If you’re dreaming of a rustic-chic wedding surrounded by warm wood, twinkling lights, and Michigan countryside charm, you’re in luck. West Michigan is home to gorgeous barn wedding venues — perfect for romantic ceremonies and timeless photos.

As a West Michigan wedding photographer, I’ve explored many of these spaces and can confidently say they’re some of the most photogenic spots in the region. Below are 10 beautiful barn venues near 49456 that deliver character, charm, and unforgettable backdrops for 2026 weddings.

1. The Little Red Barn of Nunica

Location: Nunica, MI

This venue offers authentic rustic charm with historic wooden floors, soaring ceilings, and weathered walls. It accommodates around 200 guests and allows flexible vendor options.

Photographer’s tip: Golden hour photos by the silo and in the surrounding fields are breathtaking.

2. Old Stonegate Farms

Location: 9720 Cleveland St., Nunica, MI 49448

Set on a historic 1860s farm, this barn features a chandelier-lit interior and multiple outdoor ceremony spaces, including wooded clearings and a waterfall. Capacity is around 200–270 guests.

Photographer’s tip: The deck transition from inside to outdoors offers stunning golden-hour portraits, and the loft provides unique elevated group shots.

3. Bell Tower Falls — Rockford, MI

Location: 2405 12 Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341.
Why it stands out:

• Features a historic barn with exposed beams and a bell tower that can be rung during the ceremony — great photo moment.

• Indoor and outdoor ceremony options: the barn, pavilion, and terrace give versatile backdrops.

• Pricing (as of their listings): the Saturday “Sweethearts” package is around $5,500 for the venue alone in some cases.

4. Blissful Barn

Location: 4706 Watson Rd., Three Oaks, MI 49128

Nestled in Michigan’s scenic southwest corner, this barn is perfect for couples seeking a wedding that feels like an escape.

Photographer’s tip: Wide fields and barn interiors with string lights make for amazing golden-hour shots.

5. Heritage Wedding Barns

Location: Shelby, MI

Just minutes from Lake Michigan, this 1892 timber-frame barn offers large indoor and outdoor options. 27 acres of surrounding land create varied portrait opportunities.

Photographer’s tip: Capture golden-hour portraits where the barn faces west toward the fields and lake.

6. Inisfree Estate — Pullman, MI

Location: 1073 62nd Street, Pullman, MI 49450.
Why it stands out:

• Situated on 30 private acres between South Haven & Saugatuck, blending countryside charm with luxury estate amenities. Inisfree Estate+1

• Historic 1893 barn venue alongside a pond‑view pavilion, multiple garden ceremony sites, and elegant indoor/outdoor options. Inisfree Estate+1

• Accommodations on‑site (luxury suites) make it ideal for wedding parties looking for a weekend experience.

7. Heritage Oaks Wedding Barn — Coral, MI

Location: 15857 W Cannonsville Rd., Coral, MI 49322.

Capacity & Pricing: Up to ~200 guests. Saturday wedding rental listed at ~$4,000; full weekend rental around ~$5,000.

Why it stands out:

• Renovated Amish barn set in the countryside with multiple indoor & outdoor ceremony options.

• Bridal & groom suites, ample parking, and a very vendor‑friendly layout.
  Photographer’s highlights:

• The rustic wood interior and barn architecture provide wonderful textured backgrounds for portraits and detail shots

• Outdoor landscapes — pond with windmill, willow trees, boardwalk — give variety beyond the barn walls.

• Good size for mid‑sized weddings, which means plenty of space for creative shots without being overwhelmingly large.

8. Blue Dress Barn

Location: 3893 Territorial Rd., Benton Harbor / Millburg, MI 49022

Historic 1930s dairy barn with white-washed wood, large gambrel roof, and timber structure. Accommodates up to ~250 guests. Gardens, fields, and silos provide multiple outdoor photography options.

Photographer’s tip: Use the silos for dramatic portraits and explore garden pathways for natural texture. The interior barn space is excellent for reception and dance floor shots.

Considerations: Popular venue — book early for 2026 dates. Scout smaller breakout spaces for detail shots or smaller groups.

9. The MillCreek Wilde

Location: Near Benton Harbor, MI

Former tree and plant nursery with a barn aesthetic and natural surroundings: orchard blossoms, rolling fields, and woodlots. Capacity up to ~280 guests.

Photographer’s tip: Use orchard rows and tree lines as leading lines for portraits, and capture twilight silhouettes in the fields.

Considerations: Check indoor light availability and factor extra travel/setup time for remote sites.

10. New Era Wedding Barn

Location: 123 Main St., New Era, MI 49446

One of the most affordable barn venues in West Michigan, with rental rates starting around $1,650. Classic timber barn interior with wide open space and an outdoor lawn for portraits and cocktail hour.

Photographer’s tip: Natural wood tones and large windows provide excellent indoor lighting, and surrounding trees create versatile outdoor photo options. Perfect for budget-conscious couples seeking rustic charm.

Photographer’s Planning Checklist

• Time of day lighting: Barn interiors often have natural light; outdoor decks and lawns provide golden-hour opportunities.

• Cascading spaces: Loft, decks, or dual levels allow for elevated shots and guest-interaction moments.

• Weather fallback: Ensure indoor/exterior flexibility for unpredictable West Michigan weather.

• Vendor freedom: Flexibility with catering/decor helps photographers plan shot lists efficiently.

• Scenic surroundings: Orchards, hills, and lake proximity create variety in portraits.

• Booking logistics: Barns fill up quickly — couples should book 12–18 months in advance for prime 2026 dates.

Jamie May Photography would love to capture your wedding!  Call or message me today!  Thanks for reading.

The post 10 Stunning Barn Wedding Venues appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

The Process of Planning a Michigan Wedding

The Dress

One of the best parts of the planning process was the bride’s dress.

The next step we decided to take in the wedding process was finding a bridal dress.  We took the recommendations from past brides through some of my previous blog posts,  such as  Wedding Advice and Tips, and tried Becker’s Bridal Outlet.

We loaded the van with friends and family and headed to Lansing. Periodically, Becker’s Bridal runs Black Friday and one-day sales. I recommend following their Facebook page to see these deals.

Shelby tried on so many dresses.  Becker’s Bridal Outlet did not lack choices.  There was a dress for all shapes and sizes and a lot of variety. Shelby found a couple of interests, but overall the dress styles were itchy, heavy, lacy, or busty.

