War Memorial Wedding in Grosse Pointe Farms

Grosse Pointe War Memorial Wedding

Some people want a fairy tale wedding.  Others are searching for Mr. Right.  What I love most about Marissa and Terry is that they just wanted each other.  As it turned out, they got all three.

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I find it easy and enjoyable to write a blog about a wedding.  It is fun to relive a couple’s wedding day through photos and recall all of the laughs and memories we shared on their day.  Marissa and Terry’s Grosse Pointe War Memorial wedding is no different.  It was honestly the perfect day.  Marissa and Terry were both calm, laid back, and embraced every moment of the day.  Not even the sudden rain prior to the ceremony put a damper on their day or mood.  Overall, it was a picture perfect day and I think the photos show it.

Marissa and Terry started their day at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.  Their prep, ceremony, and reception were all at this beautiful landmark.  It was inspirational to spend the day photographing this beautiful couple in such a wide array of gorgeous backdrops.   The details and landscape of the War Memorial are exquisite.

I asked Marissa to get ready in a gorgeous sunroom.  The light was soft and flattering, enhancing Marissa’s equally gentle personality.

While Marissa was getting ready and prepped for her first look with Terry, her dad was getting prepped and ready for his first look with his daughter.

Soon, it was time for Marissa and Terry to share their first look.  We decided to use the back steps for their special moment.

Needless to say, Terry was pleasantly stunned at Marissa’s beauty.

With the two of them having seen each other, it was time to enjoy their time together on the grounds before their War Memorial wedding.

Creating classic and beautiful images of Marissa and Terry was easy.  I loved how the delicate lace back of Marissa’s dress enhanced her elegant posture and demeanor.   I wanted to create a series of images in the gardens that transcended time and style.  I think these images do just that.

I was so inspired by the lighting in the sunroom, that I wanted to go back inside with just Terry and Marissa to create more images.

As guests started to arrive for Marissa and Terry’s Grosse Pointe War Memorial wedding, both Marissa and Terry hid.  At this time, both of them put the finishing touches on before the ceremony.  Terry looked like the perfect gentleman in his tux.

In what would become one of my favorite memories from their day, Marissa put her veil on for the first time and was looking in the mirror before the ceremony.

She began to cry and explained, “It just feels so real now.  I feel like a bride.”  Her bridesmaids came up, showered her with love and laughter.  The emotions and the candid photos that followed were perfectly authentic.

As guests gathered in the front of the War Memorial, Marissa shared a touching first look with her dad.

(yes, those are tears from both of them.)

As soon as it was time for their War Memorial wedding, it began raining.  The call was made to have the wedding inside.  It was the right call; guests were dry and comfortable while the ceremony took place.

One of the things that I enjoy doing is helping educate couples on the value of a versatile and professional photographer for their wedding day.  Switching from an outdoor ceremony to and indoor ceremony created some lighting challenges.  Luckily, with a few minutes of set up and test shots, we were able to set up various flashes that created a clean and consistently look to all of the indoor photos.  I shudder to think of what these could have looked like with someone less comfortable with blending natural, artificial, and flash lighting.

I love moments like this.  No one except myself and the bride and groom got to experience and share in the excitement following their vows.

With the ceremony over, it was time for their Grosse Pointe War Memorial wedding reception.

With a huge hug goodbye, Marissa, Terry, and their guests partied late into the night.  From what I could tell, the party wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.