Krista and Betsy’s Memorial Union Wedding

Well, it’s been a ridiculously long time since I wrote a blog, BUT this wedding is a great one to get back into the swing of things!…

An awesome wedding at one of my favorite venues with amazing brides AND Bucky Badger is in attendance?! I guess dreams really do come true. I had a blast at this wedding and am so glad these lovely women were willing to share a bit about their love story, planning process, and wedding with us. From here on out it’s Krista and Betsy providing the words!

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Our love story: 

We met in August 2012 at the U-Bay rugby fields at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Krista was a senior in college and a back for the UW Women’s Rugby Football Club team, and I (Betsy) was a second-year graduate student and an assistant coach. I was infatuated with Krista at first sight. Being the awkward human that I am (and the fact that I already had a girlfriend!), I made the decision to avoid interacting with Krista at all costs. Krista actually thought I hated her!

Fast forward a few months to the rugby social where I mustered up the (liquid?) courage to talk to Krista. After a fun night of laughing and dancing with friends, we exchanged numbers and have been together ever since. Just kidding. I lost all of my courage and actively avoided Krista for another few months! We finally made it official in March 2013. 

When I applied to psychology internships Krista jumped at the chance to move with me . . . .  but only after I promised we could get a puppy. Now our family includes a puppy named Scout and a cat named Pickles. In June 2016, Krista popped the question while we were at a Brandi Carlile concert in Nebraska. And now here we are! 

 

Where our wedding was, and how we chose the venue(s):

We got married on the Tripp Deck at the Memorial Union and had our reception in Tripp Commons. We did not even look at other venues and were lucky that the timeline for our wedding fit with the construction schedule and lottery timeline at the Union.  

 

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Our favorite part(s) of the wedding:

Pizza and beer on the terrace with friends and family the night before our wedding, our first look, our vows, dancing with friends and family, having Bucky visit our wedding!

 

What was definitely worth it:

  • MAUREEN! Our pictures were beautiful and would definitely recommend having her as a photographer (and guest) at your wedding.

  • Our DJ (Josh and Lane from Kuhl Entertainment)

  • Spending the money to have a trusted hairstylist and makeup artist travel to Madison from Milwaukee to do the hair of all 16 (!) bridesmaids and both of our moms

  • Renting the two king suites at the Memorial Union the night before and night of our wedding

 

What was definitely not worth it:

Worrying too much about where people were seated. Most of our guests spent the night on the dance floor or enjoying the sunset on the Tripp Deck.

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Our greatest challenge in planning the wedding:

Starting the planning process when we were living out of state

 

We chose Maureen Cassidy Photography because:

When we met with Maureen she instantly made us feel comfortable. 

 

Where we allocated the most funds:

  • Food/Drinks

  • Photographer

  • DJ

 

The Least Funds:

  • Cake (we chose a free design)

  • We opted not to have a videographer

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Vendor Shout-outs!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Tripp Deck & Commons at the Memorial Union

Hair: Kara McGrew, Bridget Lindner  

Makeup: Jessica Vandervoot

Wedding Dresses: Vera’s in Madison, Wisconsin and Alexandra’s Boutique in Fall River, Massachusetts

Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff

Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Catering & Bar-tending: Wisconsin Union Catering

Officiant: Our Close friend, Amanda Siebert Evenstone

Flowers/Florist: Adore Flowers in Tauranga, New Zealand (owner was related to one of our bridesmaids!)

Invitations: Minted

Dessert: Carl’s Cakes

Photography: Maureen Cassidy Photography

DJ: Kuhl Entertainment (Lane Alexander and Josh Kuhl)

 

**Maureen here: Thanks for having me be part of your big day! Love to you both. 

By | October 4th, 2018|Uncategorized, Wedding Photography Madison WI|0 Comments

2017 The year to remember

I went into 2017 with new priorities and that change made for the best year in decades.  I wanted to change my work-life balance to involve less work and focus more on living life (money is important but so is making time to have fun). I took a gamble and took 1/2 as much work as in previous years and that gave me space to feel myself again and restore a little balance in a crazy, heavy world.  So, I let myself have a summer of weekend plans (my first in a decade) and less stress and I allowed joy and lightness to take over.  I took vacations with family, went to Africa, got married, got a puppy, got a hot tub, went to music festivals, slept outside more, went to great photography conferences, hosted fun house parties, & I met so many new friends this year that I feel like I belong more to my communities – all of this has been filling me with joy and gratitude!!! In some way, I feel like I reclaimed my life back from being a mother and a business owner.  I was able to change things up because I had Neil, my now sexy awesome husband (who’s kind of my ghost writer for these blog posts). With his love and support + half the housework & bills divided, I was able to have less stress and do more cool things. I guess it was just that simple!! Hooray for love!!

I’m so lucky and grateful for the way this year went. I made so many memories that will last forever and make me smile every time I see photos like these.

 

I’m kind of a weirdo and so are my friends.  When we get together, the parties get weird.  Go figure.

Our blended family of kids is still in full creative play mode.  This was one night they were doing space training in the “water unit”.

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We liked the photos of the kids so much, we totally ripped them off.

 

The weird gene passed on to the next generation.

Neil and I were getting married soon and I had envisioned the 2nd photograph for years for an engagement session.  Neil is the funny one who thought it would be best if we wore matching swimsuits.  Photoshoots with Neil are the funniest.  One of our best friends and most rad photographer Sharon Vanrony documented this glorious event, and the bathtub space training shots too.

Getting married this year was by far one of the biggest highlights and the best day of the year.  It was simply pure magic.  Click here to see.

 

Even though I worked less this year, I love my job so much!!

fearlesss photography conference

Lessons learned: if you throw a party at your house, skip the confetti.

Photos credits: I appologize for being slow on this and also being disorganized on who took which photo.  I am going to come back and revise.  Meanwhile, here are some of the photographers who took the party shots at the conferences:

Dave Shay

Daniel Pullen

Ashley Smith

Ilana Natasha- My fellow local Madison wedding photographers and also one of the Best of Madison winners.

Kara Counard-Another wonderfully talented Wisconsin photographer who lives in Door County.

