Kate + Andy’s Up North Engagement Session!

When it came to planning our engagement sessions, Andrew and I were really intentional about picking locations and activities that have special meaning for us. Our engagement sessions are another opportunity for us to insert our personalities and hobbies into our wedding journey, and we wanted to do it right!

For our first engagement session, we headed to my family’s cabin in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. We love spending time on our private lake with our pups frolicking through the woods and splashing in the water. It’s one of our happy places, made all the more special because my 91-year-old grandma still calls this cabin home!

We are so grateful to KLEM Studios Associate Photographer Krista Hove for being up for this weekend getaway adventure and helping us create the perfect experience for us. We welcomed Krista into our cabin, on its own lake, quaintly and beautifully called Misty Moors. We were so excited to take pictures, and knew we wanted our dogs included in the photos, because they are family. Bella and Maya had tons of fun running through mud puddles, jumping in the lake, fetching their birds, and prancing around the cabin as we scouted for places to take pictures.

We spent lunch all a buzz with the excitement of the day and in anticipation for what we couldn’t wait to accomplish together. Working behind the camera a lot, it was fun to be a bride in front of the lens. After lunch, Andrew and I listened to Krista’s prompts, relaxed. We snuggled in each other’s arms, willing and happy to show our affection in front of the camera.

During our session, Krista would say a word and ask Andrew and I to respond with an association to it. She said the word, “marriage” and Andrew said, “love” whereas I said, “a long time.” It was fun to hear our responses, and be completely comfortable with Andrew, knowing he loves the outspoken, independent woman I am.

Andrew loves me deeply, and when I suggested we bring several different outfits for our session, he enthusiastically agreed. We laughed the whole session and had so much fun photographing this milestone in our relationship. We are deeply in sync with our love and with the adventure we are about to take.

The session was laid back, so much fun, and full of cuddles from Andrew and our pups. Bella and Maya even came into the canoe with us! We laughed the entire time our pups were out on the lake with us; we even tried to do a few tricks feeding treats to Bella and Maya when they stood up for us—it was epic!

At the end of the night, Krista got Andrew and I into the water (giggle!), which we were hesitant about at first. But once we took our first steps into the lake, we dove right in! No holding back, we had a blast splashing and joking around in the water, cuddling, kissing, and floating.

Dinner and drinks that night was full of talk about our amazing session. Krista woke up the next morning, and ran to our door, excitedly knocking and telling us to get up. “Andy, Kate! I want to get you in the row boat!” Drowsy, we weren’t sure if we were to take Krista seriously or not, but I popped my head up and asked what we should wear. Krista beamed and just said for us to come as we were, dressed how we wanted. We hopped out of bed, and took the dogs outside to see the entire lake covered in mist (hence the name Misty Moors). It was gorgeous! Krista took more photos of Andrew and I surrounded by trees and mist and water in a place held close to my heart.

We are so obsessed with the images Krista created. Andy and I laughed, snuggled, and kissed our way through the golden hours before sunset, and in the mist of early morning, feeling so in sync and in love. It’s so important to put yourself in a position to be authentically you during your engagement session, and our session was just that. This is our heaven, and this is us loving out loud.

Much love and appreciation,

Kate (and Krista!)