Caitlin + Bobby

Bobby had the plan locked down. We'd been back and forth on the logistics for weeks. The overlook at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive was the spot. The timing was set. And then the morning of, it rained.

Not a drizzle. Rain. We talked through the backup options. He thought about it for about thirty seconds and said: let's go anyway.

Under the Covered Bridge

The proposal happened at the covered bridge near the entrance to the drive. Rain coming down, Bobby on one knee. Caitlin had no idea. She was genuinely surprised, and that surprise doesn't come across as a polished, camera-ready reaction. It comes across as real. That's what showed up in the photos.

There's a reason I've shot at Pierce Stocking in conditions like this before. The overcast sky flattens the light in a way that works. No harsh shadows, no one squinting into the sun. And the rain meant we had the place nearly to ourselves. That almost never happens.

Out to the Dunes Anyway

After the proposal, I asked if they wanted to head to the dunes. They were already soaked. Caitlin didn't hesitate. Bobby didn't hesitate. We walked out there in the rain and they were laughing the whole time. Completely unfazed. That's the part you can't plan for, and it's usually the part that makes the best photos.

If you've ever been to the Sleeping Bear overlooks on a clear summer afternoon, you know the crowds. This was none of that. Just the two of them, the dunes, and a steady rain. It worked.

When we were wrapping up, Caitlin turned to Bobby, still grinning, and said it best:

"Oh Bobby! It's just like The Notebook!" — Caitlin

That's the whole thing, right there. The rain wasn't a problem. The rain was the story. If you're planning a proposal in Northern Michigan and you're wondering what to do if the weather doesn't cooperate, you've got your answer: you go anyway. As a Traverse City proposal photographer, I've shot in all kinds of conditions, and some of the best moments happen when the plan falls apart and you just roll with it.