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Mikela and Brody’s wedding at The Tinsmith

Get your tissues ready… you’ll need them for this wedding. 

The chills haven’t stopped. Editing this wedding was a beautiful, emotional experience as I witnessed for the second time the love between Brody & Mikela and their loving tribute to her late father as they married on his birthday.

It was a beautifully deep decision, having lost him just last year. But they knew they wanted him present during this celebration. They knew they wanted to celebrate this momentous day in a way that would honor him.

So they got married on his birthday.

There were so many emotions. Love, joy, laughter, and – of course – loss. A poignant reminder to make the most of every day… every moment.

And that’s exactly what Mikela & Brody did. They made the most of every moment…

They soaked in all the love and joy, surrounded by family and friends.

And now, every year, they’ll celebrate Mikela’s dad’s birthday AND their anniversary, making him present in their memory for all the celebrations to come.

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The Proposal

Mikela and Brody’s proposal wasn’t your typical situation. In May of 2023, they planned to drive out to New York to see Mikela’s family and ask their blessing for getting engaged. Tragically, the night before they were supposed to leave, Mikela got the devastating call that her dad had unexpectedly passed away.

Mikela: “It was the most shocking and unexpected news. We immediately got into the car (at midnight) and drove 14 hours to NY. Although the week that followed was the saddest I’ve ever been, it was also probably the closest I have felt to Brody. The way he supported and cared for me, my mom, and my brothers was incredible.

He gave a beautiful speech about my dad during one of the wakes, after having only met my dad one time a few months prior. He asked my mom and brothers for their blessing to marry me as my hand was on my dad’s chest during our final goodbye.

Brody was my rock during the hardest time of my life. When we got back to Milwaukee after that week, we got a small bottle of champagne and Brody made a toast.

I’ll never forget this. He looked really into my soul and said “To us, we are going to have a wonderful life together.” During an incredibly hard and sad time for me, Brody’s words comforted me like no one else’s could and gave me something to look forward to.

I knew I wanted to marry Brody before my dad passed, but Brody’s actions and love during that time reassured me that he was exactly the man I wanted as my partner and teammate for the rest of my life.“

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A Few of Our Favorite Things

Undoubtedly, our favorite thing about Mikela and Brody’s wedding day was the depth of meaning and love that embodied every moment. Of course, they were celebrating their love for each other, but within that love, they also expressed a commitment to love each other (and their friends and families) through life’s hardships. They’ve already started to do that so beautifully, and there’s no doubt that they’ll continue the same way.

Vendor Love:

Venue: The Tinsmith | Wedding Coordinator: Heather Essig | Florist: Daffodil*Parker | Cake Artist: Aggie’s Bakery | DJ and Lighting: Celebrations DJ | Hair Artist: Lovely Elegance Hair | Makeup Artist: Miss Lauryn Marie Makeup | Bridal Designer: Jenny Yoo, Bryant | Men’s Wear: NL Suits | Catering: BluePlate Catering | Rentals: Velvet Rentals | Signage: Lettered by Shi | Marquee Letters: AlphaLit Madison | Photography & Films: The McNiels Photo & Films

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