Glacier National Park is often called the Crown of the Continent, and for good reason: it’s one of the most stunning parks in the National Park System. With rugged mountains, alpine lakes, forests, and wildlife abound, Glacier National Park is on many people’s bucket lists. There’s beauty around every corner that effortlessly captivates her visitors. Just ask Andy–his first experience with any mountain landscape was in Glacier National Park, and his forehead was practically glued to the windshield as we drove through. Because of it’s endless beauty, Glacier National Park makes for a gorgeous elopement backdrop.

Imagine this: your big day is here, you’ve made it through the reception and now it’s time to party. Guests start to arrive and they’re all carrying parcels. It’s tradition to buy the new couple a gift for their wedding day. Luckily for us, today we’ve got wedding registries to help guide our guests towards buying the perfect gifts; lists full of things we need and want to ensure we don’t end up with an item that we already have three of (like a chia pet or Snuggie–don't worry, I'm not judging you!).

Every mom wants to feel needed. Sometimes during wedding planning, we get carried away and don’t take time to consider the people we love most. Have you ever heard of the 5 love languages? They’re the different ways that people perceive love. Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Quality Time. This means that while some people feel most loved whenever you say, ‘I love you’, others feel it when you do one of their chores for them. Below are some ideas on how you can love your mom or mother-in-law during your wedding planning.

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.

Let’s talk about guestbooks. Most weddings have a guestbook. But what actually ends up happening to it after the wedding? It gets stuffed on a shelf or in a closet and you pull it out once every five years when you get back around to cleaning that corner of the house. It takes up space and rarely gets looked at, but you want to have something to remember your guests by. So, we’ve compiled a list of alternative guest books that you’ll want to keep out and see every day.

Engagement photo books– Put those photos to some extra use! Create a book full of your favorite engagement photos (be sure to leave some space on each page for signing).

I can’t believe that as I write this, Andy and I are getting ready to celebrate two years of dating. That number seems so small compared to the number of memories we’ve created and the years that lie ahead of us. We’ve filled the past two years with love, laughter, friendship, and growth, to the point that it doesn’t seem possible that we’ve only been in each other’s lives for two years. During this time, we’ve taken numerous vacations and getaways, survived a kitchen remodel and our first six months of truly living together, sold one house, grown KLEM Studios into a studio space, launched a second business, changed job roles, gotten ENGAGED and started planning our own wedding!

One of the things many brides are most excited for after they get engaged is dress shopping. They can't wait to get in the store and start the fashion show. On the other hand, some ladies dread it. They might hate dresses and even consider not getting one. No matter what your feelings are, here are some tips on how to survive the big decision: Set a budget. Before you start thinking about where to shop for your perfect dress, you need to figure out how much you can spend. This way, you'll be sure to make an appointment at a place that only sells dresses within your price range so you don't fall in love with something you can’t have.

On a misty and bitterly cold winter’s day, Kaylynn and Shane stepped onto the freshly fallen snow at the Brown County Reforestation Camp  for their engagement session with KLEM Studios’ associate photographer, Krista. Ever the fashionable couple, Kaylynn brought a number of outfits to the session. However, the centerpiece was the stunning red gown Kaylynn bought because she was so inspired by Witney Carson’s winter engagement session. Kaylynn and Shane knew that for their engagement session, they wanted to embrace Wisconsin’s winter beauty and wander hand-in-hand among tall pine trees (and some fresh snow wouldn’t hurt!).

Friends, in case you don’t know the fantastic woman that I’m featuring today, allow me to introduce you to Jess Hopp, founder of The Planner Collective. Jess is a bubbly, ambitious, and successful entrepreneur who grew The Planner Collective with a mission to inspire event planners to build a strong career and profitable business without the hustle. She fully supports her clients and takes their vision to a higher level, beyond what they even thought possible. Jess is committed to teaching her clients how to live in alignment with their values and internal desires, and helping her clients be a catalyst for change through the power of events.

Planning the wedding of your dreams to celebrate the love that you and your partner share gives you the opportunity to show your friends and family all the cool and unique "things" that make the two of you so special as individuals and as a couple. As I'm sure you've figured out by now, creating your dream wedding can take a bit of money, too.

Some people might think it's taboo for a wedding photographer to talk to you about money, but I’m committed to being open and honest with you in order to give you the best wedding experience possible. I know that a lot of money gets put into planning your amazing wedding adventure.

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.