As we looked around the bridal store, the 2022 dress styles were not appealing to us.  During the visit, Shelby kept expressing that she wanted a princess dress and their selection did not fit the bill.

There were a few that she tried on a Becker’s bridal:

That night we came home and I had Shelby try on my dress that had been boxed since 1999.  Of course, the style was not satisfactory, but it was fun to see her try it on.

The next day I was at a friend’s puzzling and we talked about our bridal dresses that were saved in a box.  My friend’s mom had her dress from 2000 professionally boxed, and she had three boys and it was time for the dress to go. I said I think Shelby should try it on for fun!   So we called Shelby and she agreed to come over and humor us and try on the dress.

THE DRESS REVEAL

When we opened the box, it was two pieces. I have never seen a two-piece dress since I have photographed weddings, and I have photographed probably well over 400 dresses. I thought to myself,  this is the odd dress and likely a long shot, as it lay in the box!

Shelby tried on the dress and to her surprise said to us,  “I think this is the dress; I love it!”  My friend and I could not contain our smiles. Shelby was beaming and it was a true princess dress with a corset back and a big full skirt. She looked like a princess.

The two-piece dress offers comfort that the other dresses do not.  Shelby is a creature of comfort.  It was light, soft, and not pulling on her shoulders.  The corset was silky, and allowed for a maximum hold, forming her figure perfectly.  Shelby did not think a strapless dress was an option, but the corset’s stronghold could withstand movement and did not need to be pulled up.

As we were all beaming,  my friend said, “It is yours, Shelby.  You can take it and if you find something else, no worries. Hold on to it until you find something else.”  As the day and night went on, Shelby said, “Mom, that is the dress. Just thinking of it makes me teary.  It is perfect.”  Just in case, we decided to continue to look at more dresses to make sure it was the right dress.

A USED DRESS

The dress had been stored for 25 years was purchased in Chicago and was made by designer Maggie Sottero. Two-piece dresses were popular in the 1990s and this particular dress had beautiful Swarovski crystals hand sewn on the top.  You would also see bridesmaids’ dresses in two pieces at this time.  Of course, a used dress brought some challenges.

Even though the dress was preserved and stored in a sealed wedding box, there had been some yellowing around the armpits, a few rust spots in the front, a hole, and discoloration from spills on the train. The dress was not as bright of a white color as when it was new.

THE SEARCH CONTINUES

We were on a hunt for another two-piece dress. We visited David’s Bridal and Spring Lake Bridal which had some nice options but did not compare to our friend’s dress.

RESTORING THE DRESS

The next step was to find a place that could restore the dress.  I made several calls and found one along the lakeshore. They did a great job restoring the dress.  The dress was brightened and looked like new. All stains were removed.  Restoring the dress was approximately $500 and included the cost of restoring, hemming/fixing, and pressing.

LESSONS LEARNED

This woman has an incredible talent for restoring dresses. However,  I would now recommend getting it hemmed or repaired elsewhere.  We had a horrible time with her seamstress, she was rude and snippy.  No directions were communicated about a second fitting after the first hem and repair. The next step transmitted to us was to press one week before the wedding.

Keep in mind, I have not had to have a fitting of any sort in 25 years.

Tip #1. Be sure to go back for a second fitting.

Tip#2. Make sure to try the dress on after it is pressed. This would apply to new or used dresses alike.

I was not aware of a second fitting. Call it stupid, but I had no idea.   We did try the dress on at home after the repairs and it was fine.

However, we did not try the dress on again after the press.  Pressing made the dress considerably longer and on the day of the wedding found it to be too long for Shelby.   She was tripping over it.  We pinned it as best as we could, and we helped hold the dress as we walked her down the aisle. During dancing the dress was often stepped on.

Wedding days have a lot of moving parts, things happen.

Picture: carrying the dress

BOXING YOUR DRESS

I am not sure I would recommend boxing your dress if there are no major stains like spills from wine or large amounts of discoloration at the bottom from a dirty floor. It takes up a lot of room, and in this case, there was still yellowing. If there are dry cleaning companies that can restore the dress 25 years later, I don’t think you need to pay the money to have the dress boxed. Some other ideas could be storing in a cedar chest or box it yourself. Avoid storing the dress on a hanger. A hanger can stretch out the fabric on the dress over time.

THE BOYS

Let’s not forget about the boys…

We were trying to find deals, and with the difference in physical sizes of the boys, in addition to some of them living in different locations, it was not ideal to shop at Macy’s or JcPenney.

We had a recommendation to try Woodland Tailoring, they were great.

THE GIRLS

All the above locations listed, have bridesmaids dresses as well. We ended up ordering fabric from Azazie.

Shelby chose Amethyst for her color. The girls could order from their location to be delivered to their home. Shelby chose a color and fabric and the girls could pick out the style of dress.

We also checked out: Birdy Grey

At both companies you only get to pick three fabrics per household for free, but we would use family and neighbors to get a few more color samples.

THE ROBES

The links to the robes: Bridesmaids and Bride . 

THE FINAL PRODUCT

Stay tuned for Part III of The Process of Planning a Michigan Wedding

The post The Process of Planning a Michigan Wedding Part 2: The Dress appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

Wedding Advice from 2023 West Michigan Brides

Venues you liked or went with

1. Trillium Events in SL
2. Millcreek Wilde
3. Reception Venue: Clearwater Place Rehearsal Dinner and Bridal Shower: Paddock Place
4. The High Five GR
5. The Atrium downtown GR

Budget

1. $15,000-$20,000
2. $25,000-$30,000
3. $35,000-$40,000
4. $35,000-$40,000
5. $15,000-$20,000

Did you do a first look and are you happy you did or didn’t

1. No, we didn’t and I’m glad we didn’t. I had a first look with my dad and it was very sweet.
2. Yes, we loved it
3. Yes, we loved it
4. Yes, we loved it
5. Yes, we loved it

Would you change anything about your timeline?

