Queer

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

 
 

Gretchen + Max: A Nature Lovers Dream Wedding

Max + Gretchen had a beautiful wedding celebration surrounded by the best nature has to offer

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is obviously one of the most gorgeous locations in Madison (and given how pretty Madison is, that’s saying something)! Gretchen (they/them) + Max (he/him) really leaned into the theme with flowers from the farmer’s market, picked up the morning of the wedding, and bright, bold colors for their wedding outfits and accessories!

The lovely and chill wedding celebration these two put together was not only ethically covid-cautious, but also built with neurodivergent comfort in mind, with a quiet area for people to hangout if they were getting overwhelmed, music that was on the softer side, and lots of things to keep hands busy at tables!

We’re so honored to have gotten to help these two celebrate their union! Help us wish them a BIG congratulations and enjoy the photos of their amazing wedding day!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Officiant: Carlie M (friend of the couple)

Wedding Jumpsuit: Torrid

Groom Suit: NL Suits

DJ/Band: Greg with Kuhl Entertainment

Florist: DIY from Dane County Farmer’s Market

Catering: El Pastor

 
 

Joel + Justin: A Maximalist Wedding for the Ages

Joel + justin combined their love of food and their love of art to make for one absolutely spectacular wedding celebration!

These two met like most couples do these days; online. But their love story is anything but average, and they brought that energy into their wedding day in a huge way!

Joel + Justin are both foodies who love to travel. They wanted to throw themselves into creating the perfect celebration of them as a couple and their friends, family, and chosen family! You wouldn’t believe all of the details these two thought of unless you were there, but I’m going to try my hardest to give you some highlights! Justin made all of the hors d'oeuvres for their guests himself, showing a wide range of different flavors and cuisines, and Joel made all the desserts (of which there were multiple options that all look phenomenal)! These two also handmade all of their wedding favors, which continued the food theme, and had little goodie bags that their guests could fill with tasty treats from the favors table, including honey, sourdough starters, cotton candy, dog treats, flavored salts, ramen mixes, and more! I feel like these two need to open their own Rose Apothecary but for food ASAP!

Other non-food related touches include Joel’s artistic flair showing itself in a myriad of ways! These two had an art installation in the foyer of Goodman Community Center’s Brass Works building that doubled as Joel + Justin’s living room, complete with record player, antique TV, strategically placed books and chairs, and the piece de resistance, a painting Joel is making of he and Justin! Each centerpiece was also a maximalist enthusiast’s dream, being themed on different regions of the world, and pulling in so many fun elements! A picture is worth a thousand words, so make sure to check them out below because seeing is believing!

Joel + Justin’s dogs, Gus and Bobo, were there to celebrate with them too, for photos before the wedding, and to walk down aisle with them, and even participate in the ceremony (mostly by interrupting very cutely). Speaking of ceremony, Justin + Joel did their own spin on a tea ceremony, in which they served tea to their wedding party and Joel’s mother, and later served to the entire group of guests during the first toast!

Last but not last, these two folded over 1000 paper cranes to use as place-card holders and as a beautiful backdrop for formal photos!

“We [were] striving to have a wedding that [was] out of the box and different than any wedding that anyone [had] ever been to before. We as a couple have always said that we are anything but normal and we wanted our wedding/reception to reflect that. By utilizing our individual skills, we added touches of ourselves throughout the day.” - Joel

Enjoy the amazingness that is Joel + Justin’s wedding , and help me wish them a BIG congratulations!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Goodman Community Center Brass Works Building

Officiant: Shoobie Shirley (friend of the couple)

Jewelry: Wedding Ring Store

Suits: NL Suits

DJ: Midwest Sound

Florist: DIY by Joel

Desserts: DIY by Joel (donuts from Greenbush Bakery)

Appetizers: DIY by Justin

Catering: Upstairs Downstairs Catering

Dog Handler: Kibbles & Kisses

Decor Rentals: Velvet Rentals

 
 

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

 
 

Cali + Cezanne: A Dairy-Loving Wisconsin Wedding Celebration

Cali + Cezanne got married in early september but wanted a wisconsin-based celebration with their midwest family and friends

And what a celebration it was! First though, I have to tell you the cutest thing ever, which is that before Cali (she/her) + Cezanne (they/them) starting dating, they were colleagues at work and Cali was trying to set Cezanne up with a friend. Good news for everyone then that Cali’s matchmaking efforts backfired, and instead, these two ended up together, and the rest is history!

