Destination Wedding Weekend on Michigans Mackinac Island

It's hard to even know where to start with Maggie and Eric's wedding weekend on Northern Michigan's Mackinac Island. I'll never forget the experience that was documenting this wedding. I don't say that lightly - it was, genuinely, unforgettable. I had been looking forward to this wedding for a year, from the moment I spoke with Maggie and Eric about photographing the wedding of two people who grew up and fell in love on Mackinac Island. If you've never been to Mackinac Island, you're missing out - a small island of less than 2000 people, no cars, an old victorian style town, a military fort from the war of 1812 and some of the most beautiful landscape you'll ever see. I was fascinated by the idea of growing up on the island and falling in love. I built this wedding up in my head for an entire year and it just shattered my expectations for what a wedding could be. Maggie's family run Windermere Hotel, bed and breakfast served as the gathering point for the weekend's festivities. They welcomed all guests the night before for a welcome party on the lawn, then everyone road bikes around the island until the sun went down - stopping at various homes of friends and sentimental places for cocktails and champage. I road along side on my candy red cruister, taking photos mid-ride and mastering a new multi-tasking skill. I watched the sun go down over Lake Michigan with the most sincere and wonderful people, then navigated back to my hotel room by the light of my handheld LED. This was only the night before! The wedding ceremony took place across from the Windermere, along the water, followed by cocktails for guests while Maggie and Eric road around the island in horse and carriage and I biked along side to document. The local Yacht Club hosted and catered the reception where guests dined on sea bass, drank good wine and danced into the night. Fleeing by bike, guided only by moonlight we all road back to the bed and breakfast at the end of the night to continue the party. After a few hours of sleep, waking up to the unmistakable sound of horse hooves clapping along the pavement, the guests were sent off with a brunch at the Watercolor Cafe. Truthfully, I struggle to encapsulate this wedding in words. So, I hope the photos do it justice. Shot almost entirely on Kodak 35mm and medium format film.