Here is a beautiful inspiration for your Northern Michigan Wedding Engagement session in Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan.

Traverse City Wedding Photographer Paul Retherford

The first snow in Petoskey, Michigan and we caught it with a beautiful Engagement Session along Lake Michigan in Petoskey, Michigan.  We captured all the images, audio, and video on Sunday morning.  Michelle and Ryan are getting Married this Summer in the Petoskey area with a reception at the Perry Hotel in Petoskey.  Watch the Fusion Engagement Session video I put together for them here.

The 2011 Parade in downtown Petoskey hosted by Staffords Hospitality was a wonderful hit for all of those people who attended the festivities.   It was mild weather and a nice showing for the lengthy parade route.   Here are some of my images from the 2011 Staffords Hospitality Holiday Parade in downtown Petoskey, Michigan.

Julia getting excited for Santa Claus

Start 2011 Petoskey Stafford's Holiday Parade

Dave Kring Auto Petoskey, Michigan

Petoskey High School marching band

Kidd & Leavy Petoskey, Michigan

Nutcracker

Elvis singing Petoskey parade

Boyne Mountain

Christmas tree on antique car

Crooked River Lodge float

Bay Harbor float

Santa Claus in horse drawn carriage

Santa Claus

Photography by Paul Retherford Petoskey Michigan Photographer

Beautiful Charlevoix, Michigan Wedding with Amanda and Matt in Northern  Michigan along Lake Michigan.  Album Design by Paul Retherford Wedding Photography.

Yesterday I had a great conversation with George McDonald from Harbor View Entertainment in Traverse City, Michigan.  He is a great guy and is very knowledgable about the industry.  He has done thousands of events and continues to love his career choice too!  I would not hesitate to hire George at Harbor View Entertainment for any of your Northern Michigan Wedding locations.

Here is the information that George has provided on his website.

George McDonald, Traverse City, Michigan, provides professional DJ entertainment and planning for a wide variety of occasions.

Call Today for a Free consultation.

Chef Wendy and Scott from the Perry Hotel in Petoskey, Michigan were married on a beautiful November 5th day.  The outdoor Rose Garden Wedding location was all set up for harsh weather, but we only had sun and mild fabulous weather.

The Wedding Ceremony was beautiful and all of the guests were toasty warm under the heated canopy with side curtains. Scott looked dapper with his tux and fall orange hints of color.  Wendy was beautiful in her white Wedding dress and leopard design shoes.

Following the Wedding Ceremony at the Perry Hotel Rose Garden we captured a group shot on the front porch with all of the guests.

The Bride and Groom around Perry Hotel, their work place as Chefs.

Great food, wonderful friends, and good times at the Wedding Reception at the Perry Hotel in Petoskey Michigan.

If you would like to see more beautiful images from this Wedding watch the Perry Hotel Video below

Rockstar Wedding Vendors for Perry Hotel Petoskey Michigan Wedding:

Angela and Scott came down from Harbor Springs to capture their Engagement session Photography at East Park in Petoskey, Michigan near Bay Harbor.  Here is the Fusion Wedding Photography video I put together from the Engagement session.

Beautiful November 5, 2011 Wedding at the Perry Hotel in Petoskey, Michigan on Lake Michigan shoreline by Paul Retherford Wedding Photography.

Amanda grew up on a farm in Charlevoix, Michigan.  She always knew that she would like to get married in her hometown. Amanda and Matt live in Minnesota right now and planned their Wedding on trips back to Michigan to visit the family.

They were Married at Amanda’s Church, Community Reformed Church in Charlevoix, Michigan by Amanda’s brother-in-law, Christopher Maki.  It was a beautiful fall day at the beginning of autumn.

Amanda and her bridesmaids began early getting prepared for the Big Day.    Hair and makeup were completed by Erica Zorteau and Sarah Johnson.  They did a perfect job.

The entire event was planned by N|M Event Design in Bay Harbor, Michigan with Danielle Vogelheim.  She does an amazing job making sure every last detail is considered.

The Bride and Groom decided to see each other prior to the Wedding and capture all family and Wedding Party images prior to the Ceremony.  This would allow them to arrive to the Wedding Reception early and get the night moving along. Amanda and Matt had their first glance at Mount McSauba in Charlevoix, Michigan.

The Wedding Ceremony at the Community Reformed Church was beautiful.  The brother’s of the bride built a birch tree trellis for the front of the church.  It was beautifully decorated by both NM Event Design and Bloom Floral Design of Bay Harbor, Michigan.

