The Whitney Detroit Wedding of Grace and Ali

Monday, June 29th, 2020

The Whitney, Detroit wedding of Grace and Ali

I have to admit, when I got the email from Corrina at Petit Fleur Events, I was a little flummoxed. Corrina emailed me earlier in the summer about my availability for a wedding on a Tuesday. I laughed to myself looking at the email, thinking “Ah, yep! Definitely available.” I didn’t even have to check. My schedule opened up widely once Covid hit.

When she emailed me again a week before the wedding to let me know that the wedding was set to be held at the beautiful Whitney in Detroit, it took me a few minutes to recall what Corinna was referring to. Once I did, I felt like I won the lottery; getting the opportunity to do what I love and photograph love again.

The Whitney Detroit wedding of Grace and Ali was perfect. A small, intimate wedding with Grace and Ali’s closest friends and family in a historic and elegant venue. One of the nice things about smaller weddings is they are more fluid and emphasize what matters most: the love and commitment of the couple to each other.

I only had three hours with Grace and Ali; however, that was all I would need to capture some beautiful moments between them. My evening started off with both Grace and Ali getting ready before they shared a first look. Photographing Ali was ethereal. His striking features and calm demeanor made photographing him in the historic venue feel as if I was creating a daguerreotype print.

The Whitney Detroit Wedding

Before Grace was to see Ali, her family showered her with jewelry and love.

The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding

Next, it was time for their first look. Grace was smiling ear to ear as she walked down the stairs of the Whitney. Ali, calm as ever, waited to see his bride.

The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding

The surrounded gardens were perfect for their Whitney Detroit wedding. We contemplated having the ceremony outside, but instead photographed their formals in the lush greenery.

I adore moments like this. A simple direction of, “Go ahead and look at each other” turns into genuine laughter and emotion. Behind that laughter is years worth of memories and understanding.

The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding

Next, it was time for their ceremony.

The Whitney Detroit Wedding

As I took family formals following the ceremony, the team from Petit Fleur Events put the finishing touches on the dining room, lighting the candles and dialing in the ambiance.

The Whitney Detroit Wedding
The Whitney Detroit Wedding

While I only had a glimpse into Grace and Ali’s relationship, a glimpse is all that is needed to see the joy they bring to each other. From the moment they saw each other, they radiated love and happiness. Their Whitney Detroit wedding seemed to be a reflection of them: understated, elegant, and family-focused. Best wishes you two and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day.