Heritage Museum and Cultural Center - Kirstin and Jake

Congratulations to Kirstin and Jake!! What a fun celebration for such a fun couple!

These two met at Hope College, in the back seat of a mutual friend’s van while catching a ride home in a rainstorm. They were friends for a while and finally got serious in their junior year of college. They started dating in October of 2017 and have been together ever since! Jake proposed on October 29th , 2020. It was important to him that she was surprised and she was! He decorated the basement of their AirBnB on a visit home to west Michigan and lured her there the morning they checked out under false pretenses. He popped the question and Kirstin’s bridesmaids, Grace and Alex, jumped out of the closet with champagne!

Jake and Kirstin describe themselves as “the cool kind of nerdy”. They love to socialize and meet new people (especially when it involves dancing). They share a love of fantasy books and movies and love having conversations about things like politics, stocks, and fanfiction. They always know that whatever weird interest one of them is picking up at a given moment, the other is always there to listen and engage. Their relationship is one of intense comfort and joy in knowing that they love and accept each other just as they are.

Best of wishes to you both! Thank you so much for choosing me to document your story. Enjoy the preview of your day….

Millenium Park Grand Rapids Engagement - Sarah and Aaron

Grand Rapids, Michigan
Millenium Park

Congratulations Sarah and Aaron!! These two came to the session full of energy and smiles.
They met online (Bumble) in August of 2019. Their first date was at Zoobies, in Lansing. They had some drinks and then had so much fun talking they forgot to have dinner. Now they talk about how it was the fastest 3.5 hours ever and that they knew within 15 minutes that they had found something different and special. Sarah broke all the "be cool" rules and told him about things like the Scandinavian cookbook she picked up at the library before they met. They set up the second date before they even left. She texted her best friend from the car, "Now THAT was a first date!" They had three dates that first week. They finally ate dinner together (sushi - one of their favorite meals) on Tuesday, and did an escape room and Italian on Friday. Sarah says that falling for Aaron was truly the easiest thing she’s ever done.

Aaron proposed this past July (7/30/2020) and they will get married one year to the day (7/30/2021). He had asked her stepfather for permission before he passed away in March. With Covid shutting everything down, he had a really hard time getting a ring and keeping Sarah from finding out that he was looking for one. Her sister and best friend helped him find the perfect vintage inspired ring. He asked permission from her mom and dad too. He got the ring on a Wednesday afternoon and had to ask as soon as possible. They went to Tunnel Park, in Holland, on Thursday for a picnic dinner after work. She may have known it was coming, but it didn't make it any less perfect. They ate on the beach and watched the sunset over the water. When no one was around (he knew she would hate an audience), he got down on one knee and asked Sarah if she would marry him. She said yes four times! Then came a wonderful night of calling family and friends and a champagne toast when they got home.

Things they like to do together… Everything. They love cooking, watching TV, spending time with family, and going on walks together. Pre-covid, they have gone to Les Mis, Phantom, Hamilton, Harry Potter Orchestra, Trans Siberian Orchestra, took several cooking classes, trips to Chicago and DC, skiing, shopping, mini golfing, trips up north, cider mills, Michigan football game, and celebrating Christmas outrageously, including three trips to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.

Stay tuned for the big day at Grand Rapids Public Museum!
Please enjoy the preview of their fun engagement session, photographed on the last week of good weather here in Michigan…

Mount Pleasant, MI - Katie and Jeremiah

Mount Pleasant, MI
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel
Deerfield Nature Park
St. Henry’s Center, Rosebush

Congratulations Katie and Jeremiah! What a cool, laid-back, fun-loving couple! These two met freshman year and hung out every day after. Their first date came from a lost bet at pool when he had to take her out on an actual date. They watched a football game, played some mini golf, got some McDonald's, and then took a night walk out at Perry Farms. They've been together for eleven years. The proposal happened on the beaches right off the bay of Seattle, while they were watching for whales and gazing at snow capped mountains. They decided they were meant to be out west and wanted to get married with their families before starting their new grand adventure together.

They both love everything there is to love about disc golf, and play whenever possible. When the theaters are open, they have a date night at least once a week, or cuddle with popcorn on the couch watching Netflix. They love to travel and enjoy the outdoors. It's their dream to just own a bus and travel the country together.

In case you missed their disc golf, hammock-loving engagement session, you can view it here:
https://lookatthebiggerpicture.com/blog/riverside-park-engagement-session

Next year, they will honeymoon traveling the country out west until they end in Seattle and make it their new home.

I am so honored that Mr. and Mrs. Clennan chose me to document their story! Please enjoy the preview of their big day: