pink and gray summer crystal gardens wedding in southgate by kari dawson

i do {weddings}

romantic summer pink and gray classic wedding at crystal gardens

Summer pink and gray Crystal Gardens wedding in Southgate, Michigan provided by Kari Dawson, top-rated Michigan wedding photographer, and her team.

A first for me…

As I was leaving to head downriver for Rachel and Blake’s Crystal Gardens wedding my google map went loopy before I even left my street. I quickly pulled the address again, loaded it into a different app, and I was on my way. I’ll throw myself under the bus here… since 2008 I have never mixed up locations, arrived late, or any other catastrophic event. But in 2022 I arrived early at Rachel’s parent’s house because I pulled the wrong address. A quick squeeze to Rachel and I raced to Blake’s parent’s house. All was right with the world again once I arrived and got started with Blake.

Getting Rachel ready…

After giving Rachel a proper hello I dove into her wedding day details. I absolutely loved her head piece. From the sound of it, headbands have always been a thing for Rachel. She looked like a true princess on her wedding day. I loved seeing her mom and sister’s eyes light up at the sight of her in her wedding dress. Rachel’s dad really pulled on everyone’s heart strings when he saw her for the first time on her wedding day. Go pro around his neck and all.

Their ceremony…

Their wedding ceremony began with worship. The very first thing Blake and Rachel chose to do together on their wedding day was make God a priority. Set apart a time to first glorify Him. Rachel’s siblings and her co-worship team members lead the sanctuary making the service even more special for them. The second thing they chose to do together is to be surrounded by their parents in prayer. Once they finally were hand in hand on the altar they both were nothing but beaming smiles.

After our portrait time, intros, toasts, and dinner it was time for first dances. Rachel and Blake wowed their guests with their first dance. And once the formalities were complete Blake and Rachel opened the dance floor with their wedding party with a while choreographed dance to Hoedown (Hannah Montana) before inviting guests to join in the fun.

Their story…

Rachel and Blake and their families have been in each other’s lives for years. But in recent years Rachel and Blake began to think of how their families could spend extra events and hours together. All in a plot for THEM to spend more time together. Blake is the boy the Rachel loved at the age of fourteen. But, even though they have always remained friends, life would take them down different paths for many years. Now they are not only best friends but lovers, each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and soulmates while pursuing a Christ centered life together. Blake and Rachel, I am so grateful to have been part of the first part of your journey together. I pray peace, prosperity, and health over you both with heaps of supernatural joy for years to come. xoxo Kari

Wedding day vendors provided at the end of this post.