1. No. We left time in. Got through what we needed. And had a blast.
2. I would ask for the bridal party & parents to arrive a little earlier than I had thought. A few were late, which led to rushing through the setup process and not allowing us enough time to eat a quick lunch before we got dressed. Bottom line, plan for more time than you think you need!!
3. Nothing! It was perfect. We planned it for months and ran it by our ceremony venue, reception venue, day of coordinator, and Jamie May, our photographer 🙂 We had a lot of input to help ensure everything went well!
4. Yes, would’ve started hair and makeup a bit later
5. No, it flowed perfectly

Did you hire your flowers or do them yourself? Any tips or websites to share?

1. Spring Lake Floral
2. Hired out. Inspiration photos are huge for your florist to see so they know your vision. We did this and our flowers could not have been any more perfect.
3. Hire! We loved working with Eastern Floral. Rachel was fantastic to work with!
4. Hired flowers – used Eastern Floral
5. Hired – Quinn Supply Co did a wonderful job

Where did you buy your dress?

1. A little store in Muskegon that is now closed.
2. Adore Bridal (Morton, IL)
3. Becker’s Bridal in Fowler, MI! It was an amazing experience. My mom and mother in law got their dresses from Becker’s Outlet in East Lansing!
4. Honey Bridal in Chicago
5. Magnolia Bridal in Jenison

Where do you buy bridesmaids dresses?

1. David’s Bridal. With bridesmaids all spread out, even in other states, it was easiest this way
2. Bill Levkoff
3. Revelry! It was perfect.
4. Birdy Grey
5. Davids Bridal

Decorations do or don’ts

1. N/A
2. Yes, but minimal decor. Our venue was already so beautiful. The florist handled all our table decor. We brought the seating chart cards, bar sign, dessert sign, dessert platters, and a few framed photos.
3. Plan early and work with your venue to understand the space you have to decorate! Decorations can be simple if you have floral.
4. Less is more, stay classic and timeless, candles make everything better
5. Do have a few as possible and DIY it!

Organization tips?

1. Have a detailed schedule. Some people made fun of me for it but my wedding ran off without a hitch.
2. Make a checklist of things that need to be completed each month leading up to your wedding, including payment deadlines. This helped us stay organized the whole time, which was huge since we planned everything.
3. Plan early! We were relaxed the month before the wedding because we had consistently been in touch with vendors and kept them updated, stayed up to date with due dates, and had continuously worked out our timeline until we felt ready. Make an excel sheet of vendors and contacts.
4. Spreadsheets galore
5. Printed timelines and instructions for the venue

Printers for printing pictures or albums

1. Made a small one for parents from Shutterfly.
2. We used Walgreens for framed photos & Mixbook for our guestbook. Our guestbook had photos from our engagement session in it.
3. N/A
4. Artifact Uprising for albums, Shutterfly for pictures
5. Artifact Uprising for albums

Best advice?

1. No matter what happens on the day, looking back everything will be perfect and such a wonderful day full of memories! We had a ice cream cart which wasn’t too expensive, was a hit with the guests and we got a lot of left over ice cream!
2. Enjoy your day. Soak in as much as you can. It goes by SO quick.
3. Don’t stress!
4. Live in the moment and forget all the drama a wedding brings
5. Do what you want and don’t try to impress anyone.

Gifts for Bridesmaids / Groomsman Ideas

1. Personalized mugs for groomsmen, jewelry for bridesmaids
2. Getting ready robe, earrings to wear on wedding day, and all meals.
3. I gave custom jewelry and jewelry boxes for my girls. I also did hand written notes! Groomsmen received custom koozies, cups, and ties.
4. Bridesmaids: Earrings, getting ready PJs and slippers, Groomsman: ties and favorite nfl team socks
5. Day of jewelry for girls and matching socks for guys

Favorite Food

1. N/A
2. My favorite food was probably our cake! Though the mashed potatoes were a close second.
3. Appetizers – Mini Philly Cheesesteaks Bowls, Dinner – Sun dried tomato ravioli
4. Steak and mashed potatoes
5. Pizza and pasta bar

Would you use your Bakery again? What company did you use?

1. I don’t remember! She did it out of her house but it was delicious!
2. Black Currant Bakehouse in Union Pier, MI. 100% would use them again. We chose to do a small cake and assorted desserts. Our guests loved the desserts! In fact, we still make frequent visits there for pastries when we are in town. 😋😋
3. Yes! Connie’s Cakes were amazing to work with. We received so many compliments on the cupcakes!
4. Yes – Nantucket Baking Company. Was amazing!
5. We skipped the cake and just had cheese cake from the venue

What do you recommend bringing the day of?

1. N/A
2. An outfit to change into when you leave your reception. I ended up going back to our hotel in my getting ready outfit, but wish I had something else.
3. A copy of your day of schedule, copy of your contact list, emergency kit, and a smile 🙂
4. Nothing – everything should be dropped off in advance.
5. Comfy clothes, snacks, and mints

What is in your emergency bag?

1. I don’t know that I had one. Not smart.
2. Deodorant, ibuprofen, tums, bobby pins, tampons.
3. Sewing kit, medicine (advil, Motrin), snacks, back up shoes, bandaids, hair clips, jewelry, back up dress, deodorant, perfume, bandaids, tooth brushes and tooth paste, makeup
4. Boob tape, hairspray, Tylenol, Bobbie pins, deodorant, perfume, gum, floss, liquid eyeliner, oil sheets for blotting makeup
5. Didn’t have one

Who helped you set up and tear down?

1. Parents and master/mistress of ceremony
2. Bridal party & parents.
3. Family and friends! We also had our florist, Eastern Floral, do take down for our floral!
4. My day of coordinator
5. Venue set up, family helped tear down

Did you hire a wedding planner? if so, who?

1. Me, myself, and I 😆
2. No
3. We had a Day of Coordinator – Nicole Billette! She was amazing.
4. No
5. No

Who was your caterer? Would you use again

1. Trillium Events, it was delicious! People still talk about our food
2. CK Catering – yes. We did family style and it worked well.
3. Gilmore Catering – Yes! Gilmore works with Clearwater Place and we loved our food. We received great feedback from our guests too!
4. Gilmore Catering – 100% yes! We still compliments on how good the food was a year later.
5. Uccellos downtown

Who would you recommend as a DJ?

1. N/A
2. N/A
3. Moments in Time! They were amazing
4. Band – Bluewater Kings
5. Didn’t have one.

Name a few songs you enjoyed at your reception?

