Amanda and Jim had the most perfect day for a wedding at Boerner Botanical Gardens. Their ceremony was small and intimate and very much about them, as they both wrote their own vows to one another. There was barely a dry eye in the audience. After their ceremony, the two hosted a fun, casual and laid back reception at one of my favorite places, Camp Bar in the Third Ward. Congratulations Jim and Amanda! I wish you nothing but the best for your life together!
Special thanks to these amazing vendors who helped make Jim and Amanda’s day extra special:
Hair & Makeup: Neroli Salon and Spa// Kirstin & Maggie
Ceremony: Boerner Botanical Gardens
Ceremony Music: Sound By Design
Reception: Camp Bar
Cake: Simma’s
Florist: Bloom Floral
I’m not going to lie. When Lauren’s parents reached out to me to see if I’d do Lauren’s senior pictures I was a little nervous. I’m so used to having to bribe my subjects with gummy snacks, I wasn’t sure how I’d be with this age group. Turns out, I really love Senior sessions! Lauren is simply GORGEOUS! We had so much fun laughing and talking about high school and plans for after. For her session, I had a few spots in my mind that I wanted to use, but she totally brought her personality to the shoot. She wanted to do a session at the Pabt’s Theater because she’s been involved in theater for years. Good luck to Lauren on her Senior year. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s going to do incredible things.
Taylor and Kyle had the most perfect wedding day anyone could’ve asked for. It was so much fun hanging out with them all day long and I’m still so honored that they asked me to document their big day.
I had the joy of hanging out with the ladies at the salon before the bridal preparations took place. Because Jamie had another wedding that same day, she had to fit Taylor in earlier in the morning. Afterwards, we all had lunch together before heading to the venue.
One thing I learned about Taylor and Kyle is that everyone at their wedding had a long history with them. These two definitely make friends for life, which should be a given since they’ve known each other since they were kids themselves. It’s so amazing to see a couple that has grown up together and who are still so in love after all these years of really knowing each other.
Congratulations Taylor & Kyle! Thank you for asking me to be your wedding photographer and for making me feel like part of the family.
Key Players
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Cupcakes: Miss Cupcake Bakery
Bride’s Dress: Mori Lee @ Amelishan Bridal
Groom’s Suite: Men’s Wearhouse Navy suit
Florist: Rachel Block @ Reflections of You
DJ/Entertainment: On the Limiter Productions
Bridal Party Hair and Make up: Impressions
Little Stella made her way into this world and our hearts on July 8th. She couldn’t be any more perfect and is such a wonderful addition to our little girl clan. My two girls absolutely love their new baby cousin and I can tell they’re going to be best buddies. My sister and her fiancé didn’t skip a beat when it came to their new roles as parents. They are both naturals and Stella hit the parent jackpot with these two. Congratulations Melissa and Victor, your baby girl is absolutely perfect.
Timing played a key factor in the relationship between Ally and Nico. They met through mutual friends and upon getting together, they realized they probably should’ve ran into one another sooner: from being on the same dinner cruise as one another to visiting the same pick your own fruit farms as children. They kept missing each other but Ally said that they met when the timing in their lives was just right.
For their engagement session we headed down to the lakefront for some tandem bicycle fun. These two love being active and have participated in a number of races together throughout their relationship. They told me that they had gone down to the lakefront a few weeks prior to make sure they practiced for their shoot. I’ve heard these bikes can be tricky to ride, but these two were champs. We had so much fun!
Nico and Ally will be married next summer in an intimate wedding. They aren’t having a bridal party, so the day will be focused on just the two of them. I can’t wait to hang out with these two again and I’m so grateful they chose me document their day!
Sarah and Mark waited for years to be blessed with a beautiful baby. So imagine their excitement when they found out this past winter that Sarah was pregnant! After months of riding the high of pure joy that comes from finding out you’re about to be new parents, their world turned upside down early February. It was then that they found out that their little Sweet Pea, (a nickname they had given the baby) had spina bifida, a condition that affects the spinal cord.
Audra Mae entered the world on May 5th. She was a little fighter from the very beginning and I have had the honor of following along with Mark and Sarah’s journey. They started a Facebook group for their family and friends to follow along with what’s going on with Audra Mae. I’ve read nearly every post, cried happy tears for this couple, and prayed lots of prayers for their little girl. I truly believe that God gives his most special angels to the most deserving parents. These two have handled their “new normal” incredibly and Audra Mae couldn’t have been put in better hands. During their session, Mark played chanting monks on his phone to get Audra to sleep. He said he had watched a YouTube video about how to help sooth babies while he was in the NICU with his new daughter and chanting Monks is what worked.
Congratulations you Sarah & Mark! She is beautiful and was such a treat to work with. Sending lots of love and prayers your way!
James and Nichole met in Denver back in 2014. They knew right away, after meeting, that they both wanted a future together. When James was offered a job in sunny California, the two packed up and started on a new adventure. Nichole is from Wisconsin and James is from Ohio so they knew with planning a wedding that people were going to have to travel regardless of where they would be having it.
They both knew they wanted a small and intimate wedding. They went back and forth for months trying to decide on a location until James’ mom suggested that the two elope and she told them it should be where they wanted to have their honeymoon, Italy. After they received their parents blessing, the two found a magical, beautiful little town called Ravello, Italy in the Amalfi area. It was the absolute perfect place for a honeymoon and wedding.
The two decided to host a celebration and marriage blessing here in Wisconsin. James said it didn’t feel official until they celebrated with their closest family and friends. When I first met Nichole the day of their party, the first thing she said to me was that she wanted me to focus on their guests. It didn’t take long to see how much their family and friends really meant to them. Everyone was so warm and loving and FUN!
Congratulations Nichole and James! I’m so happy that I was able to be part of your special day and celebration!
Dress: Anthropologie
Venue: Onesto
Donut Cake: Holey Moley Donuts
Kurt reached out to me a few months back and asked if I’d be available to take pictures of his kids for his wife’s birthday as a surprise. Kurt’s son is getting ready to leave for basic training, so he knew that this would be a gift that should would love.
Photography sessions make great, one of a kind gifts for moms. Whether it be a seasoned mom who wishes she had more professional pictures of her children, or an expecting mom (maternity & newborn sessions) photography sessions are a wonderful gift to give. They also make great anniversary gifts to couples, because every year deserves to be celebrated.
Nothing says, “Summer” like an American themed family photo shoot. Check out these pictures from the Burns’ family. Rachel did an excellent job coordinating colors for her family’s summer session.
