Madison is filled with wonderful people and Jenny & Bobby are two of those gems. I had the chance to meet these two last summer for coffee to chat wedding and then again at their dear friends Maddie and Bret's wedding (another pair of wonderful people) and we all hit it off - So when these two wanted me to document their day, I got really excited. These two were so much fun during their engagement session last fall and since then I couldn't wait to be apart of their day. Their wedding was wonderful, I think I cried a total of 10 times, these two are so filled with love for each other and their family and friends are all so wonderful and supportive and really fun people. If I could, I would do this day all over again because it was really just a perfect day. 

Gates of Heaven has been one of my favorite places in Madison since my college days. My first 3 years living here, I got to vote there, the band I play in along with many others in town had the first Wintersong there, and I've witnessed a few beautiful, intimate weddings there - Alex and Niels' included. A beautiful ceremony done by their dear friend and an epic high five to seal the marriage deal. Then Alex and Niels picked another favorite place of mine for their party, The Children's Museum, where adults get to be kids all night long -- cocktail party on the beautiful rooftop followed by giant slides, a hamster wheel and a dance party --- basically the best day ever.

Hayley and Andy are a force together, when I first met them to talk about their plans for their wedding, I felt connected to them instantly, their love for people is so apparent and their love for each other is ridiculous is the best way possible – all day at this wedding I kept feeling like I was so lucky to get to be the one to document this day. I showed up at this summer camp earlier in the day and everyone they love were setting up the wedding, they picked wild flowers and a group of friends were making center pieces and bouquets for the day, as another crew was making the dinning tent perfect. Dinner was made by the guests followed by speeches that brought everyone to laughter and then tears from a sisters love. Hearing the stories about Hayley & Andy made me feel lucky that I get to know these two humans. The community surrounding these two is a beautiful thing to witness and this day was pure perfection from start to finish.

Laura & Josh were married on a Friday with a small gathering of family (blog post here) and the following day they put their wedding clothing back on and had an epic party with all of their loved ones.

Although Nicky and Tim live in Chicago, they decided to get married in the backyard of Nicky's family cabin - a beautiful home on the Wisconsin river. This day was perfect - starting the early day with mimosas, floral arranging and up-dos, followed by exploring the woods surrounding the property with Nicky & Tim and their wedding party - a late afternoon (and sunny) ceremony followed by a cocktail hour with an archery tournament (this was a first, and this was the best), ending with a wonderful dinner, and an epic dance party. I have had the privilege of knowing Nicky since middle school, reconnecting last year for a mutual friends wedding allowed me to meet and get to know Tim better and the two of them as a couple. When they came to me to ask if I could document their day, I was so excited. Being at the venue for a vacation last summer, I knew it was going to be a beautiful day in a place that holds importance to both Nicky and Tim.

Years ago Sammy moved to the Milwaukee area to join the photography team at Kohl's Studio where Melissa was already a stylist, they started out as coworkers, soon became best friends but then one dinner date cooking Kung pao chicken together led to an amazing love. These two own a house outside of Milwaukee and made it their own with an incredible kitchen and a every girls dream closet.  

On Thursday, June 18th these two met at Klode Park on the shores of Lake Michigan with their immediate family members and exchanged vows in 25 MPH winds -- an epic, wonderful and intimate ceremony and I am so thankful to have been apart of it. On Saturday, June 20th we all got together again with their extended family for an amazing meal and celebration.  

I love winter weddings, I love photographing them and I love attending them. Winter to me means hibernation, book reading and all day in pajamas - but a wedding forces you to get all dolled up, put on the red lips and dust off your dancing shoes and Chris and Jen did just that with all of their friends and family a few weeks back on January 24th. Chris and Jen had a beautiful ceremony at the Capitol followed by a wonderful meal and epic dance party at The Madison Club. I had a wonderful time documenting this perfect day with help from my dear friend Jentri Colello.

I met Erica and Simon about 6 years ago, around the time they started dating, so when these two came to me with the news of their engagement and their plans for winter wedding, I was pretty excited. Erica & Simon had a beautiful, intimate wedding at Olbrich Gardens, a 5pm ceremony in the conservatory with just their immediate family, music by Erica's little sister and their best friend Grace, who became ordained to marry them, after the ceremony there was a room full of friends ready to celebrate with them. A perfect way to celebrate these two, and I am so happy they asked me to document this wonderful day.

