This Northern Wisconsin Engagement session was so much fun to dream up with Lexi and Matt. I had been dying to shoot in an iconic Wisconsin dive bar in Minocqua and honestly this session was the perfect mixture of lifestyle shots and classic engagement session portraits.
How They Picked Their Northern Wisconsin Wedding Venue
Northern Wisconsin offers lakeside luxury weddings, with a down to earth feel.
Lexi and Matt are getting married at Chippewa Retreat Resort in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin and when I asked them about their overall vision for their wedding day and why they chose Chippewa Retreat when they are from the Milwaukee area, they said they actually had been trying to decide for quite some time which direction they wanted to take their wedding. Having visited Minocqua with family in the summers they created a lot of memories here and while they loved the idea of having a beautiful wedding in the city they really fell in love with the concept of inviting their friends and family to enjoy the Northwoods at a lakeside venue and get to experience why they love Northern Wisconsin so much.
After meeting them and planning this session, it is so cool to see how much this plan aligns with who they are as a couple and how perfect their venue choice was for them! It’s going to be so much fun celebrating alongside them in 2025!
The most romantic, carefree summer vibes
We first started at The Little Brown Jug in Minocqua, Wisconsin. I suggested this as we were talking about vision because it is this little hole in the wall bar that has dollar bills signed by visitors plastered all over the walls so it made it more like an experience for them as well. So many pictures have been posted on Instagram of people visiting to do this exact thing, and I was excited that when I mentioned it they were on board!
Due to the rain we were experiencing I suggested we start at the bar in Minocqua first to miss the last part of the storm and to ease into the engagement session with a fun thing first to break the ice. Nerves can be so high leading into your engagement session so it always calms my couples when we incorporate an activity or something that is totally them and a date night concept, especially for those that are more camera shy but still wanting those dreamy engagement photos.
From the dive bar we headed to a local trail head that is a few minutes from Downtown Minocqua. I love this spot because it’s filled with tall old growth pines that really showcase how incredible the woods are here in Northern Wisconsin. There also was this super cute field that we ended the session at. Lexi was telling me that she loves Pride and Prejudice and it literally fulfilled all of her dreams because it was giving such Pride and Prejudice vibes!
Romantic Engagement Session Outfit Inspiration
Let’s take a quick second to chat about their perfect outfit choices. Love! The classic white outfits that Lexi wore were perfect for the dive bar with jean shorts to give it that more laid back, American classic feel. Still looking glam for a date night out at the bar in Minocqua, but also the perfect outfit to have fun and sip an old fashioned in. Especially for summertime in Northern Wisconsin!
Then the dress that she wore for the nature portraits was this beautiful cottage core feminine vibe? I am here for it. It was simple, feminine and gave us the perfect amount of movement to play with in photographs!
As for Matt, he perfectly matched with Lexi by wearing a white tee and jeans for the bar scene. And his neutral colors for the nature portraits were a great mixture of down to earth with a little bit of a dressed up feel.
I always recommend going with neutral colors for your engagement session and then mixing in a few print items here and there if it is your vibe, but the more neutral you go the more timeless your photos will be!
If you’re wanting to get your engagement photos taken in the Northern Wisconsin and are not sure where to start – let’s chat! I love helping couples bring their vision to life. Check out my portrait experiences here, or my wedding experiences and then reach out to me so we can start planning your dream session and wedding day experience!
More Breathtaking Engagement Photo Inspiration
Are you getting ready to take your own engagement photos soon and find yourself wanting some more inspiration from real couples? Check out a couple more of my recent engagement sessions below! You’ll LOVE the outfits both of these couples wore. I promise they will leave you soooo ready to get your own engagement photos taken!
Still looking for engagement session inspiration? Check out these posts.
