I met Alida last summer for a big family session at the beach in Holland, when she was six months old. Now she is 1, and her parents invited me to their beautiful home for a casual session to photograph their little girl. I was so excited to see how she had grown... and how much personality she has! She is sweet, feisty, busy, smart, busy ;)... and of course adorable as ever. I went overboard with the pictures...

The idea of sitting on the couch for any amount of time did not appeal to her. She knows how to say how she feels.

Alida is definitely getting some teeth, and for a while there was no way anyone was taking this teething ring away from her! Hope those teeth come through soon! Life can be tough for a 1 year old!

I thought perhaps a change of scenery would distract her from the teething, and maybe cheer her up. She got bundled up and we all went outside in the front yard. It was a gorgeous sunny winter day... she seemed to enjoy it at first.

...but not for long. :*( I think she was still a little unsure about the snow! So this was the last photo I took that day.

Thank you again for having me over to take these photos, I had a really nice time talking, and of course chasing Alida around. I know she keeps you on your toes a lot, but it's clear how much you love her and want the best for her. She is a joy!

Sometimes two people cross paths briefly, and they just keep on going... sometimes literally, as Carrie remembered the summer after 8th grade when they saw each other on the street. They exchanged a friendly but short greeting, and kept on walking. They weren't very close, but there was a hint of interest. Nothing ever really happened, they had just been casual friends in school, and that was one of the last times they saw each other. Then Carrie's family moved away. Life continued on as normal. Fast-forward 16 years, when Chad got a phone call from a close friend's grandma. The first thing he heard on the other end of the line was, "Chad, find a hall and set a date, I've got the girl." He laughed... but she was right.
The first time they had seen each other in sixteen years was June of 2008, and a little over a year later, they were engaged. The two lives who had crossed paths so long ago, were actually on a journey to join together all along.
I love their story, and I was honored to be there to witness and photograph their wedding day.





Their ceremony was light-hearted and beautiful. There was a lot of laughter...







... and a few tears.









Love the first dance. :)






These two who caught the bouquet and garter are boyfriend and girlfriend.... aww.
The same thing happened to my husband and me when we were dating! Just sayin'.



They had some seriously awesome dancing kids at the reception. Plus this girl knew the words to basically every song that came on.



The adults weren't so bad either!



Chad and my husband grew up together in the Upper Peninsula. We traveled to Wisconsin together that weekend. We experienced some of the coldest weather of our lives, but had a such a great time with Chad & Carrie, and so many of their incredible friends and relatives. So glad we could come up, and we wish you nothing but the best!

They have been together for six years already... since the start of high school, and through so many changes and challenges, they have stuck together. They have a lot to look back on, but so much more lies ahead. When we met up in Grand Rapids for their engagement session, it was pretty clear that they are completely themselves when they are together, with no pretense. Somehow though, they still have that spark, they are still vibrant, and there is something about their relationship that still seems new and exciting. Even as we walked around the city, freezing, they were so cheerful, smiling, and joking, totally comfortable, and still totally infatuated with each other.

If they could go back to 9th grade, when Kristen finally agreed to go out with Joe, and they went to that high school winter dance... could those kids possibly have known that it was the beginning of the rest of their lives? You just never know what the future will hold, but they will be facing it together. Thanks so much for choosing me to photograph this time for you. Your engagement session was so much fun, and I look forward to your wedding in September!

Some friendly neighborhood ducks swam up to say hello while we were right by the edge of the Grand River. Unfortunately for them we had no food. However, it worked out to our advantage, and I think they made a nice addition to a few of their photos!

We left the city and went over by Kent Trails, near Johnson Park, for a few more rural photos that would show what a beautiful wintry day we had. We again found ourselves near the banks of the Grand River, but with a totally different feel.

Love this...

Thanks again for braving the cold, and for bringing handwarmers...
you guys are great!