Brian and Brionne’s Michigan outdoor wedding bloomed from an adorable beginning. Bri revealed when they first met Brian was working on a farm where she took her students on a field-trip. Her 4th and 5th grade students banded together to ask if Brian thought their teacher was cute. He of course remained professional when they pointed her out. She said ” the first time we actually held hands was when I was learning how to milk a goat.” Talk about meeting your udder half! After Bri left without exchanging numbers, Brian knew her co-worker and ended up surprising her with a text and a date invitation.

Instead of sitting at a dinner table and the anxiousness of a first date, Brian suggested picking up beer and making dinner at the farm.  She had a tour of the farm, met his dog Marley and had their first kiss, the start of their loving taking root. As they were separate for a bit when  Bri moved to Ann Arbor., Brian  wrote letters as her Spanish pen pal to help them both learn and practice the language. Bri found it a cute way to stay in touch, but who wouldn’t?!  

Their Michigan outdoor wedding was full of vivid greens, warm oranges and of course featured Harley and Maci (Bri’s dog).  Not only were they ring bearers, but also the faces of the custom drinks. Amidst the charming atmosphere, I can tell their love will continue growing for years to come. 

 

Associate Photographer | Emily MacDonald

Wedding Planner | Jeannene Lillie Events

Brionne’s Attire | David’s Bridal dress and shoes, handmade floral headband from Elvira Ubaldo Ace Ruiz

Brian’s Attire | Suit from Menguin, Accessories from Tie Bar and DAZI

Ceremony Officiant | Hilary Hunt

Make-up Artist | Lux Looks by Lulu

Florist | Bri and her Mom

Videography| Jacob Maxwell

Catering Company | Brian’s Mom

Bakery | Layla’s Cool Pops

DJ or Band | Ceremony singer: Sasha Battle

Jeweler | Earrings from BHLDN

Invitations or Other Stationery | Canva

 

 

Check out more of Liv Lyszyk’s work here!

Lily and Jake | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

Jim and Cam | Michigan LGBTQ Wedding | Sutton Barn Wedding Photos

Chelsea and Ben | Lions and Rabbits | Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

Jim and Cam gathered together with their closest friends and family to celebrate their marriage. They chose the beautiful Sutton Barn in Whitmore Lake, Michigan as the setting, and it didn’t disappoint. Their gorgeous grounds provide lots of amazing photo opportunities including that stunning weeping willow you’ll see! This was a celebration in every sense of the word. They popped champagne, had some incredible vows, and of course boogied all night long! It’s always so much fun when the wedding party and family help us feel so welcomed, this was definitely one of those times!

One of my favorite parts was the reading of the closing statement from the Supreme Court’s marriage equality case. Many of the LGBTQ weddings I photograph include this passage and it always hits home for me. The fact that so many LGBTQ couples weren’t allowed this basic right is so baffling, but I’m so thankful for those who fought and continue to fight for it. Another special moment was during the speeches when Jim’s mom mentioned that she’s active in a group of moms who fight for equality. They have a large Facebook group that aims to educate and support moms and families as their children come out and navigate the world as an out queer person. Hearing her choke up saying how proud she is of them definitely was the cherry on top of the cake.

The whole wedding filled my heart with so much hope and joy and it’s days like that where I say an extra thank you to the universe for bringing such incredible couples into my life!

Lauren and Max are some of the kindest hearted people I’ve ever met. We immediately clicked during out initial meeting and hearing them talk about each other showed me just how in love they really are. Lauren said “Max is the greatest gift that God has ever given me. He showed up at Biggby for our first day and immediately took my heart. Our first date was full of laughter and honesty and it was clear that there was something different about him. Our story basically took off like a whirlwind from there. Max is a planner…he lives for the future and dreams big. I am the logical one. He shows me the stars and I bring us back to Earth. He is the only person I have ever met who is weirder than me and I can honestly say that the majority of our conversations happen through laughter. We make each other sparkle brighter”.

This couple’s love for God and their community was very apparent. Planning a wedding during 2020 can be a lot to handle, and Lauren and Max were no stranger to the difficulties. We ended up going with plan C which turned out to be the perfect backyard elopement. Their wedding took place at Lauren’s parent’s house and it provided a lovely wooded area that took their cheerful vision to the next level. It was important to have their closest friends and family still included and they all rallied together to help make it happen! I’m so glad to also have had my associate photographer Emily with me, the amazing candids and double exposures are her speciality! Having us together as a team made sure that every moment was captured! Thank you Lauren and Max for allowing us to capture your special day.

Emily and Niki found me while searching for Michigan LGBTQ wedding photography and reached out eager to tell me all about their backyard elopement plans! The couple had found an incredible lakeside mansion that offered the perfect location for their closest friends and family to gather for their nuptials. I have a special place in my heart for small intimate elopements, I find that it allows couples to be fully present with their loved ones while not conforming to outdated wedding traditions.

This backyard elopement was set on Allegan lake, we make the trek down ALLLL those steps before the ceremony to get some photos so they could focus on spending time with guests once they arrived. The whole day was so community centered which was just really lovely and a testament to all the folks who have supported them throughout the years.

In my experience with Michigan LGBTQ wedding photography a lot of my same sex couples choose really amazing out of the box outfits to wear and this wedding was no exception. Emily wore a gorgeous lace top with cropped pants while Niki sported a chic blue dress from Modcloth that suited her perfectly.

