k. holly photography :: the blog » Weddings

Giffin and Kyle Wedding :: Preparation and Portraits

Kristen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:50:40 +0000

This is part one of Giffin and Kyle’s New Year’s Eve wedding – details, preparation and romantic outdoor portraits! When we first met with these two, and chatted about wedding-day plans and ideas for pictures, we never would have guessed that we’d have green grass and temps in the 40′s! We had visions of wintery winds and snowflakes. But, Michigan always surprises us! We LOVED the warmer weather, and took advantage of the nicer day by doing lots of outdoor pictures. I loved everything about Giffin’s look, from her perfectly beaded trumpet gown and vintage jewelry to her classic black & white details.

The girls and guys started at the Radisson in Lansing, and from there we headed over to the State Capitol building for portraits. It was the perfect backdrop for Kyle, Giffin, and their fabulously dressed-in-black bridal party.

The veil: the moment a girl becomes a bride!

First Look on the Capitol steps:

Are they a good-looking couple, or what? And so sweetly blissfully happy :)

Pink boots and black peekaboo lace!

So, so so romantic…

… ceremony, reception, and New Year’s Eve celebration to come!

1.21.12

Kristen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:53:35 +0000

Viki and Eric are married! We are still smiling and talking about how awesome their Chicago wedding was yesterday. Amazing couple, loving families, thick tradition, tons of joy and laughter. Incredible day!!

{ 12.31.11 }

Kristen — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:27:07 +0000

Congratulations to Giffin and Kyle, married on New Year’s Eve in Lansing, Michigan! Here’s to overflowing happiness and love in 2012!

{ Ashley and Curt :: Married! }

Kristen — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:57:53 +0000

October 7th in Michigan – who’d have known it would be one of the warmest days of the year? The sun was shining, fall colors vibrant, hearts glowing. Ashley was looking amazing (always love the stylists at Design 1!), and her girls were gathering and getting ready for the day to begin. Guys were hanging out across the hall, Curt getting excited to see his lovely bride at Thousand Oaks Golf Club for their first look. We were getting excited too, we adore these two! And the colors, the warmth, her details (hello Badgley Mischka heels, my fave!)… it had the makings of one amazing day! Was it ever! Congrats Ashley and Curt!

Let’s get that beautiful bridal party out here…

{ Ceremony at Westview CRC }

{ Reception at Thousand Oaks }

Congratulations again!! Such an awesome day. All the best to you two! :) k+j

{ Katie and David :: Married! }

Kristen — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:12:43 +0000

October first – not exactly a time when you would be thinking Lake Michigan beach weather, but we absolutely were! Heck, we were outside in Ludington in February this past winter for their winter engagement session! Crazy northerners, not afraid of the weather. You may know, I’m a northern Minnesota girl myself. I don’t love the cold… but I can make friends with it for a beautiful day like this! Says I, from beneath my fuzzy purple hooded knee-length coat. Hey, I matched the bridesmaids! Kidding aside, it truly was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, spirits were high, and two people were in love. Katie and David were at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Scottville getting ready to walk down the aisle, and getting excited to clink glasses and cut a rug at the historic Stearns Motor Inn!

I was absolutely crazy for her dress and details – love that sparkle!!

Boys in bowties? Adorbs!

I love this one. Swoon!

Lake Michigan!! Congratulations again, you two!! We loved spending the day with you and your friends and family. Wishing you all the best!! xoxo, k+j

{ Jennifer and Mat :: Married! }

Kristen — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:40:01 +0000

It was a gorgeous September day. The air was warm, leaves still yellow and green, and sun was shining bright. A perfect day for a wedding! Jennifer and Mat were busy getting ready to say their vows at The Peoples Church in Lansing, MI, and excited to celebrate together at Eagle Eye Club House. I loved her timeless style, and I loved getting to know them! They had an incredible day, full of love, family and friends :)

Congratulations again! Wishing you all the very best!

