Jenna + Lucas
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
Jenna & Lucas | A Heartfelt Wedding at Collins Clocktower in Chelsea, Michigan
Some wedding days stay with you long after you've packed up your cameras.
Jenna and Lucas' late May wedding at Collins Clocktower in Chelsea, Michigan was one of those days.
From the moment Jenna first reached out, I knew this wasn't just another inquiry. During our emails, she shared something incredibly personal her dad had recently passed away. It's a conversation no bride ever wants to have while planning her wedding, but one that immediately connected us. My dad passed away too.
There are some experiences that don't require many words because you simply understand them. You understand the empty chair. The moments you know should have looked different. The ache that quietly follows you throughout what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life.
Wedding days after losing a parent are complicated.
They're full of joy, excitement, laughter, and celebration, but underneath it all is the quiet realization that someone you love should be standing beside you.
Throughout Jenna's day, there were beautiful reminders that love doesn't disappear just because someone isn't physically there. Thoughtful tributes to her dad were woven throughout the celebration, not in a way that overshadowed the day, but in a way that honored him while allowing everyone to celebrate this incredible new chapter for Jenna and Lucas.
Those are always some of my favorite moments to document.
Not because they're sad, but because they're honest.
They're real.
As a documentary wedding filmmaker, those quiet in between moments are the ones I find myself drawn to. A glance toward the sky. A deep breath before walking down the aisle. Family members squeezing each other's hands just a little tighter.
Those moments tell the story just as much as the vows.
And then...
The reception completely flipped the script.
It was one of the most fun receptions I've filmed all year.
The dance floor stayed packed, everyone celebrated hard, and you could feel just how deeply loved Jenna and Lucas are by every person in that room. It was the perfect reminder that grief and joy can exist together. That missing someone doesn't mean you can't laugh until your cheeks hurt or dance the night away.
That's one of the reasons I love wedding films so much.
They preserve every chapter of the day, not just the pretty details or perfectly posed portraits, but the emotions that make your story uniquely yours.
Jenna and Lucas' wedding was beautiful because it was real.
It honored the past while celebrating the future.
And I couldn't have been more honored to tell their story.
Watch Jenna & Lucas' Wedding Film Below
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