Weaver House At Pine Bend | Allison + Isaac

How Did You Meet?

We met bartending weddings and events at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. We were friends for a long time before we actually started dating. My friend Ryan has said multiple times that he knew he would be at our wedding, he ended up officiating it!

Bride’s Dress

The dress was actually picked out about 30 days before the wedding and the alterations were finished about two weeks before. It was a crazy whirlwind of a mess getting everything secured, but in the end it was absolutely stunning.

Groom’s Suit

The suit I was wearing at the wedding was actually bought so I could officiate my sisters wedding, which I wore when I did. My ring was given to me by my mother and is my father’s wedding ring. My dad passed in 2016 so I meant a lot to have something like that incorporated into the wedding. Also, a fun side note, my silver pocket watch was a replica of Edward Elric’s state alchemist pocket watch from full metal alchemist.

Location

We got married at the Weaver House in West olive. The house is somewhere around 125 years old and was absolutely beautiful. We had a smaller amount of people and it fit everyone perfectly. The weather had not been great leading up to the wedding, but the day of was absolutely perfect.

The Decor:

Our theme was kind of witchcraft/pretty occult/fall time. My sister Tiphani, cousins Nick and Jill, and friends Maggie and Ryan helped set everting up. They did an incredible job and we absolutely would not have been able to pull it off without them

The Ceremony:

The ceremony was so beautiful. Ryan wrote an incredible ceremony and Allison and I were just trying to not break down into tears lol. We forgot our vows but both decided that we knew what the other meant and were ok with it lol.

Reception/Dancing/Music: All the fun!

Not so much dancing but we managed to build a playlist that our gen Z cousins, Boomer parents, and 85 year old grand parents all enjoyed. We think this is quite an achievement and were pretty proud! It was mostly funk, older pop love songs, and alternative hip hop.

Any Advice for couples planning their wedding?

Don’t take things so seriously. Most of the stuff that people stress about are things that no one thinks about or notices the day of. It’s supposed to be fun, so have fun!

Your Photographer: Tell us all about them 😉 What you liked or didn’t like. All the deets from the day of:

The photographer was amazing! We could not have asked for a better person to work with. Rachel was kind, professional, attentive, and just overall a great person! She asked us what we wanted/needed and executed it perfectly! She was a joy to be around and an absolute master of her craft!

FROM RACHEL: This day was SO FUN! A halloween wedding is always a vibe but doing costumes is THE BEST IDEA EVER! Such a blast. These two were wonderful and I hope I get to return to the Weaver House soon!

Venue: The Weaver House

Catering: Los Amigos

Hair Stylist: Brealyn Lee

Makeup Artist: Sam Cooley

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Top 5 Wedding Venues in Grand Haven, MI (Plus a Few Hidden Gems Nearby!)

Planning your West Michigan wedding and wondering where to host the big day? As a Grand Haven wedding photographer who’s seen everything from downtown ballrooms to barefoot beach ceremonies, I’ve photographed love stories in all kinds of beautiful spots. Whether you want waterfront views, a cozy modern space, or a venue that feels like a hidden gem—Grand Haven has more to offer than you might think!

Here are five wedding venues in and around Grand Haven that are perfect for your big day:

1. Harbourfront Grand Hall

Where: Downtown Grand Haven, MI
Vibe: Historic charm meets lakeside elegance
Why I love it: Located right above Porto Bello restaurant, this venue has that old-Grand-Haven feel with brick walls, exposed beams, and incredible views of the harbor. It’s perfect for big celebrations and has the bonus of in-house catering.

2. Noto’s at the Bil‑Mar

Where: Right on the Grand Haven beach
Vibe: Upscale beachy with serious sunset potential
Why I love it: Want to say “I do” with sand between your toes, then party right inside? Noto’s gives you both ceremony and reception space, a stunning deck area, and a front-row seat to Lake Michigan’s iconic golden hour.

3. American Dunes Golf Club

Where: Grand Haven, MI
Vibe: Elegant and polished with patriotic roots
Why I love it: This venue has sweeping views of the course and gorgeous landscaping for portraits. It’s tucked away and peaceful, and the reception space is classy without being stuffy.

4. 707 Events

Where: Downtown Grand Haven
Vibe: Industrial-cool meets minimalist modern
Why I love it: Perfect for couples who want a blank-slate space to really make their own. Think string lights, food trucks, custom cocktails—it’s totally customizable and super photogenic.

5. Mackinaw Ballroom (formerly Community Center)

Where: Grand Haven
Vibe: Classic ballroom with a local twist
Why I love it: This restored venue is right downtown and has beautiful natural light, a patio for cocktail hour, and room for a big dance floor. Plus, it’s walkable to photo spots by the water.

