A beautiful Wilderness Resort Wedding

Natia and Jake had a beautiful Wilderness Resort wedding in the Dells. It is tempting to call it a spring wedding (it was March, after all), but we all know how much Mother Nature loves to hold onto winter in Wisconsin. So we’ll call it a “late winter” wedding. With some scattered patches of snow left on the ground, the scenery around the Wilderness made for a beautiful photography backdrop.

Natia and Jake got married at their local church in Sauk City, before hopping on a bus with their wedding party and heading to the Wilderness. Natia and I connected through Maria and Cole, one of our sweet couples from October 2021. Jake was Cole’s best man, and vice versa, and the girls were each in each other’s bridal parties! We love becoming a part of our couples’ extended group of friends and family – and seeing them at multiple weddings is just the best!

Natia and Jake told us family was one of the most important parts of their wedding. You could feel that throughout the entire day – a celebration with one big family. Even their friends are so clearly family. One of my favorite parts of the day was Natia walking around to every member of the wedding party at each stop, pointing to her watch, saying “4 minutes left!” This teacher knows how to keep a group on time!

A few special details

Jake’s wedding ring is his late grandfather’s ring, refurbished by Jewelers Workshop. I love learning little details like this ahead of the wedding day. Not only does it allow us to get to know our couples and what’s important to them, it helps us capture the tiny details that mean the most. I send all of our couples a detailed questionnaire leading up to their wedding day, in part so I can learn details like this ahead of time. I knew the importance of Jake’s ring going into their wedding day – it’s so easy to focus on that gorgeous diamond, but I made sure to set aside a little time for this now family heirloom too!

Weddings at The Wilderness Resort

We missed the 50 degrees by a day, but man we were able to catch some beautiful light and smiles in 15 minutes – before we couldn’t feel our fingers anymore! Since it was pretty chilly, instead of stopping at multiple outdoor spots for photos, we decided to take most of the portraits right outside the Wilderness. The venue has an outdoor space right outside the doors of the ballroom – you only have to take a few steps to get some breathtaking views! That was especially convenient for a shivering wedding party. (When March rolls around, I usually decide to ditch most of my winter gear in protest. On this day, I did rethink the need for mittens).

The Glacier Canyon Lodge (where Wilderness Resort weddings are held) backs right up to a gorgeous green space, overlooking trails, trees and fields. You can choose to have your ceremony outside, or simply walk around and discover beautiful photography locations. Some of my favorite shots from Natia and Jake’s wedding are along the wooden fence that lines the property. We had a beautiful golden sun during their portraits too – always a bonus!

Natia and Jake had their wedding reception in the Sandstone Ballroom, but the resort also offers the Wilderness Ballroom and the Wild Rock Clubhouse, overlooking the golf course. I assisted at a wedding a few years ago in the Wilderness Ballroom – that room has gorgeous windows overlooking the green space outside. That particular wedding was in January, and they even had an outdoor wedding ceremony! I’m not kidding when I said it was steps away.

Wisconsin Dells Wedding Venues

Although Wisconsin Dells is known for its waterparks, it is a popular place to get married in southern Wisconsin. It is home to several high-end, beautiful wedding venues. It’s also quite the photogenic area! Whether you stay at your venue, or venture off to a state or local park, there are so many breathtaking options in the Dells. The Wilderness Resort is just one option for an all-inclusive wedding venue in the Dells. Take a peek at some of our favorites from Natia and Jake’s wedding!