JESSICA & BRANDON | WISCONSIN OUTDOOR BARN WEDDING
North Central Wisconsin Senior & Portrait Photographers James & Katie Stokes Located in Medford, Wisconsin // Outdoor Wedding // Page 2
From the Bride:
We knew from the start we didn’t want to have a typical wedding. We approached the planning process with a clean slate and focused on what we wanted to do rather that what we were expected to do. Traditional aspects such as the bouquet toss, dollar dance, and wedding cake were skipped. We had our mom’s bake some of our favorite treats for a dessert bar instead which turned out to be a hit. A gender specific wedding party was also opted to be adapted. My brother stood in support as my man of honor next to my sister as the matron of honor. The ceremony and dinner were kept intimate and we expanded the guest list for the reception that evening.
Mike and I aimed to share our love for travel and adventure with our guests. We encouraged them to create their own itinerary while traveling to Chippewa Falls for our wedding by providing information for local attractions such as the Leinie Lodge, wineries, and music events within the invitations. We carried this over into the wedding décor as well. Tables were namesake of places we had traveled together and centerpieces were accompanied by photos illustrating those experiences. Escort cards were displayed below a set of wooden initials we had covered with maps of the towns we grew up in and the place we met. Banners of photos were displayed with some of the places we had gone with each other as well as friends. The venue (located two miles from our home) and ambiance were very “us”.
In reality, wedding planning was a community project. The death of a very close friend and a cancer diagnosis for my dad three months prior to the wedding left us focusing on more important aspects. My dad’s coworkers volunteered their time and cut down a birch tree for our centerpieces, something my dad had hoped he could do for us. Friends and family scouted garage sales for unique glassware to complete our vision. Mike’s dad assisted him in building the Lionshead bar and other items from scratch. A generous neighbor gave us materials to use from her dilapidated barn – a door that was turned into a table for the glassware, a window used as a display for our grandparents’ wedding photos, and barn boards for the arbor and other pieces. Our wedding became a celebration of much more than our future together. It also became a celebration of the wonderful people we are so blessed to be surrounded by. I’m happy to share my dad is cancer free and Mike and I continue to love each other more with every adventurous day.
Venue: White’s Wildwood Retreat, Lafayette/Chippewa Falls, WI
Catering: Sweet Clarisse Catering, Augusta, WI
Videographer: Beau Hestekin, Lasting Images Videography
Tent: A1 Rentals, Eau Claire, WI
Dress: The Wedding Shoppe, St. Paul, MN
Mike’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse
Flowers: Eau Claire Farmer’s Market
General Beer Distributing (beer taps)
Bartender – our favorite bartender from our favorite bar, so also worth a mention: Charlie’s (“Charlie’s at Lawler’s”) in Lafayette/Chippewa Falls, WI
We wanted to do something different. We wanted to showcase local talent and stay true to our roots; a Northwood’s rustic Wisconsin wedding inspired stylized shoot. Most of all, we wanted to tell a story with real people who are really in love and have a heck of a lot of fun doing it. October 6th severed as the date for our ‘Fall in Love – A Rustic Wedding Elopement,’
It started with an idea, a Pinterest Board, and a story. The rest was really up to the incredible talent behind THE WEDDING GALLERY, BELLA ZENN SALON SPA, & CREATIVE CRUMBS to put it all together. There were so many people who helped out on this project and we so very grateful to everyone who bared with us and shared in our vision to make it all happen. A special thanks to Lee for being so easy to work with – we can’t thank you enough for your collaboration, your talent, and your vision. We’re so thrilled with the two short films you created for us!
We wanted our stylized shoot to showcase young love, a beautiful Wisconsin DIY bride and a handsome groom who embraced the Northwood’s lifestyle. Macy & Nick were the perfect couple and they did such an incredible job. It was a long day starting early in the morning and shooting until dusk. Mid-day shooting was a challenge, but on a wedding day you don’t always get to shoot in perfect light.
Thankfully the weather was beautiful and the ground wasn’t too muddy from the rain. We used a gator to get back into the woods on some private acreage in Medford, Wisconsin. The table spread was set up on what use to be an old railroad and cut through the middle of the property. There were two ponds we were able to use in the planning of the day. A true gem was finding the dilapidated old dock, which was covered in algae and lichen growth. We were sure that by the end of the day it was going to end up in the pond. One part of our shoot we weren’t able to complete was the canoe scene. Our goal was to have a vintage canoe filled with candles on a lake at the end of the night. We might have to save this for a future stylized shoot. It also would have been nice to find some boots to go along with Nick’s second outfit which was purchased from J.Crew one of my personal favorite stores for men’s clothing. I can’t thank my dear friend Chelsea Zenner from Bella Zenn Salon Spa enough for all the work, time, and effort she put into this effort. Carrie, Kim, Chelsea, Sue, and my wife Katie and SO talented and I am a big believer that nearly everything needs a woman’s touch, especially when it comes to wedding details.
We hope you like both the videos and the storyboard that go along with post. Some of these vendors will be showcased during Medford’s Woman’s Weekend coming up the end of February.
Thank you to everyone! You rock. Enjoy.
