Carlene and Matt first met in middle school. He was a grade older and she had a crush on him as a little 7th grader.  They didn’t get together until years later after a friend’s 30th birthday party and the rest is history!  Carlene and Matt both felt that an outdoor springtime wedding, set on a lake near where they had grown up, would fit their romantic but rustic ideas for their big day.  They decided to have both their ceremony and reception at Lake Valhalla Club, and it was everything they had hoped for (including NO April showers!).  Carlene had been given the gift of her Grandmother’s engagement ring and band, as well as her Mother’s first diamond set in an elegant necklace.  On this day she would honor two of the most important women in her life, and the woman who shaped Matt’s and made him who he is today.
Carlene and Matt were so cute, and they had this utter calm about them before the ceremony.  As photographers, we see this a lot with the closest of couples.  We think it means that you have already chosen this person, you already feel married, so there is no need for nerves!  Even during the ceremony, their wasn’t a sense of nervousness…just raw emotion.  Matt showed us how overwhelming his love for Carlene is, and you could just tell how happy she makes him.
They did it! And someone couldn’t help but keep us cracking up! Love that about you Matt!
Carlene looked gorgeous and she chose colors of deep pink, mauve and burgundy with a mocha brown that had a hint of bronze to it to accent everything.  The cupcakes by Baker’s Perfection were adorable and continued the brown or mocha tones.  Yep, we even got to try them – so yummy!  All of the rustic details were beautiful, and the pinks lend themselves to the romantic feel.  The room was drenched in candlelight creating this incredible warmth to the whole reception!  The stone fireplace also helped to set the mood, with a comforting fire on this chilly and windy afternoon.  The venue coordinator, Perry Bonadies, really did a superb job of making the guests and vendors feel at home.  He is one of the top notch people to work with in this business, he really “gets it”, and the food was just delish!!
So, one thing that Matt and Carlene had expressed to us was that they did not want to be taken away from the dance floor during the reception, as they really wanted to enjoy themselves.  We said, “of course”!  We don’t believe in taking you away from the party.  We’ve been there and we remember how fun it was, and we want to get all those great candids of you and your guests on the dance floor!  That is one of our favorite parts of the whole day!  And, at this reception the guys from DJMC Entertainment, especially Michael Chiefo, rocked the house!
In lieu of favors, the couple decided to make a donation in memory of Charles Detore and Bonnie Hennicke to The National Center for Victims of Crime.  Knowing some of the family’s history, we thought this was very touching and so personal.
Carlene and Matt, thanks for allowing us to capture all of your wedding day memories!  It was an honor, and remember…  “you can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart”.