A cute little picnic engagement moment captured! Check it out below …
From the photographer: “This styled engagement session, set against the backdrop of Cranbrook Gardens, was a testament to Amanda and Brock’s love—a narrative composed of intimate moments, shared joys, and the silent promises whispered beneath the boughs of an ancient oak. It was a prelude to their upcoming union on Mackinac Island, a celebration of their past, present, and the timeless journey that lay ahead.
The centerpiece of our engagement session was a meticulously styled flower basket, designed to be the ‘wow factor’ of the shoot. This wasn’t just any arrangement; it was a vibrant collection of blossoms that spoke of Amanda and Brock’s love—vivid, beautiful, and full of life. Set amid their picnic, which we laid out with as much care and attention to detail as Amanda applies to her designs, the flower basket stood as a symbol of the beauty and creativity that flow so freely between them.
Beneath the expansive embrace of a grand oak tree in the heart of a serene garden, the first chapter of Amanda and Brock’s love story unfolded. The theme: a romantic picnic for two, meticulously styled to echo the pages of a vintage love tale. The scene was set with antique silverware laid out beside crystal goblets, each piece catching and reflecting the warm, golden sunlight.
Amanda, with her artistic flair as a graphic designer specializing in wedding invitations. We designed the narrative for the second scene as “Forever Feelings.” Here, Amanda and Brock took a moment to pen heartfelt letters to each other. Surrounded by nature’s whispers and the soft rustle of leaves, they poured their hearts onto paper, capturing the essence of their journey and the depth of emotions often left unvoiced.
Amanda’s fashion choices for the shoot mirrored the narrative’s transition from refined casual to timeless formal, weaving a visual story of their relationship’s multifaceted nature. In the first scene, her attire spoke of elegant simplicity, perfectly complementing the romantic picnic setup. As they moved to the “Forever Feelings” scene, her ensemble shifted to a more formal elegance, capturing the solemnity and depth of the moment they shared. Brock, in harmony with Amanda, mirrored this sartorial narrative, his attire transitioning seamlessly from casual sophistication to formal grace.”
How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?
We met in the most unexpected way! It happened at Higgins Lake up north, where Brock walked over, introduced himself, and the rest is history! My first impression of Brock was how cute and confident he was, he definitely caught my attention. Amanda struck me as a little shy but very sweet and beautiful.
Tell us a funny story relating to your relationship!
A funny story from our relationship is how I knew who Brock was from social media and following mutual friends. I always thought he was cute from seeing him online but had never met or run into him in person. When we finally ended up in the same place, I recognized Brock immediately, but he had no idea who I was. It’s funny that Brock organically walked over and introduced himself and that we ended up together—it just goes to show how unpredictable and wonderful life can be!
Describe a hurdle you had to overcome in your relationship or during your wedding planning.
One of the hurdles we faced in planning our wedding was finding the perfect location. Being on the water was important for Brock, given our special connection to it meeting at the lake and also getting engaged there. It was a challenge to find a venue that we both could agree on given that we didn’t know if we wanted to have a destination wedding or something more local. Amanda suggested Mackinac Island which was the best of both worlds! A few hours from where we live and on the water. It ended up being the perfect spot.
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?
I chose to wear my grandmother’s heirloom opal ring as my “something borrowed”. Since both my grandmother’s and my birthdays fall in October, opal is our shared birthstone, adding even more meaning to this beautiful tradition. My grandmother and I have always had a close bond, so wearing her ring on our wedding day was incredibly heartfelt. She ended up gifting it to me as a wedding present and I will cherish it forever!
What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you?
Marrying the love of my life was an incredibly special moment! Beyond the beautiful decorations and the love of our families surrounding us, the heart of it all was sharing the most amazing day with my spouse. We had the time of our lives, celebrating our love together. We feel so blessed to have each other as life partners, and we look forward to our amazing journey ahead!
What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another?
The greatest lesson Brock has taught me is that everything will be okay. His calm and steady presence balances out my more anxious nature perfectly. He has a way of helping me see things from a clearer perspective and soothing my worries. The greatest lesson Amanda has taught me is the art of genuine love, kindness, and positivity. She consistently encourages me to see the bright side of every situation and fills my life with optimism.
What is your favorite thing about each other?
My favorite thing about Brock is his unwavering kindness and loyalty. He’s always by my side, ready to support me no matter what, and I know I can always rely on him!
As for Amanda, what I love most is our ability to have fun together and her incredibly caring nature. Her kind heart comes through in everything she does, and I feel truly fortunate to have her in my life.
What was your favorite part about planning your wedding?
Our favorite part of planning the wedding was definitely the cake tasting and designing the invitation suite. Amanda, as a graphic designer, brought our invitations to life beautifully, and with Brock’s major sweet tooth, the cake tasting session was obviously a highlight!
If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be?
Our advice for other couples would be to cherish every moment together. Whether it’s something exciting like traveling or the simplicity of cooking dinner and watching a movie, sharing genuine quality time with your partner is irreplaceable. Enjoy each experience, big or small.
What is the most honest thing you can say about love?
The most honest thing I can say about love is that while it can be challenging and imperfect at times, it is undeniably real and so rewarding when you find true love and happiness with someone. Love has the strength to endure through all things.
Photography & Design / Beyond Jade LLC / https://beyondjade.com/ / @beyondjadephoto
Venue / Cranbrook House & Gardens / https://housegardens.cranbrook.edu/ / @cranbrookhouseandgardens
Floral / Eufloria Design / https://eufloria.design/ / @eufloria.design.co
Dress / Few Moda / https://www.fewmoda.com/ / @fewmoda
Shoes / Nina Shoes / https://www.ninashoes.com/ / @ninashoesbridal
Publisher at The White Wren and Bajan Wed, Award Winning Photography + Videographer at Live View Studios, Dad, 80s music lover, crunchy health advocate
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