2011 June |

Archive for June, 2011

05.28.11 – Kimberly and John – Orchard Lake CC (Orchard Lake, MI)

June 27, 2011

The entirety of the wedding day took place at Orchard Lake CC, one of my favorite country clubs in Southeastern Michigan! The country club is located on serene and picturesque Orchard Lake, a truly beautiful setting! I have had the good fortune of photographing several weddings here in the last few years. Search my blog to find previous weddings. Kim and John’s wedding now joins the list of many memorable celebrations here at Orchard Lake CC.

This day, however, was met with a bit of questionable weather, not uncommon in Michigan at the end of May! I don’t like to say unfortunate, because weather does not make or break a wedding day in my opinion. Good weather or bad, it just adds to the story and the backdrop of the actual wedding day story. I like to call it “character!” The day is suppose to be about the unveiling of a love story, concluding (or rather “beginning”) with the story of how two people in love – and their families – celebrate their union in marriage. I can happily attest that this was the case with Kim and John! With rain coming and going, skies cloudy and gray, adjustments made for the outdoor ceremony to take place underneath a tent, the nuptials were, indeed, the focus and triumphal joy of the day! Not a frown or sense of dismay was seen or felt on the faces of this beautiful couple because of the questionable weather, nor did it deter the celebratory mood of their family and friends! Enjoy some of my favorite photos above and below. Please scroll to the bottom of this post to see several more photos that I’ve included in a highlight slide show set to music.

Before ending this post, I must give kudos to my vendor partners who all helped make this day a success!

Venue and Caterer: Orchard Lake Country Club
Event Coordinator, Floral and Decor: Emerald City Designs (Nicole Beaudoin, planner)
Bridal Gown: Roma Sposa (Birmingham, MI)
Video: Fifth and Main Productions (Royal Oak, MI)
Band: Simone Vitale Band
Celebrant: Sherry Mullins (A Joyful Celebration)
Cake: Sweet and Savory (Oxford, MI)
Custom Printing: Very Truly Yours (A. Kelly Cash)
Makeup: Linda Bateynah
Hair: Mallory

Tags: a joyful celebration, Emerald City Designs, Fifth and Main Productions, linda bateynah, memories by michael, Michigan wedding photographer, Michigan wedding photography, Orchard Lake Country Club, Roma Sposa, sherry mullins, Simone Vitale Band, sweet and savory, very truly yours, wedding photojou
Posted in Slideshows, Weddings - 2011 | No Comments »

05.22.11 – Afton and Danny – The Monastery in Toro Canyon (Montecito, CA)

June 15, 2011

The honor to photograph Afton and Danny’s wedding was given to me just a few weeks before the event. I didn’t meet either Afton or Danny in person, but after speaking with them about their wedding and photography expectations, I knew that this was going to be a perfect wedding for my style! They chose a beautiful estate in the foothills of Monecito, called The Monastery in Toro Canyon. You will see in the photos below that this venue is an extroadinary place to host a wedding! Three huge roll-up doors open up the house to a large terrace and the full panorama of the Pacific Ocean. The house was built in the early 1930s by famed conductor Leopold Stokowski and his then-wife, Evangeline Johnson, heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune. Residents over the years have included Greta Garbo; the best-selling author and aviator, Beryl Markham; and Gloria Vanderbilt, Stokowski’s third wife.

Afton and Danny wanted to utilize The Monastery to help create a tranquil, yet festive, wedding celebration for those they love the most in the world: their family and closest friends, and just importantly, their three precious dogs. Even though the day was seemingly carefree and relaxed, wedding planner (and property manager of The Monastery) Lexi Mclane, made sure everything went perfectly. A good portion of the time was spent with their guests enjoying the peaceful setting, family members from each side getting to know one another, relatives from across the country reuniting, nieces and nephews exploring the unique grounds, and the dogs having ample room to play. Local pianist, Patrik Maiani, lended his talents on the baby grand piano with music that carried throughout the home and terrace. When the time seemed right, everyone was gathered near one of the ancient olive trees and local minister, Nino Maiani, performed the wedding ceremony. Afterward, guests gathered at a wonderfully decorated long table for a several course meal, provided by Chef Robin Goldstein, and multiple heart-felt toasts were given for the newly-weds.

