Katie + Erin: A Big Gay Camp Wedding in Door County

Katie + Erin planned a gorgeous Fall wedding day at Peninsula State Park in Door County

Katie told me that she and Erin spent one of their first dates hiking, and their first trip together was a rain-soaked camping trip in, you guessed it, Door County. These two love the outdoors, and as a family (with Erin’s daughter Evey), they spend as much time outdoors as they can. So when it came to planning their wedding day, they knew they wanted the picturesque backdrop of Door County’s Peninsula State Park!

With a wedding hashtag like #biggaycampwedding you know you’re going to have a great time, and I absolutely did. It was a joy-filled day and Erin + Katie worked in so many special touches. Their vows were made not only to each other, but also to Evey (as every blended family should consider doing), which was the most precious moment of the day and reminded me of my own wedding, where my son walked me down the aisle, just like Erin’s daughter, wearing a badass suit just like her mom, walked Erin down the aisle.

We not only got to enjoy the beautiful weather the weekend had in store, but also got to punk around Peninsula State Park for photo opportunities, including the spooky Pioneer Cemetery after sunset, which was awesome, just like everything else about Erin + Katie’s wedding day!

Help me wish these two brides a very hearty congratulations, and enjoy the photos!

—Sam

Here are the vendors that helped make their wedding day awesome!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Weborg Point Shelter - Peninsula State Park

Officiant: Nik Shier

Hair Stylist: Revel Salon

Wedding Rings/Bands: Bride Band - Blazer Arts on Etsy and Bride Ring - Moonkist Designs, LLC

Bridal Suits: Bindle and Keep

Bridal Bow Tie (Erin): Jack and Miles

Florist: Bee Enchanted Florist

Desserts: Morgan the Pie Lady

Catering: The Wild Tomato

Table/Chair Rental: Stoughton Lumber Rentals

Patrick + Aaron: A Memorial Union Terrace Wedding

Patrick + Aaron had an amazingly fun wedding day at the iconic Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, WI

Their wedding was one of the first weddings we’ve done this year that felt a little more like “the before times” and it was wonderful to get to see them enjoy such a long-awaited (and once postponed) wedding day in true Madison-style at the Memorial Union Terrace!

We loved getting to celebrate in style with these two and their friends and families (and it was so fun to be on a party bus again!) Congratulations to Patrick + Aaron!

-Sam

Here are the wedding vendors (with links) who helped make Patrick + Aaron’s wedding day awesome!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Memorial Union Terrace

DJ: Amy Midle, Polished Entertainment

Hair Stylist: Nichole Mick, All About You Salon & Spa

Florist: Kelly Deterding, Heather Hill Floral Design

Dessert: Madison Sourdough

Catering: Wisconsin Union

Matt + Drew: A Willy Street Summer Engagement Session

Matt, Drew, and Olly had a great portrait session on Willy Street!

Matt + Drew and their furry son Olly joined me for an engagement session on a not too hot summer day, and we had a blast, as well as a great walk up and down Willy Street! Enjoy the photos from this sweet summer session. I can’t wait for the wedding in 2022!

-Sam

Charlie's Newborn Portraits

Chelsea, Doug, and Charlie had a Pride-themed family session to celebrate Charlie’s birth!

Charlie’s newborn session was filled with cuteness (obviously), matching outfits, and Pride-themed apparel. I was so happy to get to celebrate Charlie with Chelsea.+ Doug! Enjoy this adorable family and welcome to the world, Charlie!

-Sam

Terry + Leah: A Rainbow Wedding at the Goodman Community Center

Terry + Leah had a happy and colorful wedding day, complete with Ring Bear!

Terry + Leah, like a lot of folks getting married during the pandemic, decided to do things a little differently on their wedding day. They had a very intimate ceremony in March, and are planning a bigger reception celebration in October.

Small and intimate doesn’t mean boring though, and Terry + Leah’s wedding day was fun and joyful, and full of little touches (beautiful lights and rainbow accents and so many sequins!!!!) and big touches, like having a Ring Bear (I still giggle about this every time I think about it)!

Congratulations, Terry + Leah, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you for round two in October!

