Monday Moments: Wedding Free Weekend Edition

Posted on July 29, 2008

Yes, yes, I know it’s Tuesday. But in my defense, I had double the images to look through for this week’s Monday Moments post. You see, this weekend was our last weekend without a wedding for the next 12 weeks! For us that meant we needed to cram a lot into three days. Here’s a photo recap.

Friday, Karl and I met up with Lacey and Ben for a fun engagement shoot. No matter how many times we head downtown, we always find something a little different. Speaking of different, Lacey and Ben are tying the knot on New Years Eve!!! How cool is that, right? I do believe this is the first time ever that Karl and I can say we’ve had our New Years planned more than six months in advance!

Time to meet the couple!

Lacey:

Ben:

Together:

Karl and I left Friday’s session even more excited for their wedding. Lacey’s even pumped to take pictures outside in December!! Love it!

Saturday, well I can’t share pictures of Saturday yet. Karl and I took on the overwhelming task of banishing the generic off white walls in our living room. I can tell you the new color looks amazing. But the after pictures will have to wait until I’ve cleaned up a bit and put the room back together, which I couldn’t do on Sunday because….

Sunday, we got up bright and early to meet Heidi and Steve in Shawano! These two have something in common with Lacey and Ben….holiday weddings! Heidi and Steve will say their vows on the fourth of July, which just happens to be my favorite holiday. What can I say, I’m a sucker for fireworks!

I’m also a sucker for the casual portrait. While we snap lots of candids at our sessions, we also like to capture a few portraits that capture the couple without feeling stiff and super posed. Heidi and Steve are perfect models for what I’m talking about.

Heidi:

Steve:

Together:

So that’s our weekend. Now we’re gearing up for a 12 week whirlwind of couples in love. Seriously, I couldn’t ask for a better job!

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Mr and Mrs. Mike Punzel: Married July 12, 2008!

Posted on July 26, 2008

GREENVILLE, WIS: Pull up a chair friends because this is going to be a long blog! There is simply too much to say about Mike and Jessica and their awesome families. Karl and I had such a great time shooting this wedding, not only because the location was amazing, but because everyone was so very happy to be there.

We first met Jessica and Mike at a Starbucks downtown while Jessica’s son Christian was down the street taking guitar lessons. It was clear to us from the beginning that their wedding would be all about the blending of two families. In fact, by the end of the ceremony the entire wedding party was related! So cool!

Now onto a few of my favorite pictures from their wedding in Greenville…

Okay, so recently I watched the movie 27 Dresses, where the main character talks about watching the groom watch the bride walk down the aisle. Seriously! That’s my favorite part of the wedding, and I’m always excited to capture the look on his face as he sees her. This instance was even more special because Mike wasn’t just seeing his bride for the first time. His little girls Ellie and Kezzie were bridesmaids and he hadn’t seen them all day either! I got teary, but anyone who reads this blog probably already knew that.

This is just me being sneaky during the ceremony. Lucky for me Jessica and Mike were married under a giant tree for me to hide behind! In case you didn’t hear it enough during the Monday Moments blog post, Karl and I absolutely love Homestead Meadows. If you’re still searching for a location, give them a call!

Doesn’t Jessica have the most beautiful eyes? They definitely seem to run in the family. More on that later.

Married! And ready to walk all over the property for photos! Here are a few of my favorites from our alone time with Jessica and Mike.

I think the owners of Homestead Meadows got quite a kick out of us using this tractor as a prop for photos but I just couldn’t resist. Bright shiny things seem to capture my attention!

Since we know how important their children are to Jessica and Mike, we decided to take a couple of casual portraits of the kids between the dinner and the dance.

Christian told us at the rehearsal that we had to make sure to take lots of pictures of him because he was excited to wear his tux. I love this shot because you can totally tell he got his cool eyes from his mom!

Ellie and Kezzie were awesome models for me! I think they look like porcelain dolls all dressed up like that. I’m happy to report though that the dresses weren’t cramping their style at all. At various times during the day I saw them playing Miss Mary Mack and running all over the property!

Mike and Jessica chose to do their grand march and special dances immediately following dinner. This is definitely something to consider when you’re making your reception time line. By getting all of the special dances out of the way early, it allowed all the guests to get up and get on the dance floor right away. When the grand march happens later in the night it seems like some guests don’t want to get up and dance before the bride and groom have had their first dance.

Here’s my favorite image from the first dance:

The father daughter dance at this wedding was a double whammy for me! First we had Jessica and her dad Roger…

I was doing pretty well holding it together during their dance until I looked over and saw this…

And just when I thought the father daughter dance tears were over, Mike brought his own daughters out on the dance floor for a special dance to My Girl.

