This Grosse Pointe War Memorial wedding was filled with sunshine, excitement, and boundless love. After Anne and her bridesmaids got ready at Friends Salon, their day began and ended at The War Memorial. While Joe was getting ready at Anne's parents house nearby in Grosse Pointe surrounded by all the guys he loves, Anne was preparing for their big day! Every detail looked perfect, including her flowers from Moehring Woods.
Anne picked out the perfect dress from The Wedding Shoppe. I absolutely adored the lace and little details, incredibly beautiful! But I think my favorite part of Anne's entire apparel was that she was wearing Joe's mother's veil. She had the veil modified so that she could wear it for her wedding day, a part of Joe's mother that was a part of the entire day.
And the entire day was filled with beautiful sentimental moments. Their bridal party watched excitedly out the windows as Joe and Anne had their first look in the front gardens. They both expressed the greatest joy when they saw each other for the first time that day. Documenting first looks is one of my favorite things to do because I get to experience and capture their excitement. Afterwards, we headed back inside for a break from the heat and the library was just the right spot, with its golden details and beautiful light.
I'm so proud of Joe and Anne for snuggling in close despite the extreme heat! They made it look effortless as Lindsey, the second photographer, and I were sweating. As best described by the groom himself, "at one point it got up to 104 degrees and was always above 90, we had an injured bride, probably a good 10 time changes, and it stormed so badly at the end of the night that our venue lost power! But to us, it was the most wonderful day in the world and we didn’t have to worry about a thing... They prepped us for rain, lighting, heat, and handled all the time changes like it was planned... Nicole and Lindsey were calm in a sea of chaos, and kept us laughing and light-hearted." But honestly, Joe and Anne were the real calm in the storm! Despite all the challenges of the day, they just focused on one thing, each other! I know that they will be successful in the future just from watching the love they had for one another in those challenging moments.
But the loving moments didn't stop there, once we finished walking the grounds of The War Memorial and photographing, we headed to Grosse Pointe Academy for their gorgeous ceremony. It was one of the most lighthearted and personal formal ceremonies I've photographed. Truly beautiful to witness and document. Following the official part of the day, we headed back to The War Memorial to end the night with lots of laughter and dancing! Seriously, Joe's Dad had everyone cracking up during his speech. During the speeches, Joe enjoyed a piece of their wedding cake, which was an exact replica of Anne's Grandparent's cake - how adorable is that!? After speeches and delicious meal we took a little break in between raindrops for a few more photographs by the water as the sun set behind the stormy clouds.
As the rain drops began to fall, we headed back inside so the party could begin. During their first dance, their bridesmaid and groomsmen sang and played the most beautiful song! They truly did a spectacular job and their friend, a former DJ, made sure everyone was having a great time on the dance floor, including Joe's Grandma! Their night ended surrounded by friends and loved ones! And I headed home with a full heart, knowing that I got to be a part of it all. But don't take my word for it, see it for yourself!
Artfully,
Nicole Lashar