Floral arrangements were created by Padaro Floral
Afton’s hair and makeup were provided by Team Hair & Makeup

Enjoy some of my favorite photos below and scroll to the bottom of this post to see the entire highlight slideshow set to music. Enjoy!

Tags: montecito wedding, montecito wedding photographer, santa, Santa Barbara wedding, Santa Barbara wedding photographer, Southern California wedding, Southern California wedding photographer, Southern California Wedding photography, the monastery in toro canyon
Posted in Slideshows, Weddings - 2011 | No Comments »

05.14.11 – Alan’s 16th Birthday Bash – Stage 3 (Warren, MI)

June 4, 2011

When my good friend and Event Planner, Carolyn Hefner of The China Closet, called me to photograph a birthday party, I didn’t hesitate! When I meet a potential client who has hired Carolyn, I know they are serious about having an incredible event! I have photographed a few spectacular birthday parties for Carolyn’s clients in my career, so I knew that this was going to special! Alan’s party took place at a really cool place called Stage 3. It is an actual photography and production studio with a huge sound stage area for photographing large products like automobiles! What an awesome setup for parties as well! It provided for a perfect background to project graphics, videos, and colorful lights to enhance the festive environment! The theme of Alan’s party was centered around the two cities he lives in, Detroit and Las Vegas. A club scene on one side with a DJ, video and dancing, and Las Vegas on the other side, complete with the famous Vegas sign, showgirls and gaming! Alan and his Cranbrook High School friends had a ton to do! I personally felt right at home, having lived in both great cities myself! Alan, without a doubt, will never forget this incredible birthday celebration!

Check out some of my favorite photos and scroll to the bottom of the post to see even more photos in a highlight slide show!

Tags: birthday party photographer, birthday party photography, Stage 3, The China Closet, Vegas themed party
Posted in Other Photography, Slideshows | No Comments »

05.06.11 – Melanie and Brad – Caesar’s Palace (Las Vegas, NV)

June 4, 2011

One thing about making Las Vegas your home is you forget how fun of a town it really is! Now that we are no longer living there, it has been great continuing to book a few weddings each year there! For one, it gives me a chance to visit my parents, who live in nearby Summerlin, but it also allows for me to see the town from a different perspective! It is now a destination location for me which has given me a fresh appreciation! My clients can benefit from my having had the experience of knowing the town and having photographed several weddings there. Now, however, they also benefit from me having a renewed energy coming back to this completely unique environment that is so different from anywhere else in the country! There is truly no other place in the USA like Vegas, especially in regard to photographing a wedding!

That’s why I was so happy that Melanie and Brad found me and commissioned me to photograph their wedding this past month! They truly had a great plan for a uniquely Vegas affair! Not only was it held in one of Vegas’ more famous venues, Caesar’s Palace, but they had a great turnout from their family and friends who traveled mostly from Edmonton and other parts of Canada! Most everything took place at Caesar’s Palace: getting ready photos inside their hotel suites, the ceremony took place at the Venus Gardens, and the reception took place at Spago’s Restaurant. Between the ceremony and reception, we were able to take a ride out to the famous Las Vegas sign for a few portraits and back to Caesar’s for additional fun photos around various fountains on the property. To top it all off, what Vegas party would be complete, without Elvis? Sure enough, the emcee and resident crooner himself (a look a like, actually!) entertained the guests during dinner and dancing! Enjoy some of my favorite photos above and below. To see the highlight slideshow with even more great photos, scroll down to the bottom. Oh yah, could not resist selecting an Elvis song for the show! Enjoy!