Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth, Michigan

Sunday, February 25th, 2018

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

Jackie walked into my office with her best friend and Matron of Honor, Ashley.  She was part anxiously nervous, part anxiously excited.  Like most brides, she wasn’t sure how the whole consultation/booking/wedding photography was supposed to go.  What questions am I supposed to ask?  How can I tell if he is good?  Do I just look at the photos?  What does The Knot say I am supposed to ask?  Luckily, her nervousness quickly dissolved as we all three celebrated her engagement with some champagne and storytelling.Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

The more Jackie described her wedding, the more excited I got thinking about shooting it.  Her wedding was going to take place at the gorgeous Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan.  (I shot another wedding there and fell in love with the venue.)  It is always a more stress-free day when the bridal prep, ceremony, and reception take place at one location.  It also creates more of an artistic challenge to create beautiful images because you only get a handful of backdrops to take all of your photos.  Regardless, what made me most excited wasn’t the venue though, it was Jackie’s attitude towards her wedding.  All she really cared about was marrying Chris and secondly, having good photos from the day.  Everything else drifted away into the background.  Jackie was down for anything, she told me, even shooting outside in the snow…and boy did it snow on her day!  Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

One of my favorite candids from the day was one of Jackie’s attempts to put the dress on.  Everyone was debating whether or not it should go over there head or step into it.  With some “jazz hands” to display she was making it through, Jackie got her dress on.  Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

While Jackie and Chris opted to not have a first look, she did share a special moment with her dad.  Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

Next it was Chris’s turn to get ready with the “encouragement” (i.e. teasing) from his brother.  Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

After the bride and groom were ready, we shoveled off a path and clearing (yes, you read that right.  I brought a shovel to a wedding) and took some formals of the bridal party.  Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

After the formals, it was time for the ceremony.

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

The Chapel at the Inn at St. John’s is absolutely beautiful and the perfect backdrop for dramatic portraits.  Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John's Plymouth

Overall, Jackie and Chris’s wedding was exactly as I expected it to be when I met Jackie – all smiles, laughter, and love while surrounded by family.  It was a perfect day.  Winter Wedding at the Inn at St. John’s Plymouth

DJ: Derek Rafferty from E3 Detroit.