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Courtney Carolyn Photography - Detroit & Northern Michigan Weddings

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Courtney Carolyn Photography - Detroit & Northern Michigan Weddings

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Welcome to the Blog

Elegant Lord of the Rings Inspired Wedding, in Howell, MI: Madison + Brandon

July 28, 2017 Courtney Carolyn

Madison and Brandon's wedding day was an absolute dream! It was held at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center, in Howell, MI with the ceremony taking place in the outdoor chapel and the reception in the ballroom. It was one of the most sentimental and beautiful weddings I've had the honor of photographing!! Truly magical, before you add in all of the Lord of the Rings inspired-elements! 

Madison looked stunning in her Cinderella-inspired wedding gown as she walked down the aisle and both family and friends could not hold back tears during the ceremony and as Brandon recited his vows to Madison! Keep scrolling to see and read about all the amazing details from their wedding day (including THE CUTEST story about Taco Bell)!

I hope you enjoy some of my absolute favorites from their wedding day!

Getting Ready  - All of Madison's bridal details were so unique and so very Madison! Everything from the forest-inspired invitations to her art-deco wedding band to the fact that she had a copy of The Hobbit on hand . . . It was all just so amazing, and I could not get enough of all the creative elements that she brought in for the wedding!

Madison even warned me saying, "Nerd Alert: I wanted something that echoed the Evenstar pendant that Arwen gives her love Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings. We are actually getting married on the same day as Aragorn and Arwen, as well! Midsummer's Day! My ring is much simpler than Elvish jewelry, but I have a two piece ring: my original engagement solitaire accompanied by a second ring that has leaf-shaped pieces. Together it looks very art deco or roaring 20's.

Brandon's ring is called a "Möbius Strip." He's an engineer, so it made sense for his ring to reflect his science-y approach to things. It basically is a ring with a twist in it, so it only has "one side." It has no beginning or end or top or bottom, so it's a good symbol for unending love." **Don't you just LOVE THAT!! ***

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First Look with Dad - Although Madison and Brandon decided not to see each other prior to the wedding ceremony, Madison did want to share a first look with her dad! I think I love father-daughter first looks just as much as bride and groom first looks! 

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Ceremony - As the score from the Lord of the Rings played, guests found their seats in the open air chapel before the wedding party began the procession down the aisle! They couldn't have asked for a nicer day, although the day before I was watching the weather like a crazy person because it had called for a lot of rain, but thankfully the storms moved right past the area!

Scott, helped me capture Madison and Brandon's wedding ceremony and he did such a great job! While I was up near the alter photographing close-ups of everything happening, he could stand near the back or to the side and capture an alternative perspective and things going on! One of my favorite's that he captured is when Brandon's mom reached across the aisle for Madison's mom's hand after Madison and Brandon stepped up onto the alter to recite their vows!

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After the ceremony, Madison, Brandon, and their wedding party headed out to the Howell City Park for some group portraits! Madison told me that she wanted a wooded setting for some of the photos, if possible, and I was so happy when I came across this park while location scouting! It has everything; greenery, tall trees, and even a lakefront!

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Madison and Brandon entered their reception and then danced to Elvis Presley's "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You," before taking their seats at the head table! 

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***If you've been scrolling to try and find out about the cute Taco Bell story: HERE IT IS!!**

Three speeches and toasts followed, with one standing out most vividly in my mind because of, well, the Taco Bell! Brandon's brother Nick was giving his speech when at one point he mentioned having a special surprise for the bride and groom . . . and that's when someone walked in with a Taco 12 Pack!! Nick said that Taco Bell has a special meaning for all of them, and Madison and Brandon were shocked and elated to see those tacos being walked their way!

I found out later that Brandon's parents actually got Taco Bell on their wedding day and have the cutest photo to prove it and so Madison and Brandon kept with the tradition! Any Taco Bell tradition is a good tradition in my opinion!!

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Madison shared the sweetest dance with her dad! Then it looked like Brandon had so much fun dancing with his mom before the dance floor opened up for guests to start dancing the night away!

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Now, to ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS! Romantic sunset portraits of Madison and Brandon!! 

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Venue: Crystal Gardens, Howell, MI

Florist: Country Lane Flower Shop

DJ: Mobile Rhythm Entertainment

Videographer: Fairytale Productions

Cake: Tasty Layers

Groom Attire: Men's Warehouse

Wedding Dress by: Alfred Angelo from the Disney Fairytale Collection (Cinderella!)

Bridal Salon: Perfect Fit

Invitations: Minted

Rings: Jewelry Factory in Livonia

Photographer: Courtney Carolyn Photography

(Also a special shout out to my amazing assistant, Scott! Your help and patience are always a blessing to me!)

 

View Madison + Brandon's Engagement Photos Here > > >


 
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In Weddings Tags Howell, Crystal Gardens, Crystal Gardens Wedding, Lord of the Rings, Elegant Wedding, Forest Wedding, Natural Wedding, Green and White Wedding Colors, Disney Wedding, Woodland Wedding, Fairytale Wedding, Magical Wedding
← Classic Outdoor Wedding at Great Oaks Country Club | Jen + NickJess + Pat | Fun and Adventurous Engagement at the Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor, MI →

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I'M COURTNEY - Wedding Photographer. Bride-to-Be. Frequent Movie Quoter. Beach Bum. Champion of Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit. Based out of Detroit, MI.

I feel like I have THE BEST job in the entire world, and I don't want to feel like a total stranger on your wedding day so please feel free to have a look around or connect with me!


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Part 2 | Planning Our Wedding Day - Our Photographer + Engagement Photos
Part 2 | Planning Our Wedding Day - Our Photographer + Engagement Photos
Ballerina-Inspired Bridal Portraits, Tempe, AZ | Mimi
Ballerina-Inspired Bridal Portraits, Tempe, AZ | Mimi
Minimal, Modern Wedding at 30 North Saginaw, Pontiac, MI | Brittni + Jason
Minimal, Modern Wedding at 30 North Saginaw, Pontiac, MI | Brittni + Jason
3 Reasons You Need a Father Daughter First Look on Your Wedding Day
3 Reasons You Need a Father Daughter First Look on Your Wedding Day
Intimate Desert Session, Tempe, AZ | Brooke + Chester
Intimate Desert Session, Tempe, AZ | Brooke + Chester
Elegant and Romantic Fall Wedding, Monroe, MI | Katie + Josh
Elegant and Romantic Fall Wedding, Monroe, MI | Katie + Josh
Relaxed Scottish Wedding in the Countryside | Nicole + Phil
Relaxed Scottish Wedding in the Countryside | Nicole + Phil
Fun and Whimsical Beach Wedding in St. Joseph, MI | Ashley + Tim
Fun and Whimsical Beach Wedding in St. Joseph, MI | Ashley + Tim
Nautical Inspired Yacht Wedding, St. Clair Shores, MI | Carole + Mark
Nautical Inspired Yacht Wedding, St. Clair Shores, MI | Carole + Mark

Blog Categories

 WEDDINGS

WEDDINGS

 ADVICE and EDUCATION

ADVICE and EDUCATION

 PERSONAL

PERSONAL

 ENGAGEMENTS

ENGAGEMENTS


 

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Behind the scenes, wedding sneak peeks, and where real life is better than a curated one! @CourtneyCarolynPhotography

