PHOTOS OF THE DAY SERIES ~

KEVIN + MICHAEL; Ceremony – the Conservatory at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan with reception in the Grand Ballroom at the back of the hotel.

Kevin makes an awesome face just as his partner slides his wedding ring on at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan.

Okay, so this first photo does need an explanation. This was NOT Kevin’s reaction to his longtime partner Michael putting a ring on it as Beyonce would sing. I’m not exactly sure what their friend and officiant said at the time, but I think Kevin’s responding to something SHE said, not what Michael is doing. But a picture’s worth a thousand words, right?! Michael was the first person to ever point out that while they were opting to get their wedding photos done ahead of the ceremony (we would be losing precious daylight early and frankly, Michigan winter weddings can be brutal after dark!), shouldn’t they have their rings on for their wedding photos?! Duh! I can’t believe nobody ever pointed that out or thought of it. I’ll have to add that into my consciousness after a couple does their first look.

Michael and Kevin patiently waited for over 13 years to get married and began planning their wedding shortly after same sex marriage became legal. While they wanted to have a destination wedding, they also realized they had a LOT of friends and family who had been so supportive for so long that they really wanted to celebrate with their extended community. Isn’t that why everyone opts for a big wedding? They just phrased it better than I could!

This other favorite photo of the day (and there were many…) took place as soon as we stepped out the back door of the Royal Park Hotel for photos. They spotted a relative in one of the windows waving to them. I also got to work with the fabulous Dan Nichols (from Michigan Wedding DJ) as DJ. He’s always amazing and keep things smoothly rolling along.

Congratulations, Love Birds! You deserve all the happiness in the world!

Same sex couple in Rochester, Michigan wave up to one other their family members during our shoot at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan.