THIS wedding defines why my passion lies in this specialty of photography.  It was the perfect cocktail of all that is right with weddings.  The bride and groom had spent the previous two weeks at a horse show in southern Michigan with friends who came from all over the country to compete.  They opened up their home and driveway to many, many RVs and invited their friends to stay an extra two days for their wedding celebration… on a Tuesday.  [In case you missed the memo, Tuesdays are the next big wedding trend.  They haven't published it in a magazine, but rest assured, you'll see it.  Remember you read it here first.]  A small affair consisting of around 80 guests.  The details consisted of wild flower bouquets, cowboy boots, and belt buckles. [Ryan was terribly disappointed we didn't know the dress code beforehand, otherwise he would have broken out his Texas-sized buckle.  No, seriously.]  Horses galloped in the fields surrounding the ceremony and reception site and the cows, well, they mooed.  Honest hearts that were once broken and had been gloriously healed and were more vibrant as a result; laughter, tears, and overwhelming kindness surrounded this space.  I was a witness to the beauty of the soul.  Thank you, Tom and Dominique, for welcoming me and Ryan and for your kind words.  They mean so much.  Many blessings to you and your families.

Special thanks to Ryan Prins as my rockstar second photographer, Cheri Hall’s masterful hand with the event design and coordination (contact info available on request), and sweet Elizabeth Grzegorczyk with Posh Petals Floral.

Dominique’s Parents in the foreground

One of my favorite rings of all time… therefore, you get 3 photos of it.

Meanwhile, outside…

The gentlemen waited for the guests to begin arriving…

Tom, our handsome groom, was right there to greet each one and make them feel at home (he certainly did for me).

Pre-Ceremony adult beverages.  Another benefit of having a wedding on a Tuesday.  *Hint, hint.*

Dominique makes her grand entrance.

The horses in all the pastures were going nuts.  Hooves were beating in stereo.

Dominique’s son walked her down the aisle.

Yup, love Tom.

To be continued…