The new address:

http://studioxplore.blogspot.com

See you there!!

I leave you with an image from ArtPrize 2009…. 100,000 Paper Airplanes.

** Don’t forget to view the more extensive slideshow, also linked at the end of this preview.**

Derek was calm and ready to get married! Jeni was also remarkably calm and collected… and GORGEOUS!

The flower girl, Kate, with her mom – playing duck duck goose. It didn’t work too well with just two players, but I don’t think that bothered Kate.

Isn’t she just a doll?

Jeni and her dad have such a sweet relationship. Jeni got rather nervous just before the ceremony, while her dad got a little teary-eyed. Beautiful!

I love catching the sweet expressions of the bride and groom during the ceremony…

Kate’s sparkly little shoes – so cute!

St. Joseph Catholic Church is just lovely, and full of light.

Married!

Time for a few portraits outside. We managed to get Kate and Drew together and smiling, which I’m told is a small miracle! What adorable kiddos.

We then headed to the reception site for photos. The reception was at Mill Creek Barn (the sister-site to the Blue Dress Barn). Mill Creek was just finished this year, and wow!! It’s gorgeous.

The handsome men… also, I must say, it was a delight to be around these guys.

The happy couple! I think the barn was a great atmosphere – everyone was happy, relaxed, and you can’t beat the setting.

Aren’t they stunning?

The bride with her bridesmaids and bridesmen… Derek also had two brideswomen. Love it! Always do what is true to your life and your relationship .

The lovely sisters

This is one of my favorite shots from the day, when Jeni and Derek were relaxed and getting sweet and cozy.

How handsome!!

These two were such troopers, up for anything we wanted to try! Their portraits were so much fun.

So hot…

Can you believe the detail in these flowers? Amazing.

A few fun ring shots…

And a few reception details…

I love these next two photos, how Jeni and her father are looking at each other.

On to the dancing… the father-daughter dance was so sweet, especially the end…

 Beautiful moment…

Like the Blue Dress Barn, Mill Creek incorporates some fantastic details!

These little girls were so adorable to watch. They were dancing machines!

Jeni’s dad was not too pleased about Derek going after the garter… it was hilarious.

But he relented, and Derek went to work!

And speaking of a dancing machine… this lady tore it up!! She was an awesome dancer.

This reception was so much fun – the dancing was intense, and everyone was having a blast. The dance floor was packed! Christina and I could have stayed and danced the night away with this amazing wedding party.

Jeni and Derek, I truly enjoyed capturing your wedding day. Your friends and family were a pleasure! Enjoy your preview, and don’t forget to view your slideshow for more images! (It may take a few minutes to load…).

Cody and Pete were married at the beautiful Sacred Heart church in Grand Rapids.

Emotions overflowed a bit when Cody opened Pete’s card…

Some of the classy details with a vintage twist… Cody is amazingly creative!

Getting ready! Another touching moment came when Cody’s brother came down to see his beautiful sister… I’ve rarely encountered siblings as close as Cody and her brother and sister. It’s a beautiful thing!

The dashing men… Pete was calm, cool, and ready to marry his sweetie!

The STUNNING bride. Isn’t she lovely?

And the gorgeous ladies! Cody did a beautiful job on the colors for her wedding.

And finally, the moment arrived…

Sacred Heart is absolutely beautiful, and Father Ed was extremely kind in allowing us to get great coverage of the ceremony.

Married!!

I adore how purely happy Cody and Pete look in this photo.

We had to use some of the gorgeous light in the church, stealing a few moments alone for the newlyweds.

We then headed to the farm that Cody’s parents own. The reception was taking place in a tent on the property. What a beautiful location for photos!!

 I think you can tell just how awesome this wedding party was…

Some general silliness that is Cody & Pete…

Love this one!! Cody and Pete are so comfortable, tender, and completely awesome together.

For a change of pace, we headed downtown on a party bus (which was unbelievably fun) for some urban photos.

A little bit different view than what you can find on the farm…

Cody is just ridiculously beautiful, inside and out.

Pete is also quite dashing .  It was such a pleasure to photograph such genuine, fun, loving people!

We headed back to the farm for a beautiful reception.

