Julie + Chris | Garden Wedding | Southern Exposure Gardens | Battle Creek, MI

The white chairs graced the lawn in a close, intimate pattern. Instead of being a big event, this day was all about the little moments, spent with a small circle of friends and family. Awkward conversations of introducing each other to strangers were replaced by familiar exclamations like "How have you been?" and "We haven't seen you in so long!" As seats were taken, one could almost hear the soft swish of Julie's dress as she strolled through the gardens, just out of sight. And then suddenly, there she was, standing in the entrance to ceremony garden, ready to begin her life as Mrs. Hooper!

Maybe it was the fact that the seasons have begun to change, or maybe it is just the fact that we knew we were going to see Julie and Chris again, but from the moment we stepped into their wedding day, everything seemed to fall into place. We already knew from their engagement shoot that the soft, humble spirits these two possess set them apart as truly unique, but as we got to see them spend the day celebrating their marriage with friends and family, we saw a playful joy come out of them that made the whole day seem like a dream! From their vows, which blended the traditional wedding vows with a few thoughts of their own, to a stroll through the gardens for their portraits, this wedding instantly created a desire in us to see more intimate, garden weddings in the future!

To put it simply, nothing could have prepared us for the magic of the grounds of Southern Exposure gardens. A beautiful stone path cut through the middle of the property, slowly revealing a gorgeous garden to the left and an intimate ceremony space to the right. From the first moments of the day as Julie and Chris began to get ready, all the way through to sparklers and dancing the night away, Southern Exposure seemed to have a location for each and every need.

Julie and Chris, we truly hope that on your wedding day, you two felt as loved as you both make others feel loved. We still think back to the moments when Chris was so overcome with emotion, that he simply had to turn around and exclaim to your guests "Isn't she beautiful?" That love is so tangible when you two are around each other, and we hope that you know that you two can be such an amazing example to those around you as you begin this journey of husband and wife!

All our best!

J + A