Waterfall Elopement in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Feb 7, 2024 | Photography

When Olivia reached out to us about their Upper Peninsula elopement, she had her heart set on an adventurous day with waterfalls, rocky cliffs, and they wanted to include their two dogs in their plans. Having captured many Michigan elopements, we knew exactly how to plan their elopement to include everything they wanted!

Fast forward to Dallas and Olivia’s wedding day in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Against the backdrop of a majestic waterfall, their story unfolded into a day of exploration accompanied by their furry companions, creating cherished memories captured through our cameras.

To start the day, we met at the Miners Falls trailhead and hiked through the winding woodsy trail. After a while, we could hear the distant rush of water and came upon the waterfall overlooks. Hiking down to the waterfall is no easy feat, but Olivia and Dallas descended down the slope like pros. After taking in the waterfall view for a few minutes, Olivia found a secluded nook in the woods to change into her wedding dress, Dallas lending a hand.

Then with the calming sound of rushing water, the couple exchanged vows in the presence of the towering waterfall. The mist from the cascading falls added a touch of magic to this intimate moment, and the gentle roar masked their vows so that their words were only for each other. They opted to have us officiate their elopement, so I (Kaitlin) stepped in to say a few words and make their elopement official.

To celebrate their new marriage, the newlyweds and their dogs ventured to the serene beaches of Miners Beach on the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore. The golden sands and pristine waters provided a picturesque setting for the couple to explore hand in hand, capturing moments of pure joy and connection. The dogs frolicked in the waves and sand, fully enjoying the beach activities as well.

The exploration continued as we made our way to Black Rocks in Marquette. Towering black cliffs and the vast expanse of Lake Superior created a stunning backdrop for more portraits. We couldn’t resist pulling out our drone to capture a bird’s eye view of the expansive and awe-inspiring views of the Black Rocks against the waters of Lake Superior. As the day came to an end, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the water, waves splashing at the rocky shore. From exchanging vows in front of a majestic waterfall to exploring sandy beaches with their pups and watching the sunset over Black Rocks, their elopement day was everything they imagined and more.

This is what Oliva and Dallas had to say about their elopement experience:

“Kaitlin and Cody are the absolute best! My husband and I eloped, which makes it even more important to choose the best photographers because they’re the only other people you’ll be spending your special day with, and we could not have chosen a better pair of individuals to spend our wedding day with than them!! Their photography skills and style are second to none, and on top of that, they are such awesome people. We loved hanging out with them and they made the whole process so chill and easy. My husband and I are both pretty camera shy so we were nervous and didn’t know what to do once the cameras came up, but Kaitlin and Cody gave us prompts that made it easy to pose without feeling stiff and posed at all. I can’t recommend them enough. In my opinion, the wedding photographer you choose is the most important decision to make when planning your wedding day, because once the day is over the pics will live on forever; and there is no better choice than Love Pioneer… Thank you guys so much for everything. You made our day so perfect, and one we will never ever forget.“