backyard wedding in Monroe, Michigan by Kari Dawson Photography

i do {weddings}

blush and black backyard wedding in Monroe Michigan

Elegant blush and black backyard wedding in Monroe, Michigan provided by Kari Dawson, top-rated Michigan wedding photographer, and her team.

Their story…

Steven’s best friend is best friends with Samantha’s brother. Steven purchased tickets for dinner at the Eiffel tower as a surprise gift for a friend of his while in Paris. That friend, however, was unable to attend. Samantha and Steven knew of each other in high school but never spent time together or connected. Steve asked his best friend if he could have Samantha’s number after seeing through social media that she was also in Paris. With permission, Steven asked Samantha to join him for dinner at the tower. With a little encouragement from Sam’s best friend… she agreed.

Their first date…

After getting through a dozen serendipitous roadblocks including entry into the tower without a ticket (Steven had both their tickets) Samantha had dinner with Steven. After dinner, they found a wine shop and then sat in the park sipping and talking until 3:00 am!! They only parted ways because Steven’s flight back to the states was departing at 6:00 am.

A little background…

As a wedding photographer, I have heard a lot of chance meetings and romantic stories but Samantha and Steven’s takes the proverbial cake. In their vows, they mentioned, jokingly, that fated night thousands of miles across the pond when they actually grew up just four miles from each other. I shared my deep affinity for this lovely couple when I shared their Engagement photos seen here: https://bit.ly/3zzl855.

Their connections…

Preparing this blog post allowed me to relive Samantha and Steven’s incredible day all over again. Getting another peek into the bond they share with loved ones. As a mom who has a daughter planning her own wedding, I can attest to the emotions that overcome you as you watch your child marry. All of the love, guidance, prayers, and years you have poured into their lives converge with the beautiful independent adult they have become as they choose the love to share their life with. The tears surface because you are so dang proud and because you trust that their love is in God’s hands and you trust that they have chosen well.

It is no surprise to me that Steven and Samantha chose also to shorten the front of their wedding day, meeting me at the church so that their time with me could be focused on their people. The ‘must haves’ that were given to me included two things: a group photo of every guest outside the church and the sparkler exit at the end of the night.

Of the must-haves given to their moms while planning for the wedding: “make sure it doesn’t look like a graduation party.” And let me tell you, their backyard wedding in Monroe was an actual oasis and looked nothing like a grad party.

In closing…

I am incredibly honored to have met you both, Sam and Steven. Thank you for inviting me along this journey with you and for trusting me with your memories. You will always have a space carved into my heart. xoxo – Kari

Wedding day vendors are provided at the end of this post.