Colony Club Wedding

After nearly 15 years of photographing weddings, I finally got to check shooting a Colony Club wedding off of my bucket list. It was well worth the wait.

Anytime I get an email from Jennie at Beautiful Day Planning, I get excited; her and the team at BDP run like a well-oiled machine. “Do you have the date available?” she asked. “It’s a Colony Club wedding. Have you shot there before?”

I did have the date available and bashfully, I had to acknowledge that I haven’t photographed a Colony Club wedding before. I knew the venue well after touring it for our own wedding. The gorgeous ballroom with high ceilings, curved balconies, ornate chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The marble staircases and plaster-walled coves that are calling to be photographed. Yes, I knew the venue well and like a classic tragedy, it always seemed to slip away between my fingers.

Jennie sent me a follow up email a few days later. “They love your work. Send over a contract.” I was ecstatic, but like any classic tragedy, there is a plot twist: Covid. Like so many other couples, Karen and Mario had to reschedule their wedding. Needless to say, I have been looking forward to Karen and Mario’s wedding for a long time. When the day was finally here, we were all ready to celebrate.

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Karen and Mario got ready at the nearby Westin Book Cadillac with help from some special people in their lives.

Once Karen and Mario were ready, it was time for their first look. Karen wanted to incorporate some greenery into their location. I knew the perfect canopy of trees to create a private and intimate feel.

My favorite moments in any wedding are real moments – real laughter, real emotions, real memories. Karen and Mario’s wedding was filled with them.

Karen and Mario’s bridal party was patiently waiting in the party bus while they shared a few moments together. Once they joined us, I got my first glimpse of what the rest of the day was going to be like – fun!

As the bridal party first approached Karen and Mario, the groomsmen circled Mario and started celebrating. Becky leaned in and said, “Let’s get them to throw Mario in the air. They are up for it.” After I got the formals, I bounced the idea off of them. It didn’t take much convincing to get Mario air born.

For a different look, we crossed the street to the Detroit Public Library.

Soon, it was time to head to the ceremony. Having shot at St. Anne de Detroit before, I knew were get could take a few more photos before the wedding.

As guests arrived, Karen hid and changed her dress into another beautiful gown.

Next, it was time to head over to their Colony Club wedding reception. Karen and Mario entered their ballroom early to practice their first dance and to share a private dance with Karen’s grandpa.

Downstairs, the zeffa band was ready to begin the celebrations. I love the energy this brings to a wedding.

As guests made their way upstairs, the celebration continued.

After the formals dances concluded, guests wasted no time partying on the dance floor.

As our night came to a close, Karen and Mario snuck out for a moment alone and one last photo. Billy Joel serenaded them in the background from Comerica Park as a cool breeze whipped through the alley. It was the perfect, serendipitous was to end the night.

Film: Blue Racer Productions

Venue: Colony Club

Planning: Beautiful Day Planning

Church: St. Anne de Detroit

Transportation: Dream Limo

Transportation: Lavdas Limo

Beauty: Primp Beauty

Dessert: Elegance in Sugar

Photo Booth: Shutterbooth

Floral: Twigs & Branches

Sparklers: Elite Entertainment

Entertainment: The Block Party