Alba + Erika: A Laid Back Bilingual Backyard Wedding

Erika + Alba’s wedding was not only gorgeous, it was also their dog Stella’s 10th birthday!

It was obviously very kind of Stella to share her special day with her moms, and what a day! The weather was perfect, the decor lush, and there were small multicultural elements to the day that I absolutely loved, including lots of ceramic bulls (see how many you can spot)!

The wedding ceremony itself was bilingual, as Alba + Erika used both Spanish and English to communicate their vows to one another. The ceremony was short, but oh so sweet, and was immediately followed by a toast from Erika + Alba to their guests, but also very importantly, their fur baby Stella on the occasion of her 10th birthday! She was too busy rooting around in the garden to pay much attention to the toast, but got her fill of love, pets, and sunshine throughout the day!

After the guests departed for the Muskellounge for the wedding reception, we took some time for couples portraits, including photos of these two digging up a bottle of Wild Turkey that they’d buried in Erika’s mom’s garden (I honestly don’t know why it was buried, but I’ve decided to make up increasingly implausible stories in my head about it for the rest of my life), and photos of the two newlyweds and their girl Stella!

I can’t believe how lovely their wedding day was, and I am so happy to have been able to celebrate with these two! Help me wish Alba + Erika a BIG congratulations (and a great big happy birthday to Stella as well)!

—Sam

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

Ceremony Venue: Erika’s Mom’s Backyard

Reception Venue (not pictured): Muskellounge

Officiant: Alba’s Brother-in-Law

Daliah + Jakob: A Book Lovers Dream Wedding

There’s not much that is more romantic than a love of reading

Daliah + Jakob celebrated their union surrounded by friends and family from all over the world at the Madison Public Library central location (which as we all know is a place of wonder and beauty and knowledge!) and it was a perfect wedding day! The weather was gorgeous too, a happy bonus in an unpredictable Wisconsin spring!

Enjoy the photos of this amazing couple and help me wish them a BIG congratulations!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Madison Public Library

Officiant: Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman

Hair & Makeup: Aniu Salon

DJ: Terrence with Kuhl Entertainment

Florist: DIY by Bride

Desserts: Madison Sourdough

Catering: Buck & Honey’s

Wedding Coordinator: Shannon with Simply Weddings

Decor Rentals: Velvet Rentals

Becca + Kramer: A Sunny Nature Center Wedding

Tacos and Music and Ice Cream, Oh My! 

Pretty much all of my favorite things wrapped into one kickass wedding! Becca + Kramer planned the perfect day together, celebrating with friends and family at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona, WI. 

These two met in 2012 while studying Geography at UW-Madison, and began dating in 2013. They're now both PHD students in the Geography program. Guests came from all over the country to celebrate, since Kramer is from the Seattle, WA area, and Becca is originally from Washington, D.C., and they wanted to have their wedding in their adopted hometown of Madison, WI (or about in the middle for folks coming from near the coasts). 

The day turned out beautifully, the food (and ice cream) was delicious, and Becca + Kramer were so undeniably happy, it was breathtaking! Congratulations to Becca + Kramer! We are so happy to have been able to celebrate with you! 

--Sam 

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

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Wedding Band (cocktail hour): The North Westerns

Bridal Gown: BHLDN

Bridal Jewelry: The Fox & Stone / Studio Jewelers

Hair: Tess @ Alan Koa

Florist: Hilltop Community Farm

Day Of Coordinator: Samantha Hintz with Wishful Weddings

Dessert: Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream

Catering: El Dorado Grill

Table/Chair Rental: Madison Party Rental

Beer & Wine: Cork 'n Bottle

Lia + Jeremy: An Offbeat, Multicultural Olin Park Wedding

Lia + Jeremy had a fun, laid-back BBQ wedding at Olin Park in Madison, WI 

They originally met while Lia was dating a good friend of Jeremy's, and started dating sometime later. That good friend actually stood up with them as a groomsmen on their wedding day (yay for ex-couples who are still friends)! They were also originally a long-distance couple, with Lia in Milwaukee and Jeremy in Chicago, so it was only fitting that Jeremy proposed to Lia in their at one of their favorite coffeeshops in Milwaukee, and then proceeded to have a weekend filled with visits to their favorite spots in Milwaukee as well. They also bonded over the TV show Community, so I feel a special kinship with these two! 

Lia + Jeremy wanted a laid-back BBQ style wedding, with a twist! Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her mom with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were wonderful! Her mom was pleasantly shocked, and Lia looked stunning in both her traditional American dress by Melissa Sweet Bridal Gowns, as well as her traditional Chinese gown! 

These two were so sweet and fun to work with! We feel blessed to have been able to celebrate with them! Congratulations Lia + Jeremy! Thanks for having us (and for the AMAZING food truck fare from Umami)! 

--Sam 

Here are the wedding vendors (with links) who helped make Lia + Jeremy's wedding day so special! 

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Olin Park

Officiant: Ann Baggett (an friend of the Bride + Groom) 

Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet Bridal

Tux: Black Lapel

Florals: DIY! 

Donuts: Greenbush Bakery

Event Coordinator: Vital Image

DJ: Vital Image

Hair & Makeup: Brideheads

Catering: Bauman's Natural Meats

Food Truck: Umami

Rentals (ceremony chairs): Mad Fox Party Rentals