The Wedding Couple:  Lauren and William | Engagement Photos at Riverside Park in Neenah, WI

At first look at Lauren and William, one may think they represent a classic, American couple.  Lauren has light, flowing blond hair, a soft demeanor and a warm smile.  William has a ready-to-laugh grin, piercing blue eyes and a sense of humor to beat most.  But, these two are anything but typical.

I could tell from the get-go that Lauren and William would be an extremely dynamic couple to photograph.  Their sense of sarcasm and humor was immediately palpable.  They both jab a little at each other, and jab right back when provoked. All out of endearment, of course ;).

The day of Lauren and William's engagement photos, we took Penny, their dog, to Riverside Park in Neenah.  She wanted to get in on the action.  And, she pretty much stole the show.

Our engagement session went off without a hitch.  These two are naturals.  They followed guidance and created their own candid moments.  It's easy to do when one has a couple that is as interactive as these two. They have a constant chemistry that sizzles, spurts and sputters with comedy, endearing critiques and a deep love that has been there since high school.

The Wedding Ceremony:  St. Margaret Mary Parish | Neenah, WI

We began the day at Lauren's parents' house, where the ladies were getting ready.  Her sisters, Grace and Emma, greeted me with a smile and Lauren came down the stairs.  Lauren was stunning.  And she wasn't even in her wedding dress yet!  The makeup artist did a fantastic job of accentuating her young, royalty-like features. Her hair was gorgeous; it was pulled off to the side in a curly bun, with a few white roses in her hair.

As a dad of two little girls, I am very familiar with all of the Disney Princesses.  Lauren truly was a princess of her own that day.

After a few pictures at the house, we left for St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah.  Lauren, with her Dad beside her, took a classic car provided by a close friend to the event.  They rode in style to the church. They were there in no time.

Upon getting to the church, we were greeted by some of the early-arriving guests and the gentlemen.  William was busy greeting and talking with guests.  Lauren was in a back room making some final preparations and cracking a few jokes before the ceremony started. Her sisters, Grace and Emma, provided a much-needed reprieve from the intensity of the preparations. All three of these ladies could be comedians.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful.  One major hiccup occurred, however. The priest forgot to initiate the exchange of the rings after the vows!  No worries, though.  He was experienced enough to work this right back into the ceremony after a few minutes.  A few noticed. A few didn’t. It didn’t matter in the end because the commitment was sealed.

Wedding Photos at Riverside Park in Neenah, WI

The wedding party didn't waste any time starting the party.  They immediately had a few drinks and started to get wild.  We went into an area of Riverside Park that I like to use for larger group photos and portraits.  It's perfectly lit and creates a beautiful, soft, diffuse light.

The guys quickly assembled and we got some great shots. The ladies immediately nailed it. As usual.  This group was having fun from the moment they stepped foot in the park to the time they headed back to the hotel.

Lauren and William were troopers - we took a few minutes to get photos of just themselves.  The weather was extremely hot and humid. I'm not quite sure how they did it. But, they both still looked as fresh as the hours prior to the wedding.

The Wedding Reception - DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton | Neenah, WI

As we entered the DoubleTree Hotel, I could tell that the family and friends of Lauren and William were not going to let the party go off without some shenanigans.  It was immediately apparent that the atmosphere was saturated with laughter, jokes and a few cocktails.

We were seated and my good friend, Joe Pandolfo of Sound Dimensions DJ announced the party as they came in.  Lauren and William performed what's called the "Mission Impossible Game" in which they try to hit every table and get a photo with every guest within three minutes.

We almost did it.  We had dozens of tables to get to, and hundreds of guests to take photos with. It was an amazing feat, and we got it all done in less than five minutes. The good news was that we just missed the end of the song because they had so many family and friends in that room.  It was filled to capacity and brimming with laughter.

The night continued, everyone danced, and the hotel was alive.  I think if one would have placed a richter scale in the ballroom it would have registered with a 7.0.  The guests were there to DANCE!

Lauren and William - you two are so incredibly fun to photograph.  You are gracious, kind and excellent hosts.  It is overwhelmingly clear how much your family and friends love you. You two are magnets that immediately draw family and friends closer to you.  Thank you for having me a part of your day. Most of all, thank you for providing an extremely dynamic wedding to photograph. Every turn was a surprise!

The Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Adam Shea Photography - Neenah, WI

Ceremony:  St. Margaret Mary Parish - Neenah, WI

Reception:  Doubletree by Hilton - Neenah, WI

DJ:  Sound Dimensions DJ - Green Bay, WI

Flowers:  House of Flowers - Oshkosh, WI and Couture Events - Oshkosh, WI

Cake:  Manderfield's Bakery - Menasha, WI

Rings:  Kesslers Diamonds - Appleton, WI

Hair:  Beth Rosenberg of Salon Enbrosia - Neenah, WI

Makeup:  Jillian Dawson - Green Bay & Fox Cities, WI

Musician:  Justin Krueger - St. Margaret Mary Parish - Neenah, WI

About Adam Shea Photography

Do you like this wedding?  Contact me here to inquire about your wedding date.

Adam is a wedding photographer based out of Neenah, Wisconsin that travels across the state of Wisconsin and abroad for destination weddings. He focuses on rich, vibrant photos which tell the story of his clients' wedding days.

When not photographing weddings, Adam also photographs engagements, corporate events, families, high school seniors, boudoir portraits, and professional headshots. Adam experiments with time-lapse astrophotography and loves to create short films as well. His main subjects are his two dynamic daughters at home.

Adam loves to roast coffee, fish and is active in the political scene. He strives for equality, fairness and compassion amongst all members of society.

Adam Shea started Adam Shea Photography in 2007 and his goal has remained simple: create timeless, beautiful images for couples. He focus on capturing real moments that are crisp, vibrant and beautiful.

Be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.  Don't wait; Adam books up quickly.  Contact him today.