Usually after a couple books their wedding with me, I receive an e-mail asking for other vendor recommendations. Florists are generally one of my top requested vendor referrals. If we’re Instagram friends, you know how much I love florals so I’m very excited to share 5 amazing florists who I have had the pleasure of working with!
- Bird & Bumble. I have personally worked with Rebecca a handful of times on a few creative endeavors and I’m so excited that we finally have a real wedding together this May! Her work is everything I love. We have similar personal styles and I think that carries over into our work, which makes working together so fun.
2. Wood Violet MKE. I love Emily’s approach to floral design. I had the honor of watching her construct floral centerpieces from scratch and turn them into something beautiful for our styled shoot. I was in absolute awe of her talent and skill. She even designed floral collars for the dogs!
3. Floral Alchemy. Liz was awesome to work with and Taylor’s wedding bouquet was one my favorites to photograph. She did an amazing job on the bridesmaids bouquets as well!
4. Courtney Joy Floral. I am a fan of anyone who can incorporate feathers into a bridal bouquet and a flower crown and have it look absolutely fabulous! Courtney brought boho to a whole other level with some of the floral elements in this wedding and I am honored that I was able to work with her. She’s so creative and incredibly talented!
5. Flowers for Dreams. I love this company and their mission. You can read how they got started on their website, but a portion of every bouquet sold goes to support a local charity. I had the opportunity to photograph their wedding work and I’ve also taken a Thanksgiving centerpiece arranging class at their studio. I’m looking forward to working with them again, both in the wedding space and personally!
My 2019 was one of my busiest seasons so far. I had the opportunity to photograph a destination wedding, work with some talented, local vendors, and check out quite a few of Southeastern Wisconsin’s best wedding venues. I also had the honor of working with some of the sweetest couples. From small and intimate to large and lively, I covered just about every type of wedding. Except a brunch wedding, I definitely want to photograph a brunch wedding! Here’s a run down of some of my favorite moments of the 2019 wedding season.
- Lake Tahoe. Getting to work with this couple in this location was the highlight of my wedding season. I love their adventurous personalities, impeccable style and the way they interact with one another. They are just that couple that everyone loves to be around. They bring the fun wherever they go!
- The floral Wallpaper at The Covenant at Murray Mansion. This wedding was small, intimate and gorgeous. I’m a sucker for mixing modern wedding decor in an old, vintage location. The Covenant at Murray Mansion did not disappoint. The mansion is beautiful and the coordinators are amazing to work with.
3. The Sanger House Gardens. As a little girl, I was a big fan of the movie & book, ‘The Secret Garden.’ This is kind of what this place reminds me of. John and Millie had a very small and intimate wedding reception here, hosting mostly family and a few very close friends. I can honestly say this was the only wedding that I’ve photographed where I actually cried. I’m pretty good at keeping my emotions in check! Millie’s touching speech about John and her daughters really hit home for me. If you’re looking for a mansion style wedding, definitely check out The Sanger House.
4. The ‘Til Death sign at The Ivy House. This place offers so many “Instagramable” photo ops but this one is by far my favorite. I’m so excited to be back at the Ivy House this May!
5. Dog-friendly venue spaces. When Kyle and Ali told me that they wanted to include their pup, Jax, in their wedding at Birch, I was all for it. I love dogs and I really do love when couples incorporate them into their wedding. I photographed two weddings this year where the couples incorporated their pups and I love that Birch is a dog-friendly venue!
6. Villa Filomena. Another Milwaukee mansion that doesn’t disappoint. I loved everything about Dave and Alexis’s wedding. The day was absolutely perfect and personal in every way. From the handmade hair piece to the game themed reception decor, this couple put their personal touch on every aspect of their wedding and they did it in a very tasteful way.
7. Carving out time for sunset photos. There are a few reasons I love when your wedding timeline allows for sunset photos. First, it’s my chance to pull you away for just a few minutes to really soak up your time as husband and wife. It gives couples a chance to check in with one another and make sure everything is going well, and many couples appreciate the “breath of fresh air” after visiting with lots of loved ones during the day.