I am kind of obsessed with printed photographs! Today Scott and I are going through all the photo albums and photo boxes from our respective childhoods for a special wedding-related project, and it’s not hard to see why I love photographs so much; my parents and grandparents took hundreds and hundreds of photos over the years! 📷⠀
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There is something so very special about holding a physical print in your hands vs. just looking at a digital image. My dad loved taking Polaroids of my sister and I when we were little and I love how candid these little moments are! We are also on the hunt for wedding photos from our parent’s and grandparent’s weddings and I am so in love with the timeless black and white images we’re finding. 😍✨⠀
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Tell me, when was the last time you printed out your digital images? Just think about all the little hands that could one-day hold those moments and how your love story could live on in print!
I am about to kick off my 2018 wedding season in a little over a week, and I am so so excited!! It has been roughly 4 months since my last wedding day, and I am READY to get out of my office on the weekends and be creative again! ⠀
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Before I officially close the 2017 chapter of my business, I wanted to share two blog posts on "The Best of 2017!" Today on the blog is Part 1 of this 2-Part Blog Series, The Best of 2017: Engagements. I really loved gathering up my all-time favorite images from last year’s engagements (there were over 600 favorites originally but am only sharing the best of the best today!). I had the honor and the privilege of working with some pretty amazing couples in 2017 and these images make me fall in love all over again with my job! ✨💕⠀
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Head over to the link in my profile to see my absolute favorites on the blog now!
We’re on the brink of spring (you hear that Winter?! It’s over!), and I love to welcome in the season by dedicating a few days to a deep clean and the reorganization of my entire closet! ⠀
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Spring always feels like the perfect time for a fresh start and every year I reevaluate my clothes, shoes, and accessories and move closer and closer to having a capsule wardrobe. Although, being a minimalist isn’t quite what I’m aiming for, I love the feeling of letting go! If I haven’t worn it in a year, I place it in the donate pile. If it has stains or holes, it goes to the trash. If I haven’t worn it in a while, but it has sentimental value I place it in the reevaluate-again-in-a-year pile. If I absolutely love it and wear it all the time, it’s a keeper!⠀
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I have found this yearly ritual of getting rid of unused or old clothing really helps give me mental clarity in a way! I feel like I have more space in my closet, I’ll have less laundry to do (and that equals having more time for stuff I actually want to be doing!), and the mental weight of getting organized is a natural high for me! Plus some of my clothes will end up going to someone in need!⠀
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How about you, friends? What do you do to welcome the start of spring?
“He is Risen!” ⚰️✨🖤🕊
I know everyone has spring break on their mind right now, but let’s talk about bachelorette trips! 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️⠀
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After a long year of wedding planning, I’m a firm believer that every bride deserves a fun, relaxing trip with her girls to help them unwind. As a bride-to-be myself, I went back and forth on either a trip to the city or a trip to the beach, but in the end who can say no to Vegas?! ♠️♥️♣️♦️⠀
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What can I say? I’m a Midwestern girl through and through who loves the lake, but exploring The Strip and all that Las Vegas has to offer is going to be a special treat! 💃🏻 The best part, by far, is having a chance to adventure, laugh, and be a little bit silly with my sister and my sister-friends, who I don’t get to see as often as I’d like now that we’re all adults. For that part alone I’d take any day in any place, but you only have your bachelorette party once right?! 🎉⠀
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What are your plans for celebrating with your BFFs? Are you planning a chill vacay on  the beach 🏖 with margaritas or planning an energetic weekend in the big city 🌃 with champagne?!
“It is my hope that, in some small way, when you see the photograph of your joyful faces, full of raw love and dreams of the future together, it will remind you to live out your vows every. single. day. I hope your children look upon your happy faces and know in their hearts that their story started with love and know that love is a legacy, passed from one generation to the next. I believe that by providing tangible evidence of the love that exists in people's lives, it can have the power to transform marriages and, even, entire family trees . . .”⠀
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⬆️ This is a small excerpt from my latest blog post which answers the question, “Why am I a wedding photographer?” ⠀
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If we want to be all technical, this is what most businesses refer to as their mission statement!⠀
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✨ Head on over to the blog via the link in my profile to read more! 💕

Courtney Carolyn Photography

 courtney@courtneycarolynphotography.com

Based in Detroit, MI. Available for travel to Northern Michigan - Chicago - And Beyond


|| All content and images copyright 2018 to Courtney Carolyn Photography LLC. All Rights Reserved. || Mission ||