Riverside Park Engagement- Samantha and Seth

Riverside Park
Grand Rapids, MI

Congratulations to Samantha and Seth! So excited for these two loveducks. So fun and warm (nice because it was a cold day in October!), genuine, and easy to feel right at home with them.

They met online and both knew they had something special right away. They found out they had actually met before. Both Sam and Seth played lacrosse and had the same memory about that game, when Sam gave Seth a hard time and heckled him, but he called her out on it. Seth’s team ended up annihilating Sam’s.

Fast forward a few years together, the two were up north with family for the 4th of July at the lake, with cornhole tournaments and all. Seth said a prayer after the national anthem and proposed.

Stay tuned for their big day in December!
Enjoy the preview of their engagement session:

Grand Rapids Engagement- Shanna and Chris

Congratulations Shanna and Chris! These two met at karaoke night at Kale’s, when Chris was hosting. He kept asking Shanna out and she kept blowing him off, until the day she didn’t… He proposed on their three year anniversary. It was a complete surprise when he got down on one knee, while they were cooking tacos at home in sweatpants.

Celebrating their engagement was so fun. We started casually at home with their doggie, Finn. Then we went to Kale’s, where they first met (and is unfortunately closing now, so those photos will be extra special), and The Blue Bridge.

I noticed while shooting this session that Shanna’s tattoo of the arrow on her arm now points straight to her ring. “An arrow needs to be pulled back before it can soar... “ I thought it was so meaningful. So happy for my friend. I hope these two soar into new wonderful adventures! I am ecstatic that I get to document their big one, coming next year…

Enjoy the preview!

Lissa and Bryan- Ada Covered Bridge Engagement Photos

Thornapple River, Ada, MI
Covered Bridge

Congratulations to Lissa and Bryan! I’m so excited for my old friend, Lissa, and Bryan, on their new adventure. These two met sophomore year at Grand Valley State University, locked eyes across the room at a mutual friend’s house (who is now officiating the wedding) and quickly became friends. The first date was supposed to be the classic dinner and a movie, which never actually manifested. Instead, they went to the wooden bridge over the Thornapple River, in Ada. Lissa brought a disposable camera, and they spent the night taking pictures and hanging out around the water.

Fast forward 14ish years later, when the friendship started up again, spending nights walking through the woods, hiking trails, conversing on train bridges, and the occasional Mario Party and wine session. Lissa and Bryan quickly realized that they couldn’t just be friends any longer…

…Since then, they’ve loved each other, became a family, and made it through a pandemic with a newborn. They now often confide in one another that “it was always you” from the moment they first locked eyes.

They have been together for 2-1/2 years with a proposal just before midnight on 12/31/2021 at the park where they first rekindled their “friendship.”

Lissa and Bryan share a love for the outdoors, conversing about anything and everything while walking on a trail, Mario Party (especially Mario Party 2), the water, our children, adventure, and champagne.

So excited for their wedding in July! Please check out some of my favorites from the engagement session, at one of their favorite spots…