Arriving in Traverse City, Michigan in the middle of May is like stepping into a Monet painting or a summer song. :)

I really had no idea what to expect, I really REALLY didn't think it would be as beautiful as it is. Deep blue unending water, white sand, crisp clear air, cherry orchards at every turn, sunsets that dared to challenge my childhood Arizona evenings. Beautiful.

After the 3 hour flight and 5 hour car ride we were ready to WORK! If you can even call my job work :)

Brian and I thankfully, love being together, even if we are literally sitting next to one another on 5 hour car rides and 3 hour plane rides, we are not the couple who fights over the armrest on the plane or the car radio (ok maybe sometimes the radio) we don't mind each other's long day travel smells or silly little habits... like me and my need to lay down before I can even try to fall asleep, so I always end up in his lap on plane rides snoring, drooling, and the like,... he must love me a lot... and his little habit of being able to fall asleep ANYWHERE in any position at any time, which makes me quite mad since I CAN'T!

Brian knew the bride Kati from our church a few years back. Kati met Jayson and moved from Colorado Springs where she was attending college to Atlanta to be with him, fell in love, got engaged, moved home to Traverse City to plan the wedding, and thats were I came in! :)

We arrived and immediately nestled our place into the family, and what a fantastic family they both have. They were all so kind and welcoming. We fit right in, in fact there was one point where I thought I had come to watch an old friend get married not photograph a stranger!

The wedding was exquisite! A beautiful lake view backdrop and an intimate guest list made for the most genuine ceremony. There were no traditional rules or lists to follow, just two people committing their lives to one another on a simple day in May. The clouds parted towards the end of the ceremony to make way for the Sun's warm rays to pierce through the wooded canopy of trees, producing the most memorable glowing rays of The Lord's satisfaction. How perfectly perfect.

And the story begins...

Kati and her best friend Gus... looks like he is a bit emotional about her getting married

Jayson loves Kati's eyes so I was sure to make him happy with this one :)

Jayson was always smiling

a good luck kiss from mom

precious

Ha! :)

epic

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Kati, Jayson and their families for welcoming Brian and I into such a warm and sweet atmosphere and making sure we were taken care of. We greatly enjoyed our stay in such a beautiful city and with such wonderful people!

*********STAY TUNED**********

Its gets better! :)

Jayson and Kati opted to get all dressed up once again for a "Trash the Dress" shoot a day after their lovely wedding. We had a BLAST on the beaches of Lake Michigan with canoes and boats and white sand and..... insane asylums... ;)

So again, STAY TUNED... photos coming in a few days!

sneak peek