One of the other important things to note was the stunning handmade table for their epic charcuterie. All food and drinks were lovingly made by their families, it was truly a group effort! After food the handmade wedding cakes were cut and guests enjoyed dancing and s’mores toasts!

If you are interested in hiring Liv for your Michigan LBGTQ wedding photography needs or want to see more click the links below!

Gabby and Moe | Leland Art Center | Up North LGBTQ Wedding Photographer

T and R | Mason, MI | LGBTQ Wedding Photographer

Jayme and Nikki | Rocky Gap Park | Same Sex Wedding Photographer

Chelsea and Ben enjoyed the most beautiful and personal day for their wedding. The two are both singers, their passion for music and community shined throughout the whole day. We were able to get some amazing shots on the rooftop of their hotel before moving to their venue, Lions and Rabbits, and incredible wedding venue and art space in the Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Their wedding party wore stunning jewel tones that paired perfectly with the eclectic art on the walls. Guests were greeted with a champagne toast before they gathered to witness the couple officially marry. It was beautiful to see all their friends and family who were a part of the ceremony sharing their love. After their first dance guests enjoyed a variety of food stations which made for a really lovely casual atmosphere perfect for mingling. It was such an honor to be a part of their wedding, it’s definitely one of the most special I’ve attended. As you can clearly see from the photos Chelsea and Ben were made for each other and I know they will have years of happiness to come.

Check out the blog posts linked below to see more from Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer, Liv Lyszyk Photography

Gabby and Moe | Leland Art Center | Up North LGBTQ Wedding Photographer

Liz and Dan | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

Hollis and Kenny | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

Gabby and Moe are two of the kindest, most incredible humans I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. These two wanted an intimate celebration of love and diversity. The pair got ready at an incredible summer resort, very dirty dancing vibes! We ate sandwiches while everyone slowly got ready and just enjoyed everyone’s company. It was such a joy to experience everyone’s beautiful energy and love towards the couple. They did a beautiful first look and exchanged gifts before we meandered around the property for photos. Heading to the ceremony and reception space it was great to see the buzz of last minute details being finalized. A huge part of their wedding was activism and inclusion. They offered pronoun buttons for folks to wear to create a safe space for community and also offered all gender neutral bathrooms. It was so lovely seeing the personal touches added throughout the whole day. I think the photos speak for themselves, so just enjoy!

To learn more and see more of Liv’s work check out the links below!

Jasmine and Cady // West Michigan // LGBT Engagement Photography

Ashlee and Allison | West Olive, MI | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Dan and Paul | Stetson Chapel | LGBT Wedding Photographer

 

Ellie and Martín have such a beautiful relationship that I was honored to photograph. Their wedding, held at Boatwerks Restaurant in Holland, Michigan was a perfect blend of their cultures and love for each other. Ellie told me they wanted it to feel like a tropical getaway without the destination wedding price. I think they did a stunning job, thanks in part to the gorgeous florals from Stems Market. I loved the modern fiesta vibe and the bright colors paired with neutral backdrops to create a fun environment. It was such a joy to witness and capture their nuptials and I’m so eager to see how they grow together in the future!

Julia and Robert were referred to me by a dear friend who thought my style and personality would mesh well with theirs. Well they were right and during Julia and Robert’s engagement session we hit it off. We had chatted back then about the woodland ethereal feel the couple wanted for their day. I knew it would be incredible and they didn’t disappoint. The florals that dripped from every inch of the setup from Brennan at Overgrowth Floral were so dreamy. I mean take a look at that completely handmade arch! I loved the elevated backyard feel that the venue and their personal touches gave. I’m just so giddy with how everything turned out and I got some pretty kick ass friends out of it!

 

Dajanae and Herman celebrated their love with their closest friends and family at the Bissell Treehouse. It was so inspiring seeing their friends share stories of how much the couple had impacted their lives. From the beginning Dajanae said this was not just a wedding, but a thank you, to everyone in their lives. That mindset was clear throughout the whole day. I was blown away by the florals and how perfectly their vision came to life! It’s pretty clear to see just how much these two love each other, it was such a fun time!

To learn more and book Liv for your wedding check out the website or the blog posts linked below!

Ashlee and Allison | West Olive, MI | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Day and Herman | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

Josh and Ashley | Meijer Gardens, MI | Grand Rapids Elopement Photographer

I knew Katrina when I was in middle school, we had met through a mutual friend (the maid of honor!) and when she and Sasha reached out years later about photographing their Loft 310 wedding I was SO pumped. I absolutely love connecting with couples that I know and getting to capture their love. It was clear when we me up for their Engagement Session that their wedding would be spectacular and they totally didn’t disappoint. Loft 310 is a great venue, the best in Kalamazoo I think. They offer such gorgeous spaces to allow couples to really cater their wedding to their personal taste. I loved that these two didn’t feel obligated to do any traditions they didn’t want. It just felt like a huge celebration of love and friendship. Sasha and Katrina are a perfect pair and their big day matched that perfection, thank you for allowing me to be there to capture it!

To learn more and see more of Liv Lyszyk Photography’s work check out the blog posts below or go to the website!

Ashlee and Allison | West Olive, MI | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Nikki and Carolyn | Delton, MI | Queer Wedding Photographer

Hollis and Kenny | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer