This is s special one. And yes, I know it seems I say that about each one as I so often do. But this one holds a really sacred place in my heart for so many reasons. Sara & Matt’s Midland wedding was the 4th wedding I’ve shot in this family. What an honor. I shot Joe & Erica’a nearly 10 years ago up in Petoskey, followed by Matt & Andie in Ann Arbor, and then Kristin & Brandon’s wedding a few years back in Detroit. Matt is Andie’s brother, and so when it came time for him to marry Sara … well, you know the rest of the story. All of these beautiful women are cousins and what an enormous compliment that they all trusted me with one of the biggest days of their lives. They were all married by their uncle, and each one chose the most beautiful churches as their ceremony. I mean, so beautiful!
Meg & I drove up to Midland the night before thanks to snopocalypse 47 and make sure we made it up to The H Hotel in Midland with plenty of time. We met up with the families briefly after their rehearsal and it felt much like a family reunion. It was such an awesome feeling. Parents, uncles, aunts, cousins. Everyone was there to welcome us.
But this one is special for more reasons that that. You see, Sara’s dad passed away after a long battle with illness just two days before her wedding. Two days. And as someone who has experienced loss in my own personal way, I knew it was going to be an incredibly bittersweet day for their families. Arrangements were being made alongside flowers being delivered. Their honeymoon needed to be rescheduled. It was a lot.
Enter Grace.
Grace … I remember that feeling so well in the first few days after my own loss and when my husband passed away. It’s this visible & tangible Grace that shows up when families need it most. It’s the kind of Grace that washes over you and carries you when your feet cannot and you’ve cried nearly an entire ocean of tears. But it’s also the kind of Grace that pulls back the curtain just enough so you can see that your loved one is finally at peace. It’s beautiful, actually. Really, really beautiful.
These families honored Sara’s father throughout the day and knew he was there. A single white rose represented him as Sara & Matt were married and family members celebrated their love for each other and this new couple. Many, many tears of happiness and memories and time cherished were shed all day and into the night.
Sara & Matt were surrounded by some of the most supportive friends in their wedding party and as guests. We had a beautiful day with more falling snow and plenty of laughter to go around. Their day was met with some of the prettiest light as we took portraits at The H Hotel as the Midland Country Club. A big, heartfelt thanks to everyone in their wedding party who were running on all cylinders to make sure these two had one of the most memorable and fun days of their lives.
I feel so humbled to have been even a small part of this family’s story. Truly, what an honor.
Here’s a peek at Sara & Matt’s Midland wedding!
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