Wisconsin Weddings

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Rustic Woodland Wedding at Juliane James Place

From the photographer… Sarah & Ryan were married on a blustery blue sky day in Kohler, Wisconsin where the land ends in craggy bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. A little piece of Ireland sits on that bluff at Whistling Straits, a world class golf course and a world class wedding destination where Sarah & Ryan chose to say I Do under the weathered wood trellis of the Irish Barn. Sarah & Ryan are a fascinating mixture of elegance and comfort, fancy and homey, gorgeous and cute, sexy and sweet. And that is exactly how their wedding day was. Stunning elegance was evident everywhere: Ryan cut a dashing figure in his Vera Wang slim cut suit and Sarah stopped hearts with side swept hair and a gown to die for. Intricately styled centerpieces overflowed with candlelight, flowers, pearls and mercury glass while bridesmaids danced and toasted in statement dresses with bold textured patterns. And there was the comfy, homey side to everything they designed: Boho chic frames and lanterns framed pictures of Sarah & Ryan and those they loved and Sarah carried a delicate bouquet composed ENTIRELY of gardenias. I adore the sleek, almost James Bond like no bout look that Ryan sported and how Sarah had the guts to bring the glam pairing a full tulle skirted dress with a stone barn wedding. During their ceremony they sealed a bottle of wine and love letters to one another in a custom wood wine caddy for opening on a future anniversary and they watched the sunset from the grassy hills of the course, simply happy to be together as husband and wife.

We were there to capture all the love, laughter and gorgeousness and if you ask me true love looks great on them both.

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

Watters Maids Fall 2014

Wtoo Maids Fall 2014

C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

C20 Mothers 2012 Part II

C20 Mothers Spring 2013

C20 Mothers Fall 2012

Seahorse Spring 2013

Watters Brides Fall 2014

Watters Brides Spring 2013

Watters Brides Spring 2015

Wtoo Brides Spring 2015

Willowby Spring 2015

Watters Maids Spring 2015

Wtoo Maids Spring 2015

Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

Willowby Spring 2016

Wtoo Brides Fall 2015

Willowby Fall 2015

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To be totally honest, I was never the girl who could pull of that cool billowing, boho sort of look. Preppy and polished is much more my style, but that doesn’t mean I don’t long to live vicariously through those who can. And this Minnesota bride? Well, she’s sort of my hero. With a wedding that embodies all my boho dreams brought to life, I could spend forever in Paper Antler’s photos right over here.

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Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

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Rustic

From the Bride… We wanted our wedding to be a celebration that reflected the joy we find in nature and creativity. For these reasons, we chose a whimsical venue in the woods of Juliane James Place. Everything felt incredibly personal, from the handmade dinnerware to the homemade desserts baked by our loved ones. Our color palette consisted of mainly neutral and copper tones, allowing the greens of the trees and blue of the lake to provide the color.

We also incorporated some different textures like feathers, ferns, lace and patterned bow ties for the groom and his groomsmen. An after-ceremony tea time served as our cocktail hour, complete with hard sweet tea, lemonade, and freshly baked scones. As a girl who grew up in the south, this addition seemed quite fitting. All of these details made the day feel magical, even sacred, but our family and friends truly made this day the best day of our lives.

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Petit Bouquet

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The Barn At Harvest Moon Pond Wedding

When a Martha Stewart team member ties the knot, you can bet your bottom dollar crafty wedding goodness is right around the corner. Just take this Harvest Moon Pond affair. Filled to the gills with color and whimsy, it’s the kind of day that breaks all the rules in the very best way. Dani Stephenson snapped the whole shebang, and you can find every last giggly moment in the gallery right here.

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DIY Greenwood Hills Country Club Wedding

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Rustic Weddings

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Whimsical

From Dani Stephenson Photography… Valerie and I met last December over coffee at a roadside diner half way between us when she was home for the holidays. Valerie, originally from Wisconsin, went to college in Madison moved to New York, works for none other than Martha Stewart and met her love Glenn who works for a hockey team and is all New York, accent and all. I loved Valerie right away she was real, she was funny and genuine and I knew we would get along just fine.

As the year passed and I got some glimpses into her wedding plans I became more excited for this day to arrive. It was fabulous. The weather although, cold and rainy outside it didn’t change a thing inside. The Barn At Harvest Moon Pond was warmed with friends and family and a crackling fire. Valerie has this infectious giggle and a vibrant personality and Glenn you can see is her rock, her steady and they balance each other so well.

As a modern couple, they did not uphold most of the typical wedding traditions. But the traditions they chose to share in I feel meant the very most. Valerie really honored Glenn and his family with touches of New York and his Jewish heritage, and also showed off her home state of Wisconsin with so many special “Made in Wisconsin” touches.

This barn is not typical “barn” it’s the same shape and offers a beautiful rustic feel but its so much more. Then you add Valerie’s vision and resources for quite a special day at the barn. The colors, the flowers and greenery, the ribbons..it was spectacular.

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Petit Bouquet

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I stand in constant awe of the brides that parade through our pages every single day. They’re crafters and dreamers who plan the most beautiful affairs you have to stop and remind yourself they’re real. I’m talking brides just like this Wisconsin beauty who DIYed her way to the perfect Midwest wedding. She left no detail untouched and we’ve got the full gallery from The McCartneys right here.

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Outdoor Weddings Religious Institution

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Country Club

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Vintage

From the Bride… We really wanted to incorporate who we were as people and as a couple. Our history, interests and memories. We wanted our guests to arrive and see elements that were not just pretty but meaningful. We felt that if we were going to put effort into decorating, we needed it to say something. We each, of course had our own hobbies and interests that we wanted to be present, but the whole idea was mutual. Jodi, really wanted a twinkle light, romantic atmosphere. Having the wedding at Greenwood Hills under a tent made that dream happen as well!

