I first met Annette and Robert only three or four months before their wedding date. They had hired the world class artist of floral designs, Ralph Bellisario, my dear friend, of Bellisario Florists. Ralph sent them my way to photograph their spectacular, upcoming wedding at the pristine and historic Pine Knob Mansion in Clarkston, Michigan. Upon meeting them at the my showroom in Birmingham, I knew they would be a great couple to photograph. Annette with her beautiful smile and gorgeous hair, was obviously going to be a beautiful bride. Robert, so obviously in love with Annette, was beaming with ideas for their engagement shoot, so I knew that I had a romantic on my hands and that he would have all kinds of surprises on their wedding day! Well, he did not disappoint! The day started with Robert surprising Annette with a helicopter picking her up at her home to fly her and her family to Pine Knob! Not only was the Pine Knob Mansion beautiful, but the grounds were equally stunning. The ceremony took place in a superbly decorated gazebo overlooking the beautiful valley below. The floral arrangements inside and out were to die for! Robert delivered a stirring and emotional speech to Annette and, after sunset, surprised his guests with a fireworks display. After the fireworks came to an end, that party was just getting started. Annette changed into a sexy, black party dress, and she, Robert and their guests danced the night away to the talented and versatile band: Skyline and the Backstreet Horns. Check out some of my favorite photos from the day below. Remember to scroll to the bottom to see the entire slideshow set to music.

Kristine and Jason’s wedding took place at two of Detroit’s most beautiful architectural landmarks: The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Detroit Athletic Club. I had been looking forward to this wedding for a while because I found Jason to be as enthusiastic about photography as myself and was excited to photograph their wedding with my new Canon cameras. The day began for me photographing Kristine and her bridesmaids in a suite at the D.A.C. You can see some of these getting ready photos below and how beautiful Kristine looked. Driving ahead of the women to the church, we were able to capture Jason and his groomsmen for last minute moments of their preparation for the ceremony. The Cathedral is a spectacular church. It is a photographer’s dream because of the ornate, grand architectural beauty. After the ceremony, we were able to stop with the entire bridal party at the nearby Detroit Institute of Arts for a few outdoor portraits. The rest of the evening’s celebration took place at the D.A.C. A couple of the terrific benefits for a couple getting married there is their professional serving the head table in unison (see above), their fabulous cuisine (unique to Michigan because the food is in front the guest minutes after it leaves the oven, and having access to the roof of the building for some great portraits with the downtown Detroit skyline in the background. I love being up there just after sunset. The end of the evening was spent partying on the dance floor with Kristine and Jason and their guests. Below are some of my favorite images of the day. Scroll down to the bottom to see their entire highlight slideshow set to music.

Michelle and Bobbys wedding was my first booking for 2010. We originally met well over a year prior to their date and I also had the opportunity to photograph their engagement session last summer. It was during this photo session that we really had a chance to get to know one another and to have fun. Boy did we ever! You can see the results by clicking here. The reason I bring this up is because I believe that session directly impacted how well the wedding day would photograph! We became friends and we had a chance to work together prior to the wedding day. The results of Michelle and Bobbys wedding are stunning. I was in sync with them throughout the whole day and I think you can see that from the photos below.

I met Michelle for getting ready photos at her parents home. The ceremony took place at popular St. Hugos Catholic Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and the reception was held at the elegant Royal Park Hotel in nearby Rochester. The wedding day ended with the biggest surprise of my eighteen year wedding career: three of the Top Ten finalists from the television show American Idol crashed the reception! I made a blog post of several photos shortly after the wedding and you can see them by clicking here.  Check out some of my favorite photos of the day below and scroll down to the bottom of this post to view the entire highlight slideshow set to U2s Magnificent.

The wedding day could not have been successful without Michelle and Bobbys superb cast of Michigans top wedding vendors. The list includes:

Wedding Planning – The China Closet
Floral Arrangements – Bellisario Florist
Printing Services and Custom Invitations – Cartoleria
Band – Intrigue
Videography – Lee Thomas Films
Decor – Special Event Rentals
Wedding Dress – Roma Sposa

I have been very fortunate for the last string of six years. I have been selected each year with having one or two of my clients’ weddings featured in bridal magazines. 2009 was a great year in terms of my having the honor of photographing several beautiful and elegant weddings. Several of them, in my opinion, were worthy of magazine publication. My clients, Rosemarie and Sam D’Angelo, was certainly one of those weddings and the magazine, Metro Detroit Bride agreed. In fact, not only were their images published, but the wedding was the feature wedding and provided us with a two page spread. Click here to see their blog post link from last September, and here to see their wedding highlight slideshow. Congratulations Rose and Sam!!!  One Special Note: Carolyn Hefner, Wedding Planner Extraordinaire of the first class China Closet, was somehow left off the list of vendor credits.  Without Carolyn’s focused attention to details, creative vision, and meticulous planning, the day would have fallen short of the extraordinary event it became.

Blake and Jason’s wedding took place on a beautiful June day in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It was a perfect day for a beautiful and elegant couple. The day began with my meeting them both just prior to the ceremony at Christ Church Cranbrook where they both waited in separate rooms for the ceremony to begin. They were surrounded by close family and friends and the reception convened at the nearby, pristine Bloomfield Hills Country Club. Blake and Jason and their guests were treated to a beautiful sunset as they toasted and enjoyed their meals under a tent in front of the clubhouse. Cutting the cake and dancing followed upstairs inside. Be sure to check out the highlight slideshow at the bottom of this post. The classy wedding was the result of the couples top notch vendors which included:

Complete Wedding Planning Services: Carolyn Hefner and staff of the China Closet
Florist: Ralph Bellisario of Bellisario Florists
Band: The Sun Messengers
Cocktail/Dinner Music: Scandinavian String Quartet
Cake: Patisserie Parmentier
Tent and Decor: Special Events Rental
Invitations & Menu Cards: Cartoleria
Attire: Bride – Roma Sposa
MOB – Katrina Bocci
Men – Fox Formal
Onsight Seamstress: Seka
Transportation: All Star Transportation

Like many of my clients these days, Maria became familiar with my work because she is friends with former clients of mine. For me, there is no better way to find future clients! Maria and Joshua’s wedding day began with my starting at Maria’s parents’ home where Maria and her bridesmaids were getting ready. Some of the photos below are among my favorites this year! I love documentary style photography – finding images that tell the story of moment. But that is only half of what makes these memorable images. The other part of the equation in making great images is when your subject is emotional and expressive. You will see below that this came very easily for Maria on her wedding day!

The day continued with the ceremony at St Hugo’s Catholic Church in Bloomfield Hills where I met Joshua for the very first time. Joshua is the perfect compliment to Maria. It was obvious to all that they are happy and in love and are surrounded by wonderful family and friends. The evening moved forward to Orchard Lake Country Club for the wedding reception and celebration. I am so happy that they invited me to photograph their beautiful day! Please see the highlight slideshow at the bottom of this post to see how the entire story unfolded. Their day could not have been the success it became without the expertise of the following vendors:

Florist – Dave Calcaterra of Thrifty Florist
Linens – Special Events
Cake – Orchard Lake Country Club
Videographer – Chad Shwartzenberger
Day-of Coordinator – Molly Robinson
Paper Products and Design – Jen Wells of Miss Pickles Press

I met Erin and Brian for the first time when I arrived to photograph their wedding at the luxurious Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, Michigan. Upon meeting them, Erin warned me about both Brian and her father in that they were certain to shed tears throughout the day! She wasn’t kidding! Both men were very emotional and you will see this in some of the great moments captured below! I love photographing Jewish weddings because they are rich in tradition and very, very festive! The entire event – ceremony and reception – took place at the one location. Of course, the wedding day’s success was, in part, due to the contributions of Erin and Brian’s great wedding vendors:

Florist – Breath of Spring (Bruce)
Day of Coordinator – Party Assurance
Linens and Chairs – Modern Art
Cake – Townsend Bakery
Band – Intrigue
Programs and Place Cards – Lee’s Specialty
Videographer – Jeff Schoenberg

Enjoy some of my memorable photos below as well as the entire highlight slideshow at the bottom of this post:

I had as much fun spending the weekend in Boston with this couple as I can remember! They are terrific and I am very excited to photograph their wedding this coming August! Enjoy some of my favorites below and scroll to the bottom of the post to see their highlight slideshow!

Cake- Edwards Cafe Northville MI
Venue – Burton Manor
Florist – Fancy Florist
Caterer- Ashoka Indian restaurant, Krishna catering
Video – Anil Relan
DJ- DJ Naveen