The Shaffer day began as it ended: drenched in laughter, love, and beauty. Getting ready at the Justin Trails, the natural light filled the space highlighting the flower girl’s giggles and creating the perfect space for Brittany Amundson to put the finishing touches on Carolyn.
Set against the warm wood paneling and under a ceiling of wood beams, there is a great ambiance at Justin Trails which came to life as Carolyn twirled in her wedding dress. A seemingly simple sheath dress had an incredibly gorgeous open back; however, she also added a fun, layered skirt for part of the day giving her two distinctive and super cool looks.
The Shaffer day was filled with distinctive moments, the first of which was the bride’s “First Look,” which took place with her groomsman! I love the twist on that. Opting not to see her groom until the ceremony, emotions took over Justin’s closest friends, which turned into joyful prayer as they came together as a group.
Every wedding day is truly unique, representing everything from a couple’s personalities to their lifestyle, their professions, and often their heritage. It became clear from the first clasped hands in prayer during the getting ready that the most important detail of this wedding would be the love of Christ which unites this couple but also weaves a strong connection throughout their tribe. From the family formals to the joy of the reception, these families’ close connection was evident.
The flowers by Bittersweet were exactly the right fit and were sweet and beautiful. A simple wooden cross draped with white blooms trailed down from the right side was quite honestly the perfect altar for Carolyn and Justin. Set against the rolling lawn and at the top of an aisle created by wooden chairs adorned with the same blooms, the centerpiece of their ceremony truly represents what is at the core of their marriage: their faith.
The elegance of Carolyn’s fantastic dress lit up by the setting sun was matched only by the wide smile that danced across Justin’s face every time he looked at Carolyn. Their collection of portraits as a newly married couple was incredibly fun to create and created a great spread in WBN La Crosse wedding magazine, where they were a featured couple!
Every elegant detail of his luxurious wedding day had been carefully planned by Nancy and attended to by the bride’s mother, who worked together all morning, bringing their wedding day vision to life. The charm of Justin Trails was accented by Nancy’s planning services’ execution and culminated in the barn looking absolutely fantastic!
DJ Alec Nissen set the perfect stage for Carolyn, a dancer, and their entire wedding party to light up the dancefloor. Still observing social distancing, their small, covid friendly wedding featured face masks, but boy, did they have a blast on that dance floor. The father of the bride, usually more of a wallflower, was cutting up the dancefloor! Through it, all Justin kept a strong, protective arm around his new wife, clearly devoted to loving and protecting her, while sweeping her off her feet.
From the gorgeous family formals on the lush lawn to the twinkle of the lights crisscrossing the barn, it truly felt like we were surrounded in faith, laughter, love, and true joy. However, I thought I had captured the spark of something new between one of Carolyn’s brothers and her Maid of Honor, and as it turned out, my suspicions were right and these two are now dating. Yay for love!!
For sure, love begets love, and Carolyn and Justin’s wedding day at Justin’s Trails was a testament to their faith, as it will continue to bind their family and friends together.
It was a joy and an honor to have photographed your wedding!
