Melissa and Tommy’s Wedding Day

Can you say fun?  Crazy amounts of it?  From when we first met up with these two to every little detail they planned for their reception — it was fun fun fun!

After all their individual shots were taken, our first order of business was for these two to see each other.  We set Tom up and told him to keep looking straight out over the water while Melissa came up to him from behind.  He was so excited to see Melissa he was walking backwards with his hands stretched back to try and find her.

Melissa and Tom got married on that weekend in October where suddenly it was summer again.  80 degrees and sunny and beautiful.  It made their ceremony a little warm in a church with no air conditioning, but they’d planned for that.  Water bottles were available for all their guests, and their programs were shaped like fans.

We headed downtown for some wedding party pictures and for some more with Tom and Melissa — and again, it was so much fun.  The guys in the wedding party excel at randomness, and with Adam instigating, we were laughing the whole time.

Then it was off to the reception at Lambeau.  The fun these two had planned for their guests involved throwing a football to get them to kiss, a photobooth, a dessert SUITE including baked goods and a candy bar with all their favorites, a ping pong table, and a Ms. Pacman game.  Along with all the usual festivities of good food and dancing.

As Tom and I were walking to the church he said as a general response to all the comments he’d been getting asking if he was nervous, that no, he wasn’t nervous at all, because this day and this marriage was right.  And he couldn’t have been more right in saying that.

Thanks, Tom and Melissa, for letting us be a part of your fun and entirely right wedding day!

-Kodi

Emily and Steve’s Wedding Day

On one of their first dates, Steve took Emily to a wrestling event where she got a pitcher of beer spilled all over her.  The first time he met her friends a story was shared about how when he was younger, he loved to ribbon dance to The Little Mermaid.  Thankfully, Emily loved every minute she spent with Steve, and a few years later, they got married.

Emily and Steve met at college working in the library together.  When he proposed, Steve took Emily back to that library.  Their former coworker was in on the scheme and asked Emily to help her out and put some books back on the shelves.  Emily found a book titled, “Will You Marry Me?”, and inside, part of the book was carved out to hold her ring.

Their wedding day was full of stories like that — silly and sweet ones of the two of them, and many that included their wedding party.  These two have a lot of great friends — all of them hilarious.

Their wedding day was also possibly the windiest day of the year, but thankfully not too terribly cold.  Emily’s full skirt turned extra dramatic in all that wind, it looked awesome!

At their reception, their DJ made Steve dance for the garter, saying Steve couldn’t reach for it until he earned the approval of Emily, the maid of honor and the best man.  After two tries, someone handed Steve a tie.  He turned to face Emily, paused and held the tie in front of him.  Then he leaped in the air, holding the tie by one end and dancing towards her.  His jury started laughing so hard they cried.  In the end, his ribbon dancing won him the girl of his dream.

Thanks, Steve and Emily, for letting us be a part of your fun, story-filled day!

-Kodi

Courtney and David’s Wedding Day

Courtney and David.  Oh how I loved their wedding!  It poured.  The entire day.  I spent more time holding an umbrella over Adam’s head and camera than I did shooting, but the day, and their pictures, turned out to be awesome.

When David first got to Homestead Meadows he was telling me about the plans for the ceremony, saying Courtney didn’t know it yet, but he was going to sing a song for her.  A song he wrote.  Just. For.  Her.  My first thought was, “well, this is either going to be really good or really interesting.”  Guys, it was REALLY good.  REALLY REALLY GOOD.  It wasn’t one of those songs where the words don’t quite fit but are shoved in away.  It was a song where every word and every note was perfect, and every person in the whole place was crying.

Courtney and David really wanted their ceremony to be God honoring — and it was just that.  Every word spoken and every song sung gave thanks to God for getting them to this point in their lives.

After the ceremony we ventured outside with umbrella for pictures.  Thankfully, Homestead Meadows has some beautiful areas and lots of overhangs, so Courtney and David were able to stay dry while we shot.

One of Courtney’s close friends is a florist, and what he did to transform the already beautiful dining area was incredible!  It was all twinkle lights and flowers and details — so beautiful.

After dinner it was back upstairs for cupcakes and dancing — David and Courtney and some of their guests swing dance — impressive moves were shown by all!

Thanks, Courtney and David, for letting us be a part of your beautiful and Spirit filled wedding day.