1. N/A
2. N/A
3. Firework by Katy Perry, Dancing Queen by ABBA
4. Mr. Brightside, anything Lumineers, Stevie Wonder, classic hits
5. We had classic rock

What was your splurge?

1. Food and drinks
2. Flowers and shoes
3. Our live Band

If you have enjoyed this survey, you may want to check out the other ones from years past here and another one here.

Featuring the bride and groom at Clearwater Place Events

The post Wedding Advice from 2023 West Michigan Brides appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

By Jamie May Photography:   Another wedding season is approaching soon, I thought another blog post about Wedding Advice from West Michigan Brides would be beneficial.   I, myself, will be planning a wedding for my daughter.  Therefore, I find that I can not gather enough helpful information.   I hope the blog helps Brides planning a wedding in West Michigan.  These brides are anonymous and not necessarily people I worked with.  I numbered them so it stays consistent with who said what.   Pictures attached to this blog are random samples of wedding I photographed this year. For more practical advice make sure you check out some other blog post on my site : www.jamiemay.com/blog

Wedding Advice for REAL West Michigan Brides – part 2:

Budget

1. $10,000-$15,000
2. $15,000-$20,000
3. $5,000-$8000
4. $10,000-$15,000
5. $10,000-$15,000
6. $30,000-$35,000
7. $30,000-$35,000
8. $15,000-$20,000

Venues you choose:

1. Hitching Post
2. Blue Dress Barn!!!
3. The Heritage Museum (St. Joseph, MI)
4. Double JJ– Back 40 for BIG groups! 300 people, many camped and stayed right there
5. Grand Valley State University Alumni House
6. Frauenthal Center
7. Spring lake country club! We looked at Mackatawa Golf course which was also very nice.
8. Trillium Events in SL

1. Yes, we loved it
2. Yes, we loved it
3. No
4. No, glad we didn’t
5. We did not and are happy we didn’t
6. Yes, we loved it
7. Nope! So glad we didn’t!
8. No, we didn’t and I’m glad we didn’t. I had a first look with my dad and it was very sweet.

Did you hire your flowers or do them yourself? Any tips or websites to share?

1. Hire-we did purchase flowers from a greenhouse to decorate the outdoor ceremony. This was great because then the flowers were used all summer long.
2. I bought bouquets for my flower girls and I, the boy’s boutonniere, center vases with wildflowers, and some strands of eucalyptus for the head table from a florist. I picked a venue that I loved as is and didn’t spend any extra money on flowers! I also did all wildflowers/natural so it was a little less expensive and matched the venue. Having the florist bring it was also amazing, they set it up and left and I didn’t have to worry about doing anything. I really don’t think I would have saved much doing it myself when adding in time/stress/money to buy all the flowers.
3. I did them myself. I wung (winged) it after watching some overly complicated videos on Facebook.
4. Local Fremont gardener
5. Hired – be sure to meet with multiple florists and go with your gut based on how the meeting went.
6. We hired. We got them from Chalet.
7. Wassermans -skeeter! Send Pinterest images so that know exactly what your wanting! Ask them what could be cut to make it cheaper.
8. Spring Lake Floral

Anything you would change?

1.

2. I wouldn’t do favors – no one took them. Luckily it was just plant seeds, but unnecessary. Otherwise was the best day of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing.

3.

4. Buy the pictures right away…or at least make a book!

5. I would have found a spot for twinkle lights

6. I think I would have liked it to be darker when people were dancing. It was a little too bright and a lot of people didn’t want to get out there.

7. Nope!

8. There’s some pictures I wish I would have gotten.

Best advice?

1.

2. Relax! Everything will happen the way it’s supposed to happen. Also – always remember what the day is about, you and your partner getting married. Nothing else matters, so don’t let anyone let you think otherwise (including family!) it is your day so do what you want! Lastly – don’t feel like you have to plan your day to be just like everyone else’s, make it feel like you!

3.

4.  Make sure you have a specific time set to bring out the cake. It hardly got served at our wedding even though we cut it before dinner. And although cheesy, think about getting thank you notes with a generic thank you message printed on them and written by you. Know yourself and if you’re bad at that sort of thing, don’t think it’ll get easier when you’re sending out 200 of them. I still have half of mine on the shelf…

5. Have fun and remember to savor every moment

6. Assume that you’ll get off schedule a bit. Assume some things will go wrong. Focus on the fact that you’re getting married and just enjoy everything else.

7. No matter what happens on the day, looking back everything will be perfect and such a wonderful day full of memories! We had a ice cream cart which wasn’t too expensive, was a hit with the guests and we got a lot of left over ice cream!

8. Have fun! I just wanted to enjoy my day and I did.

The post Wedding Advice from West Michigan Brides appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

By Jamie May Photography:   Since people are often planning weddings,  I thought it would be beneficial to ask for wedding advice and tips to planning a wedding in West Michigan.  I gathered information from random people by posting on Facebook.  I collected nine responses. Each number represents that person throughout the questions.   I hope you find this information as beneficial as I did! And if you would like to contribute, here is the link to the google forms: Questionnaire

Wedding Tip 1: Did you do a first look and are you happy you did or didn’t?

1. I did a first look with my dad, and my immediate family got to watch. It was so special. I was glad I didn’t do a first look with the groom because it made walking down the aisle that much more special.
2. We skipped the first look and kept it traditional – I thought this was sweet, but I can definitely see the benefits of a first look.
3. Yes, we loved it
4. Yes, we loved it
5. I wish I would have
6. Yes, we loved it
7. Yes, we loved it
8. Yes, we loved it
9. Yes, we loved it

Related article: Benefits of a first look by Muskegon Wedding Photographer

Wedding Tip 2 : Did you hire your flowers or do them yourself? Any tips or websites to share?

