From the Bride-to-be:
This is our final year at Marquette University before graduating and getting married. So, we decided to meet on campus just before classes resumed and found some beautiful haunts for our engagement pictures. We wanted to celebrate our love and document some time in one of our favorite places before getting married and taking the next steps in life!
First thing’s first – I surely hope you voted today. If not, hurry up and exercise your civic duty!
Secondly, I don’t know about you, but something comes over me each time I thumb through a real wedding. I love the anticipation in the bride’s eyes as she’s getting ready. And, the smile on the groom’s face as he sees his bride walk down the aisle. Or how about those tears from the bride’s father? Each photo may carry a detail or showcase the stunning backdrop, but inside each photo is a memory – an emotion and a moment that someone gets to take with them for the rest of their life. Erika and Matt’s wedding has so many smiles, and many “smizing” (thanks, Tyra Banks) moments – the ones where you can really see it in their eyes.
Dana and Harley’s Wisconsin wedding is simple and classic. That’s what I love most about it. Her beautiful lace gown and the simple flower arrangements in bud vases. Her slate blue shoes (the Badgely Mischka’s that I’m a huge fan of) and flower in her hair are the sweetest of touches. It’s those simple details that can always make a bigger statement.
From the Photographer:
From the day’s start at the old world Pfister to the day’s end at the modern, leather-meet-brandy conservatory at Bacchus, everything about Dana and Harley’s wedding day oozed elegance. Her dress struck me with its lacy, timeless beauty and how she paired it with modern vintage touches of a glass bead belt and crystal cuff. Where Dana was giddy, Harley was cool – throughout the early part of the day I kept seeing him bent over a piece of paper, studying something in hand. It turns out it was the Saturday crossword puzzle and he got most of it complete the last time I checked. Dana & Harley’s reception was the first time I thought I could see myself doing it this way. The guests toasted them in the soft day light of the all-glass conservatory and they danced in an atmosphere more akin to an open air or tented reception. They dined in – well, the dining room, where crisp white linens and dark leather seating were accented with Marius Bell’s ingenious little floral vignettes with mercury glass votives. Instead of the usual 8 person rounds, guests filled booths and 4 tops, aunts next to neighbors, old friends reunited with one another. It was a lot like Dana & Harley took 150 of their favorite people out to a really, really nice dinner. Which is exactly what they wanted – a night to spend with those they cherish, to be toasted and to dance, but really to enjoy one another, intimately and elegantly.
It should be no surprise that Fall is my favorite season, and the second I spotted this engagement session from The McCartneys‘, I know I HAD to share it.
I love a good photo, but nearly as much as I love a good love story. My friend, Alexandra, at Heart Love Weddings, knows exactly what I’m talking about. And, Jill and Mack’s love story is the type that has you rooting for life-long love. Every time.
From the Photographer, Rachel:
A little background on the engaged couple, Jill & Mack: Their story starts years ago when they were childhood schoolmates and Mack used to chase Jill around the playground and steal Jill’s barbie dolls, just so she would have to chase him back! Years went by and they went their separate ways, but then one day Mack ‘accidently’ called Jill, and they couldn’t stop talking! Their relationship grew from there and the rest is history! Fast forward to a very special Valentine’s Day when Mack surprised Jill with a ring and asked Jill to marry him – and of course, she excitedly said yes!
I just love outdoor weddings. I love their personality, their romance and their enchanting beauty. Amber & Bryan’s outdoor Wisconsin wedding is no exception. From the ceremony programs to the guest book map, the vintage china to the twine wrapped menus, each unique detail complimented the other effortlessly. Their venue provided a breathtaking fall backdrop, while the elements of DIY only enhanced the personalized, fun feel of this wedding.
