St. Joseph’s Wedding | Classic Catholic Ceremony in La Crosse, Wisconsin

/ La Crosse Weddings, Wisconsin Wedding Venues / By

If you’re planning a traditional Catholic wedding in the La Crosse area, St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral is one of the most iconic and spiritually rich venues in the region. With its gothic-inspired architecture, high vaulted ceilings, and grand altar, it creates a powerful backdrop for a sacred and meaningful ceremony.

As someone who grew up in La Crosse, I’ve always felt the weight and beauty of this cathedral. It’s more than a ceremony space — it’s a cornerstone of faith and community for many couples and families in this city.

A Classic Wedding Story

Maria and Anthony were both raised in La Crosse and grew up attending St. Joseph’s with their families. When it came time to choose a wedding venue, it was never really a question.

They got ready at home, then met separately with their wedding party before walking into the sanctuary — a moment that felt calm, reverent, and full of anticipation. The Mass included readings from close friends, music from the parish choir, and a homily that referenced the couple’s shared path from friendship to faith.

After the ceremony, we took family portraits on the cathedral steps, then walked a block away for just-married photos under the trees before heading to their reception at The Waterfront.

Why Couples Choose St. Joseph’s Cathedral

  • Historic Catholic church with rich architectural detail
  • Grand sanctuary for large guest lists and formal processions
  • Faith-centered experience with full Mass and music
  • Walkable downtown location close to venues and hotels
  • Timeless visuals — stained glass, gold detailing, and cathedral-scale presence

This space is perfect for couples who want a meaningful, spiritual foundation for their wedding day.

What I Bring as a Photographer

  • Deep respect for sacred ceremony spaces and church traditions
  • Familiarity with La Crosse’s Catholic wedding structure and lighting
  • Discreet, reverent presence during Mass
  • Calm flow for group portraits, exit photos, and nearby scenic stops
  • Option to book both photography and videography for a cohesive story
  • The Waterfront – Elegant riverfront dinner and reception option
  • The Charmant – Upscale downtown hotel for staying or celebrating
  • La Crosse Center – Great for large receptions following a traditional church ceremony

Let’s Document It with Reverence and Beauty

If you’re planning a wedding at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, I’d be honored to help capture it — quietly, respectfully, and with a deep sense of story.

Contact me here to get started.

Explore more:
La Crosse Wedding Venues
 Wedding Planning Resources

St Josephs Wedding

Check out their site here.

Click here for more La Crosse Wedding Venues

Where is the cathedral located?

In downtown La Crosse, near the university and within walking distance of multiple hotels.

Can we hold a full Catholic Mass?

Yes — the cathedral is fully equipped for traditional nuptial Mass with music and procession.

What’s the guest capacity?

The sanctuary holds hundreds — great for large family celebrations.

Do we need to be parish members?

Policies vary; couples should contact the parish office to confirm marriage preparation and booking requirements.