1. We hired Chalet Floral- They were super friendly and easy to work with-
2. We ordered bulk flowers from Sam’s Club and I put together center pieces, bouquets, and boutonnieres myself. This saved us a lot of money, and I actually enjoyed working with the flowers.
3. I hired: Nikki from Simplicity Floral and Event Design
4. Chalet Floral in Muskegon, MI – They were wonderful, and fairly priced. They made sure we got what we wanted, and didn’t try to oversell us anything. They showed up before the wedding to set up, and came at the end to pickup anything that we rented, so we didn’t have to bring it back to them ourselves.
5. I loved my florist she was amazing she was more than a florist she tied it all together
6. Both, greenery was fake and we brought white real flowers
7. Did them myself. So much cheaper. I had a friend who did her flowers for her own wedding help me.
8. Hire-we did purchase flowers from a greenhouse to decorate the outdoor ceremony. This was great because then the flowers were used all summer long.
9. I bought bouquets for my flower girls and I, the boy’s boutonniere, center vases with wildflowers, and some strands of eucalyptus for the head table from a florist. I picked a venue that I loved as is and didn’t spend any extra money on flowers! I also did all wildflowers/natural so it was a little less expensive and matched the venue. Having the florist bring it was also amazing, they set it up and left and I didn’t have to worry about doing anything. I really don’t think I would have saved much doing it myself when adding in time/stress/money to buy all the flowers.

Wedding Tip 3: Where did you buy your dress?

1. Beckers Bridal
2. I bought my dress at Becker’s Bridal and they had a lot of style options with varying price ranges. I had my alterations done at Miller Bridal and Sewing in Fremont, MI and loved them!
3. Becker’s Bridal
4. Renee Austin in Grand Rapids, MI
5. Alfred angelo
6. Becker Bridal Outlet
7. Becker’s bridal outlet. They have an anniversary sale where every dress is 650$ and under. When I got mine (In 2018) it was 500$ and under. Still a great deal.
8. Bridal Gallery on 44th St in Grand Rapids
9. Wendy’s Bridal in Fort Wayne

Wedding Tip 4: Where do you buy bridesmaids dresses?

1. Azazie
2. dearcleo.com – Make sure your girls order their dresses with plenty of time. Ours took 8-10 weeks to ship and then alterations were required for some so this is something that you’ll want to do sooner than later.
3. David’s Bridal
4. I gave them a color, and let them buy the dress they wanted from whatever store they chose. 2 girls got them from BHLDN, and 2 got theirs from Lulus.
5. Alfred angelo
6. I had all my girls find their own black dresses
7. Lulu’s.com. I picked a dress that was cute but casual so they could wear it again!
8. Bridal Gallery as well
9. Azazie

Wedding Tip 5: Decorations do or don’ts

1. There’s no need to go overboard. For us, we remember the people, delicious food, laughs, and beautiful sunset since we were in an outside tent. The decorations add to the fun, but there was no need to break the bank over it.
2. Our wedding was outdoors and we had a lot of natural beauty working for us so I was able to keep decorations to a minimum. Simple and elegant was my goal and I don’t think it was lacking. Plus, I didn’t want to pour a bunch of money into decor that would later just sit in a box after one evening. On that note, check with friends and on Facebook for anything that can be purchased for less and reused.
3. Can’t really answer; my wonderful mother in law did our decor
4. Use fake flowers/greens if you can. You can buy them at Hobby Lobby or Costco, it’s a lot cheaper and you can sell it on Facebook marketplace after. Don’t fixate too much on little decoration details, even only a year later I don’t remember specifics on that, and no one else will notice either. It’s not worth having a meltdown over and making the process negative.
5. Make them simple
7. Keep it simple. I was at a wedding and they had the biggest decorations in the middle of the table and you couldn’t see around them. It was annoying.
8. Look on Offer Up and Facebook Marketplace before buying new things.
9. Don’t do more than necessary! People are not there to look at the decorations, they are there for you and to watch you marry the love of your life. Don’t waste time/energy/money on little things, save yourself some stress.

Wedding Tip 6: Organization Tips?

1. Utilize spreadsheets, have a vendor list, and hire a day of coordinator. We had a family friend act as our day of coordinator, and she did an amazing job making sure the day ran smoothly.
2. Keep a detailed to-do list, budget, and timeline. Have frequent and clear communication with vendors to ensure that everything will be in order and on time the day of your wedding. Do not be afraid to ask questions even if they seem silly. Communicate constantly with your bridal party and other key people (officiant, masters of ceremony, etc.) the few days before the wedding to make sure they have everything they need and know what time to show up so you don’t have a stray groomsman/bridesmaid.
3. First and foremost, plan your overall budget and then allot how much you will spend for each portion of your wedding. Pinterest has great wedding budget breakdown examples!
4. Spreadsheets!!! I had a master guest list spreadsheet that I tracked sending save the dates, invites, if they RSVPed, and if I sent a thank you yet. For the registry, I made a list of things we needed first, then found them at the places we were registering at. The spreadsheet had the item, price, where it was from, and then as I got presents I could put who sent it and what event it was for (shower vs. wedding gift). Staying as organized as possible will make the process easier for everyone helping you too. I had the spreadsheets shared with my mom and mother-in-law so we were all on the same page.
5. Planner/calendar and designate folder
7. Keep a binder. I recommend theknot.com one. Gives you a timeline to work with.
8. Create spread sheets and a binder to keep track over everything. Give this information to a MC for the big day.
9. I bought a planner that had everything in it that I was going to do and then I just had one massive list that I crossed off until everything was done. I also did not hire a planner – I wrote everything down that needed to be done the day of in a notebook and handed it off to the best man since he didn’t have much in terms of getting ready (and our best man is one of the most organized people I know.) But you can do this with anyone you trust – just not your mom/maid of honor. I let everyone else handle the day of obligations since I had already written it all out and explained it. And then when the day came I told myself all that matters is getting married today, the rest of the stuff does not matter.

Wedding Tip 7: Printers for printing pictures or albums

1. Jamie May got our pictures printed for us and we love them!
3. Shutterfly did a great job!
4. I had photos printed at Meijer and Walgreens.
5. My biggest regret was my photographer who was awful didnt edit my pictures or offer prints or albums
6. Getting prints and a small book with Jamie was a great decision
9. I used Walgreens photo center for everything. Always comes out great!

Wedding Tip 8: Anything you would change?

1. No
2. I did 90% of our wedding DIY and it saved A LOT of money and gave us a lot of control over what everything looked like. However, this involved a lot of running around the morning of the wedding and I wish I had been able to relax more and enjoy the morning getting ready rather than fixing/completing last minute things. So if you choose to DIY I would delegate tasks and accept help from anyone who offers. Otherwise it might be worth it to spend the extra money to have a professional handle it.
3. Nope!
4. Nope! 🙂 I was very happy with our wedding.
5. See above
7. Honestly no
9. I wouldn’t do favors – no one took them. Luckily it was just plant seeds, but unnecessary. Otherwise was the best day of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Wedding Tip 9: Best advice?

