La Crosse Country Club Wedding
Laura + Hunter Lisowski
October 6, 2018
While we do love ourselves a unique, “out of the ordinary” wedding ceremony venue, there is something to be said about the contrasted stained glass windows, high arched ceilings, and ambiance of a classic church. It certainly creates a “timeless” sort of image. Laura and Hunter’s wedding was just that – timeless, but with plenty of personal touches. The two, who met through school and bonded over shared interests, tied the knot on October 6, 2018, and we were lucky enough to capture some moments from their special day!
The ceremony took place at Immanuel Lutheran Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Pre-ceremony, Laura, surrounded by her bridesmaids, got buttoned into her wedding dress with a little assistance. The cream colored gown was absolutely stunning – embellished intricately with beading that gave out an elegant “Roaring 20s” vibe. It was a mermaid style, form fitted down until it hit right above the knee, then fanning out from then onto the bottom of the skirt. The beaded details glistened as they contrasted against Laura’s dewy black nail polish and the bridesmaid’s all-black dresses. Her blonde hair was curled and pinned back beneath a white branch accessory, the long tulle veil cascading to near-ground length. She wore a delicate lace accessory atop of both her feet, sans shoes, that her bridal party also helped her get into – a unique touch we hadn’t seen before.
Hunter and his groomsmen looked dapper in their dark blue-gray suit jackets with black collars & lapels, black bowties, matching pants and shiny dress shoes. Hunter wore a white rose with green leaves pinned above his pocket & black pocket square. The couple chose not to do a “First Look” prior to the ceremony, but still were able to separately get some formal photos taken care of beforehand, with Hunter hanging outside while Laura came out for her and her bridesmaid’s turn.
Laura went back into “hiding” as guests arrived for the ceremony. The church’s bells rang before the wedding party made their way down to the altar. When it was her time to walk down the aisle with her father, Hunter’s dewy eyes locked on her as he fought back tears. Everyone tends to turn to see the groom at this point, but what makes my heart full is seeing a groomsman make an effort to look at the groom, their friend, and the expression on their face that follows. Of course, the wedding is about the union of the couple, but moments like these where you get a glimpse into how much this means for the friends of the couple, the happiness they get from their friend finding happiness – is truly heartwarming.
The architecture inside Immanuel Lutheran Church is exquisite – a Gothic Revival design dating from 1908. The cream walls, contrasted with the colorful stained glass windows lead your eyes to the intricately carved altar, which pops out against coral pops of color. The environment added dramatic effect to the images captured from the ceremony.
Once rings and beautiful vows were exchanged, Laura and Hunter shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Swiftly after the kiss, Hunter embraced Laura in a heartfelt hug, grinning ear-to-ear. After a few more formal pictures with the whole bridal party and loved ones, the newlyweds and their bridesmaids and groomsmen headed to Historic Downtown La Crosse for some photos. Tyra Banks (Yes, America’s Next Top Model Tyra) famously coined a term awhile back, “smize”, meaning smiling with your eyes – giving the camera a little sass if you will – and our bride was KILLING IT with her smize! We did some shots where we swooped Laura’s veil to create a whimsical flair, and she was (as the kids these days are maybe still saying…) GIVING US LIFE. Cultivating classic wedding images that will last the test of time. Tyra would be proud.
Cocktail hour was underway at The La Crosse Country Club in Onalaska, Wisconsin, with guests mingling and enjoying cocktails and views overlooking the vibrant golf green before the reception began. The elegant venue, which can accommodate up to 250 guests, is available year-round to members and non-members alike, and they offer indoor and outdoor options. The La Crosse Country Club offers in-house catering (with a complimentary food tasting ahead of time – score!), professional staff and an on-site Banquet Coordinator. The venue is spacious, with flexible room layout options and a large portable dance floor. The early autumn coloring of the leaves on the nearby trees on the grounds made for the perfect backdrop later on with Laura and Hunter too!
Dinner was served by the staff at The La Crosse Country Club, and was nothing short of delicious. After a few speeches from loved ones, the dance floor opened for the newlyweds. At one point during their first dance as a married couple, Hunter lovingly nestled his head into the side of Laura’s neck, blanketing her with a genuine hug. Shortly before, Laura had jokingly flashed the concert hand-horns (rock-n-roll hand gesture) to the camera. Both of these instances symbolized what we saw throughout the day – there is a balance of tenderness and playfulness with the duo.
When we left the group, there were several colored boas being worn by plenty of the guests…so we trust the fun was nowhere close to stopping!
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Lisowski!
Check out our La Crosse Venue list!