December 2, 2022
Destination weddings are definitely not a new thing, but they have recently grown in popularity and I’m here to tell you to just go for it! If you need some more convincing, keep scrolling to read my 5 reasons why you should have a destination wedding.
For a traditional wedding, your family members coming from out of state will likely only stay for the weekend of your wedding. And you’ll likely only see them for a rushed rehearsal dinner and hopefully a couple of minutes during your reception. Opting for a destination wedding opens up so much time to spend with your loved ones. You can plan to spend a few days at whichever destination you choose leading up to the wedding for a fun family vacation.
After the wedding, the friends and family leave, and it’s honeymoon time! Imagine this, you get married have an amazing reception, dance the night away, and then you go back to where you’re staying where you’re already unpacked and settled in. No rushing to the airport after your reception, no travel stress on your perfect day, just enjoy the night with your new spouse! Trust me, the exhaustion will be REAL after your wedding and you’ll thank yourself for this one!
Contrary to popular belief, destination weddings are actually cheaper than traditional weddings. Mainly for one reason, fewer people. Feeding and entertaining 100-300 people can get VERY expensive. Having only your close friends and family there will significantly cut your cost in just about every area including save the dates, invitations, food, chair and table rentals, decor, etc.
Since you are cutting costs on mandatory payments like food, you are able to budget more money towards the areas of your wedding that you want to put more effort into like hiring a videographer, having extravagant floral arrangements, or maybe a dream dress! All these things that would have put you over budget before are more available to you with this freedom.
Seriously, why not? You only get married once, so why not make the most of it? I personally have never heard anyone say they regret their destination wedding. It’s a chance to travel to a new place or maybe a significant place in your relationship and create new lifelong memories. Not to mention the photos! Your wedding photos are guaranteed to stand out on everyone’s Facebook feed. They will be something you can hold onto forever and say ” I can’t believe we got to do that.”
Are you convinced yet? If you are convinced and are ready to start planning, let me help you check one thing off your list, click here to chat about me photographing your perfect destination wedding. Let’s adventure together! For some tips on choosing the right destination click here.
There is something undeniably magical about a summer wedding in Northern Michigan. The way the light lingers late into the evening, the shimmer of Lake Michigan at golden hour, the scent of pine and wildflowers drifting on a warm breeze—this part of the world was made for love stories. As a wedding photographer who spends summers between Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and the lakeshore, I’ve fallen head over heels for this region. If you’re dreaming of a romantic, sun-soaked celebration up north, this guide to summer wedding photography in Northern Michigan will help you choose meaningful locations, plan around the light, and create timeless images that feel like pure summer.

If you’re dreaming of a northern Michigan destination wedding, this is my photographer’s-eye view of what makes it so special, how to plan for the light and landscape, and what to know as you design an experience your guests will never forget.

There’s something quietly enchanting about Northern Michigan. The way the light softens over Lake Michigan at dusk, the whisper of birch trees in the breeze, the rolling dunes that look like they were designed for romance. It’s no wonder so many couples are drawn here for their engagement session. As a northern Michigan engagement photographer, I’ve wandered these shorelines and forest paths with countless couples, and I can tell you: when you blend this landscape with intentional planning, your engagement photos become more than pretty pictures—they become a love story you can feel.

There are some places that feel like they were built for love stories. Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Michigan is one of those rare, cinematic settings where every corner feels like a page from a fairytale. Between the ivy-covered stone walls, manicured gardens, and soaring turrets that catch the golden northern light, a Castle Farms wedding is the kind of celebration that lingers in your memory for a lifetime.

There is something undeniably magical about winter in Northern Michigan. Fresh snow dusting the pines, the hush that falls over the lakes, the way the sky glows soft and blue just before sunset—this landscape was made for romance. If you’ve ever dreamed of saying “I do” while snowflakes drift around you and candlelight flickers off crystal glasses, a winter wedding Northern Michigan style might be exactly what your heart is craving.

As a Lake Michigan wedding photographer, I’ve watched the light dance across the water in every season, from soft, hazy June evenings to crisp, glowing September nights. With a bit of thoughtful planning, your sunset portraits can be everything you’ve been dreaming of: romantic, timeless, and filled with genuine emotion.

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Photography by Lauren Case
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