Cody continued the purple & green color scheme, along with great little vintage details – my favorite was the peacock feather detail sprinkled throughout the centerpieces & bouquets.

There were four toasts from the two best men and two maids of honor. Like all great toasts, there was lots of laughter mixed with tears. It was touching how profoundly these two are loved by their family and friends, both as separate individuals and (very importantly) as a couple.

Some gorgeous views of Cody’s bouquet. She carried her grandmother’s rosary – such a meaningful detail.

And I must say, a farm is a great place for taking ring shots…

The traditional dances were incredibly sweet and emotional. I learned that Cody and Pete’s families are not afraid to have a really good time, and they’re not afraid to show their feelings – both things I love as a photographer!

Daddy and daughter…

I caught this moment just after they left the dance floor.

Such sweet mom & son moments…

I grabbed Cody for a few more relaxed shots around the property.

Then it was on to the party!

During some downtime, Cody and her brother and sister tore up the dance floor. I was wishing for a video camera to capture the awesomeness!

As was fitting for a reception on a farm, there was square dancing!

Just before Kevin and I left, Cody broke out the devil horns .

Cody and Pete, it was an absolute pleasure to photograph your wedding day. We had such a blast with all of your family and friends and we loved everything about your day!! We wish you the best of luck in your new life down in Tennessee. Make sure to view your slideshow here! (It will take a few minutes to load).

The day started at the house of Katie’s parents, as the girls got ready. And wow, was a gorgeous bunch of ladies!!!

The dress.

The sweet little shoes…

… of Katie and Bob’s adorable daughter Leah, who was also a flower girl. Just spending a day with them, I could see that Katie and Bob are AMAZING parents and this little girl is so loved!!

Leah was a character. The bridesmaids were making faces to keep her amused…

Katie was stunning!

I love the looks on her mom and grandma’s faces when they see her.

Leah was pretty much oblivious to what was going on. She was happy just coloring!

Beautiful…

Meanwhile Kevin was hanging out with the guys, snapping a few photos.

The guys decided to measure just how tall Bob really is. Hilarious!

We then headed to the church and got a few photos of the guys before the ceremony. Since St. Mary’s is covered top to bottom in scaffolding, we borrowed another beautiful church across the street .

Katie, you have the most beautiful smile!! Katie and Bob saw each other in the choir loft before the ceremony and spent a few minutes together.

I just love this shot… such a wonderful family. Leah decided to twirl in the aisle for a few minutes.

Married!!

A few family portraits after the ceremony…

I think Leah was a big fan of the bubbles after the ceremony!

We headed to Spring Grove Park in Jamestown for photos – this bridal party shot is one of my faves .

Guys… in tuxes… in slippery fancy shoes… on a tree over a stream… not my idea!! But the guys were having a great time.

Yeah, way too gorgeous!!

Then we had a few moments with the stunning bride and groom….

So sweet together!

Katie wanted a few portraits using red balloons like the Sex and City opening credits… she did a fantastic job!!

She is so gorgeous…

Wow. They know how to work it!!

Can you believe their eyes? Stunning!!

I loved this idea – cupcakes for the guests (three different flavors!), and a little tiny cake on top for cutting!

For their very touching first dance, one of the groomsmen played guitar and sang “Something” by the Beatles… wow.

This is one of my favorite shots from the day. I love how Leah is holding on to her daddy’s hand. So precious!

Daddy and daughter…

And another daddy and daughter…

Katie’s flowers were amazing!

A few ring shots…

And then it was time to boogie!! Looks like Bob was having fun…

This group really knew how to party. What a fun reception!!

Leah was tuckered out after a long, exciting day…

And that’s about how Kevin and I felt, tuckered out but happy after an absolutely wonderful wedding. Katie and Bob, we enjoyed photographing your wedding immensely!! Thank you for being so fantastic to us. We know you both (and Leah!) will have a wonderful life together, and we wish you the very best! Don’t forget to view your more extensive slideshow here.

Christy & Scott’s ceremony took place at Westend CRC where Scott’s father is a pastor. His father officiated the ceremony as well.

Gorgeous dress, gorgeous church!

Christy’s necklace included an elephant and a dolphin, which are symbolic to she and Scott and also appeared on their wedding cake… you’ll see!

