Karley and Sam Wedding | Rustic Rouge
Going through my weddings for this year organizing to blog more and I wanted to share Sam and Karley’s first for so many reasons. They really had my ideal wedding day. Relaxed, happy, plenty of wiggle room in the schedule while still having structure and completely stress free. Sam & Karley had my eight hour package + a second shooter. Their reception was at Rustic Rouge wedding barn in Coopersville, MI. Karley wore her mothers wedding dress (how cool is that? And I’m not sure a better looking bridal party exists. And they were pretty much all couples too! This group of friends is so close and I had so much fun hanging out with them all day.
Here’s a lil list of why this was one of my most ideal weddings of the year.
I know there are a lot of photos of just Karley in here but DAMN. These are 100% my favorite bridal portraits of the year
Family photos - I included just a handful in here but there were so many more. All you really need is a shaded tree line for beautiful family portraits. I always take family portraits very seriously but my goal for my 2020 wedding season is to focus on them even more. The reason being is that when I look through the ones I look at this wedding they make me SO HAPPY. And there is so much range in them, so many different combinations, traditional portraits, fun portraits and really high quality images that are so important to have to look back on your families legacy with. When it comes to family pictures I always encourage couples to opt outside. The result of these would have been so different in the dark church.
Bridal party - while we had over two hours for bridal party portraits we only shot for a total of about 45 minutes. Thats really all you need! We had a couple of pretty backgrounds at the venue and that was it. Again with all you really need sometimes is a pretty, shaded tree line (and the gorgeous dirt road didn’t hurt either). The rest of the time they had time to make drinks, hang out, party bus and we went to Perrin Brewing Company and had drinks on the patio which made for some of my favorite photos from this wedding day. Enjoy your friends on your wedding day, that’s the reason you asked them to be in your bridal party in the first place. I’m there to capture the fun you have with each other. Structure + relax time = success.
Take time to be alone for your couple portraits. Well, not totally alone because I’m all up in your business while you’re being all romantic and cute. I love taking a little stroll with my couples free from everyone else being there. Sometimes you feel so much pressure while 15 people are watching you kiss. Take the time to get in the moment and just enjoy the presence of each other.
There’s only a few reception photos in here but you get the idea! I love sneaking around the dance floor. At receptions I always love to get group photos of your guests too.