Our vision or theme was “the story of us.” We also wanted it to be rustic, soft and vintage. So we wanted to intertwine both of those. We had a lady named Janis Vandermeer really help our vision come to life. Jodi sat down with her and told her she wanted our story to be told. Janis and Jodi came up with the idea of having different interests, hobbies or memories on each table. We came up with the list of tables, and the hunt was on to find items that would go, however we wanted to keep in mind our vintage twist.

We initially wanted to reception to be at Jodi’s farm, in her barn, because that would totally go along with our theme, but so many factors turned us away, but we really wanted to find a venue that had the same atmosphere. An atmosphere that felt welcoming, natural but yet a blank palette for us to decorate. What better space than outdoors.

We were very limited to our options, but honestly we were glad. Greenwood Hills was our perfect place. Being on a hill, out on the greens with a tent up, we could not ask for a better setting. We could decorate as we wished and have the outdoors still be in sight! This setting created such a welcoming natural feel, it was perfect for the style we wanted!

DIY Elements: The chalkboard centerpieces: Cut by Jodi’s dad, sanded by Brent and painted by Jodi. The seating plan sign at the ceremony: Pieces of wood given by Jodi’s cousin. Hammered together by Jodi’s dad and painted by Jodi. Gift tag name tags: Tags were bought on Etsy, then spray painted with chalk board paint and strung with twine from Michaels. All by Jodi. Cake Topper: Made by Jodi. Started with clothes pins, and wooden balls from Michaels. Jodi had to sand down the tops of the clothes pins for the wooden balls to fit on top. Jodi then use lace ribbon from Michaels for the dress and an old t-shirt sleeve for the tux. She painted the faces and added final details from items bought at Michaels. Quilt Squares: Brent’s mom cut every quilt square and intends to sow them all together to make a quilt for Brent and Jodi.

Advice to other brides: This is cliche, but it must be said again, you are given your full engagement to prepare for your wedding, don’t sweat the small stuff, and when the day arrives, let it all go, whatever happens will happen, embrace it, it will all be part of the memory. It goes way to fast to worry.

DIY Winter Wedding

I truly feel like this bride and I are kindred spirits. Just like me, she’s a Midwest girl who believes in the magic of winter, and wed her love on the snowiest of days. But what’s left me loving her even more are all the handmade moments she and her ladies crafted all along the way. Paper Antler perfectly documented every last bit, and we’ve got even more snowy goodness you Simply. Can’t. Miss.

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Winter Weddings

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Classic Wedding at Pritzlaff

From the Bride… I’ve always loved winter, and growing up in Wisconsin, some of my favorite memories are of blustery cold days, snowed in at home with a fire burning in the fireplace. I wanted to replicate that cozy feeling – of being so incredibly content and warm despite the frigid weather outdoors – for our friends and family at our December wedding. With that as our foundation, Dan and I decided on two additional goals for our day: first of all, we wanted to throw a good party; secondly, we wanted to infuse a classic, vintage element, including books, books and more books (because what’s a snow day without a pile of good books to read?).

We didn’t have to search long to find our perfect reception venue. When we saw the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers and neutral tones that played flawlessly into the ivory and metallic color scheme we envisioned, we booked Lake Windsor Golf Club on the spot. To add the element of eras gone by, we collected old books, typewriters, and mismatched items such as teacups, candleholders, gravy boats and serving bowls from flea markets, thrift stores and relatives’ homes. The larger vintage items such as the suitcases, hinged door and chalkboard signs came from an amazing vintage rental company in Madison, A La Crate (I could live in their warehouse!). My favorite decorations were the old photographs of our parents’ and grandparents’ weddings displayed with the cakes. They not only added a touch of intimacy, but created priceless opportunities to talk to our family about their weddings and marriages as we planned ours.

A large portion of our day was do-it-yourself and only completed thanks to the love and time of those closest to us. One of my bridesmaids, a brilliantly talented graphic designer, designed our invitations. My mother helped me paint the wooden table numbers gold, create the metallic custom paper signs, and (tirelessly) spent days upon days hot gluing silver and gold tinsel to bamboo skewers to use as stir sticks for the cocktail hour. Dan’s sister, an incredibly talented artist, hand-lettered the beautiful chalkboard designs hung throughout the venue, and my grandmother made the flower girls’ dresses along with my veil. One memory I know I’ll cherish forever was staying up late on the eve of our wedding with my bridesmaids and mother-in-law assembling the centerpieces, bouquets and boutonnieres.

The one thing we forgot to plan was our exit. As the night wore on, we completely lost track of time, celebrating with our guests until the venue starting locking the doors, and it was only then that we realized we didn’t have a ride home! Dan’s sister gave us a lift, and after all was said and done, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect celebration to start our lives together as husband and wife.

We also want to give a shout out to the kind and talented people we are so grateful to have worked with, such as Jonny and Michelle from Paper Antler, Jennifer and Beth from Lake Windsor, and Pastor Dave and his wife Nancy from Blackhawk Church, and many others. Thank you! It was an absolute dream day for us, and I, for one, felt as if I was curled up in front of a fireplace the entire time.

This wedding is proof that elegance and simplicity never go out of style – at least in our book. And it’s proof that when you mesh a classic color palette, romantic details and a restored warehouse reception venue – you’re left with a day that’s both untraditional and timeless all wrapped into one. Anna Page is to thank for the oh-so-pretty photos, and you can feast your eyes on every moment right over here.

