Sarah and Kollen, Engaged

Some places just mean more. Gardner Dam Adventure Base is one of those places for Sarah and Kollen. It’s where Kollen serves as a Camp Program Director and where they’ve made countless memories together, making it an easy choice for their engagement session. With towering pines, winding camp trails, and the river weaving through it all, every part of camp already held a piece of their story before I ever picked up my camera.

Sarah’s Pinterest board gave us the perfect direction before we even arrived. Cozy, playful, and packed with nostalgic ’90s summer camp rom com energy. The overcast skies ended up being the perfect match for that vibe, giving us soft, even light all evening long. We had two of Sarah’s bridesmaids chauffeuring us around in the camp golf carts while two other staff members joined the adventure, making the session feel even more like… well, summer camp. We bounced between favorite spots, wandered across the river by suspension bridges, squeezed in an outfit change, and spent most of the evening laughing our way from one location to the next.

The funny thing is, the summer camp theme doesn’t end here. Next year, Sarah and Kollen will be getting married at Camp Elsewhere in Waupaca, which somehow feels even more fitting. After spending an evening documenting this chapter in a place that’s meant so much to them, I already know their wedding day is going to carry that same sense of fun, nostalgia, and genuine connection. And if this engagement session was any indication, I have a feeling it’s going to be one for the books.