The Waters Oshkosh Wedding

Alissa & James

The Waters Oshkosh wedding with Alissa & James was such a beautiful day and one we were so grateful to be a part of! Alissa & James have a story that is a little bit different than many other wedding days. When we first met Alissa & James, they were planning a wedding day celebration like many others – the getting ready, the ceremony, and the party to follow. But their story took a little turn. Alissa’s mother was battling cancer. Sadly for Alissa and her family, her mother was losing her cancer battle, and they had a decision to make: either wait to officially get married until October 2018 without Alissa’s mother present, or have a wedding ceremony while her mother was still with them. So in February 2017, Alissa & James were officially married in the presence of their families, including Alissa’s mother. Having already planned a future wedding celebration at The Waters, Alissa’s mom asked them to promise that they’d still have their celebration as planned. So with much joy (mixed with the sadness that Alissa’s mother wasn’t there), friends and family gathered to celebrate Alissa & James’ marriage!

In planning their wedding celebration day, Alissa and James wanted to be sure that they didn’t do anything to take away from the meaningful wedding ceremony they already had. They’ve been married for nearly a year, so their October celebration was one huge party! The day was surprisingly chilly, but the October leaves were gorgeous. Alissa & James planned a first look at the edge of the water, and it was a stunning backdrop for the moment. We loved the personal touches they added to their day, including James’ UW-Steven’s Point suit lining and a copy of Alissa’s mother’s handwritten note inside her dress. The beginning of the day consisted of portraits of Alissa, James, and their wedding party. After everyone was sufficiently chilled, we headed into the warmth and cheer of The Water venue for some family portraits! 🙂 Guests gathered for a delicious dinner, and we heard some lovely tributes from the Maid of Honor and Best Man.

Following dinner, guests were invited downstairs to view a beautiful slideshow & video presentation lovingly created by Alissa. In it, they shared their journey together as a couple and ended with the video of their ceremony with Alissa’s mom. It was beautiful and touching, and it was the perfect way for the rest of their guests to partake, in part, in their wedding ceremony memories. Then the dancing began! After first dances, we took a quick night shot to create the perfect ending to Alissa & James’ celebration!

The Waters Oshkosh Wedding