 

By | January 29th, 2018|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Marcie & Caleb know how to party! A Lovely Outdoors Wedding + Reception

Our love story: Marcie is from NYC and Caleb is from Wisconsin. We both had lifelong dreams of visiting Iceland. We laid eyes on each other in a hotel lobby in Iceland, and that was it. Both of us never believed in love at first sight or soulmates, but all that changed. We had booked separate trips there, wound up being on the same tour, the same hotel, with our flights leaving minutes apart. We spent the days doing excursions and stayed up all the nights talking. After doing the long distance thing for a few months, Marcie moved to WI.

Venue:Farmin’ Betty’s in Columbus, WI. We really wanted a place where we could have both the ceremony and reception. This barn is gorgeous, and they also have a stunning cocktail hour and lawn game setting! They also allowed us to set up a day before, have the rehearsal, and clean up a day later, which you can’t really find these days. It won our hearts over instantly.

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Our favorite part(s) of the wedding: It honestly is just so overwhelming to be surrounded by so much love. We both had many guests travel in from all over the country, so to see everyone mingling, dancing, and enjoying themselves was everything to us.

What was definitely worth it: Having a day of coordinator. We didn’t want to spend money on a planner, but our DOC was a savior! She did everything… and more!

What was definitely not worth it: The stress! I am not a perfectionist, but we did a lot of DIY stuff, and you wind up forming an image in your head of what you want. It’s important to trust in the venue, the DOC, and the other vendors that things will work smoothly. And if they don’t, you won’t even know about it!

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Our Planning Guidelines: We did as much as we possibly could in the beginning. We had our vendors booked very quickly after we got engaged. It allowed us to take a break around the holidays and enjoy life without too much stress.

Greatest challenge planning the wedding: Since we did a lot of DIY, many things couldn’t be done until weeks, even days before the wedding. That time was quite stressful for us. It feels like you will never get everything done… but you need to trust when people say “it all comes together in the end, ” because it does.

Resources that helped us along the way: Pinterest, of course!

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Advice for other people planning their wedding: The day really does wind up being a complete blur. As 2 people that never wanted to get married, it is very surreal that all your planning is coming together in that moment and that you are surrounded by tons of people that love you. We kept looking around and saying “is this real?” “is this really happening?” “did we just get married?” It’s important to take it all in and breathe…. Oh, and eat! We definitely didn’t eat enough!

Other cool stuff people should know: Caleb is a home brewer who brewed 99% of the beer for the wedding. Our signature drink was an Elska blonde ale (Elska means “love” in Icelandic), and he had a few others brewed for the day. It took him months and months but was more than well worth it. We saved a TON of money by doing that, and our guests loved trying them and loved the personal touch. We bought kegs of other beer just in case anyone wanted something more standard, but they went untapped!

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The wedding photos we’re most excited to see: The candids that were taken of us and our guests! I know there will be a lot of smiling and joyful faces.

We chose Maureen Cassidy Photography because Maureen did our engagement photos, and it was a blast. We both didn’t love the idea of the run of the mill engagement photos, and she was open to all ideas and her input was great! We got to go out, enjoy nature, be ourselves, drink beer, and the pictures came out wonderful! The fact that she is also vivacious and full of life, makes the shoot extremely comfortable and enjoyable. The few wedding photos we have seen so far look stunning! We can’t wait for the full set!!!!

Photographer side note: This Wisconsin wedding was in the fall but it was record-breaking hot & humid!  Marcie was the most down to earth bride and decided to not wear her wedding dress after dinner and they quickly moved the dancing from inside the barn to outside on the patio because it was too hot in the barn.  They rolled so fluidly when things were not perfect and they didn’t sweat the small stuff or even the big stuff.  After the wedding, I told my husband they gave the perfect amount of fucks.

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Planned Budget: We honestly didn’t have a set budget. We were realistic about money and saved where we could, hence the tons of DIY stuff we did.

Actual Budget: Would you believe us if we said we didn’t know? I think the venue and all of our vendors equaled about $14,000. All the side stuff was extra.

Where we allocated the most funds and the least funds: The most funds went to renting the venue, but 2nd was catering. We didn’t want to skimp out on the food. The least amount went to flowers. We kept hearing how floral is the most expensive, but ordering them online was such a breeze!

Vendor Shout-outs!

I am getting married!!

I AM GETTING MARRIED!!

Neil and I like and appreciate the weird and wanted to add comedy to our engagement photos, for no reasons other than for fun.  We both love to laugh and don’t take ourselves too seriously.  Hey, why not be weird?

 

We’ve been together almost 4 years and it has been just the absolute best!  I am crazy in love with this man and we have such a beautiful and fun partnership.  We are getting married in a couple of weeks at one of our favorite places, Isle Royale.  There will be lots and lots of swimming that day because isn’t that part of just a perfect summer day? Our wedding is going to be off beat, low key and hopefully a little bit weird, so these photos fit the bill pretty well.

 

I can’t wait to marry this awesome guy!!

 

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I asked just the right photo friend, Sharon of SV heart photography to help execute this idea (that Neil had and later regretted.  Or maybe he really did love it!)  Sharon is a close friend and I always love her humor and her photos! Check out her work! 

 

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Maureen Cassidy is a Madison wedding photographer, Madison family photographer & Madison boudoir photographer who loves capturing connections, love and beauty in Wisconsin and around the world. If you would like to send her a message contact her {here}.

my family life 2016

I live a really good life and I am so grateful for all of it.   In 2016 Neil and I bought a beautiful old house and blended our families together.  We both thought it would be more challenging but it’s mostly been smooth sailing.  We had Tim Fitch come over one August day to take photos! Tim is super talented and really doesn’t direct but just lets everyone do what they do and captures the moments brilliantly! As you will see, he is king at taking candids! Other highlights were Neil’s sister’s wedding, a big family trip to Zion National park, my family from Philadelphia visiting me here in Madison, a friend vacation to Idaho and my dear father’s surprise 80th birthday party.  I took my favorite photo of 2016 there – a 100% sentimental capture of my dad’s happiest smile with his tongue poking out on one side.  My dad is a quiet guy and I have only seen this most joyous grin a few times in my life.  This photo of my dad (with almost all of his grandkids) makes me so happy, I already have it framed in my bedroom!  It reminds me why I love photography so much!

