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…

Riverside Park Engagement Session- Katie and Jeremiah

Grand Rapids, MI
Riverside Park

Congratulations Katie and Jeremiah! This cool couple met at ONU as freshmen. Katie and her roommate went to the dining hall and she asked where they should sit. Katie looked around and noticed this blonde with “oh shit blue eyes” and said, “Table 10 next to that guy.” Jeremiah was with his roommate and they tried to impress the ladies by talking about past surgeries they had from different events. Jeremiah ditched a dorm party to play Hakki sack with them in the quad, and the four of them were inseparable after that. Their roommates starting dating and pushed Katie and Jeremiah to date as well. Anything they did turned into a bet. They played pool ALL the time. So one day, their friends said if they lost, Jeremiah had to take Katie on a date. She is pretty sure he lost on purpose.

Their first date started with mini golf and bets. He asked Katie what sounded good for dinner and she wanted a McChicken. They walked by the football field and kept walking into the night at Perry Farms. It was a great night.

The four friends ended up leaving school and the two roommates got engaged. Jeremiah moved from MI to IL, where Katie would visit and play endless hours of Mario Party and Spades. Jeremiah came to visit Katie’s family one weekend and then just never went back. They’ve been together over 10 years now. There’s nothing they can’t  overcome. 

This past Christmas they went out to Seattle to visit his brother. They were standing on the beach, whale-watching, looking across the Canadian snow capped mountains, turning to see the Seattle skyline, and then more, to see Mt Rainier popping through the clouds. He said they should move there. Katie said she wouldn’t move across the country without getting married. She told him they could elope. There in the mountains, with just their parents and a photographer. He said no, they should get married back home with all their family and friends because he knew that’s what she really wanted. That would give them time to save and have a year before they moved. So, it was more of a mutual agreement that they should get married. Haha! It was romantic all the same. So now the wedding is the perfect fall weekend and their honeymoon is a two week camping trip traveling the country out to Seattle.

When it’s not COVID, they love going to the movies or Netflix binge-ing. Popcorn is normally a main food group. They play disc golf, darts, pool, bowling... Obviously disc golf. That is everyday, every weekend if they can. They like hammocks and hiking. Again, disc golf and popcorn. Haha!

We had so much fun at their engagement “date”! What a cool cool couple. So excited for the wedding in the fall in Mount Pleasant!! Enjoy this little preview:

Matthes Tree Farm Wedding

MATTHES TREE FARM
Ida, MI

Congratulations Tim and Kayla!! What a cool, laid-back couple. They’d have to be, because it was pouring on the big day, AND the power went out for a bit, and these two just kept laughing and smiling. They definitely have the right perspective already and look at the bigger picture of things. Whatever happens, they’re laughing side by side.

Tim and Kayla met in high school, through family and friends. They were together for about 5 years as a couple before Tim proposed up north, just the two of them.

Mr. and Mrs., thank you so much for choosing me to document your story! I can’t wait for our winter session!

Special thanks to Keriann Nicolson-Brent, of With Love Events, LLC for being such a kick-arse wedding coordinator, and handling everything with positivity and warmth! So fun to work with you, even when the power goes out.

Here is a preview of the day: