Gabrielle & Chris
Getting ready at the shinola hotel
I first met up with Chris & Gabrielle at the Shinola Hotel in Downtown Detroit where they both were getting ready. This was actually the first time I met Chris, since most of my communication was with Gabrielle! I grabbed Chris along with his two sons and Gabrielle's son to go to the alleyway behind the Shinola Hotel for some photos of them. After we took a few portraits of them outside, I then went upstairs to Gabrielle's hotel room. I was welcomed into the hotel room with gorgeous modern & elegant decor and beautiful natural light peaking in through the windows. Gabrielle approached me and my jaw almost fell off... quite literally. She looked absolutely beautiful, I could not handle it. Gabrielle expressed to me that she really wanted her photos to emulate that of royalty. A queen's fairytale if you must say, which is why I was so excited for this wedding because of its uniqueness. The hotel room was absolutely stunning, definitely one of the nicest hotel rooms I've ever been in, so naturally we had to use this space for some bridal photos. Gabrielle also had her daughter & son join her for some photos before we all headed out for the ceremony!
intimate church ceremony
Gabrielle & Chris had their ceremony at the Historic Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit. As soon as I walked into the church I was met with gorgeous stained glass windows, an enormous alter and twinkling lights. Even though it was the middle of November, the church was decorated with wreaths and a large tree which was a bit strange for the time, but we made it work! Chris and Gabrielle tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends. Can we also take a moment to appreciate how Chris looks at Gabrielle in the middle of the ceremony?? I died.
intimate city wedding in detroit
Once the ceremony was done, we made our way to their reception at the Detroit Athletic Club for some portraits. The windows outside were super reflective and pretty so of course we had to stop and get some photos in front of those. It also wouldn't be a Downtown Detroit wedding if we didn't take some photos of them in the street, so naturally we walked across the street to get some more editorial vibes before heading inside. Now if you've never been inside the DAC, it's definitely a sight. The interior looks so elegant and was the perfect backdrop for those regal and elegant photos that Gabrielle was looking for. We even got to sneak up to the balcony of the DAC (with some special connections) and get the views of the city. A sight that many people don't get to see, but one that is filled with so much beauty.
Reception at the DAC
After finishing up with their portraits, it was time for the reception. The reception space was decorated very simple yet elegant and was centered around two long tables. Since this was a more intimate wedding, Gabrielle and Chris invited close family and friends which made for a much more intimate and sweet experience. Gabrielle and Chris walked in as if they were on Cloud 9, which they absolutely were. Their children did some speeches before we headed into cake cutting, which can we take a moment to appreciate this Gucci inspired cake but with their initials? So clever and creative and even though they didn't actually eat the cake, it was still the ultimate touch. About halfway through the reception, Gabrielle and Chris had actually set up a special surprise. A surprise I didn't even know about! The DJ called volunteers (Gabrielle and Chris) to the dance floor to essentially participate in a dance off to win a trophy. What some of you don't know, is that this dance off was almost an exact copy of one from one of their favorite movies, Pulp Fiction. If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here! Naturally, Gabrielle and Chris won their trophy and finished the rest of the night dancing the night away.
If you loved this Intimate City Wedding in Detroit, then you're going to love this Intimate Rooftop Wedding!
Photos By Gayle does more than just take photos of people. Rather, it is capturing moments of LOVE and HAPPINESS. Singing to the skies, dancing in a field, smiles that hurt because they’re so big. There is nothing else I would rather be doing than photographing these unique details that make you and your significant other a couple. If Gabrielle & Chris' photoshoot puts a spark in you, you know where to click <——— right there!
Scroll to the bottom for a vendor list!
Vendors:
Photography: Photos by Gayle
Getting Ready Location: Shinola Hotel
Ceremony Site: Historic Trinity Lutheran Church
Reception Site: Detroit Athletic Club
Florist: Everything Good
DJ/Band: Michael’s Entertainment - DJ Dennis
Cake/Desserts: Joe Muers and Christines Cakes
Dress + Tuxedo: Bella Bridal & Nieman Marcus
Invitations: Invites Ink
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