Alli + Shawn Wedding

Alli and Shawn met several years ago while biking the ACT Ride, the Wisconsin AIDS Ride. It was through their passion for biking and the natural environment that they met and fell in love. It was fitting that their wedding would be out of doors with a bicycle theme. They exchanged their vows in front of a blooming prairie at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona, WI. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception, unique in that Shawn was the one who planned the wedding, theme and decorations.

Marriage Equality Comes to Wisconsin - Temporarily

On Friday June 6th, a Federal Judge in Madison, WI struck down the WI constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The ruling came late in the afternoon, but the county clerks in Madison and Milwaukee decided to stay open late and began issuing marriage licenses.  There was a rush at the City County Building in Madison of couples obtaining marriage licenses and promptly getting married on the steps.  Local judges were on hand for those desiring to tie the knot.

I decided to skip the fray of Friday night and went over to the City County Building Saturday where there was a steady stream of couples getting married. I crashed a number of weddings of those who didn't have time to plan for a photographer to capture their brief ceremony. It was a very celebratory and moving experience to be part of.

Unfortunately, the WI Attorney General has decided to appeal the federal judge's ruling putting these newly married couples in legal limbo, though everyone is fairly confident the original ruling will be upheld.  In the meantime, a stay as been put on the issuance of any new marriage licenses for same-sex couples. 

  

  

  

A Wedding - Rachael & Carol

I don't photograph many weddings, but when I do it's often for friends or small intimate ceremonies. Rachael & Carol's wedding ceremony was one such intimate and touching event. It was simple, but beautiful at the cozy Gates of Heaven Synagogue in James Madison Park. A snowy day, but the light inside was soft and warm. I like it when a ceremony is more about the relationship than the show. It was quite evident and moving with Rachael & Carol. Rachael's mother gave the most heart-felt tribute to them at the end of the wedding.  There were tears all around. All lgbt children would be so fortunate to have such love and support from their parents.