-Kodi

Jackie and Darin’s Wedding Day

Random.  Overflowing with personality.  Hilarious.  Crazy.  Ridiculous in a good way.  In love.  In short, Jackie and Darin.  Take a look at their pictures and you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

Jackie and Darin’s wedding had a 50′s theme.  It all started with Jackie’s dress — the same one her grandmother wore years ago.  Her shoes were also her grandmother’s, and her mom made her bouquet out of brooches the two of them collected.  Darin’s look could be described as Bond, James Bond — and even though he wasn’t wearing anything truly vintage, he fit the part.

These two planned a first look for 2 hours before the ceremony giving them plenty of time to check out just how awesome each other looked, get a bunch of pictures of just the two of them, and spend a little time talking and cuddling before their ceremony. You might notice that this blog post is longer than usual — and it’s 100% because of the extra time they gave us to create rockstar images.

After the ceremony at Heritage Hill it was back out for pictures with the whole wedding party, complete with light sabers, toy dart guns and mustaches as props.  Exceptional amounts of fun was had and some truly unique pictures were captured.

Out last stop was at Black Forest for their reception where Darin showed his sweet side.  Darin plays guitar well, but when it comes to singing…well, we’ll say his skills lie elsewhere.  But yet, on his wedding day, for his wife, he played guitar AND sang, Adam Sandler’s “I Wanna Grow Old With You”.  The result?  Happy tears across the room.

Thanks, Jackie and Darin, for letting us be a part of your random, hilarious, crazy ridiculous and so full of love wedding day!

-Kodi

Lauren and Brandon’s Wedding Day

All morning, Ameila was happy.  Enjoying a very special treat known as potato chips, running around in a pretty dress, and looking at, but not touching yet, beautiful bouquets of flowers.  And then, 30 seconds before it was time to walk down the aisle, all she wanted was for her mom to hold her.  The arms of her aunt filled that need for the trip down the aisle, but as soon as Lauren came down the aisle and took Brandon’s hand, Ameila ran between them.  Brandon picked her up, and there stood a family.

Ameila went into the next room by the toys for the rest of the ceremony, while the pastor talked about how marriage is a lot like parenting — the unexpected moments of frustration will come, and patience will be tried, but leaning on each other and God through those moments is what makes a marriage successful.

After the ceremony and some family pictures at the church we headed straight to Curly’s Pub.  Brandon has intentions of naming his firstborn son Clay Matthew Maccoux, so it was only appropriate.  What I love about Lambeau Field is that it’s such a beautiful stadium — combined with Adam’s skill a lot of the pictures don’t even give away the location.  Though, of course, we took plenty of images that scream PACKERS!

Then it was off to the KI center for a reception.  Speeches were given and cake was eaten, and then the dancing began.  And later, on the dance floor, Ameila ran up to them once more and the celebration began — as a family.

Thanks, Lauren and Brandon, for letting us be a part of your wedding day!

–Kodi

Jennie and Jose’s Wedding Day

Jose has the kind of smile that makes you want to smile when you see it.  Big and bright.  Maybe that’s why he first caught Jennie’s eye years ago when she was still in high school.  Now, years later, after they both grew up apart and together, she still loves that about him.

These two got married at the Botanical Gardens in Green Bay, on a drizzly day.  As Jennie and her dad were walking out of the building to get ready to walk down the aisle Jenny said she liked it — a little rain made her wedding day all the more romantic.  Jose must’ve thought the moment was perfect, his cheeks weren’t just wet because of the rain as he watched Jennie walk towards him.

After the ceremony the fun began — and let me tell you, does this wedding party know how to have it!  And look good doing it — do you see those boys with their suspenders?  I loved them.  I also love when the girls each choose their own style of dresses — look how great Jennie’s girls look in dresses that fit their bodies and personalities!

Jennie and Jose were both so excited about the gifts they gave each other — for him, a watch, for her, a pair of shoes.  They took their wedding as an opportunity to spoil each other, and they both loved it.

Their reception was at Townline, and that place has never looked better!  The decorations were incredible.  Monzu did their cake — one of the coolest cakes we’ve ever seen.  Adam stole the toppers for a ring shot — check it out.

Thanks, Jennie and Jose, for letting us be a part of your super stylish wedding day!

-Kodi

Save The Dates

Check out these super cute images Jon and Sara took for their save the dates!  I love seeing all the ideas our couples come up with for their weddings!

-Kodi

Matt and Katrina’s Wedding Day

Matt and Katrina.  Woowee, are these two a good time.  Katrina’s a girl who wanted her bridesmaid’s dresses to be bubblegum pink — and her husbands’s motorcycle to drive her into the reception for the Grand March.  And Matt’s a man who has had the same best friends for years — in one word, loyal.

