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Beautiful Mackinac Island Wedding & Do It Yourself Makeup Tips

By Jamie May Photography: I had to take some time to blog about this beautiful Mackinac Island wedding! This is the first time that Marie and I had the opportunity to photography in Mackinac Island. I did not remember the island at all, I was there when I was young. I am going to share with you our experience with a Beautiful Mackinac Island Wedding & Do It Yourself Makeup Tips from the bride. A Weekend at Beautiful Mackinac Island for a Wedding Intro: A bit about the Bride and Groom We met on our first day of medical school at CMU College of Medicine. We became close friends but didn't fall in love until a few years later. Eventually we graduated medical school together and matched into our number one residency spot together at CMU. A few months later we decided to get a puppy together, and when I walked in to the breeder's house, Craig had flowers and balloons everywhere and there was a collar on our new puppy that said will you marry my dad? I had no idea he was proposing because I was so focused on the puppy that I didn't see the big sign that said "Will you marry me" in the background and didn't realize that was why he was down on one knee! It wasn't until his friends popped out and started taking pictures that I truly realized what happened. It was perfect. Day 1: Marie and Jamie's adventure We arrived in Mackinac City to catch the Ferry across. If you are a bride getting married, check into a ferry discount for your guest. Read the full article

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Beautiful Mackinac Island Wedding & Do It Yourself Makeup Tips

Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic

By Jamie May Photography: Planning a wedding in the midst of a pandemic is not easy. It has been stressful, annoying, unknown among other adjectives! I am a photographer in West Michigan, and I am going to share my personal experience with Michigan couples during the 2020 wedding season. We are a few months into what usually is 'full swing 'of Michigan wedding season. By now, I would have thought this would have been leveled out and normal but it isn't. We still are dealing with the Coronavirus, Covid-19. I wrote one blog early in the Pandemic, called Coronavirus and Your Wedding. I thought it would be helpful to spend a little time updating for future couples, how other Michigan couples are handling their wedding in the midst of the pandemic that have been on the calendar for months or years! 2020 was going to be a huge year of weddings. So I have been able to really see a large range of how couples are handling their wedding plans. April and May were a complete bust. All of the wedding rescheduled for a later time. One couple had a courthouse wedding. June - We managed to do six weddings out of nine. Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic So what happened in June & July: Wedding 1/June 5 - They downsized their wedding to their backyard. They had a ceremony and about 50 guest and had donuts Wedding 2 / June 6 - Rescheduled for August 2020 Wedding 3/ June 6 - Had a backyard wedding but did not continue with my services. Read the full article

Coronavirus and Your Wedding

By Jamie May Photography:

Let’s talk about the coronavirus and your wedding

I can’t even imagine what brides and families are facing. Their perfect day, that has had so much planning and time and thought, has been thrown a major curveball. What are brides doing? Do we reschedule? Change the guest list to accommodate? All the questions that must be spinning. My mind is spinning with yours, and Jamie May Photography and team are going to do our best to get through this together. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers and I bet everyone's situation is different. After some thought, this is some thought or advice on the coronavirus and your wedding. My advice is : 1. If you can make changes and keep your date, do it. 2. People will understand that you have to change the list to lower numbers. 3. Get outside if possible, rather than inside 4. Maybe simplify. Do a ceremony and plan a big party later 5. Get creative. 6. Sometimes the only option is to reschedule. 7. Be flexible since there is perhaps more limitations with rescheduling. People get married on every day of the week these days. It is more common to have a Thursday, Friday, Sunday wedding so you don’t need to worry about the traditional Saturday. 8. Different venues are offering simple ceremony packages at a two-three hour time slot. 9. Because we are a team, we have some strategies on what may come our way. 10. Still have fun with the pictures! So far I have had one that was scheduled for April, reschedule. The other axed the reception, lower the guest list, and their ceremony will be outdoors. I have not had any May or June weddings take any action as of now with the current state of events. I, along with you, am praying for a miracle in our country. Here are recent articles that may also give you some helpful advice: Bride Magazine After reading I noticed many other articles relating to this topic at the bottom. Comment or text me, love to hear you thoughts on the matter! Now for my most recent wedding.... —— These two! Lucked out in many ways!!! Literally, one week before all the state changes. Also, in March and got a beautiful, sun, shiny day!! We were at the High Five in Grand Rapids. It was the first time at that venue and it was a great venue. Especially being winter time! They had a ceremony site on one floor and reception on the other. Surrounding the venue is a quieter park of Grand Rapids, that had a lot of pretty architecture. Always in agreement with a first look, see my blog. We were able to go outside and enjoy the outdoors. I love when everything it as one location. I have also addressed this on my Pros to One Venue post. I also LOVE that they have a live band. I am so happy for Hilary and Zachary!! Wishing you both many happy years! Xoxo

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Coronavirus and Your Wedding

By Jamie May Photography:

Let’s talk about the cornavirus and your wedding

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The Insta, Prayerful, Fairy Tale Wedding

