Dan + Amy // An Illinois Wedding

When looking back at Dan and Amy’s wedding day, we must first acknowledge the weather. It was… unexpected, to say the least. Earlier that week we were exploring a local forest preserve with these two for their engagement session – it was around 80 degrees and I think I got sunburned. Saturday rolled around for their outdoor morning wedding and I peeked out our hotel window to see tiny snow flurries fluttering by in the glow of the early morning moonlight.

On very hot and very cold outdoor wedding days, we usually expect that lots of guests simply won’t show up due to the extreme weather. That couldn’t have been further from the truth for Dan and Amy’s wedding. I have never seen a happier group of wedding guests gathering for a ceremony – they completely packed the pavilion.

Think about most wedding ceremonies you’ve attended – usually everyone gathers beforehand, very quiet and solemn-like, right? They all find their seats and sit, whispering to one another and quietly looking over the program. Not Dan and Amy’s wedding guests. They were loud and gregarious, full of laughter and JOY. Instead of complaining about the weather, everyone bundled up – they dug out the winter coats and hats and scarves and gloves, and they brought blankets to keep warm and snuggle with their friends and family. They stopped by the coffee table on their way into the ceremony, filled their cups with warmth, and snuggled into their seats, sipping coffee, their cheeks and noses rosy.

It became quite clear to us that Dan and Amy are LOVED, truly and deeply loved by their friends and family. A little freezing rain, snow flurries, and gale force winds couldn’t keep Dan and Amy’s people from joining in their joy and fully embracing the celebration of their day. It makes sense, if you know Dan and Amy’s full story. I imagine many of the people gathered in that pavilion have seen their relationship grow from the beginning – from the very first inklings of interest when Amy and Dan were in middle school and high school. I imagine most of the guests who gathered that day have cheered their relationship on, through thick and thin, through awkward high school years, and challenging college ones. I imagine each person there has their own story of Amy and Dan, their own piece of their love story, perhaps a part they like to take credit for or a conversation they’re certain had some influence in their relationship. Dan and Amy’s day truly felt like a coming-together of many different parts of their story, all converging to celebrate with them as they committed the rest of their lives to one another.

Enjoy the story of Dan and Amy’s wedding day through our film and photos. Enjoy the Frank Lloyd Wright house where the girls got ready (our architecture-loving selves were in heaven). Enjoy the letter Dan wrote to Amy, spoken in his own words – it brings tears to my eyes every time. Enjoy their sweet first look. Enjoy the details – Amy’s BHLDN dress, her flower crown, her fur coat. Enjoy that guest book – a gift Dan gave to Amy when he proposed to her. It’s a story book of their relationship, full of photos of the two of them, even photos from the awkward early years. Enjoy the happy tears, the laughter, and the joy. In fact, to fully get into the spirit of their day, you should probably wrap up in a blanket, cozy up with someone you love, and grab a cup of coffee before diving into their photos and film.

Vendors:

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Good Templar Park in Batavia, IL

Pastor: Rev Rick Allnutt

Flowers: Joanne DeGroot at The Tree House

Ceremony Musician: John Herpolsheimer

Caterer: Suzette’s Creperie and Moveable Feast

Donuts: Kuipers Family Farm

Coffee: Starbucks

Videography: Grain & Compass

Photography: Grain & Compass

Michael + Mallory // A Martha’s Vineyard Wedding

Take a moment to imagine yourself standing in the sand, feeling the warm breeze in your hair, smelling the sweet salty ocean, hearing the seagulls call to one another. This is the scene for Michael and Mallory’s wedding day.

They spoke the vows they’d written themselves on the sand at Martha’s Vineyard. It’s the island that has become so special to Mallory – she grew up traveling there with her mom whenever they could. It’s the island she shared with Michael after they started dating – a quiet getaway from the bustle of the city. It’s the island they dream of moving to one day – the place where they feel most like themselves.

Michael and Mallory’s closest friends and family traveled from far and wide via car, airplane, and ferry. The method of simply getting to the island was an adventure in and of itself. Flying over the sparkling blue water or standing on the deck of the ferry, the ocean air washing away the stress of the mainland.

Our favorite weddings to document are the days that we’re invited to be a part of, truly invited to be a part of. We love when our bride and groom’s families and friends invite us into the intimate moments and stories of the day. With Mallory and Michael we actually are family, which made it that much more special to capture the day through both photographs and video. Mallory and Tim are cousins and it was so sweet for me to get to meet that whole side of the family that I’d not yet had a chance to meet. They truly invited me into their family. They let us stay with them at the beach house they rented, we sat around on the living room floor making wedding signs and eating takeout Thai food together, and after sunset we walked to the ice cream shop for a late night snack, laughing and telling stories the whole way.

Every detail of Michael and Mallory’s day had special significance for the two of them. They DIY-ed much of their wedding – a departure from the standard “Martha’s Vineyard Wedding,” so naturally each detail had a story. The jewelry was made from sea glass Mallory collected on the Vineyard as a child. And she collected the vintage glass bottles and the table decorations for her reception. The diamond in her engagement ring was a gift from Mallory’s mom – the same diamond her grandmother wore in her own ring. And Michael and Mallory surprised her mom Lauren by using the extra diamonds from grandma’s ring – they had a gorgeous “thank you” gift made to thank her for all the ways she contributed to their dream Vineyard wedding.