I am really looking forward to 2017! I only took 10 weddings (last year I had 31!).  I plan to do more family photography and boudoir.  AND I plan to do shit on weekends! For the past 6 summers, I haven’t had much of a summer.  I plan to go to festivals, camp as much as I can, as many lazy mornings as I can get and just be more present for my family life.  So if you’ve been thinking about getting family photos taken, you should please contact me!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope to see you in 2017!

ps. Most of these photos are mine but some are not.  Here is a list of photographers whose photographs I am using in the post.  Lily Chou of Wild about you Photography.  She has mad skills and the fun dance shots are hers from attending Mystic Photography Seminar. Other photos besides Tim Fitch are Amie Heeter, Sharon from SV heart photography, Nikki Hansen, other family members and strangers.

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These next set are from TIM FITCH PHOTOGRAPHY! He is king of  “day in the life photos”.  Pure documentary style!

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I got 3 big trips with my family this year.  I am so happy my sisters are good planners! Thanks Kathy and Donna for planning wonderful trips!

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Then I got a friend vacation in Idaho! It was perfect! Hiking, hot spring, friends, fires, guitars…no kids!

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Just a few from Megan and Tony’s wedding.

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My Dad’s surprise 80th birthday.

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Favorite photo of 2016.

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Cat & Cassidy’s Picnic Point Proposal

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The backstory
We met in college at a 90’s party. Cassidy was dressed as Baby Spice and I had acid wash jeans on. Interestingly, we grew up in the same town in New Jersey. Our parent’s houses are only a mile away. We went to the same middle school together two years apart but never met. From there, we followed each other to Boston, Atlanta, and then New York before finally settling in Madison this summer for Cassidy to start medical school. I think I knew marriage was imminent when we shared a 200 square foot efficiency apartment in Manhattan and came out liking each other even more than we did when we moved in.
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Planning the proposal
I had the ring made over the summer, but I knew that I wanted a fall proposal. Fall is when we met and has always been our favorite season. I considered a few outdoor locations but ultimately decided on Picnic Point. I liked that I could reserve a fire pit to create our own space in a public area. My grandparents went to UW and I grew up hearing about walks to the point.

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I wanted to strike the balance between it being a private moment for just us and being able to share it with our families and friends. We just moved to Madison from the East coast and are both close to our families; I wanted them to be able to experience the moment with us from far away. I absolutely love the pictures! Looking at them brings me back to how I felt in the exact moment– the nervous energy leading up to the proposal and the elation following the “yes”. I never want to forget how it felt!

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Maureen Cassidy is a Madison wedding photographer, Madison family photographer & Madison boudoir photographer who loves capturing connections, love and beauty in Wisconsin and around the world. If you would like to send her a message contact her {here}.

Kelly & Ryan’s Majestic Theatre Wedding

trek bikes weddingWhere our wedding was, and how we chose the venue(s):

Majestic Theatre. We wanted a venue that was unique to Madison and near the capitol area. We fell in love with the Majestic and loved the idea of a theater wedding. The event coordinator, Jenni, was a big part of the decision as well, and she was a huge help for planning and running the big day!

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Our favorite part(s) of the wedding:

Having all of our family and friends present to share the big day! We loved our beautiful, unique venue – the most positive feedback from our guests was about the theatre. The florist was amazing and came up with arrangements that were exactly what Kelly was picturing. The caterer did a great job, and we loved our cupcakes. We loved working with Maureen – she did an amazing job making sure we got all of the pictures we wanted, and the photos were beautiful! It was hard to pick our favorites because they were all great.

What was definitely worth it:

The venue! It was beautiful, unique, and so much fun.

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Greatest challenge planning the wedding:

Busy work schedules. Kelly is a veterinarian and was working long hours, so a large amount of planning was packed into her days off.

Resources that helped us along the way:

The Knot was very helpful for planning seating arrangements and had a nice checklist

Advice for other people planning their wedding:

It’s very helpful to have someone coordinating the day, whether it’s an event coordinator for your venue or a wedding planner. It lets you focus on sitting back and enjoying the day! Don’t get caught up in small details and remember that even if everything isn’t perfect, the day will be beautiful. Make sure you love your photographer!

Other cool stuff people should know:

Ryan is an industrial designer at Trek, and he used his artistic talent for multiple parts of the wedding. He designed Kelly’s engagement ring and wedding band in SolidWorks, and he made his own wedding band using a billet rod of titanium from Trek Bicycles. He also designed the save-the-dates, invites, and programs.

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The wedding photos we were most excited to see:

First look pictures; wedding party photos! We drove around Madison in a limo bus to some of our favorite Madison locations (Olin Park, Memorial Union Terrace).

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We chose Maureen Cassidy Photography because:

We liked her aesthetic and energy, and we clicked well after meeting with her. Also, some of Ryan’s coworkers had used Maureen Cassidy Photography for their weddings and they were happy with their experience.

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Vendors:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Majestic Theatre

Hair & Make-up: Elevation Salon & Spa

Wedding Dress: Vera’s House of Bridals

Bridesmaids Dresses: Brandi’s Bridal Galleria

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Warehouse

Catering: Blue Plate Catering

Bartending:Majestic Theatre

Officiant: Fred-Allen Self

Flowers/Florist: Daffodil Parker

Invitations: Designed by Ryan Callahan, printed using Badger Graphics

Dessert: Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery

Photography: Maureen Cassidy Photography & Nikki Hansen

DJ: Double Platinum DJ

Maureen Cassidy is a Madison wedding photographer, Madison family photographer & Madison boudoir photographer who loves capturing connections, love and beauty in Wisconsin and around the world. If you would like to send her a message contact her {here}.

By | October 9th, 2015|Uncategorized, Wedding Photography Madison WI|0 Comments

Summer Family and Newborn Sessions in Sweet Madison, Part 2!

Hey all!

Here’s installation #2 of Family and Newborn session highlights for the past couple of months.

I hope you enjoy and that you can feel and see the love these families have for each other! Please scroll through at the bottom to see Installation #1 from a few days ago!

**Also, if anyone is really wanting to schedule a family or newborn session this fall, I only have a few spots left- please sign up soon!

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Maureen Cassidy is a Madison wedding photographer, Madison family photographer & Madison boudoir photographer who loves capturing connections, love and beauty in Wisconsin and around the world. If you would like to send her a message contact her {here}.