I will confess, even scrunching up my toes didn’t work on this one. Jessica told me the key to not crying is to focus on scrunching up your toes. I’ll have to keep that little trick in my back pocket for next time.

Jessica and Mike, Karl and I are so honored to have been a part of your special day. You guys are such great people to hang out with and it’s clear your whole family is pretty awesome too! We hope you had an amazing trip to Mexico!

Here is your slideshow.

Your gallery is here.

And since I know you’re loyal blog readers and waiting for that one last picture…

Enjoy married life!

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Monday Moments: Jessica and Mike Edition

Posted on July 14, 2008

Confession: I could not narrow this week’s Monday Moments to just three images. It could be because I have spent the past two days doing nothing but proofing this wedding. It could be because this weekend’s venue is my new favorite. Or it could be that I’m feeling indecisive today.

Whatever the reason, here’s a peek into Jessica and Mike’s big day.

Jessica says she and Mike are constantly on the phone when they’re apart and the wedding day was no exception. They talked several times and it was cute because Jessica always had to know where her phone was so she didn’t miss his important call!

Check out the handsome groom! Mike totally made our day by knowing what we were going to say before we said it. He even knew about our plans to take a cheese picture at the end of the night! We love blog readers!

Now is my chance to talk up their amazing wedding location, Homestead Meadows in Greenville, WI. Karl and I are big fans of ceremonies and receptions that are held at the same place because as a rule it makes the day go much smoother. Homestead Meadows took smooth to a whole new level. We had the whole farm to ourselves, including use of two separate buildings, which was perfect to keep the guys and girls apart before the ceremony. Homestead Meadows is secluded enough to feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but it’s really only about a 10 minute drive from the Fox River Mall. If you’re still looking for a venue, give them a call. The Nagys are awesome hosts and I can tell they take a lot of pride in their property.

Now here are a couple of examples of how picturesque Homestead Meadows really is.

This open field caught my eye right away. Of course the blue sky and the clouds really helped!

To quote my photography idols Bobbi and Mike: AYKM?!? (Are you kidding me?!?) The red barn, the blue sky, the immaculately kept grounds. Now if we could just ban mosquitoes from the premises, I might ask the Nagys if I could move in!

Jessica and Mike, Karl and I hope you’re off basking in the sun on a Mexican beach by now! Can’t wait to share more images when you get back!

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Welcome to this World: Baby Luke!

Posted on July 10, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. There are few things that make me feel more like a grown up than when my friends become moms and dads. It kind of makes you see everything in a new, amazing light. With that said, I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Angie and Mike’s first child last month. And Baby Luke did not disappoint, arriving into the world weighing a remarkable 11 pounds 5 ounces!

Of course I did what any respectable friend would do, grabbed the camera and headed for the hospital. Okay, if we’re being honest, my friend Barb and I were already en route before we got the, “It’s okay to come to the hospital,” phone call. We were excited!

And there she was, sitting alone in the room with her new son. At that moment, our friend Angie became a MOM! Huge!

And being the woman that she is, Angie was tolerant enough to actually let us hold the little man. I’ve held a few babies in my day, and I can say with certainty holding Luke was like toting a 3 month old! Angie will have biceps of steel by the end of the month!

Well, that’s only if Dad lets her hold Luke! He seems pretty attached.

Here they are in their first official family photo! Luke thought it appropriate to sleep through the experience. But it’s okay, because exactly one week later I was on his doorstep for his first at home photo shoot!

Despite this one image, I believe he was, in fact, happy to see me. The truth is, I love capturing crying babies. Such a little man, using every fiber in his body to make himself heard. You’ve got to love that!

I also love how once there’s a baby in the house there is suddenly no need for television. We’ll all just sit and watch the newborn. Way more entertaining that reality tv.

Can I say again how stinking cool it is to see my friend as a mom?

Clearly, Luke thinks Angie is pretty cool too. He was totally content to just chill in her arms. And occasionally he’d acknowledge my presence for a moment and give me some super cute look. We are clearly BFF in the making.

Believe it or not, there are more pictures to share. I think I’ve lost track of the number of times I cried while editing these photos and putting together the slide show. It could have something to do with the amazing music of Renee and Jeremy. If you’re a parent, or know someone who is a parent, or you just like soothing music, go to their website. It’s possible I have listed to their CD on repeat for the past month, just waiting to use the music in a slideshow. It’s grown up friendly lullabyes and kids songs.

