This is probably my longest and most favorite blog post I’ve put together in a long while. Not only because it’s been a long time coming but because DJ and Kate are two people who have become what feels like family to me over the past three years. Yes. Three years! I met Kate and DJ back when Kate’s brother Chase married Naomi in Milwaukee in 2018! I was lucky enough to photograph their wedding day and then when Kate reached out to me about her wedding in 2020 I was beyond excited to shoot another wedding within that wonderful family. I felt like I hit the jackpot. It’s truly the biggest compliment when a family member or friend books me after a wedding I did for someone close to them. As you can probably guess by the title of this post…Kate and DJ did have to post pone their big wedding day celebration because of Covid but they didn’t want to post pone their marriage any longer. SO. That’s why this post is unique. It’s broken up into two days.. two beautiful days.
This first batch of photos have been kept hidden away on my hard drive for over a year now. It was such a special day. (I was also in my first trimester of pregnancy and nobody knew yet!) It was simple yet elegant and DJ and Kate were surrounded by only their very closest friends and family as they said their vows and became husband and wife. It felt no different than any other wedding day to me except for the fact that we could all breathe a little deeper because there was just a lot more flexibility and time to take everything in since it was such an intimate event. I kind of loved the pace, personally. They were married along the shore of the beautiful lake Michigan on a sunny May day. My husband Aaron joined me and actually played one of their favorite songs, “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver on guitar as Kate walked down the aisle…here is a look into the sweet day that these two were joined together as one…scroll for part two!
Now you see, Kate and DJ were cheated because of Covid and didn’t get to celebrate with their people the way every new bride groom deserves! So, they decided what better way to celebrate their one year of marriage than with a vow renewal and the reception they always dreamed of having. How cool that they actually kind of got TWO wedding days and how cool that I got to see them again! Usually after a wedding day I give my couples a big hug knowing that this could well be the last time I see them…but lucky for me I got to photograph these two cuties AGAIN! Felt like a blessing. Plus double wedding photos?! Jealous! hahaha. Now, there was a minor, well…major blip in their day but when I tell you DJ handled it like a champ I MEAN IT. In the middle of their bridal party photos I was informed that DJ was feeling some pain in his lower back where his kidney sits….long story short the guy had a freaking kidney stone and was grinning and bearing it for his bride. WHAT A MAN. Shortly after photos DJ went to the ER to find out for sure what was going on and it was in fact what we all were thinking. If you’re wondering if I took photos, you better believe I did…scroll down to see these two enjoying a frozen cake that the nurses brought into their room for them to enjoy while they waited for the pain killers to set in. They never even frowned through this huge curve ball on their day. This is why I love them. They take life as it comes and find the humor in what could have been viewed as a huge bummer.
About an hour or so later DJ was dishcarged, ran back up to the hotel, put on his suit and made it in time for their grand entrance. Who does that!? I was so impressed. While things didn’t happen exactly how we planned them to happen everything worked out just how it was supposed to and one day they’ll be able to share all of these precious memories (even the ER pics) for generations to come…I just love you both DJ and Kate. Enjoy part two of their wedding day…
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