Eloping with the Elements: A Rainy Day Wedding in Copper Harbor

“Through chaos as it swirls, It’s us against the world” ~ Coldplay

Cue the sound of wind rustling through birch leaves and waves whispering against black volcanic rock… Because THIS elopement? Pure Upper Peninsula magic.

Tucked deep in the misty woods near Copper Harbor, two wildly in-love nature souls woke up in a cozy lakeside cabin, the kind of place that smells like pine needles and promises. The morning was calm and reverent—getting ready in that woodsy sanctuary, then sharing a first look on the soft, stone-studded beach of Lake Superior. Clouds hung low, like a wooly gray blanket over the world. And it was perfect.

Before setting off to say the words, they read letters from family—love folded up into paper form, gentle reminders that even in this secluded, peaceful corner of the earth, their people were holding them close.

Then we wandered to Horseshoe Harbor, nestled inside the wild embrace of the Mary McDonald Preserve. A gentle rain had started—classic Copper Harbor—but these two? Not even slightly bothered. They stood next to the ancient rock and read their vows, voices steady, hearts wide open. Then, a tree plating ceremony to symbolize new beginnings. A piece of this place. A promise with roots.

And then came the rain.

Not the light drizzle kind, either. Oh no. We’re talking full theatrical sky moment. A sudden, torrential downpour. But instead of running for shelter, these two did something unforgettable: they laughed. They held hands. They soaked it in—literally. Exploring the volcanic ridge like they were born for this exact kind of magic.

Because they were. These are true nature people. Plant lovers. Birdwatchers. Seekers of mushrooms and peace. And they wanted a wedding day that felt like the wildest kind of calm. Intentional, grounded, unscripted. A day that didn’t need a rigid timeline—just heartbeats, mossy paths, and the feeling of being fully alive.

And that’s exactly what it was.

Andrea