8. Brides with a sense of humor. Cassaundra contacted me a few days before her wedding and explained to me how she wanted to play a practical joke on Craig, her husband to be. They were planning on doing a first look, but instead of seeing his bride when he turned around, Cassaundra worked with Craig’s best man to give him a good laugh and relieve any nerves he might have about seeing Cassaundra for their first look. The two enjoyed a “real” first look afterward and it was perfect.
9. Dessert Bars. Not everyone loves cake (I get it, but I don’t…). When you’re not big on wedding cake, hosting a dessert bar is another great option and Miss Molly’s does not disappoint. These brownies were the best I’ve ever had. I’ve worked with Molly for a styled shoot and now for a real wedding and I hear nothing but great things from anyone who eats these delicious baked goods.
10. Vingettes and champagne parades. When your mom owns a rustic and chic decor and home furnishing store in the Third Ward, you better be ready for an amazing wedding day set up! Terry set up vignettes around their property for Alex and Garrett’s gorgeous backyard wedding. When I was photographing the details, I kept thinking about how I wanted to put some of the decor into my new home! This wedding was so wonderfully done in many ways, I can’t wait to share more from their day. Alex and Garrett also did something I’ve never seen any couple do before. They led a champagne parade from their ceremony site to where the guests were to enjoy cocktail hour! That’s definitely a parade I want to be part of.
Nik and Lindi were married this past summer in South Lake Tahoe. Their ceremony was held on the Nevada side at Round Hill Pines Beach Resort which overlooked the mountains and their reception was located at Basecamp. For a couple that loves to travel and being outdoors as much as these two do, (you can view their engagement session here) this wedding was very much “them”. The place where they decided to have their reception had a little Airstream on the property-very similar to the one these two own back in Wisconsin.
Nik and Lindi hosted an intimate wedding over Memorial Day weekend that was absolutely perfect. It snowed the morning of their wedding, but the sun came out just in time to melt it all away. Despite the small hiccup, the snow looked gorgeous on the mountains as they exchanged their very own hand-written vows to one another. The two of them are Air Force Pilots and wanted to incorporate that into their wedding without going overboard. Lindi folded some paper airplanes and placed them in the centerpieces and did a great job tying it all together.
Their wedding was perfect! Give me all the bon fire, s’mores and sparkler exits please! Congrats to you both Nik & Lindi! I am absolutely honored that you chose me to document your wedding and spend such a wonderful weekend with you!
Vendor Love: Ceremony-Round Hill Pines Beach Resort // Reception-Basecamp Tahoe South // Invitations-Pretty Little Paper Co. // Band-Lucky Devils Band //Florist-Helianthus Floral Design // Planner-Liane McCombs //Wedding dress-Wtoo by Watters at White Dress Bridal Boutique // Groom’s Suit-NL Suits // Videography- Little Wild
Corey and Carla are married! These two hold a special place in my heart because I’ve been able to capture every key moment for them since being a couple. I photographed their maternity session, I was there for their proposal, engagement photos, family photos and now their wedding. These two are amazing and I’m so honored to have been able to capture their wedding day.
Corey and Carla were married at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, WI. Corey loves Harley and Carla wanted a glamorous wedding with lots of windows, so they settled on Rumble within the Harley Davidson Museum event space. The room gave Carla lots of space to bring in her classy style. Double Platinum DJ did the uplighting, provided the crystal pillars, videography and kept the party going all night.
Carla wore a beautiful Enzoani gown purchased at White Dress Bridal Boutique. It was paired perfectly with an elegant cathedral veil from Sara Gabriel. Carla’s sister and Maid of Honor gifted her with the most amazing pair of Louboutin’s! As a shoe lover myself, I was in heaven when I saw these. But Carla wasn’t the only one who had fun putting together her wedding day look. Corey did what I wish more grooms would do for their wedding: he went to Richard Bennett Tailors for a custom designed white tux! It was the best fit tux that I’ve ever seen on a groom. Hands down. He looked pretty sharp!
The two were married by a friend of theirs, danced to Lauryn Hill for their first dance and celebrated the night with many friends and family members. Their whole day was perfect and I’m so happy that I was able to be part of their special day. Congratulations Corey and Carla and thank you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer.
Vendors – Venue: Harley Davidson Museum // Flowers: Bloom Lovely // Wedding Dress Shop: White Dress Bridal Boutique //Wedding Dress Designer: Enzoani // Cathedral Veil: Sara Gabriel // Groom Attire:Richard Bennett Tailots // DJ & Videography: Double Platinum // Cake: The Cake Lady //
Kacie and Justin were married this summer at the beautiful Veteran’s Terrace in Burlington, Wisconsin. From their engagement session, to their wedding day, these two just seemed to complete one another. Their laid back personalities mixed in with their ability to have fun (and throw one heck of a reception) definitely came through on their wedding day. Their cake was playful and the dance floor was jam packed. They were surrounded by so many family and friends who love them so much. Kacie & Justin, thank you so much for asking me to be your wedding photographer. I’m so happy that I was able to capture the beginning of the rest of your lives together.
Vendors: Venue:Veteran’s Terrace // Wedding Dress: The White Dress MKE // DJ: BB’s Best DJ Service // Cake: Gooseberries // Florals: Family Friend
Ally and Nico were married in earlier this summer at The View at Evolution with a reception to follow at the Canal Street Yacht Club.
Even though they were surrounded by many family and friends throughout the day, their day was very intimate. I met Ally at Spectrum hair salon where she was getting ready with her mom and two of her friends. From there, Ally and her mom went back to the hotel to start getting ready for the wedding. Both Ally and Nico spent the morning getting ready with just their parents. It was different than what you normally see and so special.
The two shared an emotional first look right outside their hotel and from there we hopped the trolley to The View at Evolution for their ceremony and then it was off to their reception at the Canal Street Yacht Club. The day was just as perfect as the two of them. Congratulations Nico and Ally and thank you for letting me document your wedding day!
Thank you to all the amazing vendors that helped make Ally & Nico’s Day possible:
Day of Coordinator: Veronica Rose Planning
Hair & Makeup: Niki Seils at Spectrum Salon
Ceremony Venue: The View at Evolution
Reception Venue Canal Street Yacht Club
Wedding Dress: Mori Lee at Eva’s Bridal
Groom’s Attire: Dubois Formalwear
Flowers: Alfa Flower Shop
DJ: Midwest Sound
Cake & Desserts: Baked Custom Desserts
To the many, many families I was able to serve over the course of the year. THANK YOU! Thank you for trusting me with your families’ most cherished memories and for giving me the opportunity to laugh, play and run around with your little ones.
To all of the lovely married couples and engaged couples…THANK YOU!!! Taylor and Kyle, you will forever hold a special place in my heart as being my first ever wedding. Thank you to all of this year’s couples who trusted me with documenting their most important day. For booking me and putting your faith in me when I had yet to shoot a single wedding.
If I had to choose one word to describe 2017, it would be incredible. Never did I think a long time hobby could turn into something like this. I’m so excited for 2018 and can’t wait to work with more wonderful families and couples. Thank you to all of my clients, my family and other seasoned photographers for all of your love, support and advice! 2017 wouldn’t have been this amazing without all of you!
Jess & Chirag celebrated their October nuptials with their closest family and friends during an intimate, New York City wedding. Chirag is originally from India and all of his family still lives there. The two planned on traveling back to his country to have their big Indian wedding (a first time visit for Jess) but they still wanted to celebrate with Jess’s family and all of their New York friends.
For a city with such a crazy, “on the go” vibe, the weekend was very laid back. Their wedding festivities kicked off on Friday evening when Jess hosted a henna party in their apartment. It was a great opportunity for me to get to know these two on a more personal level. Their friends and family are so wonderful and I feel like I’m best friends with Jess’s grandma. She was quite the storyteller and we got along wonderfully!
I can honestly say that I loved everything about Jess and Chirag’s wedding day. The two got ready together in their NYC apartment. The details were on point and her dress was simple but gorgeous. An absolutely perfect choice for an unseasonably warm October day. Although there were a few hiccups throughout the day, Jess and Chirag handled everything with such grace and just laughed it off. Things like having a ceremony start almost an hour late and having no music to walk down the aisle to couldn’t sent someone into a meltdown, but these two just laughed as their friends and family hummed, “Here comes the bride” as Jess walked into the room. The couple wrote their own vows which were very heartfelt. There was even a Game of Thrones reference thrown into Chirag’s.
Jess and Chirag had their ceremony at the historical 3 West Club in the gorgeous Solarium room, which opened up to a patio that overlooked St. Patrick’s Cathedral. After the ceremony, everyone headed to Tarallucci E Vino for dinner and polenta party. I highly recommend checking this place out if you’re in the NYC area. The food was phenomenal and the cheese display was out of this world amazing. I can’t even begin to describe. Just scroll down to see its’ awesomeness. As a girl from Wisconsin and lover of cheese (and wine), my heart skipped a beat.
I asked the couple what they were looking forward to most about being married, and they said “just being together”. Having nothing to do but hang out on the weekends and to start their lives together. Congratulations to Jess and Chirag and thank you so much for asking me to be part of your amazing day and the start of your new journey as husband and wife!
Vendors that helped make this day amazing:
Wedding Dress: BHLDN
Florals: Alma Floral Design
Ceremony: 3 West Club
Reception: Tarallucci E Vino
Invitations: Minted
It was a beautiful September day. Unseasonable warm for this time of year in Wisconsin. One of the hottest days we’ve had all summer. When I drove down the wooded driveway and approached the house, there was a sense of calm. None of the hustle and bustle you’d expect on a wedding day. When I walked into Mauria’s mom’s house, the girls were sitting around the table, finishing up breakfast, drinking mimosas, laughing and listening to chill music. They had under eye patches on-the same ones I had been wearing earlier that morning. I knew right then and there that I was in great company. Mauria introduced me to everyone, but because they were all so close, I had a hard time keep track of who her real sisters were when I first got there.
I met Mauria for coffee a few months back. She told me about her wedding, her bridesmaids and what they were wearing. She went on to describe her wedding as a simple backyard wedding with about 100 of their closest family and friends. When I arrived on site, it was much more than what I had envisioned. The property was lined with tall trees and fields. Mauria and Sarandi were married under a willow tree in her parents backyard and it was perfect. On our coffee date, Mauria had mentioned how artistic Sarandi was. It was one of the things she loved about him. Sarandi was responsible for painting all of the table numbers at the reception. They were beautifully done.
Mauria’s sisters went on to talk about the many phases of Mauria. There was lots of laughter in the audience. Some of these phases I could even relate to. And then they talked about the Sarandi phase, which is her forever phase. Sarandi and Mauria lit each other up the whole day. If there was a brief moment of stress that arose, Sarandi instantly brought a calm to Mauria. It was as if the two just kept front of mind what the day was about: the two of them starting their lives together and nothing else mattered.
I asked them toward the end of the night if there was any last minute pictures they wanted before I headed out. They said no, so I went inside and packed up my gear. When I came back to find them to say goodbye, they were dancing off in the distance by themselves. I always advise my couples to take a few moments by themselves to just take in the day. It goes by so quickly. I’m glad they listened and had their own moment separate from me taking them out for pictures.
Sarandi and Mauria, thank you so much for choosing me to document your wedding day. Congratulations to you two! Cheers to a lifetime of love and happiness!
Special thanks to these vendors for making these photos possible:
Photography: Maria Campbell Photography
Hair: Betsy Arsnow
Dress Designer: Cristiano Lucci
Bridal Boutique: Amelishan Bridal
Groom Attire: Calvin Klein at Men’s Wearhouse
Caterer: Saz’s
Flowers (Bouquets,boutonnieres, corsages): Parkway Floral
Flowers (Centerpieces, Table arrangements): Shoua Vang’s Bouquet
Jeweler: Custom designed at A Trio
Bakery: The Cake Lady
Planners: Cara Turkowski and Dianne Hofmann