{ Sarah and Chris :: Married! }

Kristen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:50:50 +0000

Whee! This is a fun one :) Sarah and Chris were married on 9.10.11 at Alger Park Church in Grand Rapids and celebrated afterwards at 25 Kitchen downtown. The whole day had a cool vibe, from getting ready that morning at the trendy Salon Re, to her perfect Maggie Sottero one-shouldered gown and luxe Badgley Mischka heels. Between ceremony and reception, we got to hang out with one of the funnest (and funniest!) bridal parties of the year! Between all the glam and fun, there were definitely some touching moments, like their heartfelt tearful vows, and when three generations got together and sang at the reception. There were a lot of tissues being passed around! All in all, it was an amazing day. Emotion, beauty, and tons of love and laughter. Exactly what a wedding day should be :) Congrats Sarah and Chris!!

Haha, I love when couples get goofy. Cracks us up!

Speaking of cracking us up… awesomest bridal party evaaah! Funky sunglasses and sippy cups for the trolley?! Genius! Spill proof!

Ahh, these pictures make me smile :) So much fun! Okay… better get to the reception! Guests are a-waitin’!

Much love to you two! xoxo, k+j

{ Brennigan and Adam :: Married at Millcreek Barn! }

Kristen — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:14:32 +0000

Eeeek! We had been looking forward to Brennigan and Adam’s Millcreek Barn wedding for a long time. Not only is it one of our favorite venues, we knew it was going to be fun and adorable, and full of heart. I think I already told the story in their engagement post, but from the moment I read her first email, I knew I was going to love them. We even made an exception to our rule of no doubles (shooting two weddings in one weekend). It ended up being the weekend of amazingness that left us dizzy with love and appreciation for what we do.

Brennigan and Adam are in love. Obviously. But somehow they seem more in love that most people… or maybe just more visible, more palpable. I defer to the words of Carrie Bradshaw: ”…ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t-live-without-it, love…” Yes. That.

You can feel it in their pictures. You can see it in their hand crafted details, and you can see it on their faces. Can’t-live-without-it-love.

I loved this – Brennigan is very close with her Dad and wanted a first look with him. Isn’t that the sweetest?

{ First Look! }

Wildflower bouquets? To die for.

Brennigan as a bride? Absolutely jaw-drop stunning.

These next two are my favorites!!

Let’s get married! Ahhh, outdoor ceremonies… :)

I’ve really come to love the tradition of a foot-washing ceremony. I love what it stands for, caring for one another.

Details, details! Love the burlap tablecloths and banners!

Adorable layered paper escort cards, on mini clothespins! On twine! Eek!

One of the best things about summer weddings is how long the days are! We had all kinds of time to run back outside for more pictures before the sun went down. Love, love!

Just a few more lovey ones… le sigh!{ swoon! }

Adam and Brennigan, we absolutely adore you and wish the world for you! Congratulations again :) xoxo, k+j

{ Colleen and Christopher :: Married! }

Kristen — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:22:24 +0000

This just makes me smile. And laugh. And cry a little :) Colleen and Christopher are so perfect for each other, they have this amazing connection. Then again, what’s not to love? Christopher is funny, talented, kind. Colleen is exuberant. She’s caring, honest, and absolutely hilarious. She had everyone cracking up that morning, making light of the craziness of the day while Julie Strating finished up her makeup. It was pouring rain outside, of course! Luckily, Bay Pointe Inn has an amazing outdoor pavilion with rain walls that come down and still let in tons of natural light. It’s one of our favorite places, and we can see why Colleen & Christopher chose it. It’s cool and casual, and it’s a blank slate. Perfect, because these two had LOTS of ideas. Working together with amazing vendors like paper + pinafore, Modern Day Floral and Sweet Cake Designs pretty much guaranteed amazing details, and they did not disappoint! Jamie and I, along with Ryan and his team from Epic Motion pretty much went detail-shooting crazy when we saw the incredible setup! Flowers, burlap, coffee beans, branches, lanterns, succulents, all kinds of etsy goodness. Add in an amazing couple, a bride and her bridesmaids in Lazaro gowns… ::sigh:: I die. You’ll see. It’s SO beautiful!