1. Have fun with the planning and don’t forget to include your fiance. Don’t stress out about the financial side or go above your means. Remember what is the most important part of the day- starting your life with your best friend!
2. -Prioritize your MARRIAGE. It is fun to get dressed up and feel glamorous and have all the pretty things, but the most important part of your wedding is that you are marrying your lifelong partner. Don’t let this get overshadowed by the “show” of a wedding.
   -Enjoy the day. I wish the morning of our wedding I was able to soak things up a little more and feel less rushed and frantic about every little detail.
   -Your guests won’t remember or care if little things are out of place, so don’t sweat the small stuff.
   -Plan your attire and hair/makeup accordingly if possible. I was originally supposed to get married indoors in April and due to COVID ended up getting married outdoors in July. My dress was heavy and HOT in July. I loved it but had I known it’d be 80 degrees and humid I would have chosen a lighter material.
   -This day is about you and your partner. Do not let anyone try to highjack your plans or take control because they think it should be done a certain way. If they are not paying for it they do not get a say. Similarly, don’t be guilted in to inviting guests you don’t know. Food and drinks are not cheap and you shouldn’t have to pay extra so someone’s “significant other” of 3 days can attend. Draw a firm line and don’t budge.
3. Remember; it’s your wedding! Hold firm with your spouse what you both want from the day.
4. I said it somewhat above, but don’t fixate on the small things. It’s very easy to get in your head about the napkin colors, or number of candles on each table, but no one will notice that part. They will however notice if the bride (and/or groom and/or family) is visibly stressed and not enjoying their day.
   Make sure whatever venue you’re at has a back-up plan if the weather is poor. We were fortunate that we could be inside (as it poured on our wedding day), but not all venues have that flexibility.
   Before creating a guest list, have a conversation with your parents to see how many people they each want to invite, and how much they’re willing to contribute monetarily. I’ve heard bad stories from friends about their parents wanting to invite 100 people, but aren’t willing to put any money towards the wedding. If the guest is important to the bride and groom that’s great, but friends that they’ve never met shouldn’t be on their dime. To sum it up, set boundaries with family before the planning starts.
   Book things early. Even if you think you’re jumping the gun, or if people are telling you you don’t need to have items done yet, just book them. Vendors book up years in advance now, and you don’t want to lose out on your favorite photographer or DJ because you waited too long.
   Make an itinerary for your bridal party/family so you don’t need to chase everyone around and they know what’s expected of them. Lean on your MOH and Best Man to be in charge of the rest of the bridal party if needed. You shouldn’t have to answer questions while getting your makeup done.
   Don’t let other people tell you what your wedding should look like. It’s easy to just go with your mom thinks, or a vendor, but at the end of the day it’s your wedding and you don’t want to look back with regrets. Enjoy the celebration!!!
5. Decide what areas you want to be your focal points or that are very important to you and spend the most money and time on those and rhen delegate other areas to others to help when possible
7. Have fun and do what YOU want. I personally wanted to have very few interruptions after dinner so we did the first dance and the father/daughter, mother/son dance and that was it. Not bouquet or garder toss. I wanted to just dance and have fun.
9. Relax! Everything will happen the way it’s supposed to happen. Also – always remember what the day is about, you and your partner getting married. Nothing else matters, so don’t let anyone let you think otherwise (including family!) it is your day so do what you want! Lastly – don’t feel like you have to plan your day to be just like everyone else’s, make it feel like you!

Wedding Tip 10: Gifts for bridesmaids / Groomsman Ideas

1. I got fun floral robes for my bridesmaids to get ready in. We got the groomsmen hydroflasks. I also got my flower girls, ring bearer, and parents some fun small gifts. For the flower girls, we got them little makeup and hair kits along with necklaces for the wedding. We got the ring bearer ring security sunglasses. We got our moms special wine glasses, and dads large beer mugs.
2. I would keep these practical and useful. Don’t spend a lot on “bridesmaid” robes or “groomsmen” flasks simply for aesthetics. They’ll likely never wear/use those again. Dress socks, golf balls, and beer for the boys. Lipgloss, moisturizer, and drinks/breakfast the morning of for the girls.
3. Bridesmaids: I paid for their hair updos Groomsmen: coolers
4. Bridesmaids: Monogrammed travel jewelry cases, robes, earrings and bracelets for the day, candles. Groomsman: Engraved pocket knives, cigars and cigar cutters, socks and pocket squares for the day, hangover kits
7. Jewelry for the girls to wear on your wedding day is easy and then everyone will match.
9. I think personalized gifts are much more thoughtful then generic gifts for everyone that all bridal parties get. Also doesn’t need to be fancy!

Wedding Tip 11: Favorite Food

1. All of the food at Bella Maria is to die for! We did the chicken with mango salsa and then steak bites. Everything was so good!
3. The cupcakes from Rykes!
4. Appetizers are honestly more important than dinner. If the cocktail hour is longer than an hour, people get antsy and drunk. Having enough food during this time keeps the crowd more sober and happy.
7. I did late night pizzas and that was amazing. Definitely would do again
9. We had a ramen bar and dumplings!!! Ask your caterer about what else they can do, I told ours my favorite food and they made it happen!

Wedding Tip 12: Would you use your Bakery again? What company did you use?

1. Bella Maria made us our own cheesecake and it was delicious! I would definitely use them again!
2. We used Harris Hospitality for our dinner and it was delicious, I would definitely use them again. For our cake(s) I ordered cakes from Sam’s Club with plain white frosting and decorated them with flowers myself – again it saved us a lot of money and tasted just as good as a fancy, 3-tiered cake. Plus they were easier to cut and serve.
3. Ryke’s Bakery in Muskegon: they were wonderful to work with!
4. My cousin made our cake, but the desserts were by our venue and they were delicious. Bella Maria does catering for off-site events as well.
5. 2nd flood bakery, absolutely loved their cakes but they went out of business
6. Yes! 4th avenue Sweets in Lake Odessa
7. I baked my own cake.
9. We didn’t use a bakery! Had our caterer bring in an ice cream bar. We didn’t want to spend money on cake that we don’t even like.

