When we first arrive, we are often jumping into the middle of everyone getting ready and love to capture all the activity.  Meet Rachel… I knew immediately that her beautiful, natural smile was going to make my day very easy!

Mike and Rachel exchanged letters…

… and little gifts.  One of Mike’s gifts cracked me up – but it did smell good.  Well, we certainly know what Rachel thinks of her groom! 

I always love photographing the rings and the rings in the flowers is a classic shot for one reason – it is simply beautiful.

Of course, when I have a bride that has shoes like these – I consider it a license to have a little fun…

The church in Byron Center had these beautiful stained glass windows in the old part of the building.  It would have been a crime not to include them I think.

Time for Rachel & Mike to see each other for the first time!  We had them meet in the sanctuary… love the anticipation in this one!

how cute are they?!

Next we headed off to a beautiful home (belonging to a friend of the bride & groom) for some outdoor photographs.  While I like the energy of the wedding day, having fun with the entire wedding party and all of the events, my favorite time is always when I have the bride and groom to myself.  I think I am inspired by people much more than locations or events and when I get the chance to just connect with them (or capture their connection) – whether it is a child, family or a bride & groom – it doesn’t really get any better than that!

Comment below if you have an opinion on who Rachel looks like here.  I saw this and I though Rachel could pull off being her twin!

While there, we found out they had a vintage car.  Did we want them to bring it out?  YES PLEASE!  (i.e. photographer jumping up and down inside – haha)

and I couldn’t resist a quickie bouquet shot!

The wedding party joined us and we had to have a little contest to see who could get the most “air”.  You may debate the winner in the comments!

Jump #1

Jump #2

the ladies…

and the men… (love the suspenders!)

We went back to the church for family photographs and time for everyone to freshen up before the ceremony.  This table of photographs was set up in the foyer… all the wedding photographs from Mike & Rachel’s  parents and grandparents.  It was so special to see.  I wonder if one of the photographs from today will be on a similar table 25-35 years from now?

Time to get hitched! 

beautiful church!

I told Rachel before the ceremony that if she wanted a good “first kiss” photograph… they’d better kiss like they mean it.  Not that I really needed to tell these two though!

LOVE it when the bride and groom make it down the isle, through the doors and just can’t wait to hug each other in celebration. 

It was almost time for the wedding party to hop on the bus to the reception – but you know that this child photographer will take any moment she can to photograph a little cutie – especially when that cutie is the ring bearer.

bubble practice!

to the bus!

This is Rachel’s little sister – what a stunning smile!

We took the bus through downtown Grand Rapids on the way to the reception and made two super-quick stops for a few photos…

I think I’m lucky to have the rest of the wedding photos as proof that I just didn’t hire these two for a model shoot…

off to a rustic little alley…  this was the very first image I pulled to edit – LOVE it.

Um – yeh – mmhmmm.  What else can I say?

Had to play with the shoes again… I knew I wanted a shot like this in the alley and almost forgot.  Good thing I asked Rachel to remind me earlier!

Coming up next… the party!

OK, if you didn’t audibly say “awwww” after the one above – I think there just may be something wrong with you!

This one is actually from the beginning of the session where she was awake for a few.

Little S gets LOTS of love at home… her two big sisters were so sweet with her!

So, I decided that I was going to not work at all during Christmas break – just hang out with the family and play Norman Rockwell.  It was either that or consider crawling into bed and hibernating like a bear, with only good books and a bottle of wine to carry me through.  If bears don’t hibernate like that, they totally should!  As great as either option fantasy sounded, my body decided to get sick – yucky, nasty, want-to-hook-up-the-Dyson-to-my-sinus’ sick.  One thing is for sure – that WILL slow you down!  And as no fun as that was (and still is – enough already!), slowing down was much needed.  Being a wife, a mother of four (+ two goldendoodle puppies now!!!), a should-get-fired housekeeper (haha) plus running a busy photography business and being a partner in a new design business… well it all got to be a wee bit much.  Since each and every part of my life is something I LOVE and enjoy, and I really wanted to also avoid the place with the padded walls – I knew I had to make some changes in order to be able to give my family and clients the best (that they deserve!).

I also want to have time to blog!  (last post was mid-September – w.o.w.)