-Sam

Here are the wedding vendors (with links where available) that helped make their wedding day wonderful!

Ceremony Venue: Goodman Community Center

Officiant: Eldonna Hazen, Senior Minister, First Congregational UCC

Wedding Jewelry: Jewelers Workshop

Hair Stylist: Serena of Serena's Hair Now

Brunch Catering: Lily Kilfoy

Cupcakes: Daisy Cafe and Cupcakery

Jax's Senior Portraits in the Arboretum

This is an interesting year for senior portraits, because it’s been an interesting year for seniors

Hearing Jax talk about how he and his friends spent their time in Junior year compared to this year reminds me of the struggles we’ve all had adjusting to the curveballs 2020 has thrown at us, but I’m always amazed at how adaptable young adults are. I’m hoping before senior year is over, Jax can safely get back to eating ice cream with friends over lunch. ;)

Here’s to this year’s seniors, especially Jax!

-Sam

Dotti + Kim's Surprise Proposal

Dotti surprised Kim with a proposal at the iconic Madison bar, The Shamrock

There are few things I love more than proposals (maybe weddings), and I have a soft spot in my heart for the Shamrock, so I was all about this surprise proposal!

Enjoy the photos, and join me in wishing Dotti + Kim a big congratulations!

-Sam

A Pride-Filled Family Portrait Session

Families Supporting Each Other Is One of My Favorite Things

And that’s why the story of Bailey and his family is pretty inspiring! It was while watching Drag Race with his Mom that Bailey first realized that he was transgender, and also where he discovered a love of drag (I didn’t even know Drag Kids was a thing, but it is and it’s awesome!)

Dana, Bailey’s Mom, contacted me to take family photos (outdoors and socially distanced) for an article that was being written about Bailey and his transition. I had a wonderful time spending a warm evening outdoors with Bailey’s family, and am excited to share some of my favorite photos from the session!

You can read more about Bailey’s journey and how his family supported him here and you can also follow Bailey @Nemo_Drag on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook!

-Sam

Andy + Jake: A Very Elemental Wedding

The elements of Fire and Earth played a big role in Andy + Jake’s wedding

Jake sees Andy’s personality as perfectly representing the element of fire and Andy sees Jake as a grounding influence and representing Earth . They had vests that were the color of their element, and they each chose to give a piece of themselves to other in their wedding ceremony, to symbolize their union. Andy’s ring is green on the inside showing that Jake is symbolically transferring that Earth element to him, and Jake’s is red to show that Andy is giving some of that fiery spirit to Jake. I love the thoughtful symbolism in not only the bands but in the very idea of marriage being a union where you give a part of yourself to another to help them, to balance them, and they do the same for you.

We were able to brave the cold (and the snow flakes!) to take some photos outside, and throw around the rugby ball for a bit, which is a passion for both Andy and Jake, and then we stepped back inside for the wedding ceremony and celebration!

Andy + Jake’s wedding day was full of love, joy, and donuts, which is just about the best kind of wedding day I can think of. I’m so glad I was able to celebrate with these two!

—Sam

Here are the wedding day vendors that helped make Andy + Jake’s wedding awesome!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Goodman Community Center

Officiant: William Annis

Wedding DJ: Spike Bolen

Wedding Bands: Embr

Wedding Donuts: Greenbush Bakery

Catering: Working Class Catering

Michelle + Alice: An Intimate Lakeside Madison Wedding

Michelle + Alice had a laid-back and family-centered summer wedding overlooking gorgeous lake Mendota

When Michelle first approached me about photographing her wedding to Alice, she was up front that it was going to be a small shindig, and that they were only looking for a small number of photos, but one of the things that was most important to her was being able to have photos not just of her and Alice, but also of the two of them with Michelle’s 5 year old daughter, Maddie as well.

Michelle talked a lot about how special the relationship was between Alice and Maddie, and as a person who knows how pivotal a step-parent relationship can be (and so thankful that my kiddo has two amazing step-parents who love him dearly and who he loves just as much), it was so wonderful to see the really neat bond between Alice and Maddie.

