I was ecstatic when Mona asked if I would photograph her wedding. I've known Mona since 11th grade. We met at a summer camp in Dowling, Mi. Getting to capture her camp styled wedding was nostalgic.

Mike proposed to Mona while she thought they were taking their Christmas card portrait. He set up a camera to take 10 consecutive shots so he could capture her reaction in front of their Christmas tree. It was the best Christmas card I have ever seen.

Mike and Mona created a true camp experience for their friends and family. All guests were welcome to reserve a bunk at Camp Kidwell for the wedding weekend. Campers checked in on Friday and received a tote bag and a wedding weekend survival guide. The camp has 88 beds in cabins scattered around the grounds. Mona attended Camp Kidwell every summer for many years growing up. It was the perfect place for their summer nuptials. Mona is a DIY queen. I was in detail heaven. Their wedding had so many details for me to capture, I was running around hoping not to miss a thing. Luckily I had Jon and Emily there to help me document the day. Guests were escorted to their seats with drinks and trail mix. They watched on as Mona and her family rode up to the ceremony site in style by way of her brother's boat he restored.

Mike and Mona scavenged garage sales all summer to find the perfect additions to their day. They used many different vintage items including furniture, glasses and plates to create a cohesive atmosphere. They made all their own signage and even made home brew for their guests to enjoy. I'm so glad they decided to do a first look so they could spend the entire cocktail hour with their guests. We even squeezed time to escape with Mike and Mona to capture some golden hour romantic bliss. It was an amazing experience and I wish we could do it all over again!