Chicagoland Photographer | Madelyn and Slayton's blissful wedding
On a very hot potentially thunderstormy day late September I drove to Three Oaks, MI having my fingers and toes crossed it wouldn’t be a total downpour that day especially during the outdoor ceremony. In all my years of being a wedding photographer I have always gotten lucky and there was a little window without rain and we could still get amazing wedding pictures. With that in mind I had high hopes. And although the sky rumbled and there was maybe a handful of rain drops the weather held and Maddie and Slayton were able to enjoy their beautiful wedding day!
I photographed their engagement session a year ago on a cold December day! We instantly clicked and I was very much looking forward to capturing how their love story continues…I have to show a few of their engagement pictures because it makes it come full circle this time of year!
The Blissful Barn in Three Oaks, MI is gorgeous and I had not photographed a wedding there. Maddie and Slayton said it was the venue of their dreams. It is beautiful and just fit their personal style so perfectly!
Do you notice all the little details? Right when I walked into the barn I could tell how much work was put into the decorating, flowers and little details…WOW! I photographed this wedding by myself and honestly was worried if I could capture it all with the time frame we had. But their families and friends and bridal party were so supportive and it was such a blast from beginning to end. It was hot, a bit humid but the rain stayed away and I was busy like a cowboy with my two cameras shooting away…everyone made me feel like family and at one point we were devouring fresh fruit for a few minutes because we needed a little refreshing snack so we wouldn’t faint ha ha
Bride and Groom opted for a first look and it was so genuinely sweet and from the heart. That’s what I love about Maddie and Slayton, they are just the most perfectly matched couple and it shines through in how they treat each other. Everyone can tell their love is deep and they treasure each moment! They also exchanged personal vows and did rock paper scissors to see who has to go first!
How did you first meet?
We met through social media. We found out that we lived down the road from each other (we
both lived with our parents at the time). After meeting in person, we were attached at the hip
and have spent every moment we can together since then.
What is your favorite way to spend time together?
Our favorite way to spend time together is being outdoors whether it’s hunting, fishing, or at the
horse barn - we are always doing fun activities together! We also really love spending quality
time together cozy at home.
Bride - how did you know HE was THE ONE?
“I am unable to put the answer to this question into a short paragraph- but here is what I will say:
I knew he was the one by the way he would always treat me with such kindness and respect, which he obviously still does to this day- every day. He has the biggest heart and always puts me first. We share so many of the same passions and hobbies - life is the best with him!”
Groom - how did you know SHE was THE ONE?
“When we started dating, I always suspected she was the one. But I KNEW she was the one when I saw how sweet and loving her heart is. Through good times and bad, our love for each other has always prevailed. We have such good communication and honesty with each other.”
A first look really gives the couple some time to themselves on an otherwise very busy wedding day. Although I don’t push for a first look, I do point out to my wedding couples that it is really a great way to calm the nerves and enjoy the wedding day together from that point on. After the reading of their vows we were able to do some family and bridal party pictures before the ceremony. I wish I’d had more time with just the two of them but sometimes it’s simply not possible. We made the best of it!
How did He propose?
He proposed to me while we were on a trip in Florida with Brandy and Andy. (Brandy is Slayton’s sister and Andy is her Fiancé, we are all amazing friends) We had planned to “take pictures on the beach” that night and of course, I didn’t bring anything nice to wear lol! But Brandy did help me cover up my sunburnt face with a little makeup and off we went to the beach! The first beach we arrived at just wasn’t a super nice beach. Slayton made a quick decision to drive down to Ft. Myers beach - we had to make it there quick because the sun was already setting!
As soon as we arrived, we jumped out of the car and started walking down the beach (I had no idea what was about to happen). We were walking very quickly and I had no idea why. Brandy and Andy trailed behind us. Slayton found the spot he wanted to propose at and I was absolutely so surprised and excited!!! It was the best night ever! Not to mention, we got amazing pictures with the sunset in the background!
