Grand Rapids Masonic Center Wedding | Deborah and Stephen

By looking at the photos, you might never know that Deborah and Stephen were married in December!  There was no snow on the ground but it did get pretty chilly outside during portrait time.  Luckily they had no problem snuggling up and keeping each other warm.

Deborah got ready for the wedding at the home of one of her bridesmaids, where a Christmas tree provided a nice background for a few photos.

Stephen was waiting for his bride at the Grand Rapids Masonic Center where the ceremony would later take place.  After a few portraits of him alone it was time for the first look.
After the first look we headed downtown for portraits of the bride and groom as well as the wedding party.  We first went to the facade of the old Civic Auditorium, where I knew we could find some beautiful soft light coming through the columns.The front steps in front of the columns were the perfect spot to do an epic photo of the entire wedding party.  I used off-camera flash to spotlight each group separately for a dramatic effect.
Then it was off to the blue bridge for some more photos with the wedding party.On the way back to the Masonic Center I spotted a great location for a few quick bride and groom portraits.  It was literally just a sidewalk with some grass growing next to it, but by using flash to control the lighting and using a creative shooting angle I was able to get these photos.I love this photo of Stephen with his siblings.The ceremony and reception were actually held in the same space, with guests seated at their reception tables during the ceremony.  The room was decorated beautifully with the warm glow of candles and Christmas lights. Several hymns were sung during the ceremony.Stephen’s father prayed for the couple at the end of the ceremony before the first kiss.