A SUMMERTIME LATIN MASS WEDDING IN MILWAUKEE, WI WITH AN ATHROPOLOGIE DRESS, GOLDEN CHURCH, CULVER’S PIT-STOP, AND SOFT PINK & BLUE SUNSET OUTSIDE OF THE EMBER LODGE
Lillie and Xander met at a Catholic SEEK conference in 2023 when Lillie was helping a friend out at their booth, OreMoose Catholic Leather Works, and Xander was shopping around. The two got to talking about how Lillie was in training to be a midwife. This conversation led to them exchanging info as Lillie got excited to teach a med student about midwifery and Xander just couldn’t wait to get to know someone so holy & lovely. All of this turned into a cross-country pursuit people read books about leading to a Latin Mass wedding.
Lillie started off the day getting ready at the house she had been living in with her best friend.
After slipping into her Anthropologie dress, Lillie met up with her dad for a heartfelt and humorous first look where she gave him a gift.
Next, Lillie & Xander met in the gardens of their church to pray a decade together (with rosaries Xander had gifted to Lillie when he proposed) and hold hands before they got to see each other as Lillie walked down the aisle ⛪️💓
All of my clients have unique and captivating stories and I’m always so excited to ask how they’ve become who they are. The stories are never boring, but are enchanting and sweet and full of moments where “he took me to adoration” and “she prayed for me to get the job.”
THE CEREMONY
Lillie and Xander’s Latin mass wedding was at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Oratory. Stepping into the church, I stared at the most golden church I had ever seen, reminded of the great beauty of my faith.
And of course after a ceremony like that, we had to do a bubble exit from the church (with bubble *guns* of course) and some portraits of the couple at the Seminary grounds 🫧🌿🤍🫧
Then the group stopped at Culver’s for a quick treat before heading to The Ember Lodge.
A champagne tower that didn’t exactly go as planned… but still brought a lot of laughter and no terrible spills.
This “job” continually reminds me how captivating the pursuit of a woman’s heart is. The fight to show up as a man worth her attention and love is inspiring. Sometimes it’s across state lines, other times across circumstances. Sometimes it is a simple set up from friends and sometimes it’s meeting at a random conference hundreds of miles from home. But that pursuit is always there.
At the end the night, I did a “reception flat lay” that was super fun to set up. (mostly because I’m absolutely obsessed with Lillie’s shoes.) 🎀🍾☁️
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, LILLIE & XANDER!
Vendors
Ceremony: St. Stanislaus Catholic Oratory
Reception: The Ember Lodge
Photographer: Nikayla & Co.
Bridal Gown: Anthropologie Weddings
Veil & Shoes: Anthropologie Weddings
Florist: Sendik’s Elm Grove
Cake: Sendik’s Elm Grove
Hair: Abby Pena
Stationary: Canva
DJ: Elegant Sound and Lighting