Now onto the celebration! The wedding celebration was held at Seven Acre Dairy Company, which was absolutely the perfect venue for the festivities! The Wisconsin-themed wedding day was filled with small details that felt so homey and magical, and just wait until you see the outfit changes Cali + Cezanne had!

I am so honored that I got to celebrate with these two! Please join me in wishing them a big congratulations!!! Also, help me wish happy 90th birthday to Cali’s grandfather, who recently turned 90 and was surprised with a cake during Cali + Cezanne’s wedding celebration!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Seven Acre Dairy Company

Hair & Makeup: Megan Steiner (childhood friend of the bride’s)

Wedding Rings: Wwake for metal bands, and blue band for Cezanne is from Nora Kogan

Bridal Gown: Della Curve Bridal

DJ/Band: Kuhl Entertainment, Greg Morrow

Florist: daffodil*parker

Desserts: Seven Acre Dairy Company

Catering: Seven Acre Dairy Company

 
 

2024 Sun Prairie Pride Fest

Sun Prairie’s Pride Fest was a celebration of queer joy

It was an honor to get to photograph the 3rd annual Sun Prairie Pride Fest this year! The event was so joyful that I was smiling from ear to ear the entire time, and not just because of the delicious watermelon popsicles that were available! Enjoy the photos of this awesome event, held at Sun Prairie West!

—Sam

 
 

Amy + Anne: A Chic Downtown Sun Prairie Wedding

THese two enjoyed a beautiful summer wedding day in Sun Prairie!

Amy + Anne’s wedding day was one year to the day from their first kiss, and what a way to celebrate in style! They meticulously planned proposals to each other after picking out rings, but neither of them was able to wait until when they had planned, which just speaks to how excited Amy + Anne were to get going on spending the rest of their lives together!

Enjoy photos from this absolutely gorgeous queer wedding day!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Loft at 132

Officiant: Stacey Christenson (friend of brides)

Hair & Makeup: Studio XIXI

Wedding Rings: Skalitzky Jewelers

Gown: Vow'd

Suit: Indochino

DJ/Band: Kuhl Entertainment / Tauri Robinson

Florist: Sun Prairie Flowers by Hen and Chick

Catering & Desserts: Chef Dave

 
 

Hanna + Kait: A Picnic Point Engagement Session

Hanna + Kait have been to picnic point exactly three times

The first time was their very first date back in the early days of the Pandemic. The second was when Hanna tricked Kait into going to Picnic Point using subterfuge so that Hanna could propose to Kait at the same spot they had their first date. And the third was when we went there this week to take engagement photos!

Though they warned me ahead of time that neither of them has ever had professional photos taken, I could tell immediately these two were pros already, because look at how freaking adorable they are in front of the camera! They are so sweet and loving with each other, and it was an absolute joy to spend time with them!

We can’t wait to celebrate with these two next year when they tie the knot!

—Sam

 
 

Erin + Rachel In Their Gayest Performance Yet

Rachel + Erin had a introvert’s dream wedding

A not overwhelming number of people, board games, crafts, ice cream & cookies, a t-shirt toss instead of a first dance, chill vibes, etc., which is to say, it was a perfect day for these two! A friend even made Rachel (they/them) and Erin (she/they) the most amazing wedding day poster in the style of old cinemascope films that touted this wedding being their gayest performance yet, which is honestly the coolest thing I’ve ever seen (I would absolutely hang this poster at my house and I’m not even in it, that’s how awesome it is)!

This was our last wedding of the 2023 wedding season and I was thrilled to end on such a high note! Help me wish these two a big congratulations on getting gay married, and enjoy the photos!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Goodman Community Center

Officiant: Erin’s Mom

Hair Salon: Thorps

Wedding Bands & Rings: Jeweler’s Workshop

Rachel’s Dress: H&M

Dried Flower Arrangements: Moon Flower

Floral Centerpieces: Goodman Community Center TEENworks program

Desserts: Cookies by Bloom Bake Shop and Ice Cream from The Chocolate Shoppe

Catering: Goodman Community Center

 
 

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