So without further ado, Welcome to This World, Baby Luke. Here’s your slideshow.

And here’s your gallery.

I look forward to many, many photo sessions in our future.

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Mr and Mrs Jason Schrock: Married June 28th, 2008!

Posted on July 8, 2008

OSHKOSH, Wis. We made our first trip of the wedding season to Oshkosh for Jenny and Jason’s wedding. It seems we’ve spent a lot of time headed north on HWY 41 lately, so it was nice to make the trip south for a change. Of course, it was also the weekend of Country USA so we weren’t the only people on the road!

The weather was definitely cooperating on Saturday afternoon. St Jude’s is still recovering from the recent flooding, so a dry day was much appreciated.

Jenny told me she doesn’t wear makeup very often, and normally wears glasses, but she definitely pulled off the stunning bride look quite well, don’t you think?

Karl found a cool spot outside the church for some casual portraits with the guys before the ceremony.

Speaking of guys, this little one was very nervous about his ring bearer duties. A church full of people is scary!

I love capturing this moment at every wedding, as Dad prepares to walk his little girl down the aisle. It’s always full of bittersweet emotion.

I love the joy involved in the “We’re married!” walk down the aisle.

I’m not sure what was funny, but I loved this outtake during our post ceremony time at South Park in Oshkosh.

Love the bride and groom contrast.

Oh Jenny! The cake feeding didn’t end well for her. But, she managed to get Jason pretty good too, so I’m pretty sure there were no hard feelings.

These guys were cracking me up during the bridal party dance. Huddle on the dance floor!

Jenny and Jason, Karl and I wish you all the best in your new lives together!

Here is your slideshow.

You’ll find your ordering gallery here.

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Mr and Mrs Nate Anderson: Married June 21st, 2008!

Posted on July 4, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. Okay friends, pull up a chair and grab a beverage. This is going to be a LONG blog entry. I feel like I have so much to say about Nate and Amanda and their beautiful wedding.

Let’s start with the details. Nate and Amanda spent countless hours adding personal touches to their wedding day. In fact, Amanda camped out overnight to ensure they would be able to use Pamperin Park for both their ceremony and reception. Pamperin is a popular location for photos after the wedding, so Nate and Amanda had the best of both worlds by having their ceremony there.

Amanda recruited help from her dad to make sure there ceremony site was perfect. Amanda found a picture of an arbor on the internet and Dad took it from there. Can you believe he built that??? It fit perfectly at the park!

Amanda’s Dad isn’t the only person good at design! Nate had this necklace made especially for his bride. Such a thoughtful gift.

Inside the reception hall, Nate and Amanda passed up flower centerpieces for something a little more unique. Each table had a pair of goldfish. The DJ suggested they all be named Nate and Amanda!

Now by having an outdoor ceremony, Nate and Amanda took a big risk. The weather is completely unpredictable. And before the ceremony even got underway, we found ourselves stuck in a couple of rain storms.

We had to work quickly between the downpours, but it made for some fun reflection shots.

And when it wasn’t raining, we had some great clouds and yummy light.

Unfortunately, as we got closer to the ceremony start time, the clouds looked ominous. In fact, it was even sprinkling as Amanda and her dad made their way down the aisle.

Amanda and her dad waiting for their cue to walk down the aisle, as everyone else said a little prayer to keep the rain at bay.

Despite those scary clouds, the rain stayed away throughout the ceremony.

Married! I love the emotion in this shot. Crying grooms are few and far between. Nate’s tears really pulled at my heart.

After the ceremony, we explored the park for some bridal party and couple pictures.

I can’t say enough how great it was to be just a short walk away from the reception location. Not having to travel all over town for pictures really allows for a calmer more comfortable photo session.

Nate and Amanda had their first dance to…wait for it… “Amanda” by Boston. I love how everyone was watching them, but they clearly don’t care!

And it wouldn’t be a real blog entry without a father daughter dance shot. I was definitely a little teary at this point, perhaps because I know Amanda is moving away from her family to start a new life with her husband in Kentucky.

Nate and Amanda, Karl and I are so happy for you guys. Good luck with your big move and the exciting times ahead in a new city. Have a glass of sweet tea and make a trip to Chick-fil-a for me!

Enjoy your slideshow.

Here’s your gallery.

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Monday Moments: Jenny and Jason edition

Posted on July 1, 2008

***First, my apologies for this being late. We were having some internet gremlins living around here the past couple of days! ***

Jenny and Jason started their new lives together this weekend in Oshkosh, surrounded by friends and family. Here are a few images from their wedding day….