Bo and Sarah had plans for a large wedding and celebration in May of 2020, just a few months after anything wedding-related was thrown into uncertainty following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
My wife and I had been married less than a year earlier, and the biggest crisis we faced was the caterer putting our cake out during the cocktail hour, during which it was quickly devoured by unknowing guests.
That one we could laugh off. Though occasionally I still think about that delicious cake and what could have been…
Bo and Sarah, however, faced a far greater challenge.
Less than six weeks before they were scheduled to say “I Do”, they faced the potential cancellation of their entire wedding.
Thankfully, they were saved by one key factor: a beautiful outdoor venue with the space and flexibility to make the event not only happen, but thrive. Bo and Sarah were married at a picturesque barn outside of Blair, Wisconsin courtesy of Monarch Valley Weddings. It’s the sort of place you might drive by and remark “Huh, I wonder if they do weddings there.”
They do.
pre-wedding.
The venue contains multiple buildings stretching across rolling hills and grassland. On arrival, I walked the grounds to capture the stage that was set for Bo & Sarah’s ceremony and reception.
The wooden interior provided a perfect backdrop for a few shots of Sarah’s dress. The balcony of the barn was decorated with lights and I perched up there to compose the pictures I was envisioning. (As an aside, I am grateful that we don’t put as much emphasis on the grooms attire. I would have felt pretty ridiculous seeing someone hang my pants from a rafter so that a professional photographer could photograph them.)
Bo and Sarah did not do a first look, which can sometimes make partitioning the bride and groom a constant game of “CLOSE YOUR EYES WE’RE WALKING BY SOON. DON’TLOOKDON’TLOOK…OKAY, IT’S CLEAR”, but each group here had private buildings to socialize and get ready. I ventured between each, capturing images of the bridesmaids and groomsmen doing their final touches.
The ease of moving between these groups and the flexibility within their schedule (they had stayed on site the night before, cutting out the need for transportation to the venue) enabled me to mix in some unplanned shots of each group as well. Always a win.
Sarah did do a first look with her dad, and I took a series of photos capturing that sequence. Tears were shed. Not by me, of course. That was just allergies. Unexpectedly, my favorite shot from that sequence wasn’t the delight on his face or the heartfelt hug. It was this image of her walking out and seeing her dad, his back turned. One thing I love about wedding photography is the opportunity to witness small, pure moments of joy like these.
the ceremony.
The ceremony is usually one of the tricker elements to photograph. Churches can be dark and drab (source: was married in a church), and I’m always worried that someone in the audience is losing their mind over hearing the constant clicking of the camera shutter. (Fun aside from a camera nerd: newer cameras tend to have quieter shutter sounds and silent shooting modes, so it’s less of a problem now.)
This wedding provided none of those challenges. Primarily because it took place in a large, grassy field sandwiched between a small pine forest and a pond. Also, on account of the uncertainty around COVID, the guest list was trimmed to about just a few dozen people. Plenty of space all around.
At any rate, it was a beautiful ceremony with a fairly high teary-eyes-per-attendee ratio. I will spare the bride and groom most of these images, if only to assure you that, should you cry, I won’t someday write a blog post with a subsection devoted to your waterworks.
cocktail hour.
Following the ceremony we got around to the usual assortment of formal family pictures. I won’t share those here on account of them generally not being a point of emphasis when booking a photographer (to date, nobody has said “Yeah, the dancing photos are great, but how are you with photos of every member of my extended family staring at your camera?” The answer is GREAT by the way. After a decade of corralling high school students and convincing them to use things like the semicolon, coordinating photos with Great Uncle Marv isn’t much of a problem.)
We did manage to sneak in some fun.
The did he say “On three” or “After three?” debate on full display in this photo.
I’m realizing now that, as often happens with wedding recaps, this one is stretching a little long. If you’re still reading, kudos to you. I respect that. And you know what, toss the phrase “Hey, I totally read all your blog posts, even though they are mostly just for SEO” into an email my way for 5% off your booking.
Regardless, let’s TL;DR the rest of this wedding, shall we?
Cocktail hour was a hoot. Firepits, beanbag toss, (corn hole may be the official name, but it’s forever beanbag toss in my book), places to mosey. Such a cool grounds to be able to wander around with a drink.
dinner, speeches, and first dances.
The food was outstanding. (A rare wedding where I had time to eat all of my food. This wedding forever holds a place in my heart for that alone.) The speeches and dances heartfelt.
bonus section: really cool light
Just after 7:15, the sun got low enough in the sky that it burst through the open barn door and created the scene below. Most guests thought nothing of it — but for a photographer, it presented one thing we all gawk about: really cool light. The sun happened to create a perfect, isolated glow around the dessert table. Were the cupcakes divine? Yes. Did they somehow manifest this light into existence? I can’t say. But I absolutely perched nearby and waited.
dancing.
Given the small nature of the wedding, I didn’t expect the dance floor to pop in the way it might for a larger wedding, but I was wrong. The bridal party held down the dance floor for most of the evening. Most of the other guests contented themselves on the patio or lounging around a fire pit.
sunset photos.
Once the stress of getting through the ceremony and speeches has abated, it’s fun to take the couple out for some sunset photos to give them a moment to pause and celebrate being married. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful backdrop or a more beautiful night.