A bride and groom share a first dance in the center of a dimly lit, elegant ballroom with round, candlelit tables surrounding them.
No Caption
A person in a lace dress is partially illuminated against a dark background, holding the lower part of the dress with one hand.
No Caption
A bride and groom kiss on the dance floor of a warmly lit wedding reception venue, with guests seated in the background and sunlight shining behind them.
No Caption
A bride and groom share a kiss while dancing at their wedding reception in a warmly lit venue with guests in the background.
No Caption
Silhouetted couple standing close together outdoors at dusk, framed by trees, with a faint light illuminating their outlines.
No Caption
A couple dressed in wedding attire stands embracing on a grassy hilltop against a plain white sky.
No Caption
A bride in a white dress sits in dim lighting against a brick wall, holding a bouquet, with soft light illuminating her face and upper body.
No Caption
A woman in a wedding dress stands by a brick wall, illuminated by hanging light bulbs in a dimly lit room.
No Caption
A man and woman stand close to each other in low light, with the woman's face partially shadowed. She wears a pearl necklace and an ornate dress. A brick wall is in the background.
No Caption
A bride in a white dress stands indoors near a glass door, with her reflection and outdoor plants visible through the glass.
No Caption
A couple stands facing each other on a foggy road, illuminated from behind by bright white lights, creating a glowing silhouette effect.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand close together in silhouette, facing each other outdoors at sunset, with mountains and trees in the background.
No Caption
A bride in a white gown and a man in a suit walk across a field toward a large barn as the sun sets behind the building.
No Caption
A couple stands close together under tree branches at night, facing each other in silhouette with soft backlighting.
No Caption
A woman in a wedding dress looks out from behind a glass door, touching the glass, while a man stands on a wooden deck outside with his back turned.
No Caption
No Caption
Two men dressed in tuxedos embrace outdoors; one wears a white jacket and hugs the other from behind against a dark, leafy backdrop.
No Caption
A bride in a strapless dress approaches a groom from behind on a balcony, reaching out to touch his shoulder; landscape and trees are visible in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom in formal wedding attire share a kiss outdoors, with trees and a building in the background, captured in black and white.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand holding hands outdoors, facing a group of people who are arranged in a semicircle under a partly cloudy sky.
No Caption
An older man in a suit and red tie smiles as a woman affixes a boutonniere to his jacket outdoors, with another man in sunglasses nearby.
No Caption
A bride and groom hold hands while walking by a lakeside at sunset, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
No Caption
A woman in a white lace dress looks at the camera while embracing a man in a navy suit outdoors.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand outside, facing each other. The bride smiles while holding a piece of paper. The background shows grass, trees, and distant hills.
No Caption
Two women in floral robes sit in a softly lit room; one applies makeup to the other, who is seated and facing her, with their reflection visible on a shiny surface below.
No Caption
A groom in a tuxedo stands with his arm around a bride holding a bouquet, both posing outdoors with green grass and trees in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom embrace closely, smiling with their noses touching, under a sheer white veil outdoors.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand facing each other and holding hands by a lakeside at sunset, with trees and calm water in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand embracing outdoors at sunset with a dramatic, cloud-filled sky in the background.
No Caption
A person in formal attire is seen through a partially open door, while another person in a white garment holds the doorknob in the foreground.
No Caption
A couple in wedding attire stands close together by a riverside at sunset, with a bridge and bare trees in the background.
No Caption
Two men in white dress shirts and suspenders stand in a room; one is smiling with hands over his mouth while the other looks down, holding a bag.
No Caption
A man and a woman in formal attire float on their backs in a shallow rocky stream surrounded by large boulders and greenery.
No Caption
A bride in a lace dress holding a bouquet stands next to a groom in a blue suit and floral tie; they look at each other and smile in natural light.
No Caption
A woman in a strapless dress stands against a patterned wall, facing a bearded man in glasses and a vest. Both look serious. The image is in black and white.
No Caption
A bride in a white lace dress walks with a groom in a formal military uniform on a dirt road at sunset.
No Caption
A woman in a white wedding dress and floral crown stands behind partially open glass doors in a softly lit room.
No Caption
A man and a woman, both fully clothed, sit in a shallow rocky river, holding each other closely and touching foreheads.
No Caption
A woman in a white hooded cloak and a man in a suit stand on a snowy overlook with railings, with a wintry landscape in the background.
No Caption
A bride with curly hair sits on a couch, wearing an off-the-shoulder lace wedding dress and a necklace.
No Caption
Overhead view of a couple embracing on a wooden floor next to a long, decorated table set with greenery and floral arrangements.
No Caption
A newlywed couple shares their first dance as guests watch, with the bride’s dress swirling and the groom lifting her in a formal, dimly lit reception room.
