KARRIE + JON

From Courthouse to Boat Night

Port Huron to Mackinac Island is an infamous race that has taken place every year in July for the past 100 years. People come from all over to experience Boat Week with it's maritime magic, musicians, food trucks and family events.

On July 19th, 2024, while many were flooding Port Huron to celebrate Boat Night, Jon and Karrie were celebrating for a different reason entirely. Jon and Karrie "tied the knot" at the Port Huron Courthouse on this beautiful summer afternoon. This wasn't just any courthouse wedding, it was one that was deeply personal to both of them. Jon had redone all of the woodwork in the very courtroom where their nuptials took place. The judge performed a beautiful ceremony and the couples personally wrote the sweetest vows that they shared before close friends and family.

After a dinner reception at Freighters, overlooking the beautiful St. Clair River, we journeyed down to the boat night festivities to celebrate! We joked that Port Huron was throwing a huge party just for them!

While we captured some photos of the happy couple on the barge outside City Flats, some friends had a special surprise for the bride and groom. They had arranged for the DJ on the barge to pause the party music so that they couple could share a first dance to their song. Jon and Karrie were so surprised and overwhelmed with emotion as they danced on the barge for their first dance as husband and wife. My own eyes filled with tears of joy as I watched this precious couple share the moment.

Karrie and Jon are people who have been through some challenges in life, but what struck me is how those challenges made their joy on this sweet day even greater. Sometimes it takes going through difficult things to realize when you have something truly precious. Jon and Karrie know that their relationship and marriage is a gift to cherish.

It was such an honor to capture their love and their story in these photos.