I met Samantha and David for the first time at the Longacre House in Farmington Hills. I knew I had to be the one to capture their story, and I was thrilled that in less than a years time it was where bride and groom would become husband and wife. Within minutes of meeting Samantha and David, we were planning their engagement session. They had the kind of faces that let their emotions show freely and easily. In so many of their engagement photos, one or both of them is genuinely laughing. It’s easy to see why theirs was one of my favorite engagement sessions ever.
On a brisk fall morning in November, Samantha and Dave hosted a brunch at their Longacre House Wedding. As a wedding photographer, I attend my fair share of weddings throughout the year. At times, upwards of 30 of them and so I’ve seen many of the ways brides and grooms decide to style and celebrate their wedding day. In my years as a photographer, I can honestly say I’ve seen very few that were comparable to Samantha and Dave. I mean, it’s not every day you get to photograph a brunch wedding! It’s even more unusual to attend a November wedding. But what will always stand out to me was the intimacy and love shown throughout the day.
The bride and groom are the type of couple that just really dig each other. The type who make you feel happy in their presence because they can’t stop laughing together. They also really love the people in their lives. Every little detail focused on making the folks in their lives feel loved….and the folks that loved them made sure to let them feel that love right back. Little details like a handmade cake topper and a custom framed canvas placed in the (window) frame from a family cottage brought out the things the mattered most to the bride and groom.
But one of the moments that most tugged at my heart strings was when Dave couldn’t help but tear up while he saw his future mother in law walk Samantha down the aisle toward him. After the I Do’s had been said, the cake had been cut and brunch had been served, family and friends headed out early in the afternoon. So on a beautiful November day, we were able to do creative portraits in the late afternoon light. It was nothing short of amazing. And once we were finished the newlyweds escaped the (almost) winter sun of Michigan and traded it in the for that of Hawaii for their long awaited honeymoon!
On a beautiful day at the Longacre House, two people said I do surrounded by their family, friends, and a team of hard working vendors.
Venue (Ceremony and Reception): The Longacre House
Hair and Makeup: Jenna Stosiak and Chelsea Leming
Floral Design: The Vines Flower Shop of Farmington Hills
Cake Design: Mrs. Maddox Cakes