From the Bride
Bryan loves to fish and Amber loves the movie ‘Big Fish’. The story was shot in a way that shows your memory or recollection of events being so much more beautiful or exaggerated than they actually looked at the time. For instance, when he sees his future wife for the first time, in his retelling of how it happened, time stopped. They were in a circus tent with strung lights and when he meets eyes with her popcorn stops in midair and it is just her walking towards him. Oddly enough that is how we decided to incorporate cotton…it looks cartoon like and playful and reminded me so much of that movie. Also in the movie, the father is a notorious truth stretcher which couldn’t be closer to our dads…in a small way it was paying respects to where we came from. As far as decor I focused on the term ‘hippy chic’. I love vintage but am not an overly fancy girl so we wanted to mix rustic with nostalgic old things like china and vintage candle holders. It was a big DIY undertaking but I was so at peace with how everything turned out, and I had such an enormous amount of fun that I never experienced those wedding ending blues that I hear about. We made our own invitations, place cards, bought all of the tablecloths and china, made the table numbers, bought the centerpiece flowers the day before and assembled them over wine…it took a lot of work but we were thrilled with the result. The idea was to keep the colors simple and not follow any theme so that we had more room to ‘exaggerate’ details. The dinner being served family style was a must because I come from an Italian family and there is no greater joy than good food being passed around with loved ones. We follow the standard that sharing a meal is the best way to show love so we put our personal touches on the menu which included gnocchi and wild game sausage. Dessert was cannoli with a homemade shot of Baileys. The goal was that we didn’t want people leaving our wedding saying it was the most beautiful one they ever attended because quite frankly only the bride and groom really fully ‘get it’ that day. We did however want people leaving saying that was the best party and dance floor I have ever seen. We certainly feel like it was mission accomplished and when we reflect on that day as a couple, it will be remembered as dreamlike and as if time stopped.
Ceremony/Reception Venue: Dillman’s Bay Resort | Caterer: The Rusty Platter | Band: Bent Grass | Rentals: Sam’s Rental | Flowers: DePere Floral | Invitations: Created by the bride’s brother-in-law | Vintage Dishes: Provided by bride’s mother-in-law | Wedding Gown: Pronovias | Bridesmaid Dresses: Cynergy Arts | Photographer: Anda Marie Photography
When I was asked to blog our own Lindsay‘s wedding, I was excited. But then once I saw the actual photos, and read Lindsay’s story, I knew I could have chosen this wedding regardless of if I knew the bride or not. The way she and Jay incorporated their families, both those that could be present and those that couldn’t, really struck me as something special and the love not just between the couple, but between everyone that surrounded them was so evident. And then all the fun little details, the soft pretzels (a personal weakness), and the creative head table seating had me sold.
From the bride:
Our story began 26 years ago when my mom and Jay’s mom, both pregnant with each of us, were working for the same cheese company in Green Bay, WI. (a cheese company in Wisconsin, go figure!) Fast forward to the summer of 2005 and although Jay and I had always knowing ‘of’ each other, we would finally meet while interning for that very same cheese company. We instantly became great friends, and eventually Jay became known as ‘the boy from work’ to my friends and family. Then in May 2006, only 2 days after returning to the US after studying abroad in London for the semester, Jay took a chance and drove 4 hours to surprise me at my college in Winona, MN. That chance worked out as we have been together ever since!
Jay and I were engaged September 19, 2010, yes, the morning of the Green Bay Packers 2010 home opener. To have a proposal happen that morning was the last thing I expected, especially as I was dressed in my throwback Clay Matthews jersey and game-day pink Reeboks. However, it couldn’t have been a more perfect proposal for us; a complete surprise, back in our hometown and we were able to celebrate the engagement with our families, who had happened to be be waiting at the stadium, champagne in hand, ready to celebrate. Our wedding planning started as soon as we began our 4 hour drive back to Minneapolis that Sunday evening.
One element of wedding planning that I never thought I would have to encounter was planning a day in which my father would not be present. After losing my father unexpectedly in 2007, I was not prepared to plan a day in which he would not be there walking by my side, however it motivated me to find a way in which he could be. To do this, I asked my twin brother and older brother to walk me down the aisle with a gift of custom engraved cuff links. One cuff link contained the monogram of my father’s initials, while the other held my mother’s. To me, this was the perfect way to represent my entire family being there beside me as I prepared to marry Jay. Other elements included in our day was the use of yellow roses, the flower my father had always given my mother for any occasion, as well as my parent’s wedding bands tied around my bouquet to represent my something borrowed.
