Rachel and Tom’s wedding day was the kind of joyful, laughter-filled celebration that makes me love my job so much.
The day began with Rachel getting ready at her own salon, Good People Hair Collective, in downtown Traverse City where her salon gals and bridesmaids helped her get ready for her big day. Being in her own salon space made the morning getting-ready shots feel so relaxed and totally her. I was loving it!
Before heading to the church, we stole a quick moment for a first look with her Dad and brother outside the salon, and it was super sweet.
A Quick Look Back at Rachel and Tom’s Engagement Session
Months earlier, Rachel, Tom, and I met up at Sleeping Bear Point for their engagement session. The setting and their personalities really set the tone of the session with lots of soft light and laughter. It was the perfect warmup for their big day and was one of those sessions that shows how in love the two are.
Couples’ Portraits Post-Ceremony
Back to their wedding day – we headed to Empire Beach for portraits post-ceremony to capture the breezy, beachy Northern Michigan vibe with big smiles. Later, I grabbed some more portraits amid the cherry blossoms near Rove at a private residence that we were granted use of, plus some fun shots of the bridal party.
Before heading to the reception, we stopped at one of Tom’s clients’ homes to surprise Rachel with another spot for stunning portraits overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay. She had absolutely no idea, but loved every second of it.
Wedding Reception at Blue Bridge
The reception at Blue Bridge was an absolute blast. Alyssa from the team coordinated everything like a pro, and Chris, the owner, was so welcoming. Working with them made the night so much more seamless and memorable.
The night was full of fun moments and surprises including a dance choreographed by Rachel and her dad. His speech had the whole room laughing from the moment he started when pulling it out of a bag with a tiny puff of dust, insinuating he had the speech written for a really long time since Rachel and Tom have been together for awhile. It was such a sweet, lighthearted moment.
The end of the night was so dreamy in the woods with the sun rays of golden hour peaking through. Chris even drove us over on a golf cart which made it super convenient.
What a joy to capture every moment of Rachel and Tom’s incredible day! You two made it such a fun, love-filled celebration from start to finish. Wishing you all the happiness in the world as you start this next chapter together.
The Vendors
- Venue: Blue Bridge
- Catering: Grandview Catering
- Photography: Kristina Sobel Photography
- Videographer: Storm at Drifter Media
- DJ: Provided by Blue Bridge
- Florals: Stephanie McCrumb (Blue Bridge)
- Makeup: Janelle Marie
- Hair: Good People Hair Collective
- Dress: Jenna in White (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
- Rings: Korner Gem Jewelry