And, as luck would have it… that rain? Totally cleared up. They had an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day! We were SO glad – we had been looking forward to their wedding since we met them! They are so fun, adorable and so real. We love them! Not to mention, Colleen has “liked” or commented on pretty much everyone else’s wedding and engagement we’ve posted. What a honey, right? I think it’s time to show her the same sweetness! Leave her some love! AND… today just happens to be her birthday! Happy day, beautiful!!

Well hello there, Miss Jersey :) Colleen and Christopher’s wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty! Check it out right here. And definitely check out Epic Motion’s trailer, right here!

{ Kelsey and Clayton :: Married! }

Kristen — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:10:54 +0000

Sigh… where to start! Some weddings are just… I don’t know. Amazing. Not because they’re over the top, not because they’re expensive, not even overloaded with yummy details. Some weddings just grab your heart. Some couples’ happiness bubbles over and overflows over you like the August sunshine on your skin. Bright, warm. It’s contagious. And saying their vows and celebrating lakeside doesn’t hurt either ;) Kelsey and Clayton tied the knot outdoors at her family’s lakefront cottage in Frankfurt, Michigan. She’s a photographer, he’s a cinematographer. Ahh, people like me! Maybe that’s why I loved them so much. Or maybe it was how their families were so close I wanted to hug and squeeze every last one of them on my way out that night. Maybe it was the endless tears flowing down Kelsey’s sister Crissie’s cheeks. Or that amazing speech by her brother Elliot that had tears running down everyone’s cheeks. Maybe it was the sweet strolling reception at the Elberta Life Saving Station. Maybe it was just all of it, rolled up and tucked into one incredible day.

{ first look, lake michigan! }

I love that all the girls wore different dresses, yet they went together perfectly!

And those wildflower bouquets!!

And handsome guys!

{ ceremony }

They arrived at the reception on a little boat, so cute!

A hand-tying ceremony, officiated by her grandfather. Adore!

What makes an outdoor reception even better? Frisbee, bags, badminton…

Congratulations again Kelsey & Clayton!! Thank you for having me, it has been awesome getting to know you!

{ Jennifer and Rob :: Married! }

Kristen — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:44:41 +0000

The morning of Jennifer and Rob’s wedding was beautiful – we drove through the morning fog and light rain from Grand Rapids to Jennifer’s parents home on the East side, where the girls were getting ready. Salon Bella was there doing their makeup and hair, making sure everyone was looking perfect. From there, we went right to Faith Lutheran Church in Troy, Michigan for their ceremony, where Jennifer would see Rob for the first time while walking down the aisle. Right after their ceremony, the rain started to fall. It got darker, and the rain fell harder. (Argh! Michigan weather!) We waited it out while they and their bridal party took a little break. Soon enough the skies cleared up just long enough for us all to get out on the course at Cherry Creek Golf Club (Shelby Township, Michigan) for pictures! We were so glad, the timing was perfect! We got the bridal party out for a few, and then grabbed a couple golf carts for just the bride & groom and us. That post-rain air was incredible – all dewy and romantic :) It was truly an amazing day, definitely one to remember!

I just love Jennifer’s classic, timeless style. Every detail was carefully chosen…

Jennifer is absolutely exquisite. She was a perfect bride!

Seeing the sun come out made everyone giddy – it was such a great moment!!

I love the purple!!

