Packard Proving Grounds Wedding

It is funny how things work out; I lived in Shelby Township my entire life and have driven by the Packard Proving Grounds thousands of times, never once stopping in.  The grounds are beautiful and full of collectible cars.  The garage is a photographer’s dream, with plenty of ambient light pouring in the windows.  For years, this gem was right in my backyard and I never stopped to see it, explore it, or appreciate it, until Annie and John had a Packard Proving Grounds wedding.

It reminds me a little bit about the speech Betsy, Annie’s sister and Maid of Honor gave at last night’s wedding.  She was a senior in high school and wanted to hook her best friend’s brother, John (the groom,) up with her sister, Annie (the bride).  It turns out, John had liked Annie for years before this moment, always walking by her in halls and appreciating her from afar.  His response: “I like Annie way too much to date her.”   According to Betsy, it took seven years before they ended up dating.  As they say, the rest is history.

It is interesting how sometimes, the things that we want, appreciate, and love the most in life are so precious to us that we don’t want to take the risk and actively pursue it.  Whether it is a dream, a person, a goal, or a career, I believe that if it is your purpose, then it deserves to be pursued.  My best friend calls this Your Plan A.  He even wrote a book about it.    Watching Annie and John experience their wedding day, it was obvious they were each other’s Plan A.  I can’t recall a couple who so easily complimented each other.  Spending their wedding day with them, I felt more like a photojournalist and less like a wedding photographer; I simply documented their love and excitement.

The classic cars served as a perfect backdrop to Annie and John’s Packard Proving Grounds wedding. 

Following their Packard Proving Grounds wedding, we stopped by another hidden gem in downtown Rochester to photograph their bridal party pictures.  The urban feel of the backdrop complemented the industrial feel of the Packard Proving Ground wedding

Special thanks to Ray and Ro at the Packard Proving Grounds for opening up the garage and letting us use the cars.  Also, special thanks to all the volunteers at the Packard Proving Grounds for keeping the place up and running.  Lastly, if you are looking for a unique venue that lends itself to a laid-back wedding, consider having a Packard Proving Grounds wedding.  It is a gorgeous venue.