Alysse + Sam: A Beautiful Fall Wedding At Olbrich Botanical Gardens

These two had a fun and colorful wedding with lots of cute and nerdy details that we loved!

They’re also a dating app success story! The very first date, Sam made Alysse dinner, and absolutely knocked it out of the park with some chocolate chip cookies too, and by the third date, they were snuggling up and watching How to Train Your Dragon and making things official.

We loved the small nods to fandoms like Zelda, How to Train Your Dragon, etc., and you KNOW we love non-traditional wedding dresses and wedding capes! The whole wedding day was absolutely gorgeous, fun, and filled with joy, and we’re so happy to have been able to celebrate with Sam + Alysse! Help us wish these two a BIG congrats, and enjoy the photos of their wedding day!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Officiant: Maggi Hilgers (Friend of Couple)

Hair & Makeup: Headlines Mobile Hair and Makeup

Jewelry: The couple made their own wedding rings (whatttt?!) at RingRam in Japan!

Gown: Flora & Lane

Florist: DIY Dried Flowers

Desserts: The Baked Lab

Catering: Blue Plate Catering

Jill + Kyle: A Laid Back Wedding at Common Grounds

This chill farm wedding was perfect for Jill + kyle’s easygoing vibes

What better way to celebrate a union than by throwing a fun party for your friends & family, and making it a choose-your-own-adventure experience?! These two also live on the property where the wedding took place, and so created explorer “Bingo” cards that encouraged guests to meander around the property, checking off items as they found them, with prizes for the first few folks to get Bingo! They also had the best damn snack bar I’ve ever seen, delicious pour-your-own drinks (with and without alcohol), and wood-fired pizza for their guests, and you could tell everyone was loving it!

Besides just being a beautiful venue for a wedding, the space almost brought back old-style camp vibes where you could just explore and have fun and find secret awesome places, like the barn silo they turned into a trampoline (yes really, it was awesome)!

The wedding ceremony itself was short and sweet (Jill + Kyle’s dog Lila supervised) and then we got to walk and ride all over the property to take photos and have fun, ending back up at the barn so these two could mingle with their guests while everyone snacked and got ready for pizza!

This was one of the most gorgeous wedding days I’ve had the honor to photograph. Help me wish Jill + Kyle a BIG congratulations on their wedding, and enjoy the photos of this super fun wedding day!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Common Grounds

Officiant: Friend of the Couple

Desserts: The Rolling Pin Bake Shop

Catering: Kim's Catering

Zoie + Kyle: A Fun and Colorful Downtown Wedding

This wedding day was filled love and jewel-toned gorgeousness!

Zoie + Kyle’s wedding day (held during the Taste of Madison) was absolutely beautiful and I love not only the jewel-tones but more importantly the smiles and love (and okay the pizza too!). Enjoy the photos of this gorgeous wedding day and help me wish these two a big congratulations!

—Sam

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

Ceremony: Madison, Wisconsin Capitol Building

Reception: Nottingham Cooperative

Officiant: Nik Checots

Gown: Fiore Dress

DJ: Hernán Ballard

Catering: Ian’s Pizza

Dessert: Bloom Bake Shop

Associate Photographer: Shanna Allen Photography (photos edited by Dutcher Photography)

Alisha + Rebecca: A Romantic and Intimate Downtown Elopement

These two had the sweetest wedding day celebration imaginable

When I first met these two for Rebecca’s surprise proposal to Alisha (check out the photos here), I knew their connection was something deeply meaningful! From their palpable joy during their private vows to one another, to their beautiful smiles and excitement during the ceremony, to the adorable little sweetheart cake for two, this wedding day was perfect in every way!

Help me wish these two a BIG congratulations!

—Sam

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

Ceremony: Capitol Building, Madison, WI

Officiant: Jennifer Nashold

Jewelry: Jewlers Workshop

Dessert: Disco Cherry Bakery

Associate Photographer: Melanie Renee Photography (photos edited by Dutcher Photography)

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

Hanna + Kait: A Chic Meets Laid Back Downtown Madison Wedding

Kait + Hanna’s wedding day was full of smiles and joy and absolutely beautiful

Also, who doesn’t love a queer wedding during Pride Month? No one I’d want to be friends with, that’s for sure!

These two met during July of 2020 (what a time, right?) at Picnic Point for a COVID-cautious first date, and the rest is history! They returned to Picnic Point again for their engagement photos, which you can check out here!

The ceremony itself took place at the Madison Central Library (the fanciest of Madison libraries) and was bright, fun, and filled with music. I kid you not, as the wedding party members were coming down the aisle, the string quartet was playing a song I knew I recognized but couldn’t put my finger on, until at the very end, I realized it was an instrumental rendition of Fat Bottom Girls by Queen, and if I hadn’t been wearing a mask, you’d have seen me smiling ear to ear.

After the ceremony, we headed to the Capitol Building in downtown Madison for couples photos (Hanna + Kait were troopers through the heat though, which was considerable), and then off to State Line Distillery for the reception! And holy smokes, State Line Distillery was such a fun venue! We’ve never photographed a reception there before and it was awesome! Loved those Cicada murals too!

Enjoy the photos from this sweet and fun wedding day, and help me wish Kait + Hanna a big congratulations!

