Northern Michigan Elopement on Lake Leelanau
When Mike and Lauren first got in touch, I knew more than anything I wanted to tell their wedding story. They had been trying for a while to plan a traditional wedding, but none of it was feeling like them. Then, they made a decision. They were going to elope in a place they held close to their hearts, Northwest Michigan. They had fallen in love with that part of the state at the same time they were falling in love with each other, when they met at grad school at the University of Michigan. They informed their closest family, booked a beautiful cottage on Lake Leelanau, and started to plan a sunrise ceremony on the lake for early October with a brunch, prepared by the parents of the Bride and Groom, to follow. As is typical of fall in Michigan, the rain decided an outdoor ceremony wasn’t in the cards, so they moved the ceremony indoors and lit the entire thing by candlelight. Not bad for a Plan B. After brunch, Lauren, Mike, my husband, and myself piled into a car to venture around for some photographs showcasing how beautiful this state is, including locations near Sleeping Bear Dunes, on the shores of Lake Michigan, and in an apple orchard during this bumper crop year.
Here’s to Lauren & Mike, and here’s to never forgetting the beauty this state has to offer, even on a chilly rainy fall morning.
Jessie
December 9, 2013These are beautiful. Love your different perspectives. Cuddling under the umbrella with the blanket is my favorite.
Nora
December 9, 2013Wow so many amazing shots! What a great location for photos.
Christian
December 9, 2013Awesome, Heather. What a totally intimate, fun wedding. I really love the portraits in the Apple Orchard….and the sizzling bacon, of course. All weddings should have bacon.
Emily
December 9, 2013This set is so sweet. Love this shot – http://heatherjowett.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/elopement.michigan033.jpg And the closeup here – http://heatherjowett.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/elopement.michigan059.jpg … all of their portraits are just so beautiful!
Nikki Bezel
December 10, 2013This is just beautiful Heather. Your perspective seemed to fit perfectly for this very intimate occasion. Love every bit of it & congrats to Mike and Lauren, their day was obviously perfect.
Sarah
December 10, 2013These are gorgeous! The scenery is beautiful, I love lake Michigan in the fall.
Elissa
December 10, 2013Oh, Heather, this is total gorgeousness. I’m all about her amazing dress and those lovely little cakes and their field portraits. Looove.
small
December 10, 2013Wow, what a perfect day! Beautiful photos!
Johanna Hietanen
December 10, 2013Your photography always makes me super happy. And this one just took my breath away, it’s sooo gorgeous: http://heatherjowett.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/elopement.michigan064.jpg
Rain always brings something special and I love rainy photos. The two of them underneath the umbrella – love it. Congrats to the happy couple! <3
Marianne
December 10, 2013What the what?!! I freaking love elopements. This is just great Heather. Jeez…just…jeez
Amanda Basteen
December 10, 2013Looks like a beautiful day! Loving the beach shots!
Tomasz Wagner
December 14, 2013It’s like I was there 😉 Love intimate weddings like these. Nice work!
Kim
December 20, 2013What an absolutely sweet and tender wedding. The portrait sesh is utterly epic!
Barney Cornwall
January 3, 2014Loving your black and whites.
Steffanie
August 26, 2015Beautiful pictures and exactly what my fiancée and I would like. Where is the venue and can we hire the photographer?
Steffanie and Jon