Megan & Jason’s Wisconsin Winter Wedding

Where were your wedding and reception and how did you choose the venue(s)?

Our wedding ceremony was at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish in North Lake, WI and our reception was at The Delafield Hotel in Delafield. We chose our church because it reminded Megan of the church she grew up going to. It’s cozy and beautiful. It really made our ceremony feel intimate and personal.

We picked the Delafield Hotel because of its old world/antique charm. Also, the on-staff wedding planner, Erin, was phenomenal to work with and she made planning our wedding reception so easy. 

What memory stands out most from your wedding day?

Off the top of my head, my favorite memory was how awesome our dance floor was! There was NEVER a dull moment and everyone looked like they were having a blast!

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What personal touches did you add to the wedding to make it your own?

We chose vendors who knew us personally and could customize their services to us. Our priest has been a friend of Megan’s since Kindergarten; our DJ was a friend of Megan’s from high school; Maureen has been our buddy/coach/photographer for a few years (and for many more to come)! We picked our favorite colors to decorate with and to base our floral choices around. We decided to have a bean bag toss game instead of glass-clinking as it’s one of our favorite tailgate games. The game had the logo of the gymnastics academy where we coach together on display. Jason also made a fantastic slideshow of photos of each of us growing up, us together, and our favorite people!

What was the most enjoyable part of planning your wedding?

Megan most enjoyed that we were able to work together as a team to make decisions. It wasn’t always easy, but we always figured out how to make a decision we were both excited about. It bonded us and brought us closer together.

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So stinkin’ sweet- I love it when grooms want to take their own pictures of the beautiful bride!

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What was your greatest challenge in planning your wedding? What did you feel least prepared for?

Wedding planning wasn’t too tough at all for us. We were extremely lucky. I would have to say that I felt least prepared for how difficult it was to try and see and speak to all of our wedding guests. I wish the night could have lasted longer so I could have connected with everyone!

What resources (blogs, friends, websites) helped you in planning your wedding?

I glanced at Pinterest to get some ideas, but not too closely. Pinterest pressure is a real thing! Etsy, however, became my best friend. I got lots of ideas from the site and found some great deals, too! Plus, I loved that most of the items I shopped for were handmade. I used theknot.com for the checklist. It helped me prioritize the order of our ‘to do’ list.

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What advice do you have for people planning a wedding?

Don’t be afraid to break the rules. While we followed many of the wedding traditions out there, you definitely don’t have to. Your wedding should reflect YOU! 

Which moment(s) are/were you most excited to see in your wedding photos?

I’m most excited to see the moments that we were unaware Maureen captured! Candid photos are my favorite!

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Why did you choose Maureen Cassidy Photography?

Because she RULES! DUH!

Wisconsin Wedding Vendors!

Ceremony Venue: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish 

Reception Venue: The Delafield Hotel 

Hair & Make-up: Creative Flair Salon 

Wedding Dress: Brandi’s Bridal 

Bridesmaids Dresses: The Wedding Shoppe 

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Catering & Bar-tending: The Delafield Hotel 

Officiant: Fr. Jacob Strand

Wedding planner: Erin Neureuther (with The Delafield Hotel)

Flowers/Florist: Waukesha Floral & Greenhouse 

Invitations: Minuteman Press (formerly R.B.’s Printing, INC) 

Dessert (cake and such!): Our cake was from Piggly Wiggly 

Photography- Maureen Cassidy Photography Like there would be anyone else?? 😉 & 2nd shooting-Sarah Maughan of  Urban Anchor Photography

DJ: We used Sound By Design for our DJ and lighting services.

Maureen Cassidy is a Madison wedding photographer, Madison family photographer & Madison boudoir photographer who loves capturing connections, love and beauty in Wisconsin and around the world. If you would like to send her a message contact her {here}.

Allison & Jason’s Bayfield Wedding

Allison and Jason’s wedding was such a treat for me. 1. Allison & Jason and their families and friends are so wonderful. 2. They got married along the shores of Lake Superior (which is by far my favorite lake!) 3. I love destination weddings (even if they are only 6 hours from my place) 4. I got to photograph this wedding with the love of my life, Neil (and he did so great)!

Where was your wedding?

 Bayfield, WI!

What were your deciding factors in choosing your venue(s)?

We really wanted a place where all of our guests could spend the weekend together, enjoying and exploring a destination that has come to mean a lot to us. Our other goal was a casual, flexible location where our guests could easily walk from their lodging to the event venues.

What was your greatest challenge in planning your wedding? What did you feel least prepared for?

 Since we wanted a venue where we could choose our own caterer and stock our own bar, we had a lot of little details to coordinate and numbers to come up with that sometimes presented a challenge. Fortunately we had many friends, family and vendors that were happy to offer advice along the way. The only thing we could have been a little more prepared for was the reception timeline being more structured- we did not have a day-of coordinator, so all things considered, things went very smoothly!

Bayfield wisconsin outdoor family wedding Bayfield wisconsin outdoor family wedding Bayfield wisconsin outdoor family wedding dress

What resources helped you in planning your wedding? (blogs, websites, magazines, friends, wedding shows, etc.)

 We used a couple websites (weddinggawker, offbeat bride), but mostly our great vendors and friends provided the most help.

How did you calm your wedding day nerves?

 We really treated it like any other day- getting up, having coffee together…then the set-up and semi-madness began, so we were really too busy to get nervous! It helps to have calming people around you during the day too- and people willing to help out wherever needed.

Do you have any advice for people planning a wedding?
Don’t be constrained by tradition- I truly think people will be okay with whatever unique things you want to incorporate into your day. People will appreciate a wedding that reflects your personalities and life.

Bayfield wisconsin outdoor family wedding getting ready

Took the opportunity to do an environmental portrait!
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Which moment(s) are/were you most excited to see in your wedding photos?

Since Maureen was doing some cool ‘artsy’ stuff with us before the ceremony, we’re excited to see those shots, along with ones of our guests at the ceremony.

artistic natural wedding photography in madison Bayfield wisconsin outdoor family wedding bayfield wisconsin

bride and groom meaningful wedding photo

This shot is for Jason!
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What was the most enjoyable part of planning your wedding?

