Kristin and Brian had such a fun and relaxed intimate ceremony, or minimony, at Meridian Historical Village! Their original plans definitely changed but they still managed to have a perfect day! Kristin's daughters were her junior bridesmaids and they were adorable! The girls were there when Brian proposed and as Kristin recalls it "both girls started screaming and crying, they were dancing and singing 'you guys are gonna get married' while running around on the grass." So needless to say, they were pretty excited for the day, too!
Kristin and Brian's love story began on an online dating site, Coffee Meets Bagel. Which I think is the cutest dating site name ever! Their mission statement is "we create meaningful connections that spark hearts and inspire people to share themselves authentically and enthusiastically." And truly, that's what happened with Kristin and Brian! They meet for coffee, talked, laughed, and enjoyed every minute together! And the rest is pretty much history. When seeing them interact, you can tell they are fully themselves, loving each bit of one another!
When I saw Brian on the day of his wedding, he was pretty excited, to say the least! Beforehand Brian spent time with his best man, Chris, and his family. Chris and Brian have been best friends since childhood and he helped calm Brian's nerves before the ceremony. Talking with Brian before Kristin arrived, I asked how wedding planning was going during a pandemic. He said, "well, we've planned about six weddings by now because plans kept changing so we feel like pros!" What a great attitude! Brian and Kristin are still planning a larger wedding and reception for next year.
Shortly after, Kristin arrived with her beautiful daughters. The first two things I noticed about her were her big joyful smile and her adorable blue shoes! I asked Kristin about them and she mentioned that she got the shoes before the dress and even tailored the dress to show off the shoes! Her vintage-esque attire was absolutely beautiful and suited her perfectly!
Brian didn't see the girls before the ceremony and was thrilled to see Kristin's daughters, Clara and Addie, and obviously his bride! His face filled with joy when he saw them walking down the aisle. The ceremony was officiated by Kristin's Aunt. I always love it when family members or friends officiate as it brings a special element to the ceremony. Just like their wedding hashtag, they were finally a #partyof4ever!
They had their first dance directly following the ceremony under the pergola and it was precious! The girls laughed and giggled to the side while Brian and Kristin danced! Definitely a Kodak moment!
Following their ceremony, we headed back over to the chapel for their family formal photographs. As I photographed huge, dark clouds came overhead. But, luckily the rain completely passed through, which was ideal because it allowed us to walk around the property and document those sweet interactions. They both value candid moments over forced smiles and poses, so I captured them walking, dancing, laughing, and sweetly interacting with one another!
Afterward, Kristin's mom said that I was unobtrusive and blended into the background. Such a great compliment! She couldn't hear me take photographs, which is a benefit of my mirrorless cameras! I can silently capture those moments, which is especially important for intimate ceremonies. I love blending into the background to capture those raw moments as they happen.
They enjoyed dinner at Tavern 109, a creative pub in a cool renovated building, following their ceremony with their family and wedding party. Then headed up to Petosky for their little honeymoon getaway!
It truly was a beautiful intimate ceremony and I am thrilled that all the details came together for Kristin and Brian! I cannot wait to capture their wedding and reception next year and celebrate with them again!
All my love,
Wedding Dress: The Wedding Shoppe in Berkley, MI
