Rae + Jesii: A Beautiful Fall Wedding Day at Lakeview Park

These two had a beautiful and chill wedding ceremony surrounded by friends and family

Want to hear something adorable? When Jesii (they/them) proposed to Rae (they/them), it was while playing a board game! These two were playing an at home escape room game ( EXIT games) and Jesii changed the last two cards in the deck to be a proposal, so when they solved the game, it was actually Jesii popping the question!

I love this story (and also have a soft spot in my heart for nerdy, queer weddings and board games) and was SO excited to get to celebrate with Rae + Jesii and their friends and family!

Enjoy the photos of this awesome couple, and help me wish them a big congratulations!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Lakeview Park in Middleton, WI

Officiant: Becca Kopchak (friend of couple)

Florist: DIY

Catering: Pancake Cafe

Wedding Coordinator: Brenda Koeller

Helen + Joseph: An Intimate Wedding at Schoenstatt Shrine

Helen + Joseph have A love story that spans so many different life stages

Their families were friends growing up, so Helen + Joseph spent a lot of time together over the years, and even dated just after high school during Joseph’s gap year, but when Joseph went away to college, they decided that they’d prefer to break up than attempt to keep a long-distance relationship afloat for 4+ years, but they never forgot each other. Flash forward to 5 years after the amicable break-up, and they’re both living with their parents again during the shelter-in-place of the early 2020’s, and began chatting again, which led to Pandemic Dates (video calls, long walks, etc.), and eventually these two got back together and moved in once Joseph was finished with college, and he proposed shortly thereafter.

The JOY these two felt was so palpable! I’ve never seen two people more excited to be married, and it was such an honor to celebrate with them and their families at the intimate ceremony held at Schoenstatt Shrine! Help me wish them a big congratulations, and enjoy the photos of their beautiful wedding day!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Schoenstatt Shrine

Officiant: Father Michael Radowucz

Bridal Gown: Vera’s Bridal

Groom Tux: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Sola Wood Flowers

Erica + Matt: An Intimate Wedding Day At Home

This beautifully intimate wedding day was the perfect way to ring in the new year

Erica + Matt chose to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a small, intimate wedding day with their closest family and friends, and their kiddo Yvonne. It was everything that is sweet and good about weddings that I love, and I’m particularly fond of weddings that are so true to the personalities of the couple! I’m so, so happy to have been able to celebrate with these two! Help me wish them a big congrats!

—Sam

Francesca + Marshall: An Intimate Lakeside Winter Micro Wedding

Francesca + Marshall are having not one, not two, but three weddings this year

And wedding number one was on a beautiful winter day overlooking Lake Mendota in Madison, WI! Weddings number two and three are coming up later this year (with wedding number two being in England!), but these two wanted to have a small and intimate legal ceremony that was short and sweet (emphasis on the sweet!) with their closest family and friends.

Congrats to these two, and we can’t wait to celebrate with them for wedding number three!

—Sam

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

Boudoir is for Every Body

The beautiful thing about boudoir is the infinite variety and power of the folks who step in front of the lens

Boudoir is for every body. Enjoy some of my absolute favorites from this last year, and I can’t wait to take more!

—Sam

Cat + Sam: An Intimate Olin Park Wedding Day

Cat + Sam had their first look at the same spot where they first said “I love you”

And if that isn’t the sweetest thing you’ve heard today, I don’t know what to tell you. Their first “I love you” came at the first metal bench on Picnic Point, so on their wedding day, that’s exactly where they wanted to do their first look. It was a little rainy, and a little cold, but absolutely gorgeous, and I’m so happy I got to photograph them at such a special place!

For their wedding at Olin Park, they wanted to keep things casual with their closest family in attendance, and to celebrate with pizza and donuts afterward. I loved the purple and lavender accents they used for decor, and also of course the heating lamps because brrrrrr was it cold out!

Congratulations to Cat + Sam!

-Sam

Here are all the vendors who helped make Cat + Sam’s wedding day awesome:

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Olin Park

Officiant: Judge Jennifer Nashold

Bridal Gown: Lulus’s Bridal

Wedding Jewelry: Brilliant Earth (Bride’s necklace was her dad’s wedding ring)

Hair Stylist: Kismet Salon

Florals & Decorations: Ling’s Moment

Wedding Dessert: Level 5 Donuts

Wedding Pizza: Roman Candle

Lily + Aaron: A Lovely Wedding in the Park

These two beat the pre-winter chill and had a sweet, simple, and intimate wedding in the park, followed by a fun night of celebrating at One Barrel Brewing

And boy was it cold! But Lily + Aaron were troopers, and the spiked hot cider didn’t hurt either!

Lily was stunning, surprising no one, and look at the detail on the back of her dress! Holy smokes was that pretty! I love details like that!

There were some beautiful moments (obviously!) but there were also the funny ones, like when Lily’s Dad was about to walk her down the aisle, and remembered he still had his camo hat on and tossed it into a nearby bush. There was Lily’s veil trying to hit Aaron in the face over and over again, and succeeding a few times too. ;)

Congratulations to Lily + Aaron, and thank you both so much for inviting me to come hang out with you and celebrate! If you’d like to check out their engagement photos (which I would recommend since they’re so darn cute!) click here.

—Sam

Here are some of the awesome wedding vendors who helped make their wedding day fabulous!

Ceremony Venue: Towne of Burke Park (Reiner Road)

After Ceremony Drink Venue: Brocach on the Square

Reception Venue: One Barrel Brewing

Florals: DIY!

Erin + Eric: An Intimate Backyard Wedding

diy Lavender accents, a handmade dress, and some super tasty vegan pizza and cupcakes made this wedding all the more magical

Erin was working in IT at a hospital out in New York when she first met Eric. He was assigned as the Epic support for her hospital. They were long-distance friends for years, until 2016, when they both made their feelings known, and began dating long-distance, and eventually, Erin (and her 2 pups) made the move to Madison! Then, on a romantic weekend getaway in fall of 2017, Eric proposed (Erin obviously said YES) and the wedding planning started! 

For their wedding day, they wanted a small and intimate backyard wedding at their house, with their closest friends and family (and their beloved dog Daisy) celebrating with them! And they wanted their first look to be at the Epic campus in Verona, given how instrumental Epic was in their life together! Then they wanted to eat pizza, drink tasty drinks, and eat cupcakes, and I'd say they knocked all of those goals out of the park! 

It was so awesome to celebrate with Erin + Eric! You could tell when they recited their self-written vows just how much they mean to each other, and how happy they are to be 'officially' starting their life together as a married couple. Also, I LOVE that they had pizza at their wedding, cuz let's be real, who doesn't like pizza? 

Congrats to Erin + Eric, and thanks for letting me celebrate with you! 

--Sam

Here are all the amazing vendors (with links)that helped make their day magical! 

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Their house! 

Officiant: Mark Stuart (Family Friend) 

Wedding Dress: Custom Made Gown by Kate McKay (Bride's BFF)

Wedding Suit: Macy's

Bride's Jewelry : Custom Made by Kate McKay (Bride's BFF)

Groom's Wedding Band: Boone Rings (Etsy)

Bride's Engagement Ring: Raven Fine Jewelry (Etsy)

Bride's Wedding Band: Chalmers Jewelers

Hair & Makeup: Abby Paljieg (Groom's Sister)

Cupcakes: Bloom Bake Shop

Pizza: Roman Candle