Mary Claire and Michael’s wedding day was a perfect blend of reverence, tradition, and joy! Set in the heart of Detroit, their Catholic wedding at Old St. Mary’s Church in Greektown and their classy Colony Club wedding reception brought the perfect touch of classic elegance and family celebration.

When I walked into Mary Claire’s childhood home the morning of the wedding, her sweet Dad and brother greeted me as they steamed her veil and dress! Mary Claire was surrounded by her sisters and best friends as they all put the finishing touches on their hair and makeup. She was the epitome of calm and grace, not an ounce of stress was felt the entire morning, or the entire day for that matter! Across town, Tom spend the morning with Michael (Dino) his family, and his hilarious bunch of groomsmen! They enjoyed bussing around the iconic city of Detroit and even popping over to The Detroit Insitute of Arts for some pre-mass portraits.

It was our first time photographing a wedding at Old St. Mary’s in Detroit and like most churches we step in to, we were blown away! Surrounded by soaring pastel painted ceilings, gold accents, and sacred art, we just stared up in awe. Toward the back of the church, there was the neatest little grotto where Dino took a moment of silence and prayer before Mary Claire met him at the end of the aisle.

After the Mass, the celebration began at Detroit’s Colony Club. It was our second time photograping at this incredible venue, and it felt like it was made for a night like this! The grand ballroom shimmered with chandeliers and 1920s elegance. The reception room and details were fixed to perfection, many thanks to the planning and coordination of the wonderful By Kelly Kathleen! We had been wanting to work with Kelly for years and I was so thrilled to hear that we would work together for such a wonderful couple. I highly recommend Kelly to any brides who may be looking for a Catholic wedding planner in Michigan!

After the sweetest toasts and speeches from Mary Claire’s father, her sister and matron of honor, and Dino’s best man, the dances began! One of the most unforgettable parts of the evening was the Serbian Kolo dance, performed to honor Dino’s Serbian heritage. It was electric! Guests formed a traditional circle, joining hands in rhythm and celebration and the dance went on for nearly 10 minutes – so fun!

Later in the evening, Mary Claire changed into an adorable second dress and some pastel pink sneakers, perfectly matching all of her pink wedding details! We snapped some fun evening portraits of the two before they were off to party and dance the night away. I am a huge fan of a reception dress change, it really adds to the party feel!

As Detroit Catholic wedding photographers, it’s always a gift to capture weddings that are both elegant and spiritually rich, and Mary Claire and Dino’s day was no exception. Thank you for letting us be a small part of your beautiful, beautiful wedding day! God bless you, Mary Claire and Dino!