As a Wisconsin based wedding and engagement photographer, I’m lucky enough to live only about 30 minutes from one of THE best places in Wisconsin for an engagement session, Lake Geneva ! Lake Geneva is a remarkably beautiful resort town in southern Wisconsin, and a very popular vacation spot for people from Illinois and Wisconsin alike. What makes so many couples choose Lake Geneva for their engagement session, and what are some of the best places to take these photos? I’m glad you asked ! Let’s go through it together.
Why Choose Lake Geneva for Your Engagement Photos?
There are actually a ton of reasons why couples choose to have their engagement photos taken in Lake Geneva. First are the simple logistics that come with planning a session here for anyone traveling from out of town. Lake Geneva is only around an hour and a half from Chicago and many of its suburbs, an hour from Milwaukee, and a little over an hour from Madison, making it incredibly easy to get to and from for a day trip.
For those traveling a little farther, or couples looking to get the most out of their time in Lake Geneva, being a resort town means that there are also an abundance of wonderful lodging options to choose from if you’re looking to make a weekend of the trip ! I strongly recommend doing this for your engagement session as there is just SO much to explore and enjoy in this charming resort town.
Finally, Lake Geneva is absolutely breathtaking. The lakefront town has so much natural beauty surrounding it, and the downtown itself is absolutely bursting with character. It’s the perfect combination for an engagement session as you can get stunning waterfront vistas, cute downtown pics, and so much more, all in the same place !
Where to Take Your Engagement Photos in Lake Geneva
As you can see, it’s really no surprise that SO many couples choose to have their engagement photos taken in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Now, let’s take a look at just a few of the wonderful locations you can find throughout this amazing resort town.
Right next to the lakefront in downtown Lake Geneva, Flat Iron Park is the perfect first stop for taking your engagement photos. The phenomenal location of the park means it’s incredibly easy to fit multiple destinations into your session, giving your album a TON of variety. In addition to that though, the park is also spectacular in its own right. The beautifully maintained park combined with the picturesque views of the lake make it a breathtaking space for engagement photos. The one thing to be aware of here is that the park hosts numerous events throughout the year. This can sometimes lead to a completely packed park on the day of your session, but lucky for you there are still PLENTY of locations nearby to fall back on !
Shore Path and the Public Beach
One such location is the Shore Path and Public Beach, which are only around a 5 minute walk from Flat Iron Park ! The closest part of the Shore Path weaves through a beautiful park similar to Flat Iron, and connects to the Public Beach which has some truly incredible lake views to enjoy. The Shore Path itself extends much further, sitting at just over 20 miles in length which gives you plenty to explore. The natural beauty of the space and variety between these two make it possible for this to be the one and only location you choose for your engagement photos, but there’s still SO much more that Lake Geneva has to offer !
Downtown Lake Geneva
For couples looking for some cute and cozy downtown vibes for their engagement photos, Lake Geneva also has you covered there ! I adore downtown Lake Geneva as it’s not only a beautiful backdrop for photos, but it also feels incredibly welcoming and fun to explore. From the charming small shops, delicious restaurants, and historic buildings abound, there is SO much to see and enjoy throughout Lake Geneva’s downtown. Something I love to do with my couples during their engagement session is include a shop, restaurant, bar, or brewery as one of their locations, and this holds true for Lake Geneva.
As always though when it comes to using another business’ space, I recommend my couples reach out to them ahead of time to make sure this is ok. Businesses are much more likely to say yes when they hear a couple loves their space enough to include it in their engagement photos, rather than a random photographer who they feel is just looking for a backdrop.
Next on my list is the wonderful Samuel Donian Wetland Preserve ! This beautiful oasis sits just across the street from Flat Iron Park, though the feeling of the preserve itself makes it seem as though you’re miles outside of town. This beautiful, secluded space is the perfect option for couples looking for that natural beauty for their engagement photos, without any of the hustle and bustle of Lake Geneva itself. It is a pretty popular walking path, but not to the point where it should actually interfere with your photos !
This resort really lives up to its namesake, as the Grand Geneva provides an out of this world setting for your engagement session. The resort itself is around a 10 minute drive from downtown Lake Geneva, which makes it incredibly easy to incorporate into your engagement photos. The landscape surrounding the Grand Geneva is remarkably beautiful making taking engagement photos here a dream ! To really bring your time in Lake Geneva to the next level, consider staying at The Grand Geneva for the entire weekend.
And SO Many More
I honestly could go on and on (and on and on and on etc.) talking about different locations to take engagement photos in Lake Geneva, but some of them I like to keep as more personal recommendations to my couples ! Just from these 5 spots though, it’s apparent how much beauty and variety there is to experience and enjoy throughout Lake Geneva.
Other Things to Know
Booking Your Photographer
One of the most important pieces of planning your engagement session in Lake Geneva is of course booking the photographer who’ll be taking your photos ! I recommend doing this early, and with a photographer who knows the area (like me!), as they’ll be able to help recommend locations, help you decide on what to wear, and help with the overall planning process.
I’m also a firm believer in the benefits of booking the same photographer for both your engagement photos and your wedding. Your engagement session acts as a great “ice breaker” between you and your photographer, and can make the start of your wedding day much less awkward. No matter who you are, there’s always a bit of initial awkwardness when a stranger is taking pictures of you, so it’s better to get that out of the way in a lower stakes setting like your engagement session instead of your wedding day !
When to Have Your Session
Choosing when to have your engagement session is a huge decision that will greatly impact the look and feel of your photos, as well as the session itself. Thankfully, Lake Geneva is beautiful year round, so there really isn’t a wrong time to have your engagement photos taken per se. Deciding when to have your session comes down to a few factors.
First, do you want your photos to have the same vibe as your wedding day? If so you should have your engagement session during the same season. If you’d rather have some variety, or you just like a particular season more than others, you can also choose to have your session at a completely different time of year than your wedding ! Maybe you both love winter, but know you’d enjoy a summer wedding outside with your friends and family more. In that case, a winter engagement session could be the perfect solution.
The other thing to consider when deciding on the season you have your engagement photos taken in Lake Geneva is what you want to be wearing...
What to Wear for Your Photos
Choosing what to wear for your engagement photos in Lake Geneva also depends heavily on when your session takes place. Winters here are COLD, and the summers can get some pretty intense heat as well. This is pretty commonplace for the Midwest, as the weather in this region can change at the drop of a hat ! I recommend you choose a season for your session where the outfits that you typically wear really appeal to you and your sense of style. From there, keep an eye on the weather forecast as your engagement session date approaches, and talk with your photographer to discuss a game plan if it looks like inclement weather is likely for the day of your session.
Have Fun !
Lastly, have some fun ! This is such a beautiful and amazing time of your lives together, and it deserves to be celebrated and enjoyed ! That’s why I've recommend multiple times throughout this article to make a weekend out of your time in Lake Geneva. Treat yourselves to a little getaway, celebrate this love you share, and enjoy yourselves as you have this incredible love documented by your photographer ! Speaking of which, if you’d like to have me document your engagement session be sure to send me an inquiry through my contact page. If you’re also considering having your wedding in Lake Geneva, check out this article that covers three of my favorite wedding venues in this amazing town !
Comments