About those changes… 

The first and the biggest is that I will be taking an extended hiatus from photographing weddings.  I absolutely love weddings, but the work/time commitment is extremely extensive for this perfectionist.    There are a couple of weddings that I have scheduled for this year already (including my baby sister who just got engaged over Christmas and will be getting married in July!  Congrats Malanee and Sam!), however I will not be doing any additional weddings this year or in 2011.  Since I don’t like to say never, we’ll just leave it at that for now.  I will still be offering Engagement Sessions and Contemporary ‘Beautiful’ Sessions.

Secondly, I will be accepting a very limited number of sessions for January through April in order to have a much needed breather.  With exception to the sessions already scheduled, I will only be scheduling newborn sessions or milestone sessions (such as 6mo or a birthday) during these months (January-April).

***If you called or emailed me over the holiday break, I am working each day to find the bottom of my inbox and return all calls.  I will be getting back with the remaining inquiries by tomorrow.  Thank you for your patience.***

I will try my best to quelch those above mentioned perfectionistic tendencies and just post more… there are so many sessions I would love to share with you as well as a little more of… well… just life – simply my life.  ~ Mary Beth

Personality to spare!

How sweet is she!!!

I’m such a sucker for itty bitty toes…

…and the whole family… I hope they have a short term memory, because to get 5 kids and 6 adults to all look at me, acting like a loon is pretty much the only way that is going to happen.  haha

To start off with, I thought I would give you a beautiful photo to look at before I started rambling.   (While the original image of this shot that I previously posted here was gorgeous, I had to come back and replace it with this one that has been digitally enhanced for a painted canvas feel.)  As you can see… their first dance was breathtaking. 

This is going to be a long post… so if you choose to sit in an uncomfy chair, you have been given fair warning. 

Where do I start?  I had the pleasure of having two of my closest friends with me on this trip – Julie (my assistant and secondary photographer) and Gretchen (our it-wouldn’t-be-the-same-without-her friend).  The morning of the wedding got off to a slow start in our hotel room… the day before had started at 3am in order to catch our 6am flight and hadn’t ended until around 2am following the Mendhi.  Upon arriving in New York City, I imposed a “rule” – no eating anywhere you could at home.  No Chili’s, no Applebees, etc…  I obviously didn’t think far enough ahead and guess that Julie (who doesn’t drink a drop of coffee!!!) would impose my own rule on me when it came to Starbucks.  AND THERE WAS ONE IN THE HOTEL LOBBY!  Well, let’s just say that after 5 minutes with my perky morning self, she looked at me and simply said “give me money and your order… NOW”.  What, you think feeding a sleep deprived, groggy & slightly cranky photographer 4 shots of esspresso will help matters?  Lucky for them, it does… oh does it ever.

Now awake and looking forward to the afternoon wedding, we headed to the car to join Alexandra for the trip a bit north of Manhattan.  The wedding was at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club.  You know, the legend of the headless horseman – THAT Sleepy Hollow.  Well, I had looked at the photos on the country club’s website prior to the trip, and while stunning, it was nothing like driving through those huge iron gates and seeing the gorgeous home on the hill… one of the Vanderbilt’s summer homes once upon a time, I’m told.  We drove up and saw the beautiful hot pink and orange mundup (ceremony tent), the chairs on the lawn, the reception tent covered in flowing pink and orange fabric.  COLOR!   pinch me… COLOR, COLOR, COLOR!  I was a little excited – just a little.

I learned that getting ready for an Indian ceremony requires more than hair, makeup and stepping into a gown.  There is a hair and makeup, a three-part gown, necklace, gorgeous (and heavy!) earrings, then many, many bangles.  None of that though would be nearly as beautiful without a smile like Alexandra’s.

The texting queen…

This is Shalena (I think… my apologies if I butchered the spelling or just got it plain wrong!) who is about the most adorable mommy-to-be ever.  I wish London wasn’t so far away or I would be talking her into letting me photograph her baby in a month or two.  You’ll see her later in her hot-momma dress. 

I’d like you all to meet the Tim half of Tim & Melissa – whose wedding I photographed four years ago.  (Tim is on the right.)  The second I saw this look, I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be ending well.  I think I remember mentioning these to him and he suggested I use the delete button.  Sorry, I think Alexandra and Sanjay would have my head if I deleted these priceless photos.  Don’t hate me. 

