Wedding at Meadowbrook Hall

Monday, June 5th, 2023

A few years ago, I photographed the wedding of Tom and Alexa. It was a ridiculously fun wedding filled with so many unscripted moments: a sweaty, bare chested marathon runner who hopped into groomsman formals, the father of the girl who caught the bouquet preventing the garder to be put on, and the icing of a few people throughout the day with Smirnoff Ice. Years later, it is still one of my favorite weddings, not because the photos, but because of the people. Fast forward four years and when Matt emailed me introducing himself as Tom’s brother, he had to say no more. I knew exactly who he was and wanted to shoot his wedding. I already had a taste of the fun and the crew and knew that his wedding would be much the same. When Matt, Nicole, and myself met for coffee to discuss the details of their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall, we spent the better part of an afternoon catching up, planning their wedding, and laughing over coffee. I was late for dinner that night but made two new friends in the process. Nicole and Matt’s wedding at Meadowbrook Hall was over a year away at that point, but I was already excited for their day. I knew not only would it be beautiful, but we would have a lot of fun in the process.

Our day started with Nicole and her bridesmaids getting ready at her childhood home.

As we began shooting, I noticed Nicole’s mom quietly reading a letter Nicole wrote her. One thing I learned about Nicole is she has a huge heart and is both thoughtful and sentimental. Her gifts to her mom and Maid of Honor show that as well.

Mom reacts to a gift that her daughter gave her the morning of her wedding.

Mom kisses bride, who is getting her hair done on the morning of her wedding.

With a few finishing touches, Nicole was almost ready to become a bride.

Bride gets finishing touches of make up on her wedding day.

A bride smiles as she reads a letter from her husband on her wedding day.

With Nicole’s hair and makeup finished, it was time to head over to Meadowbrook, where Nicole finished getting ready with the help of her mom.

Mom helps her daughter bride get ready for her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Mom and bride share a quiet moment during her prep before her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

As Nicole put on her finishing touches, Matt was also getting ready nextdoor with the help of his dad and brother.

A wedding at Meadowbrook Hall is iconic. The architecture is regal and the perfect backdrop for such an elegant event. Wanting to utilize the grounds to their fullest, Nicole shared a first look with her dad on the opposite site of the mansion. With no guests in sight, it was an opportunity for them to share a special moment.

Bride taps her dad on the shoulder during a first look at her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Dad reacts to seeing his daughter bride at her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Bride hugs her dad at their first look during a wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Bride and her dad pose for a photo at her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Meanwhile, guests took their seats in the Pegasus Garden in anticipation of Nicole and Matthew’s wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

The groom and his mom walk down the aisle at his wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

The bride and her dad walk down the aisle at her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride laughs during her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A wedding at Meadowbrook Hall in the Pegasus garden.

A groom smiles at his bride during their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Vows are exchanged during a wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Bridesmaids look onward at a wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride puts a ring on her groom's hand a their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Bride and groom share a first kiss at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Bride and groom celebrate as they walk down the aisle at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall in the Pegasus Garden.

Bride and groom celebrate and kiss as they walk down the aisle at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall in the Pegasus Garden.

Bride and groom celebrate and laugh as they walk down the aisle at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall in the Pegasus Garden.

A newly married couple Bride walk down the aisle at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall in the Pegasus Garden.

Following their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall, Nicole and Matt snuck away for some photos before visiting nearby Van Hoosen Museum.

A groom hugs his bride from behind in front of the entrance at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall in the Pegasus Garden.

A bride looks over her shoulder as she walks away at her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride and groom gaze at each other during their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Groom looks at his wife during their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall formals.

A couple embrace and laugh in front of an arch of windows at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride and groom pose and smile for the camera in front of an arch of windows at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride and groom snuggle in front of a wall of windows at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride and groom pose in an archway at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride and groom pose and almost kiss in an archway at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

A bride and groom walk and in hand away from their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Holding onto his arm, a bride and groom pose in front of the main gate at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Holding onto his shoulder, a bride and groom pose in front of the main gate at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Hugging him from behind, a bride and groom pose in front of the main gate at their wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Holding a purpose and white bouquet, a bride poses in front of the main gate at her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Holding a purpose and white bouquet in one hand and her dress in another, a bride poses in front of the main gate at her wedding at Meadowbrook Hall.

Wearing lavender colored dresses, bridesmaids pose for a picture at Van Hoosen Museum.

Walking down a path, groomsmen pose for a photo at Van Hoosen Museum.

A bridal party poses for a formal photo at Van Hoosen Museum.

A bride and groom look at each other on a walking path at Van Hoosen Museum.

A bride rests her head on the shoulder of her groom at Van Hoosen Museum wedding.

A bride and groom sit on a rock at their wedding at Van Hoosen Museum.

A bride looks over her shoulder at the camera at Van Hoosen Museum.

Carrying her dress, a bride laughs as she walks with her husband on her wedding day.

Feeling the fun vibe from their crew all morning, I hopped on the party bus as we traveled to one last stop before their wedding reception at Andiamo Showroom in Warren, MI.

With a tear trickling down her cheek, a bride smiles at her husband during speeches at their Andiamo Showcase wedding in Warren, MI.

A bride laughs during speeches at their Andiamo Showcase wedding in Warren, MI.

During one of our planning calls, Nicole mentioned that Matt was more of the sentimental type. I understood and shared the story with Nicole that on my wedding day, I lost the bet that I would cry more than seven times throughout the day. I think I lost by the time Becky and I shared our first look. It was a great bet to lose as those heightened emotions secured those moments and memories deep within me. Throughout the day, but particularly during speeches, there was not a dry eye in the room of Matt and Nicole’s wedding. It was a special day for many reasons: a celebration of love, life, and those we love from beyond.