Kayleigh and Eric Tie the Knot!

It was such a pleasure for me to be a part of their special day! The lovely bride grew up just blocks away from my family and has known my sister since grade school. They became best friends and even lived together throughout college. The wedding was held at the Pettibone Resort in La Crosse and the view from the venue was gorgeous as it overlooked the water - it sure was cold but the wedding party braved the temps for some beautiful outdoor pictures then retreated inside to warm by the cozy fire.

One of my favorite elements of the day was that the bride's talented mom made - yes, handmade - ALL three of the bridesmaids' dresses and the bridal gown. Those ladies were stunning!

The couple chose a color palette of scarlet and ivory with accents of metallic gold for their intimate ceremony and reception.  The bridesmaids carried bouquets made up entirely of ivory roses with metallic gold wire collars to add a little sparkle, which were a simple and elegant compliment to the girls' scarlet dresses.

The bridal bouquet was designed with classic red roses as well as garden roses which had a lovely fragrance, as well as velvety amaryllis which were the perfect match to the bride's satin gown. She also wore a beautiful red bloom in her hair.

My favorite way to create an intimate, cozy atmosphere - especially on a cold, blustery evening- is to use lots of candlelight. The large banquet tables were the perfect canvas to use dozens of various sizes of glassware filled with votives and floating candles. The weather outside may have been incredibly windy and chilly but inside Kayleigh and Eric's wedding, there was plenty of warmth and celebration!