Gallery
A Wisconsin Microwedding That Put Presence First
Dre + Colin’s intimate wedding weekend at Red Clover Ranch in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region
There are weddings that feel like one long list of things you need to get through, and then there are weddings that feel more like a really good weekend with the people you love most. Dre and Colin’s wedding at Red Clover Ranch in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region was very much the latter. With around 50 of their closest people gathered together, their celebration unfolded over several days rather than being packed into a single afternoon. There was yoga, a sound bath, time spent outside, farm-to-table meals, and plenty of opportunities for everyone to simply be together. By the time the wedding day arrived, these weren't just guests arriving for a ceremony and reception. They were people who had already spent time together, shared meals, slowed down, and settled into the experience. And I think that changed the entire feeling of the day.
Nothing about it felt like it needed to be bigger than it was. It didn't need hundreds of guests or an elaborate production to feel significant. It was intimate, creative, a little unconventional, and deeply personal in a way that made it incredibly easy to photograph.More than anything, it felt like a wedding that was actually about being there. What if your wedding felt like a really great weekend with your favorite people?
One of the things I loved most about Dre and Colin's Wisconsin microwedding was how much room there was for people to actually enjoy each other. It's easy to get caught up in the idea that a wedding has to happen within a certain number of hours and follow a very specific sequence of events. Getting ready, first look, portraits, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, speeches, dancing, and suddenly it's over. There's nothing wrong with that kind of wedding, but it isn't the only way to do things. Dre and Colin created something that felt much more like an experience. Their guests had time to settle into the space and into the weekend. There were activities, meals, conversations, and time outside that weren't necessarily about the wedding at all. They were simply things everyone could experience together.
Maybe your version of an intimate Wisconsin wedding looks like renting a property for a few days and having your closest people stay nearby. Maybe you want a slow morning together, a long dinner, a hike, a campfire, or some completely random activity that has nothing to do with traditional wedding planning. Maybe the wedding itself is only one part of a much bigger weekend.
Standing there at Red Clover Ranch, it was easy to understand why someone might want exactly that. A wedding venue that already has a personality of its own. Red Clover Ranch was such a natural fit for this kind of celebration. Tucked into the Wisconsin Driftless Region, the property has an earthy, creative feeling that doesn't require much dressing up. It feels collected rather than perfectly styled, with a mix of natural textures, interesting spaces, and little details that give the property its own personality. The space was warm and intimate, but there was also something artsy and eclectic about it. It felt connected to the landscape and to the people who were actually using the space. Instead of trying to turn the venue into something completely different, Dre and Colin let it be what it was. I think there's something really freeing about that.
Years from now, I want you to look at your photographs and remember the atmosphere, the people, the weird little moments, the way someone looked at you, and how it felt to have everyone you love in one place.
The moment it all starts to sink in One of the moments that sticks with me most from Dre and Colin's wedding was their first look. Dre definitely cried when she saw Colin, and there was this huge wave of emotion between the two of them. They hugged, took each other in, and had that very real wait, we're actually doing this kind of moment. It wasn't a perfectly orchestrated reaction and it didn't need to be. It was them.
That's the kind of moment I want to make room for as a wedding photographer. I'll give you direction when you need it, and I'll help you feel comfortable in front of the camera, but I'm not interested in turning your wedding day into a photoshoot. Sometimes I'll guide you into a spot with beautiful light or give you something to do with your hands because, let's be honest, most people don't naturally know what to do when someone points a camera at them. But once you're settled in, I want you to forget about me. I want you to hug your person for a little longer. Laugh when something is actually funny. Take a breath and lean into the moment. This is what creates great photographs.
With around 50 guests, Dre and Colin's ceremony felt incredibly personal. The people standing around them weren't just a crowd. They were their people, and you could feel the relationships throughout the day.
That is one of the beautiful things about a smaller wedding. You have the opportunity to actually notice everyone who is there. You can look around during your ceremony and recognize every face. You can spend time with your friends during cocktail hour instead of disappearing for hours of photographs. You can sit down for dinner and actually talk to the people at your table. You can dance with your favorite people instead of spending the entire evening trying to make your way around a room of 200 guests.
Dre and Colin didn't have to sacrifice beautiful photographs in order to experience their wedding, either. We spent a short time photographing them together during cocktail hour (because they had to experience the magician!!!), giving them space for portraits without taking them away from the entire day. Their photographs still have room for beautiful landscapes, connection, movement, and emotion, but the photography never felt like it was taking over.
That balance is something I care about a lot and I think it's helpful to do a couple minutes of photos here and there throughout the day.
...And then everyone learned how to square dance!!! A local string band lead the way and started playing, and the entire energy of the evening shifted. Everyone got out there and learned how to square dance and the all the sweat and laughter was proof of the dedication.
I hope people feel empowered to create a celebration that feels most like them. A day to be enjoyed. Dre and Colin's wedding reminded me that there are so many ways to celebrate getting married. Your wedding could be a weekend in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin with your closest people. It could include a long dinner made with local food, a morning activity, time outside, music from a local band, and a ceremony that feels more like a gathering than a production. It could be colorful or earthy or eclectic or completely unlike anything you've saved on Pinterest.
As a Wisconsin elopement and microwedding photographer, I'm drawn to couples who care less about checking every traditional wedding box and more about creating something that feels honest to them. Couples who want their people around them, who don't take themselves too seriously, who want to experience the landscape they're getting married in, and who want photographs that capture more than just how everything looked.
It can be intimate without feeling small. It can be intentional without feeling overly planned. It can be beautiful without being perfectly styled. And it can give you space to actually experience the thing you've spent so much time planning. When all is said and done, that's what I want your photographs to give back to you: what it felt like to be there.
Venue/Florals/Food: Red Clover Ranch
