Valentine’s Day Memory Weekend
Celebrate love, family, and connection. Valentine’s Day Memory Weekend gives families an opportunity to slow down, come together, and capture a meaningful portrait they can cherish long after the season has passed.
Spring Memory Weekend
Celebrate new beginnings and the joy of the season. Spring Memory Weekend gives families a beautiful opportunity to come together, welcome a fresh season, and create a portrait that captures this moment in their family's story.
Graduation Memory Weekend
Celebrate the achievement—and the people who helped make it possible. Graduation Memory Weekend gives graduates and their families a meaningful way to mark this important milestone together and create a portrait that preserves the moment for years to come.
Back-to-School Memory Weekend
A new school year is a new chapter in your family's story. Back-to-School Memory Weekend gives families a fun way to celebrate fresh beginnings, capture how much the kids have grown, and create a keepsake they'll treasure long after the school year ends.
Fall Memory Weekend
Celebrate the beauty of the season and the blessings that bring families together. Fall Memory Weekend offers families a warm, meaningful opportunity to gather, give thanks, and create a portrait that captures this season of their family's story.
Christmas Memory Weekend
Celebrate the joy, love, and togetherness at the heart of the Christmas season. Christmas Memory Weekend gives families a special opportunity to come together and create a beautiful holiday portrait that can become part of their family's Christmas tradition for years to come.
New Year's Memory Weekend
Begin the new year by celebrating what matters most—family. New Year’s Memory Weekend gives families a meaningful way to mark a fresh beginning, celebrate their blessings, and create a portrait that captures the excitement and promise of the year ahead.
Meet the Founder
Church Traditions™ was created by Marty Sutton, a retired United States Marine, Service-Disabled Veteran, and founder of Elite360 Photo Booth Rentals. Drawing on years of experience serving military communities, churches, and families through professionally managed event experiences, Marty created Church Traditions to help churches strengthen family connections through meaningful seasonal traditions.
Marty W. Sutton, USMC (Ret.)
After serving twenty years in the United States Marine Corps, I came to appreciate something that extends far beyond military service—the importance of family, community, and the traditions that bring people together.
But my appreciation for community didn't begin in the military. I grew up in the church, where my mother served in ministry and eventually became a Bishop. From an early age, I witnessed firsthand how churches become places where families celebrate life's milestones, support one another through challenges, and create traditions that span generations.
Over the past few years, I've had the privilege of helping hundreds of families celebrate weddings, birthdays, military balls, reunions, and community events. While every celebration was unique, one thing remained the same: the moments people treasured most were the ones they shared with the people they love.
That realization inspired the creation of Church Traditions™.
I believe churches are uniquely positioned to strengthen families and build lasting community. Yet I also understand that pastors and church staff already carry tremendous responsibilities. Church Traditions was created to make it easy for churches to offer meaningful seasonal experiences without adding another ministry for their teams to manage.
Today, Church Traditions partners with churches to host professionally managed Memory Weekends that bring families together, create beautiful keepsake portraits, and establish traditions that families look forward to year after year.
Because in the end, our mission isn't simply to take photographs.
It's to help churches create moments that become lifelong memories. Creating Meaningful Memories. Building Lasting Traditions.
The portrait is the keepsake. The tradition is the real legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know About Hosting a Church Traditions™ Memory Weekend
1. What is Church Traditions™?
Church Traditions™ partners with churches to host professionally managed seasonal Memory Weekends that bring families together through beautiful portrait experiences. We handle the planning, scheduling, photography, printing, and event-day operations so your church can focus on welcoming families and strengthening community.
2. How much work is required from our church?
Very little. Church Traditions™ manages the planning, appointment scheduling, portrait setup, photography, on-site printing, payments, and customer experience.
Your church simply provides the event space, helps promote the Memory Weekend, and welcomes your families.
3. Do we need photographers or church volunteers?
No. Our team provides the photography staff and manages the entire portrait experience.
Church volunteers are always welcome to assist with greeting families or hospitality, but they are completely optional and are never required for the event to be successful.
4. How do families reserve their appointments?
Every participating church receives its own dedicated online booking page.
Families simply select an available appointment time, complete their registration, and receive a confirmation before the event.
5. What does each family receive?
Every Family Memory Experience includes:
Reserved portrait appointment
Church-selected seasonal set design
Studio Portrait Experience
One professionally printed 4×6 keepsake portrait
Portrait printed while they waitFamilies may also choose optional enhancements such as the Selfie Booth Experience and AI Portrait Transformation.
6. What types of Memory Weekends do you offer?
Church Traditions™ currently offers:
Valentine's Memory Weekend
Spring Memory Weekend
Graduation Memory Weekend
Back-to-School Memory Weekend
Fall Memory Weekend
Christmas Memory Weekend
New Year's Memory WeekendChurches may host one event each year or create a seasonal tradition with multiple Memory Weekends.
7. How does our church benefit?
Every Memory Weekend includes a Ministry Support Contribution based on family participation.
Beyond financial support, Memory Weekends help strengthen family engagement, encourage fellowship, and create traditions that families look forward to year after year.
8. How long does a Memory Weekend last?
Most churches host their event over a single weekend, though scheduling can be customized to fit your church's calendar and expected participation.
We'll work with you to determine the best schedule for your congregation.
9. Can we customize the experience for our church?
Absolutely. We'll work together to select the seasonal set design, event dates, scheduling format, and other details to ensure the Memory Weekend reflects your church's needs and community.
10. Is there a minimum number of families required?
No. We'll discuss your church's expected participation during your consultation and recommend an event format that's appropriate for your congregation.
11. Is Church Traditions™ only for large churches?
Not at all. Church Traditions™ is designed to serve churches of all sizes—from smaller congregations to large multi-campus ministries.
Every Memory Weekend is tailored to fit the needs of your church.
12. What happens after our consultation?
If Church Traditions™ is a good fit, we'll work together to:
Select your Memory Weekend
Choose your event date
Build your dedicated booking page
Provide promotional materials
Prepare for a successful event
From there, our team handles the planning so your church can focus on welcoming families.Still Have Questions?
We'd love to learn more about your church and answer any questions you may have.
Request your free consultation today and discover how Church Traditions™ can help your church create meaningful memories and lasting traditions.
