3085 days.  That’s how long Mike and Keri have known each other, and how long Mike has loved her. 349 weeks, is how long Mike kept his love a secret, and kept Keri as a close friend.  To say that I was emotional at their Rock Island Lake Club wedding would be the understatement of the year.  The minute Mike started speaking his vows, I started crying.  Their love story is similar to the likes of Luke and Lorelai Gilmore, and today I’m so excited I get to be the lucky photographer to share this story.

To take a page out of their engagement blog, eight years ago, Mike was getting anxious and stressed about his first day as an intern at Skylands Stadium.  Keri was a manager there and she’d be training him for his position. Everything started going downhill when he got lost and couldn’t find his way to the right office. He called to say he was lost and Keri came to the rescue opening the door for him.  Honestly, right there in that moment sparks started flying on Mike’s end, but Keri was just preparing for the work day.

Then, on Valentine’s Day that year, Keri got a mysterious gift.  Chocolate and a sweet, anonymous card. After asking everyone she knew if they sent it, posting on Facebook if any friends had sent it AND asking Mike if he sent it, she still had no clue who the secret admirer was because MIKE DENIED SENDING IT.

Years went by (8 to be exact!) and Mike watched Keri go through bad boyfriend after bad boyfriend. They became very close friends, going to parties together, wineries, events, and more. Mike’s friends all took Keri into their “family” and all knew for years that Mike was completely smitten by her. He told them all that he’d disown them if they ever told Keri he liked her.

Years kept going by and they remained friends until one day Mike found himself in need of a job.  Keri put the word in at her new place of work and he landed a job there.  He asked if he could take her out to lunch to say thank you to which she happily agreed and Mike gave her her birthday present! Inside was a Cava Winery glass, a cocktail recipe book with a witty title (Tequila Mockingbird) and a piano key signed by none other than Andrew McMahon from Jack’s Mannequin (Keri’s favorite band).  What you also might not know about these two is that Keri is a published Author (yup that’s right she’s amazing!) and her book is about a pianist. So the witty book and the piano key were unbelievably fitting on that level as well.

After this extraordinary present, Keri’s thoughts about Mike started to shift.  About one monday later, they had their first date at the wine festival. Keri could tell he wanted to kiss her but wasn’t making a move, so she planted one on him! And the rest is history!

Six months later they were engaged while picnicing, and drinking wine. Mike presented her with a golden snitch that opened up to say “Will you Marry me?” and got on one knee. He told me that he would have proposed to her the day of their first date if the rest of the world wouldn’t have thought that was weird.  Mike knew, from the moment he met her 8 years ago that she would be the one. After patiently waiting and finding out Keri reciprocated his feeling, they have found their soul mates and have the most unrelentless, romantic, unconditional and everlasting love story I have ever heard. If you ask me, it kind of puts Luke and Lorelai to shame.

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Their wedding day started with the girls getting ready in the suite upstairs.  While I shot details and the bride prep, Monika was outside hanging and joking with the guys for their groomsmen portraits!

 

A short hour later, we were getting ready to walk down to the docks and I’m pretty sure between Keri and Mike, every emotion was being felt.  Excitement, anxiety, nervousness, enthusiasm, you name it.

 

We did their first look on the dock, and even as I photographed from afar, I started tearing up.  Their relationship is just SO BEAUTIFUL.  They way they adore each other is like nothing you’ve ever seen, and I love that I got to witness and document it on their special day.

 

After the first look, we took wedding party and family formals on the lawn, and then hid away for the ceremony while guests started to arrive.

 

The ceremony was held outside in front of the lake as the sky held off the rain, but threatened with dark clouds.  They read their own vows, and my eyes were anything but dry.  The second they were announced Bride and Groom and walked down the aisle, the skies opened up while the guests filtered into the cocktail hour room.  No doubt, Keri’s grandma holding the weather off in heaven <3. The ceremony, all together, was so special, with Keri’s cousin officiating, and another one of her cousins playing guitar and singing. Friends and family both did reading, and they read their own vows and I’m just hoping no one saw how much I was crying the whole time.

 

After an incredible cocktail hour (seriously, Rock Island has the best cocktail hour food!) the party got started upstairs to a beautiful first dance, and equally emotional parent dances.  This is when I really started to lose it all over again.

 

They were surrounded by their closest family and friends for the party of the year, and no doubt, it’s going down as one of the happiest days of their life.

Keri and Mike, I am SO HONORED that I got to be there to document and celebrate your love story alongside you.  Thank you for bringing me into your lives for this special time.  I have no doubt in my mind that you have a lifetime of love and happiness ahead of you.  Cheers!!!

 

VENUE: Rock Island Lake Club

VENUE COORDINATOR: Heather Truesdale

CEREMONY VENUE: Rock Island Lake Club
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jon Devine

FLORIST: Highland Flowers and Gifts

CAKE ARTIST: Palermo’s Bakery

BAND: Sound Surge Entertainment

MAKE-UP ARTIST: Madison Washer

HAIR ARTIST: Julie Finnerty at Style on Location

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES: David’s Bridal

TUXES: Tuxedo World of Wycoff

BRIDAL GOWN BOUTIQUE:The Wedding Store

BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER: Allure Romance

 

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