The warm spring day of May was a long overdue relief from the Michigan cold. Nikki moved about the Lake room, of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, adorned in her bedazzled bride tank top as she helped her bridesmaids pin, tuck, and lather with shine.

Bridesmaids pinned a handkerchief to Nikki’s dress in honor of her late mother and the moment filled the room, and their faces, with an emotion that was bittersweet. A photo of her dangled from a broach on Nikki’s bouquet while Mike held onto a similar handkerchief his sister, Michelle had made to also remember their mother who has passed.

Bridesmaid Jamie married Mike’s brother, Jimmy and just hours before she would become Nikki’s sister-in-law she looked on at Nikki with a quiet smile then crossed the room, wrapped her arms around Nikki’s waist and closed her eyes in a tender hug with a beaming smile on her face.

Two floors down Mike waited for the moment he’d get to see his bride. Nikki surprised him along with her brother and father with a money clip that was engraved sweetly for each of them. She signed Mike’s as wife. That was the last thing Mike saw before he climbed the stairs to the gorgeous courtyard at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial and greeted his bride.

Mike and Nikki the two of you have waited a long time to be married. You’re blessed with special family that fill your hearts and play roles in your lives that aren’t common for most of us. You’re both sweet, patient, loving, and strong. You’re gentle to those who depend on you and you’ve been blessed to have each other to lean on. Nikki, I so loved that after months of planning and the emotional tension you faced preparing for your wedding that there weren’t a stitch of nerves present on Sunday. You weren’t nervous. You weren’t emotional. You were just sure. You were so stunningly gorgeous yet bashful and completely humbled by every compliment. Mike, tell her daily how beautiful she is. To you both, I’m so honored to have been invited to be part of your wedding day and to capture your memories. Thank you. You both know how fleeting life can be. Take nothing for granted. Always kiss goodnight. Never stop saying I love you. Oh! And have babies!! xoxo – Kari