Maria + Jonathan

Michigan has given me a new found love for summer weddings. You really can’t beat a midwest summer wedding, I swear! Coming from Tucson, most people don’t have summer weddings because who wants to get married in over 100 degree heat? So it is such a cool fun change for me! Jonathan & Maria tied the know on July 25th of 2020. COVID definitely affected their day from shrinking their guest size, masks required in the church, to canceling their reception. Despite it all they made the absolute best of it! They rented a party limo that took us all around Downtown GR to iconic spots great for photos like the Blue Bridge & Aquinas College, which of course also involved lots of McDonald’s & champagne. I started my day by capturing Jonathan get ready at a hotel in Downtown GR with his family & groomsmen. Maria gifted him an incredible watch. Also peek his cuff links, I was obsessed. From there I hopped on over to Maria’s family’s home & capture her & her girls get ready for the day. From temporary butt tattoos (Photos not included) to being surrounded by your girls popping champagne, no better way to start the day. This was my second wedding with a broken knee, thank goodness I had a couple weeks in between to make life a tad easier. Still though not easy & totally painful, thank goodness for my friend Kate for tagging along with me yet again on another wedding to be my other half; since I still only considered myself 50% of a person at that time, haha. From there we went to their church to get them married. It was a beautiful catholic ceremony in Downtown Grand Rapids. Just a little toasty though no A/C, a little humid in the summer, but so beautiful nonetheless. After that, even though the reception was cancelled, we partied in the limo taking their Bridal Party & Mr + Mrs photos all over Grand Rapids. Which was something they were so excited for, they just wanted photos of them having fun with their people & photos that captured their emotions authentically. I just love how they made the best out of it all, no matter the obstacle they did the dang thing. I promise an epic day is still possible despite COVID. Lets take a peek into their day, sorry it was so hard to narrow it down:

Florist: Heather Grit, Glamour and Grit

Dress: America's Bride

Makeup: Kimberly Bauer

Capturing their day was nothing short of amazing. 10/10 would recommend doing a fun limo ride to go to different spots for photos if you have a large gap between ceremony & reception. Maria + Jonathan I hope you two never forget how nice it is to spend time with each other coming from being long distance. Never stop playing cards & being silly & goofy together. Jonathan never forget how she looked seeing in that dress when she walked towards you down the aisle. Always remember the awesome group of people you have surrounding you & how much fun you had celebrating your big day together. I am so happy to have welcomed you into the Ali K Photo Fam this past summer. I cannot wait to see the life you two build together. Until next time.

Much Love,

Ali K