Kerri Banyas Photography » grand rapids weddings

Catherine & Kellen | Engaged | Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kerri Banyas — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:46:21 +0000

I met Catherine & Kellen for drinks in East Town right before their engagement session, and I swear I felt as if we’d known each other for years. After chatting about their wedding plans, the Mad Men premiere, and how they first met and fell in love, we headed out totally relaxed to start our session. I LOVE when I can connect with my couples like that!

Originally their engagement session was scheduled for a few weeks ago, but my family and I got hit with the flu pretty bad and we had to reschedule…it all worked out perfectly though because we ended up with amazing weather that was perfect for their session…and they didn’t have to wear their winter coats! yay!

These two are adorable, inside and out, and I just LOVE how fabulous they are in front of the camera. Maybe they should be part-time models after the wedding Just sayin’

Enjoy!

what cutie pies!

couples that laugh together make my heart happy

Catherine and I both wore jean jackets that day….TWINS!!! I LOVE a girl with style they rocked all the kissing pictures! I think they’ve been practicing dang….what a couple of HOTTIES!SMOKIN!This one is my fave…I think I might blow it up really BIG for my studio

I adore this perfect golden light!

Thanks you two for hanging out with me! I can’t wait for your wedding in May!

Heather & Jason | The Porches | Saugatuck, MI Wedding

Kerri Banyas — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:46:51 +0000

Heather & Jason are such an amazing couple and their wedding day was equally as wonderful! They were married in a cute little church in Holland, MI and then had a fabulous tented reception at The Porches in Saugatuck. Everything was gorgeous, right down to the sweet little purple flowers and the feathers in Heather’s bouquet. I simply adore each and every detail….and it was amazing to get to hang out with so many of their wonderful friends and family….Heather & Jason you rock my world!Heather is a fabulous hairstylist herself, so she had a great team working with her and her girls… fab make-up thanks to Design OneLOVE her dress! all of the girls had bird cage veils…so fun! Heather’s Grandmother was so excited to see her….and she is sooo gorgeous too! What a pretty family!Heather…you are stunning!

Aren’t all of these girls GORGEOUS!?? Total HOTNESS!!oh…and Jason cleans up real nice too hehe

love his smile! Jason gave his groomsmen canes that turned into swords as gifts…so of course we had to use them in some photos…this group of guys were sooo much fun!and they were such cuties!awe….I love the smile on Heather’s face as she heads down the aisle…

Bling!so happy together!seriously, Heather + Jason are supermodels.com!we found a fun old abandoned motel on the side of the road that was perfect for pictures LOVE that purple door! oh, aannnnd that HOT couple in front of it then we stumbled upon the cutest roadside fruit and vegetable stand….I just LOVE happy accidents like that awe!!!!!!Heather & Jason’s reception was stunning! RSVP Events did a fabulous job putting it all together!

Heather’s mom is BFF’s with one of past bride’s mom….what a small world! So fun to see you again Mary! I adore how much Heather & Jason Love each other! Thank you soooo much for choosing me to capture your day! xoxo

Katie + Dave | Just Married | Lapeer, Michigan

Kerri Banyas — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:18:17 +0000

Katie & Dave go together like peas & carrots…and I LOVE them to pieces! Their sweet little backyard wedding, overlooking the lake, was filled with vintage details and handmade touches that were as adorable as could be! I am so honored to be able to work with such wonderful couples….and Katie + Dave are definitely at the top of my list of all time favorite people! I am just sooo happy for the two of them and I can’t wait to see what life has in store for them!

Dave is such a cutie pie!

Even though Katie walked down the rose petal covered aisle in her bare feet….she still had some sweet little yellow shoes that I loved! What a perfect combo with her yellow and pink wedding colors.Katie….you are stunning!!! Hangin’ with the boys is always a blast!but the girls are pretty fabulous too… Bravo for brides who let their girls wear different colored dresses…its so much fun to think outside of the box!Katie & Dave had the sweetest little flower girls…and instead of traditional wedding music they chose to have a wonderfully talented friend stroll behind them singing “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson…it was honestly one of the most beautiful ceremonies I’ve ever seen…

There is something so wonderful about the fact that they were married under an old tree in Dave’s parent’s backyard….I completely adore weddings like these!

you guys are cuties! Mason Jars + Handmade details = LOVELove the Scrabble pieces!Rockstar Super-Models!

wildflowers are my fave!Thanks Katie & Dave for choosing me to be such a special part of your day! I will adore you both forever!!!!

Kelly + Doug | Engaged | Grand Ledge Engagement Portraits

Kerri Banyas — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:31:44 +0000

I really really LOVE my clients! I am pretty sure that I get to work with the BEST couples ever….they are always so sweet, so much fun and completely adorable….

and that’s exactly how I would describe Kelly & Doug too…. aren’t they so cute together??!!!

I adore shoe shots plus Kelly has the cutest Tattoo on her foot…LOVE it!Kelly and Doug met at a mutual friend’s wedding, then fell madly in love…what a beautiful way to start a relationship

Until the day of their session, I hadn’t met them in person yet, but I knew by our many emails and phone conversations that we would have tons of fun together….and I was soooo right! We hung out in Grand Ledge for their engagement session…and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day….it was just perfect!

We found a really fun abandoned building to shoot by….my two most favorite things…people in love and old buildings….I was in heaven!

I love how playful they are with each other….I just love the colors and the light in these next 2 shots…Kelly…you are simply gorgeous!such beautiful light….I could totally tell that Doug adores her….Then we let loose and had some fun It was so fun finally meeting them in person…I am super excited for their wedding at the Grand Ledge Opera House coming up very soon!