These are my favorite of the day… so romantic, so raw…

S’mores Bar!!! Best late night snack ever!Congratulations again!! Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness! :) k+j

{ Amanda and Joel :: Married! }

Kristen — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:09 +0000

I’d been looking forward to Amanda and Joel’s wedding for a long time, especially after their dewy early-morning engagement session last fall. I met Amanda at Katherine & Austin’s wedding last summer. Of all Katherine’s lovely and sweet bridesmaids, Amanda was the first one to offer a friendly smile and chatted with me over lunch. I was SO excited when she contacted me a few months later with her own good news! She and Joel are an amazing couple. You can feel their love just being around them, and you can tell they’re excited to spend the rest of their lives together. In fact, I wish I could remember the exact words (Amanda, help me out!), but their actual vows included something like “and I’m so excited to spend the rest of my life with you”! It was super cute, incredibly sweet, and got everyone in the room smiling and heart-fluttering for them. I loved it :)

I am so excited to share their wedding with you, which took place at Hudsonville Reformed Church, with a celebration at The Pinnacle Center. She had her hair done by the very talented Kristin Hilty of The Spare Room, makeup by Design 1 in Grandville, flowers were by Dahlia’s Florals, and tons of details were done by the couple themselves and their bridal party. Everything came together so beautifully!

{ First Look! }

Her bouquet was absolutely delicious! I love all the whites, purples, succulents…!!!

As the sun was setting, we snuck the bride and groom out for a few glowy evening pictures. These are our favorite of the day!Congratulations again you two!

{ Lauren and Michael :: Married! }

Kristen — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:19:30 +0000

It was a perfect July afternoon in Michigan… the warm sun was beaming down, tables were being set, dresses being laced up, and flowers being delivered. Lauren and Michael, along with their families and closest friends were getting ready at Lauren’s family home in Grand Rapids. We carefully carried out her Vera Wang gown and Jimmy Choo shoes for detail shots in the garden before Lauren slipped into them…

One of our favorite First Look moments!

A curious flower girl wanted to see…

They are just the most exquisite couple. Her style is so classic and timeless!

Perfect periwinkle and white bouquets by Natalie from Stems Event Design.

They were married at Cascade Hills Country Club in Grand Rapids, in an outdoor tented ceremony. They held their reception in the ballroom.

Just as the sun was setting, we whisked the newlyweds out for a quick romantic, glowy session on the golf course. Love these!! Congratulations again you two!! Wishing you all the very best!

{ Sue and Ben :: Married! }

Kristen — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:46:23 +0000

Sue and Ben had a perfect day – amazing weather, beautiful blue skies, and soft breezes. They had each other, their love, their laughter. They said their vows at Bay Pointe Inn surrounded by their closest friends and family, many (including themselves!) who traveled long distances to be there. Looking back at their images, I’m smiling all the way through them – it was such a great day. Sue is absolutely effervescent, her smile and laugh contagious. And the way Ben’s eyes shine when she’s around… it’s obvious we’re not the only ones who are smitten with her :) We are SO very happy for these two, and were so glad to be with them on their wedding day!

Sue and Ben, we wish you all the very best!!

{ 10.7.11 }

Kristen — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 02:49:19 +0000

Brilliant fall colors, 80-degree weather, a couple in love. What could be better? Congratulations to Ashley and Curt, who celebrated their marriage yesterday at Thousand Oaks in Grand Rapids!

{ 10.1.11 }

Kristen — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:54:47 +0000

Congratulations to Katie and David! They had a beautiful wedding day in Ludington, Michigan on Saturday afternoon. I loved that it was a sunny, breezy fall day. Perfect for a stop at Lake Michigan!

{ Danielle and Brian :: Married! }

Kristen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:14:12 +0000

It was a gorgeous day. Plans were all falling into place, details coming together. Two lives, two hearts, two families about to be joined. Everyone was at the Radisson in Kalamazoo, excitedly getting ready for the day. A very beautiful Danielle was zipping up her gown and putting on her final touches, ready to meet Brian out in the courtyard for their first look…

Danielle, you are a gorgeous bride!

Meet the bridal party ~

Danielle and her mom touching up before the I-do’s

The ceremony was held at St. Joseph Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Reception was held at Rose Street Market, downtown Kzoo, catered by Just Good Food. Love this building!

Congratulations again!! Wishing you two all the very best! :)

{ 9.17.11 }

Kristen — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:07:13 +0000

Congratulations to Jennifer and Mathew, married yesterday at the People’s Church in Lansing! Gorgeous, gorgeous fall day for a wedding!