Josie & Andy’s Chula Vista Resort Wedding in Wisconsin Dells

There’s something about September light in the Dells that just wraps around everything and makes it glow. Josie and Andy’s Chula Vista Resort wedding had that quality from the very first frame. Tall pines, warm stone, a couple who could not stop laughing. We showed up knowing we’d have good bones to work with, and by the end of the night, this was one of those galleries we couldn’t stop editing because every image felt like it earned its spot.

Getting Ready and First Look

The detail spread that morning was a photographer’s warm-up dream. Brown leather shoes set on green leaves. A floral tie draped across navy fabric. Josie’s gown hanging from a stone wall with pink hydrangeas framing it on both sides. Their ceremony program read “Welcome to the best day of our lives,” and honestly, that energy never wavered for a single hour. We pulled in close on every detail because the textures were too good to shoot from a distance.

Then came the first look, and this one stopped us cold. Andy was standing near the resort’s stone exterior, and Josie walked up behind him. The moment he turned around, his whole face shifted. Quiet. Tender. Completely present. Those are the frames that remind us why we do this work. Not the big sweeping scenes, but the ones where two people forget anyone else exists.

The Wedding Party and Ceremony

Josie’s bridesmaids wore deep emerald green, and Andy’s guys matched in navy suits. That color combination under the angled skylights in the resort’s chapel space gave us rich, moody tones we didn’t have to chase. The group photo outside? Pure, beautiful chaos. Everyone piling in for a big hug with Josie and Andy right in the center. Those are the shots where you fire fast and hope you caught the one where nobody blinked. We got it.

Inside, the ceremony unfolded beneath a hexagonal wooden arch topped with pampas grass, white roses, and dark greenery. Josie and Andy held hands and smiled through their vows like the room was empty. The first kiss drew cheers from every corner. A wooden welcome sign read “The Beauchamps 09.10.2022,” and custom champagne flutes sat on river rock outside, ready for toasts. Every detail had intention behind it, and our job was simply to honor that.

Portraits Among the Pines

After the ceremony, we headed outside and the sky did us a favor. Overcast, soft, even. No harsh shadows, no squinting. Just beautiful wraparound light that let us focus entirely on Josie and Andy instead of fighting the sun. They walked hand in hand along the pine-lined paths near the river, kissed, laughed, and never once seemed aware of the camera. We shot wide to let those towering pines frame them because the scale of this place deserves to be felt.

One of our favorite sets from the whole day was a black-and-white series near a row of evergreens. Josie looked up at Andy mid-laugh, and the joy on both their faces was impossible to stage or replicate. From there we moved back toward the stone walls for a few close-up portraits, the kind where their foreheads touch and the rest of the world drops away. This is the kind of Chula Vista Resort wedding photography that reminds us how many backdrops this venue packs into a short walk. If you’re considering the Dells for your day, know that the portrait variety here is genuinely hard to beat.

Reception Details and Cake Cutting

The reception space at Chula Vista Resort was layered with personal touches that told you exactly who these two are. Wildflower centerpieces in dark bottles on white linens. A signature drinks sign featuring their dogs, Bloom and Rowan. Navy and gold “Mrs” and “Mr” chair signs that added just the right amount of polish. An “In Memory” display honored loved ones who couldn’t be there, and that quiet corner hit harder than anything else we photographed all day.

The Myles Wangerin Band set up near the windows with pines visible behind them and kept the dance floor packed all night. That shift from heartfelt ceremony to full-on party energy is something we live for. Then came the cake: a stunning teal and green marbled design topped with sugar succulents. Josie and Andy cut into it together, grinning the same way they had been since morning. The spark never dimmed.

If you’re looking for a Wisconsin riverside wedding that balances nature with resort comfort, take a look at our wedding photography portfolio to see more of what we do. Days like this one are exactly why we love this work.