Mr. + Mrs. Bauer at Trinity Tree Farm
Trinity Tree Farm tends to top most photographers’ lists as a dream venue. When I first started weddings, it was a bucket list venue for us and this year we finally got to fulfill that dream with an amazing couple’s wedding!
Kiersten + Phillip chose the Lodge at Trinity Tree Farm for their wedding and it made a breathtaking view as we drove up to the venue. The tree farm is placed at the top of a hill, so there are sprawling views on the right as you drive up, and the lodge looks grand on the left with the trees in the front.
Kiersten’s design aesthetics really brought some extra magic to this beautiful venue and she put thought into every detail. Each one of her reception table centerpieces was handmade by her to include all of their favorite fandoms, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Madalorian, and my favorite: The Hobbit. She designed a terrarium with Bilbo Baggin’s front door inside it for that table! The venue was decorated in various shades of purple, and Kiersten even thought about Grandpa’s walker! She ordered special wheels and plates in purple so Grandpa could comfortably perform Ring Security duties during the ceremony. All these sweet touches made the day just a bit more magical.
Speaking of magical, Jake was thrilled they remembered him that day. When we arrived, Phillip was so excited we were there and immediately pulled Jake into the grooms getting ready area. He wanted to give Jake a present for the day, and gifted him with several bottles of rootbeer. Jake had chatted with Phillip at their engagement about how much he loves rootbeer after having chosen sobriety over 10 years ago. Phillip remembered this detail, and later during the night Jake and I joined the toasts with two of the bottles.
Kiersten decided on two first looks: first with her dad and then with Phillip. It gave her dad the opportunity to walk her to the first moment she would see her husband on their wedding day. Being the eldest of three girls and the first to marry, this was an extremely special moment for both of them. Kiersten’s dad met her at the bottom of the lodge’s grand staircase, and then walked her up the hill to the first look with Phillip.
“You look amazing”
Phillip during their first look
I loved seeing these two together during their first look. Phillip was enthralled with Kiersten, and she was so excited to show him all the details of her dress (it has POCKETS!). As we headed off to their couple’s portraits, the one request was a photo with a tree. (Side note: I really hope they can go back and get that tree as their first Christmas tree. That would be AMAZING!). Otherwise, these two were game for anything I asked. Including standing on this giant log at the “edge” of the hillside (Jake was hidden behind the couple to make sure they were stable. We’re all about safety here).
The rest of the day was a complete whirlwind. Their ceremony was sweet and their bubble girls were adorable. The party was just beginning though when Phillip was presented with a contract from Kiersten’s two younger sisters. This thing had to be two feet long, but they stuck with the theme and put the whole thing on a scroll. It turns out, they’d done this before when Kiersten and Phillip started dating. The sisters were upset that they didn’t see their sister as often as they’d used to see her, so they made some rules that Phillip had to follow if he was going to continue dating Kiersten. While hilarious, none of the rules they put out at the reception were too much for Phillip and he willingly signed their contract with the purple feather pen they provided him.
The entire day went by so fast, and getting to see everyone celebrate with these two was a joy. Everyone was so wonderfully kind and I loved getting to spend the day with Kiersten and Phillip. These two are going to have many magical adventures together and we cannot wait to live vicariously through them.
