LAKESIDE MICHIGAN WEDDING | ANIKA & LYNN

Anika & Lynn's wedding was a perfect example of how, together, friends & family can make anything happen. From the ceramic bears & faux deer heads handmade by Anika's Mom to the men's shotgun shell boutonnieres and a wooden tiki bar, nearly every element of their day was a DIY collaboration!

The morning of their wedding both Anika & Lynn got ready in neighboring homes, all on Duck Lake in Watersmeet, Michigan. With Nola Kahn beautifying Anika, her hair & makeup couldn't have been more stunning, and the bridesmaids sparkled in blush sequins as they helped Anika into her gorgeous dress in a room filled with windows! Just a short walk down a lit trail, their ceremony was set on a peninsula behind Anika's childhood lake house. After a lovely ceremony and sunny receiving line in front of the boat house, guests were welcomed to a fun cocktail hour while we captured Anika & Lynn's portraits just before the evening sun dipped below the tree-line! Add to that some of the best toasts we've ever heard, a jam-packed dance floor, and a grand sparkler exit at the end of the night where Anika & Lynn were whisked off in the back of a 1952 Chevy and you have an amazing, heartfelt wedding celebration!!

Anika & Lynn, we cannot thank you enough for choosing us to be a part of your wedding celebration! We wish the two of you endless years of happiness, joy, adventure, and trips back to Duck Lake to cheers in the very spot where you said your vows :)

Love, Kelsy & Butch

All images captured with Contax 645, Pentax 67, Nikon F100, Holga 120 and D800 on Fuji 400H, Tri-X 400, and Delta 3200.

Flowers: Randy from Evolutions in Design | Paper Products: Remember Me Stationary | DJ: Fabulux Entertainment | Videographers: One Fine Day Productions | Bride's Dress: Rinini, from Bella Bianca | Bride's Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bridesmaid Dresses: Fifth Avenue Showstoppwer Dress by Badgley Mischka

BOSTON AREA WEDDING | LYDIA & JON!

We're not sure where to begin as we try to lace together words to match the powerful day that was Lydia & Jon's wedding. Their wedding day was not only a celebration of an all-consuming love, but also a celebration of life and family!

When Lydia & Jon announced their engagement, we have to admit, we did a little bit of a 'happy dance' in the hopes they might think of us to document their wedding celebration. When they did, we were over the moon excited! We planned a Skype date to talk about their hopes for their wedding photos and hear what type of Door County, WI wedding they were planning! Shortly before our Skype date, Lydia emailed to let us know they recently decided to have TWO weddings instead of one! As we continued to read, we discovered that Jon's Dad, Paul, had been battling cancer and, as of very recently, things were not going as they would hope. It was Jon's wish that his Dad would see him marry the woman of his dreams – the woman who he would spend the rest of his life with.

We quickly found ourselves in the air to Boston, almost in disbelief that Lydia & Jon's wedding was just days away. We made the most of our few days in the area before their wedding and, on August 8th, we woke up feeling distinctly honored to capture the incredible day that was ahead of us. Nothing could have prepared us for the emotion we witnessed on this very special day. It was written on everyones faces. Joy. Sadness. Love. Jon brought his dad up the aisle moments before his soon-to-be wife made the same walk with her Dad, and it was as if every emotion was pouring out of his face. Lydia's Dad, Cory, is a Pastor in Door County and his words & wishes couldn't have been more perfect a he gave his daughter away to Jon. This was one of the many personal touches that made Lydia & Jon's wedding so heartfelt and unique to the two of them.

In just a few short months Lydia & Jon planned a day filled with so much thought, you'd think they had been planning for a year! To touch on a few, Lydia's gorgeous dress was custom-made from the same satin that both her Grandmother and her Mom, Darla, wore on their wedding days. The absolutely stunning veil that wrapped Lydia up belonged to Jon's Mom, Kathy. We honestly couldn't get over what a STUNNING bride Lydia was!! Her & Jon's wedding was also made possible by the talent of many family members like the music played during their ceremony and sweet cookie favors awaiting each guest at their dinner table. :)

After lovely words from Cory, Lydia and Jon were ready to share their hand-written vows. Lydia's vows were several pages long and, though she wanted to hold Jon's hand, she also needed one hand to hold the vows and the other to flip through the pages. As if they weren't a cute enough couple already, Jon made this possible by flipping pages for Lydia so that he could hold her hand too! Though very small, this little detail speaks volumes to the "team" that they are.

