Alisha + Nathaniel: A Black Earth Rainy Day Micro Wedding

Alisha + Nate may have had rain on their wedding day…

But like everything else about getting married during a pandemic, they rolled with it!

Alisha + Nate met during college through mutual friends, but they actually fell for each other while playing trivia together (Remember trivia? And places? And other people?) and like many of our clients over the last year, they had originally planned on a larger wedding day, but when COVID still wasn’t over in early 2021, they made the decision to have a small ceremony with immediate family this year at Nate’s parent’s house in Black Earth, WI, and then celebrate with a bigger crowd in 2022.

The wedding day was simple and lovely and in addition to immediate family, the wedding day was also attended by Alisha + Nate’s dog, Laverne. After a short and sweet ceremony, we went outside with some umbrellas for a bit to take full photo-advantage of the drizzle (I love rainy day wedding pics) and before we knew it, it was time for them to head to a celebratory dinner!

Enjoy the wedding pics of these two love birds, and join me in congratulating them on their wedding! I can’t wait for more celebrations with these two and their families in 2022!

-Sam

Here are the vendors (with links) that helped make Alisha + Nate’s wedding day awesome!

Wedding Dress: Lulus

Catering: Pig in a Fur Coat

Hair: love + light hairdressing

Makeup: Julia Grace Salon

Suit: NL Suits

Flowers: Sweet Pea Floral

Erin + Matt: A Halloween Micro Wedding

Mad Scientist Meets Library Science at this Halloween Micro Wedding

Erin + Matt had originally planned for a much larger wedding at the Madison Central Library downtown, but like so many weddings planned for this year, COVID-19 had other ideas.

Instead, these two shifted gears to plan the sweetest Halloween micro wedding ever, with safety for their guests & vendors being top of mind. I LOVE the mad scientist meets library science decor they went with, and how they had 100+ guests join them via Zoom to share in the celebrations!

Enjoy these photos of Erin + Matt’s awesome wedding day, and check out their engagement session here.

- Sam

Here are the wedding vendors (with links) who helped make their day awesome!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: AirBnB (John George Ott House)

Officiant: Janelle Greene (friend of the couple)

Wedding Coordinator: Lauren Schaefer, The Get Together Events Co.

Wedding Gown: Vera's Bridal & Monetti Tailoring

Groom’s Tux: The Black Tux

Bride's Engagement Ring: TQ Diamonds

Bride's Wedding Ring: Maksimoff Designs (Etsy)

Groom's Wedding Ring: Middleton Jewelers

Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Breanna D, JV Hair Artistry

Venue Decor, Wedding Party Flowers, and Flower Crowns: Daffodil*Parker

Wood Flowers for DIY Bridal Bouquet and Groom Boutonniere: Sola Wood Flowers (assembled and arranged by the Bride)

Wedding Cake: The Looking Glass Bakery

Catering: Adamah Catering

Placecards: JDCraftStudio (Etsy)

Paper goods (invite & postponement): Minted.com

Paper goods (save the date bookmarks): designed by bride

Katie + Axel: A Romantic Wedding at the Old Schoolhouse in Merrimac, WI

The Old Schoolhouse in Merrimac was the perfect backdrop for Katie + Axel’s wedding day!

Katie + Axel’s wedding was romantic, laid back, and full of personal touches. (Katie actually helped me decorate for my own wedding day in 2016, so I was not surprised at all to see how beautiful their wedding decorations were!) They were also lucky enough to have their wedding on one of the last gorgeous and warm (but not too warm) days of the year, surrounded by their closest friends and family. :)

Enjoy the photos from Katie + Axel’s wedding and help wish them a hearty congrats! Also, if you want to see their super cute winter engagement photos, check them out here.

-Sam

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

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Old Schoolhouse

Officiant: Yvonne Hooks (Bride’s Mom)

DJ: Theran Curkeet

Bridal Gown: Vera’s House of Bridals

Groom’s Tux: Men’s Wearhouse

Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands: Kay Jewelers

Dessert: Sandy Kakes (Cupcakes, Wisconsin Dells) and Asha Patton (cutting cake by a family friend)

Catering: Cliff “Cooks” (Bride’s Parents)

Sam + Joe: A Nature-Filled Madison Micro Wedding

While Sam + Joe originally planned on getting married in Colorado, COVID pushed them to have a small but mighty beautiful Madison wedding ceremony in 2020, with a Colorado celebration to come in 2021!

