The Cheney Place Wedding- Jesse and Matt

The Cheney Place
Grand Rapids, MI

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Middleton!!! We had so much fun at The Cheney Place, celebrating these two choosing each other for the rest of their lives.

Matt and Jesse have known each other for ten years. They lived on the same floor in college, did the long-distance thing in grad school, and both ended up back in Michigan years later. They reconnected at a Christmas party, and while they had seen each other a few times over the years post-college, this was the catalyst that led to an actual relationship.

Fast forward to July 2021, Matt took Jesse and Stanley to the Indiana Dunes National Park. Packed away in his camelback was the ring and two small champagne bottles. “After a longer-than-anticipated hike, a narrowly avoided snake attack, and climbs over multiple dunes, they made it to the shores of Lake Michigan. While possibly suffering from heat sickness, Jesse agreed to marry Matt.”

The couple recently bought their first home! Their adventures just keep on going-from a ton of vacations to national parks, to traveling all over Michigan, some hot shows and breweries, to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

In case you missed their beautiful snowy engagement session with Stanley, you can check it out here:

https://lookatthebiggerpicture.com/blog/lenderink-tree-farm-session-belmont-michigan

Thank you so much for choosing me to document your story! Best wishes to you in your new adventures! Thank you to Emily Betcher, for second shooting and having fun with us.
Enjoy your preview of the big day…

The Revel Center - Sam and Seth

The Revel Center
Grand Rapids, MI

Congratulations Samantha and Seth! What a beautiful winter wedding! It had some perfect moments- from Seth and Sam sharing private vows to each other before the ceremony, to family making the day even more special with their humorous toasts, and then, of course, bagpipes!

The lucky ducks have been together for about three years. They first met when the bride heckled the groom at a lacrosse game in college. Fast forward four years, when they met again on Hinge. The official first date was a movie night at Sam’s house, but it ended up being a chat that lasted for five hours instead. Seth proposed on Sam’s family vacation for the 4th of July, where everyone was in on the surprise.

In case you missed their engagement session, you can check it out here:
https://lookatthebiggerpicture.com/blog/riverside-park-grand-rapids-engagement

Thank you so much for choosing me to document your story! Please enjoy the preview of the big day…

River Edge Bed and Breakfast Wedding- Lissa and Bryan

River Edge Bed and Breakfast
Lowell, MI

Congratulations to Lissa and Bryan! It was a gorgeous celebration at River Edge Bed and Breakfast, in Lowell. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and wonderful people, these two were so sweet and excited to vow to share the rest of their lives with each other.

The two first met sophomore year at Grand Valley State University, when they locked eyes across the room at a mutual friend’s house (who officiated the wedding) and quickly became “friends.”

Their first date was supposed to be the classic “dinner and a movie” which never actually manifested. Instead, they went to the wooden bridge over the Thornapple River in Ada. Lissa brought a disposable camera, and they spent the night taking pictures and hanging out around the water.

(In case you missed their engagement session, at their special spot on the river, you can check it out here:)
https://lookatthebiggerpicture.com/blog/ada-covered-bridge-engagement-photos

Fast forward 14ish years later, when they rekindled their friendship, spending many nights walking through the woods, hiking trails, conversing on train bridges, and the occasional Mario Party and wine session. They quickly realized that they couldn’t just be friends any longer…

…Since then, they’ve become a family and made it through a pandemic with a newborn. They now often confide to one another that, “it was always you” from the moment they first locked eyes.

Bryan proposed just before midnight on December 31, 2021, at the park where they first rekindled the “friendship.”

Lissa and Bryan share a love for the outdoors, conversing about anything and everything while walking on a trail, Mario Party (especially Mario Party 2), the water, their children, adventure, and champagne.

Thank you so much for choosing me to document your story! I absolutely loved the time away in the bumpy buggy with you two to take photos! Absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful people, inside and out. Please enjoy the preview of the day…