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Frankenmuth Brewery German Winter Wedding | Metro Detroit Photographer

I first met Kayla the weekend of my wedding 7.5 years ago. She came to a 4th of July party that my new husband and I were at. She didn’t stay long, but it wasn’t the last time we saw her. Since then we’ve gone to numerous Red Wings games, drank many a Guinness together and shared a love for sushi. In fact! She taught us how to make our own sushi! Kayla visited us in the hospital with our first born and has been our go-to baker for birthday and event cakes and cupcakes. Kayla is the sweetest girl who can drink beer with the best of them and can roll with the sarcasm when it is dished out. I was SO happy for her when she found Tobias (Tobi for short.) She spoke of him with such joy in her voice. Joy that you only have when you’ve fallen. In love that is. So, naturally, I was even more thrilled when their relationship got more serious and I think I may have squealed when she told me that he proposed. Like a giddy school girl. I couldn’t be more happy for Kayla to have found someone to spend the rest of her life with.

And. In nearly the same breath. She asked me to be her photographer. Most photographers would run for the hills if their best friend asked them to photograph their wedding. However, I knew that Kayla wasn’t going to be bridezilla and that this “business partnership” would not destroy our friendship. In fact, I was pretty stoked about it! I got to be able to do the two BEST things that I could be doing on the day of Kayla’s wedding: 1) spend the entire day with my dear friend, the bride and 2) photograph the entire day as I saw it and as Kayla wanted it.  So, obviously, I accepted!

The wedding was the most beautiful and unique that I have ever attended or photographed. Not only did Kayla and Tobi get married in a brewery — coolest idea ever! but the brewery was in German-esque Frankenmuth AND we gambled in a mini casino which was set up at the reception. If you hadn’t guessed already, Tobi is German. He’s lived here for quite a few years now working and going to school, but his entire family lives in Germany. The perfect setting (aside from Germany itself) for the wedding was Frankenmuth. And. If you know Kayla, the brewery was the absolute perfect venue. After an exhaustive search, they found a pastor who spoke German and performed parts of the ceremony in both English and German – for Tobi’s parents who don’t speak much English. The ceremony was also skyped live for family and friends viewing from Germany.

Kayla’s love for good beer, all things princess and fairytale and Las Vegas as well as Tobi’s German roots were the perfect recipe for an epic wedding.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

Even princesses need primping!

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

A girl’s gotta have shoe options!

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

Working for her beer. 🙂

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

After the ceremony, Kayla and Tobi sawed a log. No. They didn’t take a nap at the reception. It’s an old German wedding custom. The tradition of cutting a log represents the first obstacle that the couple must overcome in their marriage. They must work together to “overcome the obstacle” by sawing through the log as a team. Using a large, long two-handled saw, the couple demonstrates their teamwork to all of their family and friends as well as their willingness and ability to master the difficulties that inevitably arise in a marriage. I personally was not familiar with this custom, but was, of course, really excited to be able to witness and document it!

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

From Brighton, MI an American and German couple marries in bar pub brewery in Frankenmuth, Metro Detroit.

Kayla, a huge Disney lover and princess – yes, every girl is a princess, especially on her wedding day! finally got her happily ever after and all of her friends and family couldn’t be more delighted for her.

glücklich und zufrieden = happily. ever. after.

 

If you liked this post, please leave a comment below telling me so! Thank you!

 

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  • Kath TennantJanuary 20, 2015 - 2:12 pm

    Great job Amanda and Kayla looks so lovely. The setting is perfect for the both of them!!!!!!ReplyCancel

Amanda Armitage Photography

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