Summer Waterfront Wedding at Waldenwoods | Angel and Blake

Weddings

As if Angel and Blake’s sunrise engagement session in Ann Arbor wasn’t stunning enough, they also lucked out with the absolute best day of sunlight and warm weather for their wedding. They planned a summer waterfront wedding at Waldenwoods Resort and Conference Center in Howell, Michigan for 200 of their closest loved ones. It was a dreamy, sunny celebration and the whole day felt calm, smooth, relaxed and stress-free. Having everything take place in one venue made for smooth sailing and more time for photos and being present. Undoubtedly, as a Michigan wedding photographer, this is a dream wedding day to be a part of!

Angel and Blake initially met while they were both servers at Texas Roadhouse in college. At the time, Angel was dating someone else but Blake was patient and once that relationship ended, after some time, he made his move. What started as a friendship first eventually had the space and circumstances to blossom and about 5 years later, Blake proposed in the Grand Tetons while they were on a national parks road trip out west.

Their wedding day began with both Angel and Blake getting ready at the venue. Angel and her bridesmaids got ready in the spacious bridal suite on the upper floor of Cromaine Hall (right above the reception space). I’m so in love with the way Angel and her stunning dress from The Wedding Shoppe photographed against the dark wood walls and great window light of the space. Of course I had to feature their custom napkins with their golden retriever, Gordie, in the details photos!

Meanwhile, Blake and the groomsmen got ready in the Hilltop Cottage. And of course, the Michigan football game was on the TV as they started their day!

After getting dressed with the help of her mom and sister, Angel shared a special first look with her father. Then we started with wedding party photos and each of them with their immediate families.

Although Angel and Blake chose not to do a first look, they did share a first touch moment before the ceremony, exchanging heartfelt notes they had written to one another. 

The ceremony took place along the waterfront at Waldenwoods under their gazebo. Olive’s Bloombox did the most amazing job with flowers around the ceremony arch that brought the perfect pop of color to the photos. I mea, can you get much more picturesque? The weather was perfect, with partly sunny skies and warm temperatures, giving us some sunny moments as well as evenly-lit shade throughout the ceremony. I can’t forget to mention how they had their grandmas as the flower girls! The three of them even carried fun gold hoops with flowers in place of petals or a bouquet. So cute!

Angel and Blake’s ceremony was heartfelt and funny thanks to their friend Corey that married them. At the start of their ceremony after welcoming their guests and introducing himself, Corey gave all the guests about 30 seconds to pull out their phones and take photos of Angel and Blake. Angel and Blake struck a pose for everyone and it was great! This way, guests got the photos they wanted and for the rest of the ceremony, phones were away and everyone was fully present. This is an awesome way to make everyone happy and keep guest photos out of your ceremony photos! 

After the ceremony, we took a large group shot of all the guests (a fun perk with the way Waldenwoods is laid out) before guests enjoyed the outdoor cocktail hour. Meanwhile, we captured Angel and Blake’s families together, the full wedding party, and of course, Angel and Blake. 

Following cocktail hour, the reception began with a lively grand entrance that set the tone for the rest of the evening. After cutting their cake from the best ever Cakes by Stephanie (featuring their pup Gordie!), they kicked things off with speeches and then dinner before I snuck out with Angel and Blake to take advantage of the last few moments of the cloudy yet vibrant sunset. 

To get the dance floor going, Angel and Blake had their first dance and special dances. It didn’t take long for the dance floor to fill up from there!

Angel and Blake spent almost the whole night on the dance floor with their friends and by the end of it, everyone was barefoot (the sign of a good time, in my opinion). 

Angel and Blake’s summer waterfront wedding at Waldenwoods was a truly memorable day for everyone, including me! They prioritized enjoying time with their friends and family and keeping the logistics of the day simple so that they could get the most out of their day, have fun and be present. 

If you’re looking for a Michigan wedding photographer to capture your own special day, you can reach out here and I’ll guide you from start to finish in crafting a wedding day that gives you time to breathe and enjoy while capturing and prioritizing the most important experiences to you.  I’d love to hear from you!

Angel and Blake’s Wonderful Vendors Team: