Glen Haven Engagement | Mathieu + Madalyn

A serene evening out on Lake Michigan. What more could you ask for?

We love engagement sessions for so many reasons. Oftentimes it’s our only chance to meet our couples face to face prior to their wedding day. Such was the case with Matt and Maddie so we chatted for a bit in the parking lot behind the old red Glen Haven Canning Co. building before jumping into photos.

The initial ‘hi, how are you’ turned quickly into laughing together and inside jokes that would come up later between us all on their wedding day. As we explored Glen Haven together, feeling the sand beneath our feet, watching the sun filter through the trees, and hiking the dunes as the moon rose, we dove into their love story and learned more about them as a couple. These two are so comfortable and at ease together, like they were always meant to be, which of course made photographing them ridiculously easy.

Fall Engagement | Jason + Sarah

There is nothing quite like how these two laugh together.

At one point, there were actual physical tears streaming down Sarah’s face from how hard Jason was making her laugh.

We spent the beautifully golden Fall evening with the happiest smiles on our faces as we watched these two interact. As the sun set and we thought ahead to their upcoming wedding, we knew it was going to be just as fun.

Photographed by Miles + Sarah

Alex + Katherine | Glen Haven | Engagement

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. 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.

Wildflower Engagement | Jordan + Paige | Port Oneida

Jordan and Paige’s wildflower engagement is hands down one of our top five favorite engagement photo shoots. From the dreamy wildflowers to the romantic picnic (complete with wine from their winery wedding venue), to the glowing sunset on the beach—it was nothing less than THE perfect spring day. You would never even guess that when we first arrived to Port Oneida the sky was dark and cloudy and it had started to drizzle. These two were willing to brave the weather and we were thankfully met with only the slightest rainy mist. It felt like a movie as Jordan and Paige traipsed through the prettiest wildflower fields hand in hand. Our hearts were so full to photograph the love between these two and we are counting down the days until we can celebrate with them on their wedding day.

Phil + Hannah | Spring Engagement

We met with Phil and Hannah in June at Port Oneida for their spring engagement photos. It was a perfectly golden sunny day and the beauty of the season was on full display.

There is always something so ethereal about watching the world come back to life after a long winter. Suddenly the trees are budding, grass is growing, flowers are blooming, and the world is full of vibrancy and color again. Every season has it’s own beauty but I have to admit that the months in which flowers blossom are undoubtedly some of my favorites.

We spent some time learning Phil and Hannah’s love story and witnessing the sweetest interactions between the two of them. It was such a joy to photograph them together and we cannot wait to do it all again for their wedding this spring.