Christy truly stole my heart when she whipped out her customized converse. See the more extensive slideshow (linked also at the bottom) for more detail on how she customized them…

Christy’s wonderful mom took care of the finishing touches.

I think Christy approves of her beautiful reflection!

Meanwhile, Kevin, second shooting with me for the day, captured the guys getting all jazzed up.

Christy and Scott chose to see each other privately for a few minutes, but Scott kindly reenacted the moment he saw Christy…

They are so sweet together!

And this little guy stole my heart… this is Levi, son of Christy’s brother, universally doted on by the family. This suit is too cute!

We headed outside for a few pre-ceremony photos – isn’t Christy just lovely?!

The fierce ladies (who were so much fun!)

And the handsome (and equally humorous) guys.

I just had to include this photo of Christy and her brothers. Siblings are the best.

Work it!

Some lovely details…

The ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt, and it must have been so special for Scott’s father to preside over the wedding of his son.

Married!

The bride and groom made their escape through clouds of bubbles.

Kevin and I then headed downtown with the bridal party for some fun shots.

LOVE this one. Might be my favorite.

 Another shot of the converse…

Christy & Scott did such a great job in front of the camera, staying cuddly and relaxed while looking fabulous…

We then headed to the Grand Rapids Cultural Center for their reception, also a Greek Orthodox church… stunning!

The cake… I love how fun and whimsical it feels.

And here we have some of Scott’s origami… the dolphin and elephant I mentioned earlier, complete with tux and veil!

The reception hall was decorated with a movie theme. Each table was named after a different movie that Scott and Christy loved, and the film motif was everywhere.

I love this ring shot in the beautiful stained glass windows.

And Christy and Scott looked pretty good with those windows too!

Time for the first dance…

Christy’s dance with her father was so sweet – you could tell they have a very special relationship.

 Then, the dance floor was rocking for the rest of the night. Kate, the mistress of ceremonies, is in teal – she was amazing the whole day, and even more amazing when she started dancing

But Christy’s dad really got into it – he did a very special dance that I hope someone recorded!!

I couldn’t resist a night view of this spectacular location…

Christy and Scott, we truly enjoyed photographing your wedding. Kevin and I had such a blast with you, your families and your friends. Make sure to watch your extensive slideshow for more images! (It will take a few minutes to load).  Enjoy your preview

Heather’s sisters and mom helped the lovely bride with her finishing touches.

This little one stole all of our hearts, I think .

A little gloss and Heather is ready to see her husband-to-be!

Meanwhile, John and the guys figured out his suspenders.

John looked very dashing…

Heather and John had a few sweet moments alone together as they chose to see each other and take all of their photos before the wedding.

Unfortunately it began pouring just before we started pictures, but we rolled with the weather and got some stunning shots!

Wow… what a gorgeous couple!

These are two of my favorite shots…

Heather was an absolutely beautiful bride.

We took the whole wedding party downtown where we could find shelter for everyone, and took some great shots. Aren’t these ladies stunning?

The guys were a riot, and also quite a good-looking bunch.

No, I didn’t alter their eye color… they really are blessed with such beautiful blues!

We then headed back to the church for the wedding ceremony.

Even though Heather and John had already spent time together before the ceremony, the moment they saw each other down the aisle was still precious.

Heather and John were married at the church where he is a youth pastor, so the location had special meaning.

After the ceremony, Heather and John hosted a special cupcake reception at the church just for her first graders. What an awesome idea!

What do you do when you’re full of sugar? Run around and blow bubbles, of course!

This little guy was such a doll…

We headed to the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville for a beautiful reception.

The first dance… so sweet! And I just adore Heather’s dress…

Heather’s dad did a pretty good job holding it together for the wedding of the first of his three daughters! You could tell he was definitely a proud papa.

I just love these next two shots…

The wedding party certainly knew how to rock the dance floor, and it was packed the whole time I was there!

Congratulations, Heather and John! Your wedding was wonderful, and it was so special to spend the day with you and your families, capturing your memories. Don’t forget to view your slideshow for a few more images!

