Introduction
This Michigan trip has been on the books for a while, but it was so much better than expected! We got to reconnect with photographer friends we made years ago, make new friends, and explore an entirely new, absolutely gorgeous place. I’m just gonna run through a quick recap of each day…
Thursday
For those that don’t know, I still work a 9 to 5 job during the week. It’s definitely not as glamorous as wedding photography (hahaha) but it fills my weekdays and puts a few extra bucks in my pocket. Well I agreed to cover Thursday morning to help out before leaving… a HUGE mistake.
Jack and I didn’t end up really getting on the road until after 12pm for an 11 hour drive, so we didn’t get in to Marquette until around 1-2am Friday morning.
Friday
We got a super late start. Between the long drive and late night, and the time zone change, I think Jack and I were both thrown off quite a bit. But by 1pm we were bouncing all around Marquette – seeing the sights, checking out local businesses, and taking tons of photos.
Somewhere along the way we bumped into the sweetest self proclaimed “old nosy yooper” – just an older lady curious as to what two young guys from Missouri were doing all the way up there in small town Michigan(she saw our Missouri license plate). We also bumped into Gloria, another very sweet lady with two precious pups. Of course we had to get a couple shots of them (can be found on my personal social media pages).
Just a few days before our trip I was actually able to set up a TFP session/collab with an old photographer friend, Shelby. I don’t know about other photogs but for me it feels impossible sometimes to set things up. But anyway… we had met at styled shoot years ago in a different part of Michigan, and I had no idea she lived in Marquette – it couldn’t have worked out more perfectly. We planned to meet around 8pm at Sunset Point in Presque Isle Park. Shelby brought her wife and invited another photographer friend, and I brought Jack, so we had a whole group of models and photogs to work with. I think we were out there for two hours or so just having a good time, getting to know one another, and taking a few pics. Here’s a few of my captures from Friday!
A Day in Marquette:
Sunset Point at Presque Isle Park with friends:
Saturday
Saturday was what the entire trip was for… the wedding! And it was so much more perfect, so much more magical, than I could’ve ever expected. It was a super intimate wedding of maybe 30 people total, out in the very wooded area of Republic, MI. The ceremony was the most simple yet gorgeous lake front celebration of love, and the dinner in the main lodge that followed was so good. Our couple didn’t plan first dances, huge toasts, or anything. Just authentic time with their closest friends and family. After dinner they set up outside/in the covered patio for the best party to end the evening. There was dancing, S’mores, a bouncy house, and the two of them even got IN THE LAKE in their wedding attire. Again, couldn’t have been more perfect! I don’t have much to share from the wedding yet but here’s a few shots from around the cabin-style resort they rented for the week, Pinecrest Northwoods.
Until Next Time…
We will definitely be coming back. It’s already been decided. The only question now is when…
We already have another Michigan wedding booked for this year in Grand Rapids that we’re super excited for, but Marquette will always have a special place in our hearts. Thanks again to everyone who made this trip so great and for such a friendly “yooper” welcome!
To see more pics from the trip, check out my galleries here! To see more content and behind the scenes from the trip, make sure to follow us on social media.
Bonus
This trip to Marquette, Michigan has definitely been one of the best! And it’s only right that I give credit where credit is due, and shout out some of the amazing local businesses that made it all possible.
- Superior Stay – A Boutique Hotel
- I specifically chose Superior Stay for their budget friendly pricing and because it wasn’t part of some huge hotel chain. I wanted to support local but also find something unique. This was exactly that. The place was super quiet and peaceful the entire time, super clean, and the staff were all super friendly and helpful.
- Dead River Coffee Roasters
- I came across this shop while scrolling the socials before our trip. So I guess you could say this was one of the few “planned” stops on our trip. The first place we went Friday morning, Dead River’s brick and mortar location has a ton of character and the nicest staff. For us very inexperienced coffee drinkers, they made sure to explain everything in detail (and in simple terms). They also have online shopping and in store options – so you can bring their signature roasts into your own home. And you already know we grabbed a sticker or two on our way out!
- Main Street Pizza
- We really wanted to find a nice sit down restaurant somewhere in Marquette but managed to lose track of time, so we were scrambling for options. Main Street Pizza is to-go only but was just a short walk from our hotel so it was super convenient and quick – not to mention is it was also really really good. We got an XL pepperoni and garlic bread!
As always, thank you for reading, and don’t forget to follow along for more content like this!
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