HOLGA FOURTH!

Have we ever mentioned that we are huge fans of the Fourth of July? Maybe it's because the holiday is so perfectly timed in the middle of wedding season for a full day of fun in the sun & delicious food? But it's definitely because of the people we get to spend quality time with!! This year, we documented a fun little cook-out in our backyard with one of the silliest yet most awesome film cameras we own – the Holga! Here's a peek at the classic American day we shared with family :) We hope your celebration was just as delicious!!

Love | K&B

// Film: Portra 800 // Camera: Holga //

LAKESIDE WISCONSIN WEDDING | STACEY & MAX!

Stacey & Max dreamed of having their wedding on a gorgeous day by the lake at Stacey parents' cabin in Western Wisconsin. Mother Nature delivered, and then some! After a beautiful and sunny day, the skies opened up during Stacey and Max's first dance and went into all out downpour for Stacey's first dance with her father. But NO amount of rain was going to keep their guests off of the dance floor! And once the pouring affected the sound system, into the lake they went!! Stacey & Max's wedding day was an all out celebration, and a team effort! From groomsman brewing all the beer for the wedding themselves (and designing custom labels) to a great friend becoming ordained to marry them, and then heaps of guests mopping the dance floor right before the first dance so that S&M could kick off the rain dancing – their wedding was truly remarkable!

To say there were personal touches everywhere you turned would be an understatement. More than a dozen of Max's friends from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire revisited their roles as the Singing Statesmen along with Max himself, for a performance during the ceremony! Stacey's dress was hand made by her mom – not to mention all of the bridesmaid dresses and centerpieces as well!

It truly was a magical scene watching Stacey & Max dance together for the first time as husband & wife while the skies literally poured on them. The sun shining through the trees at the same time seemed to bring the magic to life. And apparently the energy that moment created was enough for a dozen guests to conclude that it was absolutely OK to jump off the dock in their shiniest outfits. :)

Stacey & Max, we truly feel SO lucky to have been a part of your day! It was an experience that we won't soon forget — and to us, that's all one can hope for when planning their wedding. An unforgettable day.

Love | K&B

// Film: Fuji Pro 400H, Ilford HP5 & Delta 3200 // Camera: Contax 645, Nikon F100 & Hasselblad 500cm //

COLORFUL OUTDOOR WAUSAU WEDDING | JAMIE & SETH!

Jamie & Seth's wedding day was filled with color, happiness, emotion and celebration. When the two of us arrived and saw how much of themselves these two put into their day, it was literally hard for us to put our cameras down. The heartfelt details they created were all around us — hundreds of hand made paper flowers were used for Jamie's bouquet and all around their ceremony and reception. The love they put into their wedding day was easy to spot, and photographing it rubbing off on their friends and family was an absolute honor!

Jamie and Seth said "I do" in the middle of Stewart Park in Wausau, WI with towering pine trees all around them, and what we consider to be so romantic, it was just the shortest walk from the home they're building together. All of the guest were even invited to their home right after the ceremony for champagne and mingling in their adorable backyard before heading to the City Grill for dinner.

We consider ourselves fortunate to have photographed such a beautiful couple, and even more so to have them as neighbors less than a block away (how cool is that?!) — Thank you SO much for inviting us into your wedding day, Jamie & Seth! Congratulations to the three of you (we can't forget Meeko!)

Love | K&B

// Film: Fuji Pro 400H, Ilford HP5 & Delta 3200 // Camera: Contax 645, Nikon F100 & Hasselblad 500cm //

FAMILY, LOVE & POLKA DANCING!

Isn't it wonderful how as you grow older, your family members truly become your best friends? We've been blessed with the most FUN, genuine, entertaining, and loving families we could imagine!! From trips to Door County to cookout with Butch's family to adventures in Wisconsin's Northwoods or a beach-filled trip to New Jersey to visit with my (Kelsy's) family, we hold those moments extra close to our hearts. Especially when we don't get to see them all the time, especially when the room is filled with laughter & story-telling all from your closest family, and ESPECIALLY when polka music is involved! ;) Just a few weeks ago we were "off" on a Saturday, and it wasn't just any ordinary Saturday. It was my Grandma & Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary party in Glidden, WI, and we weren't going to miss it for anything!!

After visiting with everyone in the room and cutting the cake just like they did on their wedding day, my Grandma & Grandpa let us give them a little mini photo session, and these images already hold SO much meaning! Photograph two people who have loved each other for 60 years and brought so many awesome people into this world set my heart on FIRE! It was adorable seeing the two of them love on each other in front of our cameras and I couldn't help but think, I can only hope that Butch & I are this adorable when we're celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary!! :)

Next came a fun surprise for Grandma & Grandpa: a live polka band and, of course, a room full of Hoppe's ready to hit the dance floor!! There's just something about the polka. It automatically brings giant laughs & smiles, and we had so much fun hopping around all night!

Life is short. Squeeze the ones you love, and take pictures all the time!!

Love | Kelsy (& Butch)

// Film: Fuji Pro 400H // Camera: Contax 645 //

CENTRAL WI FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER | THE McCAIN's!

On a gorgeous evening just a few weeks ago, we met the McCain family at one of their favorite places to spend time exploring & hiking – Granite Peak! We had SO much fun running around with the four of them, and have been literally bursting at the seams with excitement to share their images with you!! Thank you guys for such a fun & energizing session!!! :)

Love | K&B

// Film: Fuji Pro 400H // Camera: Contax 645, Nikon F100 & Hasselblad 500cm //