I just returned from the Foyt-Hornshaw wedding and their gorgeous weekend in Michigan!
I’ve known Caitlin and Phil since college at Central Michigan University. We all worked for CM Life, the school’s newspaper. I have a ton of great memories from my time at CM Life even though there are only a handful of friends that I still keep in touch with.
Caitlin and Phil are two of those people.
During college I knew Caitlin a bit better than Phil, I think mostly because her and I always seemed to be in the office at crazy hours. We also both put in long nights between her writing and my managing the photo department. I remember her always sitting at one of the computers writing something or working on her classwork while waiting on stories to appear (via the police scanner or otherwise). This is also why we ended up joking around or talking to pass the time.
It led to moments of the utmost productivity, like this gem:
Clearly we were working very very hard that night.
Quite similar to how hard me, Phil, and the other editors were working this afternoon….
We got some serious distance with that launcher. Don’t worry, no one was around. But that fruit cup…um… didn’t survive.
After graduation I returned home to California, and then about a year later I moved to LA. An about a year after that was when Phil and Caitlin decided to move west and head to LA themselves.
It was still quite a while before our schedules and lives slowed down enough to a point that we finally crossed paths, but that’s LA for you. Everyone is busy a lot of the time and really you just need to schedule time to have time… plus it’s fair to argue that I’m not around that often, either.
Well, fast forward a bit and Phil and Caitlin are engaged! And I’ve been asked not only about their wedding photography, but also engagement photos, too!
Sweet! And we’re going to the Color Run in San Diego for them! Even more awesome.
You guys might remember seeing these. It was a pretty fun morning but these were definitely the highlight for me. Something totally different for their engagement shoot!
Well, since that day in November (wow! it was a while ago now, wasn’t it?!) the wedding has come and went.
Michigan turned out to be a bit chilly (for my Californian blood anyway) and I found myself turning on the heater in the morning when it was 58 degrees out and I left the house to go get my iced chai tea… Yep, I’m that guy at the coffee shop – the one that doesn’t drink coffee.
But the wonderful thing about Michigan in the Fall is the light. Hell, most of the year there is such incredible light to shoot with. I don’t know if the people there realize how great they have it. Blue skies and white puffy clouds are totally normal. We have to photoshop things like that back in Los Angeles.
I’ll get to the pictures here shortly and let them do the rest of the talking with some captions here and there. Save to say that my weekend with the Foyt and Hornshaw families was pretty awesome. I had such a wonderful time getting to know everyone. I had met a small handful of Caitlin and Phil’s friends back in LA, and a couple of them were there at the wedding, too. But to have more time to hang out, talk, and laugh with everyone was a blast.
So, with that… I’ll shut up. Click past the break for the remaining images in this 250 photo blog post about the Foyt-Hornshaw wedding out at Lake Orion, Mich.
Heading out to rehearsal, it was chillier than the blue skies lead you to believe
Everyone lined up and being talked through the ceremony
All done and we’re only doing one run-through! Everyone remember their positions!!!
Opening their gifts from Caitlin
Toasting the Bride & Groom
Up for an early start the next morning! I’m sure the girls were thrilled I showed up with a camera. hahaha
Courtney setting up a display full of family photos
All the centerpieces and settings were put together by Caitlin and her girls! So much work and time put in to these
The place cards were all hanging with a small key on this door. Caitlin spent quite a while organizing everyones names in alphabetical order
Mr. Foyt had spent a lot of time putting the door hooks in after finding an old door from an old building to fit Caitlin’s theme and style for her decorations
After leaving the golf course we headed to the salon so the girls could get their hair and makeup started
Caitlin’s hair is coming along
Dad stopped by to drop a few things off and took a quick look to see how his daughter was looking
Checking placement for the headband
Busy instagramming!! haha!
All the chairs were full, Caitlin’s girls filled the whole salon on both sides
Pita Pit arrived and it was time for lunch! I definitely ate right after this photo, too. haha!
Time for makeup.
“You’re takin a photo with these on my face?!” …. yes. Yes I am.
A few lip touchups and we’re ready to head back to the venue!
Back at Myth Golf Course it was turning in a beautiful afternoon
Wellllllp, I’m going to be in every single wide angle shot it seems…
When you need help with setting the dress… borrow a bridesmaid. haha!
Saralyn was kind enough to come help me shoot Caitlin’s dress.
Caitlin’s dress, simple and very pretty.
