If you’ve ever wandered through the fragrant pines of Big Cedar Lodge, with its whispering winds and the soft lap of lake water against the docks, you’ll understand why Avery and Michael chose this scenic locale for their couples portrait session. It’s a place draped in nostalgia, where Avery’s family has forged timeless memories and where Michael, too, has found a slice of heaven.
“Michael and I met on the first day of my Senior year and his Junior year at Airline High School,” Avery reminisces. “He was the new guy at school, and I was curious to know who he was:) We were both invited to Smoothie King with friends after school and decided to go. I was sitting at the corner table talking with some girl friends when Michael walked in with his buddies. I immediately looked at one of the girls and said, ‘Who is that??’ Little did I know, the handsome stranger would one day be my fiancé.”
Reflecting on their journey to the altar, Avery shared, “We then both attended Louisiana Tech together and have made so many amazing memories with family, friends, and each other in Ruston, LA! One of my favorite memories we have in college is Michael flying over my Ruston house in a Louisiana Tech Plane to wave hello and tell me he was doing ok. We have had many game days, Kappa Delta semi’s, trips home to see our family, and time spent growing our relationship through triumphs and trials. We thank the Lord over and over for His goodness and provision in bringing us together years ago and for helping us through a crazy and fun past couple of years!
Fast forward, and you land at the heartwarming moment on July 31st, 2022, when Michael popped the question on a sun-drenched beach. Avery’s joy was palpable: “I just about screamed yes on that beautiful Watercolor beach and squeezed him to death in excitement!”
When it came to deciding where to capture their love story, Big Cedar Lodge was a no-brainer. “I have grown up going every year to Big Cedar Lodge at Thanksgiving with my immediate and extended family where we would make countless memories together,” Avery explains. “Then, when I met Michael, I got to bring him to our family’s favorite spot and he fell in love with it too. We thought it was the perfect place to capture our love for one another because it is the place where we love going and making memories together.”
Looking forward to wedding day, Avery excitedly shared “Being able to have these shots and memories and being able to bring all of our family and friends up here for our wedding day is truly something that we are so grateful for and over the moon excited about,” Avery says.
And what a day it was! From the moment they stepped onto the lush grounds, every detail was like a scene from a movie. “The champagne was such a nice surprise for the both of us!” Avery gushes, “It was the perfect end to such a beautiful day.” But the highlight? A romantic boat ride on the vintage ‘Goin Jessi,’ mirroring those glamorous Lake Como escapes. The pair will be heading to Lake Como for their honeymoon, so it was an exciting moment in preparation for the fun adventures to come. “It was a little chilly for sure, but we had a great time getting to ride around Table Rock lake and get some AMAZING pictures!”
The session was filled with laughter, particularly a memorable moment involving a bit of family charades. “At one point the other boat was a little far away from us, and we couldn’t hear what pose we should do next. My parents kept trying to act it out like charades and then finally they all yelled ‘KISS KISS’ and we were like ‘ohh ok we can do that!’ We kissed for a second and then stopped and they were like ‘No, keep kissing!’ So we laughed and kept kissing!”
As Avery and Michael look forward to their upcoming wedding, it’s clear how strong the love they share is and how thrilled they are to celebrate with their closest family and friends. “I am so excited to kick the weekend off so soon!” We are counting down the days, Avery and Michael!