By Jamie May Photography The Insta, Prayerful, Fairy Tale Wedding When I sit down to write a blog, I never know what I am going to talk about so I title this blog to describe the day. We walked into a very friendly environment, with the groom's mom giving us a hug, she lives in Mackinaw and we got some warm Mackinaw Island hospitality! She was so sweet. In addition, Madison's mom is so sweet...! Prior to the wedding, I was given a pretty detailed list from the bride, who is blogger, Insta- lady! And the groom, who is a Insta-guy! It was a little intimidating! Instantly I was relieved of this pressure. Even though, I know the bride had spent hours and hours, organizing her day, she was relaxed and calm. How to have a successful day... To have a successful Instagram wedding, I noticed she had put someone in charge of all the content and organization of the day. Her maid of honor was running the show and making sure all details were in place to assure what needed to be done. In addition, this alleviated the bride whom had NO PRESSURE because she was in good hands with a like-minded friend, who knew her goals. Many friends and family surrounding them, were helping the process. There are more 'product' details then normal because this is a part of having an 'Insta-wedding.' The videographers were there and there was three of them, they were awesome. Something that sets them apart is they edit as they go, so at the end of the night the a mini-clip is displayed at the end of the night. The Venue Wedding location was a place in Charlevoix, Michigan at Shanahans Barn. Check out my blog post about the pros to one wedding venues, here Getting ready happened in to locations, girls and boys got ready separately. A blind-fold groom and groomsmen, came together for prayer. It was fun and exciting trying to keep the bride and groom from the reveal to soon! After we headed to the venue for game time. A first look with her dad, before he walked her down the aisle, was a must. Filled with love for Jesus, the ceremony was beautiful and though provoking. Christ-Centered Focusing on the other important piece is Jesus is important to them. For example, Christ-centered focus, there were many times were more than one were gathered praying around the couple. They also did a feet washing, as Jesus did for his disciples. Speeches were about this, the family was about Jesus and it was a repeated theme throughout the day. Guest activities included a Bible out for people to highlight verses that were dear to them. I appreciate that they are all so open about their faith and also share that in their everyday lives on social media and with real relationships. FairyTale Many times I heard Madison say this is going to be her FairyTale day, or something along that. Insta, Prayerful, Fairytale day, accomplished! Relaxed, kept a smile and joy in their hearts, the couple looked like they were in a fairytale. Tears of joy and hope and love, even the sun would hit the right spot at the right time. The barn weddings bring in some cool, sun rays to give it a mystical mood. Her dress was beautiful! Conclusion In my opinion, this couple is 'Professional Social Media folk'! They know what they are doing and make it look easy, and it isn't; a ton of works that goes into promoting small business and influencing people. I love that they constantly share their faith to the masses. This day was a mix of it all, but still keeping the day about them and their love and happiness. You can tell they are crazy for each other and a true fit. I am going to let the pictures do the rest of the talking. Honored to share in such a unique wedding day, thankful for the opportunity to capture all they had hoped for. For more weddings and tips, check out www.jamiemay.com/blog Vendor List Videographer: Ingalls Venue: Shanahans Barn, Michigan DJ: MInightout Food: Catering by Kellys Harpist: Sylvia Norris Chairs: Sweet Seats Colors: Navy, blush and white Bridal Party: 14 Theme: Rustic, Christ-Centered

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#barnweddings #beautifulweddings #blushbridesmaidsdresses #charlevoixphotographer #christcenteredwedding #fairytaleweddings #instagramweddings #michiganwedding #professionalweddingphotographer #shanahansbarnweddings #weddinginmichigan

Helpful Tips When Having Children in Your Bridal Party

By Jamie May Photography:

Helpful Tips When Having Children in Your Bridal Party

Sometimes we attend weddings that have children in the bridal party. It can be challenging because we all know sometimes these little people will not cooperate! What I can guarantee is that these kids will have ups and downs that day. They will be happy for a bit and then they hit a wall of tiredness. So I was just going to share some tips that I find are helpful when children are a MUST in the wedding party. Helpful Tips When Having Children in Your Bridal Party Make sure they get a lot of sleep the night before. Seems like a no-brainer, but can be challenging the night before the wedding. Designate a time where they can have some quiet time or nap time. Make sure someone is there to be in charge of them, especially if you are in the wedding party yourself. Give them special attention, a gift, for example. Maybe save it until you really need them to cooperate. Have a toy or something they love that someone can hold behind the photographer Dont' stress over it. Let's be real. They don't always look, they don't always smile, they sometimes won't even stand there. It is OK to NOT MAKE them do the picture. It is 100% not worth the fight and frustration. Figure out in advance what time they should go home from the reception and have someone take them home for the night. Bring stuff for them to do. Order them the kid-friendly meal. Have fun things for them to do at the reception. (Laney had these fun grab bags for the kids) The Couple A little bit about Kevin and Laney, they met through Match.com where Kevin stalked me until I finally went out with him. Kevin proposed to me on our way to Traverse City for the fall colors at the top of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Laney and Kevin were so great to work with. I love all of the detail that she put into the wedding and how about that sweet gift that Kevin gave her with all the places that were important. ( see below) They had their ceremony and reception at Bella Maria's Event Center in Muskegon. To see my post about having one venue, click here. She had the unique idea of the color bombs, which was cool! I did choke on my fair share of blue smoke. I had to get the shot! So fun! We went around the city of Muskegon and visited the beach. I definitely think it is fair to call me a BEACH WEDDING SPECIALIST! That was a hard time of day and the sun was bright. Good thing I photograph at the beach all the time!!! Congratulations Laney and Kevin, so happy for you both! Stay in touch!! Their color palette was Black, White, accent: Royal blue. Their flowers were White Gerber Daisy and Blue bomb orchid.

Jamie May

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#beachweddingspecialist #bellamariaseventcenter #childreninweddings #colorbombsatweddings #HelpfulTipsWhenHavingChildreninYourBridalParty #jamiemayphotography #michiganbeachphotographer #muskegonweddings #weddingphotographer

County Park Weddings

By Jamie May Photography: County Park Weddings I always feel like I am in on a little secret when it comes to County Park weddings. I have been to a small share of them over the years. Here are some tips and tricks to County Park Weddings There is a huge savings that happens going to a county park. I am talking under $500. I heard even $100 before. Your wedding will have to be small. I have never seen that big of a wedding at a county park facility. Please have a RAIN back up idea, umbrellas, too Bug spray. Just please have bug spray. Not all parks are bad nor every time during the year, but this was when the mosquito scare was happening and it was very close to this location. Still have a dance party: Set up a tent, make room where the tables are, hire a DJ or band! Have a bonfire - marshmallows can happen. Have outdoor games You may get your dress dirty on the bottom and that IS OKAY Do you only have the wedding and not reception? Either way works, depending on your wedding size. Read more about benefits to one venue Here are some of the County Parks I have visited for a wedding: Connor Park Bayou Weaver House Of Pine Bend Park North Beach Park Spring Grove Park Brewer Park Long Lake Outdoor Center Douglas Park Weddings click here to see a wedding Wabasis Lake Park example here About the Couple The couples wedding vision was this : Wow, that's a million dollar question. Ultimately, we want it to be a blast! I think some aspects of our wedding are kind of traditional, however it'll be in the woods making it very non-traditional and casual. We want the event to be beautiful, but ultimately to be more like a family reunion where our guests are comfortable and relaxed! Ian and Lindsey are so sweet! She actually was voted sweetest girl that everyone knows in high school and probably anywhere she goes. I loved their humor and how they spiced up their pictures with their silliness. It was a little overcast that day, but the rain only came a couple of times for a short 15 minutes or so, and the show went on outside as planned. Vendor Information There are more classic and traditional in their style. Cake - Cascade Confections Event Coordinator - Stellaluna Events

