10/12/2026
16 years, a little rock ‘n’ roll, and a love story that brought us to Mackinac Island ❤️🎸
Some weddings are beautiful because of where they take place. Others are unforgettable because of the people, the memories, and the love that fills every moment. And every once in a while, you get to photograph a wedding that means a little more because these people are part of your own story.
Scott is technically my "ex-stepbrother," but let's be honest… he's my brother, period. And Sara has been part of that family dynamic for as long as I cGrand Hotel. So getting to capture their wedding this past weekend at the legendary Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island was something truly special to me.
Their story began 16 years ago when they met through the urging of friends interacting at a concert. Since then, they've shared a love for rock, indie bands, and adventures that have taken them through life together. And if you know Sara, you know exactly why she's so easy to love. She's beautiful inside and out, kind, funny, has rock 'n' roll in her heart, and thrift-store hunting in her soul. 😂❤️ She's the kind of person who makes you smile just by being herself.
And Scott..well, he might look a little intimidating under all that hair, but underneath it is one of the sweetest, gentlest guys you'll ever meet. In fact, I was the one who took him to get his very first tattoo many years ago! With Scott, you just have to watch him when he looks at Sara. His whole face changes, and that little giggle of his comes out. It's pure happiness. It's the sound of a man who is completely, hopelessly in love with his person.
And the way he listens to her gets me every time. When Sara speaks, Scott doesn't just hear her. He sees her. His head tilts, he listens completely, and that little-boy smile spreads across his face. Sixteen years together, and he still looks at her like she's his favorite person in the world. That's the kind of love you hope everyone gets to experience.
Their wedding took place at the iconic Grand Hotel, a historic landmark that has welcomed guests since 1887. With its Victorian beauty, timeless Americana charm, and that famous front porch, it feels like stepping into another era. Mackinac Island itself has a magic that's hard to explain until you've experienced it. You must take a ferry in because there are no motor vehicles on the island, so instead of traffic and car horns, you hear birds singing, bicycles rolling by, and the unmistakable clip-clop, clip-clop of horses pulling carriages down the streets. It's peaceful, full of history, and overflowing with the kind of vintage beauty that makes you want to slow down and take it all in.
Of course, Mother Nature had her own plans for their wedding weekend! A massive storm rolled through the day before, leaving us with dramatic skies and some seriously unpredictable wind on the wedding day. Photographing in that kind of wind definitely comes with its challenges, but the way it caught Sara's dress and veil and tossed Scott's hair around? Absolutely incredible! At some point, I'm convinced the wind had signed a contract to be a paid actor in their wedding portraits. 😂 It certainly understood the assignment!
One of my favorite moments was their first look in the Secret Garden, a little hidden gem tucked away just beyond the hotel. You'd never know what was waiting down that ordinary-looking path through the trees, but once you find it, it feels like you've discovered a secret place made for moments like this. Watching Scott see Sara for the first time there was something I'll never forget. I'll admit, coming around the corner and seeing him waiting for his bride, I cried myself. My little brother all grown and getting married. And I got the famous "Scotty Thumbs-Up" after their first look was finished, words were said privately, and they were ready for pictures. A thumbs-up from Scott is high praise. 😉
But Mackinac Island wasn't just a beautiful backdrop for their wedding. It holds a much deeper place in Sara's heart.
The island has been part of her family's vacation traditions for years, and the Island House Hotel is one of those important stops that carries so many memories. After Sara's sister passed away, returning to the island for her and her mother wasn't easy. Places that once brought happiness can also hold the ache of missing someone who should still be there. But coming back now will mean something different, too. It means remembering the time they shared, celebrating those memories, and holding close the places that will always connect them. The island has become even more meaningful because of the love and memories woven into it.
We made time for portraits of Scott and Sara together in these special places, and I hope those photographs will always remind them of not just how beautiful their wedding day was, but how much history, love, and meaning they brought with them.
Scott's younger brother Stephen is a big part of their story as well, being just born around the time the two became a couple. Stephen gave a speech that had everyone in tears, speaking about Sara as having always been in his life, always having his back, teaching him things as he grew, and how there is no story of his family without her in it.
After the wedding festivities ended, we spent time with the bridal party in the lounge before heading out for a midnight carriage ride into town. And because no Mackinac Island adventure would be complete without a stop at the famous Pink Pony, we checked another item off Sara's bucket list! There were delicious late-night snacks, plenty of reminiscing, and the kind of memories that happen when the formalities are over and everyone can simply enjoy being together. I even got to braid Scott's hair...which took about 30 minutes but I did it! 😉
Honestly, what better way to end a wedding day than with a horse-drawn carriage ride through the perfectly quiet town, good food, and your favorite people?
Scott and Sara, your day was everything I love about photographing weddings. It was full of history, emotion, laughter, meaningful places, a little chaos from the weather, and a love story that has already stood the test of time. You didn't need a perfect forecast or a perfectly still veil to make your photographs beautiful, your own love made it that way.
And maybe that's what makes your story so special. Sixteen years ago, it started with a chance meeting through friends at a concert. Since then, you've built a life full of music, adventures, memories, and a love that shows up in the smallest moments.
I hope your life together always feels a little like your favorite indie song: beautifully imperfect, full of unexpected adventures, with lyrics that mean more the longer you listen. May you keep finding new places to explore, new concerts to attend, late-night stops to make, and reasons to laugh until you can't breathe. May you always make room for the memories of those you miss while continuing to create beautiful new ones together.
And may Mackinac Island always hold a special place in your hearts!
I couldn't be happier that you found each other, and I wish you both a lifetime of love, laughter, music, and adventures.
I love you both. Congratulations, S & S ❤️🎶
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