“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.”
Connie and Matt’s story begins like the story we often hear of our parents and grandparents. They met and fell in love as high school sweethearts on the island. They started dating in January of 2011 after meeting at a New Years Eve Party. Like high school sweethearts often do, they went away to college. At least they were together at Eastern Michigan University.
“I think one of my favorite parts of our love story is that we literally grew up together. We found out who we were as we were dating. I think we met at the perfect time in our lives and we got to enjoy many new experiences together.” –Connie
I met Connie a few years ago when she was a bridesmaid in her dear friend’s wedding and then later in her brother’s wedding. We were fast friends. But later, I got to know Connie and Matt as a couple at their engagement session. It’s when I kind of fell in love with the two of them. Their hearts showed through in all my photos. There’s a genuine goodness to them that can only be captured when it’s truly present – you know? It’s not something that can be faked.
On their wedding day, I finally understood where it came from. They’re family people, the type of couple who take pride in their hometown and in the families from where they came. So much of their heritage was present on their wedding day.
Connie ant Matt were married at the same church that Connie’s parents and grandparents were married in. She wore a piece of her mother’s dress as a handkerchief – her mom is her biggest cheerleader – and her bouquet was adorned with photo lockets of her loved ones. Judging by the way they father and bride reacted during his first look, I have a feeling she’s also daddy’s little girl.
After the girls were ready and dad had his first look, we took the girls to Westcroft Gardens in Grosse Ile for more photos before heading to River Rouge for the ceremony. The ceremony was lovely but the reception was just magical, it was a wedding that truly about Matt and Connie and those that love them.
No wedding would be complete without amazing guests and an incredible team of vendors:
Hair and Makeup: Crystal at Teezers Hair Salon Wyandotte
Floral and Decor: Samara from Hawthorn and Vine on Grosse Ile
DJ: Joe from Disc Jockey Productions
Church: St. André Bessette Catholic Church, 4250 W Jefferson Ave, Ecorse, MI 48229
Venue: Arnaldo’s in Riverview
Cake: Connie’s Aunt Mary
