Dave and Katie are Married!

This blog is sooo far overdue, I seem to be running to catch up with my blog.  

Dave and Katie were married May 22, 2009 in Kalamazoo, MI at the Third Reformed Church. Many many years ago I went to a womens' bible study with my mom at this very same church (small world) so it was really cool coming back to shoot a wedding and reminisce.  Katie was such a beautiful bride, I could have posted a whole blog just on her bridal portraits.  Her dress and accessories had a very old world vintage feel, so incredibly unique and gorgeous.  Katie is such a sweet person, as is Dave, and being part of their was an honor.  Unfortunately, I didn't really have much of a chance to get to know Dave or Katie before the wedding.  Katie and I talked a few times to go over wedding day details but not enough to really get to know each other and their love story...you know I'm a sucker for a good love story :)

Katie, being the sweetheart that she is, sent me a wonderful email after the wedding sharing her love story about her and Dave.  Though I couldn't post all the details of their story ...they've known each other many years...here is a portion.

" Dave and I had first met at Hillside Middle School when we ran cross country together. Honestly, we have little recollection of each other from then because we still thought the opposite sex had cooties. If you fast forward a few years though to my junior (Dave's sophomore) year in high school (in which you may have walked the same halls), Dave and I started to become friends mostly through youth group at Third Reformed Church. Sometimes we'd walk to the cafeteria together and tell a few jokes, only for us to go our separate ways. I always sat with his older brother who so graciously always gave me his Three Musketeers bars. I later found out that that was Daves' favorite candy bar...he still thinks I owe him many candy bars. 

I think it'd take forever to give the details of all the years, basically, our friendship grew into love. We always laughed together and cared about each other so much that we were able to endure four years apart with me being a Spartan and him being a Wolverine. Although we are super spirited for our alma maters we have managed to maintain a peaceful rilvary. I would say that we saw each other about once or twice a month as our schedules permitted while in college. By the time I graduated in 2007 marriage had already been a regular discussion for some time. Yet, Dave still had some time in school and we both felt the importance in living out our college experience.  In April of 2007 I had applied to work at Google in Ann Arbor. I almost didn't want to tell Dave that I was applying and get his hopes up that I'd actually get the job in Ann Arbor. But, of course, I can't keep anything from him. The second I told him I remember he said he'd just pray that it'd happen. And it did. By summer 2008 I had figured Dave would pop the question as he only had a year of school left. 

This past August 23, as we were driving home to KZoo for my family pictures, I got antsy and asked him whether he thought it would happen soon. He seemed a little upset that I asked him and said that it'd likely be in the next few months that he'd propose. A little embarassed, I apologized for asking.  That evening I pulled up to Third Reformed Church for the family pictures with my mom and her husband.  All of the sudden Dave came running from behind a bus in the church parking lot asking if he could be in the pictures. A little confused I followed him only to be escorted on a 60 passenger charter bus. I looked toward the back of the empty bus to see a couple of seats featuring items from our past. Two of the seats had the same shirts Dave and I wore on our trip down to Mexico. He also included a few other things like the candy we ate on the way down. Dave did his best to get down on one knee in the narrow aisle and asked that I could be his wife. I obviously said yes!"

Katie did all the detailing on the veil herself, impressive.

Mom and sister helping Katie into the dress, they look very intense don't they :)




LOVE the colors for the girls, so very unique.  

Yep, she's gorgeous...and sassy.  I love my sassy brides!

I love it when grooms get emotional as their bride walks down the aisle.  We know they're tough, but at this moment its definitely okay to cry.  

A union of a Spartan and a Wolverine...hey proof that it can happen!






LOVE the spot lights

So... I have to share another email from Katie, I'm telling you she is such a sweetheart.  

We photographers spend a lot of time and hard work going through your wedding day images and creating a storybook of your day.  We want you to revisit that special day everytime you look through your pictures, but unfortunatley I don't get to be there when you watch your slideshow for the the first time, I miss all the laughter and tears.  It is so awesome and encouraging when I get emails like the one from Katie....  

Dave and I LOVE the slideshow! I actually sent out the slideshow to family and some friends, I often feel that people don't really share positive feedback and comments enough, here are their comments.

**WOw Katie!  I don't think you could ask for more - the pics are breathtaking!
**Your dad and I looked at the slideshow last night.  We just wanted to cry, not because we were sad, but we were so filled with emotion looking at the pics.  Katie, you were an incredibly beautiful bride.  Your pics are amazing.  The photographer is the best I've seen.  She truly captured the essence of you and Dave. It felt like I was watching a story unfold.
**First off i want to tell you that your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!!
**Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures.  It was a very good cry as I watched the pictures.  We all enjoyed them.

Thank you Dave and Katie for allowing me be a part of your day!  It is an honor and a blessing to share one of the most important days of your life with you, your friends, and family.  May God bless your marriage and bring you many joyful years together!