Tesia + Brandon’s stunning boho-inspired wedding at Northern Haus in Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

When it came to planning our engagement sessions, Andrew and I were really intentional about picking locations and activities that have special meaning for us. Our engagement sessions are another opportunity for us to insert our personalities and hobbies into our wedding journey, and we wanted to do it right! 

For our first engagement session, we headed to my family’s cabin in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. We love spending time on our private lake with our pups frolicking through the woods and splashing in the water. It’s one of our happy places, made all the more special because my 91-year-old grandma still calls this cabin home! 

About to step into her wedding dress, the first butterflies of the day washed over Johanna, making the nervous excitement a reality. Johanna and Aaron officially married two months prior in an intimate ceremony on their own, but this day was a whole new experience for both. Johanna was thrilled to be putting on her wedding dress and celebrate her marriage to Aaron with their closest friends and family. Johanna and Aaron shared a brief first look with one another to reveal their outfits. Aaron knew Johanna was going to be stunningly beautiful, but was blown away seeing her, and his warm, loving reaction was a privilege to witness. 

On a warm summer day, Amber and AJ’s closest friends and family gathered at a park in Winneconne to witness them say I do. The sun shone brightly on the water and the beautiful wedding party as they walked down the aisle. Sharing a moment before being whisked down the aisle, Amber’s dad cried as he took his first look at his beautiful daughter. Walking through rows of family and friends, AJ and all the guests cried tears of joy as they saw Amber in her stunning gown, laced up in the back by a rainbow ribbon. AJ’s mom spoke eloquently about love and marriage. It was a breathtaking and emotional ceremony to start a day full of celebration.  

The skies might have been overcast, but that did not stop Alex and Corey from taking flight on their wedding day. Close family and friends gathered together to witness Alex and Corey say I do. Corey and his best man knew each other from the military, and made the ceremony all the more special by organizing it in an airplane hangar! Clothed in a smile and her stunning wedding dress, Alex said I do hand in hand with Corey, a flight of planes providing quite the backdrop underneath a high ceiling. A sand ceremony and a joyous kiss sealed Alex and Corey’s union, as their family and friends applauded. 

On the warmest spring day, Stephanie and Alex‘s closest family and friends gathered at St. John’s Church to witness them say I do. The sun shone brightly, filling the church with light. Before the ceremony, Stephanie and Alex shared a moment holding hands around the corner so that they wouldn’t see each other but would still be able to feel one another. They hand  wrote letters to one another filled with sweet words of love and happiness. Both her eyes filled with tears, and Alex was especially touched as he opened Stephanie‘s gift of a small pin with photos of his grandparents who’ve passed.

Your wedding day should be about what you want to experience. It is a chance for you to be selfish and put your thoughts, your desires, and your needs first. Because your wedding day is truly a reflection of what you and your significant other share.

I invite you to create a day that’s centered on your relationship. This can incorporate different things you and your fiancé are interested in, such as my fellow craft beer lovers! Your ceremony could be at a brewery or incorporate special beers at your wedding; things like that. Or, if you’re a little more alternative, you could incorporate non-traditional wedding colors.

After nine years together, Brandon and Calie became husband and wife on a cold November day at the Schauer Arts Center near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As they stood on the theater stage, reading their hand-written vows in front of all of their loved ones, Brandon and Calie shared how much the past nine years had meant to each of them and what they learned along the way. Their wonderful wedding party stood on each side of them, bringing amazing color to the room with their outfits of purple and lime green. Cheers filled the room as their officiant declared them husband and wife.

It was a truly magical day when Iris and Floyd got married at Sepia Chapel on a crisp November afternoon. They took the phrase “magic is in the air” and brought it to a whole new level. You see, when Iris and Floyd began dreaming up their perfect wedding day, they knew that it had to be an elegant Harry Potter-themed event. And boy, did they knock it out of the park! I'm a bit of a Potterhead myself, so I was blown away by all the detail and thought that these two put into their fall wedding plans.

Mother nature had saved up her energy and waited to release an explosion of color for Charlotte and Jeremy‘s wedding day. The first weekend in October proved to be stunning, crisp, and just slightly overcast; it was the perfect fall day for Charlotte and Jeremy to say “I do.”