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Ballroom Weddings

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Grand Geneva Resort Wedding

From the Bride… Charlie and I have known each other since middle school, I even had a crush on him then; but he was more focused on sports than girls. So it wasn’t until the summer of our junior year of high school that our relationship began. My parents invited Charlie’s family up to our lake home in Elkhart Lake, WI. It was a day of boating, sun activities and enjoying meals…but Charlie and I managed to spend almost the entire day getting to know each other down at the beach. Fast forward 8 years, and on that same beach 4th of July weekend, Charlie proposed.

We both knew from the start that we wanted something unique for our wedding; which is why when we first stepped foot into the Historic Pritzlaff building nestled in the Milwaukee’s Third Ward we instantly fell in love with this venue. We loved that this restored warehouse, adorning infamous Milwaukee Cream City brick, was a blank slate and a space we could truly make our own. The Pritzlaff is so unique and provided the vintage, rustic and urban feel we were looking for.

Our wedding day was perfect – it was a beautiful and breezy summer day. Downtown Milwaukee was bustling with 4th of July Weekend festivities and we were surrounded by an abundance of our family and friends.

Our bridal party looked amazing. The bridesmaids were outfitted in soft blush chiffon J. Crew dresses that were flowy and feminine. The dresses were accented with nude heels and Stella and Dot earrings. The guys were outrageously handsome in Vera Wang Black Tuxedos with crisp white shirts and shiny black patent leather shoes. All the attendants looked elegant yet comfortable for a day of radiance and dancing!

Our ceremony was held at the beautiful Old Saint Mary Church in downtown Milwaukee. It was the same church where Charlie’s parents were married 27 years ago. We were so blessed to have my childhood priest and dear family friend as the celebrant. He gave the message that marriage was a lot like dancing and that it will be unique to each of us. He encouraged us and all our guests to dance their way through life. Our guests took his message to heart and we all danced the night away – Charlie and I were thrilled to see the dance floor packed the entire night!

One of my favorite memories from our wedding day was our first look. We were overwhelmed with excitement and emotion and Anna Page captured it perfectly. It brings tears to my eyes just reminiscing about sharing that moment with Charlie. Both sets of our parents just happened to witness this exact moment side-by-side. Again, Anna captured their expressive looks of love and contentment. This memory will forever be etched in my mind

Many people told me to take some time during the wedding day to reflect and live in the moment. We did just that. While guests were being seated we quickly escaped to the rooftop of the Pritzlaff building and enjoyed some of the best views of the city both of us call home. It was a beautiful and peaceful moment and one that I will always treasure.

We worked with Shully’s Cuisine to create one of the most spectacular meals we have ever had. Dinners in our households were an experience and that is what we wanted for our wedding. The evening started off with a fabulous outdoor cocktail hour with a spread of various meats, Wisconsin cheeses and oyster shooters (my dad’s favorite!). Our Tuscan themed dinner cuisine was served family style creating a relaxed and fun atmosphere for all. The dishes were served in waves, starting with a fresh Italian summer salad followed by roasted pork loin, shrimp arrabbiata, chicken marsala, sweet summer pea risotto and roasted vegetable pasta stacks. Guests were able to have it all! Not to mention our decadent red velvet cake by The Cake Lady, served alongside an array of petite desserts. For a late night treat we served an assortment of pizza from our favorite college pizza place – Ian’s Pizza.

Our wedding day was better than I could have ever imagined. We are so thankful for the vendors who helped make our wedding day perfect and are so blessed to have shared this day with the people we love most.

You may have never been, but let me assure you Wisconsin is one great place to be. It’s home to some seriously stunning lakes, about a million great breweries, the Green Bay Packers, and this cozy fall wedding from Carly McCray Photography. And while I may not have convinced you to make the Midwest trek just yet, one look at the stunning gallery and you’ll be ready to hop the next flight – promise!

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Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin Wedding

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Outdoor Weddings

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Casual

From Carly McCray Photography… Melanie + Chris’ warm, Wisconsin fall wedding in Lake Geneva was one part nautical-goodness mixed with about three parts Wisconsin fall colors, abundant rustic elegance and a ski chalet with the most beautiful wood beams!

Living near Washington D.C., Melanie and Chris chose Melanie’s hometown of Lake Geneva as their perfect Wisconsin fall day wedding backdrop. They exchanged their ‘I dos’ in Melanie’s childhood church…where she wore her mother’s long, gorgeous veil…and celebrated that night where she spent many chilly winters skiing at the Grand Geneva Mountain Top Ski Chalet! They filled the day with their own handmade touches including save the dates with a custom Wisconsin print, handmade wooden table numbers, rustic wood signs, pennants, take-home mason jar favors, chalkboard signs, and more.

Tables overflowed with fall pears nestled in silver vessels and full fall arrangements, and were surrounded with rustic wood chairs and golden afternoon sunset light bouncing off the beams + red brick floor! Lovers of good food and beer, Melanie + Chris incorporated this into their dinner menu of three favorite dishes paired with three favorite beers! Their puppies even came along for portraits, two girls appropriately named Barley and Hops.

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Wedding Dresses

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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Wedding Dresses

Justin Alexander

Spring 2016

Spring 2018

Justin Alexander Fall/Winter

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Fair warning to those of you in the midst of planning your wedding. One look at this wedding from The McCartneys and you’ll be tempted to throw out every plan you’ve already made, book your tickets to Elkhart Lake, start sewing all new programs, and grab as many cake balls as you can along the way. It’s just that good.

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Beach Weddings

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Milwaukee Wedding from Heather Cook Elliott Photography

From the beautiful bride… We’re both into triathlons and running races, so our save the dates were ‘race bibs’ with 8.24.13 as the running number. Eric came up with the idea, and I made them all by hand over Thanksgiving with her family on an assembly line.