—Sam

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

Ceremony Venue: Madison Public Library (Central Library)

Reception Venue: State Line Distillery

Officiant: Pat Werk

Hair & Makeup: Beauty Unveiled by Tia

Wedding Rings: Soha + Aubree

Hanna’s Suit: Bindle & Keep

DJ: Andrew Larson of Saturn’s 8 Entertainment

Florist: Robert Eimstad (family member)

Desserts: Bloom Bakeshop

Catering: Flour Girl & Flame

Wedding Coordinator: Sarah Robinson of OSO In Love Events

Gloria + Jerry: An Intimate Downtown Wedding

Jerry + Gloria had a beautiful and intimate ceremony in downtown madison

They were surrounded by their children, parents, and closest friends and family for a small and intimate ceremony at Grace Episcopal Church right on the square in downtown Madison. It was an insanely hot day, but these two looked effortlessly cool during their couples portraits before they headed to Eno Vino for cocktails and The Vintage for their small reception!

Help me wish these two a BIG congratulations on their wedding!

—Sam

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

Ceremony Venue: Grace Episcopal Church

Reception Venue: The Vintage (not pictured)

Officiant: Alberto (Friend of Groom)

Hair & Makeup: Allure Artistry

Wedding Bands: Zales (Gloria) + Kay Jewelers (Jerry)

Bridal Gown: Moments to Cherish

Groom Tux: Moments to Cherish

Florist: Melody Rose Designs

Desserts: The Vintage (not pictured)

Catering: The Vintage (not pictured)

Matt + Matthew: An Intimate Wedding at The Harvey House

Matthew + Matt’s wedding day was filled with rich colors, delicious food and drinks, and most importantly, so much love and joy

Fun story; I don’t always get to meet the couples that I work with ahead of their wedding day, so it’s not uncommon for me to arrive at a wedding and not know what the couple looks like. I arrived at the Harvey House a little early for Matt + Matthew’s wedding, and I saw there was another wedding taking place in a different part of the same building. I walked around scouting locations for a bit, and when I came back a few minutes before the photography start time, I saw two insanely stylish gentlemen in bold suits looking awesome, and I crossed my fingers that they were the couple I was going to work with, and (as you can see from the photos below), they were!

If you’ve read any of my other wedding blog posts, you know I’m a HUGE fan of small, intimate weddings, and Matthew + Matt’s wedding was so utterly perfect that it cemented my love of small weddings even more. The food was divine (thanks Harvey House!) and the mocktails were perfect (chef’s kiss), but the real treat of the day was watching these two be so supported and loved by their friends and family. Right now more than ever, seeing Queer couples supported by their community brings me to (happy) tears!

Help me wish these two a BIG congratulations, and enjoy the photos from this beautiful wedding day!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Harvey House

Officiant: Pat Lundin

Groom Tux: Indochino

Florist: DIY

Wedding Bands: Chalmer’s Jewelrs

Desserts: The Harvey House

Catering: The Harvey House

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

LeeAnn + Justin: A Chic Downtown Madison Wedding

These two wanted a simple and beautiful wedding and then a kickass party, and they definitely had both!

LeeAnn + Justin met on Hinge in the fall of 2021. From everything they said, it was one of those first dates you just never want to end. In 2023, Justin took a year to travel nurse. It was challenging to be apart for that long but it helped them up their communication game (a must for any successful relationship) and also helped them see how important they are to each other’s happiness. After getting engaged in August 2024, they planned this wedding day (which was a joy to attend) for their friends and family, and if you looked at either of their faces at any point during the wedding day, you could see how ludicrously in-love they are. Their honeymoon will be spent packing, as they prepare to head off on their next adventure (a cross-country move) together!

The Rigby feels like it was meant exactly for their wedding celebration too, and the mini dance party that broke out after the formal dances was epic! We left the wedding feeling awesomely energized and so happy to have been able to celebrate with LeeAnn + Justin!

Help me wish these two not only a BIG congrats, but also wish them good luck on their next adventure!

-Sam

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

Ceremony Venue: Monona Terrace

Reception Venue: The Rigby

DJ/Band: Greg at Kuhl Entertainment

Engagement Ring: TQ Diamonds

Bridal Gown: Bon Bon Belle

Groom Suit: Monetti Tailoring

Hair & Makeup: Melissa Ann Artistry + co.

Florals: White Fence Flower Company

Desserts: Greenbush Bakery

Wedding Coordinator: Becky Kolb (Bride’s Best Friend’s Sister)

Katie + Cody: A Magical Wedding in Lake Kegonsa State Park

Katie + Cody’s wedding day was as enchanting as the two of them

Okay listen, I’m a crier. I cry when I’m sad, I cry when I’m mad, I cry when I’m frustrated, but more important than all of those, I cry when I’m happy. I was in excellent company on Katie + Cody’s wedding day, because there were very few dry eyes in the park, including Cody + Katie themselves! There were huge smiles and tears of joy nearly every time I looked around, and it was so clear how much these two adore each other, and how happy their friends and family are for them!

The wedding day itself could not have been prettier, with gorgeous sunny weather, beautiful surroundings in the form of the forests of Lake Kegonsa State Park, and tasty food and desserts and drinks for everyone! It was a perfect wedding! Please help me wish Katie + Cody a BIG congratulations, and enjoy the photos of this sweet celebration of love!

—Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Lake Kegonsa State Park

Desserts: Bloom Bakeshop

Catering: Beef Butter BBQ