Today’s real wedding is from the super fun Kellie Hetler, from Hetler Photography. There is something special about West Michigan Weddings. I don’t know if it is the beaches, the downtown areas, the fun venues or the awesome people, but I am in love with that side of the Mitten State.

Matt & Crystal had an adorable wedding filled with some pretty awesome cars! The Bob was the backdrop for the ceremony, which is a completely awesome venue, and the ceremony was at Ganges Methodist Church. Check out the photos below. You will love this!

A little about Hetler Photography:

We are Hetler Photography LLC.  We are a married photography team that specializes in wedding and lifestyle photography.  We mainly serve Michigan, but always love to travel!  We were lucky enough to be able to photograph Matt & Crystal’s wedding and engagement last year!!

A little about Matt & Crystal’s Wedding:

Matt & Crystal were a fun and unique couple!  All of their friends and family had Volkswagen vehicles of some sort that were used as great props in their photos!  We had lots of time for photos with the wedding party/couple, so there are many more from where these came from!

To see more of this wedding, check out the main post here.

Today’s real wedding feature is an epic one! Emily Tishhouse, from Emily Kay Photography, sent these photos over and I am thrilled to share them with you. Cat and Josh seem like one of those awesome couples that you want to be friends with. I would have loved to have been at this wedding. How cute is that green crinoline, by the way?! Love it!

A little more about Emily and this shoot…

Fun Details: Cat & Josh used an oathing stone when they repeated their vows. More info about oathing stones here and they can be purchased on Etsy here.

This is Emily Tishhouse, owner and lead photographer at Emily Kay Photography. Our studio is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and we specialize in weddings and boudoir photography for the modern bride. We had the pleasure of photographing Cat and Josh’s fun vintage inspired wedding day! I love it when I get brides like Cat, who have unique, relaxed weddings where everyone has a good time. Their venue, Cobblestone Farm is my absolute favorite location to photograph weddings! There are so many great natural spots to take pictures and their barn is fabulous!

Want to see more? Check out Emily’s blog post here. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Today’s Bliss Filled Feature is sure to warm you up on this snowy day (for most of the country, anyway!). The completely awesome Heather J. Photography sent these engagement shots of  Anne & Greg over and I couldn’t wait to share them with all of you. How appropriate is this shot for today?! Love. Love. Love.

One reason I am so excited to share this is because it shows all of you that you don’t need a fancy location, expensive clothes, or any of the frilly stuff to have an awesome shoot. I am a true believe that you should always be yourself in front of the camera. Less is always more! I mean, seriously, look at these two! They are so in love. The best accessory of them all.

Some Notes from Heather: We got together in late December for their engagement session in my hometown of Ruby. It was pretty cold that day, but luckily, they had furry hats and waterproof boots to keep them warm and dry.  Their whole session was a ton of fun, but if you ask me, I think they had a little too much fun throwing snow at one another at the end of the session.

These hats are my absolute favorite. Don’t they look cozy?

And I saved the BEST for last…. Snowball fight!!!

Thank you so much for sharing these Heather! Anne & Greg are sure to have a fantastic wedding. I can tell they are  a really great couple just by looking at these photos. Congrats, you two!

If you want more from this session, click HERE to head over to Heather’s blog.

It is that time of year again! Can you believe it?

We all look through photos on different websites and blogs, right? So, I thought it would be a great idea to recognize the talent of the many photographers who work so hard to create the inspiring masterpieces we drool over every day.

The Third Annual Bliss Photo of the Year Contest in on (!!!) and I couldn’t be more excited. Last year, we had almost 10,000 readers checking out the 400 submitted photos and over 5,000 votes to name the top photos of the year. Almost TRIPLE the attention that we had the year before. I was shocked by the turn out! This year will be a little more structured, thanks to the insane number of emails and submissions received last year. We had photos from all over the United States and a number of submissions from all around the world, including South Africa, Ireland and Canada, to name a few.

So, photographers, let’s do this! Read the rules below to learn how you could have THE BLISS PHOTO OF THE YEAR! We have three categories this year; Engagement, Michigan, and Global. All should be pretty self-explanatory, but please leave a comment on this post if you have any questions, or Tweet me on Twitter (@BlissAmanda) and I will be sure to get an answer to you. Please remember to follow these rules closely. If you don’t, your submission may be disqualified.

Please feel free to share this contest with photographers. The more submissions we have, the merrier! The official #hashtag for this contest is #blissphotocontest. Check back often for contest updates and the beautiful artwork from some amazing photographers! You can see past contest posts by clicking HERE.