Colorado holds a special place in the story of Sam + Joe’s relationship, as it was the first place they said “I love you”. While I can’t wait to be able to help them celebrate their union there in 2021, I am also thrilled to have been able to help them capture their 2020 wedding here in Madison.

The UW Arboretum, Willy Street, Lake Monona, and Olbrich Gardens are some of Sam + Joe’s favorite nature-y spots in Madison (yes, I know nature-y isn’t a word) and we stopped at all of them on Sam + Joe’s wedding day for photos and fun.

I love all the little details that these two worked into their wedding day, including a reference to the mountain goat who was making obnoxiously loud noises during that first “I love you” in Colorado, a tie pin with Sam’s handwriting on it, bracelets with their important relationship dates, the DIY jewelry that Sam made for herself and the bridesmaids, and a whole host of other special little ways to celebrate. Sam + Joe even got me a pin shaped like a roll of film as a thank you (which led to me needing to explain to my 12 year old what film is, and now feeling old, but at least old with a cool pin).

Help me wish Sam + Joe a hearty congratulations friends, and stay tuned for part two next year!

-Sam

Here are the wedding vendors (with links) that helped Sam + Joe make their micro Madison wedding gorgeous!

Ceremony Venue: Olbrich Park

Reception Venue: Vintage Brewing Company Whitney Way

Officiant: Teresa Chrismore

Bridal Gown: Torrid (with alterations by Bride’s mom & sister)

Groom’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse

Bridesmaid Dresses: ModCloth

Wedding Bands: TQ Diamonds (Bride’s Rings by Verragio, Groom’s band by Dora)

Other Wedding Jewelry: DIY by Bride

Bride Hair Stylist: Aniu Salon in Middleton

Groom Hair Stylist: Freya at Blue Chip Barber Club

Florist: Naly’s Floral Shop

Wedding Cake: Craig’s Cake Shop

11 of Our Favorite Wedding Rings

Wedding Rings are as unique as the couples who wear them...

As you may know, Rob and I are HUGE fans of telling people's love stories, and so it would stand to reason that wedding rings, an outward symbol of the love and commitment a couple has for each other, are one of my favorite things to photograph! The variety is astonishing, and goodness knows we've seen so many beautiful wedding rings during our adventures, but here are a few of our absolute favorites! If you're not married yet, hopefully the gallery will inspire you when the time comes, and if you are married, we hope this little love letter to wedding rings serves as a reminder to cherish your own, and all that they symbolize in your marriage. 

--Sam

Heather + Mike: An Olin Park Micro Wedding

Heather + Mike, like many couples, had to make some adjustments to their wedding day plans

They had originally wanted to have a fall wedding, but when COVID threw a wrench in those plans, they decided to have an intimate micro wedding at the beautiful Olin Park in Madison, WI. It was short, sweet, and absolutely filled with love!

Heather + Mike have been inseparable since their first date at Geeks Mania, and it was an honor to photograph the beginning of the next part of their life together!

-Sam

Here are the vendors (with links) that helped make their wedding day awesome!

Ceremony: Olin Park

Wedding Planner: Plan Simply by CJ

Florals: Bridal Wish Design

Bridal Gown: ThredUp, Nordstrom Rack (Top is Adrianna Papell and skirt is Lauren Conrad)

Groom Outfit: Mens Wearhouse, Levi, Monroe Street Shoe Repair

Engagement & Bridal Wedding Band: Stag Head Designs

Groo Wedding Band: Alexi Russell Jewelry

Aubrey + AJ: A Luscious Summer Wedding at Fields Reserve

Aubrey + AJ’s wedding day was a perfect summer day in the Wisconsin woods!

Though the wedding day plans were a bit different than they have have been originally, thanks to COVID-19, Aubrey + AJ made the best of a tough situation and had an absolutely gorgeous wedding day surrounded by their closest friends and family, in the beautiful wooded area around The Fields Reserve.

The smiles, the laughs, the jewel-toned wedding colors, the perfect summer weather; their wedding was truly a celebration of their love with those dearest to them! Congratulations to Aubrey + AJ!

-Sam

p.s. You can check out their downtown Madison, WI engagement session here!