Since the ceremony was outdoors on the beautiful Osthoff grounds near the gazebo, we tried to plan for a theme of “natural garden tones”. Kind of rustic and casual at the same time — with mason jars, crates, window shutters, barn wood frames, etc. The colors were light green, beige, and blush pink. Since the reception was indoors in a ballroom, we had to design multiple vignettes to try to bring the outdoors in. Andrea’s aunt grew flowers for her in her Minnesota garden, and brought them all the way to the wedding to use in the vignettes. Each place setting had an herb sprig on the menu.

We also wanted to make sure that the wedding had some fun personal touches. We served Spotted Cow beer from Wisconsin (one of our favorites!), had WI cheese and sausage appetizers during cocktail hour, and had a “Mr. & Mrs” corn hole/bags board outside on the lawn for our guests to enjoy.
One of our favorite elements at the wedding was the desserts bar. Eric’s family owns a chocolate store in Birmingham, Michigan. We ordered hundreds of chocolate truffles, cake pops, sugar cookies, almond bark, and chocolate covered pretzels. In addition to red velvet wedding cake, guests were able to pack up a bag of desserts and take it home with them. And it was amazingly styled by Katie Jayne from Jayne weddings, who showcased all the desserts in vintage crates and milk glass jars, and created a gorgeous backdrop to make it a focal point of the room. It was a huge hit… the entire desserts table was gone by the end of the night!

Eric actually proposed at the Osthoff Resort when we were there last year July. We went up to Elkhart Lake for a triathlon one weekend. My parents came up to watch them in the race on Saturday. Then on Sunday Eric surprised me with room service breakfast (french toast – her favorite!) on the balcony overlooking the lake. Afterwards he brought out the champagne & strawberries, he made a toast and proposed right then and there! We enjoyed a leisurely day on the lake, got a massage at the Osthoff’s amazing Aspira Spa, and then he surprised me again by having her entire family join them for brunch at the American Club in Kohler, WI.

When we started planning our wedding, we started thinking back upon our favorite weddings that we’ve attended as guests. They all shared a couple common connections: an awesome venue with a beautiful setting. Whether it be in Jamaica, California, Chicago, or Cleveland – we knew we wanted to pick a spot that was fun for everyone to enjoy, and where we could enjoy a portion of the wedding outdoors. It became obvious that the Osthoff would be our wedding destination from the very beginning. It was sentimental to me (because my family used to vacation in Elkhart Lake when I was growing up), it was a special place for us as a couple (because we got engaged there), and we knew that our guests would enjoy everything that Elkhart Lake has to offer – swimming, boating, hiking around the lake, live music on the beach, shopping, and dining.

Lots of wedding elements were DIY, and while I spearheaded the efforts, there are lots of people to thank for their help and contributions! Since we live in downtown Chicago, we don’t have a lot of space to “craft”. So we went up to my matron of honor’s parent’s house in Racine, Wisconsin for a full day of spray painting and woodworking. Megan and her parents helped out – so we accomplished a lot in one day!

There were also multiple craft nights to prep additional wedding materials. My college friends came over one night to help me hand-make all the wedding programs. We cut out all the kraft paper, program paper, and flags – and then I used a sewing machine to sew it all together. Additionally, my other Chicago girlfriends came over to help create the Thank You Chalkboard and signs that hung up on the white window shutters.

When everyone was eating dessert, Kelsy & Butch snuck us out at sunset to get some pictures down by the beach. As we were walking along the water, a group of little girls started gathering behind me. You could hear them say to one another “Wow, it’s a real princess!” and “She’s soooo pretty.” They hid behind the lawn chairs and would peek out their heads from behind them to watch us getting our pictures taken. Then as we were walking away, the shouted “No, don’t leave us!” It was the cutest thing ever. Definitely a moment we’ll never forget.

Since the wedding was in the middle of the Osthoff grounds, the guests sitting out on their balconies could watch our ceremony from afar from outside their rooms. As we exited the ceremony to the recessional music, all of our guests cheered and clapped. Then as we walked away, all the balcony guests who were watching our ceremony started cheering for us! It was a fun moment that made us laugh.

In the middle of the reception dancing, the resort’s fire alarm went off. We kept dancing through it for a song or two, but then had to evacuate the reception for a few minutes until the fire department knew it was a false alarm. I guess our guests were having too much fun that they just “burned up the dance floor!”

I got this great advice via email from one of Eric’s family members who recently got married. I got the same advice from my married bridesmaids as well. Since it was highly recommended from multiple people, I did it – and it turned out to be one of the best memories of the whole night!

“Just wanted to say hello. I hope you are enjoying the last push of organizing and planning and that your plans are coming together. I know you’ve probably gotten about a million pieces of unsolicited advice but I wanted to share something with you that someone told me before our wedding. Feel free to use it or trash this angrily!! We had a great time during our reception and we remember most of it but we were also pulled in a ton of directions and were a little frazzled. One of my friends told me beforehand that we should do this, and I did and it was a pretty great moment/memory.
Designate one of your friends family to pull you aside at some point during your reception. When this happens just take a few minutes together to stand off to the side and take in every thing and everyone. It’s really an awesome feeling to see everyone together having a ton of fun and it’s a neat memory for later. It’s kinda sappy, I know…but it really hit me pretty hard how loved we are seeing everyone there and having a grand time. “

Also, my matron of honor gave me a journal when I got engaged, to document all the special moments leading up to the wedding, and of course memories from the big day. I actually ended up using it, and now it’s full of great stories, pictures and mementos from the entire process start to finish. It took a lot of work, but I know I’ll be thankful someday in the future that I have it!