On the day itself, both brides looked joyful and radiant (love has that effect on folks), and so damn happy and excited it made me smile from ear to ear! After the first look at Alice’s parents’ house, we headed over to a friends house right on Lake Mendota for the wedding ceremony! Right when I met Maddie, she dubbed me ‘her’ photographer, and proceeded to show me the dolls that Michelle + Alice made at her request that looked like the two of them (who Maddie calls Mama and Mommy, respectively). I was impressed by the ingenuity of the dolls, because, as Michelle pointed out, it’s actually pretty hard to find a butch lesbian asian doll, so they basically made one, and I’d say they did a pretty great job.

Once everyone had a little food in them, it was time for the ceremony. For what was to be a fairly short ceremony, I was moved to tears on more than one occasion as Michelle + Alice not only promised to love and care for one another, but also read their own vows to Maddie centered around family and unity. *I’m not crying, you’re crying*

The ceremony ended and as I packed up to head out, I still had that big smile on my face because Michelle + Alice’s wedding was a sweet reminder of how amazing love can be, and because I could tell these two awesome humans view love similarly to how I do, which is a thing you do, not just a thing you feel.

Enjoy the photos, and thank you for having me there to celebrate with you!

-Sam

Sarah + Mabel: A Pretty Freaking Magical Northside Wedding

Dinosaurs, Tetris, and Rainbows, Oh my!

From the second I first met Sarah + Mabel, I knew they were one of a kind, and that their wedding was going to be amazing. What I didn’t know was just just how much fun we’d have celebrating with Sarah + Mabel and their friends and family! We may or may not have danced the Time Warp during the tail end of the reception. ;)

The theme of the day was dinosaurs (yay!), Tetris (Mabel is a champion at Tetris), and rainbows, and it came together so beautifully! Seriously, check out those bouquets!

More than just an amazing wedding though, these two share a love that is so ridiculously pure and joyful that it’s hard to put into words, so I’ll let Sarah say it for me:

“We both love to make each other laugh. No one gets my sense of humor like Mabel does, and that's the main reason a mutual friend set us up seven years ago. Whenever I'm on the brink of tears, she knows the right thing to say to build me back up and make me smile. And going from tears to laughter is a wonderful thing. Whether cooking, on a roadtrip, exploring Madison or walking with our dog, we just make a great team!”

This type of love is something so special, it’s a joy to witness. We are so honored to have been able to celebrate with these two and their families, and wish them all the joy in the world!

—Sam

p.s. If you’d like see their AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL engagement photos, check them out here.

Here are all the kickass vendors (with links) who helped make Sarah + Mabel’s day so wonderful!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Warner Park Community Recreation Center

Officiant: Lindsey Joo (friend of brides)

Wedding DJ: Patrick with Kuhl Entertainment

Hair Stylist: Union Hair Parlor

Florist: Naly’s Floral Shop

Event Coordinator: Shantastic McAwesome (of the Mad Rollin’ Dolls)

Wedding Desserts: Cake by Bloom Bakeshop & Cupcakes by Looking Glass Bakery

Table/Chair Rental: Event Essentials

Catering: Working Class Catering & Blue Plate Catering

Megan + Bri: An Intimate State Capitol Wedding

This micro wedding was super sweet and colorful! 

Megan + Bri met at a roller derby after party at Plan B, spent the evening talking about My Little Pony, and everything just clicked from there! They love spending time together fishing, hiking, watching PBS, and playing games, or cuddling with their two kitties, Little and Georgia! 

Their wedding was very intimate, with just their two sets of parents, Bri's sister, and Megan's aunt, and was absolutely lovely. Megan's dad bought a rainbow umbrella in case of rain, and while it wasn't originally part of the plan, pretty much everyone in attendance had their picture taken with the umbrella, even Judge Kloppenburg! 

It was such an honor to photograph their wedding, celebrate with them, and cheer with the bystanders at the Capitol building when they said 'I Do'! Congratulations to Megan + Bri! 

--Sam 

Here are all the vendors (with links) that helped make their wedding day awesome! 

Ceremony Venue: The Wisconsin State Capitol Building

Officiant: Judge Kloppenburg

Megan's Dress: Brandi's Bridal 

Bri's Suit: Men's Wearhouse

Rings: Family Heirlooms

Florist: Klein's Floral