Sam and Justin were married a little over a week ago in the beautiful conservatory at Downtown Market Grand Rapids. If there was one word to describe their wedding day it would be emotional. It was one of the most beautiful and emotional wedding ceremonies I’ve ever been apart of. Seeing Sam and Justin tear up multiple times during the ceremony had everyone in the crowd tearing up as well. It was so obvious how much these two love and care about each other!! Their ceremony site was just stunning and had the most beautiful greenery covered X’s dividing the space and I’m obsessed with how their Bride & Groom portraits turned out in front of it after the ceremony! In fact, this may be the most portraits I’ve ever included in a blog post because they were just THAT GOOD!
Their wedding day started at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel where the girls got ready. Sam’s mom helped her into her beautiful long sleeve lace dress and her grandma stepped in to help with the veil! I love it when bride’s have their grandma’s in the getting ready room in the morning! The photos of three generations on a wedding day are some of my favorites and I know my brides will cherish those for years to come! Sam’s bridal portraits are some of my new favorites! She has that classic beauty look about her & the one of her sitting on the bed with her long train splayed around her feet looks like it could be a 1930 or 1940’s wedding photograph!! Before we headed off to the ceremony, Sam’s step dad and brother came in for a first look and I just love their reactions the first time they saw Sam! The looks on their faces said it all!
After the ceremony, we headed to a Christmas tree farm for more portraits! Sam’s long sleeved lace dress and stunning cathedral veil looked amazing amongst the Christmas trees! It was pretty windy out and I love the way her veil moved in the portraits. Sam got her bridesmaids the cutest plaid scarves and the girls all huddled together for portraits! I’m obsessed with how the scarves popped against their chic long black dresses and the evergreens behind them! After freezing outside taking photos, everyone hopped back on the cutest trolley Sam & Justin had to take them around and we headed to Founder’s to warm up! After the bridal party huddled by the fire pits and had a glass of craft beer, we headed to one more spot to show off the train on Sam’s dress before heading to the reception!
The highlight of the reception was the thoughtful and emotional speeches that everyone gave. Every single speech given had everyone in tears. Sam’s Maids of Honor went first, followed by Justin’s Best Men. Justin and his two best men have been best friends since they were toddlers and they had printed three huge pictures to bring out during their speech to show this and they had everyone laughing in between the tears!! Sam’s mom gave the next emotional speech, followed by Sam’s Uncle who spoke on behalf of Sam’s late father. He gave such a beautiful tribute to Sam and her father and even I was furiously wiping away tears from behind my camera as he spoke. Justin’s parents gave the final speech of the evening before dinner was served!! The night ended with dancing and a fun sparkler exit as these two capped off an amazing wedding day!
Sam & Justin, thank you both so much for bringing me into your families for the day and trusting me to capture every little moment! I hope you love and cherish these images forever! Wishing you both a lifetime of love and joy!! Much love, Jen. xx
