Category: Wedding

We were so lucky to have as many beautiful fall days as we did this year. It made the job of photographing October weddings, like Kristin and Brody’s, so much easier!

When shooting weddings after the beginning of October, you usually have to wonder and wait to see what the foliage will look like, as it’s never exactly the same, year to year. I always keep an eye on websites that predict when trees will change and show you foliage maps so I have an idea of what is in store for me to use as a backdrop for photography. Kristin and Brody had the good fortune to have pretty leaves, a dry, sunny day and mild temperatures.

One of the main locations we used for Kristin and Brody was Mines of Spain, in Dubuque, Iowa. This is a park that sits high above the Mississippi River and lets you see the city from an amazing vantage point. We were happy that there was still a mix of color and trees that were hanging onto their leaves.

We’ll have more images and wedding details to come!

Laura and Joe’s had so many great details!

My favorite personalized element of the day was that Laura walked down the aisle to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” They certainly put a lot of work into details at the reception, including the table centerpieces and dessert table. Their barn wedding was rustic, yet elegant, and as casual as they are.

You can see their engagement session here and more from their wedding here. {Vendor credits at the end.}

Vendor Details:
Ceremony & Reception location: Century Barn
Wedding Coordinator: Cherry Blossom
Photographers: Appleby Photography
Catering: Hi Point Steak House
Florist: The Rose Cottage
Cupcakes/desserts: Rosie’s Coffee Bar Bakery
DJ: A Personal Touch DJ
Linens: Event Essentials

More and more weddings are trending to the casual side these days. Couples are embracing styles and themes that are personal to them, rather than blindly following old traditions from the past. Along with that, “barn” themed weddings are big with brides and grooms. This is a great option when they want to avoid customs they may see as “stuffy,” like churches and hotel receptions.

Laura and Joe both love the outdoors and wanted to have a laid-back, easy wedding. They wanted to see their family and friends having fun. So, from the yard games to the personalized mason jar mugs to the chalkboard signage to let the guests know details, they put thought into how to make the day a great experience for everyone.

They chose Century Barn in Mt. Horeb, WI for they ceremony and reception. The day was gorgeous for their outside wedding. The clouds were even puffy-perfect!

Shelby and Jeff were married at Oak Hill, a beautiful place for a location wedding. We started with their “first look” in Galena, Illinois. Here is a quick sneak peek of their wedding photos!

Marissa and Adam were married in a charming ceremony at the Shores Event Center.

You can see their engagement session here. They included their dog (and the Hawkeyes!) in the session. The post also shows off their guest book album that they used at their wedding. Also, here is an earlier “sneak peek” post of couple and another with more images of Marissa and Adam here.

One of the important elements to the day was “family.” They were surrounded by both of their families, including their adorable nieces and nephews during their wedding. Marissa’s grandfather even became ordained so he could marry the couple.

The colors they used, yellow and black, showed their love of the University of Iowa and the Hawkeyes. This showed up not only in the flowers and dresses, but also with the candy buffet and the cupcakes. And the ring bearer’s “security” briefcase channeled Adam’s career as a police officer.

The whole day was low-key and simple. Marissa and Adam wanted the focus on natural, real moments. Their goal was to enjoy their families being together. As all wedding couples should.

It’s a work day for weddings. I’m editing images from a recent wedding that we did. It was a very country theme, down to the groom and groomsmen in jeans and the whole wedding party in cowboy boots. Here is a quick sneak peek!

Marissa and Adam had a beautiful wedding day, with both the ceremony and reception at the Shores Event Center. Here’s a quick peak of the happy couple!

Kristen and Nick walked out of the church after their ceremony to bubbles.

Once the ceremony was done, Kristen and Nick ushered the guests out, row by row. They then headed upstairs to ring the church bell before leaving the old, brick church. All the wedding guests were waiting, lined up on the church steps and sidewalk. As the happy couple rushed out, everyone blew bubbles and cheered. It was a happy way for the wedding couple to make their exit.