Just a quick note – Andy and I will be leaving Friday (June 19th) to head to Michigan’s beautiful west coast to photograph Cara & Nick’s wedding.   We will be checking email when we can, however, it may take us a little longer than normal to get back to you!

Paul & Nikole.  I don’t even know where to begin.   I could tell you how gorgeous the weather was on the day of their wedding.  I could describe the comical and endearing way Paul’s groomsmen spent the morning helping with the decorations.  Or I could remind you about how insanely accomplished & interesting these two are, between Nikole’s archeaology studies, and Paul, you know, training to be a fighter pilot. On paper, they sound too good to be true:  good looking, young, well educated, fascinating careers.  They’d be so easy to hate (or at least be very jealous of!) if they weren’t also one of the warmest and most genuine couples you’ll ever meet, with a love so strong and obvious that it fills the room, and you can’t help but like them even more because of it.

I think I speak for Andy as well when I say we have so much respect and admiration for these two, and photographing their wedding was a privilege.

Their wedding took place at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, MI.  Paul & Nikole wrote each other letters to read while they were getting ready:

Nikole, you are FREAKING STUNNING! 

The sand ceremony brought out a lot of smiles.  The guys were in charge of getting the sand ready and instead of having glasses, they had bowls. How do you neatly pour sand out of a bowl?  Poor, clueless boys.   So the girls borrowed glasses from the hotel room!   But there was too much sand, so the heart-shaped vessel they were pouring it into overflowed.  Knowing these two though, I couldn’t help but feel that it was somehow appropriate.

One last blessing:

Married!

Seriously, I love this set of images so, SO much!  You just know that if Nikole & Paul ever have a daughter, this will be the image she judges her own wedding by.  Just iconic, and beautiful. 

We love when we get to hang out during the signing of the marriage certificate.  It’s always a fun, lighthearted moment.

We only had about 15-20 minutes for portraits before the reception began, but we made it work!      …..And yes, they are ridiculously good looking.

Andy’s view:

My view:

Our new  favorite 1st Dance Shot:

The wedding day also coincided with a hot air balloon festival happening just outside the Bavarian Inn.  The balloons started launching just a few moments after the reception began and I ran outside for a couple quick pictures.

I am 2 for 2 on getting the garter in mid-air so far this year. 

Finally, I’ll close out the post with some photos of Paul and his military buddies bravely doing a shot of Jeremiah Weed, which is a 100 proof  liqueur  with legendary status to Airforce fighter pilots.  (You can read more about it here.)

Paul & Nikole, thank you for letting us spend this day with you!  It was a delight and an honor to be part of it.   We truly hope you stay in touch and wish you well as you start your next adventure in Oklahoma! 

The clock starts NOW on commenting!  Help Paul & Nikole get a free print!  30 comments = 8 x 12, 50 comments = 11×14! (More details here.)

Related posts:

1. Engagement Session: Paul + Nikole, Ann Arbor, MI
2. More Album Goodness | Michigan Wedding Photographers
3. Valerie & Nick’s Wedding – Detroit Wedding Photographers