Tricia and Bob - Green Bay Engagement

The greenery at the Green Bay Botanical Garden is an ideal spot for a lovely engagement session. This has become one of my favorite parks to photograph sessions. Tricia and Bob were a blast to photograph... they were up for anything and had a lot of fun in front of the camera. They are sooo in love and it really shows in their images.


Shortly after this shot was taken, Bob spun Tricia right into the bush! It was sooo funny and I'm really sorry I wasn't able to capture the exact moment that he landed in the shrub...



Their love just shines in the way they relate to each other. I cannot wait to photograph their wedding reception at the Green Bay Country Club in August.



This was the first time I ever shot in the Children's Garden... there are several patina colored winged chairs in the garden. I had a vision of setting Tricia slightly in front of this chair to make it appear she was wearing angel wings. I just love the fun loving expression on her face as she looks into Bob's eyes.


This image was created shooting through one of the metal chairs. I love the way it frames the couple in the background.

I'm sooo looking forward to shooting this wedding. I am having Kate, a shooter with Artist's Eyes photography in Slinger second shoot for me. And an added bonus... the ceremony is right down the street from my house - I could literally walk.... hmmm, maybe I will and be green that day. I feel another blog post coming on ;-)

Elizabeth and Jay :: Married - De Pere, Wisconsin

June 6, 2009

Elizabeth and Jay were married in a beautiful heartfelt ceremony at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in De Pere, Wisconsin. They fell in love while living and working in Minnesota. The small and intimate wedding was a perfect contrast to their busy lives back home.


The weather didn't quite cooperate and it rained... wait it was pouring. I was determined to get outdoor photos and luckily there was the perfect spot on the campus at St. Norbert's College where we could take some shots and not get drenched with rain.

Beth and Jay had a small and intimate reception dinner at the F.K. Bemis Center on the St. Nobert Campus. The food was excellent and the party that took place into the night was sooo much fun.

Here are some of my favorite images from the day...

Become a fan of Ardent Photography to view bonus images from this wedding!

Dress Boutique: The Wedding Shoppe, Minnesota
Dress Designer: Mori Lee
Menswear: Du Bois
Flowers: De Pere Greenhouse & Floral
Cake: Bernie's Cakes
Transportation: Captain's Limousine
Jewelry: Aurthur's Jewelers, St. Paul, MN
DJ: Action DJ
Reception: F.K. Bemis Center
Rehearsal: Black Forest Restaurant
Invitations: Checkerboard
Favors: Seroogy's Chocolates
Honeymoon: Yellow Stone National Park

And the winner is....

Jessica and Corey Stier!!!

Thanks to all of you who entered my photoshoot giveaway! I had a hard time deciding the winner since there was a few incredible entries... but in the end I had to choose only one.

Keep watching the blog for more giveaways throughout the year!

Heidi and Dave :: Married - Appleton, Wisconsin

May 30, 2009

Heidi and Dave are an amazing couple living and working in downtown Chicago. They love living in the big city but decided to have their wedding in Heidi's hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin.

Heidi is a very organized person... having just competed the Boston marathon proves that she is also hard working and dedicated. So when I arrived at her parents home and found a hand written note of things to remember on the wedding day I wasn't surprised. She must have gotten her skills from her mom who put together by hand over a hundred place cards that included a cut out of the Chicago skyline.

Heidi and Dave had custom invitations made as well as a custom wedding ring plate with their names and date on it. Their wedding colors where a cornflower blue and were incorporated in everything from the cocktail length bridesmaids dresses to the linens and chair bows. Everything was beautiful!

I had the pleasure of shooting with second photographer Mia Stevens. Mia was a great addition to the day... here is a link to her blog to see her upcoming post of her photos from this wedding. Mia and I are both members of the Collection, an amazing group of photographers who not only refer each other when we are booked... but also second shoot together, travel to conventions and even cover weddings in the case of an emergency.

It was a great pleasure to shoot Heidi and Dave's wedding... Congratulations!!!! Here are my favorites from the day....

I love photographing the bride and groom from different angles at church.

This blue wall was the perfect compliment to their wedding colors!

