Apr 13, 2021

Kelly + Nathan | Intimate Spring Ceremony | Metro Detroit Wedding Photographer

Heritage Park wedding ceremony in Metro Detroit. Photographed by Nicole Leanne Photography.

Kelly and Nathan’s intimate ceremony on a sunny April afternoon was the perfect way to kick off my 2021 wedding season! The couple was joined by their closest family and friends at Heritage Park for a beautiful day celebrating their love together. The day was filled with meaningful moments and I feel honored I was able to be there to document the day for them. Kelly was such a fun relaxed bride too! She made her own flower arrangements and rocked her Converse sneakers with her wedding dress. The ceremony was officiated by Nathan’s high school friend, Mitch. Since Mitch is one of Nathan’s closest friends, he was able to make the ceremony sweet and personalized, just for Kelly and Nathan. Nathan’s Mom, Tammi, held a sand ceremony with white and blue sand to signify Kelly and Nathan’s unity. The couple shared the thoughtful vows they wrote for each other and exchanged rings they made themselves out of wood from a douglas fir tree. How cool is that?! Douglas fir trees are known to live over 500 years, some even living 1,000 years, so the symbolism their rings have for a lasting bond is extra special. After the ceremony, Kelly and Nathan enjoyed cutting their cake from Micaela Cakes Bakery. It looked absolutely delicious! To make the cake cutting even sweeter, the couple used Nathan’s grandparents’ wedding cake knife from over 50 years ago. The theme of family throughout the entire day made Kelly and Nathan’s day that much more special. After some heartwarming toasts and a few photos at the park, Kelly and Nathan snuck back home so we could take some wedding portraits in their own space, just like their engagement session. We didn’t want to leave out the furry family members from the day, of course! With a little bit of spring color starting to bloom and sunshine, it was a beautiful day! It is always so much fun to spend the day with two people just excited for the day they get to marry their best friend! After their wedding, they celebrated their honeymoon with a Traverse City getaway, which is one of my favorite Michigan spots. I am so happy for them and glad they were able to celebrate their day with those closest to them!