Signing her shoes
Some of the other girls did their makeup back at the Myth
The favors! they were custom made little versions of Phil, Caitlin, and Kiwi!
Going over everything making sure everything is still on schedule
All set up and ready for guests!
Phil’s dad, attaching a boutonniere to his son
And Phil helping his father with his
I love this shot
And helping his step-dad next
Phil, looking sharp.
Back inside Caitlin was tryin on her shoes
Had to get some shots of her girls’ signatures before she walked down the aisle!
Sister Courtney helping get Caitlin into her dress
Mom watching in the back along with the girls
And then Courtney almost lost it, along with the other girls…
Saralyn, taking care of the buttons
Gotta get a few shots of the bride before we head out
My cameo in one of the photos! hahaha
Everyone has their carts and are ready to head down to the ceremony. You can see it just above the cars on the left
Quick shot with Caitlin before running out!… so quick I didn’t have time to check the focus
Phil was smiling pretty much the entire day, he barely stopped
A few pieces were read by their aunts
Tears were shed by most of the family, including the bride. It was an emotional wedding
Exchanging of rings
Phil promises he’ll be Caitlin’s..
And Caitlin promises to be Phil’s
It was a bit breezy out and the unity candle was tricky. But everyone was in great spirits and laughed it off
Woo hoo! Husband and Wife!!
Mr. and Mrs. Hornshaw!
This moment as Phil and Caitlin crossed the bridge by themselves immediately after the ceremony was gorgeous with them silhouetted against bridge and fields.
And after a couple signatures it’s now completely official
Caitlin and her sister Courtney
With all of our relatives getting older I can fully understand making sure to share important moments with them. My own grandparents are getting older
The wedding party, looking sharp!
Mr. and Mrs. Hornshaw, looking amazing!
Lighting and colors in Michigan are pretty amazing this time of year
Getting situated on the bridge for some bridge photos. Don’t want to be that story of the bride who fell in the river before her reception!
With such a cute location we made sure to take a bunch of photos
One of us before we head in to the reception!
As we turned to leave, we tried a few more photos with this lighting. It really was gorgeous
These images are straight from camera, with only a veryyy slight vignette added. That’s how awesome the lighting is this time of year.
YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW GOOD YOU GOT IT MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHERS!!!
Shoes are still holding up!
Phil and Caitlin take a minute before everyone’s entrance to thank everyone for being part of their wedding day
Speech time
Maid of Honor, and sister to the bride, Courtney was up first
“I haven’t tested this (speech) so I don’t know how long it is..” – Nick
And every great author should quote a great author in a speech, right?
Nick’s speech was very heartfelt as he talked about growing up with Phil and their experiences in life
Caitlin’s dad said a few words, too.
After speeches, as the sun began to set, everyone started on dinner.
The poor bridesmaids! All the air conditioning vents were right behind their chairs! Yikes
Dana and Krista chatting with the bride. We all used to work at the news paper together.
Phil and Caitlin had a special vegan cake made since several people in the wedding party are vegan.
Figuring out the best way to do the cutting. haha!
First dance as husband and wife was next
Followed by the Daddy-Daughter dance
Phil and his mom waiting for the Mother-Son dance, and watching Caitlin and her dad
Caitlin’s aunt jumping in for a photo. haha!
Really cute moment of Phil and his mom
And her wiping away some tears
Getting a little artsy with the rings. It’s great when there are things like this that I can incorporate into images and detail shots
All ex-CM Life staff, including me! haha!
Dad, breakin it down
DH and Dana, old friends from CM Life and school, the two of them got engaged earlier this year
And of course I had to get photos with everyone I knew, too!
Me and the Mayo’s! Krista and Jason!
Back on the dance floor, as the night was winding down, Caitlin and Phil are in their own little world together
Dancing and laughing together
Instagramming I’m guessing…
Yep! Selfie time!
Fine! I can do the selfie thing, too!
Me and Jake
And always the most important photo from the evening, me with the bride and groom!
So that’s it! That wraps up my time shooting the Foyt-Hornshaw wedding this past weekend! Again, I had a wonderful time with everyone and it was great to be able to be part the wedding of two old friends from school. Not many of us from the journalism program went on to become the writers and photographers we set out to be… but the three of us did. And now Phil and Caitlin are taking that whole next step in life together. How awesome is that? I’ll get there some day, but for now it’s just cool to capture it for everyone else.
Thanks again for having be part of it Phil and Caitlin! You guys are the best.