Sarah + Owen’s Temple Shir Shalom Wedding in Bloomfield Hills

There was a moment just before Sarah walked down the aisle when I realized how little the sanctuary needed.

The lights were off. The room was illuminated almost entirely by the enormous circular window behind the stage, and the late-summer light settled softly across the sanctuary. It gave the ceremony a quiet, almost reverent feeling.

Sarah and Owen were married at Temple Shir Shalom in Bloomfield Hills on August 22, with their reception later that evening at Aurora Italiana. It was a day full of beautiful design and thoughtful details, but what I remember most are the little things: Sarah fixing Owen’s hair in the wind, his brother stopping mid-portrait to straighten his bow tie, Owen’s face when he turned around to see Sarah, and two families visibly delighted to become one.

Getting Ready at The Kingsley Bloomfield Hills

I got to photograph Sarah putting on her dress at The Kingsley. We tidied the room just enough to make some breathing room, and then Sarah got dressed.

There was something so perfectly Sarah about the dress: classic, simple, beautiful. Honestly, if I were getting married today, this is the kind of dress I would want.

A First Look at Temple Shir Shalom

Rain was in the forecast, so we weren't sure how much time we'd have outside.

As it turned out, the weather gave us exactly what we needed.

Sarah walked up behind Owen for their first look, and when he turned around, the emotion on his face said everything.

The cloudy sky ended up being a gift for portraits. Instead of harsh summer sun, the overcast light wrapped softly around Sarah and Owen's faces, creating the kind of glowing skin that photographers are always hoping to capture.

Portraits at Temple Shir Shalom

If you're planning a wedding at Temple Shir Shalom and want a simple, no-fuss portrait location, the courtyard is a great option.

It is close to the ceremony space, doesn't require a complicated timeline, and gives you greenery and an outdoor setting without having to leave the property.

For couples who want something more expansive or organic, I'd consider adding a nearby park or field to the timeline. And if an urban feel is more your style, downtown Bloomfield Hills could also be incorporated into the day.

The important thing is deciding what kind of photographs actually feel like you before building your timeline around them.

Temple Shir Shalom Wedding Photography

For couples considering Temple Shir Shalom for a wedding, one of the things that stood out to me most was the architecture.

The sanctuary has a strong sense of design, with artwork and architectural details that give the space a character all its own. Temple Shir Shalom itself describes its public spaces as being shaped by the meaning and design of the Torah, with architecture intended to blend symbolism and function.

But photographically, what stayed with me most was that circular window.

The ceremony space was lit only by the natural light coming through the window above the stage. There wasn't a need to add anything else.

The effect was beautifully dramatic.

For me, this is one of the reasons seeing a venue in person matters so much when you're planning wedding photography. A room can look completely different in photographs depending on the available light, the time of day, and what the photographer chooses to emphasize.

Here, the restraint of the light was part of what made the atmosphere so special and that showed up in their photos.

A Jewish Wedding Ceremony at Temple Shir Shalom

Before the ceremony, Sarah and Owen gathered with their closest people in a library tucked away in the temple for the signing of their ketubah.

The ketubah is the Jewish marriage document, and signing it before the ceremony is a common part of contemporary Jewish weddings.

Then everyone moved into the sanctuary.

One of the traditions that stood out was Sarah circling Owen seven times. Circling the groom three or seven times is a Jewish wedding custom, with a variety of interpretations; the number seven carries particular significance in Jewish tradition and is also reflected in the seven blessings recited during a Jewish wedding.

A Reception at Aurora Italiana

Aurora Italiana was a beautiful setting for the second half of the day.

The upstairs reception space has an entire wall of windows looking over the lake, so the landscape became part of the room.

And then there was the cake.

The cake was practically a piece of art, covered with edible flowers that I initially thought were real.

It's the sort of detail that rewards a closer look, something that might be easy to miss while you're moving through the reception but becomes a beautiful little part of the visual story afterward.

What I Loved About Photographing Sarah + Owen's Wedding

Sarah and Owen's wedding was a good reminder of why I love documentary wedding photography.

There were certainly beautiful things to photograph: Sarah's simple, classic dress, the architecture at Temple Shir Shalom, the garden courtyard, the lake at Aurora Italiana, the carefully made cake.

But the things that stay with me are smaller.

Owen turning around.

Sarah fixing his hair.

A brother straightening his bow tie.

A father seeing his daughter dressed for her wedding.

Families listening to stories about how two people met.

And a room full of people becoming one family.

Those are the things I want my photographs to hold onto.

Not just what a wedding looked like, but what it was like to be there.

If You're Planning a Wedding at Temple Shir Shalom

For couples considering Temple Shir Shalom, the courtyard is a great option if you want portraits that are easy, beautiful, and close to the ceremony.

If you'd rather have something more expansive and organic, I'd consider building in time for a nearby park or field. And if an urban backdrop feels more like you, downtown photographs could easily become part of the itinerary too.

The bigger lesson from Sarah and Owen's day, though, is one I come back to often: don't spend your wedding day trying to manufacture photographs.

Give yourself enough room to actually be there.

Sarah and Owen weren't constantly performing for the camera. They were getting married. They were laughing with their families. They were fixing each other's hair. They were listening to stories about how they met. They were becoming a family.

I just happened to be there to photograph it.

If you're planning a wedding in Detroit, Ann Arbor, or somewhere throughout Southeast Michigan and want photographs that feel like you rather than a collection of poses, I'd love to hear what you're planning.

Wedding Vendors

Venue & Ceremony: Temple Shir Shalom
Event Coordinator: Kate Lack from White Flamingo Events
Reception: Aurora Italiana
Getting Ready: The Kingsley Bloomfield Hills
Photographer: Kellie Robinson Photography
Florist: Breath of Spring
Makeup: Russ Simon Beauty Studio
Cake: Sweet Heather Ann
DJ/Band: Spartys DJs

More Wedding Photography from Kellie Robinson Photography

If you're looking for an Ann Arbor wedding photographer, I'd love for you to spend some time looking through my wedding photography stories. They're a better representation of how I photograph weddings than a collection of favorite images ever could be.

You can also learn more about Kellie and my approach to wedding photography, explore wedding collections, or read reviews from past couples.