Stacey & Michael are married-! Well, actually they’ve been married for over 13 months, but you know… Pandemic times. Stacey & Michael were originally slated to have their big wedding day over a year ago on June 19th, 2020 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame (since Stacey is an alum) with their reception at the Gillespie afterward. Due to the Pandemic, these two opted to move their big wedding to a different date, but still come in from Cleveland, Ohio to have their mini legal wedding at Notre Dame (in a different church- Sacred Heart Parish Center Chapel) on June 19th, 2020. Here’s a flashback to the blog of that that mini few hour Notre Dame wedding day with about 10 of their family members in attendance (who had spend 2 weeks quarantining so that they could attend): https://www.jennyandjasonphoto.com/blog/stacey-michael-university-of-notre-dame-pandemic-wedding-day-notre-dame
(And here are just a few of the Newlywed Portraits we took of them there at Notre Dame after their ceremony back on June 19th, 2020):
After their wedding last summer Stacey & Michael moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Toledo, OH (also in Pandemic 2020). In April 2020 these two had moved their wedding date to mid-October 2020, but come August 2020 they were told that since Notre Dame decided to still have in-person school & a football season that they couldn’t have their wedding in October 2020 (largely because their reception venue also houses the opposing football team). Since these two were only given an early morning ceremony option for a new 3rd wedding date in July 2021, these two realized that maybe it wasn’t in the cards to keep trying for a Basilica Notre Dame wedding and they cancelled their Basilica wedding altogether and moved their wedding ceremony to Holy Family (also here in South Bend) where Stacey’s parents were actually wed-!
3 wedding dates & 13.5 months later these two finally made it to their BIG wedding day-! Since these two are already married they did see each other pre-ceremony and finished getting ready at there at their ceremony venue Holy Family. We met them there, pre-captured some bridal party group photos for them, and were then ready for their ceremony-!
Michael got ready in one room while Stacey got ready in another. Stacey’s mom and a bridesmaid helped her in to her dress, shoes, and veil while everyone else prepped for some bridal party photos.
(Michael’s mom joked about having to help Michael with his boutonniere again, but gladly did it)!
Once Stacey was ready to go with her shoes & veil it was time for bridal party photos-!
After bridal party photos we all walked back inside to hide Stacey for the half hour prior to the ceremony as guests filtered in, but before we knew it it was time for their wedding ceremony #2-!
Once within the church, first the groomsmen headed together down a side aisle to the front of the church. Next came grandparents and parents down the middle aisle, then a few bridesmaids (since 2 bridesmaids and 16 extended family members couldn’t make it due to Covid quarantining).
Since these two are already married, they headed down the aisle arm-in-arm together.
Michael’s uncle was again their priest- this time for wedding #2 (technically a vow renewal).
Michael’s uncle (the priest) joked with them during the homily and had these two and their guests rolling with laughter!
These two hadn’t exchanged rings at their original legal wedding over a year ago, so this time they made it even more official symbolically by finally exchanging rings-!
As with Catholic weddings there was still eucharist, but after everything was said and done, these two headed back down the aisle finally cheered on by all of their family and friends in attendance!
After their ceremony we captured about 45 family group photos of Stacey & Michael with their loved ones.
We had captured some of these group photos earlier in the day since their families came hours early to the church, but most we captured right after their ceremony.
They decided after the group photos to scrap their Newlywed Photo time at Notre Dame since they wanted to head over to the reception/ hotel an hour early and just relax a bit. We had already captured some photos of just the two of them that morning after we had captured some bridal party photos (and also snapped a few of just the two of them in the church before leaving for the reception), so we figured we’d capture their final Newlywed photos later during the end of the reception at sunset (at an outdoor spot we’d pre-scouted for them).
These two had pre-planned to do the bridal party photos before their afternoon ceremony so that they could attend cocktail hour and have some down time in-between. The lighting & weather was perfect earlier in the day, so we were happy that we got to photograph these earlier in the day for them.
We’re thankful that their portraits earlier in the day had enough time to be relaxing since usually these are rushed as we drive from one spot to the next-!
Since they opted to forego the hour of Newlywed Portraits post-ceremony (in favor of getting to the reception an hour early to relax), during that pre-Cocktail Hour time we were able to capture detail photos of their rings, invitations, reception hall, and more-!
We were actually able to photograph all of Cocktail Hour too (which has become a rarity for us in the past 12 years of wedding photography since we’re usually out photographing the bridal party & newlyweds On Location during that time).
During Cocktail Hour they also had the patio open for guests to head out to enjoy the beautiful weather, cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres.
By the end of Cocktail Hour these two came out of their relaxation room (where they also enjoyed hot hors d'oeuvres) to mingle with Cocktail Hour guests!
These two opted not to be announced in to their reception and instead made their way up to the front table with their bridal party. They did still have the DJ announce all of their bridal party that was there and say a bit about them.
To start the reception Stacey’s dad welcomed guests and gave his own speech about these two.
After the sweet welcome, Michael’s priest uncle headed the prayer/ pre-meal blessing.
As salads were served the Best Man and Maid of Honor gave their speeches/ toasts to Stacey & Michael.
Folks enjoyed their salads & full meal and then it was time for the cake cutting! These two worked together to figure out how to cut the cake properly, then sweetly fed it to each other.
As people were finishing their meals Stacey & Michael went around to greet each table. While they did this we also went around to each table to capture everyone (as requested).
After greeting all of their guests it was time for Stacey & Michael’s First Dance!
After their First Dance, they then enjoyed their father-daughter and mother-son dances.
And with that it was time for Open Dance!
At one point they partook in an Anniversary Dance and enjoyed dancing along with those who’ve been married the longest!
Before we knew it it was sunset, so we took these two out to a location that we’d scouted for some final outdoor wedding portraits!
It was nice to get some final portraits of these two after having gotten to know them over the past year & a half!
Once finished up with their beautiful portraits outside, we headed back in for about a half hour more of Open Dance & some final group photos!
They finally got their full Notre Dame alum wedding photo near the end of their reception as well as some other extended family photos!
You could feel the sense of happiness and relief of these two as they finally got to celebrate with all of their loved ones!
Before we headed out we got to capture some last photos of these two enjoying their loved ones out on the dance floor!
Congratulations Stacey & Michael on finally getting to enjoy your big wedding with almost all of your loved ones! We know that the last year & a half have been hard with 3 different wedding dates, a move, and more, but we’re so glad that you two finally got a well-deserved celebration of your marriage! We hope that your honeymoon is wonderful and thank you so much for including us in your wedding(s) over the past year & a half!