Related Articles: Wedding Tips: Salon coverage, Live Bands and Love

The post Wedding Advice and Tips. Planning a wedding in West Michigan appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

Planning a wedding in the midst of a pandemic is not easy. It has been stressful, annoying, unknown among other adjectives!  I am a photographer in West Michigan, and I am going to share my personal experience with Michigan couples during the 2020 wedding season.  We are a few months into what usually is ‘full swing ‘of Michigan wedding season.   By now, I would have thought this would have been leveled out and normal but it isn’t.   We still are dealing with the Coronavirus, Covid-19.   I wrote one blog early in the Pandemic, called Coronavirus and Your Wedding. I thought it would be helpful to spend a little time updating for future couples, how other Michigan couples are handling their wedding  in the midst of the pandemic that have been on the calendar for months or years!

2020 was going to be a huge year of weddings.  So I have been able to really see a large range of how couples are handling their wedding plans.

April and May were a complete bust. All of the wedding rescheduled for a later time. One couple had a courthouse wedding.

June – We managed to do six weddings out of nine.

Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic

So what happened in June & July:

• Wedding 1/June 5 – They downsized their wedding to their backyard.  They had a ceremony and about 50 guest and had donuts
• Wedding 2 / June 6 –   Rescheduled for August 2020
• Wedding 3/ June 6 –  Had a backyard wedding but did not continue with my services.
• Wedding  4  / June 13 – Continued at their venue to have a ceremony and dinner.  They downsized this event to 50 people and are having a reception in August 2020.
• Wedding 5/ June 13 – They had their wedding at the church, downsized the guest list and are having another event next year.
• Wedding 6/ June 20 – Ceremony at the outdoor at scheduled venue, dinner at another location with a downsized guest list and are also having a party next year
• Wedding 7 / June 20 – Got deployed, married in GA. Was not at event
• Wedding 8/ June 20 – Backyard ceremony and reception with downsized guest list
• Wedding 9/ June 27 – Rescheduled event.
• Wedding 10 – June 27  Ceremony and Reception at a venue with downsized guest list.
• Wedding 11/ July 10 – Continued at the venue chosen with ceremony and reception and downsized guest list by choice
• Wedding 12/ July 11 – Backyard wedding with ceremony and reception and a downsized guest list, having another party next year.
• Wedding 13/ July 19 – Rescheduling their wedding.  Maybe having a small wedding ceremony that I am not attending.

I project August and September to be very similar to what I have been experiencing these last few months.

What couples are saying in the Midst of the Pandemic Handling Wedding Plans:

One bride told me she couldn’t change her wedding, when they date came and gone, she would be so sad to not have been married.

Every couple had a wedding change.

Every couple was glad they had their wedding despite current events.

Every couple said vendors worked with them.

When asked if they would do anything different? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic said..

100% said no that had their wedding

There was one maybe, and one that said I wish we would have went with ouroriginal date, but we’re glad we at leastget to have some family present!

When I asked if they had any suggestions or tips? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic…

• Be flexible. Everyone is struggling right now, even the vendors. There are so many executive orders that they AND you must follow! Understand that not everything is going to go as you planned, and that is ok. Getting married to your partner is the most important thing, not all the details. Do not postpone your wedding just so you can have a bigger wedding later. Instead, have a small, intimate ceremony and throw a big party/reception later that everyone can attend. Your friends and family will understand!
• My biggest suggestion is to do what is best for you! Your family will understand your decision.
• Lean on your vendors for guidance, make your deadline to have things “done” 1 week before the wedding & delegate, delegate, delegate! 🤪
• No matter what happens your special day will turn out amazing and will be something you will never forget. I know it can be a stressful time especially in todays world with COVID, but just try to have fun and know that you will always have a great story to share about your wedding.
• Your wedding should be everything you dreamed of, but life happens and there are bigger things. With planning and having a wedding in a pandemic there are many life skills you and your spouse will learn early on like adapting to the unfamiliar and being flexible. In the end it will be the two of you together, so do what will make you both most happy.
• Don’t let the pandemic stop you from having your special day in some way
• Stay Positive and be flexible. Enjoy everyone that chooses to be there.

When asked if anything they would like to share? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic…

• During a crazy time like now, it is so hard to keep your head above water. I always found it helpful to remind myself, “Everything always works out”. Doing this helped me mentally get through times of distress!
• I appreciate all that Jamie has done for us. From switching dates, to being willing to help out, to even finding a friend to meet gaps. We are so thankful!
• I never would have thought this would impact my wedding in such a way. However, it was so wonderful to not only have support and understanding from all my family and guests as plans changed, but also having that same support and understanding from all of our vendors. It made this whole situation a lot easier and allowed for us to still have a beautiful wedding!
• Try to go with the flow as much as you can, it will only make for a better experience through all of this!

When asked 8 couples if they are doing an event next year? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic…

62% said yes

12% said maybe

25% said no

The Knot and other wedding magazines have also talked about this topic. You can find one article here.

Here is a couple pictures from a few of these events!  Hopefully, I will get around to sharing their full stories! And be sure to check back as I get more feedback in, I will add to this blog and feel free to email me your tips or advice to jamie@jamiemay.com

The post Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

Let’s talk about the coronavirus and your wedding

I cannot even imagine what brides and families are facing. Their perfect day, that has had so much planning, time ,and thought,  has been thrown a major curveball. 

What are brides doing? Do we reschedule?  Change the guest list to accommodate? All the questions that must be spinning. My mind is spinning with yours, and Jamie May Photography and team are going to do our best to get through this together.  

Unfortunately, I do not have the answers and I bet everyone’s situation is different. After some thought, this is some advice on the coronavirus and your wedding.

My advice is :

1.  If you can make changes and keep your date, do it. 

2.  People will understand that you have to change the list to lower numbers. 

3. Get outside if possible, rather than inside.

4. Maybe simplify. Do a ceremony and plan a big party later. 

5.  Get creative. 

6. Sometimes the only option is to reschedule.

7. Be flexible since there is perhaps more limitations with rescheduling. People get married on different days of the week. It is becoming more common to have a Thursday, Friday, Sunday wedding  so you do not need to worry about the traditional Saturday. 

