Sydney and Kyle's Ledgestone Vineyards wedding started the way October in Wisconsin tends to go: cool air, leaves turning, the light already shifting toward that particular gold that only shows up for a few weeks each year.

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I met them at a local hotel that morning where they were getting ready, and captured their first look under an awning out back. Kyle waited with his back turned, and when he saw her, tears were immediately shared between them both. When you look through the photos below you’ll see what I mean — there’s so much love between these two.

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From there, the day moved into a traditional Catholic ceremony at a local church. Sydney came down the aisle to organ music that echoed throughout the massive space. There's a weight to a Catholic wedding that I love to photograph, the ritual of it, the architecture, the light through the windows.

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The reception was at Ledgestone Vineyards in Greenleaf, a small winery tucked along the Niagara Escarpment with open green space, wine made on the property, and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that makes an October evening feel like exactly the right place to celebrate a marriage. They did a spit roast, a whole pig slow-cooked over an open fire, and to say it was delicious would be an understatement. Before the sun started dropping, we slipped away into the wooded area near the venue, leaves covering the ground, the trees mid-turn, for couples portraits in that quiet October light.

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Then we headed out into the fields behind the vineyard as golden hour hit. The sky went warm and wide, and Sydney and Kyle shared some quiet moments together while I followed behind with my cameras.

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Some kind words from Sydney and Kyle:

"Kyle and I wanted to personally write and thank you for not only the joy of getting to finally meet & work with you both in-person, but also for making our wedding photography experience one we treasure and -- had we the choice -- we would choose again and again. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that from the beginning you were willing to work with me, that you weathered the COVID storm for us, that you pardoned me when the wedding day schedule went completely awry. Your flexibility and kindness will never be forgotten. We are so excited to see what you were able to capture from our special day. Cheers!"

Sydney and Kyle, thank you for including me in your day and for weathering every schedule hiccup with so much grace. The testimonial you left meant a great deal, and I hope these photos do justice to what you built together.

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To everyone else scrolling through, I hope you enjoy their story. And if you're looking for a Wisconsin vineyard wedding photographer or considering Ledgestone Vineyards as your venue, reach out here and let's talk.