david + kathryn | wedding | the peninsula room | traverse city, mi

there truly is something magical about traverse city in the summer and fall.  i remember the first time my wife and i stumbled upon old mission peninsula. having grown up on the west coast, northern michigan was a mysterious land of beauty i had only heard about...but upon witnessing the stunning landscape of the peninsula, with is rolling hills, lush vineyards, and incredible views of lake michigan, i finally realized what people were always raving about!

well, fast forward a few years to just over a week ago, and i found myself amid those very rolling hills, documenting the wedding day of david and kathryn, and what a stunning day it was. these two were such a pleasure to spend the day with - enjoying every moment of their wedding day. you could certainly tell they were living with eyes wide open and full hearts! even david, who had told me pictures were not his thing, had joy written on his face all day...you could certainly tell these two loved each other tremendously!

from our beginnings at the grand traverse resort and spa all the way to their romantic reception at the elegant peninsula room on old mission peninsula..it was day full of celebration* katie and david's retriever paisley even made a cameo and smiled for the camera! and with the stunning details, gorgeous flowers, and organization from jenn of modern day floral events and design, it was an evening to remember!

d&k, thank you so very much for inviting me up to beautiful traverse city for such an incredible day. from your engagement session to the sparkler send off at your wedding, it has been an honor to get to know you! blessings in your marriage as you move into a new and exciting chapter!

all the best,

npe

cody + amanda | wedding | stormy lodge | entiat, wa

i couldn't stop smiling. seriously...editing this preview for amanda and cody's wedding two weeks ago in washington continued to bring a smile to my face. there is certainly a story to tell...but lets start at the beginning...

i remember meeting cody in middle school, when i was called to the school office. our principal told me that a new student had moved to leavenworth and asked if i would welcome him and show him around the building. that was the beginning of a friendship that would last through some of the most formative and formable years of our lives. there are very few people on this earth that i know who have the heart and courage that cody has.  i have seen his faith stand firm in the face of the very hardest of life's trials, and i have been witness to the man he has become, which has been truly a joy to see!

fast forward in the story to meeting amanda...i'm pretty sure God hand picked these two for each other. she has such an incredibly warm and nurturing spirit, and the type of kindness you can see in ones eyes.  these two just seem to go together perfectly! their wedding week was certainly not without drama, as wildfires throughout washington threatened to force a change of plans last minute.  but what a spectacular week it turned out to be - and to have the honor of documenting not only the wedding day, but the memories leading up to it was a joy*

c&a...it will certainly be a week to remember, haha. and at the end of it all..was really no end, but the beginning of a new adventure together. thank you for the gift you gave me in allowing me to document the festivities. i am so very grateful for our friendship and wish you two the very best.

blessings in your new marriage - much love my friends,

-npe

ryan + regina | wedding | grand rapids, mi

no amount of rain could keep these two down! a few weeks ago i had the privilege of documenting the beautiful, elegant, and all-together blast of a wedding with regina and ryan, with a truly epic ending atop the jw marriott in grand rapids!

a southern texas girl and michigan man make for a pretty good love story* and spending the day with these two was a blast.  family and friends surrounded them with such love, it was easy to see joy on every face you passed.

once again, thank you so very much r&r...i cannot thank you enough for your trust and the opportunity to capture the essence of your beautiful day!

congratulations again,

-npe 

nathan + jillian | wedding | midland, mi

a few weeks ago i had the privilege of joining jillian and nathan in midland for their wedding celebration.  it had been a while since i had shot a wedding in midland and upon arriving into town i quickly remembered that the last time i had been there was in the middle of winter.

needless to say, the sun was very welcomed, along with the absolutely lush greenery of Dow Gardens where we had the chance to do a lot of our wedding party portraits - absolutely stunning!!

congratulations again to you n&j - it looked like the honeymoon was one to remember! i wish you all the best my friends!

