I have been not-so-patiently waiting for Gabriela and Alexander’s Meadowbrook Hall wedding since I first met them. I adored them both immediately and knew I would spend their wedding day swooning over all the emerald green and gold details. Meadowbrook Hall is an old mansion. The architectural detail of the mansion combined with the expansive grounds and immaculate gardens made for the perfect backdrop for an outdoor summer wedding. Gabriela is a hobbyist photographer with an artistic eye; she dreamt up a divine color palette and incredible details. Lindsey at Flourish created stunning florals and brought all the details of the wedding day together perfectly. And Alexis at Meadowbrook made sure everything was pulled off without a hitch. Gabriela may have thought I was teasing, but if she ever decides to take a stab at weddings, I would snatch up her creative talent in a heart beat.
You might remember their engagement session at Michigan State University where we wandered in the mist and had a great time. Gabriela is sexy and fierce and it looks to me like Alexander has met his match. These two ooze romance and are so affectionate with one another. All of the details were a perfect reflection of the pair of them. Everything looked and felt rich with culture and tradition and proffered an air of timelessness and elegance but was also unique at the same time. They both beamed with joy and true excitement at seeing each other for their first look before falling into each other’s embrace where both of their expressions transitioned to one of peace and tenderness. As with every wedding, these are my favorite moments. The moments they forget that their memories are being documented and they just get lost in the moment. Alexander and Gabriela have many images of these special moments when one or the other thought no one is watching but I caught their subtle glances and adoring smiles.
A string quartet strung their instruments as Gabriela made her way up the long aisle with her dad on her arm and her lace, cathedral length veil flowing behind. Her father gave her away and Alexander lead his bride to the top of the steps for their vows. Their ceremony included a beautiful coin and lasso ceremony. The lasso, an infinite rope, had one half placed over Gabby and the other over Alex. The lasso represents the infinite bond between the two and symbolizes the joining together of two separate persons into one unified marriage. The coins are exchanged, given and received, to represent the give and take of a marriage. They are a reminder and promise that they will mutually support each other and their children. Gabriela and Alexander entered their first day of marriage surrounded by the love of family and full of culture and tradition that I pray they will continue to carry in their lives and teach their future children. Culture and tradition help families build loving memories, strong bonds and make each individual feel part of something. There is a richness and depth to family traditions that make us feel part of a family and community which fulfills an innate need built into each of us that only these ties and a spiritual life can fulfill. I am so happy to have been part of the fullness of their wedding and I’m excited to see where the road ahead leads them.
A special thank you to Katie for second shooting and creating gorgeous images for Gabriela and Alexander. And to Holiday Market for creating not just pretty wedding cakes but the best tasting ones too!