The Stokes
Getting married on top of a mountain is something people from Wisconsin only dream of. While we have plenty of rolling hill, fields, and bluffs we lack any major mountain range, however, Rib Mountain is as good as it gets and it serves up an incredible view and the feeling you’re standing in the clouds.
Katie and I are thankful to have been referred by friends and previous clients. They knew that we would be the perfect fit for Luke & Melissa’s outdoor Wausau wedding.
During our engagement session, we shot on Luke’s family farm in Athens, WI. Luke and Melissa make you feel like you have known them your whole life and are a true joy to be around! Growing up on a dairy farm myself, it always feels like home whenever I am photographing in the country surrounded by cows and fields.
Moments before the ceremony, Melissa stepped out of the limo to be escorted down the isle by her father. Luke, in all white, eagerly waited atop the Rib Mountain Amphitheater. Emotions ran high as parents looking onward. Melissa’s aunt, an aspiring wedding planner, attended to every detail and everything went off without a hitch. Their wedding celebration continued at the Sundance Chalet at Granite Peak in Wausau, Wisconsin. With vaulted ceilings and large windows, it made an ideal location for their evening’s dance and reception. The venue was decorated with pink accents, mason jars, candy, & wood blocks.
The couple snuck away for a few minutes during their wedding slideshow so we could capture them just before sunset. Upon their return, they were greeted to a surprise their parents and siblings were in on involving the police!
We feel lucky just have met Luke and Melissa, but we are even more honored to have been able to capture their incredible day!
Blessings,
J&K
I had the pleasure of meeting Tim and Dani at Olbrich Gardens for their engagement session in Madison,WI this past June. Their unique style as a couple and vibrant personalities made for a fun-filled shoot. I couldn’t help but look forward to their wedding day.
Tim and Dani met under the willow tree before the ceremony and exchanged hand written letters to each other. This was one of the sweetest things we have ever seen. We strongly recommend this; totally wish we had done this ourselves. How incredibly special to witness their first look! Dani spent a great deal of effort in planning the details of her day. Old books served as decorative centerpieces placed on brown burlap runners. Wildflowers in mason jars adorned the tables and hung from the chairs in the lawn. A handmade mason jar chandelier hung over the center of the barn wood dance floor. Instead of having a unity candle, sand ceremony, or wine box, these two watered a small pine tree during the middle of their wedding ceremony. A unique alternative that fit perfectly and will grow as they do.Their dear friend Chris officiated the ceremony, which was filled with personal anecdotes and spoke candidly of their love for one another over the years of their relationship. Their journey is just beginning together as husband and wife!Live music at a wedding is always a treat, but it is even better when they are your band mates. Their band friendship is a huge part of their story; we could help but be mesmerized by the organic sound that reverberated in the rafters. Their talent was an added bonus to an already incredible day. Tim, a talented Tattoo artist and musician, found a partner in Dani, a personal trainer/graphic designer/ roller derby athlete. Together they make one amazing duo! Nearing the end of the night their guests gathered with sparklers in hand, creating a glowing arch of light and cheer. Tim and Dani ran off into the night, drinks in hand. We caught up with them at the Volk Wagon Bus!
It was such an incredible pleasure to be able to photograph their rustic backyard barn wedding at Willow Pond. Katie and I hold this venue dear to our hearts as it is where we had our reception over six years ago! It feels like home every time we come back to photograph another couple enjoying the space that continues to grow in beauty and diversity.
Thank you both for making us apart of your epic celebration.
J&K
Wisconsin Wedding Photographers
Reception Venue: Willow Pond Bed, Breakfast, & Events
Culinary: Ma’s Bakery
Dress Store: Vera’s Bridal
Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Nedrebo’s Formal Wear
Favors and Gifts: Rural Route 1
Floral Designer: Trader Joe’s
Hair Stylist: Moxie Hair Salon
Interested in having your own barn wedding? Here is a list of Wisconsin Barn Wedding Venues
My dear friend married the man of her dreams this past weekend at Flowers of the Field in Mosinee, Wisconsin. It isn’t every day you get to photograph one of your best friend’s weddings from high school and it comes with a little added nervousness. However, Kelly and Dustin are a couple who were set on marrying each other and the rest was just an added bonus. They wanted their friends and family to have a good time and be a witness to the start of their marriage. For them, family means a great deal and it is a huge part of who they are and who they hope to be. Being a witness to their parent’s love for each other and their children on their wedding day was an emotional site to behold. Kelly, a literary genius and English teacher, quoted Emily Brontë in her heat-felt vows to her husband. If there is moment during a wedding day that Katie and I love the most, it is the vows. It is truly is the culmination of what may be years in the making and it is over in a matter of seconds. Their words, a promise to be the best of friends no matter what God plans for them, will last a lifetime.
I am humbled, proud, and thrilled all at the same time to have been able to play a small part in their wedding. I know their marriage will be filled with so many meaningful days and special occasions ahead.
Blessings,
J+K
Ceremony: Flowers of the Field Mosinee, WI | Reception: Great Dane Pub | Hair: Studio 2827 Plover, WI