The ceremony was absolutely beautiful.  Since it was so detailed, I’m not going to describe all the traditions (not that I could anyways!) and parts.  Besides, it was a hour and a half PLUS, so I’m sure you don’t want me to recount every detail.  This is already the longest post I’ve ever done.    One thing I do have to mention was that everything in the Mundup was quite formal and ordered, while everything outside of the tent was very casual.  Guests would get up, go get something to eat or drink, chat in groups in the back, come back and sit down.  I didn’t have to worry about being disruptive with my camera as there were at least 3-5 people within a few feet of the tent taking photos or recording the ceremony.

Speaking of cameras… check out this future photographer! 

The play list and the sound system were the best EVER.  If you didn’t want to dance with the beat actually pumping your blood, I think you need to check your pulse. 

We met Alexandra in her suite at the hotel where she was getting ready and then went with her to get a cab.  It was the funniest thing… here we were in the heart of Manhatten, with beautiful Alexandra dressed in head-to-toe colorful Indian attire… and there was not a cab to be found that was available!  The shots of her waiting for a cab, and texting Sanjay while standing at the curb were worth the wait!  Isn’t she stunning?!

The Mendhi was held at 632 on Hudson… a perfect setting for such a party!  The interior is exquisitely decorated with a talented artistic eye given to every little area.  Even the bathrooms were works of art in themselves.  I learned that it was once the home for the cast of The Real World, New York and is now an exclusive location for those wanting a completely unique venue.

We had a few moments to photograph Alexandra before the guests arrived…

Then she settled in to another room where she patiently sat for 2+ hours while the henna artist painted the most beautiful and intricate designs.  There was another henna artist in one of the main rooms that painted on the guests.  Sanjay and Alexandra planned every little detail to cater to their guests and you could tell that every single person was thoroughly enjoying the party!

You’ll notice soon that very few images from this wedding are in black and white.  When going through these, it just seemed almost a crime to take away the incredible array of color that was everywhere I turned.  I tell you, I was one happy photographer!!!

There was one guest that was definitely extra-special, and that was Sanjay’s Grandma.  She is the sweetest lady with such a great sense of humor.  It was obvious that Sanjay and her share an extremely close bond.

Alexandra’s dad (LOVE him!) and his wife’s two beautiful daughters.

A friend of Alexandra’s from college.  I can’t remember her name, but I do remember how Alexandra’s face just lit up when she arrived.    Don’t you just love being silly with old friends?!

Even though the brownstone was 5 stories, including a roof-top garden, rooms were often full to the brim with guests – which led to looking for unique angles to shoot from (or in this case into a mirror).

And Sanjay – this next one is just for you.  It was a special photo request I couldn’t turn down.  If it makes you laugh out loud while you are in some quaint litte cafe in Italy… I will have done my job! 

Much of the action was going on at a long dining table in one of the main rooms on the 4th floor.  You’d hear laughter, “Salut!”, more laughter, a toast, “Salut!”… over and over again.   Once Alexandra was done with her painting, she was able to join Sanjay and the others in all the fun.

Towards the end of the evening, the dancing started.  Within minutes, we knew we were just seeing an intro. to what the dancing would be like at the wedding!  Beautiful Indian dresses, mixed with latin dancing… It really doesn’t get better than that.

Alexandra with her sister, Melissa.

The middle area that was open up to the top floor provided perfect places to gather and watch the dancing!

This last photograph I’m going to share really says it all to me…  Two very independant individuals that are completely comfortable with their friends or on their own – but when they are together, they are together.  Watching them, it is obvious that there is no one else but each other in their world.

Alexandra & Sanjay – I hope you are having your fill of beaches, pasta and wine (ahhhhhh!) while on your honeymoon!  I will pull some photographs from the wedding next and post them in the next day or two.  ~ Mary Beth

not. so. amused.

He has been there and done that!  I have to admit though – even his serious little expression with those HUGE blue eyes, could charm anyone.  And, it has been documented that I’m a sucker for big blue eyes.  I know there are tons from this session, including ones with S’s whole family – aunts, uncles and grandparents included… but for now, just a quick little sneak peek. 

Mom broke out the bubbles & S loves to say “bubble” – who doesn’t?  Well after he “ate” part of the bubble solution and then said “bubble” – bubbles flew out of his mouth!  It was so hilarious.  I wish I had a photo to show you, but I was laughing too hard!  I did love how his eyes got as big as the moon when he blew…

… and one with mom & dad

I hope you’ll visit and become a fan!