✨ Bonus: A Few Nearby Faves

If you’re open to venues just outside Grand Haven, check out:

Spring Lake Country Club – Elegant indoor/outdoor vibes Check out this Day
Camp Blodgett (West Olive) – Gorgeous lakeside ceremony views
Holiday Inn Grand Haven–Spring Lake – Super convenient with lodging & views

Venue Comparison Table

Venue	Capacity	Indoor/Outdoor	Location	Notable Features
Harbourfront Grand Hall	~275 guests	Indoor	Downtown Grand Haven	Brick walls, harbor views, in-house catering
Noto’s at the Bil‑Mar	~100–250	Both	Beachfront	Sunset views, beachfront ceremony
American Dunes Golf Club	~175	Both	Grand Haven	Lush course views, polished atmosphere
707 Events	~125	Indoor	Downtown Grand Haven	Customizable space, modern industrial look
Mackinaw Ballroom	~240	Both	Downtown Grand Haven	Classic ballroom, patio space

Wherever you choose to celebrate, I’d be thrilled to capture your day with honesty, joy, and a whole lot of dance floor candids.

If you want help figuring out which venue fits your vibe (or need to see more full galleries of any of these spots), get in touch—I’ve got you covered!

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Fenner Nature Center Wedding | Forest Wedding Inspiration | Allison + Alec

Forest Wedding Inspiration at Fenner Nature Center | Allison + Alec

There’s just something magical about saying “I do” beneath a canopy of trees. Allison and Alec’s wedding at Fenner Nature Center in Lansing, MI was the perfect blend of heartfelt, intentional, and joyfully untraditional. With nature as their backdrop, their day was deeply personal—from their hand-written ceremony to dancing the night away to Rock Lobster. If you’re looking for forest wedding inspiration, their celebration is one to bookmark.

How It All Began

“We met a few months before Covid hit and started a long-distance relationship in March 2020. About five days after deciding to give it a shot, we ended up quaranteaming together for six weeks in Allison’s apartment. We figured that if we could deal with each other in that situation, we might have something worth sticking to!”

Bride’s Dress

Allison’s dress was a BHLDN find—fun, comfortable, and perfect for a nature-forward wedding. She personalized it with a copper belt from Etsy, sewed in lace for modesty, and topped it off with custom Chaco sandals in their wedding colors: green, copper, and teal-blue.

Groom’s Suit

Alec’s teal-blue suit was a meaningful re-wear from his sister’s wedding. With a copper tie from Vivid Clothing Toronto and a matching tie clip from JLynnCreations, his look complemented both the color palette and the natural surroundings beautifully.

The Venue: Fenner Nature Center

“We got married at Fenner Nature Center in Lansing, MI. Nature and conservation are extremely important to us, so it felt right to choose a venue that aligned with our values. We held the ceremony in the Maple Grove under the trees, then wandered the trails with Rachel before heading to our reception in the Davis Nature Pavilion, surrounded by tall grass and wildflowers.”
For couples searching for a Michigan forest wedding venue, Fenner is a hidden gem.

The Decor

Letting the forest speak for itself, they kept decorations simple and meaningful:

Bouquets made from flowers grown in their own backyard garden
Tables named after special places in their relationship (where they got engaged, took trips, etc.)
A few printed photos of family and friends placed throughout the reception space

The Ceremony

“We wrote the entire ceremony ourselves. We grew up in religious households, but wanted something unique to us. We included meaningful readings from The Velveteen Rabbit and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It was powerful and personal—and the weather held out just long enough for us to say our vows in a cathedral of trees.”

The Reception & Dancing

This reception was pure joy:

A bluegrass-inspired first dance to Jerusalem Ridge
Parent dances to 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago, followed by a dance floor explosion
A surprise highlight: Rock Lobster by the B-52s, complete with a friend-led mayhem dance tradition

“We will always cherish the memory of laughing so hard at our wedding that our stomachs hurt.”

Advice for Future Couples

“Learn the difference between advice and opinions—you’ll get a lot of both. Don’t catastrophize. Things will go wrong, and that’s okay. Take time to talk to everyone, including each other.”

A Word About the Photographer (Hi, That’s Me!)

“Rachel is fun, friendly, considerate, talented, and infectious (in a good way)! She made an effort to get to know us and our families beforehand, which showed in how seamless everything felt the day of. She blended in when we needed space and stepped in when we needed help or time to ourselves—and captured all those moments beautifully.”

Forest Wedding Magic, Captured

Scroll down to see some of my favorite moments from Allison + Alec’s Fenner Nature Center wedding. If you’re planning a nature-filled celebration and want candid, meaningful photos to match, let’s talk!

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Midwest Engagement Photographer – Naperville IL

Naperville, IL Engagement Session

Midwest Engagement Photographer – Naperville IL

Alexis and Brian! Oh boy, I cannot wait to share everything from this session everywhere on the internet. This year is the year of blogging I have decided (and yes I do realize we are almost halfway through the year lol). I feel like my work is getting hidden throughout the sea of social media and I want more people to interact more so here I am posting this on both Instagram and here.

