Now, I’m not going to go ahead and declare the west coast is the best coast, but I will say that California has a million different options for elopement destinations, engagement photos, and couples sessions. If you’re looking for a city to capture your love story in, San Diego has so many different locales that fit every type of love story. Here are just a few favorites!
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
With 68 acres to explore, you know there are some amazing views here, and I can help you find the most epic backdrops for your San Diego engagement photos! You’ll find intricately carved coastal bluffs, arches, and sea caves as well as the most stunning panoramic ocean views. During the right time of year, if you’re lucky, you can see California gray whales.
Scripps Beach
The long and photogenic Scripps Pier is not open to the public, unfortunately, but the beach on both sides of it is, and the pier makes a great background to your engagement photos in San Diego. Scripps Beach is much quieter than La Jolla Shores just to the south, which gives you nice, intimate photos.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
According to SanDiego.org, “Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, located on the cliffs above Torrey Pines State Beach, is a 1,750 acre reserve dedicated to preserving its namesake, the Torrey Pine tree and other indigenous wildlife in its native environment.” The park offers hiking trails of varying levels, sandstone canyons, and cliffside views of the Pacific Ocean.
Balboa Park
If you’re looking for something a little more urban, Balboa Park has a little bit of everything: more than 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and sweeping architecture from Spanish Colonial Revival to mid-century Modern. Depending on what kind of backdrop you’re looking for, I can help you find it at Balboa Park.
La Jolla Sea Caves
Want to take your San Diego engagement photos to a spot dating back to the dinosaurs? I mean, how cool is that? The sea caves take a bit of effort to get to, but the history and scenery are so cool! There are seven, but only one is really reachable by foot, Sunny Jim Cave.
Bernardo Winery
For a different kind of San Diego engagement photo session, Bernardo Winery has been serving the region since 1889. The winery is open Wednesday through Saturday 11-8 and Sunday 11-6. What’s more Californian than a winery?!
Want a San Diego adventure with me? Click here to plan it together!
With love,
Lauren
There is something undeniably enchanting about a beach wedding in Northern Michigan. The sweep of Lake Michigan’s shoreline, the pastel sunsets that linger long into the evening, the sound of waves gently meeting the sand—this part of the world feels made for romantic “I do’s.” Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate elopement on a quiet stretch of shoreline or a refined, tented celebration overlooking the water, Northern Michigan’s beaches offer a luxurious yet relaxed canvas for your wedding day.
If you’re dreaming of a refined, fashion-forward wedding against the backdrop of Northern Michigan’s coastline, vineyards, or private estates, these Northern Michigan wedding planning tips will help you design a day that feels both luxurious and deeply personal.
If you’re dreaming of a celebration by the water, this guide to the best lakefront wedding venues in Northern Michigan will help you get inspired, narrow down your options, and imagine your day unfolding against some of the most beautiful backdrops in the Midwest.
There is something undeniably magical about a Northern Michigan wedding. The way the light hangs over Lake Michigan at sunset, the breeze through the pines, the sailboats gliding past a Harbor Springs marina, the golden dunes glowing at twilight—it all feels like a movie scene. For couples who want their wedding photographs to feel just as cinematic and elevated, editorial wedding photography is a beautiful fit. If you’ve found yourself searching for an editorial wedding photographer Michigan couples love, or a fine art wedding photographer Northern Michigan based, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to bring that vision to life.
Planning a northern Michigan destination wedding should feel like dreaming up the most beautiful weekend of your life, not juggling logistics for a small army. Between securing venues, navigating unpredictable weather off Lake Michigan, and coordinating travel for your guests, it can start to feel overwhelming fast. But with the right strategy—and a trusted team—you can create a celebration that feels effortless, elegant, and deeply you.
This Northern Michigan wedding timeline guide is written with brides in mind—especially those dreaming of Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Bay Harbor, or the surrounding lakeshore towns. We’ll walk through the flow of a real wedding day, talk about how the light works up here, and layer in practical northern michigan wedding planning tips so you can feel confident, calm, and fully present when the day arrives.
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Photography by Lauren Case
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