Green Bay Wedding: Brooke and Adam

The girls laughed in the brightly colored church prep room, each taking turns applying Brooke's makeup and styling her hair. Brooke and Adam's wedding at their church in Green Bay was an intimate affair. They had gathered their nearest and dearest to celebrate this union that had been a long time coming. In a room nearby, the gentlemen relaxed with Adam and the couple's adorable son and ring bearer. The girls ducked in and out of the prep room, peeking around corners and doorways to make sure the bride stayed hidden, like a grownup game of hide-and-seek. As Brooke's mom helped the bride into her wedding dress, Brooke's dainty figure and face came alive with excitement. Brooke slipped her wedding moccasins onto her feet, a tribute to her native heritage.

The sunlight danced through the trees of the outdoor wedding ceremony. Birch branches delicately draped with lace curtains served as an elegant backdrop for the couple's wedding vows. Adam gently ran his thumb across the top of Brooke's hand as they looked at each other, eyes full of love. They had been waiting for this day for a number of years, and they would be leaving this spot as husband and wife.

Brooke and Adam were swarmed with well-wishers at the conclusion of their ceremony. Their family and friends so clearly adore these two. The interactions they share with everyone are so tender, it feels as if you are intruding their special world just by observing it. It was heartwarming to be a part of. The couple strolled happily hand-in-hand, not daring to take their eyes off each other. Brooke's eye traced over Adam's every feature, engraining these moments in her memory, his gaze doing the same. Their love would only continue to grow from this day forward.

Brooke and Adam, words cannot express how much I appreciate you two and the efforts it took for our partnership to be possible. You two so clearly understand the importance of photography and the relationship that comes with it. THANK YOU for that. Many blessings to you and your beautiful family, today and all the days after.

Much love and appreciation,
Kate

Green Bay Engagements: Brad and Jessica

Rain sprinkled lightly outside the large windows of the Oneida Country Club clubhouse. It hardly felt like December outside, but inside the clubhouse, Christmas trees adorned with warm white lights and a roaring fire. Brad and Jessica snuggled close to one another, gazing into each other's eyes, lost in their own little world.

Brad and Jessica met a few years ago in Texas when Brad was working there. Jessica, a school teacher native to Mexico, couldn't be more different from Brad, a financial representative from Wisconsin. But when they are together, their connection is undeniable. They converse in bits of Spanish and English, but it's their unspoken conversations that say the most. They can look at each other and burst into fits of laughter. Brad comforts Jessica, his hand gently resting on her knee. She glances at him fondly and tenderly, a childlike sparkle coming to her eyes. They walked hand-in-hand in the rain at Oneida Country Club, an umbrella swinging from Jessica's hand. Brad questioned why we were going to have the umbrella in the photos, and Jessica giggled and exclaimed "It's CUTE!"

Their Wisconsin engagement session came about when Jessica was visiting Brad's family for the Christmas holiday. They had busy plans for the few days Jessica was going to be in Wisconsin, but they managed to squeeze in some quality time together to treat themselves to engagement photos. I know their Southwest wedding is going to be beautiful, and their Wisconsin reception is going to be one heck of a party. Congratulations on your engagement, Brad and Jessica, and thank you for letting me capture your love!

Warmest regards and much appreciation,
Kate

Green Bay Wedding: Jimi and Stacie

The sun rose lazily in the August morning sky, rays beating down on the corn fields near Green Bay. Stacie excitedly prepared for her wedding day in the basement of St. Joseph's church. Jimi and his boys laughed loudly on the other side of the basement as they straightened their ties and buttoned their suit coats. Upstairs, Stacie's family pinned corsages on Jimi's relatives, a blending of cultures. Both families are incredibly respectful and welcoming of each other, Jimi's grandmother in her traditional Hmong dress, bowing to Stacie's aunt on the steps of the church. A happy buzz filled the building in anticipation of Stacie and Jimi's wedding.

