Ashley & Beau’s Glamorous Lakeside Osthoff Resort Wedding

Some venues give you one great backdrop. The Osthoff Resort wedding experience gives you about ten. Sandy lakefront, manicured gardens, a reflective pond, grand ballrooms dripping with chandeliers. Ashley and Beau’s day in Elkhart Lake had all of it, plus the kind of relaxed, genuine energy between them that made every single frame feel effortless. Tie-dye getting-ready shirts and a ceremony arch loaded with garden roses? That’s who these two are, and we were here for every bit of it.

Getting Ready at the Resort

Beau got ready in one of The Osthoff’s library suites, and honestly, it was a photographer’s dream. Dark wood shelves, warm lamplight, everything moody and quiet. His tan suit jacket hung next to Ashley’s lace gown. A boutonniere rested on a stack of vintage books nearby. We shot those details with a longer lens to compress the richness of that room, and the images practically styled themselves.

Upstairs, the energy was completely different. Ashley and her bridesmaids were in matching tie-dye shirts, toasting champagne and giving each other a hard time while hair and makeup came together. Then Ashley’s mom walked in for a hug, and the whole room went still for a beat. That warmth carried into every frame. Ashley slipping on her earrings near the bookshelves, stepping into her sandals in that soft glow. None of it was staged, and that’s exactly why it worked.

A Ceremony Framed by Greenery and Candlelight

The grand ballroom at The Osthoff is already striking on its own. Add a gold arch overflowing with roses, eucalyptus, and trailing greenery, then layer in sheer white draping behind it, and you’ve got a ceremony space that stops you in your tracks. At the entrance, a welcome sign read “Ashley + Beau, August 20th, 2022,” and next to it sat a wooden keepsake box engraved with their names and a date ten years out. That small detail said everything about how these two see their future.

Ashley came down the aisle on her father’s arm, absolutely beaming. We pulled in close for the vows because that’s where the real emotion lives, the quiet glances and the deep breaths. After the kiss, Ashley threw her bouquet arm straight into the air, and the two walked back up the aisle while the whole room erupted. Those unscripted bursts of joy? They’re always our favorite moments to photograph.

Wedding Party and Lakeside Portraits

After the ceremony, we headed outside with the full crew. The groomsmen wore black suits with open collars, looking sharp without being stiff. Bridesmaids matched in black dresses and carried lush blush-and-cream bouquets. One of our favorite shots from the day is the entire wedding party crowding in for a kiss photo, everyone laughing and leaning into each other. That kind of energy can’t be directed. You just have to be ready for it.

Then it was just Ashley and Beau. The overcast sky that afternoon was a gift. No harsh shadows, no squinting, just this beautiful even glow that made everything feel soft and romantic without us needing to chase the light. Ashley looked stunning near the resort’s pond, the still water reflecting the clouds behind her. Her bouquet was a gorgeous blend of mauve, blush, and ivory roses with eucalyptus and snowberry.

From there, we walked down to Elkhart Lake itself. Beau sat on an overturned boat at the water’s edge while Ashley leaned into him, her train fanning out across the grass. If you’re considering The Osthoff for your wedding, know this: the variety of portrait locations within a five-minute walk is hard to beat. Garden, pond, dock, beach, resort grounds. You never feel rushed, and your gallery tells a full story.

A Glamorous Ballroom Reception

Walking back into that ballroom for the reception felt like stepping into a completely different space. Rose gold sequin table runners caught every flicker of candlelight. Tall tapers in gold holders lined the head table. Floral centerpieces in blush, cream, and peach sat on glittering linens. An “Open Bar All Evening” sign let guests know exactly what kind of night they were in for. Dark chocolate fan favors were arranged in neat rows. We shot the room wide before guests entered because the scale of it deserved to be captured in full.

Ashley and Beau’s first dance brought everything back down to just the two of them. Ballroom lights dimmed, chandeliers glowing above, guests circling the floor. They held each other close and the room went quiet. That shift from polished, glamorous details to raw, genuine intimacy is something we live for. This Osthoff Resort wedding in Elkhart Lake reminded us why Wisconsin resort venues are in a class of their own. Glamour with heart. Every single time.