8. Different venues are offering simple ceremony packages at a two-three hour time slot. 

9.  Because we are a team, we have some strategies on what may come our way.

10. Still have fun with the pictures!

So far I have had one schedule change that was originally intended to be in April. The other axed the reception, lowered the guest list, and their ceremony will be outdoors. I have not had any May or June weddings take any action as of now with the current state of events.  I, along with you, am praying for a miracle in our country. 

Here are recent articles that may also give you some helpful advice:

Bride Magazine

After reading I noticed many other articles relating to this topic at the bottom.

Comment or text me, love to hear your thoughts on the matter!

Now for my most recent wedding….

——

These two!… Lucked out in many ways!!! Literally, one week before all the state changes.  Plus, the wedding was in Michigan in March and it was a beautiful, sun, shiny day!!

We were at the High Five in Grand Rapids. It was the first time at that venue and it was a great venue. Especially being winter time! They had a ceremony site on one floor and reception on the other. Surrounding the venue is a quieter part of Grand Rapids, that had a lot of pretty architecture.   Hilary and Zachary had a first look, and I am always in agreement with a first look, see my blog.  We were able to go outside and enjoy the outdoors.   There are some benefits to having your venue at the same location check out my Pros to One Venue post.  LOVE that they had a live band!!!   

I am so happy for Hilary and Zachary!! Wishing you both many happy years! Xoxo

Vendor Information:

Venue : High Five GR

Cake: Rykee’s Bakery Grand Haven

Flower: Ludema’s Floral

DJ: Brena Band

Charger Rental: Grand Rapids Chiavari Co.

Photographer: Jamie May Photography

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County Park Weddings

I always feel like I am in on a little secret when it comes to County Park weddings.  I have been to a small share of them over the years.  Here are some tips and tricks to County Park Weddings

1.  There is a huge savings that happens going to a county park.  I am talking under $500.  I heard even $100 before.
2. Your wedding will have to be small. I have never seen that big of a wedding at a county park facility.
3.  Please have a RAIN back up idea, umbrellas, too
4.  Bug spray.  Just please have bug spray.  Not all parks are bad nor every time during the year, but this was when the mosquito scare was happening and it was very close to this location.
5. Still have a dance party: Set up a tent, make room where the tables are, hire a DJ or band!
6.  Have a bonfire – marshmallows can happen.
7.  Have outdoor games
8.  You may get your dress dirty on the bottom and that IS OKAY
9. Do you only have the wedding and not reception?  Either way works, depending on your wedding size.  Read more about benefits to one venue

Here are some of the County Parks I have visited for a wedding:

1. Connor Park Bayou  
2. Weaver House Of Pine Bend Park
3. North Beach Park
4. Spring Grove Park
5. Brewer Park
6. Long Lake Outdoor Center
7. Douglas Park Weddings  click here to see a wedding
8.  Wabasis Lake Park  example here

About the Couple

The couples wedding vision was this :

The post County Park Weddings appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

Winter Weddings in Michigan

Winter weddings in Michigan can sometimes be a scary thought.  Our weather is so unpredictable from year to year, but in the winter we can usually count on dark days, cold temperatures and precipitation of some sort.  Every year we have a handful a weddings that brave the winter months, and they always work out just fine!

Here are some benefits to a winter wedding:

1.   A decrease in cost for venues (I have heard?)  Most venues have off season rates.
2.   If it is during the holidays, there are usually more decorations in a church or a venue, for example stringed lights, poinsettias, etc.. Even in the city, you will find more decorations.
3.   Everyone is excited about winter entertainment! It helps to break up the long winter months.
4.   You can add accessories to the dress: mink, scarfs, mittens, ear muffs, coats
5.   Every where you go is less busy, in this case, we went to Grand Rapids. There was no problem parking, not a lot of people walking around.  We had the  city to ourselves.  Sometimes I go to that blue bridge and there are 4 weddings there! I even had some bizarre parade go through with people with  paper-mache heads voicing to save the Earth.
6.  You can visit tree- farms, or wear long sleeves, or have an excuse to take a long bus ride and visit some breweries.
7. If you do have a winter wedding, I do suggest you try to brave the cold for a few shots, even a half hour can give you some great pictures.

The Couple

Tiffany and Tyler met at Ohio Northern University during her junior year and Tyler’s P3 year. We were part of similar friend groups and knew each other but didn’t connect until his fraternity rechartered. After this event we began talking and ended up dating at the end of July 2016!  And the rest is history.  Tiffany and Tyler were great to work with. We found out that when we arrived that we knew one of her relatives! It is so fun to run into old friends at weddings.   We had a very relaxing day, we started at the salon for a little while, and then headed to the church.  Tyler and Tiffany had three hours in between ceremony and reception, so we headed downtown for awhile and then we parted ways as they continued on the bus and made a few stops with their bridal party.

Wishing you the very best Tiffany and Tyler!!

To see more blog post, click here

To view another winter wedding in Michigan, click here    and   another here

Winter Weddings in Michigan Businesses:

Their color palate was Navy and Silver.

They used vendors: Rouge Salon – Allendale, MI;

Tap-A-Few Bartending Services.

DJ: Ted Corner DJ

Flowers: Creative Events

Venue: St. Mary’s Catholic Church/Reception Hall – Marne, MI

Wedding Style: Classic and Traditional

The post Winter Weddings in Michigan appeared first on Jamie May Photography.

It was a super rainy day, relentlessly raining!!!  We were fortunate to find a great spot to take pictures indoors.  I was happy that the park had an indoor shelter for the ceremony.  I love this family. They are always so warm and welcoming. It is like hanging out with old friends.   Britney looked stunning in her bridal gown!  Kellen was grinning ear to ear, the whole night, as was Britney. I love all of animated expressions! She makes me smile. Hope to see you again! Best Wishes to many happy years!!!

On a side note, we are very experienced with grand rapids weddings.  There are tons of beautiful options.  This day was a really bad, rainy, dark day, and we were still able to take advantage of the architecture downtown and get some wonderful photos.  We have lived around the area our whole lives, so we are very familiar with how to navigate. I have even had brides have us pick where to go for the whole day!

Strategies on handling a rainy day:

1. Don’t panic, it always works out

2. Be OK with getting your dress a little dirty

3. Have umbrellas for a cute back-up prop, you can always take them back.

4.  Maybe have a white sheet to lay down on the ground under your dress.

5. Hire a experienced photographer that knows how to handle any weather or lighting condition.

Do view our pricing ,click here

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