As the ladies begin to dress at Green Bay Botanical Gardens, Charlotte left and admitted she was a little nervous. She was helped into her stunning Mori Lee gown by her mom and sisters. Flanked on each side by her favorite ladies, the girls clutched their stunning fall bouquets and escorted Charlotte to the beautiful garden ceremony site where the incredible couple would say I do.

Mairee quietly adjusted her jewelry in the dressing room mirror, gently tweaking and primping her dress as she nervously waited for her cue to walk down the aisle. Her father's steady arm guided her down the aisle toward the love of her life. Ryan couldn't take his eyes off his bride. She was simply stunning. Her Converse -clad feet gently padded down the aisle as she met her groom at the altar. Mairee and Ryan's ceremony at the Bridal Chapel was intimate, heartfelt, and personal. American Sign Language interpreters assisted with the ceremony and wedding day festivities for their hearing-impaired loved ones, a cause near and dear to Mairee and Ryan's hearts.

On a gloriously sunny fall day, Valerie bounce excitedly around the barn apartment at the Barnsite Retreat and Event Center. She was surrounded by the most wonderful ladies, getting ready to celebrate the best day of her life. She was completely in her element, getting pampered and excitedly sharing details about the day ahead. Outside the barn, groom-to-be Dylan relaxed with his groomsmen and the dads, waiting until the moment he would get to see Valerie at their First Look.

Something that a bride never wants to hear on her wedding day: there’s rain in the forecast. Amanda and Jake were preparing for the worst but hoping for the best for their outdoor wedding ceremony and reception. As we got closer to the ceremony time, Amanda slipped into her gorgeous gown (designed by Essence of Australia), and the clouds grew lighter and lighter. Amanda tiptoed out of the bridal prep area, sharing a First Look with her father, and then with Jake. As Jake turned to face Amanda for the first time, a hint of sunshine broke through the clouds. Not a drop of rain fell that day.

Jen and John’s paths first crossed when they met in high school years ago. They reconnected recently and found there was an undeniable connection between them. Their love for one another and their children is what fuels their fires. It’s so beautiful to see how they’ve brought their families together in such a cohesive and loving way.

They decided to wed on our grandmother’s beautiful lakefront property in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Jen and I are cousins, and hearing that she chose the Misty Moors property (our affectionate name for our land) as the backdrop of their wedding was incredibly exciting and special.

On one of the hottest days of the summer, Stacey and Cindy committed themselves to one another in front of their loved ones at Sepia Chapel Green Bay. Before their beautiful ceremony, the brides shared a First Look. Cindy’s jaw dropped to the floor, she was absolutely blown away by how beautiful Stacey was. They had managed to keep their wedding attire a secret from one another until the day of their wedding, even though they share a home together! Stacey’s bouquet was adorned with rainbow-dyed roses, and after an incredibly moving and heartfelt ceremony, the newlyweds walked back down the aisle to Pink’s “Get the Party Started”.

I love a wedding vendor who completely knocks the client experience out of the park. When it comes to venues, I look for an establishment that has amazing service, great food if they cater, a beautiful space, and lots of flexibility. I think the intro on Hinterland Brewery’s website says it best: “Whether you're looking for a storied and hand-crafted beer, or unique contemporary American cuisine with multicultural influences – we will inspire you to taste beyond your boundaries.

Shortly after the ceremony, I overheard Hannah’s mom say to a guest, “This is the best day of my life. I thought my wedding day would be the best day of my life, but this is the best.” And it really was an amazing day.

Hannah and Kevin planned an intimate wedding that brought their incredible families together. Their wedding party included siblings, dear friends, and their three adorable kids. While their marriage made this family officially “one”, they blended their hearts and souls long before that.

Meet Milena, the event coordinator/dog-mom/beer-lover extraordinaire at Badger State Brewing Company. Focusing mainly on weddings, Milena has what in my eyes would be the “dream job”: she gets to work with wedding couples in an incredible venue and establishment that brews some of the best beer in the city, all in the shadows of Lambeau Field. Does it get dreamier than that?? With the recent launch of their event space, I wanted to sit down with Milena and chat about the first few years of event planning and what makes hosting your wedding at Badger State so unique.

Did you know that in a past life, long ago, I spent about a year working in an office as the assistant to a financial advisor? While I didn't follow that career path, I learned so much about life finances that I never expected.