I just returned from Michigan where I spent the last weekend photographing Alex and Laura Bastow’s gorgeous wedding.

Firstly… it’s pronounced “bass-toe” like the fish and appendage on your foot.. How many people’s minds were just blown? Anyone? Cuz there were definitely friends at the wedding that didn’t know how to correctly pronounce Alex’s last name. Haha!
Anyway, I had a great weekend with these two who were kind enough to fly me out and host me for several days in the middle of all the normal craziness of a wedding. To add insult to an already-hectic time in anyone’s lives there were massive MASSIVE rains in the greater Detroit areas and their basement flooded a week before the wedding. These two handled it like a boss, though, and didn’t let it phase them or their plans for a great weekend with their relatives.

So a little bit of reminiscing before I get into the 350+ images from their wedding…
I know Laura because she’s the sister of Lisa, and I know Lisa from college.
Here’s my first vivid memory of Laura… wait… I mean, my first vivid memory of the (now) Dr. Laura…

 

Sitting on the couch with her siblings during Lisa’s wedding. I thinkkkk she was writing out her Maid of Honor speech. But honestly knowing how studious Laura is, she could have just as easily been studying. Her sister Jamie was working on the computer, and brother Joe was checking messages.

Anyway, I got to know Laura during that weekend with their family. And, as I offer many of my friends, I said if anyone ever wanted to visit SoCal they could come crash with me. Well, Laura took me up on that later on when she had a break from school and came out during Spring Break actually..

So of course we had to go to Disneyland! I mean… she’d never been! Plus it was like the day before my birthday, too, so my friend TJ joined us and hit the parks for some mid-week Disney magic. hahaha!

Teacups! Woooo!!!!

I remember during that trip Laura talked about how she had been recently talking to this new guy and he was a nice guy, etc etc. Well, that person was Alex and I would hear about him and how great a guy he was to her many more times during my visits to Michigan when Laura and I would find time to grab coffee or the occasional catch-up online or the phone.

So when Laura and Alex decided to have a wedding ceremony they reached out to me to see about getting me out to Michigan to shoot for them. I was thrilled to be able to shoot for another old friend, as well as to join the Favazza family again for another family event.

The day before the wedding Laura, Alex, and all their neighbors were emptying their basements with damaged things from the flooding… well, their neighbor had this huge spiderman just chillin’ in their front yard that afternoon. Laura and I ran over and took a picture with it. hahaha!!!

That evening we headed over to Laura’s Uncle Tom’s house, where the wedding was going to be the next day.

 

Alex and the guys, waiting for everyone to start their walk down the aisle

Their friend Jake would be officiating the wedding

Cecelia and Liv practicing their flower girl walk!

One last quick run through and then it was time for dinner!

The next morning started with hair, makeup, and gifts!

Laura and Justine talking and laughing

Justine was apparently planning on going as a pirate to the wedding, since one of her eyes was bugging her and she was trying to keep swelling down. I still think we could have found her a sweet eye patch…

Kristin, getting started on Laura’s hair

Cecelia came upstairs to show Laura something in her game

Jamie arriving and coming in to say hello

Eating breakfast. Checking text messages

Jamie, sitting and talking to Laura and Kristin continues on her hair

Placing the headband/ribbon

Getting closer to finished! Laura is looking amazing

Nice work Kristin! Hair is on point!

Laura’s dress was beautiful!

Lisa was up next

at one point Laura laid down being careful not to touch her hair or mess up her makeup so she could rest for a bit

So her sister Jamie laid down next to her and was chatting with her keeping her company.

A bit later Laura’s mom came upstairs with silverware and napkins to roll that we didn’t get done the night before

Makeup touchups

Lisa’s hair is coming together and looking great

Laura, laying down again, holding hands with her little cousin

Flowers have arrived! Checkin them out

Jamie wasn’t thrilled when I walked in to take photo of her gettin her hair done

Alex arrived and was checking things out to see where he could help lend a hand with setup

Craig was there early, too, to help

Where do these go? Here? Here’s good…

Back upstairs the ladies were all nearly finished getting ready

 

Laura helping Cecelia with her slippers

Trying them on the other feet.. hard to tell if there are set left and right or not

Last up was little Olivia getting her hair done, too!

Well dangggg, we got some dramatic clouds rolling in before the ceremony!
#protip though… Never expose for that with wedding photos. You’re shooting a wedding, not a fashion shoot.

Tom’s yard is looking amazing with everything coming together. He did an amazing job with the rest of the family putting this all together

Liv is getting suited up!

The girls, practicing walking together!

All the girls finishing getting ready

Getting buttoned up with some help from Mom

Laura, looking stunning in her dress!

There were a couple clear snaps, which I assume are kind of like backups, that Jamie was helping clip shut

Lisa, helping with the belt

Laura had to have some custom adjustments made to the belt. All for the better, too, because it looked great  with her dress

All the ladies, ready to go!

Quick shot of the bride before things get going

Last shot with Laura before she walks down the aisle!

Downstairs and outside everyone was taking their seats for the ceremony

Olivia got shy and stopped at the back..

She turned and almost left completely before turning around and walking down the aisle

First look as Laura comes walking down the aisle

Hugs for her dad!

Exchanging of vows

The rings

Alex giving Laura her ring..