Following the Wedding Ceremony there were six antique muscle cars waiting for the Wedding party to transport them to the Wedding Reception at the family farm.

Some beautiful bride/groom images on the way to the Wedding Reception.

The Wedding Reception took place in a brand new steel barn on the family farm.  NM Event Design did a wonderful job making the rustic barn elegant.

Rock Star Charlevoix Michigan Wedding Vendors

Check out more of this beautiful Charlevoix, Michigan Wedding with a Fusion Wedding Slideshow at Charlevoix Fusion Wedding Photographer.

Jen & Ryan’s beautiful Northern Michigan Destination Wedding at Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Michigan by Paul Retherford Wedding Photography.

Book Castle Farms Wedding Photography now!

Rustic Elegance in Charlevoix Michigan along Lake Michigan with Wedding reception at private farm residence.  Fusion Wedding Photography video by Paul Retherford Wedding Photography.

Sunrise Wedding on Lake Huron in Presque Isle, Michigan by Northern Michigan Destination Wedding Photographer Paul Retherford.  Album design from this beautiful morning Wedding on a private rocky beach in Presque Isle, Michigan.

Mackinac Island, Michigan Wedding location at the Grand Hotel tea garden with Wedding reception in the Pontiac Room adjacent to the large porch by Paul Retherford Wedding Photography.  Inspiration Wedding images for your Grand Hotel Wedding on Mackinac Island Michigan.  Vendors include: Paul Retherford Wedding Photography, Margaret’s Garden, Grand Hotel Wedding Carriages, Bella E Dolce Wedding cakes, Tom Marx Wedding Officiant, and Catering by the Grand Hotel.

Northern Michigan Weddings Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Traverse City, Glen Arbor, Bay Harbor, Elk Rapids, Castle Farms, Lake Michigan beach Weddings with Paul Retherford Wedding Photography.

Private destination northern michigan wedding planning

Plan your Wedding at Bay Harbor Northern Michigan location

A beautiful Wedding album off to the printer for a soon to be happy bride and groom!  The Wedding ceremony was on the Lake Michigan beach in Frankfort, Michigan and the Wedding reception at the Cabbage Shed in an outdoor location on Lake Betsie in Elberta, Michigan a few miles away.  Check out this Wedding Album from West Michigan by Paul Retherford Wedding Photography.

The Wedding day was a bright blue sunny day on Mackinac Island, Michigan in Northern Michigan.   Erin and Marc received their wish of a perfect Wedding day with all of their family and friends with them to celebrate.  They are wonderful people with such a fun group of family and friends.   Everyone got to experience the horse drawn carriage rides on Erin and Marc’s Mackinac Island Wedding day too!

Trinity Episcopal Church, Mackinac Island was the location of Erin and Marc’s Wedding on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

The bride and groom both dressed in the building next to the church.  They decided that they would like to see each other prior to the Wedding so that they could capture all of the family images.  This would allow more time to spend with their family and friends during the Wedding reception at Mission Point Resort.  They also had a horse drawn carriage ride planned for the bridal couple and the entire Wedding party around Mackinac Island including downtown, boardwalk, Grand Hotel, West Bluff, and East Bluff.

Trinity Episcopal Church is located right across the street from the Fort entrance.  It is a beautiful, intimate church Wedding location on Mackinac Island.

Jon Schmidt was flown in to play the piano at the Wedding ceremony and cocktail hour on Mackinac Island.  Check out his piano work at Jon Schmidt online.

The whole Wedding party in downtown Mackinac Island, Michigan Main Street.

Horse drawn Carriage tour with Gough Carriages on Mackinac Island with the white Carriage and their larger touring carriage for the Wedding party.

Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island was the location for the Wedding reception.  We took a few minutes upon returning to capture some images on the lawn and the flower fields prior to entering the Cypress Ballroom at Mission Point Resort.

Mackinac Island Wedding cake by Bella E Dolce cakes serving all of Mackinac Island locations.

The first dance in the Cypress Ballroom at Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island.

The Wedding day moved quick and before long the light had fallen and we made this final image in from of Mission Point Resort with the beautiful Erin and Marc.

Congratulations Erin and Marc!

Mackinac Island Vendor and Venue List for Erin and Marc’s Wedding

If you would like to see more images from the Wedding day please see the slideshow below.

