Emilie & Phil’s Rustic Fall Wedding at The Lageret

Emilie showed up in floral-embroidered sneakers under her wedding dress, and honestly, that told us everything we needed to know about how this day was going to feel. Their autumn celebration at The Lageret Stoughton WI was colorful, personal, and packed with the kind of energy that makes our job easy. From deep burgundy bridesmaid dresses to a golden retriever who stole every portrait, this one had personality in every frame.

Details Worth Lingering On

This detail spread made us slow down. Dark floral invitation suites, crystal earrings nestled in red berries, gold rings on lace, and those incredible sneakers sitting on a vintage chair. Every piece told a little story about Emilie and Phil, so we took our time with all of it. Briarwood Floral created a bouquet that felt like it came straight out of a painting: deep burgundy dahlias, blush roses, peach ranunculus, and clusters of hypericum berries tied with dusty pink ribbon.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the bridal suite, Emilie’s bridesmaids were in matching floral robes, laughing and helping her into her gown. Soft natural light poured in from wide windows, giving us everything we needed. Phil was downstairs with the guys, adjusting his floral tie and buttoning his vest under warm wood beams. That contrast between those two getting-ready spaces is one of our favorite things about shooting here.

Letters, First Looks, and a Very Good Dog

Before the first look, Emilie and Phil found a quiet moment to read letters they’d written for each other. Phil stood outside in the greenery, reading carefully. Emilie sat on a rustic wooden bench inside, unwrapping a gift. We pull in close for moments like these because the expressions are fleeting and real. Once they saw each other, the relief and joy on both their faces was immediate.

After that, we brought in their golden retriever. If you’re wondering whether a dog can steal the show at a wedding, the answer is absolutely yes. That pup sat between them, grinning right at us. It might be one of the best portraits we’ve ever taken at this venue. From there, we moved into wedding party photos against the corrugated metal siding. Industrial texture with cranberry dresses and dark suits? A photographer’s dream.

Vows Under the Beams

Inside the main hall, the ceremony looked incredible. Exposed brick walls rose up to massive wood trusses, and a triangular arch draped with florals framed the couple perfectly. We shot wide to capture the full scope of that architecture, then pulled in tight for the vows. Warmth filled every corner of that room. If you’re considering this venue, picture your ceremony bathed in amber light with 150 years of history on every surface around you.

After the ceremony, we took Emilie and Phil outside for portraits. Emilie threw on a fur stole over her strapless gown, and the combination of textures was stunning. Old brick staircases, overgrown greenery, a red train car in the background, a gas lamp flickering at dusk. Grounds like these are full of surprises, and we used every corner we could find. These two were completely relaxed, and honestly, that is when we do our best work.

String Lights and a Packed Dance Floor

Inside, the reception space had been completely transformed. Chalkboard welcome signs flanked with mini pumpkins, copper-framed table signs with hand-lettered names, and glass globe candles hanging from the beams alongside trailing greenery. String lights crisscrossed overhead, and the whole room glowed. We have a thing for The Lageret Stoughton WI, and evenings like this are exactly why.

Bloom Bake Shop brought an incredible dessert spread that guests kept circling back to all night. Once Celebrations Entertainment got the music going, the dance floor was packed. Bridesmaids in cranberry dresses were spinning. A little girl in a floral dress was throwing her hands up. Emilie and Phil were right in the middle of it, looking at each other like nobody else was in the room. That shift from polished ceremony to late-night party energy is something we live for.