Mike + Megan | Eagle Harbor Marina Wedding

Mike and Megan met while at a fraternity/sorority bonfire while both went to school for architecture. Once introduced, Mike proceeded to teach Megan how to toast the perfect marshmallow. Flash forward years later and they settled in a Chicago apartment with their beloved pup, Kai. They went on 4th of July getaway to Eagle Harbor, Michigan, where Mike has spent much of his summers growing up. He proposed to Megan along the Great Sand Bay while they toasted s’mores over a bonfire on the beach at sunset.

Their July wedding brought them back to Eagle Harbor yet again, where all of their family and guests prepared in quaint cottages near the conglomerate shores of Lake Superior.

Sabrina of Sabrina Leigh Studios second shot Megan and Mike’s wedding! While I was busy documenting the ladies, she hung out with the guys. Mike gifted all of his groomsmen a pair of Sperry boat shoes… and Smirnoff iced them at the same time! Hahaha.

Mike and Megan’s dream was to have a relaxed wedding that unfolded naturally and candidly. They had a first look at the base of the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse.

We knocked out much of the wedding party and family photos before the ceremony! This gave Mike, Megan, and the rest of their crew more time and less stress to simply enjoy their marital bliss!

While we were taking photos, their friend who played the violin for their ceremony decided to prop himself up on the rock outcroppings to serenade the couple, haha!

We made a couple of quick stops along the way to the ceremony site - one of the stops to visit Mike’s sailboat! Both Mike and Megan love sailing, as well as kayaking, hiking, and camping.

Once to the marina, there was still ample downtime, so we filled some of it with more photo shenanigans!

Just before the ceremony, Mike and Megan decorated their cake together! It was a fun and different way to spend their last few moments maritally single :) Megan’s mom helped secure her bridal veil along the harbor as well.

Their ceremony began with violin melodies and the crowd seemed to smile, laugh, and shed tears all at once. I’m SUPER grateful to have had Sabrina Leigh Studios as my second shooter for this wedding - many of the more close-up, emotional images of the bride and groom’s parents were capture by Sabrina while I documented some of the more “safe” shots directly down the aisle. Never underestimate the amazingness of a photographer hiring a second shooter!

After the ceremony concluded, the timeline rolled directly into their outdoor reception under white tents on the harborside. We snuck away for just a few more bride and groom portraits as the hazy July sun seemed to sink into the powerful Great Lake as well.