tyler + rachelle | wedding | crystal mountain, michigan

the distance from here to chicago is seeming shorter and shorter every day.  and these two have a great deal to do with that growing feeling that chicago becoming a welcoming backyard. rachelle and tyler have been together for some time...just ask any one of their seemingly endless number of friends and you will quickly learn that this wedding day was an exciting point on the horizon for so so many. and to think that they allowed me to share it with them is quite amazing...a stranger, from michigan, little old nathan.  but truly, these two exude a deep love for those in their lives and a sincere willingness to welcome newcomers into the fold. and welcomed i felt!

t&r - thank you for your friendship. you two were absolutely stunning on your wedding day. what a fabulous celebration! i couldn't help but dance*

- npe

ben + jennifer | wedding | grand rapids, michigan

the day was certainly savored! more than a year ago, i had the privilege to sit down with ben and jen over drafts at founders, and begin the excitement of planning for wedding. their humor is perfect, their adoration for each over very evident, and their warm spirits led me to understand that i was going to be part of something special! fast forward a year, and just this past saturday...these two said 'i do' and vowed their lives to one another.  thank you j&b for inviting me in. for trusting my vision. for your incredible joy. for encouraging me on the dance floor, haha. for making some pretty awesome memories for me to witness*

blessings to you two - much love!

- npe

andrew + nichole | engagement | holland, michigan

i graduated with my undergraduate degree from a small bible school in west michigan - grace bible college...a whole lot of memories there, thats for sure! the love story of my wife and i began there, and we share that same beginning with with andrew and nichole, two grace grads who met and fell in love on the humble grounds of a small school with great vision* certainly, it was a great way to connect with these two, have something so profound in common right off the bat.  we knew many of the same faces from school and so it was great to finally meet them in person and hear their story.

with their wedding not far away, we wanted to squeeze in an engagement session, and I am so very glad we did. beautiful morning light. the serene beauty of lake michigan in the morning. the subtle charm of holland's streets.

i can't wait for their wedding in traverse soon - how splendid a day it will be! blessings, my friends...

- npe

john + kelsey | engagement | ludington, michigan

what a privilege to be a part of john and kelsey's wedding story! these two are dear friends and our engagement session was certainly a blast because of it. it didn't take long for these two good lookin' folk to get their 'model' on and give me some amazing things to work with.  again, you two...i cannot thank you enough for the chance to capture these moments in your life together. 

and yes...it rained a lot. and it was wonderful.

peace and blessings my friends!

- npe

brandon + katie | wedding | blue dress barn | benton harbor, michigan

with both katie and brandon living out of the state, i didn't have the chance to meet them in person before their wedding this past sunday...and to be honest, it made me a bit nervous* i have always felt that the relational connection between a couple and their photographer is just as important as the artistry and images that the photographer can capture - and having a chance to confirm that connection before the wedding day is so very helpful.

but with that being said, i could not have hoped for a more wonderful couple to meet in such a beautiful moment, amid the detailed charm of the blue dress barn in benton harbor. both katie and brandon were immediately welcoming and made me feel as if i were part of their very family. and that was truly the theme of the day...an aura of gratitude among these two for their families that had surrounded them, supported and loved them..and ultimately were there to celebrate with them.

beauty was everywhere...in conversations, embraces, dresses, flowers, speeches. it seemed as though i just happened upon a taste of heaven's wedding feast...what an honor!

thank you b&k - your gracious words and character were a precious gift. blessings my friends!

-npe

trent + morgan | wedding | grand rapids, michigan

i cannot say enough about how wonderful this day was. trent and morgan are kind, compassionate, genuine, stunning, and a joy to be around. ask anyone at their wedding and i am confident they would say the same. even in their engagement session, i could tell that these two would be something special to photograph.  their relationship is so very full of endearment for one another and it shows in the subtlest and most beautiful of ways. their comfort in front of the lens made my day simple and riveting...just trying to ready for the next incredible moment i was going to witness.

with an incredible wedding party and the love and trust of their families, these two became one on saturday. and it was an honor to be there.

m & t - grace and peace to you two. may our God richly bless your marriage!

- npe

parker+lindsay engagement {love.on.the.lakeshore}

i first met lindsay when she was a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding last winter. it was a beautiful february day in michigan with a wedding party that was kind enough to brave the cold for some outdoor shots. well...i have to say, for me it is a really special compliment when a former bridesmaid or groomsman in a wedding i shot asks me to be a part of their very own wedding. i was thrilled when lindsay first contacted me and it was great to hear how her and parker's love story has played out. parker just graduated from the naval academy...yeah, talk about awesome! and even though he didn't bring along a uniform for our engagement session, i could tell that this was a guy who could command a room. my hope was that by the end of our session, his smiles might start to come naturally - parker, you'll have to tell me if i succeeded, haha!

thanks for a great morning on the lakeshore my friends - trust me, this coming year will fly by! can't wait for your wedding day*

- npe

chad+amy wedding {miss.michigan.&.the.southern.gent}

we had chad and amy's engagement session on last tuesday...and on saturday, they were married! thats quite a few photos being snapped in such a short period of time, but these two, well...they were awesome* amy reminded me time and time again how her and chad were probably the best people i've ever taken photos of, haha..i love it! and chad...well look for it, he slipped his trade-mark thumbs up into pictures at any chance he could get! we had a blast as michigan and louisiana cultures collided and a beautiful wedding and party commenced!

blessings in your new life together dr. and dr. - remind me to swing by and visit next time i'm in tennessee!

much love,

npe

chad+amy engagement {on.top.of.the.world}

meet amy and chad. they are best friends. they are doctors. they are goofy. they are in love. and they are getting married on saturday! i would have to say that most of the time, engagement sessions happen quite a ways out from the wedding date. but for chad and amy, who are both starting their residency soon, time was quite limited up until this week, the very week of their wedding. but wow, what a great opportunity to meet them and have us all get used to this whole 'strike your model pose' thing before saturday and all the joy that will unfold!

from the top of the JW, to madcap coffee...we featured grand rapids fully for their session, and i am excited for the weekend - bring on saturday!

-npe

neil+tara wedding {captain.sundae.&.his.bride}

it was only fitting that we stopped off at captain sundae in holland for some ice cream.  that being where neil and tara met and all!  two holland sweethearts with a love for sailing, sunshine, and the embrace of only each other.

we could not have asked for a more beautiful day on the lakeshore! it was truly a splendid way to kick off my june weddings, and with two incredible people.  neil and tara may not always love the spotlight, but on their wedding day, they surely shown bright and beautiful*

congratulations you two! enjoy the finer things of hawaii, and may God bless you and keep you in your marriage.

-npe