Jora and Keenan's fairytale wedding day was chock-full of glamourous, sparkly details. Their venue - Castle Farms in Charlevoix Michigan, was a literal palace complete with stone finishes, beautifully landscaped gardens, and royal throne chairs for the bride and groom. If glam is your aesthetic, then you are going to love this wedding.
Getting Ready Moments
Jora was total queen status with not one, but TWO diamond crowns and sparkly Jimmy Choo's, while king Keenan rocked a satin tailcoat suit in blue. He and his groomsmen completed their look with superhero socks which were such a fun addition to the look.
Ceremony
Castle Farms offers a few different indoor/outdoor locations for your ceremony and reception. Jora and Keenan chose the Knight's castle and courtyard for their wedding and needless to say, it did not disappoint! The two were perfectly framed by the castle's pointed arch with a crystal chandelier hanging just above them. The ceremony was short and sweet because little did everyone know... Jora and Keenan had a huge secret they had been keeping. They privately eloped in Vegas YEARS ago and never told a soul!
Wedding Party
It was a calm, overcast day in October which was perfect for portraits. As much as I love a sunny wedding day, there's something so moody and sophisticated about a cloudy ceremony. Not only is the light softer, which avoids harsh shadows created by the afternoon sun, but in this case, it also added a cool mysterious vibe against the castle venue.
Bride & Groom Portraits
Jora originally reached out to me because of my editing style. She noticed how I edit skin tones and liked how I consistently stayed true to color. That was a huge compliment coming from Jora and something I pride myself in as a photographer. Editing is not a "one size fits all" process, rather a creative art uniquely adjusted to the coloring of each couple, background, and lighting.
Check out this blog about the Top 10 Posing Prompts for Wedding Day Portraits!
Reception
Inside the castle was beautifully decorated in baby pink linens, floral centerpieces, drapery, and gold Chiavari chairs. The space was undoubtedly fit for a king! After they had wined and dined, a few toasts were given in honor of the not-so-newly-weds. Keenan's son gave the sweetest speech thanking Jora for all she does for the family. And finally, after much anticipation, Jora and Keenan announced their secret marriage! They were over the moon to finally be celebrating the occasion with their closest family and friends.
After their big announcement, and the cutting of the cake, the party really began! The DJ knew how to get everyone on the dancefloor. They even had an Albanian money dance to celebrate Jora and her family which was such a fun experience to capture.
One of my favorite memories from the day is when Jora and Keenan had me stay until the very end for their last dance. They slowly swayed to the song, "I Want You Around" by Snoh Aalegra. They were completely in the moment and lost in each other's eyes. It was magical, and I definitely cried.
During their engagements, Jora's purse had a secret node to their elopement in Vegas and we sneakily snuck it into their prewedding photos. I loved that clever little hint and am so glad I got to be in on the secret leading up to their big day.