Myah and Blake’s wedding day was chock-filled with little moments and details perfectly unique to their personalities that added up to a beautiful celebration of their love and I was so honored to be the one to document it all!

In the late morning of July 16, 2022, Myah Russell and Blake Paleno welcomed their family and friends to witness the exchanging of their vows at Frankenmuth, Michigan’s famous Bavarian Inn Lodge. They were married outdoors in the Summer Garden of the Bavarian Inn, full of greenery and blooming flowers on a seasonally mild temperature day for July in Michigan- very grateful for that!

On this weekend there was a Cass River colonial encampment reenactment taking place at the River Place Shops. Canon fire coming from within just a couple hundred yards of the ceremony site at historically accurate military camps could be heard leading right up until just a few moments before the ceremony began- I’m still not sure if someone asked them to hold their fire or if it was pure coincidence it calmed! Their bridal party of twenty bridesmaids and groomsmen plus five tiny humans as ring bearers and flower girls preceded the bride down the aisle before Myah and her father took center stage. The beautiful music was provided by a trio of strings that fit Myah and Blake’s personalities perfectly.

Every ceremony has moments that make it unique and lasting in memory of its witnesses and Myah and Blake’s was no different. I had never witnessed a foot washing ceremony before this day but it was absolutely beautiful and had me choked up behind the camera. The foot washing ceremony signified Myah and Blake’s commitment to serve one another throughout their marriage, just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and taught them to serve others as he came to serve the humanity. It was a truly incredible moment and one I will not soon forget.

Guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the terrace overlooking the ceremony site as family formal and bridal party portraits took place just beyond the Summer Garden. Following portraits, everyone headed across the much loved covered bridge spanning the Cass River that runs through downtown Frankenmuth into the Bavarian Inn Restaurant for lunch. Frankenmuth’s famous chicken dinners were on the menu which made this photographer very, very happy! The new Mr. and Mrs. Paleno were welcomed into the festive room with loud cheers heard throughout the building. The luncheon was both delicious and filled with loads of hugs and smiles between the newlyweds and their guests. The cake was cut and when the groom smooshed a bit of frosting onto the bride’s nose in good fun, he immediately turned the confection on himself and frosted his own nose too making them a matching pair. This was one of my favorite pictures from their wedding, showing the couple’s very lighthearted and playful side with one another.

We headed back to the home of the new couple after the luncheon had ended at 4pm, just a short drive away in Birch Run to take their bride and groom’s portraits. Due to the unique timeline of the day, these pictures were taken after the event. This worked out nicely as the sun was now lower in the sky than it would have been midday when time didn’t allow for their portraits anyhow. The couple’s home sits on a number of acres of scenic land including fields, a pond, duck house and barn. I got to hear all about the plans for goats, ducks and more farm animals to be soon welcomed to the homestead- I hope to be able to visit and pet them someday I’m back in Frankenmuth!

Myah suggested we trek through some pretty heavy grasses and foliage to get to a golden wheat field behind the tree line- I sustained some pretty decent scratches on my legs being in a knee-length skirt myself but what awaited us was sooo worth it!