With the raising trend of Gatsby in wedding decor, I’ve come to really, really love the Art Deco feel. It’s a new favorite for sure, but it wasn’t until I saw this modern deco wedding… an updated version of what we would have seen 80 years ago… that I really jumped in with both feet. This bride is a beautiful genius and she rocked her mother’s wedding gown (with a few modern updates, of course). Heather Cook Elliott Photography captured the big day that has stolen my heart, never to give it back.

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Door County Brunch Wedding from Erin Jean Photography

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Country Club

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Vintage

From the photographer… Laura & Tom are musicians, or at least were when they met in the band at Northwestern, but it wasn’t just a taste for good music that struck me on their wedding day, but rather a taste for good everything. They live and work in Chicago – Tom as an actor and Laura as Jack (Jill) of all trades at a startup – and they love their life in Lincoln Square. So of course they brought some of their new home town sensibility with them when designing their wedding in Laura’s home state of Wisconsin.

They are old souls and love the nostalgia of eras gone by so they wanted their wedding day to be very much a mixture between old and new, an updated version of what one might have seen at a wedding in the 20s and 30s. Laura wore her mother’s wedding gown, redesigned but still reminiscent of her mom’s silhouette and their venue – The Wisconsin Club – is a a glorious relic of an older age. Tom sported a pocket watch and all the ladies wore pearls, but hints of modernity struck me, too. Laura’s black sash and hints of neon green and purple chevrons peeped out here and there. They further mixed modern sensibility and design with old world charm in everything from the wispy, romantic flowers to nostalgic art deco wedding invitations.

The Bridesmaids were dressed in J.Crew chic simplicity and the petite wedding party meandered from the wedding cake architecture of the Wisconsin Club to the grand Church of the Gesu where Laura’s cousin presided over their union. In the crisp air of a looming midwestern autumn Laura & Tom headed to the River that reminds them so much of Chicago’s great water way and then back to the Club where tables were named for L Stops. More little surprises worth mentioning: Laura embroidered messages to bridesmaids in their gifted clutches and Laura & Tom performed a choreographed first dance (with lifts!) They served tasty cobblers and pies in lieu of cake and they simply did things the way they wanted – in good taste, in good fun, in good everything.

Brunch might just be my favorite time of the day. The food is the best, especially when enjoyed after an early morning walk (or even better, a late morning wake up call). So naturally, brunch weddings are my favorite. They’ve got that air of relaxation without anything to stress about. Erin Jean Photography captured a brunch wedding on Lake Michigan (which is a whole other story when it comes to why I love it so much) and, oh my goodness, it’s fantastic.

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Beach Weddings

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Wisconsin Barn Wedding from La De Da Photography

From the stunning bride… Chris and I knew from the start that we wanted an intimate wedding. We’re both very close with our families, so being able to share and enjoy the memorable day with those closest to us was truly special. Just our parents, siblings, closest friends (one of whom married us!) and of course, our dog Dexter.

When selecting the location, Door County, WI was top on our list. Chris’ great grandparents built a beach cottage on Lake Michigan in 1929 and his family has been spending summers out there ever since. It’s a special spot that we visit every year and we both loved the idea of one day being able to show our children where their parents got married!

Since it was a beach wedding, we wanted the dress to be casual. Chris wore a white shirt, khakis and a custom pink dot tie. Phillip, Chris’ closest friend who married us, wore a bowtie in the same pattern and our dog matched with his own pink dot tie as well. And since Door County is known for cherries, I thought it would be fun to wear shoes with cherry detail, and was thrilled when I found the Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon Cherry Heels. They were part of a limited edition collection so was fortunate to find a pair in my size from a woman in London who was selling them on eBay!

Ceremony – the morning ceremony took place on the back terrace of the cottage, providing guests with stunning views of the Lake. For décor, my goal was to incorporate simple accents that showcased us as a couple while allowing the natural beauty of our surroundings to shine. Distressed white stakes with a mix of sheer and satin ribbons created the aisle, French buckets filled with flowers formed the altar and guests sat on benches lined with burlap/lace runners. At each seat, we placed a bubble jar with an antique key (to be used as a bubble wand) and a personal note attached. For the first year of our relationship, Chris would send me an email every morning, each with a new thought about his feelings for me and of our relationship, so on the back of each note was a different “Nice Thought of the Day.” We thought it would be special to incorporate these into various elements of the wedding.

To make the ceremony more intimate, Phillip compiled special thoughts about us from all the wedding guests and worked them into the ceremony. We also had a bit of fun by incorporating me and my sister’s FAVORITE movie, Sixteen Candles, into the day. At the end of the ceremony, we played If You Were Here by The Thompson Twins. We timed it so that the words of the song started right when we kissed. The surprise on my sisters face was priceless, I heard her gasp in excitement!

Brunch – after the ceremony, a trolley took us to Horseshoe Bay Golf Club for brunch. We sat outside, our table overlooking the water and wooded cliffs. We placed a burlap/lace runner and bud vases filled with ranunculus down the center of the table, and pre-set personalized menus so that they also acted as seating cards. Similar to the bubble jars, each menu had a different “Nice Thought of the Day” on the backside.

The Club allowed us to create our own menu (they were so wonderful to work with!), so we incorporated specialties from both families. We placed jars of Chris’ Mom’s infamous cherry preserves on the table; each branded with “Susie’s Homemade Cherry Preserves” labels, and my Moms famous “Beach Granola,” served with milk and fresh fruit, was a choice on the menu. We toasted with cherry mimosas and in lieu of cutting a wedding cake, we bit into a tower of cake donuts.

If I had to give any advice, it would be to make sure that the day reflects you as a couple. Pick songs, choose desserts, set a location, etc. that feels right to you. Because at the end of the day, that’s what the celebration is all about, the TWO OF YOU.