Last year’s winners…

Bryan Rupp Photography – First place in Global Weddings

Flashes of Life Photography – First place in Michigan Weddings

Derek Cookson Photography – First place in Engagement

Rules:

• Photo must have been taken in 2010.
• Only professional photographers can submit a photo, or the couple featured in the professional photograph, with written permission from the photographer.
• May NOT be from an inspiration shoot.
• Only one photo per category per photographer may be submitted.
• Must be submitted by midnight on February 10, 2011
• Send all submissions to blissphotooftheyear@gmail.com
• Email must contain the following:
  • Please TITLE your email with the category you are submitting to (Engagement, Michigan, Global) and your company name. For example: Engagement: Bliss Weddings & Events
  • Company Name, Location and website
  • Photographer’s first and last name
  • Name of Couple, Wedding Date if applicable, Location of shoot
  • A brief explanation of the photo
  • Which category you are submitting for
  • Please send photo as an attachment, do NOT paste in email
• If any of these rules are not followed, your submission will not qualify.

Process:

• All submissions will be received by Midnight on February 10, 2011
• A panel of judges will rate each photo and the Top 10 in each category will be featured for public voting
• Each category will have a week of public voting and the Top 3 will be announced

*Dates subject to change without notice.

Our gorgeous contest logo was created by Meant To Be Creative. Please do us a favor and visit her website! You can also follow her on twitter @Meant2bcreative and @Meanttobesent on Twitter.

Just a quick collection of some of this week’s favorites!

A Tim Burton inspired wedding: This is absolutely stunning!

Super Adorable New Orleans Wedding: This one will make you say “Awww!” for sure!

This Recipe for Love E-session is one of the sweetest I have ever seen, no pun intended.

Who doesn’t love Robots & Weddings?

With so many brides choosing to try a Boudoir Session, it is important to understand what to expect.

If you live in Michigan, it can be difficult to acknowledge what a beautiful state you live in. On the flip side of that, if you are from out of town and planning a wedding in Michigan, you obviously know the beauty that will surround you. Why else would you chose it as your locale?

One way to make sure that your guests see the same thing is to turn your wedding into a vacation for them! Most of the time, people who are visiting from out of town want to experience the area in the best way possible. No matter what time of year you are getting married, there are tons of fun activities that will give your guests the best Mitten experience possible.

1. Winter Activities. If you live in Michigan, you either love or hate the winter. It is sometimes hard to see the perks of bringing in guests at the coldest and snowiest time of year, but there are fun activities that come with the negative stigma. Why not schedule some ski time or book a couple hours for an open skate at an ice rink? Even the smallest of activities, like building a snowman, can make for a memorable trip, especially if they are from an area where the temperature doesn’t drop below 70 degrees.
2. Spring Activities. Spring is my favorite time of year. I might be a little biased, since my birthday is in May (mark your calendars!). Trips to local gardens to see the flowers in bloom, or spending some time taking a stroll through one of Michigan’s Main Street areas would be the perfect addition to a wedding weekend. The fresh air, the beautiful surroundings and wonderful temperatures will definitely bring a relaxed smile to the faces of your friends and family.
3. Summer Activities. Sailing, sand castle competitions, sun bathing… the epitomy of a summer in Michigan. Your guests will love seeing fireworks displays, heading to the zoo, or taking in the sunny weather while flying a kite.
4. Autumn Activities. Fall is one of the busiest times for tourists in Michigan. You can’t beat the fall color tours and wine tastings. Instead of hosting your rehearsal dinner in a restaurant, why not schedule a day in the winery with a wine pairings to multiple courses? Tip: Check out the Michigan Wines site for great ideas and locations.
5. All year round. Regardless of the time of year, Michigan has everything from Museums to Aquariums to satisfy the tourist craving. The best thing to do is check out the local Tourist Information Center or community website in the area of your event information.

Photo Source

I have been waiting a long time for this wedding! Not only are Melissa and Todd two amazing people, they are also a TON of fun and have some of the most genuine friends and family I have ever met.

One of the reasons that I was looking forward to their big day, besides the outstanding team of vendors we chose, was the location. If you haven’t been to the Horticultural Gardens on MSU’s campus, you are surely missing out. The arboretum has a few different garden areas, including the Japanese garden where the girls did their finishing touches and the English garden where the cocktails were served. The day was perfectly sunny and a little warm, so we made sure the guests stayed hydrated with bottled water during the ceremony. A must on a hot August day!

