Kenzie and Brad’s DoubleTree Bay City wedding was full of sweet and memorable moments! These two’s love for each other was a beautiful thing to witness and very memorable to capture. From the sentimental father/daughter first look to the emotional moments at the end of the wedding aisle, their wedding day was one to remember.
Scroll through the blog post to view my favorite photos from Kenzie and Brad’s Bay City wedding and to read additional details that help illustrate what made their wedding day so sentimental!
Bay City Wedding Photographer
Kenzie: “Brad and I dated for four years throughout college. He proposed to me by the Sturgeon River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. During a walk along the river, he had a wooden ornament hung in a tree that said “Marry Me?” When I turned around after seeing it, he was down on one knee with a beautiful engagement ring. After that, we had champagne and charcuterie at a spot overlooking the river gorge. It was a very special moment between just him and I.”
This boat belonged to Brad’s late grandfather. It is docked right in front of the house that he use to live in – the house that Kenzie and Brad now live together in.
As each bridesmaid walked down the aisle, they surprised Brad with a hug before walking over to their side of the church alter. Lots of happy tears were shed!
Kenzie: “My favorite part was seeing my husband waiting for me at the end of the aisle. We did not do a first look and I’m so glad we didn’t. It felt like it was just him and I in the church, and I’ll never forget that feeling!”
Kenzie and Brad lit their unity candle but wanted to incorporate their guests during this portion. Kenzie and Brad walked down the aisle lighting the candles at the end of each row. Each guest lit the candle next to theirs until the church was full of glowing candles – a symbol of Kenzie and Brad’s love.
Kenzie: “I got my dress from Infinity Bridal in Bay City and it was such a great experience! I chose a classic fit and flare dress with off-the-shoulders sleeves. My seamstress added over-the-shoulder straps and added small pearls to them, giving it a really romantic look that I loved. I knew I also wanted to incorporate pearls into my jewelry, so I went with dangling pearl earrings, a simple pearl necklace with a backdrop of pearls down my back, and a simple pearl bracelet. I didn’t stress about shoes and went with something comfortable. My veil was cathedral length and really pulled everything together. I felt like a traditional bride!”
Kenzie: “My florals were light blue and white hydrangeas with white roses and greens. The entire inspiration for the style of my wedding came from this arrangement of florals.”
In between the ceremony and reception, one of the locations we went to for photos was the Pier 7 Marina in Bay City. One of the boat owners was kind enough to let us borrow his boat to take photos on!
Dusty blue table runners and drapes, floating candles and tall floral arrangements helped elevate the ballroom.
Reception Decor
Kenzie: “I’m all about florals and wanted that to be the highlight of my decor. Simple and elegant was the look I wanted. Using acrylic dusty blue paint and glass frames, I was able to make the table numbers. I purchased a neon sign with our last name and hung that behind the backdrop. I was so thrilled with how our space turned out, my florist went above and beyond!”
During the mother and son dance, Brad and his mother invited wedding guests and their mothers to join them during the dance about halfway through the song.
In conclusion, we went outside at sunset by the river to capture romantic lit bridal portraits. These photos are definitely some of my absolute favorite from Kenzie and Brad’s wedding day.
Bay City Wedding
Thank you to all the vendors who helped make this day amazing:
Reception Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City – Riverfront
Cinematography: Jeff Carpenter Studios
Glam: LC Make-Up Artistry
Dress: Infinity Bridal
Invitation Design: Angeline Kay Designs
Wedding Ceremony Venue: St. Michael’s Lutheran Church
DJ: DJ O’C
Florist: Pam Hanlin
Interested in learning more about my wedding photography experience? View that here.