A few weeks back the oh so talented Anna Vogelzang released an E.P entitled Driftless at a wonderful brunch gathering at Old Sugar Distillery catered by Underground Food Collective and coffee by Crescendo. A unique and lovely way to celebrate music, Whitney Mann & Dietrich Gosser   opened up the show and Anna played with a full band and it was a magical way to spend a Sunday morning. I love Madison for community we have in music, and this coming Saturday (12/13/14) these three amazing musicians along with Corey Hart, Crane Your Swan Neck, Count This Penny & Faux Fawn will be performing at Wintersong at the Barrymore Theatre   ---  grab your ticket, and a few friends and we will see you at Wintersong 2014!

Alicia and Josh got married a few months back with a small ceremony and in October there had an epic party to celebrate their marriage and love with their friends and family. The lovely Hometown Sweethearts made the dancing happen until the late hours of the night.

On September 27th, Amy and Mike were married at the beautiful Tumbledown Barn surrounded by their friends and family who traveled from all over to be there to celebrate with them. Amy, Mike and I got together a few months back to talk wedding and to get to know each other a bit better, I heard stories of their recent travels to El Salvador, we discussed our common love for Count This Penny and other lovely Madison bands, I heard about Mike's days working as a forest fire fighter and I got to meet their dog who loved me. On their wedding day I felt like a friend, even with one evening together, they are both sweet, loving and wonderful to talk with -- so, I felt less embarrassed that I happened to shed a few tears during their vows that they wrote, talking about the simple everyday things they do for each other (Mike making Amy tea at night) and their promises for the future, it was beyond perfect. Congrats to Amy & Mike, I had a wonderful time documenting your day.

Last week Madison had to say goodbye to the lovely Elise Hunt, who is currently road tripping out west to California after living here and working with us at ShopBop for the last 2 years. It is no secret that this lady will be missed, her spirit, her kindness and her ability to plan epic parties and dinner gatherings will be remembered and we all expect a visit from time to time. On Tuesday of last week some lovely ladies planned a party on a boat to send off Elise,  it was perfect weather, wonderful company and a great way for Elise to spend one her last days here in Madison, Wi --- and I took a few images.  

A few months back I met up with Hannah, Christopher and their son, Silas for a little engagement/family session  , it was a great way for me to get excited for their wedding day. Hannah & Christopher were married in New Holstein, Wi  on August 16th at this beautiful property on a dead end road. Their ceremony was set up to be outside next to a pond, and moments before Hannah & her father were going to walk down the aisle we all felt raindrops and made the call to run to the barn as Hannah, her father and her dear friend sat hiding in a tent so no one would see her. The rain stopped for 15 minutes, enough time to get some photographs, but it rained all day- but that doesn't matter because it was a beautiful day for Hannah & Christopher to get married, to say their vows to each other and  to their son Silas Rain and to celebrate their relationship with their friends and their family.  

My dear friend Kristina and owner of Brown Rice & Honey  hosted a vegan pop-up dinner on beautiful rustic tables from A La Crate and laid out on linens by Midwest Textiles. Brown Rice and Honey focuses on “back to basics” food, featuring baked goods that are primarily vegan and often also gluten-free. This dinner was set up to raise funds for a new commercial kitchen space and to start a CSB (Community Supported Bakery) program. The CSB will give customers a chance to directly invest upfront and receive weekly or bi-weekly baskets of fresh Vegan or Gluten-Free baked goods, and all at a fraction of standard retail cost! 

I've known Anna since our Junior High Days, she then moved away in High school & continued moving through college and then her and Daniel moved to Madison a few years ago from Chicago and we've always lived 2 blocks from each other. Their wedding weekend was spent in Monroe, Wi in Anna's parents yard, one of the most beautiful places in Wisconsin and I got to be a witness with a camera. Here are some images that I took during the weekend. 