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Winter Weddings in Michigan

By Jamie May Photography: Winter Weddings in Michigan Winter weddings in Michigan can sometimes be a scary thought. Our weather is so unpredictable from year to year, but in the winter we can usually count on dark days, cold temperatures and precipitation of some sort. Every year we have a handful a weddings that brave the winter months, and they always work out just fine! Here are some benefits to a winter wedding: A decrease in cost for venues (I have heard?) Most venues have off season rates. If it is during the holidays, there are usually more decorations in a church or a venue, for example stringed lights, poinsettias, etc.. Everyone is excited about winter entertainment! It helps to break up the long winter months. Even in the city, you will find more decorations. You can add accessories to the dress: mink, scarfs, mittens, ear muffs, coats Every where you go is less busy, in this case, we went to Grand Rapids. There was no problem parking, not a lot of people walking around. We had the city to ourselves. Sometimes I go to that blue bridge and there are 4 weddings there! I even had some bizarre parade go through with people with paper-mache heads voicing to save the Earth. You can visit tree- farms, or where long sleeves, or have an excuse to take a long bus ride and visit some breweries. If you do have a winter wedding, I do suggest you try to brave the cold for a few shots, even a half hour can give you some great pictures. The Couple Tiffany and Tyler met t at Ohio Northern University during her junior year and Tyler's P3 year. We were part of similar friend groups and knew each other but didn't connect until his fraternity rechartered. After this event we began talking and ended up dating at the end of July 2016! And the rest is history. Tiffany and Tyler were great to work with. We found out that when we arrived that we knew one of her relatives! It is so fun to run into old friends at weddings. We had a very relaxing day, we started at the salon for a little while, and then headed to the church. Tyler and Tiffany had three hours in between ceremony and reception, so we headed downtown for awhile and then we parted ways as they continued on the bus and made a few stops with their bridal party. Wishing you the very best Tiffany and Tyler!! To see more blog post, click here To view another winter wedding in Michigan, click here and another here Winter Weddings in Michigan Businesses: Their color palate was Navy and Silver. They used vendors: Rouge Salon - Allendale, MI; Tap-A-Few Bartending Services. DJ: Ted Corner DJ Flowers: Creative Events Venue: St. Mary's Catholic Church/Reception Hall - Marne, MI Wedding Style: Classic and Traditional

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#benefitstoawinterwedding #downtownGrandrapids #michiganphotographer #michiganweddingphotographer #navybridesmaidsdresses #winterweddinginmichigan #winterweddingtips

Bridal Party Size | How Many People in the Wedding Party?

By Jamie May Photography: Bridal Party Size. How many people do you have in your wedding party? This is a hard question for me to answer. I photograph a lot of weddings. The average amount of bridesmaids and groomsman is typically five on each side. Cassidy and Joel had less than that to accommodate their smaller wedding. Smaller Wedding Parties I do appreciated the smaller bridal parties 3-4 is so nice. As a photographer, it is easier to manage. I can see everyone very clearly in the picture, etc.... If you get much smaller than that, it can be challenging to come up with a variety of poses, but usually people that chose smaller wedding parties are ok with that. Large Wedding Parties I photograph large wedding parties and small. I think we have had up to 10 or 11 on EACH SIDE! This is fun and a portable party every where you go, but pictures can get a bit tricky. I find that if trying to fit everyone in the frame, full body, you can barely see everyone without a magnifying glass. However, we can get a lot of different poses, and we do have fun with it and make the most of the large group situation. The more people, the harder to control the group. One person will have not put their beverage down, or another is looking away. I have my strategies, but hire a professional photographer that can manage people because groomsmen get a little crazy when there are many other groomsmen around. My Vote: Bridal Party Size. How many people do you have in your wedding party? If you are unsure how many people to have in your wedding party, my advise or vote is to keep it to 3-6 people with the best/average number being 5. Maybe cost isn't a factor, but if it is, that is another benefit to keeping it small. Now, the lovely couple below! Cassidy and Joel held their ceremony and reception in Kalamazoo at the Wine Loft. (Check out my blog post about having your event at one location) It was the first time I have been in Kalamazoo for a wedding. The downtown had some darling spots to photograph. I love seeing new areas and having new inspiration! Cassidy and Joel were such a pleasure to work with. I was a little worried about her tight timeline and she assured me it would be ok and she was right. Sometimes brides you have to trust your gut! Best Wishes to you both!

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#bridalparty #champagnebridaldresses #howmanypeopletohaveinyourbridalparty #jamiemayphotography #kalamazooweddings #michiganweddingphotographer #smallweddingparties #wineloft #wineloftweddingandreceptions

