An Epic Adventure in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Kate and Alex knew they wanted something epic for tying the knot, so they chose Michigan’s upper peninsula as the place to elope. Their day wasn’t a traditional ceremony - it was an adventure on Thursday and an intimate wedding on Saturday. Thursday, we started early and spent the day exploring the raw, beautiful wilderness in the UP, from sunrise at the Old Ore Dock in Marquette to sunset in Munising and stopping for the Northern Lights at Au Train Beach to top all off. The goal? A relaxed, fun day with no stress, no limits, and only adventure.

Planning their Elopement in Northern Michigan

When it comes to adventure elopements, there are so many activities you can do and places to explore - Kate and I spent months planning the details for both the Marquette/Munising area and Mackinac Island. We wanted to do everything but ensure we weren’t rushing from place to place and could explore and experience the day naturally and at our own pace. And that’s why we decided on an entire day of photos instead of trying to fit them into their wedding day. It was the best of both worlds - epic adventures exploring, an intimate day exchanging their vows with their loved ones.

Sunrise at the Retired Ore Dock in Marquette

We started the day at the retired ore dock in Marquette. First, I met with Alex and got him in place, and then Kate for a beautiful first look as the sun began to rise above the horizon in the background. The soft morning light and calm water set the scene for a perfect moment.

Exploring the Upper Peninsula

After the first look, we headed to Harlow Lake for more lowlight and early morning photos. Spent time exploring as the serene water and fall colors glowed with the sun coming over the trees and sweet moments starting the day between them. Then we hiked Yellowdog Falls - I was excited about this one as I had hiked it a few years before but definitely took the wrong trail; it was nice having an easier (less falling downhill) experience. Capturing epic shots of them at the top and bottom of the falls.

Then, we made our way to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, stopping for a few shots here and there throughout the hike. They had brought their hiking boots for the in-between, which made for cute photos on the trails. I loved that Kate had added pearl strings to replace her laces to add a personal touch. Next, we went to the Black Rocks for a little while; with the sun high in the sky, we decided it was time for lunch.

Lunch at Ore Dock Brewing Co.

After a whole morning and early afternoon of adventure, we stopped at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. for a few drinks and lunch. The food was delicious (as always), filling, and fueled us for the rest of the day. And it was a welcomed breather; we were already about 6 miles into the day and heading into Munising to explore further.

To the Bottom of Miner’s Falls and Sunset at Miner’s Beach

Rolling into Munising, we headed first to Miner’s Falls and made our way to the bottom of the basin for epic shots of the two of them on the large boulders at the bottom of the waterfall. Miner’s Falls is always a lovely, short, and relaxing hike, so it was a nice way to get the rest of the day going.

After hiking Miner’s Falls, we returned to town to catch the sunset at Miner’s Beach - with beautiful colors filling the sky and a big, glowing moon already coming up in the southwest; it ended the day perfectly…. But that wasn’t it.

A Stunning Display of Northern Lights in Au Train

The northern lights had been gracing us with gorgeous displays regularly at this point, I had gone out to see them 2/3 nights before, and they were out the third; I was just sleepy, so I was confident with the data and recent solar activity we’d get something, it was just a matter of when.

When came before dark. As the last of the sun lingered and twilight hadn’t finished, I could see a little movement, a slight color - I was surprised by the amount of twilight still in the sky I was seeing. The northern lights were already active - if I could see them with my naked eye before true dark (this is a rarity; I only remember one other time this happened for me), these pictures should be popping! Alex, Kate, and I headed to the beach.

When selecting the beach, I was a little weary; I didn’t want to be in a place full of people as I’d have to use artificial lights - but also, the news of Aurora and blown up over the weeks, I knew we’d have someone. Luckily, we secured a mostly empty beach and a little corner that barely bothered anybody (and the ones we bothered were entirely supportive!)

These are the moments you can’t plan but make for such stunning and unique portraits under the aurora. I was so excited as I had just started focusing on dark sky portraits this year; they, hands down, are some of the best yet. You can see more of the aurora specifically in this post: Aurora over Au Train - October 10th, 2024 Northern Lights.

The Takeaway: A Relaxed, Wild Experience

Alex and Kate’s day wasn’t just about the photos - it was an entire experience. Hiking through the UP’s known and hidden gems, having lunch in a local spot, and ending the day watching the northern lights are things they’ll never forget. And while Kate and Alex didn’t technically tie the knot during our adventure-filled day, it celebrated their love for the outdoors and Michigan.

For couples who love the outdoors, hiking and intimate moments, an elopement in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is perfect, with plenty of scenic spots and stunning landscapes to immerse yourself in. So if you’re dreaming of a Eloping in northern Michigan or an intimate wedding on Mackinac Island, check out our Adventure Elopement Info or Get in Touch and let’s make those dreams come true! And if you loved this, be sure to watch for the second post of their day, tying the knot on Mackinac Island.