Green Bay is a great place to start a new relationship, and even fall in love. There are lots of different first date options worth checking out. Here’s the breakdown of a couple of different categories.  

For all my outdoor peeps, I’d recommend going on a hike for your first date. What better way to get to know someone than hiking under a canopy along a creek? Fonferek’s Glen is perfect for just that. There’s a waterfall, a creek, and different pathways to hike up and down that are not too strenuous. For a date plus a furry friend, Baird’s Creek is great for walking dogs. A stroll along the Fox River Trail offers miles of scenic hiking.

People often ask me how my photography journey started, but I don't think it can be pinpointed to one specific moment. Perhaps it was growing up in my childhood home, looking at the big, beautiful black and white Ansel Adams landscape prints on our walls. Or maybe it was when I was gifted a camera for Christmas and went through a whole roll of film that night. Or maybe it was when I was in college and I had completed the Intro to Photography course, but I wasn't sure if it was for me until the professor who taught the remaining black and white and digital photography courses convinced me that I had found my home.

It was a perfect autumn day as Joanna and Derek prepared for their big day. Full of jitters and excitement, Joanna stood at the very top of the stairway, while Derek stood at the bottom to partake in their first “not look” before the ceremony. Joanna beamed, asking, “How are you? Are you okay? I love you, I miss you!” making sure Derek was supported. Derek brings out the most beautiful smile to Joanna’s face, the one where her nose wrinkles and her eyes light up. The love and consideration Joanna and Derek have for each other radiates pure, joyful love. After their first “not look,” they were practically shaking with happiness, and crying a bit as Joanna and Derek were whisked off to walk down the aisle.

Setting aside part of your budget for a wedding planner might not be the first thing on the top of your newly engaged to-do list. We get it. There are dates to be set, venues to be toured, and hours to be spent scrolling through Pinterest images. The list goes on and on, and on... But that's exactly why we're here, and why we are so stinking excited that you are too!

It's no secret, wedding planners, like the rest of our amazing industry professionals, are not free. But wedding planners are not just for celebrities and couples who have mortgage-sized budgets.

When you get engaged, you may think that you know everything about your partner (spoiler, you probably don’t). You may have had a lot of important conversations already while you were dating, but there are some key conversations that I believe should be had before you get married. These conversations will make sure that you’re both on the same page, and address any areas that you have differing thoughts on ahead of time. They’re supportive, they’re thought-provoking, and they’re meant to make sure you have a long, healthy, and happy relationship.

I recommend approaching these conversations in a comfortable, non-threatening manner.

To My House on Division Street:

I’m not sure that there are enough words and emotions to encompass everything I want to convey. You, my sweet little colonial home, were simply magical. When I started looking for a home, I was young and didn’t know what to expect. I fell in love with you as soon as I walked through your stained glass front door and saw your warm hardwood floors, enchanting fireplace,  and arched doorways. Your stairs creaked with each step, telling stories of the people who had lived here before. In your 92 years of life, I’m sure you had seen and heard some pretty incredible things.

It was a cold winter’s day when Joanna and Derek ventured out into Green Isle Park with their mastiff/weinheimer mix, Larry, for their engagement session with KLEM Studios’ associate photographer, Krista. But the chilly weather wasn’t enough to dampen Joanna and Derek’s moods! They were always laughing, giggling and had a warm embrace when they got close. They didn't take things too seriously and were down to make crazy faces, dance, snuggle and give lots of eskimo kisses. Larry was willing to do just about anything, as long as he was bribed with lots of carrots!

When Adam reached out to me to photograph his proposal to his then-girlfriend, Courtney, at Lambeau Field, he had thought of every detail. He was going to tell her they had been invited to Lambeau as part of the Ultimate Fan Experience the stadium was offering. Adam and his family have been going to the Packers’ Training Camp for the past 35 years, so it wouldn’t surprise Courtney that they were invited to tour the stadium.

Adam was able to set up a private tour that took them down to the field, where he planned to drop down on one knee.

Dave reached out to me with his fall proposal plans a few weeks before he and his girlfriend of three years, Lauren, were going to be in Green Bay. They live in Chicago, but Lauren had visited Wisconsin often with family and friends while she was growing up. She loves this area, and Dave wanted to include this special place in his plan. Lauren thought they were going to be celebrating her new job with the weekend getaway, but Dave had more elaborate ideas. Dave knew that he wanted to propose at the Green Bay Botanical Garden in the Stumpf Belvedere.

The waves of Lake Michigan crashed along the exposed cliffs at Cave Point County Park. A slight in the air, making brilliant fall colors even more pronounced. Johanna and Aaron wound their way through the trees and along the rocky shore, laughing as they walked. They had gotten engaged in Door County in January, and the area had captivated them so much that they returned for their engagement session.

Johanna and Aaron met on an online dating site, and they had instant chemistry.

I've been working on another secret project, and I think this is the best one yet. I am so stinkin' thrilled to announce the launch of the KLEM Studios Associate Wedding Photographer Program! Allow me to introduce my two rockstar Associate Photographers: Sara Matuszak and Krista Hove. These ladies are incredible photographers, and I am just tickled that they've joined my team. Any of you who know these two know the amazing work they do.