Pros to One Wedding Venue

By Jamie May Photography: Pros to One Wedding Venue Is it a good to have your wedding and reception at the same venue? My response to this questions is, YES! If you can pull it off, it definitely takes a stressful part out of the equation. I would definitely look for a place that has two locations for the ceremony and reception. It is nice if there is minimum set up that needs to take place. Baker Lofts has two rooms and Ellen used one for her ceremony and the other for her reception. Venues that have a outside location and an indoor is also nice. The only way it could get cumbersome is if you have to tear down tables and re-arrange, but usually there is a cocktail hour so just have a good plan to have for the guests in that transition time. Or even better, maybe you can opt out of a cocktail hour all together and save money. You would want to have a plan of accomplishing all your pictures first, check out my blog post on benefits of a first look Granted, if you have a home church or a beautiful establishment to have your wedding, that is great! If you are on the fence, though, over the years these are some of the pluses I have noticed with one location: Stress-reliever It is a time saver. Easy set-up, carrying, loading, etc... overall easier process Transportation is optional for pictures, you can either stay or go Easy for your guest Overall just a more chill/relaxed day Perhaps, it saves you money Likely, have more people attend your ceremony (I have been guilty of only arriving to the reception as a guest) The Couple Now, a little bit about this wedding and the lovely couple in the pictures. Ellen and Tom met through a local restaurant. Tom friended some moms since he was not from the area and would see them on a regular basis. One day they saw Ellen and orchestrated the magic that led us to this day. Ellen, Tom, friends and family were delightful to work with. They made us feel right at home and had a ton of humor, which I can appreciate! Tom and Ellen did not do a first look at their wedding, but had a cocktail hour in between and two separate rooms at the Baker Lofts in Holland. They had the super cool, sword ceremony! My first, and it was fun watching the team practice beforehand. After the ceremony, we hopped on a trolley to tour around the beautiful town of Holland. Ended back at the Loft, the couple was announced and cut their cake immediately. I think this is a good idea. I like getting the events accomplished early because after dinner, cake can be cut in a timely manner. This was a lively bunch and I loved watching them dance the night away. So thankful to be a part of it! Best Wishes Tom and Ellen I hope I have helped explain the pros to having one location for your wedding venue Pros to One Wedding Venue

Jamie May

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#bakerlofts #hollandweddingphotographer #isitgoodtohaveyourweddingandreceptionatonelocation #jamiemayphotography #prostooneweddingvenue #swordceremony

Are engagement sessions worth it?

By Jamie May Photography: In this blog post, I am going to talk about whether or not an engagement sessions is worth it? I don't know about you all, but I am totally ready for spring and summer! As I was going through some of the pictures from this year, I found a recent engagement session that I photographed. I thought it would be fun to share the photos and talk about the benefits of an engagement sessions. Are engagement sessions worth it? I am a big fan of engagement sessions. They are probably one of my favorite session. It is a FUN date!!! Below are some tips and advice on why I believe engagement session are worth it! You get to hang out with the one you love most and focus on one another without distractions Lots of giggles and cuddles Get acquainted with your photographer - one of my favorite parts is I get to meet you when things aren't as stressed as they can become on a wedding day. Become familiar with common poses - You will know what to expect Use these pictures are your wedding/showers/guest book/invites/save the dates Find any problems before the wedding date with posing, style, etc... Have fun with this photo shoot - let your creative juices flow - what do you enjoy as a couple? Bring props, signs, anything that may spice up, if you ever had a vision with Pinterest, now is your time to play Have fun! Those are some reasons that I believe that having an engagement sessions is worth it! Also, a lot of photographers include it in their wedding packages. That is a deal! Take advantage of it. To see more pricing for Jamie May Photography, click here To read about how to find uniques spots for pictures at your wedding, click here To view more comments about whether or not engagement session or worth it click here n

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Wedding Tips: Salon coverage, Live Bands and Love | Spring Lake Photographer

By Jamie May Photography: Every time I pull up a wedding I photograph, I think...what do I want to share about this day or wedding tips to cover. It can be challenging because I am not a writer! I experience writer's block to the extreme, oh wait, do you have to be a writer to experience a writer's block?! Well anyways, when I think about Grace and Noah, I think about wedding tips such as, the salon coverage, the band that they had, about love. In addition, having a positive outlook when accidents happen, her mother broke her leg a few weeks before the wedding and nothing stopped her from having fun and being 100% involved in the day. Since, I can't figure out one topic, I will touch on them all. The Beginning, the salon coverage: Often, I get asked this question, the salon coverage. I don't know... I look at these and I think yes! Have us come. These are so beautiful and fun. The salon, Bombshell Blow Dry Bar, was well prepared for pretty pictures with all the white walls and natural light coming in. Also, it gives us time for us all to get acquainted and warmed up to being the paparazzi. :) One thing I do know is whatever you decided for your timeline, we don't need to be there at the very beginning. I recommend about the half hour to hour. We arrived to a room full of laughter and joy. This was a close knit group of girls with a large support staff of wonderful mothers and bridesmaids. We had fun at the salon, the calm before the busyness! Tip: Remember those snacks! Feed your crew - I know the ladies were thankful, too. The day is long and dinners are late. Isn't Grace a beautiful bride?! She looks fantastic.

There are several perks to having your wedding and reception in the same location The Benefits of One Location No travel involved All the time is maximized Time for a different plan Less stressful Possibly a $$ savings Better attendance Seamless Cocktail hour Repurpose the decor We headed over to Spring Lake Golf Course. Grace and Noah chose to have everything at one location: getting dressed, pictures, ceremony, and reception. I love and appreciate when everything is at one location. Usually, it diffuses any stress for the day. Spring Lake Country Club offers a lot of pretty spots for pictures. In addition, the bridal suite is adorable. Also, it is a great place for all the overflow 'stuff' to be. The weather was iffy, it was a bit cold and it had rained before, so the ground was really wet. However, they had a plan B at the SLCC for an indoor ceremony location, and the decision was made in the morning of that day. The sun came out, and Grace decided she still wanted to go outside for the pictures, despite the cold and the squishy ground.

The First Look We coordinated a first look for Noah and Grace to happen near the willow tree by Spring Lake. It offered a beautiful setting for these two. I love that a couple will get a little quality time together before the party. Goodness, Noah and Grace are so cute and photogenic! I love all the smiles and giggles, the happiness beaming off of them!! After that, the bridal party than joined the fun and we captured a lot of personality in those photos. To read more about the benefits of a first look, click here.

Furthermore, a first look with dad is always a cool idea! A perfect moment to capture sincere emotion!

Indoor Ceremony I do love that SLCC has an indoor option. For instance, if you are planning a ceremony outside, it is always good to know your back up plan, especially in Michigan!