After portraits in the most romantic evening light followed by especially emotional first dances, Lydia & Jon had a surprise for Paul & Kathy, Jon's parents, during the anniversary dance. They played his parents' wedding song and, as Paul got up to dance with his wife, there were very few dry eyes in the room. This entire day was a beautiful example of the kind of love we all hope for, both from our family members and the person we choose to spend the rest of our lives with.

Lydia and Jon, we honestly cannot thank you enough for choosing us to capture such precious moments with the ones you love!!

Love, Kelsy & Butch

All images captured with Contax 645, Pentax 67 and D800 on Fuji 400H, Tri-X 400, and Delta 3200.

PRITZLAFF MILWAUKEE WEDDING | ANNA & ROB

A love of sailing runs deep in both of their families. So when Anna & Rob became students at UW-Madison, joining the sailing team came naturally! As luck would have it Rob was assigned to sail with Anna; fast forward several years later after dating long-distance, and that nautical theme continued when Rob proposed to Anna at Atwater Beach in Milwaukee. Little did we know when we suggested taking wedding party portraits at that same beach, that it was an absolutely fitting place to visit on their wedding day. :)

As a couple, Anna and Rob are adventurous, charming, warm, and adorable!! Working with Janelle from Evenement Planning, they dreamed up a bright & happy wedding celebration in Milwaukee's Historic Pritzlaff Building. With  joyful yellow blooms from Impressions by Esther in every direction and the amazing David Rothstein Band bringing energy to their dance floor, Anna & Rob's celebration was overflowing with smiles and friends & family who couldn't WAIT to hit the dance floor!!

Anna & Rob,  we enjoyed every minute of your wedding and cannot thank you enough for choosing us to capture your wedding day! We hope you had a wonderful honeymoon and are loving making your new place in NY a "home" as Mr & Mrs :)

Love,

Kelsy & Butch

All images captured with Contax 645, Pentax 67, Hasselblad 500cm, Holga 120N and Nikon F100 on Portra 400, Tri-X 400, and Delta 3200.

ROTHSCHILD PAVILION WEDDING | MELISSA & BRANDON

Fun, romantic, rustic, and filled with DIY elements! Melissa & Brandon planned a wedding that not only fit their style, but also shared so much of who they are with every guest who brought joy to their wedding day. A sweets table, the most creatively flavored cupcakes we've ever heard of (cardamom vanilla with honey buttercream – yum!!), and adorably named signature drinks were there to make sure that their guests were well taken care of and enjoying their celebration. Melissa & Brandon's passion for music also played a huge roll in personalizing their wedding from beginning to end with friends performing their ceremony music, a live swing band drawing their guests onto the dance floor, a rendition of the classic German Oktoberfest song "Ein Prosit", and a surprise performance by Brandon & his gentlemen for his beautiful bride!! You might remember the beer they worked into their engagement session last fall, so it was only fitting that they incorporate this element into their wedding day as well :)

After a cozy ceremony inside the Rothschild Pavilion, we were blessed with a gorgeous afternoon and enjoyed photographing Melissa & Brandon surrounded by the ones they love. As a couple they are thoughtful & genuine, and being around them made us feel both completely at ease and ready for FUN! We consider ourselves very lucky to have been chosen to document their wedding day! Melissa & Brandon just returned home from a two-week honeymoon in Italy (jealous!) and we are bursting with excitement for them to relive all of the wedding day moments that we captured on film!

Love, Kelsy & Butch

All images captured with Contax 645 and Pentax 67 on Portra 400, Tri-X 400, and Delta 3200.

ROTHSCHILD PAVILION WEDDING | ELIZABETH & CHAD

Elizabeth & Chad planned the wedding of a lifetime. With a rustic vintage theme, they thoughtfully planned every element of their DIY wedding. From countless window panes and doors to their family's barn boards and milk bottles from the bride's Dad's personal collection, it's clear that their wedding was a labor of love that came together seamlessly! They chose the Rothschild Pavilion as their canvas and splashed it with hues of orange & green, endless amazing appetizers from the Back When Cafe, and plenty of wine & cheese for their guests to enjoy all night long! Not to mention, gorgeous florals by Design Lab.

Being a part of this day was such a privilege and an absolute BLAST! Elizabeth & Chad have such a fun relationship and we immediately felt like we were photographing friends. Surrounded by nearly 300 of their friends & family, they were completely beaming all day long!!

Thank you so much for inviting us into your celebration, Elizabeth & Chad! We know the two of you have a lifetime of laughter, love, and fun ahead of you.

Love, Kelsy & Butch

Film: Portra 400, Tri-X 400, Cinestill 800, and Delta 3200 / Cameras: Contax 645, Pentax 67, Nikon F100 and Nikkormat 35mm