 If we hadn’t been planning a wedding, we never would have had the opportunity to meet so many talented, gracious vendors from both Madison and Bayfield.

wedding candidswedding candids of guest wedding candids outdoor ceremony on lake superior -Bayfield wisconsin outdoor family wedding lake superior candid joyful wedidng photography wedding ceremony outside on lake superior

Did you write your own vows? 

 We did decide to write our own vows, which we kept a secret until the ceremony. I think a lot of people thought we did write them together, because they reflected so many of the same ideas- our chance re-meeting in a coffee shop (we knew each other in college but hadn’t seen each other for many years), our hopes for our future together, and the many ways we complement each other.

wedding ceremony outside in bayfeild wisconsin funny candid of tieing the knot first kiss at weddingwedding outside first kiss wedding candid happy wedding photography wedding funny photos

Why did you choose Maureen Cassidy Photography?

 While looking for a photographer, we were hoping to find someone familiar with Bayfield that was more into capturing unscripted moments than posed ones. Maureen fit those criteria, plus we felt like we’d known Maureen for years the minute we met.

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wedding reception at lake superior wedding candid madison wisconsin

What memory stands out most from your wedding day?

That’s a hard one to narrow down, so here are a few memories that really stood out: reading our personal vows during the ceremony (we didn’t share them ahead of time), listening to the touching wedding message our officiant (Allison’s Godfather) prepared, and the awesome toasts/speeches at the reception.

wedding photography on lake superior candids bayfield wedding

Any funny moments to share?

Nothing outrageously funny, but there was a moment we thought the father/daughter  dance might not happen, as Allison’s father was a bit busy handing out the special cigars he had ordered. Eventually he was tracked down for the dance, and did get to enjoy his cigars afterwards!

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artistic candid natural

If you had an unlimited budget or simply could redo your wedding day, would you have done anything differently?

 I suppose that with an unlimited budget we could have hired a band vs. a DJ, but people were on the dance floor until 1am, so I think we did okay in that respect! Otherwise everything was pretty perfect in our eyes.

 

Vendor Shout-outs! 

Ceremony Venue: Bayfield Memorial Park

Reception Venue: Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion

Hair: Nicole Glaza (friend of the bride & groom who works at Cinema Studio in Madison)

Make up: Nicole Glaza

Wedding Dress: Monica Freng (of Monirose)

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Macy’s

Catering & Bar-tending: Good Thyme (Washburn, WI)

Rentals (tents, chairs, linens, etc.): London Road Rentals (Duluth, MN)

Officiant: Tom Foltz (family friend and Godfather of the bride)

Wedding planner: Allison & Jason, friends, family , and vendors

Flowers/Florist: purchased boxes of fresh perennials from Hauser’s Superior View Farm in Bayfield and our friends/family arranged them

Invitations: Jill Koskelin of Etikette (Middleton, WI)

Dessert (cake and such!): Coco Bakery (Washburn, WI)

Photography: Maureen Cassidy Photography + her amazing, awesome, wonderful boyfriend Neil Thompson

DJ: Sounds Unlimited (Duluth, MN)

Musicians: Ric Gillman (acoustic guitar during ceremony)

Favors: personalized cups from Discount Mugs

Honeymoon: Australia and New Zealand

Maureen Cassidy is a Madison wedding photographer, Madison family photographer & Madison boudoir photographer who loves capturing connections, love and beauty in Wisconsin and around the world. If you would like to send her a message contact her {here}.

By | November 12th, 2014|Uncategorized, Wedding Photography Madison WI|0 Comments

Erin & Michael Awesome Wedding in Denver, CO

I met Erin when I was 19 years old and we were in AmeriCorps together.  We had the good luck to be roommates and became instant best friends.  That was in 1998 and we have stayed close to each other and followed each other’s journeys into adulthood closely.

I think I can take a small amount of credit for Erin and Michael’s meeting – after sharing my adventures in online dating with Erin, she quickly bit the bullet and made an online profile for a dating site.  Soon after she went on a magical date with Michael and said that they were “connected”.  When Erin told me Michael proposed I was crying right along with her.  

Michael is a perfect match for her and he makes Erin smile even more which I thought was possible!  I was honored and excited when she asked me to photograph her wedding.  I went searching for an amazing 2nd shooter and found a total winner, Jennie Crate from Green Blossom Photography.  You should check her out if you live in the Denver, CO area!

Venue 

Our wedding was in Evergreen, Colorado at The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park. It’s this funky and wonderful place about 45 minutes outside of Denver that keeps buffalo and elk. The barn was constructed just over a decade ago out of reclaimed boards and has stained glass that was shipped from Germany.

What were your deciding factors in choosing your venue(s)? 

We knew we wanted to be married outside and to have a space large enough for at least 200 people indoors. But really it was about finding a date that would work for this incredible photographer we know who was already half booked for the wedding season, and working around the schedules of our immediate family.

Destination wedding details Destination wedding Destination wedding Destination wedding first look Destination wedding photographySeriously! There was just elk hanging out really close to where they did their first look.

Destination wedding barn

What was the most enjoyable part of planning your wedding? 

All of the interactions with people: hearing from so many friends and family members; creating the world’s most awesome bridal party; working with all the great vendors.

What was your greatest challenge in planning your wedding? What did you feel least prepared for? 

The enormity of the project. For a moment there in the beginning, it felt like I was taking on a part-time job. I wasn’t prepared for how much focus we all had to put on the event.

What memory stands out most from your wedding day? 

I’m flooded with memories. I will always remember how much the day meant to me, every single part of it, every person there, every word shared, if not actually remembering the parts, people and exact words. It was an incredible feeling.

Destination wedding barn rustic mountains Destination wedding barn rustic mountains candids barn wedding rustic details in barn for wedding DIY candids barn wedding rustic

Did you write personal vows? 

We did. Very near the wedding day, too, so they were fresh and a little raw with emotion. We shared them with each other the morning of our wedding day to get each other’s approval. It was a very sweet moment in a day chock-full of sweet moments.

If you had an unlimited budget or simply could redo your wedding day, would you have done anything differently?

