A colorful spring wedding at The Eloise in Mount Horeb

I was so excited to be back for a wedding at The Eloise in Mount Horeb! The Eloise Wedding Barn is a year-round wedding venue located just a short drive from Madison. It’s a modern venue inside and out, and it is a light and airy photographer’s dream! We were there last August for Kristina and Johnny’s wedding, and couldn’t wait to be back for Emily and Justin’s wedding!

Emily said they chose The Eloise because it is beautiful and very much an “empty slate”. The inside of The Eloise is white, bright, modern and simple – you can easily add your personality and design ideas. You can go all out or keep it simple. Emily is an interior designer by trade, and she said she loved every part of the wedding planning process. She loved putting together her bright, spring color palette and making the wedding their own. I love bright colors just as much as Emily, so the sound of that was also my own dream come true!

Weddings at The Eloise

The Eloise sits in the rural town of Mount Horeb. It’s a countryside venue that’s surrounded by a beautiful forest, and tall prairie grass in the summer. Its white walls and abundant natural light make the inside (and outside) of the venue an ideal backdrop for photography – that’s pretty unique for most Wisconsin wedding venues! Emily and her bridesmaids got ready in the beautiful bridal suite, where they also gathered for a group prayer before the ceremony. Emily did a first look with her dad and her bridesmaids right outside the bridal suite (both first looks always end up being some of my favorite photos at every wedding!). We actually ended up using that bridal suite for a private vow exchange between Emily and Justin during their reception. It was an emotional moment that really brought their day full circle.

Emily and Justin were also excited about the separate ceremony and reception spaces in The Eloise. They had their beautiful wedding ceremony in the loft, which overlooks the huge bar and reception area below. (You can also choose to have an outdoor ceremony like Kristina and Johnny did!). Emily liked the idea of having the loft space available for her guests who wanted to step away for some peace and quiet during the reception.

A faith-filled wedding day

Emily and Justin put their faith at the center of their day, and it’s clear that they put God at the center of their relationship too. Their wedding day was of course a celebration of that faith and their love, but it was also so clearly a celebration of the journey they both had to take to get here – something I appreciate on a personal level. Every moment was connected by their deep love for God, for each other, and for their friends and family – from an emotional prayer together before the ceremony (holding hands around the corner), to group prayers with their wedding party, to a beautiful ceremony, to their private vows at the end of the night. It was an incredible day to witness.

Right after Emily and Justin prayed together around the corner inside The Eloise, I told Emily those were going to be some of my favorite photos from the day (and we were only about 2 hours in ). That remains true, but of course there are so many more favorites! There were so many tears and so many smiles (giggles), and it was a gift to be able to capture them all.

When Emily found us online, she realized we had just photographed her church friends’ wedding (shout out to Bailee and Adam!). Just like Bailee and Adam, Emily and Justin also met through High Point Church in Madison.

“You are the reason for those smiles”

That’s a comment I heard a few times throughout their day, referring to Emily bringing out Justin’s smile you see in the photos below. It was a common theme in toasts and conversations – Justin’s transformation after meeting Emily. But within the vows and conversations between the two of them, I heard two transformation stories. Stories about how they each walked their own journeys to eventually meet each other (through volleyball at church!). They both had to realize that the love they were looking for was possible. Needless to say, they were both smiling a lot on this day.

Every time I heard Emily and Justin talk about the journey they took to find each other, it reminded me of my own life, and precisely why I do wedding photography. The path that led me to Ryan was not straightforward. It was not easy. Through hardships, failed relationships and many people trying to make decisions for me, I eventually realized that a loving, deep, and healthy relationship was possible. I could relate to Emily and Justin and how they were feeling on their wedding day. They didn’t take one second of that day for granted, and it’s clear to see they don’t take each other for granted either. Ryan and I LOVE capturing these beautiful days because we know, from personal experience, how special it is that you got here. Days like this just give me goosebumps. They reinforce exactly what we do, and why we do it.

Emily and Justin, thank you for trusting us to capture your wedding day. It is an honor to be a small part of your love story! <3