Arielle + JC // Holland, Michigan

I could write a dozen blog posts about how 2020 is the worst, how everything was horrible, and nothing went as planned, but I am going to challenge myself to write about the silver lining that we all need to see.  

This past Saturday, Justin and I spent our day with an old friend of mine and her new husband.  Arielle and I met the first week of freshman year at Grand Valley State University and we were instant friends, so when she asked me to photograph her APRIL 2020 wedding I was ecstatic.  As I am sure you guessed, we did not see them in April.  Their wedding date was during the strictest regulations of the Stay Home order, they got married anyway, quietly in a backyard with a total of three people there.  They chose July 11 as their reschedule date and planned to have their big ceremony and reception that day.

Fast forward to this past weekend, still no big wedding, still no formal ceremony, but they decided to celebrate anyways.  In the backyard of a beautiful Airbnb in Holland, Michigan, Arielle and JC celebrated their marriage with the most important people in their lives.

2020 is frustrating, challenging, and horrible for anyone trying to get married, BUT I am inspired by couples like Arielle and JC who just cannot wait, they want to be married, they want to live life (safely) but to the fullest.  I feel like their story is much like marriage actually is, its not perfect, plans change, there are moments of disappointment, but it’s about the small moments of love and laughter that make it all worth it.  

I think any couple that gets married in 2020 or tried to get a gold medal.  Way to roll with the punches, continue to love to the fullest, and show patience.  I think you will look back in amazement by the fact that you got through the trial of planning a wedding during a pandemic and love each other more and more.