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From the Forrest   //   Wendi Kent & Olivia Von Blomberg 

June 11  //  Engaged January 1, 2021  //  Our home in rural Wisconsin

We were lucky enough to be able to have our ceremony in the woods on the property we live on. All morning it was lightly misty. We came out of the forest and greeted guests in our yard. During our first dance, the sun came out, shined directly onto us, and we heard someone shout that there was a rainbow. Sure enough, we both looked into the sky and there was a beautiful rainbow. It was unbelievable. And absolutely perfect. Photographer: Andy Quint

Wives   //   Lachele Fisher & Rachel Strauch-Nelson 

June 18  //  Engaged September 4, 2020  //  Door County

Our wedding ceremony was about us, of course, but it was ultimately an amazing celebration centered on community, love, and family. Our kids were part of every moment—our first look, the ceremony, our dinner table, and our first dance. The crowd of 170 amazing humans somehow seemed small and intimate as we celebrated the joy our community provides through community vows, the intersection of faith and law, and our journey to this amazing day. 

We both wear rings from our grandmothers; between that and Rachel’s vows to our kids, there was not a human around who had dry eyes. What made it all memorable? Our elation at the announcement of us as “wives” and the incredible community around us, for which we are forever grateful. Photographer: Sharon Vanorny, SV Photography

Queering the Church   //   Christina Calcese & Kera Ellingson 

June 25  //  Engaged November 30, 2020  //  The Players Club, Madison

When we booked the venue 18 months in advance, we were assured all the construction and remodeling would be finished well before our wedding; in some ways it was, but the golf course was a mess. For wedding party photos, my mom called the nearby Catholic church to ask permission for us to take photos on their beautiful grounds, and they readily agreed. 

We all had a good laugh about our queer photos at the Catholic church. We did first look photos at the church, and my dad drove me so Kera wouldn’t see me. My parents announced they were leaving around 10 pm. At 11, they came back in to talk to our staff since one of their vehicles had clearly been stolen. The whole wedding of 170 people became involved in the alleged theft. Turns out that vehicle was still at the church. Photographer: Brooke Meyer – Midwest Photo Company

A Roast Was Served   //   Destiny & Lisa Beaugrand

July 2  //  Engaged May 15, 2021  //  Rib Mountain State Park, Wausau

Our sisters served as our maids-of-honor on both sides. When it came to giving the speeches, Lisa’s sister turned her speech into a roast. Everyone learned that she had been engaged three times prior to this, and that she won a beer chugging contest at a festival. It was probably one of the most amazing speeches we have ever heard. It was literally the only thing anyone could talk about. 

We chose to get married on the Fourth of July weekend for multiple reasons. One of them is that July 4 was the birthday of Lisa’s late maternal grandmother, and another one is that Destiny’s favorite holiday is Fourth of July. The date 7-2-22 also holds meaning. 72 was the jersey number that Lisa wore while playing football for the Madison Blaze and 22 was Destiny’s longtime softball number.
Photographer: Christina Vedder