The ceremony in the round was the perfect mix of sentiment and celebration. Rev. Kirk Haas officiated, and Melissa’s brother surprised everyone by playing & singing the recessional song. It was incredibly heartwarming.

I loved the personalized ties for the guys and the perfect shade of purple on the bridesmaids! Melissa was STUNNING in the dress she purchased from my favorite bridal salon, Gina’s Bridal. Look at those shoes!

After the ceremony, Alison took Melissa and Todd out for some photos and I am in awe at how beautiful they look!

One of my favorite moments from the day was right before the reception began. I was standing outside of the tent with the happy newlyweds before the grand entrance and turned to look at them. The smiles on their faces and the smitten look in their eyes let me know that the day was a huge success. During the reception the dancefloor was packed! I swear I have never seen so many awesome dance moves. Pretty sure someone pulled out the running man, at least once. :)

I had a lot of favorite moments during the day, but watching Todd and the bridesmaids serenade Melissa was by far the funniest scene all day. The girls choreographed the routine flawlessly and Todd belted out the lyrics to Cover Girl, by New Kids on The Block. Yes, it was the perfect addition to an already entertaining day.

At the end of the night, I was able to just sit for a few minutes and really take in the day. Days like this really remind me why I do what I do. Watching something that we have worked so hard on for so many months, with so much emotion and excitement, and seeing it come together in the most perfect of ways, is rewarding. It all boils down to the people involved. The bride and groom, the mom and dad, the best friend, the vendors… nothing brings people together like a good ole-fashioned wedding. ::Sigh:: I love my job.

Melissa & Todd, You two already know how much I adore you, so I will skip the sappiness. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect match and can’t wait to see where life takes you. I know you will do amazing things together. Thank you for bringing me into your big day plans! XOXO

Make sure to check out the fabulous trailer below, by Owen Video! You will LOVE it.

Melissa + Todd | Wedding Trailer from Andy Owen on Vimeo.

Team of Pros:

• Wedding Planning & Design: Amanda of Bliss Weddings & Events
• Assistant Coordination: Courtney of Bliss Weddings & Events
• Photography: Alison of Bates Photographic, Delia Turner second shooting
• Video: Andy of Owen Video
• DJ: Sara of Platinum Mix Productions
• Officiant: Rev. Kirk Haas Secular Ceremony
• Cake: Family Friend
• Floral: Sebesta Design
• Linens: Bliss Weddings & Events
• Rentals & Venue: MSU Horticultural Gardens, CE Lewis Arboretum

What a gorgeous couple! When I met Nicole & Travis and Nicole’s mom, I knew that we would have a blast working together. I literally started working with them three days before their wedding day, when they realized that they needed an extra set of hands organizing the last minute details and keep things running smoothly on the big day. (Huge THANK YOU to Sylvia, of Bridal Beauty on Location for the referral!)

Nicole & Travis live out of state and planned their beautiful wedding in Michigan. Specifically at Beacon Hill! This was my second time working at the venue and I have yet to be disappointed. The staff is wonderful and attentive, the food is delicious and the scenery is outstanding. The weather wasn’t the greatest, with huge gusts of wind and lower than normal temperatures, but everything went off without a hitch and it ended up being the perfect day for a wedding.

Watching these two interact with each other and the 28 (!!!) members of the bridal party, including the ring bearers and flower girls, was an absolute joy. Everyone is insanely gorgeous and absolutely hilarious. What a great day!

Below are a few of my favorite shots of the day, taken by Jim Van Luven from Mike Staff Productions. Enjoy!

Team of Pros:

• Coordination: Amanda of Bliss Weddings & Events
• Venue: Beacon Hill Golf Course & Banquet Center
• Photographer: Mike Staff Productions
• Hair & Makeup: Bridal Beauty on Location
• Video: Dark Lake Video
• Officiant: Rev. Mike Fry
• DJ: Eddie Hakim of Happy Hour DJs
• Flowers: Flowers by Amore
• Photobooth: Qwik Picz
• Chocolate Fountain: Maximum Delights

The past few months have been absolutely crazy with events, two vacations and a ton of details in the midst. I promise to be back to the regularly scheduled program in the next week as things start to slow down. In the meantime, I will leave you with some eye candy from recent events. I hope this bribe little taste will keep you satisfied until we meet again. ;)

Photo 1: Bates Photographic Photo 2: Mike Staff Productions

Gorgeous Photos, Beautiful Weddings & Marvelous People.