Reception Details Tip: The mother of the bride purchased the loose eucalyptus separately from an online vendor for a bargain price, but all the other flowers are done by the amazing, Skeeter Parkhouse of Wassermann's. Skeeter always does an stellar job!!! In addition, if there are any problems, he will always come fix them to make sure every customer is 100% happy. Rykes prepared that beautiful cake! Rev

Reception How to Fill the Dance Floor Needless to say, this was quite a party. The dance floor was on fire. They had a live band, Brena Band, which I believe always brings out the crowd. If your budget allows for it, it is a great idea to have a live band. After we are done photographing, I even want to stay and dance! Also, a dance floor will become fuller when the bride and groom dance! If your dance floor is looking a little sad, go out there and dance! Pull people onto the dance floor. The DJ or band can orchestra this Anniversary dance. If the songs are jiving, ask the DJ/band to change up to look for crowd pleasing genres. The parents dance Start a train or a circle

(I made an appearance in a photo! Me and my neighbors or is it my neighbors and I?? Ha!) Love I said this wedding makes me think of love. Well yes, every wedding makes me think of love. I get to see couples in one of their happiest moments together. If there is a sermon about love, I bet I have heard it at the ceremony, being educated on love every Saturday. Love is kind, love is patience, one of the popular bible verses talked about throughout the many weddings I have attended: poetry, songs, verses, love, love, love. I am saturated in it for a day. Together forever I know Grace's grandparents, they are my neighbors. They have been married for 50+ years and counting, I watch them side by side: decorate the Christmas tree or the house trimmings, running errands, serving one another, laughing together, entertaining together, reading together, and doing crosswords. Recently, Grace's grandpa has been in the hospital, and one of their children posted a beautiful picture of him on his hospital bed, with his wife embracing him, heads leaning into one another. It was one of the sweetest pictures, and such a reminder what love is really about. Love is many descriptions and definitions, but this is a living picture. Two people loving each other through all the changes and the challenges of living life. It has been an example to me, watching these two grow old together in their later stages in life and really it is a beautiful picture. One that words can not express, but only actions can. Grace and Noah have a strong examples of marriage in both of their families. The loved Grace and Noah shared on this day, was so full, I believe they will be an example for future generations, also. You are a lucky, blessed bunch with a delightful family! Hugs to you all. Thank you for letting me share in this special occasion of love and celebration!

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#howtofilladanceflooratawedding #jamiemayphotography #livebands #rykes #saloncoverage #shouldyouhavesaloncoverage #SpringLakeCountryClub #wassermannflowers #weddingphotoideas #weddingphotography #weddingtips

Fall Themed Wedding | Muskegon Wedding Photographer

By Jamie May Photography: Thank you for visiting my blog! This wedding featured is about Lauren and Andrew's Fall Themed Wedding, below you will find some good ideas and also a complete vendor list!! A few words from the bride.... How we met: we got set up at work but mutual friends and the rest is history! The proposal: we were at a Mackinac Island for a weekend getaway and we went biking around the island. We stopped to look at the water and he was down on one knee! Best memory of the day: just so happy to be surrounded by our friends and family! It was a perfect day and felt so great to be married! Advice: As everyone says, “don’t sweat the small stuff.” The closer the wedding got, the more I just though “what will happen, will happen.” There were a few bumps in the road during the wedding day, but everything worked out perfectly!Photography: Jamie and Marie did amazing at capturing all of our special moments! We couldn’t ask for a better team and will have these pictures forever

thank you so much! Their Story... Lauren and Andrew had such a beautiful, detailed fall wedding. I love all the different desserts and all the decorations. She had so many great ideas and I can't wait to share them with you! The Ceremony Site... We started the day at the church where everyone was getting ready for the day. Lauren and Andrew had a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony. There were a few strict rules at this church that we experienced. We were not able to get close to the bride and groom at all, we could not go down the aisles. We had to stay on the perimeter of a few select areas. We also were not allowed to use flash. I was very thankful for the equipment I have at that point my long lens and ability to shoot in high ISO! As a reminder... People getting married, make sure you check the rules and limitations of a ceremony site. It was still a very beautiful ceremony and it made for a lot of ambience lighting that the congregation had, which can be pretty! Catholic churches always seem to have beautiful buildings. The 2018 season was the rainiest year that we have had. I had done over a 100 weddings with only one rainy day, and this year, I think it sprinkled/rain at every one! To read my blog about beating the rain, click here.

Formal Pictures... After the ceremony, we went to the next location to photograph the bridal party. Since she was having a fall themed wedding, a barn just made sense! The rain did stop, and we were able to photograph for the next hour, as we traveled and took pictures! The mosquitos that day were dangerous! They were everywhere and about 15 minutes into photographing, poor Lauren was getting welts. I hope I put her mind to rest that I could care for it in post-work, she was so relieved! We can all go through a lot sometimes to get these pictures. We finished the pictures at Rycenga Park. Reception... Then, Marie and I headed to the reception sight a little before the bride and groom, which gave us some time to capture the reception before they arrived. I was in awe of all her amazing details. Her fall themed wedding came to life! Up to that point, I already knew she picked rich maroon, bridesmaids dress, and her flowers!!! So gorgeous. Fall Themed Came to Life I love dahlias, another perk about a fall wedding!! But at the reception, the fall themed took life, desserts with the leaf-formed cookies, and the stacks of donuts and the sprinkled cupcakes, the pumpkins and signage. Furthermore, on the guest tables were the trees with branches. The cider that was provided and the fallen leaves on the table. Everything was so darling. Andrew and Lauren are such delightful people. They were so pleasant and kind to work with. I was so thrilled to be a part of their beautiful wedding day, as they committed their lives to each other. I can tell that they are so in love with each other, their faces light up when they are together. There were a few very special dances, dedicated to her grandpa and him with one of his aunts. I had a few tears during that whole process. This wedding definitely touched my heart.