I first met Joleen & Brendan back in January to discuss the wedding and take their engagement photographs, it was the week before they moved to Washington D.C and it was about -10 degrees outside, so getting a chance to take their photograph on July 5th, a perfect summer day was wonderful. I arrived to the room with Joleen sitting in her beautiful flower crown with her brother and friend Joanna and everyone was so calm, I knew it was going to be a good day. Joleen & Brendan had a small guest list, a beautiful outdoor ceremony and the best party bus I have seen in all my years of wedding photography. They had lawn games, an amazing meal by Upstairs Downstairs  followed by an epic dance party.  

Caroline & Peter were married in Caroline's Mothers backyard followed by an epic dance party at High Noon Saloon on the summer solstice, June 21st -- a day that started out with rain but ending in being a perfect day of summer. The setting was stunning, they were married by Caroline's father next to a beautiful willow tree, followed by an amazing fish fry by Underground Catering, yard games and a party bus to take everyone to High Noon Saloon for some dessert, drinks and dancing. It was a wonderful day to be apart of, Caroline and Peter come from amazing families and have a wonderful group of friends who all traveled from all over to be witnesses for these two. Enjoy these images:

Oh my darling Nora, my dear little friend has turned 5! I have known this sweet girl since she was a baby, I would spend every Thursday afternoon with her and she became a subject in many of my photographs through the years and will continue to be so through her childhood. Nora is a big reason why photographing children is my favorite - no insecurities, no 'good side' just pure joy and true candids. When I get to spend an afternoon with her with my camera at my side, I feel like I can really document her - she doesn't have a pintrest board, she doesn't say 'can you photoshop out my (insert an insecurity), she just is, and I get to document her - and it makes me remember why I am and continue to work on being the best photographer I can be. I wish we could go back to the mindset of a 5 year old, get the pintrest mindset out, get rid of the insecurities and just be - so I hope this set of images from Nora's 5th princess themed birthday party helps awaken your 5 year old self.

I booked the space 2 months ago, then I caught a plane to Sweden & Germany where I then let 'In Ethiopia With Seeds' slip my mind for two weeks. After my trip I spent the weeks leading up sending out press releases, facebook messages, hanging hundreds of flyers all over Madison and managed to neglect my email a little too much (sorry to my clients, I'm back on the grid I swear!). It takes a lot to set up a show, and the opening is the moment where you find out if you did a good job getting the word out -- Saturday was that moment - will I sit with only my close friends and family with enough coffee & cookies for 100 people or will the room be full? Happy to say about 150 people came out to the opening and Sharon from SV Heart Photography came with her camera to document a little bit of the event. Thank you to all who came out, purchased prints and with that, donated to Seeds Of Africa . There will be another event just like Saturday's this Friday from 5-9pm so if you missed this party, be sure to get here on Friday for some Ethiopian music, coffee and photographs! \\\The gallery will also be open during the week if you want a little quieter viewing, I'll be here, editing photographs and looking for conversation so stop by ---- 100 South Baldwin St. Madison, Wi.///

Please enjoy these images taken by the lovely SV Heart Photography

On March 1st in Horred, Sweden I documented Isak & Clara's wedding celebration. A car full of girls picked me up in the morning and drove to the next city over to go to the salon where Clara got her hair done and her girls got ready in the waiting area. When we returned to Horred we went to the apartment for Clara to put on her wedding dress that her now sister-in-law made for her and we left the place for Isak and Clara to share their first look alone, as much as I love documenting that moment, sometimes moments are meant to be shared alone and I love that I wasn't invited. It called for rain but it never came, we drove to a few locations for images before the ceremony and made it to the church with 1 minute to spare --- The ceremony was beautiful, although I didn't know what was going on since it was all in Swedish, but there were still moment where my eyes filled with tears and I found myself laughing with everyone (luckily they translated the program for me so I didn't miss the kiss). After the ceremony, Isak, Clara and myself went to a few more places for photographs but made it quickly to the reception where guest were waiting to greet them. There was an amazing dinner was made by Clara, Isak and their families and served by friends. The rest of the evening was spent listening to stories of the couple, songs their family and friends wrote and a little dance between the new married couple -- a beautiful day filled with so much laughter and quite a few tears as well -- this couple has such a beautiful community surrounding them and it was a beautiful day to be apart of.