Jordan and Courtney’s wedding is one I’m going to enjoy looking back on for a long time. I’ve known Jordan since he was a little boy. I used to babysit him and his sisters and I’ve taken their family’s photos many times over the years. Standing in the church with my camera and watching him become a husband was an insane full-circle moment that just made me feel so happy (and so old!).
Courtney was absolutely stunning in her mother’s gown! During photos, we got to talk about the dresses she had tried on. She shared how she had been so disappointed by the options available that she had gone home from trying on dresses in tears. But in a surprising twist, she perfectly fit into her mom’s wedding dress and was shocked to find that is was everything she had been wanting in a dress! It truly made the day feel even more sentimental. Courtney wore her mom’s dress exactly as it was worn decades ago. Seeing her walk down the aisle in a gown rich with family history was such a beautiful reminder of how weddings can tie together generations. It felt like a quiet thread weaving the past and present together in one moment.
The ceremony at University Reformed Church was sweet, worship-filled, and deeply personal, with Jordan’s sister Annalyse leading hymns that filled the sanctuary. For most weddings, I try to be a out of the way and I generally shoot based on the room’s layout and the couple’s requests. But Jordan and Courtney asked me to step it up a notch and I was extra aware of the sacredness of their space and the way they wanted me to quietly document the moments as they happened with no fluff or curating. It was a win when Jordan admitted he never saw me (granted I think he rightfully only saw Courtney for the entire day ;). Tears and laughter were never far away and we jumped from sentimental tearful embraces to full belly laughs all day long.
After the ceremony, we wandered the Michigan State University campus for portraits, soaking in the lush summer greens and bursts of floral color. It was a hot day, but the joy between Jordan and Courtney was even more radiant. The celebration continued at The Cadillac Room in Lansing, with Mediterranean food for dinner (HUGE WIN) and lots of incredible dancing (Jordan and Courtney are basically professional dancers and they made up their first dance on the spot so well that it looked choreographed!).
Jordan and Courtney, your wedding was a joy to witness from beginning to end. Thank you for letting me tell this chapter of your story. It was stitched together with love, worship, laughter, and family legacy in the most beautiful ways.