The lighting and the food at the Riverview Coutnry Club was fabulous!

A beautiful reception location! Look at the shape of this room!!!

Become a fan of Ardent Photography to view bonus images from this wedding!

Bridal Boutique: The Bridal Event

Dress Designer: Mori Lee
Bridesmaids Dress Boutique: Tie the Knot
Bridesmaids Dress Designer: Dessy
Menswear: The Bridal Event
Florist: Masters Touch Florist Studio
Invitations: Lindsey Ryan Design - Etsy
Jeweler: Blue Nile, Jared and Robbins Brothers
Rehearsal Dinner: Beefeaters British Grille-Pub
Cake: Simple Simon Bakery
Entertainment/DJ: Elite Music Service
Ceremony: St. Thomas More
Reception Venue: Riverview Country Club
Transportation: Lamers Bus Lines
Groom's Gift: Unveiled Portraits Boutique Boudoir
Wedding Night Accommodations: Copperleaf Hotel
Honeymoon: El Dorado Royale Riviera Maya

Father's Day Post - a bit late....

Happy Father's Day!!! To my dad, my father-in-law and my awesome, amazing husband!

Last weekend was a busy time... engagement sessions, wedding and home projects.
Here are some photos from our point and shoot camera...

In daddy's shoes... sooooo cute!

Fun Fact Friday - A piece of family history

Fact: I love churches and their history....

Last weekend while shooting the ceremony in St. Mary's Church in Menasha, I noticed a particular stained glass window with a recognizable name. The window read "in memory of Mrs. John Oberweiser".


My husband's grandfather was named John Oberweiser but his grandmother May is still alive and well. And obviously the windows where crafted when the church was built in the late 1800's.

So I asked Andy's mom and dad who are genealogy buffs. We found out that the Mr. and Mrs. John Oberweiser are indeed relation and are my son's Great, Great, Great Grandparents.


Such a fun find! St. Mary's Catholic Church in Menasha is gorgeous... look for Michelle and Andy's wedding day blog post coming soon!

Kim and Dan :: Married - Door County, WI

May 29, 2009

I met Kim and Dan for the first time in Milwaukee at Joey Buona's Pizzeria. We sat and chatted and clicked instantly. They were planning their Door County wedding as a bit of a destination retreat... a bit easier logistically than their original thoughts of getting married in Vegas.

You may remember this fun loving couple their engagement session that I photographed in March.

Kim and Dan's ceremony was at Stella Marris Parish in Egg Harbor. Faith is an important part of their lives and getting married in a church so beautiful and quaint made the ceremony even more memorable.

The highlight of the day was our personal tour guide/trolley driver. He drove us to Peninsula State Park for a woodsy shot stippled with blue forget-me-not flowers. Then he wisked us away to a lighthouse for more bridal party photos. Such amazing views of the bay!!!

For the romantic bride and groom photos the Door County Trolley driver brought us to an abandoned log cabin surrounded with crab apple trees that were in full bloom. The couple danced under the branches of one of the flowering trees... oh so romantic!

Upon arriving at their reception at The Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor we were welcomed to an intimate two-level reception. All of the tables were set in white linen on the lower floor and on the upper floor was cake and cocktails. The lighting in the room was magnificant!

After dinner the couple cut their cake and mingled with guests. Their first dance was loving and intimate.... with all of their friends and family witnessing the occasion.

Congratulations Kim and Dan!

Here are some of my favorites of the day...

Become a fan of Ardent Photography to view bonus images from this wedding!

Bridal Boutique: The Crystal Bride, Geneva, IL
Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero
Florist: Aster Park Floral, Green Bay, WI
Invitations: For Now and Forever Invitations, Wauwatosa, WI
Rehearsal Dinner: The Landmark Resort, Egg Harbor, WI
Entertainment/DJ: Jeff Hinnendael, Green Bay WI
Ceremony: Stella Marris Parish, Egg Harbor, WI
Reception Venue: The Landmark Resort, Egg Harbor, WI
Transportation: Door County Trolley, Door County, WI
Honeymoon: Door County, WI