If I had to pick a title for this day, I'd call it the "vow renewal to end all vow renewals." Quin and Donny are already married. With 3 gorgeous children. And were coming up on their 10 year anniversary. Quin had messaged me about how she wanted to have a "wedding" vow renewal and the ideas she had for that. This couple had originally gotten married in a very small ceremony and didn't have all the fancy celebration that a wedding day typically entails. But, 10 years later, she was more in love with her husband than ever before and they wanted that celebration they never had when they first said their vows. And what better time than at a vow renewal?
You had me at "more in love than ever before." Ok, I don't know if she used those exact words, but that was totally the love that is evident between these two. But still, I was crazy excited for this day and new it was going to be something super special.
So the biggest hurdle in planning the ceremony for Quin was...where in the world will we have the ceremony? The reception was going to be held at the Newberry Country Club, which is gorgeous and a great place to celebrate, but for the ceremony, she was trying to brainstorm, so we took one afternoon and drove around looking for the *perfect* place. We drove to a couple locations that could work, and then I suggested we go look at some of my family property. It's (to me, at least!) one of the prettiest places and I love it, partly because of childhood memories on the property. So we drove there and it was just perfect! So my family land it was!
It was somewhat of a gamble, however. The date they chose was on the later side of October and if you live in Northern Michigan anywhere, it's a roll of the dice. It could be a gorgeous late fall day. Or it could be snow. You truly never know. We ended up with one of the most perfectly gorgeous days you could ask for. It made me the happiest ever for this couple!!
We started out the day at Quin's parents' house for a few short minutes while they finished getting ready.
Then we headed to the ceremony location! The couple had a few friends with big trucks that could easily navigate the rough road that transported their closest friends and family to and from the ceremony.
I love the couple's kids...they are pretty much the best, and there was nothing more precious to have them watch their mom and dad say their vows again to each other.
I mean...if you can't feel the love radiating from these two...
After we left the ceremony location, we headed into town. The wedding party went ahead to grab a quick drink at a local bar, while Quin and Donny and myself went to the local school, where these two met. Oh, did I mention they are high school sweethearts? I mean, can you say PERFECT LOVE STORY??
Where this story all started, many years ago!
We caught up with the rest of the party before we sent them to the reception while we continued with a few pictures!
The couple was going to play the shoe game at the reception (if you don't know what that is, the DJ asks questions to the couple such as "who is the worst cook" and the couple holds up the bride/groom's shoe corresponding to who they think) and you guessed it, some of the wedding party, writing down inappropriate questions for the DJ to ask the couple ;)
Ok, so here's where I apologize in advance for a ton of images of this couple, because they are so beautiful, and the evening was pretty much the same, and everything about this 20 minutes or so we had was magic.