A few weeks ago, I photographed Kelly and Michael’s wedding with Kevin at the Blue Dress Barn in St. Joseph. What a charming place for a wedding and reception!! I loved the natural, rustic atmosphere and all of the amazing touches the owners have incorporated. Kelly and Michael are wonderful, genuine people – Kevin and I had the chance to spend a little time with them last fall when we photographed their engagement session in St. Joe.

The day started out cloudy and rainy, but the rain dried up just as the girls were finished getting ready and the guys were heading to the barn for photos. What luck! Kelly was a gorgeous vintage-inspired bride with some amazing details. I knew as soon as I saw her birdcage veil and hairpiece that I was going to love this wedding .

Kelly was so happy!!!

After the finishing touches, she’s ready! What a beautiful bride

Kelly’s color combination of charcoal grey and yellow was fabulous…

The gorgeous ladies… seriously, such a good-looking bridal party.

We headed to the wedding/reception site at the Blue Dress Barn for a few photos before the wedding.

Kevin snapped a few photos of the very dapper-looking Michael while I was with the ladies. What a handsome groom!

Kelly and Michael had their first look in the vintage bridal suite.

Then we headed outside for a few quick photos of the bride and groom.

Then, it was time to get hitched! A few ceremony details…

 Michael and Kelly wrote their own beautiful vows. Their ceremony was simple and heartfelt, just like the rest of their day.

Married!!

When you ask for sass, Kelly can definitely bring it.

The handsome men…

A few more portraits during cocktail hour…

Kelly wanted serious faces, like American Gothic, but she couldn’t hold that pose for long!

The barn was amazing, with so many gorgeous details and personal touches.

Cake or cupcakes?

Love this ring shot…

I love it when someone’s flash goes off at just the right time… great moment!

The dance floor was packed. Kelly and Michael hired a phenomenal bluegrass/jazz/simply amazing band.

Congratulations, Kelly and Michael! Your wedding day, despite a few memorable hiccups, was absolutely wonderful, just like the two of you. Don’t forget to view the slideshow for a slightly different picture experience .

We started out photographing Jeni and Derek with their beautiful friend Orion…

After spending time with the horses (I’d never been that close… and it was fun!), we took advantage of the beautiful field.

Finally, we ended up at the pier and beach in downtown St. Joe. What a gorgeous day for photos!!

Jeni and Derek, it was a blast photographing your engagement session. Can’t wait for your wedding!!

We started the day photographing the ladies at the church. Ashley was a serene bride, and so happy!

Tom was excited to see his bride…

Ashley’s bouquet was stunning – in fact, all of the flowers were amazing (see the slideshow at the end of this preview for more photos).

Ashley and Tom saw each other for the first time when she walked down the aisle – a very touching moment. 

Their ceremony was beautiful, held in the gorgeous Blessed Sacrament church.

Married!

Then we headed to Dow Gardens (a Midland landmark) for some photos. I just LOVE the colors Ashley incorporated.

This shot makes me laugh – the rain cleared just after the ceremony, but a few clouds lingered and randomly showered us even though the sun was out…

Aren’t they lovely?

This was a special request from one of the guys…

After some bridal party shots, we spent a little time with the bride and groom for some fabulous images…

These red bridges always show up in prom photos (Ashley and I both went to Dow Gardens back in the day for embarrassing prom photos…), but we put an elegant twist on those fantastic red bridges!

The handsome groom…

And the stunning bride…

Ashley carried her father’s wedding ring on her bouquet, and he was most definitely there in spirit.

The amazing dress…

Then we headed to the Midland Country Club for a beautiful reception. Ashley and Tom incorporated so many fun details!

I loved these lanterns, providing gorgeous ambiance for the dance floor.

A jazz band played during cocktail hour, and they were incredible.

Look out, ninja Ashley has a knife…

I managed to catch the ringbearer and flower girl… aren’t they precious?

The toast Ashley’s sister Amber gave was funny and touching, complete with visual aids! I’ve never seen a speech incorporating graphs and charts!

Then on to the dancing…

Later in the evening, guests were served drinks with light-up ice cubes – they were a hit.

And they also made for a great ring shot…

Ashley and Tom, thank you for choosing us to be a part of your day. It was unforgettable, and we wish you both a long and happy marriage!

To see more images, click here to view Ashley and Tom’s slideshow. (It will take a few moments to load)

Can’t wait to show you more!!