The tall ceilings of St. Joseph's church echoed with joy as Stacie and Jimi were announced husband and wife. Their receiving line was filled with well-wishers from miles away. The bridal party headed to Lilly Lake park for portraits, and the newly weds were able to steal a few quiet moments to themselves. 

The reception at Eddie Whipp's Dining Hall was full of Brewers and frisbee golf paraphernalia, a tribute to the couple's favorite past times. The hall was filled with well-wishers from both families; laughter bounced around the rooms and between guests. Stacie and Jimi stole glances at each other, both glowing with happiness. The silent moments I witnessed between them said more than any words could have. They love each other deeply in a matter-of-fact way, as if their hearts are saying "Of course I'm yours, weren't you expecting me?" It's something special to watch the way they resonate to each other, even across the room.

Stacie and Jimi, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your wedding journey. May your days be filled with frisbee golf, Brewer games, and the best of life's adventures.

Much love and appreciation,
Kate

The Best of 2015 Weddings

To say 2015 was a busy year would be an understatement. My business grew in ways I never imagined, but more importantly, it forced me to grow, too. Until this year, I didn't realize what a true gift and pleasure it is to be invited into a couple's life and document their wedding journey. I hustled to provide a more personal photography experience. I want to be more than just a wedding photographer, I want to be a professional with knowledge and experience that puts a bride at ease, or gets a groom excited to see his fiance in her wedding gown. I cried with couples, laughed with them, and am lucky enough to consider them more than just clients. To each and every soul that I photographed this year, THANK YOU. I would not be where I am today if you hadn't welcomed me into your life exactly when you did. I hope the experiences we all shared were as memorable for you and they were for me. Your love and happiness has been documented forever, frozen in time, and I'm so honored that I was the one you chose to capture those moments. This post is for all of you. May your futures be bright and filled with love; I truly hope we can continue to influence each other and work together.

So much love and appreciation,
Kate

To Rose and Jakob, thank you for your immediate trust and appreciation for my work at our very first meeting. That feeling was more than I could ever describe.

To Amy and Greg, thank you for putting up with the winter's cold, the summer's heat, the edges of cliffs, and walking through the woods in heels, all for the sake of capturing the perfect shot. Your photos gave me goosebumps while I edited them.

To Marissa and Jeff, thank you for your patience on your windy wedding day as we huddled together to stay warm and pose group photos. Also, thank you for making Tyler feel so welcome as a second shooter and assistant. The Bloody Marys were amazing :)

To Krystina and Dustin, thank you for introducing me to your furbabies and for sharing your adventuresome energy with me. Your wedding day was simply FUN.

To Bill and Brenton, I can't thank you enough for the pleasure of being a part of your momentous and historic day. It truly was one of the greatest weddings I have ever captured, and the photos only scratch the surface of the memories and emotions of that day.

To Steve and Steph, thank you for taking me along on one of the greatest wedding adventures I have ever been a part of. Next time, the mojitos in Jamaica are on me ;)

To Stacie and Jimi, thank you for being so comfortable with yourselves and each other that I felt like you showed me your true beings. It was incredibly refreshing, and it made me value my own work more.

To Brooke and Adam, thank you for understanding the value of this passion that is my profession, and for choosing me to be a part of your intimate day. I know how much the images mean to you. My heart was singing because you wanted me to be your photographer, no matter the amount of time we spent together.

To Sam and Josh, I am still so touched by how deeply you love each other and those around you. The warmth and joy that your radiate is so special, I hope you both never lose that quality and your zest for life.

To Kelsey and Peter, thank you for proving to me that a love of craft beer and the Green Bay Packers really does make your relationship stronger ;)

To Miranda and Adam, your trust was so important to me because you are photographers yourselves! It's the greatest honor to have someone in your field ask you to document their special day, thank you.

I've selected a photo from each of your weddings that moved me, made me excited, or that I feel captured your love the best. I hope we can make memories together again in the near future. Here's to 2016 and the adventures that await. Happy New Year!





































All images copyright of KLEM Studios