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North Central Wisconsin Senior & Portrait Photographers James & Katie Stokes Located in Medford, Wisconsin // Chicago    

Tag Archives: Chicago

Engagment Photos

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February 10, 2017

/ James Stokes

From Minneapolis to Chicago & just about every region in between, we have captured couples this past year. One common thread that ties them all together is their mutual love for each other and thrill of a great adventure. Many of them have a great passion for the outdoors and enjoy taking in every moment of it together whether it be fishing, hunting, jogging, hiking, or camping. While some live in the big city, they often have roots here in the Northwoods or Central Wisconsin and it is their down-to-earth personalities that make them all so easy to get to know.

Katie and I are an open book. We may share with you much more than you ever hoped to know when it comes to life, marriage, and raising a family during one of our meetings; our story stretches back over nearly 20 years. Many of our couples met online or through mutual friends while in college or grad school. In our initial hangout dates with our couples, I like to ask how our couple met and more often than not, one will look at the other and hesitantly say, “Online!.” I then reassure them that they are not alone and it isn’t weird. We think online dating or long distance relationships are great! They’re often driven by strong communication and algorithms designed to match people based on their personalities and interests. Gotta love psychology!

Dating can be rough. I know that Katie and I wouldn’t know where to start. We’re so very thankful that God matched us when we were pre-teens to become best friends and it wasn’t until nearly a decade later that we would say, “I do.” It is so neat getting to have conversations with couples from around the country who are willing to open up and share a part of their story with us. Even more so, it is is an honor when couples entrust us to capture one of the most important days of their lives. We feel privileged to be able to spend our weekends with such extraordinary people who place a premium on their wedding experience and their marriages as a whole. They know this [marriage] is a once in a lifetime event and they want to embrace it for all it has to offer and hold dear to every passing moment; because they know it will fly by so very quickly.

You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Hold on to one another and invest as much time in your marriage as you will on planning your wedding day! Life is truly made up of all the little moments and you will remember the times that you slowed down and intentionally reflected. Make time, better yet, schedule time to be alone without your phones, screens and the like and simply be present with one another. Listen. Be quite. Just exist in one another’s presence. That feeling of complete comfortability combined with butterflies is what we all wish for in a soulmate. Take a walk, ride a bike, go on the trip you always wanted. Sometimes life gets a hold of us and once it does it is hard to step off the merry-go-round. If you’re the journaling type, which we hope you are, take a few moments out of your week to put pen to paper. Write it all down, the good with the bad. When you look back and reflect, you will want to be as true to yourself as possible – and to your future generations who read your words you will want to provide wisdom. Share your mistakes, your frustrations, your passions and your regrets. Life is short, but also precious – so cherish and revere it. #liferevered. Make memories and dream big!

“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”
― Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Couples, Engagement, For Brides / Adventure, Chicago, Couples, Dogs, Engagement, Engagement Photos, Fall, Lake, Life Revered, Madison, Minneapolis, Personal, Rib Mountain, Stevens Point, UW Madison, Wausua, Winter / Comment

Laura & Kamil | Lincoln Park Chicago Engagement

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December 18, 2015

/ James Stokes

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Engagement / Bourgeois Pig, Cafe, Chicago, Chicago Engagement Photos, City, Couples, Engagement, Fall, Lincoln Park, Midwest, Park, Winter / Comment

Krista & Pat | Chippewa Retreat Resort Northwoods Wedding

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September 17, 2015

/ James Stokes


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Wedding / Chicago, Chippewa Retreat Resort, Destination Wedding, Lake Wedding, Manitowish Waters, Northern Wisconsin, Northwoods / Comment

JENNY & MATT | HEIDEL HOUSE GREEN LAKE WEDDING

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September 16, 2014

/ James Stokes

Jenny is from Wisconsin & Matt is from Leeds, England. After meeting in New York by chance, they moved to Chicago where Jenny is an Occupational Therapist & Matt is a Professional Soccer (Football) Coach, after playing in the United Kingdom. They wanted to have a destination wedding where their family could fly in and enjoy a week of celebration and relaxation. Jenny grew up vacationing at their family’s cabin in Green Lake & she knew she wanted to have a lakeside outdoor wedding. This most certainly pleased her father, who was thrilled to see his daughter getting married again such a familiar backdrop.

Both sides of the family spent their morning getting ready at adjacent cabins on the lake. Matt’s family flew in from the UK and spent the week taking in Wisconsin’s summer beauty. It really was a weeklong celebration that culminated with Jenny and Matt giving their vows on the Grey Rock Lawn with the Green Lake behind them.