Many of the details were sourced by vendors local to Martha’s Vineyard – the watercolors used for table numbers were painted by local artists, the clam chowder served at cocktail hour is a local Vineyard staple, and the vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options for dinner were all provided by a local restaurant. The flowers were hand-picked on the island from a local farm, and Mallory, her Maid of Honor, and their family friends helped arrange the flowers for the reception decor.

I can’t even begin to describe all the details of their day, so be sure to check at the bottom of this post if you’re curious about where their invitations were made or who created their gorgeous cake.

Take a deep breath (pretend it’s salty ocean air) and dive into Michael and Mallory’s wedding film and photos.

Vendors:

Venue: East Chop Beach Club

Coordinator: Joanna Fairchild

Invitations & Calligraphy: NooneyArt Designs

Hair: Katie Perkins

Makeup: Noelle McKinnon – Makeup 2 Die 4

Bouquets: Krishana Collins – Tea Lane Farm

Officiant: Lauren Kroll (Mother of the Bride)

Flowers at Reception: Handpicked at Tea Lane Farm by Krishana Collins, Arranged by the Bride, Bridesmaids, and Family Friends

Caterer: Giordano’s Restaurant

Cake: Liz Kane

Beer + Soda: Our Market

Food for Cocktail Hour: Lauren Kroll (MOB) and Marilyn Blakeslee (MOH’s mom) and Joanne Raia

Clam Chowder for Cocktail Hour: Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co.

Cookies: Made by the Mother of the Bride, Lauren Kroll, and family friend Joanne Raia

Rentals: Seaside Celebrations

DJ: Kim Collins with Cape Tunes

Photography: Grain & Compass

Videography: Grain & Compass

Wearables:

Dress: Maggie Sottero – Purchased at Camilla’s Bridal

Shoes: Unisa

Sea Glass Jewelry: Daria Justyn Jewelry

Engagement Ring: Long’s Jewelers

Wedding Bands: Long’s Jewelers (his) and Barmakian Jewelers (hers)

Mother of the Bride’s Ring: Long’s Jewelers

Groom’s Cufflinks, Bride’s gift to the Groom: CB Stark Jewelers

Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Ties: Vineyard Vines

Bracelet, Groom’s gift to the Bride: Stony Creek Gifts – Aquinnah, MA

Bride’s & Bridesmaids’ Robes: Modern Kimono Robes

Bea’s Flower Collar: Made by the Bride

Decor:

Table Decor: Arranged by the Bride

Vintage Glass Bottles: Bride’s Collection

Bunting:  Anna Gaudet

Watercolor Table Numbers: Watercolor art by local Vineyard artists, Purchased at Kennedy Studios, Tables Numbers by StudioCee, Arranged by the Bride

Wooden Signs: Anna and Joe Gaudet

Menu & Love Story Signs: Asharae Kroll

Custom Calligraphy Place Cards: Made by the Bride

Kristy + Matt // A Winmock at Kinderton Wedding

Kristy and Matt’s wedding day was pure joy. These two invited us into their story, gave us their full trust, and let us capture each intimate moment of their day from beginning to end. The love these two have for one another is absolutely radiant. We’re so grateful they invited us to capture this day.

We love that this “job” of being photographers allows us to be witness to so many intimate moments in our couple’s day. Kristy has the sort of joyful spirit that’s completely infectious – we got to witness her joy and laughter as it spread to her bridesmaids and sisters-in-law-to-be. They poured over Matt and Kristy’s story book, one filled with photos and the tale of their friendship and love.

I asked Matt’s mom if she fell in love with Kristy the first time they met her. “We knew,” she told me. “We knew she was the one Matt was going to marry. They were just friends then, but when my husband and I went to bed that night, we both cried because we knew.” And Matt’s dad, his best man, told a similar version of the story during the reception – he told it with laughter in his voice – and he looked at Matt’s younger sisters, “Keri and Anna – I think we should choose who you marry too!”

We got to witness the sweet prayers Kristy’s bridesmaids and Matt’s groomsmen prayed over them before the ceremony. And the story Kristy’s mom shared with the girls, tears in her eyes. She shared some of her worries and fears about when Kristy left for college, and told them how she had prayed for a group of girls who Kristy could be friends with – girls that would love and support her. She pointed around at all the girls in the circle and shared how very grateful she was for each of them, how very grateful she was that her prayers had been answered and that they were seated before her, ready to stand alongside her daughter as she said her vows.

We held back tears during Matt and Kristy’s ceremony – the love and excitement between them was absolutely palpable.

Matt and Kristy decided not to do a first look, but they so valued having time for just the two of them. They were completely onboard with our vision and let us “do our thing” during that time before the reception. We see that “bride and groom portrait time” as so much more than just a time for taking photos. We aim to create a space for our couples to soak up the day together, to breathe for a moment and fully take in the sacredness and beauty of their day. It’s all too easy to allow that time to get swept away into family photos and bridal party portraits and then feel rushed to move along to the reception. Kristy and Matt made a point to tell us how important that time would be to them, and it made all the difference in their photos. We’re so very grateful for couples like Matt and Kristy who just “get it.” We left their wedding feeling refreshed and reminded of all the reasons why we love this thing we’re so blessed to call our “job.”

