The other-worldly red rock playground that is Arches National Park has captivated millions of people around the world. The slickrock and gravity-defying arches make for a most beautiful backdrop, one that’s sure to make your wedding day even more stunning. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.

To elope in Arches National Park, a special use permit must be secured first. The permit itself is $185, and the application for the permit can be found here.

One of the big decisions you and your partner will make as you’re wedding planning is whether one of you, neither of you, or both of you will change your last names (by combining parts of both your last names). If you decide to change surnames, it's wise to include that information on your marriage license application in the state of Wisconsin.

If you include this information on your marriage license application, it will become your legal surname. That makes it easier to change your name after the marriage certificate has been signed and filed.  

Let's talk for a minute about the "Last Fling Before the Ring": the bachelorette and bachelor parties! Many brides and grooms today want something different than just going out to bars and clubs. I’ve put together a list of great alternative ideas for parties that are sure to please all types. Since some people involved in your party may be underage or not able to drink, I’ve included options that would be suitable for them as well.

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.

Let me set the scene: you and your love are enjoying your reception. You're starving because it's been a long day so far, and you finally are getting to enjoy the dinner that you painstakingly selected (I get it, grilled salmon vs beef tenderloin is seriously a hard choice!). You're about to take a few bites and then *clink clink clink clink clink*. The room is filled with a dainty tinkling sound from every table. The guests are clinking their glasses, inviting you two to kiss in front of everyone. For the first of a thousand times in one hour. Some people find this tradition to be unbearable and refuse to do it, much to the disappointment of their guests.

There are some places in this amazing country of ours that are so beautiful, they bring tears to our eyes. They’re so captivating, we’re moved to silence, just standing in awe of the incredible vista before us. Zion National Park absolutely fits into that category, which is why so many people are inspired to elope there. Surrounded by its towering red rock walls, or standing on top of a mesa looking down on the Virgin River, there are so many possible places to elope and start the next chapter of your love story. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.

What an absolutely magical time in your life! Your best friend and life partner asked you to be with them from now until forever, and you said YES–CONGRATULATIONS! When you first get engaged, it’s such a blissful time. You can’t stop looking at the pretty new shiny object on your left hand, and you start daydreaming about what your wedding day will look like. It’s very easy to get caught up in all the planning right away, but I’m here to invite you to pause and reflect on what is really most important. They might be a bit alternative, but these are the first things I believe you should do when you get engaged.

This big, beautiful life offers us so many opportunities, it can be hard to know which ones to take when they come our way. Then, there are times when we need to create our own opportunities. I did this when I started KLEM Studios, breathing life into what was little more than a bubbling hobby mixed with a college graphic design project. Now, I’m excited to announce the newest baby I’m bringing into the world: Wild Klementine.

Wild Klementine was born from a multi passionate lifestyle, blending a love of travel, food, and drink. As the sister business to KLEM Studios, it will still be very photography-focused, specializing in landscape photography, travel photography, and food and beverage photography.

There are some places in this world that are filled with jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring beauty. Here in the United States, we’re lucky enough to have thousands of beautiful landscapes to explore, some of them in our own backyards. But some of them steal our hearts and lure us back time and time again, always soothing our souls and quieting our minds. Zion National Park is one of these places.

The red canyon walls tower above the Virgin River and the charming town of Springdale, Utah. Zion is an outdoor Lover's Paradise, offering everything from hiking to Camping to rock climbing and more.

After nine years together, Brandon and Calie became husband and wife on a cold November day at the Schauer Arts Center near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As they stood on the theater stage, reading their hand-written vows in front of all of their loved ones, Brandon and Calie shared how much the past nine years had meant to each of them and what they learned along the way. Their wonderful wedding party stood on each side of them, bringing amazing color to the room with their outfits of purple and lime green. Cheers filled the room as their officiant declared them husband and wife.

Andrea and Jordan knew they wanted to create a fall engagement session that would capture their deep, exuberant love for one another. They had met at work, fell hard for one another, and Jordan’s proposal followed soon after. Self-proclaimed “weirdo goofballs”, these two are constantly smiling and making each other laugh. During their fall engagement session at UWGB, they talked about when they first knew they loved each other, and how excited they were to have recently moved into their new home. Andrea and Jordan strolled hand-in-hand along the trails in the UWGB arboretum, snuggling close as the yellow and orange leaves floated past them.

When planning your own event, you are required to wear A LOT of hats. There are so many components of an event that you are constantly juggling from vendors to your clients, budgets and beyond. So what’s most important?

Prioritizing what needs to be done can help you when things get tough. Having a clear list to refer back to when chaos sinks in will help keep you focused and eliminate event planning stress. Even if chaos never hits (and I hope it doesn’t!) there are still so many little tasks to keep track of. The “to do list” can be daunting but if you prioritize your tasks you will be ahead of the game.

Melissa had always dreamed of saying, “I do!” in a castle. Living in lower Michigan, she didn’t think that would be possible, until she came across Castle Farms in Charlevoix. It was the absolute perfect venue, and the canvas on which she could create the perfect wedding day.

Melissa and Kirk’s love story has been evolving for a number of years. They met, briefly dated, went their separate ways, and then found their way back to each other. They realized how great they were together, and the beautiful family they could have together.