Wes + Sam: A Gorgeous Fall Wedding Day

Who knew what hating pink starbursts would lead to…

Sam + Wes met on Hinge, where Sam’s answer to the “unpopular opinion” question (that he hated pink starbursts) kicked off an intriguing conversation that turned into a lasting commitment, that turned into a marriage to celebrate that commitment! Which is absolutely amazing (even if I love pink starbursts).

The wedding day they planned with the help of their families was phenomenal and had so many sweet touches, including a guest “book” that was actually a phone (where you could leave a message for the couple!), a chest full of blankets in case folks got cold, an outdoor dance floor under the stars, and fake mustaches for the wedding party!

While the day started off rainy, it cleared up just in time for Sam + Wes’ ceremony. The wedding day itself (both ceremony and reception) was held at the property of Wes’ mom and stepdad, and it was the perfect backdrop for such a joyful celebration.

Help me wish these two a big congratulations, and enjoy the photos!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Wes’ Mom & Stepdad’s House

Officiant: Angela Santanni (friend)

Hair & Makeup: Rooted Culture Salon

DJ/Band: William Chorski

Catering: Blue Plate Catering

Wedding Coordinator: Brooke with Your Day, Your Way

Decor Rentals: Tables/chairs/bar/dinner service rentals from Event Essentials; Tent and Dance floor rentals from Madison Party Rental

Traci + Nicci: Wedding Portraits in a Wooded Wonderland

Traci + Nicci wanted to do their wedding portraits in a place that is very special to them

So we headed out to Donald County Park in Mt. Horeb to stop at some of their favorite spots along a trail they used to hike and run when they lived in Madison. It was a gorgeous day, and the spots they picked couldn’t have been more beautiful. Their actual wedding was just a few days before, which was an intimate gathering of close friends and family that they hosted at their house, but they knew they wanted their wedding portraits at the park, and I’m so, so glad they did, because it was just perfect! These adventuring folks climbed trees and rocks and braved all kinds of things to get fun photos, and it was such an honor to get to celebrate with these two!

Help me wish these two a big congratulations!!!

—Sam

Terri + Megan: An Intimate and Joyful Queer Wedding Celebration

Believe it or not, These two had not one but two failed proposal attempts

Megan (they/them) had planned to propose to Terri (she/her) on a gorgeous waterfall hike in Iceland, but COVID ruined those plans, and then less than two months later, Terri planned to propose to Megan at Disney World, but plans were thwarted by a hurricane! After all the plans gone awry, they both proposed to each other sweetly tucked away in their house and then began work on planning a small, intimate celebration in September!

Their wedding day was filled with personal touches, most importantly a beautiful memorial to family members who have passed, including Megan’s brother, and Terri’s father. Other personal touches include their dogs, Lars and Apollo walking each of them down the aisle. Megan gave Terri a beautiful gold bracelet that contained a locket with pictures of Terri’s dad. Terri gave Megan gorgeous custom cufflinks with their various furry friends’ faces. Megan made Terri’s bouquet and their own boutonniere out of pages from their favorite book! (The book is House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, which is one of my favorite books also!) Megan’s dad wore a tie Megan colored for them back in 1994 and he also made the s’more flavored wedding cake (which was delicious)! Megan + Terri had custom cocktails made for the celebration, and for their wedding favors? They hand-picked different books for each of their guests and wrote a person inscription in all of them.

It was a beautiful and deeply personal wedding day with so much love, laughter, and joy. I am so, so grateful to have been able to celebrate with these two and their family and closest friends! Help me with them a big congratulations!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Air BnB

Hair Stylist: Union Hair Parlor

Bridal Jumpsuit: Strike Bridal Bar

Mx. Suit: Bindle & Keep

Custom Cocktails: Mint Mark

Madi + Rysa: An Intimate, Queer Downtown Madison Wedding

Madi + Rysa’s wedding day was filled with fun and laughter (which in my opinion is the perfect kind of wedding day)!

Madi (she/her) and Rysa (they/them) met at Plan B originally (A queer Madison bar that sadly is no more) and began hanging out more and more, and planning gay movie nights, Drag Race marathons, and other fun outings, until they made things official. Even though they wanted a small and intimate wedding day at the Capitol building, it was important to them to work in photos at the formerly Plan B “L-O-V-E” mural on Willy St., and we had so much fun goofing off, doing cartwheels, and dancing pre-ceremony.

Once it was time for the ceremony, it was short and sweet (folks after my own heart - mine was also very short and sweet), and then onto more pictures with family and very close friends, and a walk around State street, as well as some fun photo ops with their beloved dog, Trixie (who is a VERY good doggo)!

It was a beautiful and hot summer day, perfect for the start of a very big adventure.

Congrats to Madi + Rysa!!!

—Sam

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

Ceremony Venue: Wisconsin State Capitol Building

Jewelry: Rysa’s Band - Chalmer’s Jewelers | Madi’s Ring - Kessler’s Diamonds

Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal

Wedding Tux: Jazzman