As we all know, wedding days can be stressful, especially if rain is in the forecast, but when Katie and I walked into photograph this wedding it was like walking into a day at the spa - we were greeted by the bride herself, Ashley and she walked us around the venue to show us how the day is going to go. We then followed her into the dressing room where Ashley handed us gift bags filled with snacks and water- sweetest thing ever. I often tear up once or twice through out my work day - but during Ashley and Josh's day I think I may have set a record with more like 5 or 6 - everything about this day was so beautiful, the love that there two have for each other is so real and everyone that was there to celebrate were so nice.  I hired Katie on as a second shooter and here is a collection of images that we captured from the day. 
Vanessa & Brad were married at the Neenah Presbyterian Church, a beautiful church that has never done a wedding in their outdoor courtyard until September 21st -Â Â a chilly fall day but a beautiful service. It was a wonderful day to document - enjoy!
You may remember Marcie & Bill from my blog last September, they were married in late September with a small group of people on a perfect fall day. A year later they have a beautiful baby boy names Jack and they celebrated their marriage and family at Quivey's Grove . I was so happy I was able to document both events and to get a change to meet their son. It was a perfect night filled with wonderful food, friends from all over the country and lovely tunes from Hometown Sweethearts (if you are planning a wedding and want a live band, I strongly encourage you to contact these gentlemen) - Enjoy!
Everything about this wedding was perfect, from Megan's dress (with pockets) to the beautiful venue in Minneapolis (Nicollet Island Pavilion). Megan and John now live in Hawaii and came back to the Midwest to celebrate with their friends and family, it was a wonderful ceremony, with written letters to each other that made everyone cry, to vows from The Simpsons for some comic relief. It was a great day to be apart of, filled with beautiful people to photograph.
I photographed a wedding a few years back that these lovely two attended, and during the reception I could not help but photograph these two on the dance floor - they we so happy, such good dancers and so in love. I remember going up to the bride, pointing them out and telling her when those two get engaged to send them my way because I want to document that day. So when Dick gave me a call and told me that they would like to have me photograph their wedding, I was pretty excited. They got married in Marshfield, WI at in Rosemary's parents backyard, followed by champagne brunch, then later we all got together for a pig roast and dancing.
Sun out, wind blowing and pretty people to document all day. Katie and Trent's wedding was such a beautiful day and at one of the prettiest venues I have been to in Wisconsin, Whistling Straits in Sheboygan. Katie and Trent are some friends of mine and when they got engaged and I got a text from Katie asking me to photograph the wedding, I squealed with excitement, for I knew this was going to be in love with every outfit and detail of the day -and I was right. Katie's dress had pockets, her hair was perfect, and their wedding party was a blast to work with. I am so happy for these two!
When I arrived at this wedding it was like walking into DIY heaven - from hand painted signs to help their guests find the ceremony spot to a beautiful arch built by the brides father. Kayla and Tanner had the perfect day and I was so happy to be apart of it. 
I woke up the morning of the 22nd to the sound of rain, and it rained until 12 and then became a perfect day for a wedding (90 was a bit hot, but we survived). I have always wanted to document a wedding at the Pres House, and I was so excited when I found out that was where these lovely two were getting married - a beautiful couple, wonderful friends and families and amazing Madison venues - all in all, it was a great day.
A beautiful wedding at 11am, followed by a delicious lunch and an afternoon dance party, finishing up on a boat for a 2nd dance party. A day that started out raining, ending in a beautiful sunny day. It was a wonderful day filled with many people who have traveled far to celebrate with these two, I had my dear friend Abi of AKPhotography come from Missoula to help me document this day.
It is one thing getting asked to document a couple's wedding being the beginning a friendship, it is quite different when you document a couple who you have known from the beginning, lived with for 3 years and help pick out the engagement ring and also wedding dress - being there from the beginning and then seeing my best friend who also happens to be my boyfriend marry them in front of the closest of family and friends - oh man, if I could relive that day, I would in a heartbeat. A day truly about the vows being exchanged, about the couple's journey and how this is only the beginning of a wonderful life together - as Luke put it so perfectly in the ceremony "…we bring together two travelers, two people equally at home in Madison, Mexico, or the back country of Colorado. Equally at home alone in a cabin or tent as they are when surrounded by friends at their dinner table; a place that has seen its share of gatherings. They are two travelers, but they are travelers with a deep sense of family, of community, of generosity, and of home." I feel so blessed to have these to beautiful people in my life, enjoy the images from their wedding celebration:
Madison, Wi is where I decided to live, and I couldn't be more happy with my city, my job and my community. I sit drinking my Monday morning coffee and reflect on my weekend of photo shoots and the community I surround myself with and I feel truly blessed. One of the biggest reasons why I love what I do is the variety of work that I can do with my collection of cameras- one day I do a fashion shoot, the next day I am documenting two of my best friends getting married  to a Sunday with a family at the park, catching up and documenting their ridiculously cute child. Here are a few photographs from those three shoots: black & white look book - Styled by the lovely Char
Katie and Maia got married this weekend, a small backyard wedding with a guest list of 17 - service was done by my wonderful boyfriend followed by an amazing dinner and bonfire:
Jessica and Joseph were my neighbors back in my college days- we would spend many late nights on the porch listening to records that would end in a dance party, I remember when joey proposed, i remember their lovely wedding day and now, years later they have a little girl that I get spend time with and document her life .
I had the opportunity to go to Phoenix, Arizona to shoot Katie and Ben's wedding at the Botanical Gardens- it was a perfect day, even if the high was 108. I love when I get the chance to travel with weddings, to get out of the midwest and to photograph in a different landscape, it is inspiring and it is why I love my job so much. These two had a perfect day, filled with family and friends and love, we had a wonderful time exploring the gardens for photographs.
After 13 years of dating, Sam and Dallas celebrated their love on May 25th with a big party with all of their friends and family. It was such a beautiful day, and I was happy to share it with them.
Before today I only had a few conversations with these two and I managed to cry about 5 times throughout their wedding day. I can't describe to you how beautiful this day was and in so many ways- to start, everyone looked so beautiful, these two are ridiculously cute and they manage to have really attractive family and friends. The community that these two have is so genuine, their love for each other is so evident, their friendship is so true. Every bit of this day was perfect, to the cute little chapel they got married in, to the song Cait recorded for their first dance. These two are new owners of a coffee shop and music venue on Monroe St. called Crescendo, and you should all check it out.
