Cody + Kim: Sunflower Themed Wisconsin Wedding

I am so happy to finally post about this amazing and special wedding that took place near where I grew up! Birnamwood, WI is a place that I usually have to describe to people by saying ‘Do you know where Wausau is? It’s a little East of that…” Poor little Wittenberg and Birnamwood…

As small as it is, I am so happy that I get to come back there often to visit family and FRIENDS! Friends like this one here, Mrs. Kim SCHMIDT! AHHH!! YES! A year ago we were doing engagement pictures and then BAM, time flew and then there she was, finally saying ‘I DO’ to her love, Cody.

I started out my day hanging out with Kim and her Bride Tribe, and loved getting to see such a fun group of ladies work together to celebrate Kim and Cody.

One of the best parts of the morning was that I got to have my 2nd shooter tag along with the guys at the same time the girls were getting ready! It was so fun seeing what the guys were up during that part of the day.

(Side note: To anyone looking to hire a wedding photographer…make sure you get or can include a 2nd shooter! It is always worth the investment. The images my 2nd caught are PRICELESS and tell so much MORE of Kim and Cody’s wedding day story. Time with friends the start of the day, reactions from guests during sweet moments during the ceremony, the whole day just comes into a much sharper focus (ha…photography joke..). but seriously, it is always worth the investment to have double the moments of your day captured by a 2nd shooter )

The ceremony was at Saint John’s Church in Birnamwood. I have rode my bike past this church so many times when visiting my best friend who lived down that road when I was a kid and it was so surreal getting to finally see what it looked like on the inside! Anyone else get extremely curious about a building or home after they see it? Either it’s really unique or beautiful on the outside and you just have to see if the inside is as amazing, or you just grew up with that building in your life and realize you NEVER stepped inside. I was so happy that my lifelong curiosity was satisfied with this church! It’s so quiet and unassuming on that road (which is appropriately named, Church Road), and the inside was just as quiet and comforting. The blue stained glass windows and intimate sanctuary was so perfect for Kim and Cody’s first kiss as husband and wife.

After the ceremony, we were able to head to Autumn Acres for some very special wedding portraits. This place is a family friendly spot to go to if you want to partake in fun fall activities, but I am so happy we got to use it for wedding portraits! Because really, what could be better for a sunflower themed wedding than a field of sunflowers only a couple miles away from your ceremony venue?! Nothing my friends, nothing. I absolutely LOVED getting to take advantage of such a beautiful location. It was so fun to have so many spots that were instantly brightened by the friendly sunflowers. Kim and her bridesmaids look so radiant in these flowers, the whole bridal party looked epic next to an antique truck that was in the field; the whole area was just amazing. Karen at Schairer’s Autumn Acres was so amazing to let us go take pictures at her beautiful location.

After portraits, we all headed off to the Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center for the reception. Kim and Cody had a beautiful rustic set up at this venue and their UW-Madison pride was on full display with their wedding cake and desserts. Custom badger cake toppers and UW-Madison cookies for the win! Adorable and delicious.

I was able to steal Kim and Cody out one more time just as the sun had set to capture some beautiful images with that post-sunset glow. I can’t believe how gorgeous a random field next to a huge parking lot can look in the right light!

The day for me ended with capturing some final priceless moments on the dance floor during special dances and then seeing how the day morphed into a full celebration of Kim and Cody’s love for each other through music, dancing and laughter.

What a day.

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Schimdt. You got hitched. 😉