Alyssa + Neil | Paint Creek Country Club | Lake Orion, MI

Bailey
Aug 10
3 min read

I was a little nervous going into Alyssa and Neil’s wedding, and I can admit that now because within about five minutes of meeting them I realized I had absolutely nothing to be nervous about. 😂 We had never actually met in person before their wedding day, which always leaves me wondering a little bit about how we’re all going to click, but oh my gosh, I adored them. They are funny, kind, easygoing, so much fun to be around, and somehow by the end of the night I felt like I’d known them forever. And their people?! THE BEST. Truly just such a fun group of humans to spend a wedding day with.

This wedding was also a long time coming. Twelve years, actually. Alyssa and Neil are high school sweethearts, and let me tell you, absolutely no one was going to let them forget how long they’d waited to finally do this. 😂 After twelve years together, they got to stand in front of all of these people who have watched them grow up, grow together, build a life, and finally become husband and wife. There was so much excitement surrounding them. It wasn’t just their wedding day, it felt like a day their families and friends had been waiting to celebrate right along with them.

We had been watching some not-so-great weather leading up to the wedding, but apparently the universe knew better because the rain stayed away and they ended up with the most beautiful sunny summer day. Everything worked. Everyone was happy. And honestly, nothing was going to shake these two anyway.

And then there was Mack.

Alyssa told me ahead of time that they wanted their chocolate lab included in some photos and obviously my answer to that will pretty much always be YES. Bring me your dogs. 😂 Mack showed up, understood the assignment, and was quite literally the goodest boy. Some of my favorite photos from the entire day have him right there with them, exactly where he belongs. There is just something about including the little pieces of your actual life in your wedding photos that I will love every single time.

I also have to talk about Alyssa because her mom summed it up perfectly when she said, “she brides so well.” SHE REALLY DOES. That dress. That veil. The whole look was incredible, but honestly it was her smile for me. She was just beaming all day. There was something really amazing about watching someone who has spent twelve years loving the same person finally get this one day to put on the incredible dress, wear the giant veil, have everyone she loves show up for them, and just fully soak in being the bride.

And Neil was right there soaking it all in with her. After so many years together, there’s an ease between these two that you can’t manufacture for photos. They know each other. They make each other laugh. They’re completely comfortable together, and watching them finally get to have this celebration was so much fun.

I went into this wedding just meeting two people for the first time and left feeling like I’d spent the day with friends. I laughed so much, loved their families and friends, took approximately a million photos of Mack, and got to document the day these two finally made twelve years of “when are you guys getting married?!” jokes officially obsolete. 😂

Alyssa and Neil, I am SO happy I got to be there for this one. Twelve years looks pretty dang good on you two. 🤍

Alyssa & Neil's Vendor Team:

Venue: Paint Creek Country Club

Dress: The Dress Shop

Florals: Blumz

Desserts/Bakery: M Street Bakery

DJ: Mike Staff Productions