Our wedding was a hit, but it could have certainly gone on for another few days and I wouldn’t have minded.

candids barn wedding rustic outdoor ceremony in mountains outdoor ceremony in mountainsoutdoor ceremony in mountains  outdoor ceremony in mountains outdoor ceremony in mountains outdoor ceremony in mountains outdoor ceremony in mountains candids outdoor ceremony in mountainsfunny candids in destination wedding

What resources helped you in planning your wedding? 

We used the local version of The Knot to get us started. We picked it up at a bookstore after showing up at a wedding planning event, seeing the line, and immediately deciding the event wasn’t for us. It also helped that we have a lot of DIYers in the family.

Do you have any advice for people planning a wedding? 

Not really. Good luck. Remember it is just one day and try not to be too extravagant with tiny details. Stay organized by keeping a spreadsheet and making lots of email folders. Be prepared to be emotional on wedding week and make time to share/delegate your worries to your support network.

How did you calm your wedding day nerves?

 I just kept trying to remember that the day was going to go so fast and to just enjoy it while it came.

outdoor ceremony in mountains

Which moment(s) are/were you most excited to see in your wedding photos? 

People enjoying the wedding. I didn’t get to see everyone, and I’m hoping that most of them appear in these photos.

Why did you choose Maureen Cassidy Photography? 

Because Maureen has the ability to capture emotion and moments like no other photographer I know. She is pure energy and will always go the extra mile for the great shot or say the extra raunchy joke for the hilarious reactions.

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Every wedding I always look forward to the speeches.  I am a sucker for people opening their hearts in any form + often there are funny stories.  The groom’s father had such a heart felt speech that I think everyone was really touched and teary.rustic barn wedding candids speech rustic barn wedding candids rustic barn wedding candids rustic barn wedding candids rustic barn wedding candids dancing

Any funny moments? 

Well, Michael and I had this big plan to don a horse (him) and a unicorn (me) mask for our daytime photos – with us holding signs that said “Thank” and “You” for our cards. The masks were inspired by our horse and unicorn cake topper that I randomly purchased from ModCloth (along with my dress). One day, in a toy store, I saw the matching masks and had to have them.

Like so many things you plan, I forgot all about it in the excitement of the day. At around 11pm, our friends found the masks in one of our bags and were like WHAT?! PUT THESE ON NOW!! So we did and were guided upstairs – because you couldn’t see anything in these masks. Just to set the scene, we had an epic dance party of a wedding – Michael and I kicked off the dancing with a choreographed number and then we brought everyone out for the couples-together-longest dance and the dancing just never stopped – our friends get most of this credit for being awesome, but equal credit is due to the most excellent DJ Rockstar Aaron.

The sight of us in our masks, though, sure cleared the dance floor. Suddenly, it’s a circle around Michael and I dancing to Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It.” The masks were hot and the song just wouldn’t end. It was apparent to me, even though I couldn’t really see, that we had created the “and then things got weird” moment. On the other hand, it was so hilarious, so we just kept dancing. Shortly after, all my remaining extended family members who had traveled from Michigan to come to our wedding decided to take their exit. The correlation was clear.

artistic Destination wedding barn rustic

rustic barn wedding candids dancing rustic barn wedding candids dancing

Vendor Shout-outs!

Ceremony/Reception Venue – The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park

Hair – The one and only Stefany Vanderberg who will be coming online in 2015

Make up – My amazing bridesmaid Shannon

Wedding Dress – ModCloth, with alterations by The Wedding Seamstress

Bridesmaids Dresses – Varied

Groom & Groomsmen Attire – Varied, ties from The Tie Bar 

Catering & Bartending – Hog Heaven BBQ and Hey Bartender

Rentals (tents, chairs, linens, etc.) – Colorado Party Rentals

Officiant – Friend (my high school English teacher)

Wedding planner – Family (my cousin Beth)

Flowers/Florist – Family (my mom and Aunt Lorie)

Invitations – PaperlessPost for the Save the Dates, Noted Occasions for the invitations, and MagnetStreet for the programs

Dessert (cake and such!) – Friends made cookies and Cake Crumbs made the cake

Photography – Maureen Cassidy Photography & Green blossoms photography

Videographer – Family (my stepbrother Chris and his wife San)

DJ and/or band – DJ Rockstar Aaron

Musicians – Vocalist – Carver Duncan

Favors – Discount Mugs

Honeymoon – We planned our own trip to Italy

By | October 24th, 2014|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Megan and Brett’s Wilderness Resort Wedding

The Beginning of Megan and Brett in their own Words

We met while working at the Eau Claire Academy. Megan worked on a unit and Brett worked as a crisis staff. We had seen each other around work, but really hit it off while going out to a bar with co-workers. We began dating and have enjoying each other ever since! In March 2012 we welcomed our first child, Parker. He has brought us even closer and given us more reasons to laugh.

Wedding Venue

Wild Rock Golf Course Clubhouse at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

What were your deciding factors in choosing your venue(s)?

We originally were planning on getting married in Madison because a lot of our family is from southern Wisconsin and Illinois, but a lot of the venues in Madison didn’t fit our personality, wedding size, or the vision we had for the day. The Clubhouse was the perfect size and had a rustic charm we were looking for.

getting ready for wedding

pre-wedding photos bride and groom shoes

What was the most enjoyable part of planning your wedding?

Megan: Brett and I had to travel to the Dells/Madison to do a lot of the planning, I really enjoyed the weekends away and I felt like we agreed on most things.

Brett: Being able to meet with different people and being able to make decisions together.

What was your greatest challenge in planning your wedding? What did you feel least prepared for?

Megan: We live in Eau Claire, so planning long distance was difficult especially since Brett and I have conflicting work schedules. It was also hard because we knew how we wanted things to look, but it’s hard to make sure it looks that way when you can’t visit your venue all the time.

Brett: Finding time to plan together or planning with a toddler.  I felt the least prepared for the dancing and removing the garter because I wanted to have planned something funny and out of the ordinary.

bride with dress on bride with family and friends bride in dress bride with veil bride with son wedding decorations

How did you calm your wedding day nerves?

Megan: One of my coworkers told me to remember that the day is about love and that everyone is there to celebrate the love between Brett and me. I just kept reminding myself about that. Being surrounded by friends and family was also a great way to keep calm.

Brett: With a lot of friend and family support and help.

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What memory stands out most from your wedding day?