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

Wedding Coordinator: Sammi Hintz of Wishful Weddings

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Fields Reserve

Officiant: Daryl Castona

DJ: DJ Magic

Bridal Gown: Mori Lee Perla from Belle Saison Bridal, Austin, TX

Groom Suit: Joe Custom from Men’s Wearhouse

Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: The Ring Austin and Rustic & Main

Hair & Makeup: The Posh Beauty Bar

Wedding Party Attire: David's Bridal and Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Blooms By Brandi

Wedding Cake: The Looking Glass Bakery

Catering: Hyvee Catering

Ann + Sam: A Senate Parlor Micro Wedding

Ann + Sam had a beautiful micro wedding in the Senate Parlor of the Madison, Wisconsin Capitol Building

It wasn’t the wedding they originally planned, but Ann + Sam were determined to get married, while still being socially distanced and responsible in the age of COVID-19. They decided to go with a micro wedding at the State Capitol Building, with 8 people total, including the two of them, and us, plus some family dialed in on Zoom!

2020 has been such a tough and important year in so many ways. The pandemic, the disturbing instances of police brutality and racism bringing about a needed cultural shift; it’s an unforgettable time, and for two people who are politically active and conscious, as difficult as the change in wedding plans must have been, the day still seemed so fitting for these two.

It was a gorgeous and meaningful wedding day, and Ann + Sam were so happy, and honestly, it was perfect. We’re so happy to have been able to celebrate with these two!

-Sam

Here are the vendors (with links) who helped Ann + Sam celebrate:

Ceremony Venue: Wisconsin State Senate Parlor

Officiant: Judge Joanne Kloppenburg

Wedding Gown: Vera’s House of Bridals

Wedding Suit: Indochino

Wedding Band/Engagement Ring: Blue Nile (band), Jewelers Workshop (engagement ring)

Makeup & Hair: Rooted Culture

Florals: Sunborn Gardens

Andy + Jake: A Very Elemental Wedding

The elements of Fire and Earth played a big role in Andy + Jake’s wedding

Jake sees Andy’s personality as perfectly representing the element of fire and Andy sees Jake as a grounding influence and representing Earth . They had vests that were the color of their element, and they each chose to give a piece of themselves to other in their wedding ceremony, to symbolize their union. Andy’s ring is green on the inside showing that Jake is symbolically transferring that Earth element to him, and Jake’s is red to show that Andy is giving some of that fiery spirit to Jake. I love the thoughtful symbolism in not only the bands but in the very idea of marriage being a union where you give a part of yourself to another to help them, to balance them, and they do the same for you.

We were able to brave the cold (and the snow flakes!) to take some photos outside, and throw around the rugby ball for a bit, which is a passion for both Andy and Jake, and then we stepped back inside for the wedding ceremony and celebration!

Andy + Jake’s wedding day was full of love, joy, and donuts, which is just about the best kind of wedding day I can think of. I’m so glad I was able to celebrate with these two!

—Sam

Here are the wedding day vendors that helped make Andy + Jake’s wedding awesome!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Goodman Community Center

Officiant: William Annis

Wedding DJ: Spike Bolen

Wedding Bands: Embr

Wedding Donuts: Greenbush Bakery

Catering: Working Class Catering

Cary + Lena: An Under-The-Stars Themed Wedding

Romantic aF, this under the stars wedding gave us all the happy feelings!

Cary + Lena first met in college in 2005. They stayed in touch for some time, and well, one thing led to another and those things eventually led to a birthday in 2018!

When I first talked with them about their wedding, I knew it was going to be a good one! For one, I loved how they were a perfect mix of practical and excited (which I think is basically my whole personality boiled down into one sentence), and for two, who doesn’t love an Under the Stars themed wedding?!

The wedding day itself was gorgeous, but what I loved the most was the little stuff, like how Cary + Lena did their own thing in ways that worked for them, like getting ready together instead of having a first look, and taking photos at the Madison Municipal Building (which apparently is a more romantic location than I would have given it credit for), and having vegan and vegetarian fare for the wedding appetizers and dinner (Y-U-M)!

We loved celebrating with these two! Enjoy the photos, and please join me in wishing a hearty congratulations to Cary + Lena!

