Kyle and Brianna had the perfect intimate wedding in the Upper Peninsula. Their day was simple, classic, and full of laughter. We loved spending the afternoon up and down the Keweenaw coast with them!
When Brianna and Kyle contacted me about their Upper Peninsula elopement, they explained they were keeping things small and simple with just a few close friends and family members. While they didn’t need full wedding day coverage since they weren’t having a big reception, they still wanted to plan enough time to have portraits at some of their favorite spots in the Keweenaw.
A wedding day with extra time scheduled for portraits and no extra standing around at the reception required? Done and done! 😉 But seriously, any time a couple wants Rob and I to be a part of their wedding we consider it an honor. It’s not just a day – it’s the day that marks the start of a new family.
Upper Peninsula Elopement
With low humidity and clear blue skies, it was the perfect early September day for a wedding! Kyle and Brianna reserved a cabin on the water in Dollar Bay. Kyle spent the night before with family down the road and got dressed there, and Brianna got ready at the cabin. Rob and I arrived just in time to capture them finishing getting ready for their first look.
Brianna made her bouquet herself! It was gorgeous – a soft palette of baby’s breath, roses, and lots of eucalyptus. Her dress was a simple fitted silhouette with a lace bodice and a light tulle skirt – perfect for a late summer day.
We always love doing first looks! I encouraged Brianna to call Kyle’s name to have him turn around when she was about four feet away so he could see “the whole effect.” Brianna definitely took Kyle’s breath away when he saw her! She did a little spin to let him see the back.
Intimate Elopement in Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Kyle and Brianna love the shoreline between Eagle River and Copper Harbor. While their Upper Peninsula elopement didn’t take place in Keweenaw County, it was the perfect backdrop for their bridal portraits! Fridays are often quite busy in Eagle River, but everything worked out perfectly. We had every place we stopped pretty much to ourselves – and even the few people we did meet were more than happy to give Kyle and Brianna plenty of room for some amazing images. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again – I love Yoopers!! 🙂
We got plenty of dreamy, romantic portraits, but Kyle kept us all laughing the rest of the time! I love when couples are so relaxed and comfortable so we get to know who they really are 😉
After Jacobs Falls, our last stop was at Great Sand Bay. (Confession: I’ve been dying to do bridal portraits here for years – it was a dream come true!) Instead of stopping at the staircase that is across the road from the parking lot (which is the one most people use), we went to the south staircase. This way we didn’t have to cross the road, and we had a long stretch of beach all to ourselves!
As we were getting back into our vehicle to head back for Kyle and Brianna’s Upper Peninsula elopement, there were two older men on motorcycles enjoying the view from the parking lot. They called congratulations over, and as we were grabbing water bottles from the back one of the men came over and slipped Kyle a “wedding gift.” After a surprised thank you back to the men, Kyle and Brianna asked us, “Does this happen all the time?!” No, it does not – but clearly they could tell how special you guys were 😉 Just another reason why we love the Keweenaw 🙂
Wedding Ceremony in Dollar Bay
Kyle and Brianna along with their families are from Wisconsin, so although we were technically in Eastern time the day ran in “Central time.” I loved how their family decorated with details of florals, moss, and pinecones – so fitting for an Upper Peninsula elopement!
Brianna’s father officiated the wedding ceremony. He started recounting how the two met at work, discovering they shared a lot of common interests including hunting, fishing, and hiking. “It didn’t take him two weeks to ask her out, it took him three.”
Kyle’s father stood and spoke about what marriage means, welcoming Brianna to the family. There wasn’t a dry eye on the porch.
One of the comments that stood out to me from Brianna’s father’s speech was: “A wedding is not a marriage. A wedding is a day. Your marriage is BUILT day after day.” There were so many other little gems that I wish I could remember (seriously – can someone email me a copy of his notes?!) but one thing is for sure – these two cherish each other and are cherished SO much by friends and family.
On a photography note – this cabin was so perfect for a wedding! Although the patio wasn’t extremely deep, the lakefront wall is all glass panes. I was able to stand just inside the cabin and get great shots without feeling like I was in the way of the guests or obstructing their view – a win/win! Rob stood off to the right outside to make sure we captured a variety of angles. I can’t wait to shoot here again!
In closing:
Kyle and Brianna, I knew it was going to be a fun day when we started swapping corny dad jokes and Office quotes in the car on the way to Eagle River – and it just got better from there! Thank you for inviting us into your family to capture your day. Wishing you an amazing marriage full of love and laughter!
Upper Peninsula Elopement and Wedding VENDORS:
Photography: Enjoy the VU Photography LLC
Bride’s dress: Sandarella’s Bridal
Venue: Kemp’s Portage Lake Log Homes
Catering: Kangas Cafe
In Their Own Words:
“I wish I could give more than 5 stars! Veronica went so much more above and beyond expectations as our small wedding ceremony photographer, and she offered so much great advice for planning some of the details that I would never have thought of! She and Rob were so much fun to work with, and they made our special day feel even more special. And the photos turned out amazing, everything I imagined and more! Highly, highly recommend to anyone looking for some great pictures with a super great photographer! :-)”
–Kyle & Brianna W.
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