Chantel + TJ's Beachfront Lake Michigan Wedding in Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Chantel and TJ are two of my and my husband's very dear friends. TJ lived with my husband, Andy, along with one of their friends, Josh. Chantel and TJ started dating shortly after Andy and I started dating, and it's been so much fun to watch their relationship grow into the beautiful, inspiring partnership that it is today. There were many times that the three guys and us three girlfriends hung out together. Four of us are now married, and two are engaged to be married. We affectionately call ourselves The Roommates, a sacred bond that's been forged over a love of dogs, five of them being teachers (besides me, obviously!), and an easy-going and fun friendship that we know will last a lifetime.
Chantel and TJ had a very clear wedding day vision they wanted to roll out, and they made it happen to a T. They both got ready at the Hyatt in Green Bay, as it was close to their reception venue. Chantel is a wizard when it comes to hair and makeup, so much so that she styled herself for her wedding day! Her All Who Wander wedding dress was an absolute piece of art, carefully chosen for its flowing style that we knew would be perfect for their breezy ceremony site on the shore of Lake Michigan. TJ looked dapper in his beachfront formal attire, complete with a brown bow tie, suspenders, brown Sperry loafers, and a beautiful watch that Chantel gifted him on their wedding day.
Chantel and TJ shared a beautiful First Look under the bright summer sun at Fonferek Glen County Park, a location they visited early in their relationship. My husband picked up one of my cameras and got additional angles of this special day; some of his photos are featured in this post (I’ll let you guess which ones are his!).
After their First Look, we drove to their beachfront ceremony site at Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers. One of the reasons that Chantel and TJ chose this location was because it's dog friendly, so their two best boys, Baxter and Tucker, could be a part of the ceremony. Chantel and TJ love being by the water, which was another reason this location spoke to them. A close friend and former co-worker officiated the ceremony, and Chantel and TJ were all smiles throughout. They had an intimate wedding party, with just TJ's brother as the best man and Chantel’s sister as the matron of honor. Their guest list was intimate and thoughtful. As their guests made their way to cocktail hour, Chantel and TJ took some time to be alone (with their paparazzi, of course) and wander on the beach with the sound of the waves crashing on the shore as their companion.
These two have a deep, soul connection. They are truly each other's best friends and partners in life. They showed up as their loving, goofy, romantic selves and looked like absolute models as they strolled along the beach. I could have photographed them in this space forever, but their guests were waiting for them back at Copper State Brewing Company.
The party was in full swing when the newlyweds arrived at the brewery. Guests munched on appetizers and sipped on craft cocktails and beers made on-site while they browsed the wedding guest favors Chantel and TJ had created. One thing these two love to do together is to try the cheese curds at every restaurant they go to and rank them out of five stars. They shared their coveted list with their guests as a take-home gift.
Loving speeches were shared, toasts were given, and pizza was devoured. Though it was an intimate space, Chantel and TJ seemed like they were in their own little world as they share their first dance. Guests were invited outside for a sparkler photo op before heading back inside and celebrating these two further. Rumor has it that the wedding festivities moved to a watering hole downtown and lasted into the wee hours of the morning, but we have no photo evidence to confirm this!
Chantel and TJ, I appreciate your friendship and trust more than words can say. Thank you for choosing me to photograph your epic engagement session and your absolutely perfect wedding day. May you two enjoy a lifetime of puppy snuggles, endless adventures, and a love and partnership that grows stronger with each passing day. Cheers to you!
All my love and appreciation,
Kate
Shoutout to all the vendors that made this day possible:
Ceremony location: Point Beach State Forest | Reception venue and catering: Copper State Brewing | Suits: Tie The Knot | Wedding dress: Tie the Knot by All Who Wander | Bridesmaid dresses: Tie The Knot | Florist: The Flower Gallery of Manitowoc |
