Samantha McNally 9/10/23 Samantha McNally 9/10/23

Ivanna & Stanislar | DiBrova, Brighton, MI

Wedding day - September 10th, 2022

Ivanna and Stas’ wedding day perfectly reflected both the energy and sanctity of their Ukrainian culture.

In a day filled with love, power outages, constant high spirits, rain, and eyes fixed on both each other and God - I don’t think this day could have been more perfectly imperfect.

It was a textbook reflection of “it is what you make of it”. I don’t think I heard a single person complain when the rain poured down at the beginning of the evening, or when the power went out The band just kept playing, and everyone just kept dancing! It was seriously a blast!

The day begin at their family home where they took part in some Ukrainian wedding traditions, such as the chopping wood, the first look, and the blessing

Then everyone moved to Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hamtramack, Michigan

When a couple finds peace and strength in both God and each other, the result is simply incredible.

Shortly after, we all drove through some ruthless Michigan September I-696 Traffic (which I know everyone in Metro Detroit knows the vibe).

We got to DiBrova Ukrainian Camp in Brighton where we were greeted with some heavy rain.

Everyone took it in stride and in turn, we had the most intimate reception

Seriously, looking at this again just makes me feel so full - the flower girls running through the rain, and everyone nestled under the tent humming away with friends and family.

A moment for these traditional Ukrainian bites!

And another moment for these sweet girls!

The Wedding Party

I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but I’m officially convinced that Ivanna and Stas are classically trained ballroom dancers - such a classy and lively first dance!

They also chose to do their father/daughter mother/son first dances together which was really sweet to see them side by side.

Then the party really began!

What a blast of a day, I went home late that evening feeling SO full!

Ivanna and Stas, you are both such beautiful human beings and I’m so grateful to have been a part of this beautiful celebration. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!

xo,

Sam

So thankful for another awesome vendor team!

VENDOR TEAM

Photography: Steven Pham Photo

Videography: New Signature Films

Ceremony: Immaculate Conception Ukranian Catholic Church

Reception: DiBrova, Brighton, MI

Tent/Rentals: Great Lakes Tent and Rentals

Florals: Amy, MI Honeybee Flowers

Band: Klopit Ukrainian Band

Catering: From Scratch Catering

Transportation: Lavdas Limousines

Samantha McNally 6/12/23 Samantha McNally 6/12/23

Samantha & Brandon | Highlands Detroit

Wedding Day - Saturday, June 11th, 2022

I can’t believe it has been a year since Sam and Brandon got married downtown Detroit and they are now celebrating their first anniversary!

I was also very pregnant at Sam and Brandon’s wedding - and so thankful for how easygoing they were about it. Again, I have the best couples ever.

My little one was due on June 28th. Sam, Brandon, and I agreed - “If you’re still in, I’m still in” and we continued on. Sure enough, their wedding came on June 11th, and baby hadn’t, so I was able to be there for their wedding day! Despite being 8 months pregnant, I was so so glad to be able to witness the day we all had dreamed of and planned for!

Samantha and Brandon were married on the top floor (Floor 72) of the Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit at Highlands Detroit.

360° views of Downtown Detroit and Windsor, Canada. - Need I say more?

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Michelle Lippert as photographer again for this wedding and I was so thankful to have someone I could count on on the vendor team during a time I needed it most. (side note, Michelle announced she is now expecting her own little one - so exciting!!)

She did an amazing job working with the logistics of endless elevators, a large wedding party, and a tight timeline. She perfectly captured all the beautiful and sacred moments of this day.

The florals that Amy from MI Honeybee Flowers put together… are you kidding me??? so pretty.

Samantha and Brandon had a Jewish wedding, and I was so honored to help plan and witness a wedding with such a special and sacred set of ceremonies. The first being the signing of the Ketubah.

The Ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract signed before the ceremony. It outlines the responsibilities of the groom should anything happen that would prevent him from continuing to be married (death or divorce). It outlines how he would provide for her even after those circumstances with food, shelter, and finances. It is a very ancient tradition with the oldest surviving ketubah dating back to 440 B.C.E and written in Aramaic¹!

While it sounds very business, it also serves as a promise of the married couple to provide for each other and commit to each other in this life. Many couples, including Sam and Brandon, choose to display theirs in their home as a reminder not only of their wedding day but of this commitment to one another.