I am beyond excited to share Maddi and Mathew’s engagement session at Lake Wazee! This shoot holds a special place in my heart because I’ve known Maddi since she was a junior in high school—she was one of my senior reps, and capturing her senior photos was such a joy. Fast-forward to now, and I’ve been honored to photograph both her engagement session and her gorgeous wedding at Garden Valley Gatherings (stay tuned for that post coming soon!).

An early-morning session at Lake Wazee turned out to be pure magic! Having the entire place to ourselves felt like a private oasis. The soft morning light reflecting on the water at the beach provided the perfect backdrop, and Maddi and Mathew were so natural and easygoing—it was hard to believe their engagement was already being captured!

After spending some time in the sand and water, we stumbled upon a field bursting with beautiful purple flowers! I noticed it while driving to the beach and knew we had to use it as a backdrop. Maddi’s face lit up the moment we arrived, and let me tell you, the photos turned out absolutely gorgeous! At the end of the session, Mathew picked a whole bunch of those purple flowers for Maddi to take home. How sweet is that?! Even cooler, they plan to incorporate the flowers Mathew has given Maddi into their wedding day, so these new ones will join the collection!

Now, let’s talk about their love story, which is honestly adorable! Maddi and Mathew are high school sweethearts, having met during Maddi’s senior year. They went to nearby schools—she’s from Greenwood, he’s from Loyal—and they ended up connecting through extracurricular activities. The funniest part? They started talking after Maddi accidentally snap-chatted Mathew a funny picture instead of a friend, and she was mortified at first! But now, Mathew’s anything but just a random guy—he’s her forever person!

The proposal was just as sweet. Mathew surprised Maddi with a getaway weekend in Eagle River and rented a cozy Airbnb right on the lake. He popped the question in front of the water, making for the perfect romantic moment!

Here are a few of my favorite images from their Lake Wazee engagement session:

Lake Wazee Engagement Session | Milwaukee Engagement Photographer

I’m so grateful I got to capture both their senior year and this milestone in their relationship. I can’t wait to share all the details from their wedding day at Garden Valley Gatherings—coming soon! Maddi and Mathew, you two are simply the best!

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