Wisconsin, you’re doing it right. I don’t know what’s in the water up there, but every wedding I see from American’s Dairyland is as pretty as pretty can be. Take this particularly happy one from La De Da Photography. Ridiculously beautiful decor, which just so happened to be pretty much all DIY, donuts and macarons for dessert, horses and a stunning barn… and a couple that is straight out of a magazine. All in all, as perfect as a wedding can be.

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Door County Photo Shoot from The McCartneys Photography

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Rustic Weddings

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DIY Inspired

From the beautiful bride… When Peter and I made our first visit to The Enchanted Barn we knew immediately that it was the perfect place for us. An 1800’s barn that had it’s original rustic charm, but with updates to accommodate our modern day needs. I spent a year on Pinterest getting inspired and really discovering what our wedding vibe would be; a rustic romantic soiree with delicious eats and drinks in a relaxed social setting – and the best dance party our guests had ever been to.

The ceremony was short and sweet with lots of laughs and smiles. Neither of us are particularly religious, so to keep our ceremony meaningful and special we had Peter’s dad marry us. Close family did witty readings that we had chose for them focusing on long lasting love and the realness of marriage. My dad read Corinthians 1: Love is Patient, which he chose himself and spoke to our beliefs.

Peter was very adamant that we serve good comfort food and I didn’t want a traditional sit down dinner. So we decided to serve a variety of heavy appetizers including turkey legs and bacon skewers. We kept our bar list simple with beer, wine, prosecco, and two signature drinks (that spoke true to us). Our dessert table was a wide spread of all delicious sweets including a crowd favorite, donuts from Baker’s wife and my must, french macarons from Patisserie 46.

The grounds at the barn naturally had a beautiful ambiance that involved horses in the grass fields, a bonfire with benches set around it, and three patios with bistro tables and outdoor furniture. We also set up some lawn games for those who wanted to avoid the blaring music inside. The dance began with our DJ playing music from our play list and to our surprise his skills were a 10. He mixed all of our favorite dance tunes, which exceeded our expectations of the standard wedding DJ. I also brought hula hoops which were a big hit on the dance floor the entire night.

The decor was DIY, DIY, DIY. Let’s just say I was a Joann Fabrics regular. Being a Pinterest addict, I found so many great links and ideas for all my decor. My most proud creation was my lighted signs ( “A + P” and “CHEERS” hung above the bar)– made with paper mache letters, spray paint, hot glue gun, and string lights.

Peter’s personal touch (and surprise gift to me) was a hand made wood bench he built. We brought it to the barn and set it up with Sharpies to have our guests sign their names and personal messages to us (our version of a guest book).

All and all the day was 100% true to us and we wouldn’t have done it any different. I can’t express the level of happiness I felt on that day, and I now completely understand the wedding hype. Growing up I never thought that I’d be a traditional bride with a 200 person wedding, but it was truly the best day of my life. I’d happily do it a hundred times over again.

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Paper Rock Scissor

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Door County is a Midwest gem. The heartland’s answer to Cape Cod, if you will. So plop the prettiest editorial shoot right in the middle, and you’ve got a recipe for gorgeousness. A.Styled Event, Buds ‘n Bloom, and Monograham gussied things up and The McCartneys Photography delivered BIG time behind the lens. Have a look right here.

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Casual Rustic

From Anna of A.Styled Event…Door County is a gem of its own, known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest, and is a popular vacation destination for Wisconsinites and neighboring states. While Door County offers state parks, blooming cherry orchards, miles of beautiful shoreline, and plenty of specialty shops and boutiques, it is no surprise why so many love to visit. Visitors surely appreciate the leisurely culture of the locals who have formed roots, offer knowledge, and bring distinction to this charming county. All of which served as inspiration for the details in this picturesque editorial shoot.

We envisioned an intimate rehearsal dinner, tucked along the shoreline of a childhood home that would showcase the couples adored Door County traditions, artisans, and style. A soft and natural color palette of blue, taupe, and orange were chosen to compliment the lovely shoreline of Lake Michigan. The perfect bamboo paper letterpress invitations, which are a mix of custom Smock designs from Monograham, were mailed to their closest family and friends. Each guest received a welcome basket made of favorite local goodies; a fresh loaf of bread from Island Bread Company, fine olive oil and seasoning from Door County Olive Oil, apple cherry Island Orchard Cider, and more.

Buds n Bloom designed the fabulous floral elements that dressed the table, teepee and the stunning bride-to-bes floral crown. The centerpieces even included a Door County native flower! A romantic teepee was set to symbolize the couples love for camping in the state parks and served as a fun backdrop for guests to enjoy. The local farm-to-table menu was crafted with fresh Lake Michigan whitefish, vegetable garnish, and greens. Guests were enlightened with a famous Door County fish boil, followed by a delicious ombre cake from Flour Girl Patissier, a local pastry chef.

A.Styled Event provided the creative vision and direction for this amazing team, while The McCartneys Photography naturally captured every expression and detail, bringing this editorial shoot to life. We couldnt think of a better way to ease into your wedding day than with an intimate, relaxed, yet romantic gathering along the beautiful shoreline. We hope that this shoot serves as inspiration for brides looking to do just the same, perhaps even in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin!

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Lake Geneva Wedding from Jacqui Cole Photography

If you need a little something to put the pretty in your Friday, you’ve come to the right place. Because this wedding from Jacqui Cole Photography is simply as lovely as they come. With gorgeous florals from Frontier Flowers – Fontana, a color palette to die for, and one stunning couple – it’s the perfect way to ease into the weekend in style. See it all here.