Wishing you many more years of happiness! xoxox Fall-Themed Wedding Ideas bridesmaid dress - fall color flowers - flowers in season, fall colors barn setting for photos wood-fall trees setting for photos desserts in shapes of fall favorites pumpkins leaves trees Invitations with leaves Vendors: Church- St. Mary’s in Spring Lake Venue/Food/Drink- Verdonis Event Center Harris Hospitality Flowers- Chalet Floral Desserts- Ryke’s Bakery DJ- Hugh Randall Transportation- Harbor Transit Trolley Wedding Dress- Petoskey Bridal Bridesmaids Dresses- David’s Bridal Groom Groomsmen Tux’s- Men’s Wearhouse Read the full article

#barnsettingwedding #davidsbridal #fallthemedweddings #fallweddingpictureideas #jamiemayphotography #muskegonmichiganweddingphotographer #petoskeybridal #photographer #rykesbakery #stmaryschurch #verdonisreceptions

Should you have a dance routine for your first dance at your wedding?

By Jamie May Photography: Hello, my name is Jamie and I am a wedding photographer in the West Michigan area. I am going to be talking today about a few topics on this blog post that hopefully will interest you! I am going to cover Haley and Tom's day, touching on topics such as: Should you have a dance routine for your first dance on your wedding?, Color Editing Trends, and how to plan an amazing wedding at MillCreek Wilde Barn, and advice from the bride, Haley , AND COMPLETE VENDOR LIST!!! First, MillCreek Wilde is a beautiful place to get married. They have gorgeous grounds and fun details, all over the place. The girls can get ready in this shabby chic cottage that is decorated very cute. It is a tight space, but they did fit all these ladies in there. They have a mirrors and lots of natural light. The boys get ready in a vintage camper, again with some pretty sweet furnishing. I wish I could decorate like that! We were greeted with warm smiles by the ladies and decided to take pictures of all the dresses outside of the cottage. I loved the barn, so we decided to hang them there. It was nice to have so many helpful hands. We then started to plan for the first look. I am a big fan of the first look, you can read why by clicking here. I love first looks. We try to keep our distance for the most part, but we moved even farther away when they decided to read a letter to each other. After they had a few moments, we went right into photos with the bride and groom. Should you have a dance routine for your first wedding dance? I loved that they practiced beforehand. You will see candid pictures of them practicing and in different spaces. I just sat back and let them do their thing and captured some really gorgeous pictures in the meantime. I thought that was a benefit to having a plan because Marie and I were able to photograph some really beautiful images beforehand without them feeling over posed. It is very classy. I love when people plan a first dance. I think there is no bigger crowd pleaser at a wedding. Everyone gathers and watches. It is much more exciting then the other. It gives you some one on one time together before the wedding, working on a cool project. I would love to learn to dance, and really there is no better time before you have to buy a house, have kids, start a career, or whatever journey is next! Does it have to be formal? No, I have seen people just come out and have a goofy routine! That was awesome, too! Bottom line, put a little effort into your first dances. It makes it more memorable. If you keep scrolling down through the pictures, I will continue with Tom and Haley's wedding story! There were so many lovely pictures, I had a hard time choosing! So trying to break up the text and pictures.

Jamie May

Wedding Party Pictures We had a great time with this crowd! They were filled with much joy and laughter. They were up for anything. Haley was a cheerleader for Michigan, so I suggested a pyramid and the guys jumped to it! We were all laughing so hard!!! As you keep scrolling, I have a few pictures that are the same pose with different coloring editing. Color Editing Trends Right now there are some color editing trends happening. Personally, I really like it! It gives a moody, subtle tone to the whole picture. I would be cautious of someone giving you all the pictures edited this way, though. I have been doing this so long, I have seen many color trends come and go. If all the images were like this, it could potentially date your pictures. Think back to the black and white photo with the pop a color that was popular, not even that long ago. Now, totally dated. Another thing is it does change the tones of the tuxes and bridesmaids dresses. The color trend worked well for a lot of pictures in this wedding, but I also provided them with the classic, true to color, original. I think that is important.

Color Editing Examples - The new trend of color editing....

Which one do you like better? Ceremony Since I had so many pictures already. I am just sharing a few of these so you can get an idea of the whole day. Tom and Haley got married at Trinity Lutheran in St. Joseph.

The bubbles! Love the bubbles!!

A few pictures of MillCreek Wilde Barn

The Details! Stunning!!

Jamie May

Jamie May The Reception So let's just say that it was quite an entrance with the bridal party, even pants splitting!! Haley and Tom went right into speeches. This can be done right away or as food is being served. After dinner, Haley and Tom went into their formal, first dance. They nailed it! It was awesome! I know I was smiling from ear to ear and clicking my camera like crazy, hoping not to miss a shot. I think all that practicing helped beforehand, so I had the timing down. After that they cut their cake. Did you see all the variety of cupcakes!? It was hard to pick one. I will say, I did not try the bacon, but am still very curious to what it tasted like!!!

