We are.. Tara + Jacob – Milan, Michigan

This is going to be long.. but I don’t care.

The best part about doing what we do is hands down, the experiences. When Anna and I started this business we wanted to try and shoot weddings as intimate storylines, to capture the day as organically as possible. Because of that and having been married ourselves we realized the importance of connecting with our clients early and really getting a feel for who they are. At the end of the day we strive to give each and every one of them a package of images that represent the day as it truly was, complete with tradional and artistic images that are emotion packed and fun..something that is a true respresentation of the love they have for each other.
Along the way we have had a ton of surprises. The friendships we have fostered through that process are lifelong and some we cherish. Every couple has surprised us in some way, teaching us more about our own love. It is impossible to operate under the above without coming away from each event feeling a closeness to the families and friends. Most all our weddings are referals and as such a strange bond is formed. We cannot say enough about how we feel about that and how much we appreciate it.
Tara and Jake are a wonderful example of this. A friend of Anna’s in high school introduced us to one of our first weddings, Kevan + Monica. That wedding spawned more opportunities within the group of friends and eventually landed us in Mykonos, Greece for Alex + Elena’s wedding. A short stint on the last day had us having breakfast with Tara and Jake in our hotel. It is hard to remember what we had been talking about that day but I remember coming away from it feeling really good about the people they were and the experience we had. Shortly thereafter Tara reached out to us to let us know she would like us to shoot their wedding. When we happened to book a wedding in Alaska (Where Tara and Jake live) instantly we got a wonderful impression again of their generosity and good natured spirit. We stayed with them for 3 days. Those days were one of my favorite vacations ever. Alaska and Jake and Tara had so much to offer us and it was there we first me Laura, Tara’s sister. We will not soon forget it.
Every email following was extremely thoughtful and left us feeling as though a special friendship was being formed. Tara and Jake had chosen to marry in Milan, Michigan. The wedding was to take place in an apple orchard just down the country road from Jake’s parents house. The reception would be in the backyard of that same childhood home. We learned that everyone would be camping in the backyard as well, which added to the excitement. We packed our bags and headed out.
We could not have imagined just how much fun the wedding would be. The morning was filled with Jake and his friends prepping the orchard. Hay bails and details would be added as well. Adding to the testament of just how special Tara and Jake are, Father Elliot, a 93 year old made the trip all the way from Alaska to marry them. Bagpipes would play and bubbles would play end to a intimate ceremony. A wonderful family affair would ensue. Tara’s mom made the food, Jake’s parents and friends decorated and hand-made details. A barn was filled with a bar, a photo booth and a million details and a tent was erected to house the guests. Along a large pond, about 40 camping tents would dot the grass where everyone would spend the evening. A giant party took place into the late evening with fireside chatting and hobo pie making into the wee hours.
Anna and I missed our flight the next day and ended up having to stay an extra day which allowed us to play horshoes with the family, drink yummy local brew, and really take home a wonderful impression of Michigan. We had an absolutely fantastic time and cannot say enough about our experiences there, the generosity of the entire extended family and friends, and especially to Jake’s family for making us feel so invited.
In the end, this is why we do what we do… for the experiences.

Tara + Jake, Anna and I wish you both the best in life and love, and look forward to future experience with you both…

j+a