Oh my goodness, we have the cutest Cleveland engagement session to share today! If these two smiled any bigger around each other, I think their faces would explode. I know that’s not very romantic sounding (lol), but it’s all I can think of when I think back on this beautiful engagement session with Kristen & Mike. They are so meant to be together & we’re so happy God brought them together! They’re romantic & giddy & so excited to be married. It was a joy hanging out with them for their engagement session & we know their wedding in September is going to be a beautiful one because they have the most important things in mind as they plan- their lifelong commitment to one another & their eternal commitment to God. And nothing could be more beautiful than that! 
Not going to lie, their engagement session was COLD. We all braved it together, but Kristen probably took the brunt of it, as she was wearing a dress. Not that Mike’s suit was keeping him very warm either. These two are troopers, though! And snuggles kept them happy & as warm as possible.
We love that they had a bouquet of flowers for the engagement session! 
They took us to the trail & THE bench where Mike proposed to Kristen. Even though she was really considering saying she’d rather not go for a hike that day when Mike asked, we’re so glad she did because it turned out to be one of the most magical & happiest days of her life! She had a busy week & a hectic day & she wasn’t sure a hike was what she wanted to do. She even told her mom that on the phone that day, but her mom knew what was supposed to happen so she gently suggested maybe a hike would be exactly what Kristen needed. Looking back on it, Kristen can’t even believe her mom kept the secret. They’re so close & such great friends that keeping secrets isn’t something they usually do, but Mike is so happy that the surprise was everything he wanted it to be for Kristen. The trail and bench are in a park near where Michael grew up & now he & Kristen share a special memory there that they’ll never forget!
When a guy can make you laugh like this, you know you’ve found a keeper.
And this is the bench! Joy just radiates from these two! 
Even though this was definitely Winter, we had a lot of late Fall vibes in that particular spot on the trail. P.S. Kristen’s earrings, though! Beautiful.
Romance and elegance. We love it.
Shout out to Icon Studio in Poland for Kristen’s hair & makeup for the engagement session.
That smile lights up whatever room she’s in. And the main reason she smiles ever since she met Mike is. . . Mike. 🙂 
Oh my gosh, we can’t wait to see Kristen as a bride! We know she’s going to knock Mike’s socks off when he sees her on their wedding day! 
And a HUGE thank you to Mike for his service to our country! We can’t thank the men & women in the military enough for their sacrifices.
After our fun at the park trail, Mike said there was a beach nearby. It was beautiful, but OH MY GOODNESS, was it cold! The wind off Lake Erie was whipping straight through our bones.
It was worth it for a quick few shots by the water. I love the light colors of the water & horizon & the fact that you can almost feel the wind.
We could see this as a big canvas hanging in their first home together.
Kristen & Michael, thank you both so much for choosing us as your wedding photographers & for braving the cold with us for your engagement session! We had a great time hanging out with you both & getting to know you & your story together! We are looking forward to the big day at The Lake Club this September!
Thanks for following along with our blog and checking out this Cleveland engagement session! If you’re new to the blog, we’re Josh & Danielle, a husband & wife wedding photography team based in Columbiana, Ohio. Our photography company is called Menning Photographic, and we photograph weddings mainly in the Youngstown, Ohio area. We’d love to chat if you’re engaged & want timeless, classic wedding photos that’ll let you relive your real wedding day moments! You can follow along with other wedding photos, photos of our cute kiddos, and photos of our silly pugs at:
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If you liked this blog post, you may also enjoy:
Rustic Fall Columbiana Engagement Session
Gorgeous & Fun Real Wedding at Boardman Park & Drake’s Landing
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