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Spring Weddings

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Wisconsin Wedding from Woodnote Photography

From the Bride… Throughout our five years of being together, David and I have faced many obstacles along the way. Many of these obstacles stood in the way of us moving forward with our lives and ultimately tying the knot. When May 25th finally came I knew nothing could get in the way of what we had waited so long for. For a colder than average May day, the clouds and cool weather made for the most romantic setting. We loved our lakeside ceremony that was personalized just for us, our flowers that had a vintage spring feel and our spectacular tower of cupcakes that were a big hit. Most of all we loved the moments we had alone together that no one else could feel what we were feeling. Our family and friends were there when we read our personalized vows and our first dance was just magical. But when we saw each other for the first time by the beautiful lake, those are our moments and memories alone together. It was about David and me and our journey together. Realizing in those exact moments that everything that lead us to this particular day had all been worth the wait.

First looks are my favorite part of any wedding. But when the bride and groom plan a secluded first look at sunrise, it makes for a moment that’s seriously special. Woodnote Photography captured a layer of intimacy and emotion that only the best photographers can do. And the words from the groom? Well, they’re enough to bring a girl to tears. “When I saw Jessica in the field for the first time that morning, I was very overwhelmed with love, joy, and peace. I instantly broke out in tears as my anxiousness left me and my bride was by my side.” Grab yourself a tissue and join me for the full wedding right here.

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From Woodnote Photography…These two met at a Bible Study, and became friends. Jessica was training for triathlons, (have I mentioned that she’s already completed an Iron Man?! The girl is a legend..), so eventually they started doing workouts together. Robert thought things were going pretty well, so he asked if Jessica would like to go out, and she flat out said no! (But did apologize to Robert if she had led him on…) Robert explained, “After taking such a blow, I fell behind the scenes for a while only to reappear months later to spend more time with her biking or running. I eventually worked up the courage again (over a year later) to see if she would like to get to know each other again and to my delight she said, Sure… Since then weve been two peas in a pod.” (And as the photographers who have gotten to spend time with Jessica + Robert together, we can absolutely testify to the fact that these two are absolutely in love, and completely meant for each other!)

Jessica + Robert got married on a Sunday morning in May, and started their ceremony with a tea bar — greeting their guests as they arrived, and handing them a freshly baked scone in a bag that was labeled with their wedding program. Immediately following the ceremony, a lovely brunch was served at their reception, which ended up meaning that the best time for Jessica + Robert’s portraits was … at sunrise. When I first wrote the email to them, suggesting the wild + crazy idea, I thought, “well.. they might just laugh in my face” … but then they reminded me that they’re both athletes who are constantly training for big events, and so they’re used to getting up ludicrously early. (Hooray!) Let’s face it. The lighting at sunrise just can’t be beat. Not to mention the incredible poetic beauty of seeing your love for the first time on your wedding day, all alone, watching the sunrise together.

Robert’s way of retelling his memory of the first look is beyond beautiful, “When I saw Jessica in the field for the first time that morning, I was very overwhelmed with love, joy, and peace. I instantly broke out in tears as my anxiousness left me and my bride was by my side.”

After the first look and portraits with the maid of honor + best man, there was time to go out for a delightful breakfast together at Andrew’s Restaurant inside the Delafield Hotel! It was such an incredible morning, with a nice little relaxed break in between photos + the ceremony to spend time together, and relax, too. From our perspective, it was completely worth the 4am wakeup call, and Jessica + Robert say it was, too! They told us, “We both thoroughly loved seeing each other for the sunrise pictures. It calmed so many nerves, and was a great moment with each other. We also loved getting breakfast right after pictures at Andrews Restaurant with the bridal party and Caroline and Jayden.”

Without further ado, we’re quite excited to share these images with you all today. But before we go, here’s a final word of advice for future brides/grooms currently planning their wedding from Jessica + Robert: “Short engagements! Ours was under 4 months and it was a DIY wedding! You can do it!”

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Milwaukee Wedding from Heather Cook Elliott Photography

We’re back with a big heaping, second scoop of Heather Cook Elliott Photography, and this afternoon she’s teamed up with Tailored Engagements on a wedding that is every bit as beautiful as it is romantic. From the bridesmaids in pink, to the linens from BBJ, to the couple themselves, every bit of this day was perfect.

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Wisconsin Lake Wedding from Heather Cook Elliott Photography

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Museum

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From the photographer… Christine & Todd already have a long & winding love story that starts with them becoming best friends in college at Marquette in Milwaukee. It took awhile for them to realize that best-friendship would equal partnership, but once it hit home it really hit home. For the last several years they have lived in his hometown of Chicago where Christine worked downtown and Todd commuted an incredible 70 miles to work and back to her because where she is is where he needs to be. Todd played final four basketball at Marquette, professionally in Europe and is taking the lead in spiriting the two of them off on a new adventure as he recently accepted a new coaching position at a university. And Christine is happy to accompany him, even though it might mean passing the bar in a new state.

Christine & Todd, together and individually, are quite possibly the nicest people I have ever met. They both have huge hearts and know – really know – the meaning of family and its importance. Christine’s sister recently found out she has cancer and was undergoing treatment soon before the wedding. Thankfully she was up to the task of being a matron of honor despite the treatment and was by Christine’s side throughout the day. Todd’s birth and adopted family held him up throughout the wedding, as well, as Todd & Christine formed their own loving, time and trial tested family. I

have to write just a bit about the styling of the day as I was consistently struck by how beautiful, tasteful, delicate and inspired everything was from shoes to flowers, to treats, to music and of course to the gorgeous florals. I loved Christine’s two belts, Todd’s classically embroidered cuffs and I could shoot a pink and gold wedding with the stunning architectural backdrop that is the Milwaukee Art Museum every day of the week. My favorite part of the day was when Christine & Todd took a few moments alone amongst the “ribs” of the MAM’s architecture. He lifted her up onto a ledge and moved close to her. She kicked off her Jimmy Choos and just breathed him in. It was magical – just like their story and their love.