Upon their arrival, their guests were served cold lemonade by their nieces and nephews all dressed in white with pink suspenders. Jenny & Mat’s dog Hoosier, named after the Jenny’s alma matter, Indiana University’s mascot, was an important part of their day. The couple was determined to have Hoosier in on some of the fun.

Both of Jenny’s parents walked her down the isle as friend and family sat shaded beneath the trees. The breeze made for an ideal mid-August afternoon.

After saying “I Do,” in classic fashion, guests threw pink & white rose petals into the air as they made their way down the lawn aisle, however, upon reaching the end, Jenny & Matt took a ‘nuptial selfie’ to share with all their friends who weren’t able to make the trip across the pond.

Their reception was designed for their friends and family they hoped would share in their special day. Jenny went through much effort to ensure her miniature guests would be entertained while their parents were visit and celebrate more easily. Custom drawing books and games adorned the kid’s table while photos from their Chicago engagement were used for table decorations. English tea posts from Relics Vintage Rentals added a sophisticated touch to their American English infused wedding.

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DJ Sound By Design |Florist  Lauren Picado | Ice Cream Dessert Kelley Country Creamery | Centerpiece Rentals (Teapots) |Relics Vintage Rentals | Hair Salon Giovanni | Makeup Karolina Kwasniak | Officiant Kim Rasmussen

| Linens (Sash)I Do Decorating & Rental | Cake Ripon Pick’n Save Bakery |

Wedding / Chicago, England, English, Green Lake, Green Lake wedding photographer, Heidel House, Lake Wedding, Lawn Wedding, Outdoor, Relic Vintage Rentals, Ripon wedding photographer, Southern Wisconsin Wedding, Southern Wisconsin Wedding Photographers, Tea Pots, United Kingdom, Wedding, Wisconsin Outdooor Wedding Venues, Wisconsin Outdoor Wedding Venues / Comment
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2013 | Engagement Photos in Review

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January 16, 2014

/ James Stokes

We love engagement sessions. They give us an opportunity to be free from the stress of the wedding day and we give our couples permission to be themselves, to let go, and have fun.

Engagement photos should speak to the true nature of two people who are madly in love; the way your bodies speak to one another tells its own story in conjunction with the journey that placed you in front of our cameras. The way you move, smile, laugh, hug, kiss, hold hands – is all unique to your relationship. We all have quirks and sometimes strange ways we interact with those who truly see us for who we are, accepting our flaws and embracing our imperfection. We don’t need to understand every ounce of beauty that exists between two people to be able to be able to capture it; we only need to be able to recognize it.

Natural. Unprovoked. While easier stated than done, it is our approach. By creating a scenario and placing you in it, we encourage you to make mistakes and embrace them. None of us is perfect and we don’t want you to be. Be true. Be kind. And be in love. The rest you can leave to us.

We traveled far and wide this past year capturing couples & their remarkable engagement rings from across Wisconsin with Chicago & Madison being among our favorite destinations. The Wisconsin Northwoods may be our home, but we sure do love to roam. Yep, we’re dorks who love to travel and take pictures. We can’t wait to begin capturing your love story in the months to come!

wisconsin.engagement.photos central.wisconsin.engagement.photos Wausau.Engagement.Photographer

Wisconsin Engagement Photographer

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Engagement / Chicago, Engagement, Engagement Ideas, Engagement Photo, Engagement Pictures, Engagement Rings / Comment

Chicago Engagement | Jenny & Matt

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November 2, 2013

/ James Stokes

Jenny is from Wisconsin & Matt is from Leeds, England. They call Chicago home after their journey from the East Coast. Katie and I had a wonderful sunny morning spent near the Adler Planetarium with these two and their four-year-old puppy, Hoosier. Jenny and Katie connected over their love for running (sarcasm), while Matt shared a little about his passion for Soccer (football) & Pizza. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day as we strolled along Lake Michigan. The Chicago Skyline made for a wonderful change of scenery, as it isn’t every weekend we get to travel to the city, but we are always glad when we do. Can’t help but smile when we think about how much fun these two are and how incredible their wedding is going to be! We’re so looking forward to capturing their nuptials next August at the Heidel House in Green Lake, Wisconsin. Looking forward to meeting their families – we absolutely love all things English & American. Our dream is to photograph another wedding in the British Isles. 🙂

Thanks for allowing us to capture these intimate photographs of your family. Counting the days.

J&K

Chicago Engagement photos by the water with skyline adler planetarium shedd aquarium

Chicago Engagement Photographers

Engagement, Lifestyle / Chicago, Engagement, Fall / Comment

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