Megan: Walking down the aisle with my dad was such a great feeling. I had a lot of nerves about how everything was going to go, and once we got there and I saw Brett I felt so much more calm. I also really enjoyed dancing the night away with our friends!

Brett: Watching my bride walk down the aisle with her father and not being able to stop smiling at her beauty and my happiness.  But also when our son escaped my parents grip and came up to the alter and stood in between us.

groom watching bride walk down the aisle dad giving the bride away bride and groom with officiant bride and groom holding hands just married audience and aisle photos bride and groom just married outdoor wedding just married family and friends

What resources helped you in planning your wedding? (blogs, websites, magazines, friends, wedding shows, etc.)

Megan: I used Pinterest to get some ideas, but that can be dangerous for the budget and it can be hard to find original ideas. I watched probably too many wedding shows. We did go to a couple wedding fairs and got some ideas there.

Brett: Pintrest, attending wedding fairs and actual weddings, and MY WIFE was a major resource as she took the reins in the planning process (and was the ultimate decision maker).

Do you have any advice for people planning a wedding?

Megan: Everyone will give you advice about how to do things, whether you want it or not, but be true to your vision and how you want things done. Keep in mind that no one remembers the small details (unless they are planning a wedding), so don’t stress about them.

Brett: Try to have fun with it and try to do it together. Also meet with several people before you make a decision on a certain product.

groom and groomsmen high five bride and groom with the sky happy couple with flowers outside

Why did you choose Maureen Cassidy Photography?

Pictures were one of the most important expenses of the wedding to us, so we initially met with Maureen because her photos are beautiful! But after meeting her we knew she would be a good fit. We loved her personality and sense of humor. She made us very comfortable throughout the whole day.

Which moment(s) are/were you most excited to see in your wedding photos?

Megan: EVERYTHING! I am especially excited to see pictures of the ceremony and all of the details throughout the day. It went so quick and we were so busy I didn’t have time to take it all in.

Brett: ALL OF THEM! I’m excited to see the pictures by the red barn and weeping willow tree. But also with all the bridesmaids and groomsmen.  And my father won’t stop talking about the picture of us dancing and Maureen taking the picture from behind a window.

black and white couple photo nature bride and groom newlywed photos

If you had an unlimited budget or simply could redo your wedding day, would you have done anything differently?

Megan: I probably would have had an open bar and hired a videographer. I don’t know how often we would have watched the video but as the bride, you don’t really get to see the whole ceremony and all of the details that you’ve spend so much time planning! Other than that, things went as well as we could have hoped.

Brett: Probably would have remembered the cake topper. Haha. And with an unlimited budget we would have had an open bar and the more expensive fish plate. But other than that I thought the wedding was beautiful and everything went smoothly.

having fun at the reception grandpa and grandson at reception first dance bride and groom dancing at reception candids

Any funny moments to share?

Megan: Some of Brett’s friends kept passing funny little notes to us via our DJ during dinner. Also, my mom and dad are not big drinkers (aside from wine) but we got them to take some shots (which I had never seen!). My dad was even taking shots of Patron, which completely surprised me! Brett’s mom also took a couple shots with my mom.

Brett: During dinner Megan returned from the bathroom and told me she had taken her bra off and left it in there.  And when my mother-in-law said “I don’t take shots.” But then proceeding to defeat 3 or 4 of them.

party at reception candid shots

 Vendors

Ceremony & Reception VenueWild Rock Golf Course at the Wilderness Resort 

Hair & Make up: our friend, Amy Weideman

Wedding Dress: The Wedding Shoppe St. Paul, MN 

Bridesmaids Dresses: The Bridal Shoppe Eau Claire, WI

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: The Bridal Shoppe Eau Claire, WI

Catering & Bar-tendingThe Wilderness

Officiant: Rev. Karen Hofstad St. Paul Lutheran Church Baraboo, WI

Flowers: Wild Apple Floral Baraboo, WI

Invitations: Megan

Dessert: Cake- Chris’ Confections  S’mores- The Wilderness

Photography: Me!

DJ and/or band: Music Box

Favors: Succulents from etsy, buckets from the dollar store

Honeymoon: The Royal Resort in Playa del Carmen Mexico

By | October 16th, 2014|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Tina and Ben’s Unique & FUN Wedding at Union South

Tina and Ben are so fun and quirky! During both their engagement photo session and throughout their wedding day they had LOTS of fun and unique ideas.  Including the idea to take pictures with a BEAR RUG! Haven’t had that happen before, and probably won’t again, but it was awesome. See below for those photos! I really tried to find ways throughout their wedding day to capture their personalities in photographs, while getting lots of candids and natural photos.

We had a lot of fun on this perfect August day! Thank you so much Katie Paulos from Beyond Elegant events for suggesting me for their photographer!

Venue

Our ceremony was at Eastside Lutheran Church and the reception was in Varsity Hall at the Union South.

The guys got ready at the Essen Haus because my father owns it and they could have an awesome lunch and drinks!

details wedding guys getting ready in madison madison wedding photographer

How did you calm your wedding day nerves?

I was calm all day! It was the days and weeks leading up to the wedding when I was freaking out!

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Which moment(s) are/were you most excited to see in your wedding photos?

The photos with the bear!

akward wedding photo

akward wedding photoThe bear is a great representation of Tina’s awesome humor!!!
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What memory stands out most from your wedding day?

Waiting to walk down the aisle was a similar gut-wrenching anticipatory feeling to inching up the first hill on a roller coaster.

Any funny moments to share?

Right before the service my bridesmaids and I quacked like the Mighty Ducks, and I’ll always remember it. Also my friend Peter split his pants trying to dance like Michael Jackson!

14candids in church-2 candids in church candids in church candids in church candids in church church wedding quirky wedding photos details at a wedding madison wedding photographer madison wedding photographer natural wedding photography outdoor

creative  adn quirky bridal party portraitThey really like ducks!
creative bridal party portrait Varsity Hall in the Union South

What resources helped you in planning your wedding?

My planner Katie from Beyond Elegant Events was the best. I needed someone to organize my crazy ideas!

 What was the most enjoyable part of planning your wedding?