-Sam

Here are the vendors (with links) that helped to make this Under the Stars wedding even more magical!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Madison Masonic Center

Officiant: Dan Lindstrom

Bridal Gowns: Cary - Vera's / Lena - David's Bridal

Wedding Jewelry: Cary's ring - Chalmer's

Hair + Makeup: Union Hair Parlor

Florist: Sweet Pea Floral

Wedding Cake & Desserts: Bloom Bake Shop

Catering: Green Owl

Lynn + Brian: A Colorful and Romantic Summer Wedding

Come for the super sweet couple, stay for the kitties and the live band!

Lynn + Brian are two of the sweetest humans ever. They are so fun and joyful that they couldn’t help but have an amazingly joy-filled wedding day! We started the day off at the First Unitarian Society, where the ceremony took place. Lynn + Brian opted to do a first look (and you know we love those!), and had both teared up before we even got them to the rendezvous spot!

As we went through the day, I was particularly struck by the care and tenderness Lynn + Brian showed to each other constantly. Wedding days can be stressful, and anyone would be forgiven for letting that stress get under their skin a bit, but these two were as cool as cucumbers (do the kids still say that?) and were just so damn sweet to each it made me smile the whole day.

After the ceremony and the formal photos, we made a pit stop at their new house to take some photos with their two kitties (which we also did for their engagement photos, which you can see here) which was a first for us as far as wedding photos with pets goes!

After the photos with the kitties, we headed to the UW Arboretum for some beautiful nature-y shots, then we went on to Willy street, home of all the coolest murals, to take more photos!

The reception was at the High Noon Saloon, complete with a phenomenal live band and everything! The celebrating that went on at the reception was awesome, and the band kept the dance floor full all night!

The day was, honestly, pretty perfect and we are so excited to have been able to celebrate with Lynn + Brian and their friends and family! Congrats you two!

-Sam

Here are the kickass vendors (with links) that made their day even more wonderful:

Ceremony Venue: First Unitarian Society

Reception Venue: High Noon Saloon

Officiant: Rev. Jerry Mosser

Band: Blue Water Kings

Groom’s Tux: Lucca Men’s Clothing

Wedding Jewelry (Rings): Chalmers

Hair: Hattie Chamberlin (IG: @anomaly.beauty)

Florist: daffodil*parker

Event Coordinator: Ashley Kuehnel of Midwestern Bride

Wedding Cake & Desserts: Mai Kou Vang (IG: @kousteroni)

Catering: Upstairs Downstairs Catering

Table & Chair Rental: Event Essentials

Decor Rental: A La Crate Rentals

Bailey + Mason: A Romantic Orpheum Theater Wedding

Bailey + Mason had a romantic as hell wedding at the orpheum in madison, wi

When asked to tell a little story that gave me a glimpse into what their love was all about, Bailey said frankly that she was reminded Mason was the one every time he put up with her puns (and vice versa) and I think that says a lot about how much these two value having a good time together (and a good laugh because puns are hilarious)!

Hanging out with the Bailey’s side of the wedding party during the getting ready portion of the day was nothing short of magical! We sang along to Toto’s Africa (as one does) and just generally had a ball. When it was time for the first look, Bailey made her entrance via that awesome staircase in Orpheum’s grand lobby, and then we were off for some fun rainbow colored wedding party photos, including a guest appearance from Woodford, their Chow/Lab mix!

The ceremony was gorgeous (I’m gonna be honest, I wasn’t sure how hard lighting would be in the balcony of the Orpheum, but it was pretty sweet and if any of you are considering getting married, there, you should do it!) and the reception was fun and funny and filled with joy; All the things a wedding reception should be, including some pretty hilarious toast pranks!

Enjoy the photos of these two, and join me in wishing a big congratulations to Bailey + Mason!

- Sam

Here are the vendors (with links) that helped make their day A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Orpheum

Officiant: Casey Keyes (bride’s cousin)

Bridal Gown: Vera’s House of Bridals

Groom’s Suit (and all wedding party suits): Generation Tux

Wedding Jewelry: Luo Jewelry

Hair Stylist: ANiU Salon and Spa

Makeup: DIY by the Bride!

Florals: DIY

Event Coordinator: Sarah Davidson with Harmonious Union Events

Wedding Cake + Desserts: Bloom Bake Shop (2 small cakes) and Costco (sheet cake)

Catering: Blue Plate Catering