..and a ring for Alex

Then Cecelia was brought forward, too

Jamie was carrying a necklace, from Laura, for Cecelia

Everyone was both full of smiles and emotions

Laura giving Cecelia a necklace as a gesture of love since Laura is joining Alex and Cecelia’s family officially now

A few more vows and things to say

And it’s official!

Mr. and Dr. Bastow!

After walking out to the front, Laura gave Alex a huge hug

This was a really cute moment before anyone else had joined us out front. Alex and Laura kissed, and Cecelia hugged them both

Getting ready to sign all the paperwork to finalize everything

Now time to round up everyone to head out for some group photos by the water

Sisters shot!

This was the one shot that Laura really wanted to make sure we created on their wedding day…

Laura told that while her and Alex were dating she had a dream of him carrying her across the grass. Not necessarily a wedding, just simply carrying her and the image always stuck with her. So, she wanted that re-created on their wedding day.
Honestly it was a ridiculously cute story when I heard it.

Gathering everyone to get ready for the entrances

Alex went one way, Laura the other

The weather was still quite comfortable and breezy as all the guests welcomed in the wedding party

Next up were the speeches

Uncle Tom was busy working while Jamie was thanking him, specifically, for hosting and all his hard work

Oldest sister Lisa spoke next

And then Mr. Favazza got up to speak

At first the girls seemed nervous about “what embarrassing thing might dad say..”

But Mr. Favazza’s speech got pretty emotional

It was really sweet

And then he announced he had a gift…

TOTAL.PANIC.

Then laugher and a bit of horror..

White boots with green polka dots..

As a kid Mr. Favazza always threatened, as a joke, that he would make Laura wear white cowboy boots with green polka dots if she didn’t listen

Best man Angelo was up next!

Time to hear about Alex..

Time for dinner!

We had to a few more photos with the family after eating before it got too late in the evening. Earlier we had only shot the bridal party images

I think ‘Liv wins for cutest photo while we were shooting these though

Cecelia gave her dad a huuuuge hug when it was her turn for a photo.

Alex laughed and picked her up saying “We already did these earlier!” and kissed her cheek

And she wanted another photo with Laura, too

Laura with her Aunt and Uncle who worked incredibly hard to host a gorgeous wedding

And I had to get a shot with the bride and groom, too!

What do you do when it starts to rain a bit? Twirl… you twirl..

Saying hi to Mattie, who spent a lot of time with the Favazza family while interning (if I recall) years ago and is a close friend of Laura and sisters after several years

The rain was starting to pick up so a couple of the tables had to be moved in a bit

Whatchu takin a picture of camera man!?

Uncle Tom was putting up one of the walls to the tent just in case the rain picked up any more.

The rain was brief and had pretty much stopped, so it was time to clear the dance floor for the first dances!

Uncle Tom, still working! Drying off the dance floor for the first dance

Both of them looking super happy as they talked and danced

Mr. Favazza, watching his daughter and new son-in-law dance

Cecelia, sitting and watching

Alex picked up Laura as they hugged after finishing dancing

And when Laura went to dance with her father he lifted her up and carried her back on the dance floor!

If you couldn’t tell, Laura is pretty tiny ; ) haha

Alex carried Cecelia out to the dance floor to dance with her next

Not long into their dance Laura came out to join them

And another huge hug for dad before they leave the dance floor

Everyone came out to break it down, see!

 

Had to get a photo with Vince and Mattie DiDona! They’re expecting their second kid soon! And waiting to find out what it will be!

 

And also had to get a photo with Lindsay, Lisa, and Mattie. This girls were all great friends during and after my time going to school in Michigan. I get to see them about once a year or so

Ms. Favazza gettin down with all her friends from growing up, too! They all made the wedding as well!

Even though the sun set quite a while ago it was still warm out and the party was still going

A lot of people had moved over to the smores area to make create your own smore with all the different chocolates/etc there were to choose from

Took a little bit to track down both Lisa and Craig at hte same time and get a photo with them, but I managed to do so toward the end of the night!
Love these two. They’re always so kind to host me when I come through Michigan, which is about once a year, and give me a place to stay for whatever random length of time I need. I consider myself pretty lucky to be able to see them every summer or so rather than simply lose touch as so many of us do after college.

Alex and Laura were hanging at the bar laughing and talking with friends

And Craig decided since the dance floor was empty, he better go ahead and break it down.

Toward the end of the evening Cecelia walked over and started pulling her dad away from everyone reminding him he promised another dance

I think watching Alex and Cecelia was one of the sweetest parts of the evening

Justine lost her dance partner was left on her own

Laura, coming over to join Alex and Cecelia for one of their last dances as a group of the evening

Checking out Laura’s ring

Joe, showing off his… uh… manicure?

Clearly Table Ten was the best table

Cecelia put on Laura’s boots and was getting down toward the end of the night

Turned out they were the right size

As the night came to an end and most of the family had left Laura sat with her Uncle Tom, our host that day, and laughed and talked

Tom and his wife hosted a heck of a party for everyone that day and it was great to see that he did find some time to still sit and enjoy himself.

 

The night ended for all of us shortly after and everyone headed home and back to their hotels. It was a gorgeous day and beautiful wedding. And even with brief moments of rain everyone still an awesome time.
It was great to be able to be there for Laura and Alex to photograph their wedding weekend for them. And I hope you all enjoyed all the images as much as I’ve enjoyed going through them and editing this selection to share with everyone!