The center pieces were my favorite. I absolutely love A la Carte rentals. I surprised Ben by incorporating antlers!

wedding details at Varsity Hall in the Union South Varsity Hall in the Union South speeches

 What was your greatest challenge in planning your wedding? What did you feel least prepared for?

Dealing with seating arrangements was intense. We invited a huge amount of people and it ended up feeling like a crazy amount to work with! Also, planning a wedding in Madison while living in Minneapolis did not help!

What were your deciding factors in choosing your venue(s)?

It really came down to the wood flooring! It was large enough with a color scheme that went perfectly for my wedding!

Varsity Hall in the Union South Varsity Hall in the Union South Varsity Hall in the Union South

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If you had an unlimited budget or simply could redo your wedding day, would you have done anything differently?

I would have changed into a short dress for the reception. I just wanted to jump around and the long dress was cramping my style!

Do you have any advice for people planning a wedding?

Delegate jobs! You don’t have to do everything!

34Varsity Hall in the Union South maureen cassidy photography

Vendors

Ceremony Venue: Eastside Lutheran Church

Reception Venue: The Union South

Hair & Make up: The Ultimate

Planner: Katie Paulos from Beyond Elegant Events

Catering & Bar-tending: The Union South

Rentals (tents, chairs, linens, etc.): Event Essentials and Ala Crate

Officiant: Eastside Lutheran

Wedding planner: Katie from Beyond Elegant Events 

Flowers/FloristFlora by Jamae

Wedding Dress: The Wedding Shoppe in St Paul, MN

Invitations: My Personal Attendant

Dessert (cake and such!): Carl’s Cakes

Photography: Maureen Cassidy Photography – Patricia from Rejoy Photography as 2nd shooter

DJ and/or bandShowtime Entertainment 

Musicians: Little Vito and the Torpedoes

Bridesmaids Dresses: Target 

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Mens Wearhouse

 

By | October 10th, 2014|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Meghan & Austin’s Awesome Outdoor Wedding at Century Barn in Wisconsin!

When I first met with Meghan she kept saying that she wanted a ton of candids and natural photos.  I hear this at most wedding consults that I do, and luckily I love candids and natural photos too! I have to say that I think this is pretty much why people hire me. I don’t like stale photography and I see the whole wedding day as one of the most emotion filled days of your life. For Meghan and Austin’s wedding,  I was lucky to have Sharon from SV Heart photography 2nd shoot with me for the day. I LOVE her and her work.  We had too much fun at this wedding! Meghan and Austin’s beautiful wedding lent itself easily to candids and natural photos, including those below. I hope you’ll agree! Without further ado..

Meghan and Austin’s Wedding in their own words

Where was your wedding?

Both our ceremony and reception were at Century Barn in Mt. Horeb, WI.

What were your deciding factors in choosing your venue(s)? 

  • We wanted to be outside, so we could feel summer elements.
  • We wanted the wedding in the country without all the noise and busyness of the city.
  • Affordability.  With Century Barn, we liked the option of being able to bring in your own alcohol, catering company, and flowers. This made it much cheaper.

barn wedding details barn wedding candids barn wedding candids

What was the most enjoyable part of planning your wedding?  

Meeting my photographer!  Also, setting up the day before and watching the wedding all come together.

What was your greatest challenge in planning your wedding? What did you feel least prepared for?

There is sooo much out there about weddings, that it can be overwhelming when searching for invites, ideas, etc.  Also keeping to a budget was hard because we wanted to make our wedding awesome and personal, and that can cost money. It was also a challenge to make sure that our DJ understood and supported everything that we wanted.

bride at barn barn wedding candids barn wedding details at cermony barn wedding details at cermony barn wedding at cermony

If you wrote personal vows, will you share what they were?  

It was hard enough getting out the standard vows during the ceremony due to nerves and emotions.  We chose to share our personal vows to each other when it was just the two of us after the wedding.

If you had an unlimited budget or simply could redo your wedding day, would you have done anything differently? 

I would have a life coach there to tell me not to drink as much and to remind me to take a chill pill!

barn wedding details at cermony

 I think this picture perfectly captures the beauty of their outdoor wedding, and their love for each other!

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fun bridal portraits

What memory stands out most from your wedding day?  

The ceremony and the beautiful sunset.

 Which moment(s) are/were you most excited to see in your wedding photos? 

Austin and I right after the wedding, the sunset shots, close family photos.

fun bridal portraits

I love hugs, even photographing them!

century barn candids century barn candids century barn candids

What resources helped you in planning your wedding?

Friends and family helped.  We also checked out a few wedding checklists.

Do you have any advice for people planning a wedding?  

Think about the big picture.  Don’t get worked up about the little details.  Remember that your wedding day is only 12 or so hours.  Make them all count. Take it all in and enjoy the moment. Try not to let anything get you upset. 

century barn candids century barn candids

Nikki Hanson is my friend and she is so so fun and an absolutely amazing photographer!  She could not photograph this wedding because she was the maid of honor.  So glad she trusted me to photograph her best friend’s wedding.  That is a big deal to me!

29-century-barn-wedding-outdoors-209 madison wedding photographer madison barn wedding photographer madison wedding photographer madison wedding photographer century barn

 Any funny moments to share?  

It was a very warm day, and I used a hunting knife to cut out the netting in my dress because I was SO hot.

 How did you calm your wedding day nerves? 

 I had a big breakfast and was able to enjoy all the steps leading up to the big walk down the aisle. After that I just remembered to smile and eat dinner!

century barn reception

tent rentals madison

 Shout out to all the Hardworking Vendors!:

Ceremony & Reception Venue- Century Barn

Bridesmaids Dresses- David’s Bridal

Catering, Bar-tending, & Desserts-  Lombardino’s, Madison

Rentals (tents, chairs, linens, etc.)- Brookfield Party Rental and A La Crate 

Officiant- Father Michael Messina

Flowers/Florist- Costco in Verona– Ellen is great!

PhotographyMaureen Cassidy Photography

Invitations- Coqui Design– awesome!!!

Favors- Matches “Get lit up on the Dunn”

Honeymoon-  San Francisco, CA to Portland, OR. This was an amazing trip. that I would recommend to everyone.  Rent a convertible!

Transportation – Badger Bus

By | September 25th, 2014|Uncategorized, Wedding Photography Madison WI|0 Comments