Mr. and Mrs. Kleinhans - 9.28.24
Two years ago, I received a phone call from Matthew as a prospective client. He was about to propose to his girlfriend (Karly) and was hoping to book a photographer to capture the moment. In a HUGE stroke of fate, the date he was looking for had JUST had a cancellation so I was available! A few days later, I met up with him at the apple orchard owned by Karly’s parents and we made a game plan. I could already tell what a romantic he was and that this proposal would be absolutely perfect!
The day came. I arrived at the orchard about 15 minutes before him and her parents helped get me set up on a ladder under an apple tree. I had a huge bag to hold my “apples” (which instead held my camera) so that Karly wouldn’t be suspicious. He walked her to our agreed upon spot and I went from picking mode to paparazzi mode. I was correct: the proposal was perfect. What was even more neat was that HIS parents were there too (also hiding) as well as her grandma, so everyone was able to share in the moment.
Once they set their date, I was absolutely THRILLED they asked me to photograph their wedding too. I knew they were a special couple and I was very excited to continue this journey with them.
These two ended up matching on Hinge in the fall of 2020 but quickly realized they already knew one another from Matt’s bartending days. After many conversations via text and video, they went on their first date to Mikey’s for dinner and then mini golfing. The rest, as they say, is history. Honestly, I can’t even summarize Matthew’s words in a way that does them justice, so I am just going to lay out his quote here about what he loves most about his bride: “Karly's infectious laughter is like a warm ray of sunshine that can brighten even the darkest day. Her heart is so pure and genuine, and she has a unique ability to make everyone around her feel loved and appreciated. Her sense of humor is absolutely hilarious, and she always knows how to make me laugh, even when I'm feeling down.” He reflected that she was truly what was missing from his life and he feels so lucky to have found her! He knew she was “the one” because of how effortless things felt between the two of them.
For Karly, she knew he was “the one” before they even went on their first date. She remembers his kindness in sending her flowers the morning of their first date. In her words, she “immediately sensed something extraordinary” about him. Finding her favorite thing about him was difficult, as she loves so many things. But one of her favorites would be his sense of humor and finding happiness in everything. She loves how he makes her laugh until her face and stomach hurt.
End of September weddings (particularly outdoor ones) are always a gamble in our beautiful state of Wisconsin, but it surprisingly felt more like August…the sun was shining, no clouds in the sky, and 80 degrees. Even with the heat, it was an absolutely gorgeous day. We were even treated to some colorful leaves in the background, as the colors are starting their seasonal changes.
Matthew and Karly’s wedding day truly did not disappoint. They had so many cute touches to really personalize the whole day. Karly was gifted a beautiful bathrobe that was made out of her mom’s wedding dress. The handle of her bouquet also had some fabric from her mom’s dress. As I previously mentioned, Karly’s parents own an apple orchard so there was quite a bit of apple-themed décor and even treats! Their favors were jars of caramel apple butter (which I literally ate on my toast for breakfast less than 12 hours later-YUM) and there was a lot of apple cider for guests to enjoy.
If I had a dollar for every time I pointed out what a sucker I am for a crying groom… well, I’d have lots of dollars. Matthew’s reaction to seeing Karly might be in my top 3 ever of groom reactions. Our couple opted for a more private first look away from their venue, so we headed up to Rib Mountain with a gorgeous view. Even before he turned around, Matthew was tearing up in anticipation. As soon as he saw his bride, the waterworks started and all he could exclaim was how beautiful she was. I’d say the rest of us documenting the moment (photo and video) were extremely moved.
The ceremony was simply perfect. No major frills, just the two of them declaring their love for one another. They had the most beautiful, personal vows. Both Matthew’s and Karly’s parents were acknowledged, as well, for the wonderful examples their marriages have set for our newlyweds. Even as an outsider looking in, I can definitely see how the examples of their parents will strengthen their own marriage. They were also escorted away for a private moment after the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage with the most beautiful horses!
We were blessed with a stunning sunset and managed to get outside at peak time for some photos. The shots we captured were nothing short of magical and dreamy. Definitely swoon-worthy!
We headed back inside for some speeches from family members of our couple. The speeches were just wonderful… perfect balance of humor, love, and advice. It was fun to learn some childhood stories about Karly’s heart for farm and stray animals as well as Matthew’s mischievous streaks… as his mom recounted, he could “disappear just so fast!”
It was such an honor to capture this day for Matthew and Karly. They (and their families) are truly wonderful people and it was a joy to work with them! Wishing our newlyweds a fabulous life together!
