At Last! Michigan Gay Wedding Photography!

At Last! A Gay Wedding in Michigan!

June 26, 2015 –

Jenn and Emily pose at a barn at Greenmead in Livonia, Michigan on their long planned wedding day, June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan wedding Photojournalist.

On the date that will go down in U.S. history as the day the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, it will also mean something else for Jenn and Emily. Friday was all about getting married to the person they loved. They’d spent months and months planning their wedding, sweating over the details, making sure everything was as perfect as it possibly could be. And then it got more perfect. The funny part is, gay weddings are just like every other wedding I’ve shot. Sure, emotions were riding extra-high for everyone, but this was a wedding first and foremost. The couple just happened to be lesbian.

Jenn and Emily pose with their daughter, and their wedding party at a barn at Greenmead in Livonia, Michigan on their long planned wedding day, June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan wedding Photojournalist.

I’ve been looking forward to shooting Emily and Jennifer’s wedding since the minute I met them. They adore each other. They finish each other’s sentences. They are kind to each other when they’re speaking. They defer to each other when I ask questions. They are perfect for each other. Honestly, photographing their gay wedding was like shooting fish in a barrel. Just look at them Ã¢â‚¬â€ they’re gorgeous, they’re in love and they’re very demonstrative. What more could a wedding photographer want?!

So for all the photographers out there who may be wondering if it’s any different shooting a gay wedding and working with same sex wedding clients (now that it’s finally legal in Michigan), the answer is no. Of course it’s not different! Isn’t that the whole point? A wedding celebrates love. Weddings are a way to tell all your friends and family that you want to be with the person you chose for the rest of your life. When I approach shooting a wedding, it’s all about the stories going on around the couple during their wedding day. What’s happening to them, around them and behind their backs. So why would shooting a gay wedding be any different? Okay, so maybe there was one little difference. Emily and Jennifer’s “First Look” was one for the books. They were both gushing, just GUSHING about each other’s dresses. That just doesn’t usually happen at straight weddings.

Emily helps her daughter “E” get into her junior bridesmaids dress on her historic June 26th, 2015 wedding day in Livonia, Michigan. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jennifer and Emily’s wedding rings on their historic June 26th, 2015 wedding day, the day gay marriage was legalized in the United States. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily reacts to a comment from her bridesmaid while she gets ready for her same sex marriage in Livonia, Michigan on June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jenn and Emily feel around the side of the wall for their official “First Look” on their June 26th, 2015 wedding day, the day their lesbian wedding became legal in the United States. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jenn and Emily see each other for their official “First Look” on their June 26th, 2015 wedding day, the day their lesbian wedding became legal in the United States. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

So if you’re looking for a manual on “How To Be A Wedding Photographer For Gay Weddings In Michigan” just get over yourself already. You shoot weddings, you know, love stories. A wedding is a wedding is a wedding. Sexual preference has nothing to do with it. My motto about wedding planning has always been, “It’s WHO you marry, not HOW you marry.” Now at least the LGBT community CAN marry. I was thrilled and honored Jenn and Emily let me be part of what certainly turned out to be a historic day for the entire nation. I happen to come from a very diverse family (by nationality, race, gender, sexual preference and political leanings) and we’re no shrinking violets when it comes to educating each other about what’s going on in our respective communities. I’m lucky. Our family celebrates and relishes our differences. If you’re a wedding photographer in Michigan thinking, “But I don’t know any gay people,” um, yeah you do. And you may be wondering about poses. What’s appropriate for gay couples? If something seems inappropriate for a couple, it’s probably an inappropriate pose for ANY couple. If you’re one of those photographers that loves those sexist wedding photography poses like having the bride sitting in her beautiful gown on the ground hugging some tuxedoed leg while looking off in the distance with cool distain on her face, then you have way bigger problems than trying to figure out how to pose gay couples for their wedding portraits! If you think for any reason you’ll be uncomfortable shooting a gay or lesbian wedding, let the couple know right up front. Emily and Jenn did have several (too many) photographers tell them they “wouldn’t be a good fit” as soon as she got to the part about her wedding being gay. If you’re not totally cool with the idea, send them my way. I’m hoping from here on out I won’t have to title blogs “Gay Wedding Photography in Michigan” or “Photographer who is happy to shoot same sex weddings in Michigan”, but can retire those search terms and go back to calling them what they areÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ weddings! For those likeminded Michigan wedding photographers who are as excited as I am that love won out in the high courts, please don’t tell your homophobic photographer friends how much fun we’re having celebrating love. And couples, if you’re searching for a gay friendly, LGBT savy Michigan wedding photographer, by all means, I’d love to photograph your wedding. Not your gay wedding, or your same sex wedding, but your wedding.