Words from the bride... THE VENDORS: Church: Trinity Lutheran St. Joseph Reception: Mill Creek Wilde 269-944-1751 Catering: Jay Marcoux 269-214-6991 Beverage/Bartending: Liquor Cabinet (Sue Luther) 269-876-9587 Music: Lake Effect DJs (Matt Lignel) 269-408-8008 Florist: Marco Alexzondra 269-426-1922 Photographer: Jamie May Photography 616-402-5111 Videographer: Trosper Productions (Jason Trosper) 616-546-0545 Cake/Cupcakes: The Cheeky Cupcake (Paula Grove) Dress: Here Comes the Dress (Aubrey Rettig)-chesterton IN Hair/Makeup: Tipton & Co (Alena Tipton) 269-757-2103 Hotel: Fairfield Inn and Suits by Marriott Watervliet 269-463-7946 Limo Service: Fantasy Carriage (Frank Picone) 269-325-5466 How we met: Funny story actually, we met at the popular bar on campus, Scorekeepers. But better known as Skeeps. One of my best friends dated Tom's roommate throughout all of college and I had been to his house many times but had never met Tom. So we had so many mutual friends which was great and we just hit it off upon meeting...then I disappeared to go get pizza with my friends and never gave Tom my number. Thankfully he asked his roommate for it and we started dating with "study dates" in the library or hanging out with all our friends together. Not sure if its common knowledge but Tom played lacrosse at Michigan and I was a cheerleader, yet never went to one lacrosse game. Proposal: I am a pediatric nurse and I work long 12+ hour shifts. Usually I am so dead tired at the end of a day that the only thing I can do is pass out on the couch. Back story, Early in the week I got a text from our staffing committee at work to see if they could take me off of working the weekend (which never happens) and ofcoiurse I was pumped. So when I was done working on friday and I called Tom I was so excited to go do something knowing I had the whole weekend off. Little did I know this was all Tom's doing. So I call Tom and he says he will meet me at my apartment and we will make plans once I'm home. I make the train ride home and Tom is no where to be found. Im looking behind the shower curtain and in the closet. He should've been there long before me. Then I see an envelope on my kitchen table with my name on it. I open it and my heart starts to beat out of my chest. Tom made a huge "treasure map" to find him with a set of rules on what I should wear and that I couldn't text or call him until I was dressed and ready to be picked up. I was freaking out and none of my friends would answer my calls. SO I get ready quicker than ever before. A car picks me up and meets Tom out on a pier on the lake with this crazy beautiful view of the city skyline. And then he says all the sweetest things and asks me :) Then we had dinner at the top of the john handcock building and he tells me tomorrow morning both of our families will be in town for an engagement party weekend. Long story but hour families never met in the 3 years we were dating so that in itself was kind of crazy and fun! Tom had planned all the dinners, lunches, brunches and made it the best weekend ever....next to our wedding weekend of course. Best Memory fo Wedding day: Honestly have so many memories that are amazing but seeing Tom when I came around the corner from the bridal suite was probably the most emotional. We were awkward, nervous, and so excited. I just couldn't wait to marry him! Entering the reception as husband and wife was also pretty amazing. Seeing all our friends and family together in one place is a once in a lifetime kind of thing. It was magical! I also have to say, group pictures were so much fun. We couldn't stop smiling even when off camera! Advice: -My bouquet was sooo sooo sooo pretty and perfect....but so heavy. I thought I was going to tear a muscle in my arm during the ceremony! But hey my arms looked toned ;) -I would also say that I thought a lot of things would be stressful that really weren't. On the day, you just don't care about the little things and I was just so in the moment that all of those things that might not go right get swept away. -ALSO, EAT! I ate ribs in my wedding dress. It was awesome and I think it helped me to feel better throughout the night. Photography: My favorite shots are the candid ones where we are taking in the day. You (Jamie) and your partner did such an amazing job of making us all feel so comfortable and made it fun! You took so much stress off me by finding out what we wanted ahead of time so on the day you just made it happen. I'm not kidding when I say people are obsessed with our wedding photos. I'm having such a hard time deciding what to order because there are so many good shots.I also love that you have so many fun pictures of our guests and captured moments we wouldn't have noticed on the day. The photos take us right back to our day and we honestly could not be happier! Final Thoughts I feel so blessed to have been a part of Haley and Tom' wedding. I was re-doing my website at the time and they are posted all over the place. They were beautiful inside and out! Wishing you many more happy years!! Read the full article

Holland Wedding Photographer | When is the right time of day to start wedding photos?

By Jamie May Photography: As I review this day, I am reminded of what a great day it was with Kimberly and Brent! I am going to discuss, as I talk about their wedding, a question I often get asked: What is the right time of day to start wedding photos? I find that this question can vary, but often times it is the same answer. I always recommend about an hour and half before the bride is ready to put on their dress. Hair and make up can take a really long time, and we often sit around, actually what really happens is we take way to many pictures while we wait because we just can't stop, and all these images just aren't necessary. I usually delete MOST of them. Who needs 300 photos of every hair being twirled! Therefore, my suggestion is: 1.5 hours before bride is ready to put on dress If you are at a salon, I recommend a bit into time that you start, maybe towards the last 45-30 minutes or so. The getting ready pictures can happen pretty quickly, we don't really need a lot of time. Plus, we can act like you are getting your finish touches of makeup if we missed that part. I never mind coming, especially towards the end, it kind of can be the calm before the storm. So it is nice to visit and get ready for 'game day.' Some things to think about.... Do you want pictures without makeup? Some people don't care and some do. It is nice to have the details ready while we are at the salon, if possible, but definitely at location of getting the ready. Details such as: Shoes, jewelry, dress, cards, etc... And let's mention hangers. The wedding dresses never have nice hangers, EVER! I don't know why! So even one from home would be better than the wire hanger that comes on it. Provide snacks for your bridesmaids Bring some music Matching shirts, robes? Maybe?? Have an emergency bag: Some things I have seen are bobby pins, pins, mints, feminine products, toothbrushes in a pack, bandaids, anti-acids, ibuprofen, comb, extra lipstick or nail polish, that's a good start. So back to Brent and Kimberly's wedding day. We started at a Engedi salon in Holland. I thought it was a great place with exposed brick in the inside and lots of natural light. Everyone was so smiley and happy! A super nice group of ladies. We grabbed a few robe shots, outside the building before we left. Macatawa Legends We then headed to the ceremony/reception site, everything was at one location, Macatawa Legends. This was the first time I have been at this golf course. They had a beautiful building for getting ready, the formals pictures, ceremony and reception. I love the locker rooms! Brent and Kimberly did a first look, where they had an exchange of written words to each other. It was very sweet. We then started with the bridal party pictures. I do enjoy first looks and all the time we have beforehand to get the pictures accomplished. Read a bit more about the benefits of a first look, here. Then when the wedding starts, the couple can mingle or take a break. The ceremony was outside with beautiful views of a little lake. I love outdoor ceremonies. We have so much more room to get different angles and perspectives. After the ceremony, we photographed the family pictures and then headed around the golf course, for some fun pictures. After that, we headed to the reception area. This venue is unique in the sense that there are two reception areas. There was a cocktail area in one room which also ended up being the dance floor. And another room that was down the hall that was where people ate. So in the eating room, they were announced where speeches and cake cutting happened. I will never forget this reception because Kimberly had a separate sitting area, where there was special table, just for us. It was so cute! I have to say that this food was one of the best that we had all season. It was amazing. And the dessert, cheesecake and key lime pie, wonderful!!! I love how spirited all the dancing was. This was a wonderful dancing crowd! Never a dull moment. Buying a home? I would also like to mention that Brent and Kimberly hired my husband, Joe May, to buy their home. Joe works at a Greenridge Realty in Grand Haven. It is always a huge blessing to us when people consider using him for their home service, too! When this happens, I am able to help with discounts/gifts of the wedding images a bit, too. So it can be a win-win! To see more pricing informations, click here Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! Be sure to follow me on all of the social networks their are for more wedding tips and imagery! Thank you Brent and Nicole for hiring us to photograph your wedding! It was beautiful and I can tell you both are going to be so happy for many, many years! When Brent looks at you, it is like the whole room has quieted and he only sees you. You can tell he just adores Kimberly! Hugs!!