No Caption
A groom in a dark suit dips and kisses his bride in a white dress on a dance floor during their wedding reception, with guests seated in the background.
No Caption
A person in a lace wedding dress walks down a hallway, photographed from behind in black and white.
No Caption
A bride and groom face each other across a stair landing, with a bright window between them in a black-and-white setting.
No Caption
Two men in dress shirts and suspenders stand indoors; one is smiling with hands over his mouth, while the other looks down and holds a bag.
No Caption
A bride in a white wedding dress sits indoors reading a note, while a small dog sits on the wooden floor in front of her.
No Caption
A bride feeds a groom cheese curds in front of a food truck at night; both are dressed in wedding attire and smiling.
No Caption
A bride in a white dress stands on a wooden bridge, looking back, while a man in a blue suit stands in the foreground out of focus. Lush trees surround the bridge.
No Caption
A man in a vest and tie and a woman in a lace dress lie side by side in shallow water, holding hands and looking up.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand outdoors holding hands, surrounded by green trees, with sunlight filtering through the foliage.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand holding hands in front of a large window set in a brick wall, looking at each other.
No Caption
A bride and groom share a kiss at their wedding ceremony in a rustic hall, with guests seated and watching in the background.
No Caption
A woman in a lace wedding dress sits and smiles with her eyes closed, resting her chin on her hand.
No Caption
A bride in a white wedding dress and a groom in a military uniform sit closely together on a rustic rope swing in an outdoor grassy area.
No Caption
A bride in a strapless gown wipes her eye during an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by guests, in black and white.
No Caption
A couple in wedding attire stands outdoors holding large coconuts in front of their faces, with palm trees in the background.
No Caption
A bride in a lace dress and an older man in a suit wipe their eyes while standing outside near a staircase.
No Caption
A woman and an upside-down man reach toward each other outdoors, framed by trees, with water and mountains in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand outdoors, holding hands and smiling, with rocky mountains and trees in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand together under a large tree in an open grassy field at sunset.
No Caption
A bride and groom sit on a rustic wooden fence overlooking a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks and autumn foliage.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand outdoors, facing each other and smiling, with green and yellow autumn trees and a distant hill in the background.
No Caption
A person styles another person's hair in a dimly lit bedroom with a large bed and framed pictures on the wall.
No Caption
A couple stands on a sandy beach at night, illuminated by bright backlighting as raindrops or snow fall around them.
No Caption
A bride and groom share their first dance in a wooden barn while wedding guests watch in the background.
No Caption
Two men in tuxedos dance closely together at an outdoor event under a tent, with seated guests and string lights in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom walk along a snowy path in a grassy landscape at sunset, with the sun shining between distant hills.
No Caption
A couple embraces on a grassy hill at sunset, with dramatic orange clouds filling the sky behind them.
No Caption
A bride and groom walk hand in hand down a wet alley at night, surrounded by guests holding sparklers, with brick buildings and shadows visible on both sides.
No Caption
A bride and groom kiss while dancing closely at their wedding reception, surrounded by seated guests in a large, decorated banquet hall.
No Caption
No Caption
A bride and groom stand side by side outdoors on patchy snow and grass, with the bride holding a colorful bouquet. Their faces are not visible.
No Caption
Two people walk on a wooden path through a field with pine trees and misty mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.
No Caption
Silhouettes of two people by a lake at sunset; one skips a stone across the water while the other looks on.
No Caption
Bride and groom walk through a crowd of people holding sparklers at night, with smoke and lights creating a festive atmosphere.
No Caption
A couple stands facing each other near a waterfall at dusk, silhouetted against the water and twilight sky.
No Caption
A bride and groom laugh joyfully while holding each other, surrounded by cheering guests, with mountains and cloudy skies in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand hand in hand facing a calm lake under a cloudy, overcast sky, surrounded by mountains.
No Caption
A couple stands on rocky terrain atop a mountain, with the man leaning in to kiss the woman in a flowing red dress as wind blows her hair. Mountains and sky are in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand in the center of a path at night, surrounded by guests holding lit sparklers as smoke drifts through the air.
No Caption
A couple in formal attire kisses under a wooden pergola at night, surrounded by falling snow illuminated by warm lights.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand facing each other outdoors, holding a bouquet, with autumn trees and cloudy skies in the background.
No Caption
A bride and groom stand together inside a bar decorated with vintage beer signs and brick walls, with a counter and barstools in the background.
No Caption
Bride in a white dress rests her head on the groom’s shoulder during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with seated guests visible in the background.
No Caption
Scroll to Top