We are officially less than one month away from Katie and Jake’s wedding at Lake Wilderness Lodge, and I am so stinkin’ excited to celebrate with them and all of their loved ones! Katie wanted to have their engagement portraits taken at the same location as the wedding, so we took the opportunity to explore the beautiful area and pick out some favorite spots we’ll be sure to return to on the wedding day. I love the idea of a before/after image of them sitting on a bench overlooking the lake, the first one from their engagement session here, and the second when she’s in her dress and he’s in his tux, and they’re officially husband and wife. Is it weird how excited I am to see how those specifically turn out? Maybe, but I’ll embrace my weirdness.

I’ve loved getting to know Katie and Jake over the past few months as they’ve been planning their wedding. Truly the best part about being a wedding photographer is the connection I make with my couples. It goes far beyond the wedding day. Fun fact: Katie and Jake live in the same apartment complex as I do! We first met at the Starbucks a mile away, we next met up at the mailboxes, and now we joke that we can easily carpool to the wedding. I love it all.

If you know Katie or Jake, you know how sweet and positive and down to earth they both are, and you know just how much they love each other. They just fit, and I can’t wait to witness their first day of marriage.