Katie & Dave | Engaged | Mt. Pleasant, MI

Kerri Banyas — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:28:32 +0000

Katie & Dave met while attending college at Central Michigan University and their romance blossomed quickly into much more than a crush…it struck them like lightening…they had both found the person they would spend the rest of their lives with! Soon along with studying for finals, the were also starting a new chapter in their lives by making wedding plans and registering for gifts (that’s one of the best parts!). Isn’t it funny how things can change in an instant when you fall in LOVE!

When I first met them, I was so impressed with how much they laughed together….and with how much Dave clearly adored Katie….each time he looks at her, he lights up…they truly have a LOVE that is going to last for EVER AWEEEE!!! (yeah, I’m a cheese ball!)

I had such a blast hanging out with them in Mount Pleasant for their session…good thing the rain held off until the end….but I have a feeling that if it started pouring, they would have just played in the rain I can’t wait for their wedding in August…I just know its going to be one of my favorites!

Katie has such cute style! She got this dress from ModCloth….LOVE!These two are Adorable!We were rebels and help up traffic for this one! heheLOVE this one!

I LOVE the silly ones…its so fun just like them! Then Dave took us over to a park where I found the most amazing weeping willows….Dang…you two are hotties….and super model rock stars!then at the end of our session, they headed to the library for a little make out session….I was cool with tagging along (: Thanks for being fabulous you guys!!

Jordan + Reuben | Happily Ever After | Birch Run, MI Wedding Photographers

Kerri Banyas — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:12:17 +0000

Weddings make my heart melt…especially when the Bride and the Groom are such amazing people! Jordan and Reuben are seriously one of the most fun couples that I have had the pleasure to know and to work with. They said their vows in front of tons of friends and family at a little country church that Jordan attended before heading off to college and meeting her sweetheart. Their day was just perfect….sprinkled with sweet little details and lots of LOVE….. I am so honored that I was able to be part of their day!

Don’t you just LOVE her flowers!

Jordan…you are sooooo BEAUTIFUL!Reuben is such a hottie too…the boys are so gangsta! (;

and the girls are smokin’ hot too!

Bling!

Hands down, best wedding kiss EVER!

LOVE this amazing field we found…w-o-w!!! then we found an old abandoned barn….I just love this spot!

L-O-V-EAdorable!

Jordan & Reuben | Sneak Peek | Grand Rapids Wedding & Engagement Photographer

Kerri Banyas — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:38:47 +0000

I’ve known Jordan for YEARS now…..she grew up with my niece, helped babysit my kids and has practically become part of my extended family….in fact she even calls me Aunt Kerri. I just adore her to pieces! Recently, when she told me she was getting married, I almost flipped with excitement! Jordan is totally the kind of girl you wanna take home to mama….so of course I was dying to meet the guy that stole her heart! Reuben was EVERYTHING I thought he’d be….a good old fashioned perfect gentleman, with an adorable smile and a huge desire to keep GOD number ONE in his life. I couldn’t have picked a better match for her myself (:

Jordan & Reuben are the kind of couple that ALWAYS has a blast no matter what they are doing. It was so fun to hang out with them, and see how much they make each other laugh, even while braving the frigid temps of Spring in Michigan…and to also see them put all the jokes aside and truly adore each other. If everyone could have a relationship like theirs, I know the world would be a much better place Happy people in LOVE are my FAVORITE!

I can’t wait for their June wedding in Birch Run!!!

Giving Back

Kerri Banyas — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:05:07 +0000

I have been blessed with some very fabulous people in my life

The kind of people that make me strive every day to be a better version of myself

to LOVE more, to GIVE more, to BE more thankful

I can’t say enough about how amazing it is to have true friendships that inspire you….

It makes my soul sing (:

So in honor of all the LOVE I have been so fortunate to receive, I am so excited to start doing something that has been laid on my heart for quite a while…..

I will be donating 5% of my gross profits from each shoot/wedding to one of my favorite local charities

So from now on, all of my clients not only get to invest in some fabulous images, but they will also be able to be part of something even more beautiful….I can’t wait to spread the LOVE with all of you!

Emily & Bryan | Engaged | Grand Rapids MI Engagement Photographer

Kerri Banyas — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:36:24 +0000

It was the typical cold and windy November day in Michigan….yet Emily & Bryan still braved the elements with me for some fun engagement pictures. Not only did they turn out to be a super fun couple, but they are more amazing than they even know in front of the camera! I adore Emily’s gorgeous smile and her ambition (she is headed to Law school soon!) and I adore that even though Bryan has to have tough exterior as a police officer, he still has a soft enough heart to move across country to be with his true love, what a sweetie! Its enough to make any girl melt I simply can’t wait for their winter wedding on New Years Day!!! It will be amazing to say the least!

I adore getting in close-up and capturing some truly amazing moments like this one what a couple of hotties!!! love the vintage feel of this historic bridge….

Savannah & Tim | Engaged | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

Kerri Banyas — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:08:27 +0000

Meet Savannah & Tim…they are new to Grand Rapids (fresh off the boat from Philly) and newly engaged! It was so refreshing to head out of the city to do a fun engagement photo shoot in the country, complete with wine & some yummy golden light. I adore what we came up with…check it out

this picnic basket is from Tim’s grandmother and the quilt was made by his mother…I love it when clients incorporate fabulous things that are meaningful to them into their shoots!

perfect for their save the date cards

there’s nothing like kissin’ in the tall grass….so romantic!Savvy…you are such a hottie!check out her bling ….good job Tim Tim used to work for a very fabulous soup company, so naturally I thought it’d be fun to make some old school tin can phones….yup, I’m a bit crazy like that Congrats you guys! I can’t wait to get together for dinner sometime soon! xoxo