Rachel and Sarah {Lake Michigan Wedding}

Sarah and Rachel had the most beautiful wedding on Lake Michigan and I was so honored to be a part of it. This weekend will be a weekend I remember for my whole life. This weekend was the weekend my bff got married and I couldn’t be happier for her. Sarah and I have lived through middle school social study projects, high school band trips, college roommates, buying houses, having children and our 30s (yikes!) together. We have more inside jokes and special memories than anybody I know. Rachel is perfect for Sarah. Rachel understands lobsters, Buffy (the original one) and fun coffee mugs. Rachel has the kindest heart in the world. She is generous and she is funny. She loves Sarah, Sarah loves her, we all love Calvin, and I am over the moon for them.

While we were talking about the past few years, I found out that one of their favorite and funniest memories was when they met and had their picture taken with Stormy Daniels. Leave it to Sarah and Rachel! Really. Hilarious! And then, they got engaged and married during a global pandemic. If that doesn’t say Sarah and Rachel to you, you don’t know Sarah and Rachel.

Anyway, like I was saying- the best weekend ever. It was so wonderful to see my other mother and to meet Rachel’s parents. There was so much love and excitement in the house that weekend. I’m truly honored to have been a part of it.

We started their day getting ready at Rachel’s parents’ home overlooking the lake. Sarah’s mother helped her get dressed and Sarah helped her son get dressed. I love that he had a couple of options of ties, and he chose the red one. He matched perfectly with Rachel’s father, who was also wearing red because in China, red symbolizes luck and happiness.

After they were all ready, Sarah and Rachel waited on the deck for one another. Then, as they walked backward, they met, touched hands, smiled, laughed and had their first look.
We did portraits next, but you’ll see those, last! So then we were on our way to the ceremony site. Sarah and Rachel’s intimate wedding ceremony was so romantic and so full of love. It was breathtaking. They wrote their own vows and recited them, exchanged rings, and had their first kiss in front of their parents and Sarah’s son (and now Rachel’s stepson!) with gorgeous Lake Michigan behind them. We listened to the most amazing music from Benjamin and Kurt, two members of Rachel’s quartet.
After a few more pictures here, we all went to Rachel’s parents’ home, also overlooking Lake Michigan for music, champagne toasts, dinner, cake and lots of love and laughter. The family dogs, Paco, Luna and Pearl were so excited to be a part of this wedding. Rachel, Kurt and Benjamin gave us a private concert and oh my goodness. They played the most beautiful music I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to.
We did some of their portraits on the family’s deck. We had a chance to do some really fun and romantic ones down by the ceremony site and then once sunset was on the way, we headed down to the beach for some of the most romantic and gorgeous sunset pictures ever. It isn’t my place to talk about how Sarah fell in the water. But if she wants to share…. I’m just going to say thank goodness Rachel was there to catch her! And a special thank you to Rachel’s father, who waded in the water with me to be the best light holder in Michigan! Sarah and Rachel, you two were absolutely stunning. Perhaps it’s because I love you so much, but I really think you were the most gorgeous brides I have ever seen.