All of the tree’s blooms have fallen, and I feel super nostalgic looking back through these images to write this post. The dripping trees are now surrounded by fallen blooms and the heat has been oppressive and thick the past few days, wedding season is in full bloom (my first solo wedding this year isn’t until June but I have been second shooting since January!). On this day in April, we felt the chill of the breeze and couldn’t wait until the second half of their Midwest Naperville IL session which was indoors with some tasty treats! I am hoping to share the rest of their session sometime real soon!

These two no longer live in the area where they are getting married so they planned a weekend trip just for this session and some other wedding planning activities! I was so excited to meetup near both of their venues for this fall. We had so much fun walking along the Naperville Riverwalk and then later on headed for a snack.

Cannot Pick A Favorite

Which blooms do you like better? I can’t decide which ones I like better, the white or pink <3 Loving all the flowering trees popping this spring! Alexis’ white dress also made for a great pairing with the backdrop. Brian had to borrow a shirt because his white shirt was slightly different than Alexis’ (I hate when this happens! It happens with ALL COLORS) Alexis’ shoes were so fun and sparkly! I can’t wait to see their outfits for their wedding day.

Even with all the riverwalk construction, we found some really fun spots that were quiet to take photos! We shot these right around sunset (even though it was a cloudy day) which made for really calm breeze and relaxed vibes.

I cannot wait to hang with these two at their wedding this fall in Naperville, IL. I don’t get to travel to the Chicago suburbs as much as I would like anymore but man oh man do I LOVE Naperville and the florals at the riverwalk! There is so much construction going on down there right now but we made the best of it and had such a great time exploring all the beauty and color of the florals there.

Interested in Getting into my schedule?

Rachel Kaye is a Midwest Engagement Photographer and happily comes to Naperville, IL whenever clients get married here! I am available for travel anywhere in the US and quite a few other countries. Don’t hesitate to contact me for more details on how I can best photograph your engagement or wedding session!

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2023 Wrap-Up

Reflecting on this year feels different. The past three years have been a whirlwind, especially with the challenges the pandemic brought. It made sharing my work—a source of joy—quite a task, confined only to those I captured in the frames. Social media, both personally and professionally, became a bit of a maze during this time.

This year, I hesitated to create another wrap-up post. It was a year unlike any other, marked by myriad reasons to forego this reflective tradition. The foremost among them was losing my best friend—my confidant in photography, Disney, memes, and late-night texts. The daily struggle with grief, coexisting with the joy of capturing weddings, has been a significant learning curve.

Every session and wedding since their departure has been a rollercoaster. The absence of positive reinforcement in the group chat during the drive to a venue, the missing screenshots of random songs, the traffic rants, and weather complaints—there was no one to share these moments with. Even the post-wedding quirks like complaining about the surplus of photos or color adjustments lacked their familiar audience. Yet, amid this, I began to discover solace within grief.

Every moment of these photos echoes memories of my friend, reminding me why I’m here—to capture every detail, ensuring no memory fades away. Initially daunting, revisiting and selecting ‘favorites’ seemed an impossible task tangled with grief.

However, as I began sifting through a few weddings, I realized I was choosing pure joy. Each image resonates with an indescribable peace and happiness within me. These images might not boast technical prowess or have the perfect edits, but they embody something deeper—the essence of preserving cherished moments.

Losing my friend emphasized the fragility of every single moment and memory we share. It taught me the urgency of capturing these fragments. Everything falls apart when you lose someone close to you, I cling onto the fragments I have of him.

I regret not taking more pictures in these past years, not snapping selfies or taking silly pictures with imperfections and all. It’s made me understand the importance of having someone there to capture these fleeting moments for us, someone with a critical eye for memories who won’t focus on keeping out the imperfect. As I look through photos with him, I don’t see ANY of those imperfections I was worried about, I see incredible memories I can forever look back onto.

So, hire the photographer. Take the picture. Memories may fade, but a photo preserves them eternally.

Extra special thanks to anyone who let me into their lives this year. You have helped me realize how healing joy is, the space you have given me in grief and in joy has been so healing. Words cannot fully express how thankful I am to each and every one of you.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you

For being my client

For sending me referrals and kind words about your photos

For being my friend

For reading this blog post

Heres to 2024 being an even more wonderful year capturing even more memories!

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The Inn at Stonecliffe Wedding // Kristen and Max

a photograph of the invitations, kristens shoes with sparkley ankles, the rings, and kristens sparkle dress with feathers

When Kristen and Max contacted me about their wedding I was so excited!!!! THEN COVID HIT and they decided to wait and replan the whole thing to be more intimate and personal and I couldn’t have been more excited that I was still open to their change of plans. Meeting up on Mackinac Island for this wedding was a dream! It’s not my first time on the island for a wedding, but it is one of my favorite memories of the island. The most gorgeous day was spent at the Little Stone Church for the ceremony, a carriage ride for photos around the island, then the reception at a tent overlooking the Inn at Stonecliffe. It was an incredible day with the most wonderful people.