- npe

james + laura | wedding | bay harbor, mi

all things bright and beautiful!

another wedding for the books this past saturday...with enchanting views, inviting waters, awesome vendors, and of course, a bride and groom ready for their magazine cover!

let's talk about james and laura. these two were fabulous, with such a great blend of laid back easy going, with true class and sophistication...i mean, i guess i should have expected it..with james just becoming a doctor and laura well on her way too. although we hadn't met in person prior to their big day up in bay harbor, phone calls, emails, and of course instagram helped introduce us and prepare me for what would turn out to be a gorgeous summer day in northern michigan!

with a nautical theme throughout the day, the backdrop of the Bay Harbor Village Hotel marina was absolutley perfect! a stunning cake by simply sweet by jessica & flowers from the exquisite BLOOM floral and design were radiant and made my job of photographing details very exciting!! we even headed out on the lake for a quick wedding party excursion following the ceremony, how appropriate and awesome, right!?

i also have the privilege of spending the day working next to mindy and lane of vintage story books - a husband and wife creative duo who's film of the wedding i can't wait to see! all in all, it was pretty epic..from the classic groomsmen pose of 'scare the bear!' to a brief but very wet and loud thunderstorm during the reception, it was a day to remember*

oh yeah...and there was a delorean. great scott! 

thank you j&l, for your trust throughout the whole day, for your generosity and warmth, and for the privilege of capturing images that hopefully will bring you back to june 28th, 2014 for years to come!

blessings,

npe

john + jessie | wedding | leland, mi

last year i started traveling for weddings in the state of michigan and chicago without charging a travel fee.  there is something about offering couples a single all-inclusive price that i just love! it simplifies the process and takes me to new venues and locations, which is always a welcomed adventure!

well, john and jessie did just that...inviting me along to join them this past weekend in the harbor village of leland, just north of traverse city and the sleeping bear dunes. something about this town gets me every time i visit. and saturday was no different! jessie and john lived every moment of that day fully invested, taking in the love that surrounded them on a gorgeous june day.

here is just a snippet of what i had the honor to witness!

love you guys j&j - thank you for your trust and joy. it was so much fun to work with you!

peace and blessings,

-npe

michael + marci | wedding | the homestead | glen arbor, mi

sometimes there is a little distance between my clients and i, and as much as meeting in person is something that i love to do as often as i can...sometimes a skpye chat with my couples is the next best thing.

such was the start of my relationship with mike and marci, getting to know each other a bit via the wonder of technology. and when the day came, the physical distance we had shared before their wedding seemed to fade away instantly. i felt like an old friend, reunited for the privilege of witnessing a new chapter in their lives.

marci looked absolutely stunning in her dress, and mike wore his suit like a pro, channeling his inner model to make one gorgeous couple, inside and out. every detail in the day sung...stretching views of the lake...vibrant shades of green and blue...rolling hills of northern michigan splendor...a perfect day!

thank you again m+m...so very happy for you two. love each other well, as i know you will...always putting the other first, in everything. blessings!

- npe

andy + emily | wedding | grand rapids, mi

i remember meeting andy for the first time...drum sticks in hand, ready to blaze the rhythm section for sunday morning at church. being that we are both gingers, there was an immediate brotherhood understood and established - 'hey, you have red hair...so do you! sweet!'

over the past few years, jana and i have had the privilege of getting to know both andy and his beautiful bride emily...seeing them grow in love and affection for one another. the two are so incredible gentle and compassionate, and it was incredible to watch as andy grew in wisdom and courage...leading emily in a relationship that found its way to a spectacular late spring day this past saturday, hand in hand...vowing their lives to one another.

from start to finish, it was a day of joy and celebration, with almost too many stories to tell packed into a saturday. i had the incredible privilege to photographing two friends promising their lives together, while also spending the day with a wedding party full of dear friends as well...not to mention several other professional photographers in the mix! nothing like a potent mix of creative awesomeness!

while shooting full wedding party shots on the outside wall of what appeared to be an abandoned building, a man walked up and asked us if we wanted to go inside to take pictures. as he had never let anyone else in, he wasn't sure if the building had anything to offer, but mentioned that he thought there was some cool light...

wow.

talk about a crazy stroke of providence and perfect timing...and the visual treasures that building had to offer weren't even close to tapped in our short time inside.

needless to say, it was an adventure of a day, and a wedding i will look back on with fondness for years to come.

congratulations a&e! jana and i love you*

- npe

michael + kathleen | wedding | greenville, mi

shooting a wedding is so much more than taking pictures.

i may have said that a time or two before, but it certainly deserves some reflection....i usually begin as a relative stranger, invited into the most intimate of days, the most personal of moments between two people...and asked to capture those moments, one by one.

it really is an experience. from start to finish. it certainly includes the art, and perhaps that often lays front and center..however, there is so much more..and on saturday i was once again reminded of the privilege i am given when i share these days with a bride and groom.

michael and kathleen, you two are wonderful. you went out of your way, on YOUR wedding day..to extend to me kindness, encouragement, and a true appreciation for the work i was doing. but to be honest, it sure didn't feel like work! thank you for sharing these moments with me.

blessings,

npe