Mel and Marshal, oh beautiful, sweet Mel and Marshal and their amazing wedding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center on an actual fall day. If these two weren't smiling then their eyes were filled with tears -- I mean these two and their love is such a wonderful thing to witness and I felt honored to be at their wedding and documenting every moment of it. So enjoy this day through my lens:  

It's Labor day weekend, it's almost 100 degrees and it's Annie & Jake's wedding day. I went to meet with the girls as they got ready and my second shooter of the day, the lovely Amanda Red went to spent the morning with the guys. We met for the first look where you couldn't help but shed a few tears as you watch Annie & Jake see each other for the first time -- So much joy and love. It was a perfect afternoon ceremony with the talented Anna Vogelzang singing Annie down then aisle followed by a wonderful celebration.

I left this wedding feeling like I was on a cloud - this wedding made me appreciate community and this wonderful city I live in. On the last weekend of August Maddie and Bret got married right next to the tree I often sit in and read at Giddings Park -- it was such a perfect thing to happen in that beautiful little tucked away park people often forget about. My favorite moment of the day was the New Orleans Second Line March to the reception bar. I'm such a sucker for a community of people supporting a couple in their decision to get married by taking over the streets and dance about it - it was beautiful and it is so lovely to see all the people coming out of their homes to smile, clap and congratulate the couple -- personally I think this is a way better way of letting people know you got hitched than update your Facebook status. 

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.

I am a huge fan of weddings in 2 parts and this is exactly what Laura and Josh did. Months ago I skyped with these two about their upcoming wedding plans, at the time it was set for everything on Saturday but as their plans formed they called to ask if I was also available the friday before -- They wanted to have a small ceremony with immediate family and have a big party the following day with everyone in their lives -- a wonderful way to make the one day last a little longer and a chance to do two photoshoots! So today I will blog about their first day and next week I'll have their party up.  

Their story in Laura's words: "Josh was out to dinner meeting his best friend's new boyfriend. This boyfriend was doing a stand up comedy show at the bar next door so they all met for dinner first. Laura was their server. Josh flirted. So did Laura. At the end of the meal, Josh left a note for Laura in the bill telling her about the comedy show and inviting her to join for a drink after work.

At the end of her shift, Laura couldn't decide whether or not to go - because that's weird, right?! She started walking over but then changed her mind and started walking away and then back and forth a couple of times...all in front of the wall of windows of the restaurant where a co-worker was inside prodding her to go. Finally Laura stepped inside to find that no one was there! But a beer was needed after all that deliberation. A creepy old man at the bar started attempting a chat when all of the sudden people started pouring out of the back room (previously unknown to Laura) where the comedy show had taken place. And sure enough Josh was there to save Laura from the old creeper at the bar!"

These two are wonderful, I've had the opportunity to spend some time with them through their wedding planning process and I am so happy to have been apart of their wedding weekend.

When Katie and Josh contacted me to shoot their wedding, I knew I wanted to be there to document it for when I asked them what they were most looking forward to on their wedding day, their answer was "whiffle ball and a bonfire" - it was then that I knew these two needed to be in front of my lens and I am so glad they were. This day was beautiful from the minute I pulled up to On Twin Lakes until a drove out after sunset. There were so many moments from this day that pop into my head and make me smile -- like when Katie and Josh both gave each other love letters to read before the first look and it was the same card and how Katie made their save the dates, wedding invitations and cut out beautiful pieces of paper and strung them all over the beautiful venue. These two live in Portland and I only had the opportunity to meet Katie once for coffee but walking into their wedding, I felt like I got to know them so much better. Katie and Josh started dating 10 years ago when they were both students at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Katie decided to sell a football ticket, and put up a sign with her number on it. Josh was the one who called, and they met in the lobby of their dorm for the exchange. Katie then ran back up to her room and told her roommate about the cute boy she had just met. She then forgot his name and for months referred to him secretly as 'ticket boy' until finally through AOL Instant messenger, Josh introduced himself and asked Katie on our first date. Katie told me was swept away by his romantic choice of fine dining, Chipotle. Then  10 years later they came back to Wisconsin to exchange vows, play whiffle ball and dance with all of their friends and family.

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.

A few weeks back Samantha and Ryan had the perfect day for a wedding - a wonderful sunny Saturday filled with loved ones from all over this world, an afternoon together at Wingra park and a Children's Museum rooftop ceremony that brought everyone (including me) to tears. The love these two have for each other is beautiful, spending time with them on their sailboat for their engagement session last month was my first glimpse of them together and hearing their vows was such a beautiful moment, and by far my favorite part of the day.  

You two are lovely, I am so happy to have been apart of your celebration! 

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 met Ericka my first week of moving to Madison and my first day of college, we quickly grew close and did many photography projects during school and continued to work together from time to time after we graduated. So when Ericka messaged me about her plans to get married, and that she was about to have a baby boy (named Riff who is perfect) and she wanted me to document her wedding, I was so very excited. This was a true DIY wedding, a wedding based on community - everyone having a part in it -- Ericka's mother made her dress, the food and the ceremony was in the backyard of Ericka's parents, and the home where Ericka grew up. A beautiful ceremony where at the end of it, Ericka and Jake planted a tree at the very spot they both said 'I do' .  The reception was in a friends barn filled with projects Ericka and Jake did together to make their wedding be about their life together. Jake and Ericka put together a playlist that made the party last all night and it was a wonderful day to witness and be apart of.

T  

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.

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 a beautiful October Saturday, Lyndsy & Stefen got married in Dodgeville at the beautiful Folklore Village.  I had such a wonderful time with these two and their friends and family - a beautiful, short ceremony in an old chapel followed by lawn games and cocktails to tacos and a night of dancing.  

On a chilly October Saturday Melanie & Dan were married and this lovely event was outdoors -- fleece lined leggings, blankets, fires and hand warmers for all and a wonderful wedding it was. I had the wonderful Jentri Colello second shoot and even though we were a bit chilly we had such a wonderful time documenting these two exchange their vows, meeting their furry children and eating pizza with all their guests.

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.

A few weeks ago I went back to my hometown of Appleton, Wi and photographed a wedding of the lovely Brittany Depis, who I went to High School with. I always love photographing weddings of someone I once knew, I love the little reunion we get to have, the stories we can swap and the chance to document such an important day in their lives and getting to meet the person they decide to spend the rest of their life with. I had such a wonderful time with Brittany, Ryan, their friends and their family, the ceremony was classic and beautiful, the sunshine stuck around for our photographs and the speeches at the dinner were some of the best I've witnessed -- Congrats to Brittany & Ryan Wirth, you two are lovely and were so much fun to photograph.  

"This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting love will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating. Life is short. Live your dream and share your passion." A beautiful quote that Larissa & Jake had at everyone's dinner table and something that will now live on my refrigerator and I will think about August 23rd, the date these lovely two got married, a little rainy and a little too humid but it didn't matter for these two celebrated their love with their friends and family.

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.  

Erin and Bob eloped back in December in their living room in Appleton, Wi with just 2 witnesses, their black lab and a pastor, a perfect set up for a wonderful couple.  A few weeks back Erin contacted me to see if they could put on their wedding clothes and do a little photo shoot with me - I was so excited for I have known these two for years and I was so happy when I found out they got married -- we had a blast on this photo shoot.