Enjoy Matt and Kristy’s day, as seen through our lenses.

Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Hope Presbyterian Church

Reception Venue: Winmock at Kinderton

Coordinator: Jamie Southern

Hair/Makeup: Amy Gatewood – Updo’s Studio

Florist: Jennifer at Green Bee Floral Designs

Officiant: Josh Lindstrom

Ceremony Pianist: Brian Haskell

Programs and Table Numbers: Mackenzie Connelleen (friend of the bride)

Caterer: Triad Community Kitchen Catering

Cupcakes: Lauren Hoolehan

DJ: Mike Steffan at High Impact Entertainment

Photographer: Grain & Compass

Jeremiah + Juliana // A Detroit Wedding Film

It’s hard to put into words how immensely special it was to film this day for Juliana and Jeremiah. Their day was filled with pure, overwhelming, and overflowing joy.

Tim and I worked at summer camp with Juliana several years ago and I had the privilege of being her “unit leader,” essentially a mentor for her and several other girls over the summer. It was so meaningful to celebrate and join in the joy of Juliana and Jeremiah’s day. I sat for a few moments with the other girls from my Unit during the reception, and we just looked across the table at one another, joy and happy tears filling our eyes at the beauty of this day.

When you’ve been in the trenches together – even just for a season, when you’ve served together, prayed together, rejoiced and grieved together, when you’ve walked alongside one another through joy and through pain – it makes a day like this one that much more meaningful.

I love the words that Jeremiah’s dad shared with the two of them during the ceremony. He gave them three important things to remember as they enter into marriage. 1. Believe that you were formed for one another. 2. Be best friends forever. 3. Treat each other as equals. These three things together form such a beautiful picture of what marriage should be.

The love that Jeremiah and Juliana have for one another is so sweet and intentional. Each piece of their ceremony reflected this intentionality – we chose to open the film with their vows because of how carefully thought-out they were. Juliana and Jeremiah’s words simply set the tone for the rest of their day.

These two got married against the backdrop of Detroit – a city they’ve fallen in love with. They had their ceremony in a gorgeous historic church and the reception at the classic Detroit Yacht Club – a beautiful space out on Belle Isle, overlooking the Detroit skyline. And that reception. Man oh man did we have a celebration on our hands. I have never seen a dance floor fill up so quickly before – you’ll see it in the film – a little surprise choreography and then BAM everyone else joined in. Epic is the only way I know how to describe it. The feeling of being in that room and experiencing that overflow of joy was unbelievable.

All that being said, I pray this film reflects even just a fraction of the beauty and depth and joy of Jeremiah and Juliana’s wedding day.

Jeremiah + Juliana // A Detroit Wedding from Grain & Compass on Vimeo.

Hair + Makeup: Detroit Glam

Ceremony Venue: Hope Community Church

Flowers: Viviano Flower Shop, Eastern Farmers Market

Officiant: Jeremiah Lepasana Sr.

Reception Venue: Detroit Yacht Club

Caterer: Detroit Yacht Club

DJ: Matthew Sakdalan

Photography: Robert Tunberg Photography

Videography: Grain & Compass

Lauren + Andrew // In their first home // Phoenix, Arizona

We just adore these two. Lauren and I were roommates in college and we got to visit her and her husband in Phoenix this summer. We had an amazing time exploring Phoenix with them for a few days and eating at all their favorite restaurants. We’re already trying to figure out the next time we can make it back to Arizona!

Lauren and Andrew are the kind of people that care deeply for those around them. They ask good questions and are passionately curious. The night before we did this photo shoot with them, they asked us about our business, our philosophy, why we do what we do, and where we find meaning in our work. Sometimes it’s hard to put words to those things, but we’re finding it more and more valuable as we continue on our entrepreneurial journey. Sometimes I feel that sharing all the “why” behind what we do with our couples will spoil the actual experience of being photographed – but now I realize I’m very wrong in that. As we shared with Lauren and Andrew, and they got more excited and enthusiastic for the work we do, Lauren exclaimed “I can’t wait for you guys to photograph us!”

Over the past several months, we’ve begun putting more words to the work that we do. We’ve been crafting a way of working with our couples that not only captures beautiful photos and video, but also creates an experience for them. The couples that are willing to trust us and let us do what we are passionate about end up with photos that reflect something beautiful, intimate, and I would even venture to say sacred. When we’re able to create an environment that draws our couples closer to one another, and they’re willing to come along for the adventure, that is when we know we’re doing exactly what we’re meant to.

Through the experience of sharing our “why” with Lauren and Andrew, and then photographing them the next day, we left feeling so encouraged and so right with everything we do. Between the laughter, the sweet tears, and the quiet intimate moments, Lauren and Andrew let us see them. They let their guards down and let us photograph them. The real them. What a rare gift. We are so grateful.