Jennifer and Emily picked THE day to have a gay wedding in MichiganÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ June 26th, 2015. All their planning for months really paid off on this perfect day in Livonia, Michigan. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jennifer and Emily laugh as their daughter “E” clowns around on their wedding day, June 26th, 2015, the day same sex weddings were legalized. All their planning for months really paid off on this perfect day in Livonia, Michigan. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily poses at Greenmead in Livonia, Michigan on her fabulous and historic wedding day, June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily and Jenn pose with their wedding party at Greenmead in Livonia, Michigan on her fabulous and historic wedding day, June 26th, 2015 when gay weddings were legalized. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist

Emily and Jenn’s long planned wedding just happened to coincide with the day gay marriages finally became legal; June 26, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily turns in shock when she hears Jenn repeating a very unique promise during her wedding vowsÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ one she’s also promised! Their wedding took place in Livonia, Michigan on the day gay marriage became legal in the United States. Emily and Jenn’s long planned wedding just happened to coincide with the day gay marriages finally became legal; June 26, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily and Jenn show their excitement at being prounced “Wife and Wife” on June 26, 2015, the day we legalized gay marriage. Their wedding took place in Livonia, Michigan. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily and Jenn kiss after being prounced “Wife and Wife” on June 26, 2015, the day we legalized gay marriage. Their wedding took place in Livonia, Michigan. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily’s father raises a toast to his daughter and her wife and their newly legal union. They celebrated on June 26th, 2015 in Livonia, Michigan. I’ve never heard a toast to “The United States of America” at a wedding before! Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily and Jennifer and their daughter “E” enjoy a quiet moment before family photos begin after their legal same sex marriage in Livonia, Michigan on June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jenn and Emily share a sweet, romantic smooch on June 26th, 2015. They just happened to choose that date to get married, not realizing the historic nature of their wedding dateÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ the day gay marriage because legal in Michigan. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jennifer poses for photos after her wedding in Livonia, Michigan on June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jenn and Emily pause in the stairwell of their wedding reception in Livonia, Michigan on June 26th, 2015, the day same sex weddings became legal. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Brides Emily and Jenn reapply their lipstick prior to their wedding reception in Livonia, Michigan on June, 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

The kids at the wedding “help” Emily carry her train through the restaurant where they had their wedding reception in Livonia, Michigan on June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Emily’s bridesmaid and mother try to figure one of the most complicated bustles I’ve ever seen on a wedding dress! Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Jenn and Emily share their first dance as wife and wife during their wedding reception in Livonia, Michigan on historic June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

The kids attending Emily and Jenn’s wedding had a blast throwing rose pedals over and over during the wedding reception. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan Wedding Photojournalist.

Their wedding and reception took place in a restaurant and there were plenty of other guests who popped their heads in to see what was going on in the other room (we weren’t exactly quiet). An older gentleman in a suit, on a date with his wife, walked by as Emily was getting her dress bustled. He did a double take at seeing two brides standing there in the lobby. He was partly out the door when he turned back around and said, “Congratulations you two. You look lovely.”

We’ve come a long way.

Jenn and Emily pose at a barn at Greenmead in Livonia Michigan on their long planned wedding day, June 26th, 2015. Photo by Marci Curtis – Michigan wedding Photojournalist.

At Last! Michigan Gay Wedding Photography!

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