Happy Pier Wisconsin wedding | You have shown me what love is

When it’s cold and rainy, it’s best to think back to a warm and happy moment.This bleak fall morning has been completely warmed and cheered by memories of Mirella and Kyle, who gathered  with family and friends to say their vows at St. Rita’s Catholic Church and dance the night away at Pier Wisconsin earlier this month.Their wedding was our last of the season, which is always bittersweet. The bitter edge hits because time with our couples and their remarkable celebrations are coming to an end for the year. Sweet because the fall is when editing becomes our main focus, and with principal shooting ended, nothing distracts us from luxuriating in the hours and hours of footage we’ve captured over the sunny summer.When the leaves start to turn, that’s when amazing films start to blossom.Ending the season with Mirella and Kyle was icing on the cake! The words that come to mind when describing these newlyweds are: genuine, generous, caring and happy. Their focus on family and close friends for all aspects of their wedding was wonderful to see and perhaps nothing showed this devotion more than the many portrait sessions with marvelous photographer Jen Sexton. Grandparents, cousins, aunties and uncles, brothers and sisters, moms and dads gathered to smile, hug and kiss, all wishing to bestow a bit of good luck on the bride and groom.After the inspiring wedding Mass led by Father Rich Young, close family members were treated to a private luncheon at the beautiful DeRango home in Racine.  Mom Silvana and dad Benny had outdone themselves with abundant treats and flowing drinks. The party before the party had begun! In the early evening, cocktails and antipasti greeted guests as they arrived at Pier Wisconsin’s Pilot House. We’ll never grow tired of that room’s gorgeous view of Milwaukee’s skyline, the lake and the city’s southern shoreline.No one will soon forget toasts made by brother Dominic, sisters Melissa and Lindsey and best man Will. Nor will anyone forget the fun and colorful entrance the bridal party made with flashing light-up wands. Or Mirella and Kyle’s supremely romantic first dance. Or the beautiful multi-tiered cake. Or the truly amazing post-dinner sweets that made everyone’s mouth water.Indeed, it was a magical memorable day and evening. We hope you enjoy today’s Sneak Peek to what will be a glorious full-length film in the months to come.It’s often difficult to choose what to feature in a Sneak Peek, particularly when all the footage sparkles and the ceremony and toasts are chock full of meaningful words. But not for this short film. We established the incredible love Mirella and Kyle have for each other by sharing just a few snippets from notes each of them wrote to the other on their wedding day. So profound. So sweet. So adoring. We just kept coming back to them again and again as we cataloged their footage.Congrats to the newlyweds!Vendors who helped make this day special (more to come as details arrive):St. Rita’s Catholic Church | Pier Wisconsin: The Bartolotta Catering Co. | Jen Sexton: Photographer | Amelishan Bridal

Downtown Milwaukee Wedding Film: Barb + Tom | God was hinting at me

I don’t think you can find another couple as equally devoted to each other and their faith as Barbara and Tom.Instead of a first look, these two had a “first Mass.” On the morning of their wedding, Tom picked up Barbara, and they drove to Old St. Mary Church in downtown Milwaukee for the 7 a.m. service. They couldn’t think of a better way to start their wedding day, and as they walked through the doors of that stately church, the bells in the tower began to peel as if to say: Today is their day!These two had circled around each other for years, attending young adult Catholic functions in the Milwaukee area. But it wasn’t until a short while ago, that Tom, who is an accomplished musician and vocalist, began to notice Barb anew at his weekly musical devotions. He said it so eloquently at their reception: That he began to feel a pull toward Barbara at those music-filled weekly services. And on the rare occasions when Barb didn’t attend, Tom said he felt a void. And he knew that God was pointing him in a specific direction. To Barbara.

My direction was always getting pulled in her direction. And I like to think that it was God’s subtle way of saying, “This is someone I want you to pay attention to.”

The wedding mass at Our Lady of Divine Providence, St. Casimir, in Milwaukee’s Riverwest area was presided over by Fr. Luke Strand, a dear friend to the couple and leader, like Tom, in Arise, a local parish mission organization. Music was plentiful, as no doubt a Mass scripted by Tom would be.The reception at Joey Buona’s, with it’s giant windows, filled with a beautiful setting sun as family and friends gathered close. Several bridal party members stepped up to the microphone to talk about the qualities that make Barbara and Tom such a great couple: devotion to the Lord, devotion to each other, and deep care for family, friends and the world around them.We loved producing this wedding film, and wish these two an incredible life together!Cheers,Cindy

The team

Check out these professionals, who helped make the day shine:

• Ceremony: Our Lady of Divine Providence, St Casimir
• Reception: Joey Buona’s
• Officiant: Fr. Luke Strand
• Brides hair and makeup: Sevva Salon
• Bride’s gown:  Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner  from Amelishan Bridal
• Bridesmaids’ attire: Attendant’s choice, variety of retailers
• Groomsmen and groom’s attire: Calvin Klein from Men’s Wearhouse
• Cake: Gigi’s Cupcakes
• Ceremony musicians/singers: Brian Eggers, organ; Brandon Rindfleisch, violin; Mackenzie Becker, flute; Dan Miller, trumpet; Alissa Christopherson, cantor; Brian Brown, bagpipes
• DJ: Andy Axt
• Photography: Meg of Cream City Photography