Although we didn’t have a perfect season, color, or venue in mind, we did know that we wanted something simple, elegant and a true reflection of us; a celebration full of personal details. We made sure to incorporate these special details from the transportation we used, menu items we picked as well as day-of surprises such as our ‘meet the maids/meet the men’ display, Green Bay Packer Championship Belt garter toss and foam finger ‘click the glass’ game. At the end of the day, all of these details came together better than we could have imagined. The reactions from our family and friends made all the planning, DIY and thought we put into each unique detail beyond worth it.
Reception Venue: Weidner Center for the Preforming Arts | Ceremony Venue: Pilgrim Lutheran Church | Photography: Mark Hawkins Photography | Florist: Petal Pushers | Videography: Studio272 | Catering: Kreative Katering | Cake: The Runaway Spoon | Wedding Coordination: Silhouette Events | Invitations: Watermark Stationary | DJ: Dreamin’ DJ | Trolley Transporation: Lamers Bus Line | Bride’s Gown: Maggie Sottero | Bridesmaids’ dresses: Jasmine Belsoie Bridesmaids | Suits: Calvin Klein | Bride’s Jewelry: J. Crew, Bride’s shoes: Badgley Mischka | Etsy Vendors: Table numbers . Cake topper . Hair flower . Bridesmaids’ hair flower . Bridesmaids’ earrings . Bridesmaids’ bracelets . Tie clips . Bridal gown hanger
Pam and Jay’s wedding was so full of not just love and fun, but personal elements to really help make their big day about their relationship. Their story, as shared by Heather, the photographer, is the kind that warms your heart – one that reinforces what a great marriage (and wedding) is founded upon.
Heather Cook Elliot Photography
From the Photographer, Heather:
Pam and Jay’s wedding photos tell their story of love, travel, friendship and intensity, and, like Pam’s smile, it’s a big story. Their love story details are sweet and romantic, their history together already rich with vivid places and spaces they’ve explored together. He’s from the Boston area, she from Chicago but they met in the fair city of Milwaukee at Marquette University. Big bodies of water figure prominently in both their histories – his summers on the Cape, her years with Lake Michigan as the defining spacial marker plus a year spent in Ireland, an island after all – meant that we had to go to the lakefront on their wedding day. Turns out, he proposed to her at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco… Water, water everywhere.
As far as their relationship goes they challenge and sustain one another intellectually…and playfully. But even knowing all that about them I was stunned by the beauty, fun and thoughtfulness that characterized their wedding day. Both Pam and Jay were radiantly joyful all day, the weather and the smiles of their friends perfect mirrors of their happiness. Thoughtful touches like a trolley (in honor of their engagement city), custom cufflinks to celebrate Jay’s old city and his new one, plus dual priests to honor both families (Pam’s Uncle and Jay’s longtime family friend) made my day and their superb taste in cupcakes made my night. (Seriously, months later I can still remember how good the french toast and red velvet cupcakes tasted!) To top it off Pam and Jay hosted one of the best dance parties I’ve seen at a wedding, and yes, even Pam’s uncle the priest cut a rug on the dance floor.
Ceremony Venue: Old St. Mary Parish | Reception Venue: Lakefront Brewery Palm Garden | Wedding Gown: Pronovias from A L’Amour Bridal Boutique | Bridal Accessories: A L’Amour Bridal Boutique | Bride’s Shoes: Nina | Bride’s Purse: Weddings By Janie | Bride’s Hair Flower: Weddings By Janie | Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: B2 from A L’Amour Bridal Boutique | Groom’s Cufflinks: Tomatomade | Makeup: On Location Makeup Artistry | Salon: Executive Edge | Flowers: Flowers By Faye | Invitations: For Now and Forever Wedding Invitations | Cupcakes: Classy Girl Cupcakes | DJ: Sound By Design | Photographer: Heather Cook Elliot Photography | Videographer: Our Wedding Day Forever | Photobooth: The Traveling Photobooth | Cake topper: Tuckerreece | Linens: Weddings By Janie
