Summer Wedding at Burlap and Bells // Black River Falls, WI // Mac + Elle
sometimes I get really lucky and super awesome couples randomly find me through social media or friends or family. or girls tell me in advance "when I get married you're totally shooting my wedding!" these guys though.. I called dibs on them years ago. I've basically been waiting for this wedding since I started shooting.
Mac and Elle are high school sweethearts and I've known them since the very beginning. a lot of my favorite teenage memories include these guys. campfires and swimming all summer long, drama club, costa rica (aka sleeping in the same bed for 10 days), lots and lots of time at the Arendt's (that time Elle chipped my tooth), dances, frappuccino runs, moving Booth all the way to Hayward. I'm so glad I get to call these two my friends. I feel pretty honored that I've gotten to see them grow individually and together over the years and that they thought I was cool enough to photograph their wedding.
I didn't really give them a choice though I guess.. because like I said before, I have been waiting years for this wedding. and damn it was worth the wait. Mac and Elle aren't just my friends they are my ideal couple. fun, low maintenance, trusting, and great taste in music (that's probably the most important attribute). and their day was totally a reflection of them. it was so laid back and fun. they seriously thought of everything! every little detail was perfect and there was so much to do but it didn't feel flashy or over the top. no one was stressed out. it was all good music, yummy food, cold beer, laughing and dancing. and did I mention freeze pops?!?! Burlap and Bells in Black River Falls was the most perfect venue for them and their wedding.
I think Burlap and Bells is my new favorite venue. f'reeeeaaaal. first look on the bluff, ceremony in the pine trees, and dinner in the valley. I nearly lost my mind.
Mac and Elle did a ring warming ceremony where they passed their rings around and all the guests had the chance to send warm thoughts and well wishes or prayers for them and their marriage.
Their vows were probably the sweetest I've ever heard (not to mention almost identical despite the fact that they wrote them separately) and then everyone cried...
have mercy. I'm still dreaming about this build your own burger bar. I loaded mine up with sriracha mayo, habanero peppers, pepperjack cheese and mushrooms. amen. and then I wanted to kiss Dan and Bobbie. I didn't kiss them for the record... that would have been weird. but seriously if you want your guests (and your photographer) to be happy you should probably have Dine-1-1 cater your wedding. or birthday. or just hit up their food truck in the cities
this was as legit as it gets. I've gotta give a shout out to everyone who was a part of it.
Dress: Elle got that stunner dress from Foreign 5 in Chippewa Falls
Suits: JC Penny's
Venue: Burlap and Bells in Black River Falls <--- seriously guys. this place is amazing. all the tables and chairs and a lot of decor came from them as well.
Flowers: Elle's and her bridesmaids' bouquets and the boutonnieres were done by Lynn Riojas from Black River Falls
Hair: Faye Provost from Wisconsin Rapids
Makeup: Faces by Hillary from West Salem
Food: Dine-1-1 Dan and Bobbie killed the game like always.
Second Shooter: Matt Greene- huge huge shout out to this guy for tackling any job that was thrown his way this day (drive a 15 passenger van up to the bluff? no problem!), taking some awesome photos that compliment mine perfectly, and for reminding me to drink water!