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Winter is a magical time of year. What could be more romantic than an engagement session under some snowfall? That’s exactly what happened when we headed to downtown Rochester, Michigan for James and McKenzie’s engagement session. Despite the cold temps and snow falling around them, the couple was all smiles. Their love shined through in every photo.
In December 2013, James and his fiancée first met on a blind date, which turned out to be the beginning of their heartwarming love story. Although the date didn’t go exactly as planned, with the bride-to-be getting sick during it, it didn’t stop James from wanting to get to know her better. They went on a real date just a few days later and have been inseparable ever since.
Through thick and thin, the couple has supported each other over the years. They have been there for each other from college to building a business and even watching their families grow. For a while, their families have been anxiously waiting for him to pop the question, but James had his own timeline in mind for their engagement. On Christmas Eve in 2022, he surprised McKenzie with a proposal that was worth waiting for!
McKenzie is a talented baker with a passion for all things sweet, and her fiancé has been a constant source of support throughout her journey. McKenzie runs a successful (and delicious, I admit) baking business out of their home, with James happily fulfilling the important role of taste tester as any lucky guy would!
To incorporate this aspect of their story into the session, we started with a little fun in the parking garage. During the planning of their engagement session, McKenzie told me she was drawn to the ever-famous champagne tower. She also wanted to incorporate her baking skills, whether it be with a cake or something else. I instantly had a vision of the unique idea to create a cupcake champagne tower! McKenzie created a tower of perfect vanilla cupcakes, and we then had them shake a champagne bottle full of white sprinkles instead of bubbly over the cupcakes. This created such a fun and unique personal touch. It couldn’t have been any more perfect!
Next we then moved the session outside of the parking garage and into the fresh snowfall. We walked down a beautiful glowing street in downtown Rochester, surrounded by charming brick buildings with ivy crawling up the walls. The snow made everything look magical, and we were able to capture some beautiful photos with the couple snuggled up to keep warm.
Additionally, we took a stroll to Main Street, which was covered in a gorgeous blanket of snow. McKenzie and James walked hand in hand, braving the elements as we took some stunning photos. Their Verragio engagement ring from Birmingham Jewelry sparkled beautifully in the winter light.
The couple’s outfits were also timeless and stylish. The bride-to-be looked stunning in her outfits from Express and Windsor while James looked sharp in a suit from Macy’s and a sweater from North Face. For hair and makeup, McKenzie turned to Runway Salon and Ashley for a flawless look.
Overall, James and McKenzie’s snowy engagement session in downtown Rochester, Michigan was beautiful! They were troopers and so willing to embrace the weather for some memorable photos. I had a great time working with them and I’m looking forward to their upcoming wedding in September!
Photographer: Elise Filliccia Photography
Coffee Shop: Bean and Leaf
Cupcakes/Brides’s Company: Bakers Joy By McKenzie
Engagement Ring: Birmingham Jewelry
