Country Club of Detroit ~ Kiera & Alan

Okay, so I promised to keep my blogs about relevant things so you can use them for tips at your own wedding. Here's today's tip; find out what your church's rules are for your photographer. Some of the pickier ones are sending them out to the photographers ahead of time to give us a head's up... we're the picky people. Christ Church in Grosse Pointe is such a church. Beautiful, old, full of traditional Episcopalian rules. Their services photo rules have been in place for at least 40 years! They e-mailed me their rules which were all written in churchese; all narthex, liturgy, sacristy, etc, etc. I wrote back explaining that I would love a translation into English so I'd understand the rules. They thought I was joking (I wasn't!) and would fill me in once I arrived at the church. Four church ladies later, it became clear I wasn't allowed to set foot past the doors of the church. The choir loft via the lobby... yes. The actual church... no! I asked their priest, Lisa and she said she was fine if I popped in the side door for a different angle (so long as I didn't go in the sanctuary). The old biddies were having none of that despite Lisa's helpfulness. So I watched helplessly as the ceremony proceeded without me. Sure, I got the entrance from above and the kiss, but not a lot of variety or interesting shots. What bothered me most, though, was that Alan and Kiera had been led to believe I would be allowed in the church. Everyone (but the old church biddies) seemed surprised by the news that I couldn't be in the church. Even throughout their rehearsal the night before they were led to believe I could and would be there. So to avoid disappointment, try to find out what exactly the church's rules are and don't assume just because you're a fourth generation parishioner that you'll get special treatment! The Country Club of Detroit is a grand old building that's tough to shoot in to do it justice, but it's elegance and the outside of the building more than make up for any difficulties it has inside... word to the wise... don't rent their "guest suite" for your wedding night... it features rock hard twin beds... not the height of romance! And that's straight from the groom's advice list! For more photos from Kiera and Alan's Country Club of Detroit wedding, please check my other blog at www.themichiganweddingphotographer.blogspot.com!

St. Hugo Wedding - Kara & Jim

So many high school sweethearts this past year... amazing! And we're not talking about couples that are 18, either. These are couple's who've been together all through their college experiences, sometimes separate college experiences and often beyond. And yet, they still end up together through it all. This wedding had it all... high winds, stormy weather, abnormally cold weather, burst of rain and hail (we missed that part!). Didn't phase Kara a bit! I've decided to quit gushing about my brides and grooms during my blogs. Turns out, I like them all and waxing poetic about each and every one of them might get a little boring for everybody reading, so I've decided to impart wedding tips that I see either from the wedding day, or wedding tips I've gathered along the way, or critiques of locations, other vendors (still hate that word), or anything else that might make other people's wedding day's go a little smoother. So other couples take note; Kara & Jim didn't let potentially the nastiest weather I've seen in years bum them out at all. Instead we had the weather work for us and we were rewarded with an extremely rare rainbow that we were able to see the beginning and end of! Their wedding was at St. Hugo's in Bloomfield and their reception was at Paint Creek Country Club. This place is pretty far off the beaten path in the Lake Orion area, but Kara and her family were raving about how wonderful the staff treated them during their wedding reception planning. I'm always pleased to hear when my clients are happy with the flexible service they receive. Too many wedding halls treat their clients like they're doing them some sort of favor by letting them use their facility. Paint Creek let them drop off their stuff a few days beforehand, helped them set up, said "yes" to just about everything they wanted and were extremely gracious throughout the event! If you'd like to see more wedding photos from my St. Hugo wedding and the reception at Paint Creek, please check out my other blog at; www.themichiganweddingphotographer.blogspot.com.

Detroit Zoo Wedding Photography - Kristen & Mike's Wedding

Kristen & Mike had another potentially nail biting weather issue, but the rain and freezing temps held off until after their Detroit Zoo wedding. She'd already decided to not try to take wedding photos at the Detroit Zoo, but to stay at the Butterfly Enclosure where their wedding ceremony was held. Just as well, since the weather was definitely NOT cooperating! I just love how go-with-the-flow my wedding couples are. I don't think we've had a decent or seasonally corrected Saturday yet this year and every single one of my couples has shrugged and been happy to get ANY photos outside. Love them and their attitudes. Since nobody can control what's going to happen outside, they just hunker down and have a great time. If you'd like to see more Detroit Zoo wedding photography, please check out my other blog at www.themichiganweddingphotographer.blogspot.com!

University of Michigan Wedding Photos - Mike & Katie

Katie & Mike had been meticulously planning their wedding for more than a year and were prepared for every contingency, except perhaps a very, very slow make up artist. Needless to say, all the waiting and planning just made for an even more dramatic entrance by Katie (I thought the theater gang might give her a standing ovation or at least a round of applause!). I was suffering a severe case of whiplash along with two other wedding party members who had all been rear ended in accidents during the week! I loved all the spontaneous goofiness from all the wedding party. I was an interesting mix of theater people, family (whom I knew) and law school folks. They had a blast one upping each other for silliest photos. When they hung Mike off the side of the church, I was laughing so hard, my camera was shaking! Everybody was super sweet about helping me schlep my heavy load to the University of Michigan's League where the wedding reception was going on. Great time had by all! If you want to see more fun photos from Mike and Katie's University of Michigan wedding, please check out my other blog at www.themichiganweddingphotograher.blogspot.com!