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Lovlies, we have quite the treat for you today. It starts with this Wisconsin soiree which somehow manages to be elegant and chic and casual and warm all at once, and it ends with yet another dose of Heather Cook Elliott Photography this afternoon. Yep, you heard me. Two beautiful weddings that our lady Heather captured phenomenally, because we’re big fans. First up, we’ve got love on a lake.

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Milwaukee Wedding from Erin Jean Photography

From the photographer… Maria & Dave have a magnetism about them that draws everybody in – into conversation, into laughter, into their lives, into something special. Their wedding day was a testament to that magnetism – and to how full their lives are now and how impossibly full they will grow to be. On a sunny day in June they met on a dock, in the wind and said I love you. I can’t wait to marry you. That wind played with Maria’s veil and their favorite people laughed and cheered them on (as did many boaters motoring by during the lake side ceremony) and they just sort of melted into a perfect day to say I Do.

I adore their easy style that is at once down home and rustic, but a bit refined and frilly. Maria DIY’d many things and basically thought of everything to keep guests happy. I’ve never seen so many children at a wedding – 30 or more – who played with their kid entertainment treat bags and begged for pictures with Maria & Dave. I caught a glimpse of two cousins playing at wedding (the “groom” opted to wear a Spider Man mask) after dinner and more smiles than I could count in every direction I looked. Maria carried a dragonfly pin on her bouquet to memorialize a beloved cousin of Dave’s who died of cancer too young at 16 and her earrings were her grandmother’s – the family matriarch, loved and revered and recently passed. But the atmosphere was jovial and sweet and celebratory – both of Maria & Dave, but also of the family members that had made them who they are today.

When it was time to dance Maria and Dave shared a sensual, sweet, totally romantic moment where I think everyone in attendance saw what real love looks like when it decides to dance. I have a feeling Maria & Dave dance together a lot, just the two of them, alone in a room full of people.

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned from poring over dozens upon dozens of weddings here on SMP, it’s this: personalization is key to the perfect day. I’m talking about weddings that feel thoughtful and authentic; where, if nothing else, guests can walk away saying, “That was so them.” And this Midwest affair fits that bill to a pretty little T. Erin Jean Photography captured every eclectic-loving detail, and there’s a million more moments to be swooned sitting right here.

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From Erin Jean Photography…Melissa and Ryan are a modern couple. It’s a love story of photographer meets teacher. That produces a beautiful wedding. They had gorgeous details that scream personality. It was an urban meets vintage affair. Dream wedding! The grooms words were, “this is an etsy wedding!” From the bow ties to the paper elements surrounding the room, it was a handmade affair.

From the Bride and Groom… Like any other couple anxiously awaiting the day they finally get to marry the one person who makes their heart sing, Melissa and Ryan had a definite vision for their wedding day. Luckily for them, that day became everything they had dreamed and more. Their picturesque Milwaukee wedding landed (coincidentally) on the first day of summer, and after heavy rains and thunderstorms pushed through, their big day became one for the books.

Ryan, a musician and history teacher, and Melissa, a photographer and graphic designer, could not have selected a more beautiful venue for the day, historic Turner Hall Ballroom, a local and national landmark, built in 1882. Decorated in an eclectic but simple taste, they wanted the celebration to truly represent them as a couple. Making use of antiques they have been collecting since they’ve met, the assortment of their own vintage pieces merely enriched the distressed, but elegant environment of Turner Hall. The couple wanted to focus their wedding around local and handmade goods that would make their day one of a kind, including the handmade lace wedding dress, paper goods designed by the bride, and antique windows and picture frames painted and labeled with signage and seating arrangements.

Surrounded by the people that mean the most to them, the couple exchanged vows in a succinct ceremony officiated by their good friend, heard music performed by the groom’s bandmates, and dined on a vegetarian meal catered by Beans and Barley, a local vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant and market. They also provided the rustic floral arrangements of wildflowers on each table, as well as the delicious vegan red velvet wedding cake. Erin Jean Photography beautifully captured this stunning event.

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Wisconsin Camp Engagement Session from Emily Steffen Photography

Oh my. This is the kind of engagement shoot that is made of laughter and love, and features so many smiles, you just can’t help but smile right along. The couple at center is my favorite kind – young at heart, so in love, and beautiful as all get out. Captured by Emily Steffen, the gallery will bring you back to your camp days, in the very best way.

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Lakeside

From the photographer… Laurie and Jon wanted outdoors, fun, simple and full of whimsy, and Camp Wandawega was THE MOST PERFECT SPOT for them to share some memories of their summer engagement! It’s a Vintage-Camp-meets-Lands-End-meets-Moonrise-Kingdon (the movie) and it’s AMAZING! Laurie is a crazy talented photographer and Jon is an equally talented musician. It was like stepping back to the years of summer camp while we shot the whole afternoon….swinging in the big oak tree, running through the paths and jumping in the lake fully clothed! YAY for Laurie and Jon getting married!

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Photography: Emily Steffen Photography | Location: Camp Wandawega

Coloma, Wisconsin Wedding from yazy jo

This wedding checks all the boxes for me. Neutral color palette heavy on the whites, gorgeous outdoor locale (the couples own home!), flower girls and ring bearers cuter than any button I’ve ever seen, a giant dessert table, catered pizza… I could go on and on, especially if I tried to explain just how perfect yazy jo’s images of the day are, but instead, I’ll leave you to the gallery. So you can obsess right along with me.

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