I met Matt and his boys at Matt and Katrina’s house — which just so happened to be a prime location for pictures.  We shot there while Adam took Katrina and the girls outside at the church before there were any boys around to hide from.

After the ceremony, Matt and Katrina had snacks and desserts for their guests to enjoy right at the church while the did family pictures.  Then they hopped on the bus and headed downtown towards the KI center, stopping for more pictures along the way.

They scheduled TONS of time for pictures — giving us the flexibility to let them grab a drink while we se t up the next shot.  It’s so nice to have that time — it lets the couple relax and have fun with the wedding party, and gives us a moment to regroup and really evaluate the situation to set up some awesome shots.

At the KI for dinner, whenever a table wanted Katrina and Matt to kiss, they had to raise their hand.  The DJ would play a tune for them, and if they named that tune, Katrina and Matt would kiss.  If they got it wrong, they all had to stand up and kiss.  It was a hit — I think almost every table played!  And once the dancing started, it didn’t stop.  Just like Matt and Katrina — this crowd was ready to have a good time .

Thanks, Matt and Katrina, for letting us be a part of your fun day!

-Kodi

Melanie and Andy’s Wedding Day

The only word that comes to mind when I think about Andrew and Melanie, both independently and in a relationship together, is genuine.  True to who they are in any situation, and genuinely some of the nicest people we’ve ever met.

These two got married at a beautiful old Catholic church in Milwaukee, and it rained.  Almost all day long.  Thankful for the overhangs and how large the church was, Adam and I took pictures of Andy and Melanie separately at different ends of the church before the ceremony.

Then it was time for the ceremony to start.  Their kindhearted priest struggled to pronounce Melanie’s name, and for half the ceremony her called her “mah-lane-nee”  Melanie’s response?  Laughter.  Who cared if the priest couldn’t pronounce her generally common first name?  Andy can, and that’s all that mattered to her.

We had a quick break in the rain just after the ceremony and we brought everyone outside to take advantage of it.  Relaxed because the hard part was over, the whole group was talking and laughing, and taking full advantage of every opportunity we gave them to be goofy.

Their reception was at the Pfister — and let me tell you, if you’re looking for impeccable service on your wedding day, the Pfister is just the place for that.  Their team is incredible, not to mention the food is some of the best we’ve ever had!

After dinner we stole Melanie and Andy away for a few more pictures and a quiet moment together.  As we were walking we passed a mirror and Melanie stopped to check her hair and make up.  Andy paused to wait for her, and then grabbed her hand and told her she looked beautiful.  I can’t disagree — do you see this girl?  Or for that matter, this couple?  Their nieces and nephews were a big part of their wedding, and I’m betting their own kids are going to be BEYOND adorable.

Melanie bought finger lights for the reception — they’re little rings with a light inside of them.  They were a huge hit on the dance floor for kids and adults alike!

Thanks, Melanie and Andrew, for letting us be a part of a day that was true to you two, and so much fun!

-Kodi

Jenny and Stephen’s Wedding Day

After Stephen first met Jenny, he came home and told his mom, “She’s tall and I like her a lot!”  Conveniently, Stephen is pretty tall himself, and these two couldn’t be a better match, from their height to what they want in life.

I met Stephen and his boys at the hotel to start their pictures — but not until they each grabbed various forms of caffeine.  Meanwhile Adam was with Jenny and her friends at Seven Seas, the beautiful location for their outdoor wedding.  It’s on Lake Nagawicka — and everyone was out on the lake that day enjoying the beautiful weather!

After the ceremony we took some pictures at Seven Seas and then at a park on the way to the reception — things got a little crazy there, and pants may have ripped…

It calmed down a bit for dinner, and before the dinner prayer Stephen’s mom shared an answer to her own prayers.  She said 20 some years ago, when she found out she was pregnant and started looking at names, the name that was on her heart for a baby girl was Jenny.  Twenty some years ago she had two boys, but on this wedding day, God gave her a beautiful daughter named Jenny.

That wasn’t the only tear jerking speech that night — Jenny’s dad and half the room choked up as he spoke about the woman she’d grown into.  Jenny and Steve lived with him in the weeks leading up to the wedding while they were trying to close on their house, and he said watching them work together and for each other gave him total confidence in the choice they made that day, to spend their lives working together and for each other.

Thanks Stephen and Jenny, for letting us be a part of your perfect wedding day!

-Kodi