We enjoyed photographing Anna and Matt’s wedding this Monday so much. They are wonderful people with wonderful families, and had a beautiful celebration. On top of that, the H Hotel is one of those places you feel like there’s a good picture around every corner–it’s filled with beautiful details, art, and furniture that made it extra-inspiring for photographs. Enough said…

Two favorites, for now:

When we first met with them, Mandi and Paulo told us how they had they considered getting married in Grand Cayman (and we would have happily followed them!). When it became clear that not everyone dear to them would be able to make the trip, however, they opted for honeymooning in Grand Cayman and spending their entire wedding day in one building and out of the cold! For the blustery cold, northern-Indiana Saturday that their wedding landed on, it was the perfect choice. They arrived at the Spohn Ballroom in the morning, got ready on the lower floors, and said their vows in the same spot where they’d have their first dance later in the evening!

Mandi and Paulo are both graphic designers, and it showed–we could see the same graphic elements in the boutonnieres, bouquets, place cards, and even the font they used. Their wedding planner, Ashley Troyer, perfectly captured their sense of style in the way she decorated the ballroom and kept the day moving smoothly!

We enjoyed the big windows in the space where Mandi got ready. Needless to say, the light was amazing!

Some of the beautiful details…

Due to the schedule of the day, Mandi and Paulo opted to see each other before the ceremonys. It was a great choice because we certainly had more time before the ceremony, before guests arrived, than between the ceremony and reception!

Paulo, being the musician that he is, wrote and performed a song for Mandi.

Mandi’s unique and beautiful ring: a black sapphire.

The very best to you both, Mandi and Paulo, in the years ahead–it was an honor to photograph the start of it!

Mandi and Paulo were married last Saturday at the Spohn Ballroom in Goshen, Indiana. We wanted to share a few for them while they’re enjoying Grand Cayman; or, if they happen to be internet-less (which isn’t a bad thing for a honeymoon!), for them to enjoy along with this wintry wonderland they’ll return to. Soak up some sun for us, you two!

Cassie explained to us during their engagement session that Pat proposed inside the first house they’d share together, on the day they bought it. Months later, on their wedding day, Pat was at his thoughtful and romantic best again. Along with (but certainly more important than!) the dress and veil, the flowers, and the beautiful reception, he made Cassie’s and his wedding day as near as possible to the one of her dreams. From his teary smile as he watched her walk down the aisle to the way he danced with her through the reception, it made Leandra and I sure that both of them left the wedding feeling that they danced as long as they wanted, smiled as much and as wide as they had it in themselves to do so, and kissed exactly as many times as they wanted. It was a full day–full of every thing a wedding day should be.

We had so much fun with Cassie’s long veil in spite of the wind–it added another beautiful dimension to the photographs.

I kneeled in the center aisle for the first five minutes of the ceremony and watched Pat’s expressions shift between teary-and-in-love, awestruck-and-in-love, and excited-and-in-love.

Cassie wore a beautiful fur jacket for pictures outdoors. Even if you don’t take pictures outdoors for your winter wedding, a jacket, bolero, or shawl–something to cover your shoulders–is always so welcome for the space between the limo and church or for any chills through the day. And it’s a perfect place to add color, personality, or “something old” to your wedding day attire.

They had their reception at the Northbank Center in downtown Flint, and Rob from Encore Events dialed up the ambiance with his beautiful lighting design.

After dinner, we stepped outside for some moody night-time pictures…

The groomsmen cheering Pat along:

Cassie’s brothers were dance-aholics, and good at it, too!

Thank you, Cassie and Pat, for giving us the honor of photographing your wedding day! We wouldn’t have wanted to end our fall weddings any other way.