Colony Club Wedding

Friday, July 15th, 2022

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.

~

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

bride fixes her shoe at Westin Book Cadillac
bride in the Venetian room at Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
dad fixes a bowtie of his son
groom in a tux at Westin Book Cadillac
groomsmen prep at Westin Book Cadillac
groomsmen prep at Westin Book Cadillac

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.

groom kissed the hand of his bride
bride and groom stand together at DIA
bride and groom walk together at DIA
bride and groom walk together at DIA

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

bride rests her head on the shoulder of a groom at the DIA
bride rests her head on the shoulder of a groom
groom hugs bride from behind on a pathway at the Detroit Institute of Arts
groom hugs bride from behind
bride and groom sit on a bench outside of Detroit Institute of Arts
bride holds her dress outside of DIA
groom leans against a light post at DIA

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!

bridesmaids wearing black dresses at Detroit Institute of Arts
bridesmaids wearing black dresses at Detroit Institute of Arts

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.

groom is thrown in the air by groomsmen at DIA

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

bridal party at Detroit Public Library
bridal party at Detroit Public Library
groom hugs bride from behind at Detroit Public Library
groom hugs bride from behind at Detroit Public Library
groom hugs bride from behind at Detroit Public Library
bride and groom kiss on Detroit Public Library steps
bride hugs groom from behind at Detroit Public Library
bride hugs groom from behind at Detroit Public Library
bride hugs groom from behind at Detroit Public Library
bride and groom walk holding hands at 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.

 St. Anne de Detroit wedding

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

St. Anne de Detroit wedding
bride and groom kiss at St. Anne de Detroit wedding
bride and groom walk down the aisle at St. Anne de Detroit wedding
St. Anne de Detroit wedding

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.

empty ballroom Colony Club wedding
empty ballroom Colony Club wedding
empty ballroom Colony Club wedding
bride and groom dance in an empty ballroom at their Colony club wedding
bride and groom dance in an empty ballroom at their Colony club wedding
a bride dances with her grandpa at a Colony club wedding

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

zeffa at a Colony Club wedding reception

As guests made their way upstairs, the celebration continued.

bride and groom sit on the shoulders of guests on the dance floor at their Colony Club wedding
bride and groom dance at their Colony Club wedding
bride and groom dance at their Colony Club wedding
bride and groom dance at their Colony Club wedding
bride and groom dance at their Colony Club wedding
bride and groom kiss with sparklers in the background at a Colony Club wedding
zeffa performance at a Colony Club wedding
zeffa drummer at a Colony Club wedding

father of the groom giving a toast
close up of champagne glasses at a Colony Club wedding
bride and groom cut a wedding cake with a sword at a Colony Club wedding
bride and groom kiss after cake cutting at their Colony Club wedding
bride and groom slow dance at their Colony Club wedding

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

guests dance together at a Colony Club wedding
groom is hoisted on guests shoulders during a Colony Club wedding
bride and groom dance during at a Colony Club wedding
guests dance during a Colony Club wedding

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.

couple walks holding hands at their Colony Club wedding
kiss at the end of the night during their Colony Club wedding

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