Who stood up in your wedding?
Maid of Honor| Brandy: She is Slayton’s sister, but also became one of my best friends! I wanted her to be my maid of honor because we’ve shared endless laughs and unforgettable moments together. I knew she would bring the positive vibes and embrace the role fully. She delivered on every reason I asked her to stand by my side. She showed up, supported me, and made it even more special.
Best Man| Andy: I wanted to have him as my best-man because he is much more than a friend, he feels more like a brother. He shares the strange and quirky sense of humor that I have, which has created lots of laughs and memories together. His values, honesty, and steady presence makes him someone I deeply respect.
Bridesmaids: Kayla| Maddy’s Sister/BFF, Liviya| Maddy’s Sister/BFF, Marlee| Slayton’s Sister/BFF, Megan| Maddy’s BFF, Abbie| Maddy’s BFF (not in order)
Groomsmen: Christian| Slayton’s Twin Brother/BFF, Andrew| Slayton’s Brother/BFF, Skylar| Slayton’s Brother in law/BFF, Zac| Slayton’s Brother in law/BFF, Bryan| Slayton’s BFF (not in that order)
Describe your wedding style in 3 words…
Western, Vintage, Blue
What were your wedding colors?
Dusty Blue and Light Gray as well as neutral browns, tans, greens.
Wedding Vendors:
1. James & Sons - Slayton just happened to find the perfect style of ring from there!
2. Sage Bridal in Rensselaer - I picked my dress because I felt it matched with the western/vintage feel of the wedding. (Also highly recommend dress shopping here - Kari is absolutely amazing!)
3. The dresses came from Azazie, I let my girls choose which dresses they wanted to wear but assigned them the color dusty blue and fabric satin. I picked that color/fabric because I thought it’d look nice with the outdoor backdrop of the ceremony and against the red barn.
4. We picked the light gray suit because Slayton looked so handsome in that color. As soon as he put it on we knew it was the one!
5. Our florists were Maddy’s Mom (Jessica), Aunt (Samantha), and Grandma (Darlene). They worked endless hours on all of the arrangements and really made our wedding beautiful. We cannot thank them enough for all of the hard work and planning they did, they really helped make our day special.
6. DJ We used Rhythm and Lights
7. Our wedding favors were tiny horseshoes that we placed at each seat for dinner, they had name tags attached to them and on the back we added a personalized message to each guest.
8. We also had a fully stocked cigar bar, as well as a table full of little shooters wearing mini cowboy hats that were supplied by Zac & Taylor, huge thank you and shout out to them!
9. My hair was done by Miranda Sons. My makeup was done by the amazing Bri Fieser Johnson, a family friend of mine! I highly recommend!
10. The limo company was Slayton’s wonderful dad who brought us back to our resort that night!
Were there any challenges planning your wedding?
We planned our wedding with the help of Maddy’s Mom, Aunt, and Grandma. They helped to get every detail nailed down. We planned for over a year, some parts of the process were easy and other parts were difficult. We had multiple meetings together and lots of summer days sitting on my parents back patio figuring out how the heck everything was going to go. Hours upon hours were spent on the planning, but it was all worth it because it was quite literally the best day ever!
What piece of advice would you pass on to future brides and grooms?
To future brides and grooms- enjoy the process of planning and soak in your special day as much as you can, because it does fly by like everyone says.
Congratulations Maddie & Slayton! I am so happy for you both. Thank you for trusting me to capture your very special day. It was really a day to remember and I feel blessed I could witness and capture this part of your Love Story!
What made you choose Carmen as your wedding photographer?
We chose Carmen to be our photographer because her passion really shines through her work. I love her editing styles as they can vary between natural and dramatic. She was amazing on our wedding day and we highly recommend her!
“We want to dedicate this post to everyone who helped make our day the most special day of our lives, and to our loved ones who are no longer with us but remain forever in our hearts. To all who shared their time, talent, and generosity—thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, we are truly grateful.”