After a day of driving rain and dark skies the clouds parted and the sun shined down on the Wedding of Katy and Simon.  It makes a bride a bit anxious doing the rehearsal in raincoats and under umbrellas.  Katy and Simon have a very creative and artistic family and group of friends.  Each one played a roll in putting their mark on a day that began five years earlier at a friend’s Wedding.  See and listen to the Engagement story and Engagement images that I captured earlier this year where Simon and Katy talk about how they met and how they were Engaged:

Katy and the ladies started the Wedding day early in the morning at La Dolce Vita Salon in downtown Petoskey, Michigan.  If you are looking for a big city salon in small town Petoskey look no further.  Very modern and unique.  Katy’s hair was amazing!

The beautiful head piece that Katy wore was hand made by her sister Rebecca.  Katy looked stunning in the simple, yet elegant, Wedding veil.

The Wedding rings were custom designed by Richard Grinstein in Birmingham, Michigan.  Both Katy and Simon were having a hard time locating their perfect rings until they had a nice walk in downtown Birmingham, Michigan and these rings that were made from one piece of metal and replicate a blade of grass caught their eyes.

The Wedding ceremony location was outdoors on Pickerel Lake in Alanson, Michigan.

It was a beautiful day and Katy dressed in the room overlooking her ceremony location.

I created a time lapse Wedding Ceremony video which shows from the beginning of chair setup until we are finished with the images in the yard.

The Wedding was Jewish and it had all the traditional Jewish events and some modernized events too.  The bride and groom decided to see each other on the side of the house prior to signing the Katuba.

Dad sees his daughter for the first time in her Wedding gown.

The signing of the Katuba and celebration after the signing with family and Rabbi Steven.

The veiling of the bride, Badeken, just prior to walking down the Wedding isle.  The veil and head piece were hand made by Katy’s sister Rebecca.

The Chuppah was carried by the brothers down the isle and then held up during the Wedding ceremony.  The Chuppah was designed and hand made by the mothers of the bride and groom.

Here are some images from the Wedding processional.

Wedding Ceremony includes circling seven times, vows, ring ceremony, readings by the Wedding party, drinking from the cup, blessing, breaking the glass,  and the first kiss.

Katy’s brother was brought to tears by her Wedding vows to Simon.

The breaking of the glass.

The String Band for the Wedding Ceremony was Peace Meal String Band from the area.  You can find Scott and John Richey at their Wedding String Band website.

Detail images of the bride and groom’s day.

Bussing by Johnson’s Bussing.

Beautiful “Just Married” hand painted parasol by Ashley Becker of Bridal Baby Boutique.

Wedding Reception introductions by the Sun Messengers Band

The Wedding Party was introduced just like the Detroit Pistons by the voice of the Detroit Pistons introductions, Rick “The Duke” Steiger.

The Bride and Groom enter the Wedding Ceremony with style.

After a team circle dance with the Wedding party the Hora begins, played by the fabulous Sun Messengers Band.

The Chair dance.

The Wedding couple sat in the chairs and family and friends did individual dances for them.

After more than 1/2 hour of high energy dancing the family and friends sat for a welcome and thank you from the father of the bride, then salads, and the cutting of the Challah with the two dads.

The first dance at the Perry Hotel outdoor Wedding location in Petoskey, Michigan along Lake Michigan.

All of the family and friends danced the night away!  The Sun Messengers band did an awesome job and their collection of instruments created a high energy atmosphere with tons of dancing and lots of slow dancing too.  They were a pleasure to work with and their music spanned all the generations involved.

MerryMakers Wedding Planning with owner Kris Rundblad did a perfect job on planning, setup, coordinating, and the overall flow of the day.

Wedding Photobooth Photo Station available for your Wedding with Paul Retherford Wedding Photography

My Wedding Collections can include a fun Photo Station or Photobooth for your Wedding where guests can create images and get and instant print or party favor to take home.  This print is personalized for your Wedding day with your names, date, and Wedding location.  It is a beautiful sub dye 4×6 print worthy of framing.  You can see a collection of images from the Photo Station in the video below.

View the entire Wedding day in this complete Wedding fusion video including images, audio, and video clips

Paul Retherford Wedding Photography is available anywhere in the World for your Wedding and Events!

Katy and Simon are off on their honeymoon to Vancouver Island kayaking and exploring and I have been hard at work getting all of their Wedding Collection finished including all of the editing and processing.  I sent out the Wedding packet yesterday including the images, fusion slideshows, brag book, and lots more.  Head on over to my Facebook business page at http://www.Facebook.com/paulphoto to see all the new images, slideshows, and more.