Jamie May

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Jamie May

Jamie Mayl

Jamie May

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Michigan Wedding Photographer answers how to find unique spots to photograph on your wedding?

By Jamie May Photography: Today I am going to discuss, how to find unique spots to photograph your wedding and what to look for. I would first like to say that Brett and Danielle are totally awesome people, that I have had a blast getting to know. We started our relationship at a engagement session. Danielle was referred to me by her friend, who was a bride I photographed prior. During the engagement session, they decided to choose a couple locations that were meaningful to them: we made a stop at a park that they spend a lot of time at and the fire-station. Here is a bit about their day : We started the day in Muskegon, at private homes, for the girls and guys getting ready pictures. We greeted the guys first and walked into the unique sock display. I love socks! Of course, we had to take a picture. The guys were great about taking pictures and posing for some. We could tell by this crew, it was going to be a fun day! We then headed over to the girls. They had on these adorable robes. I am not sure where they got these, but I have heard in the past people mention Etsy before. Well this home was a beautiful spot to take pictures at, with breathtaking views. I was very excited! Not to mention all the lovely ladies are so fun and photogenic. After we finished up these photos, we headed to the ceremony site in Muskegon. St. Mary's Catholic Church, so historical. I love the architecture. Not to mention it is pretty light and bright in the church, which can be unusual in such an older congregation. 1. How to chose your wedding venue? There are situations to look for in buildings, churches, etc, that I know personally, I would have NO idea about if I haven't been doing this so long! What are the rules of the venue? ASK! You want to know what kind of photos they are going to allow you to get. Maybe it isn't important to you and maybe it is. You want to know the limitations if there are any. Look for unique architecture that may interest you Walk around the building and look at the time of day you are having your ceremony and what time you plan on having pictures? Are there pretty areas for outside pictures? Look for shade. Does the building have lots of natural light? White walls? natural light and white walls, really help pictures to look more natural Is there somewhere to go if it rains? Maybe you are planning a outdoor venue, what is the back up plan? After the ceremony, we took advantage of all the beauty this church has to offer! We then headed to the Train Depot in Muskegon. Here the bride and groom were so thoughtful and had food and drinks for everyone to snack and refresh. This is something that can often get overlooked when planning a wedding, feeding your crew! ...and remember the waters, sometimes there is only alcohol and people need water. Haha. I love Muskegon Downtown. It really is an awesome place that I have grown to love. There are so many unique spots within walking distance, yes, that is right in walking distance! It is always such a quiet place, which is also unique because it is a downtown area!!! 2. Look for an outdoor location that has a lot to offer in walking distance. You can get so much done and quickly when you don't have to drive everywhere. This is great for a tight timeline or if you just don't want to spend the whole time on pictures 3. What makes you unique? As a person, as a couple? We all look at Pinterest and become in awe. There are so many amazing ideas and how do they come up with them, right?! I love when a couple want to add props or locations that are unique to them. Brett happens to be a firefighter, so he has connections :) ! We were able to have so much fun with the expired fire extinguishers. These pictures become unique because it is about them. I know everyone doesn't have such a cool job, with these kind of props. But maybe it is biking, or cars, or physical fitness??- there is a way to make these pictures extra special and sometimes it just requires a very little effort. So even if you don't have any thing amazing - there is alway THE COUPLE, who look amazing on this day and glowing with love, bouncing all over them! So no fear if you are the simple type, that makes you unique, too. 4. How do you pick a Reception Venue? Be reasonable about how many guest you are having and the space. It is hard when it is to tight in a space Look at where you would sit and your bridal party Again - look for natural light and avoid black walls or ceilings, if you can Is there a outdoor location to hang out? Always a nice perk A bonus is also when the venue really makes it cute. I have to say some of my favorite spots are when the venue puts in effort to style the venue, too. I know that isn't always in everyone's budget. But hey, we are talking about what I like here ;) The venue they chose was at Fricanos in Muskegon. I like that Fricanos, it is really open and has a very large layout. There is a bar area that is great for the happy hour with plenty of room for dinner tables. They also have beautiful views across the way and a little deck to hang out on if you need some fresh air. The staff is always friendly and the food is good. It was a lovely night, with a lively group of people. We had a blast watching all the fun that was being had. 5. Pick a good photographer - Ha! You knew I had to add this one!! Experience matters - I am able to execute so many ideas that are living in my brain because we have done so many weddings Pinterest list - You have a few ideas, a lot of ideas? That is okay by me. I like to see your vision and not just mine. But if it isn't for you, we take care of it. I am sure I could go on, but I won't. Thank you so much Brett and Danyelle for letting me and Marie share in your day! We had so much fun and everyone showed us such kindness! Many blessings to you both and many happy years!! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog! Feel free to share it, like it, love it - you know the drill! And remember to follow Jamie May Photography - on the million different platforms there are, seriously!! -how can we keep up?! Until the next blog post....which needs to be sooner than later... I am still behind!!! To see more pictures in the Muskegon Downtown location, click here

Jamie May

We even joined in the fun!

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