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.

Friends, today I’d like you to meet Tim Sorbo. He’s a wedding officiant serving Northeast Wisconsin and beyond, working with couples who was a customized wedding ceremony–this man doesn’t do a cookie cutter service, people! He’s also able to serve clients by presiding over premarital counseling, general counseling, and funeral services as well. I see a lot of brides posting in local groups searching for the right officiant for their wedding, so I wanted to bring Tim’s experience to your attention. I asked Tim to share more about his offerings, and here’s what he had to say:

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a bit obsessed with trip planning, which is where part of the inspiration for my second business, Wild Klementine, came from. I’ve also become fond of bullet journaling to recap and remember our travels by. I wanted to share some of the road trip highlights (and downfalls) with you to either give you a bit of wanderlust, or to inspire your next Western adventure. This awesome road trip was the product of months of planning, and it had a surprise ending that was life-changing!

When Amanda and Jake were dreaming up their perfect engagement session, they shared how special it would be if they could celebrate their love story at the same place Jake proposed: Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm on Washington Island. We picked a date when the lavender would be at its peak and took the ferry across Death’s Door Strait to the island. Surrounded by a sea of purple flowers at the lavender farm, Amanda and Jake walked hand-in-hand, identifying different types of honey bees and talking about the bees they raise at their home.

What makes Dana Michele Makeup so unique?

As an on-site makeup artist, I will conveniently travel to you. I offer both airbrush and traditional foundation. I truly cater to the individuals needs, with having a background in skincare I am able to offer recommendations for getting their skin at it's best for their big day.

What areas do you consider yourself most successful in helping your wedding clients?

Educating my clients on what will be best for them personally.

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.

It’s such a beautiful thing when a bride wakes up on her wedding day, calm and collected, excited but relaxed, ready to embrace the day ahead of her. She’s contented and ready because she’s about to experience one of the best days of her life, and at the end of the day, she’ll be married to her best friend and better half. Andrea was one of these stunning, laid-back ladies. There was a soothing energy hum at her sister-in-laws home as the girls got ready. As Andrea sashayed in her wedding dress, her bridesmaids let out a collective sigh.

When you first step foot on the Givens Farm property in Hortonville, WI, you’ll be transported to a place of relaxation, elegance, and class. Owners Jim and Mariann have carefully created a home and venue that reflects their elegant style and the sophistication and intimacy of an Italian villa. It encourages lingering, being present and enjoying the moment you’re in, and making memories. Givens Farm’s wedding coordinator, Sam, sat down with me and excitedly shared what makes this venue so incredible:

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.

Ericka is the mastermind, visionary, and dreamer at Rustic Bride Wedding Rentals. Rustic Bride provides custom rentals for weddings and events in Wisconsin and beyond. Having worked with Rustic Bride on a few of my own projects, I wanted to chat with Ericka about her philosophies and any advice she might have for wedding planning couples:

When a couple chooses to work with KLEM Studios to capture their wedding day, we make sure we get to know them on a deeper level and form a connection with them. Abbi and TJ shared a lot of crucial information with me during their wedding planning process, but what stood out to me the most was the hopes and dreams they have as a couple:

Of all the qualities to look for in the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with, I think that finding someone who makes you laugh is incredibly important. Being able to laugh through the good times and bad makes life more enjoyable and endurable. Sammie and Kyle definitely struck gold in this department. These two are constantly laughing around each other, and it’s incredibly infectious.

Meet Angie, the floral wizard at Ginger Birch. Angie says she’s always had a passion for design. Colors, textures, and working with different elements bring her joy. In her words, “It doesn't get much better for me than meeting with my clients, discussing their visions and then  bring them to life! It's such an honor! I may have even cried a couple happy tears here and there when a vision comes to life!”

Sometimes, life brings someone your way and you think, “Ah, yes, this is one of my people.” Heather Vale of Wed and Willow Planning is one of my people. This girl loves weddings, travel, and her adorable husband.

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.

I always forget about the guest favors. Before a wedding, I’m thinking about how I can’t wait to see her dress or if the groom will cry. I can’t wait to watch these people promise themselves to each other. Then I get to the reception and it’s all, “OOO, look, presents!" 

It’s become customary to give gifts to your parents and wedding party thanking them for all the help they’ve given you to prepare for your wedding. You want to give them a gift that will be meaningful and show just how much you appreciate them. Below is a list of great gift ideas that will really “wow” these special people:

It always makes me smile inside when things come full circle and you realize why certain things happened the way they did. I first met Alton Olson of SoundFire DJ when we were both photography students at UWGB. We reconnected a few years after we graduated, and since then I have had the pleasure of getting to know Alton and his lovely wife and son through multiple family photo shoots and hangouts. Not only is Alton a warm, insightful friend, he’s also an incredible wedding DJ. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alton a few weeks ago over a cup of tea and we really dug into what makes the SoundFire DJ experience so special.

If you’ve got just a few months to go before your wedding day, you're probably going to be putting the finishing touches in place, everything from your ceremony to your reception details. Looking for ways to make your mother feel closer to your big day? Want to include your father-in-law in some special way? Making someone feel important on your wedding day is about making them stand out from the rest of the guests. Whether it’s apparent to everyone in attendance or something only the two of you know about, I've put together a list of ideas to make the people closest to you feel like they’re treasured.