It is Tuesday Shoesday! This is my first time sharing in the love of all things shoe, but I knew I had to when I saw this photo by Kristen Taylor Photography. To see more TS posts, visit  Simply & Forever, Landlocked Bride, Gwyneth Paige, Swatchbook Weddings, Meant to Be Sent, Weddings & Pretty Things, Life in the Super Burbs, Slice of Lime, April Foster Events,  Lauren Kelly Events, Swoon Over It Photography and Bellwether Events!

This wedding is so sweet, I had to share! Visit Rock ‘n Roll Bride for more. These Kelly Moore Photography shots are to die for!

I am in LOVE with this lovely NY wedding, by Josh Goleman Photography, featured on Once Wed.

This real Florida wedding has my heart swooning! The DIY touches are perfect! Featured on my fave With This Ring blog and photos by Studio 222 Photography.

Are you thinking of proposing, or want to hint that you are thinking of being proposed to? (Wink, Wink!) Here are some fab tips from Anti-Bride.

These DIY soda escort cards are to flippin’ cute, I just had to share. Found via Rock My Wedding, originally posted on 100 Layer Cake.

This wedding, featured on Snippet & Ink, it the epitome of Rustic Romance. The photos by Jenn Cress Photography are wonderful!

I am beyond thrilled to be bringing you the first “Real” post of the wedding season and the fact that it is all about one of the most fantastic couples I have had the joy of working with makes it that much better.

Anat is definitely one of those genuinely kind people. She cares, and you know it from the moment you meet her. After working together for nearly a year, I was really looking forward to seeing all of the day’s details come together, but I was sad that I wouldn’t have an excuse to chat with her on a regular basis anymore. Anat & Nick had already been married, but wanted to have the opportunity to share the special occasion with family and friends. So after doing it on their own, they planned a relaxed and beautiful day that would revolve around the ideas of family and friendship.

The day started out like most others, but there was something a little different in the air. On a typical wedding day, there is at least a little anxiousness that greets me. Whether it is a mother looking for her earrings or a best man who got a stain on his shirt… There is always something. This time, friends were gathered downstairs playing a game of scrabble, the guys were kicked back having a drink and the girls were all cozy upstairs getting their hair done. No matter which room I went into, I was greeted with a smile and a completely calm “Hello”. It was unlike any event I have ever done, in the most wonderful sort of way.

The ceremony was the epitome of personality. Everything from having their dog, Sammy, as the ring bearer to having Nick’s brother, Glen, officiate the ceremony, was perfectly executed. Of course, having the event at a place like River Birch Lodge, really lends to the relaxed feel they were looking for. Sammy even let out a little bark at the perfect moment, causing a chuckle to go around the crowd of guests. Anat & Nick’s family and friends are some of the nicest around!

I loved the reception almost as much as the ceremony. Just like the rest of the day, there was no rush to get through the time line. We left a lot of room in the timing for guests to mingle, give a toast, grab a bite to eat and just enjoy the time they spent together. With so many guests from around the world, it was important to Anat & Nick that they all had a chance to really kick back. Everyone pitched in during the hora, the music was perfectly chosen, and the food from A Movable Feast was delicious. Lisa, from Pot & Box, did a wonderful job creating the perfect flowers.

Looking back at the photos, by the amazing Aruna B Photography, I can’t help but smile. No detail was left out of the planning and the love that these two share just blows me away. I feel completely honored to have been involved in such a kind and sweet day.

Planning & Coordination: Amanda Freeman, Bliss Weddings & Events

This week’s Real Wedding was submitted by Hollie Marie Photography, based out of Farmington Hills, MI. I am absolutely in love with Rebecca’s wedding day style! The birdcage veil, the flower and THAT DRESS! Everything works together perfectly. Enough of my gushing, on to the details and a few words from Hollie.

The couple:  Jay and Rebecca Brodie

Location:  Outdoor shots taken in Mill Race Village and surrounding downtown Northville, Plymouth Manor in downtown Plymouth for ceremony and reception.

Their wedding day was wonderful, starting with preparation shots at their home in Northville.  Even Rebecca and Jay’s two dogs were involved.  The highlight of the day for me was being able to take the couple to the exact spot where Jay proposed.  We took advantage of the awesome downtown area of Northville where the proposal happened. Just being in that spot brought out expressions on them both that I never could have reached without being there. Their wedding was truly a joy, I was always having fun with their easy going attitudes, even while posing a group of 30+ relatives!  From the personal vows spoken, to taking pictures the Northville fire station, to the last dance of the night Jay and Rebecca had a picturesque wedding!