the two of them — finding space for connection and truly reveling in the moment. They picked a venue that offered guests a gorgeous view and outdoor space for games. And THE FOOD. If you’ve worked with me previously, you know I will love you forever when you feed me good food, and Boatwerks wedding venue had it.

After making it through 2020, I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Because surely, we wouldn’t have to face these same decisions again in 2021. While the outlook of 2021 as a whole looks incredibly more positive than it did a year ago, events for the foreseeable future will have to look different. Weddings will have to change. While they might not be 300+ guest lists parties, I believe they can be just as (if not more) special as you initially imagined.

Audrey and Coty’s wedding day was a whirlwind of perfection, honestly. I had been looking forward to their wedding since their engagement session last fall. They are such a carefree, happy couple who I knew (no matter the weather or day-of hiccups) would be happy and visibly in love on their wedding day. They just want to be together, and I was delighted that I could be with them all day as witness to this.

It was a snowy day in December, and we all felt cozy and in love watching these two say “I love you.” Weddings don’t need to be extravagant to be grand. Amy and Andy celebrated their love in my favorite ways: surrounded by a small gathering of people, eating brunch (waffles! eggs! pastries!), and hosting it all at The Cheney Place.

I found Alyssa & Josh by happenstance, and it could not have been easier to fall in love with them. Their July wedding was graced with summer breezes and sun rays that soaked straight through that little chapel filled with those they love. There were so many details about this day that I could carry on about: the little white chapel, greeting guests after saying “I Do,” the lakeside reception hall filled with greenery and blush, the patio overlooking Lake Macatawa that held some of the best dancing. BUT THE LOVE. So many smiles and sighs of deep contentment. They embody all the things I believe a wedding day should be about — and I can’t stop / won’t stop loving this day & these two for that.

I’ve always been aware of the brevity of life. It was one of the reasons why I pursued photography. The stories that family albums tell is incomparable to anything else, and I happily spend my weekends with couples who appreciate this truth as well. In December, I lost someone incredibly important to me — every video, every picture I have of her is irreplaceable. I give 100% because I personally understand that you will only walk away from your wedding day with the memories in your head and the pictures on my camera. Like the photos I carry close to my heart of those I have lost, your photos too are exceptional. They should be taken and trusted to a professional (as my best friend Ryan Inman would say) who gives a damn.

ITS BEEN A MINUTE. But the season is winding down and that means I get to blog all this gorgeousness from 2019. First on my list is Amanda & Mavrick‘s Boatwerks wedding from June. The weather was just touching 80* and the sun warmed everyone as they sat alongside Lake Macatawa watching Amanda and Mavrick exchange their vows. Their extra large wedding party (16!) and all the invited guests gave them the most sincere audience for their day. Top 5 Moments from their day include:

Angie and Max were married along the shores of Lake Michigan on Lake Bluff Inn's grounds. The sun had been shining all day right up to their wedding ceremony; and the rain clouds came. It honestly felt like the rain held off simply out of Angie and Max's sheer willpower because we all stayed under that September sky and witnessed these two promising each other forever without a drop. Everyone enjoyed hilarious speeches, pie & ice-cream (c'moooon), and a dance party. All the while the sky turned different shades of cotton candy

For once, I am at a loss for words. Jillian and George international romance and wedding celebration has me all lovestruck, and I don't think I could've ever ended the 2018 wedding season on a better note. I'm going to switch up this blog post a little & talk about different parts of the day / vendors as the images come up, so be sure to scroll through to the bottom. Jillian and George are two of the most inviting people. You can tell how well they love each other and other people by the crowd that surrounded them on their wedding day. From babes to elders, the love for this couple is palpable

Victoria & Tom exchanged vows this past September. The weather read that late-Summer forecast with rain in the morning and bright, hot sun in the afternoon.The trees held rich, green leaves while everyone Weddings with a heavy focus on socialization is always a joy to photograph, because focusing on love in all its manifestations is what weddings are truly about. These moments were such a sweet reminder that Victoria and Tom are full of love for each other and for life. And this always feel like the recipe for success.

Lizz & Joe were married at St. Anthony of Padua with a blush and navy theme. I might be in the minority of wedding photographers with this opinion, but I thoroughly enjoy Catholic weddings: I appreciate the worship and each tradition being carried out. Marriage is such a sacred relationship & it feels absolute saying vows at the alter. While they opted not to see each other before the ceremony, we still had an hour & a half to drive around after their Grand Rapids wedding to take pictures, laugh, and be congratulated by pedestrians! All of my favorite things!

2018 was a year of balance for BG Photography Studios. My favorite thing apart from memes & communicating solely through GIFs are the moments when I witness my clients relax and be present — whether that is alongside their Love or standing confidently alone. I am always incredibly humbled by the people that invest in photography & understand the value this service holds for their future. THANK YOU to my exceptional clients who don’t care if their outfits get dirty, who laugh at my dad jokes, trust my vision (even if it seems crazy in the moment), let me dance with kids and hug grandparents, invite me to be part of their memories, and my favorite: give me an all-access pass to their dessert bar.

And this summer, it was my greatest pleasure to photograph Claudia & Brian’s Camp Blodgett wedding. Claudia and Brian chose to do a First Look, and it gave the entire day such a chill vibe. We’d do a little picture-taking, engage in some conversation, keep the bridal party hydrated (with their drink of choice), and get all the planned stuff out of the way before their guests arrived. Their ceremony will be memorable to them for years~ exchanging vows on the deck of Camp Blodgett with Lake Michigan’s shore lapping waves behind them & little itty bitty red bugs eating them alive.