Nick + Maddie | Engagement
For their engagement session, Nick and Maddie knew they wanted incorporate some of the reasons why they love up North. So when they invited us to Maddie’s family home on Long Lake and asked if we wanted to go for a boat ride with them, the answer was an obvious: heck ya!
For their engagement session, Nick and Maddie knew they wanted incorporate some of the reasons why they love up North. So when they invited us to Maddie’s family home on Long Lake and asked if we wanted to go for a boat ride with them, the answer was an obvious: heck ya! We cruised around the lake, taking in the view, as the late summer sun reflected hazily against the water. Later on, they showed us a few trails around the area and we spent the rest of the evening getting to know their story, laughing our butts off, and chatting about all the details for their wedding the following year.
Bryan + Alexa | Cathedral Barns
Bryan and Alexa’s wedding day was a beautiful combination of warmth and whimsy. With an emphasis on nature and florals, Traverse City’s Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park set the perfect tone for their garden-party themed day. A backdrop of crawling vines and abundant blooms, Bryan and Alexa met for their first look in the walled garden.
Bryan and Alexa as a couple are just like their wedding day: warm, romantic, and full of love— not only for each other, but every single one of their guests. We met them first for their engagement session months previous, and entered into their wedding day with such eager anticipation, where we were once again blown away by their authenticity and kind-heartedness. To know them is to love them and what a JOY it is to know them.
Bryan and Alexa’s wedding day was a beautiful combination of warmth and whimsy. With an emphasis on nature and florals, Traverse City’s Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park set the perfect tone for their garden-party themed day. A backdrop of crawling vines and abundant blooms, Bryan and Alexa met for their first look in the walled garden. Peeking over the edge of the wall, their closest friends and family cheered them on and the celebration began. Glasses of champagne ushered in their guests to their seats, which curved along the stone floor of their ceremony location—the Labyrinth. Emotions swelled as Alexa traipsed down the aisle to her soon-to-be husband. A promise of forever, an exchange of rings, and an exuberant shout of hurrah from their guests as they were pronounced husband and wife.
The rest of the day could have passed by in a flurry, but Bryan and Alexa made a point to slow down, take every moment in together, and connect with all of their guests. We ended the night in the stunning Cathedral Barn, documenting the most lively dance party including but not limited to: matching heart sunglasses, foam glow sticks, and limbo.
Congratulations B+A—it is an honor to know you and to celebrate you. We’ll be dreaming about your day forever & ever.
Photographed by Miles + Sarah
Venue - Cathedral Barn and Botanic Garden
Caterer - Grand View Catering
Videographer - Mitten Visuals
Cake - Third Coast Bakery
DJ - Forella Events
Jewelry - Sandy Moss Jewelry
Hair + Makeup - Love the Hair Company
Wedding Dress - Chic Nostalgia with Milena’s Bridal
Florist - Black Dog Flower Co.
Table Decor & Dishes - My Sister’s Dishes
Alex + Katherine | Glen Haven | Engagement
Alex and Katherine, both elementary school teachers, loved taking every opportunity to escape away to Michigan during their summer breaks. Specifically camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes was a special tradition for them every summer. Alex and Katherine describe themselves as ‘nature freaks’ and wanted to incorporate the outdoors in as many of their photos as possible—both for their engagement and their wedding! While their wedding was set at a beautiful vineyard venue in Suttons Bay, taking the trip out to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area for their engagement session was a perfect way to tie in their love for the area.
Alex and Katherine, both elementary school teachers, love taking every opportunity to escape away to Michigan during their summer breaks. Specifically camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes has been a special tradition for them every summer. Alex and Katherine describe themselves as ‘nature freaks’ and wanted to incorporate the outdoors in as many of their photos as possible—both for their engagement and their wedding! While their wedding was set at a beautiful vineyard venue in Suttons Bay, taking the trip out to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area for their engagement session was a perfect way to tie in their love for the area.
We got the chance to know them over a video call prior to their session and wedding where we immediately hit it off. We knew that being a part of their days would feel natural and exciting and couldn’t wait to document the two of them being adventurous and hilarious. We decided on an early spring day for their engagement session and Glen Haven proved to be a versatile location—with a little bit of woodsy, beach, and dunes to finish off the night. We spent the whole evening grinning from ear to ear just being in Alex and Katherine’s presence.
We are so happy for these two and loved being a part of their story!
Matt + Lynden Engagement | Glen Haven
We met up with Matt and Lynden in early spring for their engagement session in Glen Haven. They brought their sweet pup along for the adventure and we spent some time wandering around the area, admiring the views, and finally ending on the beach.
We met up with Matt and Lynden in early spring for their engagement session in Glen Haven. They brought their sweet pup along for the adventure and we spent some time wandering around the area, admiring the views, and finally ending on the beach. It was a short but very sweet engagement session as we focused mainly on candids of them interacting and playing with their dog on the beach. As the sun sank lower toward the horizon, Matt and Lynden shared with us all their exciting plans for their upcoming wedding later that year. Spending an evening getting to know a couple at their engagement session makes photographing them again on their wedding day all the more special.
Downtown Traverse City Proposal | Tyler + Sara
Tyler had reached out to let us know his plans to propose to his girlfriend Sara on a trip to Traverse City. So we set up a plan and arrived at the Traverse City Marina on a beautiful June evening for the most splendid golden sunset photos.
There is something so incredibly special about proposal photography.
It is such an intimate occasion so we make sure to keep our distance while we photograph and allow the couple to soak in those blissful first few moments. Eventually they find their way over to us and we introduce ourselves (it's usually our first time meeting them both) and congratulate them!
If time allows, we take a few engagement photos so they can share the happy news with friends and family. And that is exactly what happened for Tyler and Sara's Traverse City proposal.
Tyler had reached out to let us know his plans to propose to his girlfriend Sara on a trip to Traverse City. We showed Tyler some of our recent proposal photos and he loved the location of James and Chelsea's proposal earlier that year. So we set up a plan and arrived at the Traverse City Marina on a beautiful June evening for the most splendid golden sunset photos.
Mark and Lindsay | Winter Engagement Portraits
As is with most winter days in Northern Michigan, it was frigidly cold. But Mark and Lindsay held each other close and kept each other warm despite the wind and snow. By the end of their session our noses were red and our mouths were numb but it was so so worth it for the beautiful winter engagement portraits we were able to capture
As is with most winter days in Northern Michigan, it was frigidly cold. But Mark and Lindsay held each other close and kept each other warm despite the wind and snow. By the end of their session our noses were red and our mouths were numb but it was so so worth it for the beautiful winter engagement portraits we were able to capture. We knew instantly that their wedding was going to be just as beautiful and we were definitely not disappointed--we can't wait to share their wedding photos on the blog soon!
