Annaliese & Konner’s Rich Autumn Celebration at The Eloise

Deep burgundy, navy, and gold. Protea blooms and pampas grass. Annaliese and Konner leaned all the way into fall’s richest tones, and as their The Eloise wedding photographer, we couldn’t have asked for a more stunning palette to work with. Their day split between two venues, started with an emotional first look inside The Eloise Wedding Barn, moved outdoors for a ceremony framed by autumn color, and wrapped up at Vintage Brewing Company in Sauk Prairie with twinkling lights and a lantern release that still gives us chills.

The Details and the First Look

Annaliese’s off-the-shoulder gown hung against The Eloise’s stone walls, and that contrast between soft white fabric and rugged texture is something we always love shooting. The groom’s details matched the energy perfectly: oxblood shoes, a deep red tie, and a boutonniere loaded with moody greenery. Every piece felt intentional. Nothing was an afterthought.

Then came the first look. The Eloise has this expansive main hall with polished floors and warm overhead lanterns, and when Annaliese walked up behind Konner, the room went still. His reaction was everything. We shot the full sequence from approach to embrace, and the backlight streaming through those tall windows gave us exactly the kind of soft, cinematic frames we love. If you’re considering The Eloise for your own wedding, know that this space delivers for first looks in a way few venues can.

An Outdoor Ceremony in Peak Fall Color

The ceremony happened outdoors, and the timing was perfect. Annaliese and Konner stood beneath a circular floral arch overflowing with deep reds, dark berries, and pampas grass. Behind them, the hillside was on fire with gold and amber leaves under a sharp blue sky. Honestly, you can’t stage that kind of backdrop. It just has to happen, and it did.

During the vows, we pulled in tight on the bride reading from her book and on the clasped hands between them. Those close-up moments carry so much weight in a gallery. From there, the kiss under that floral arch with autumn trees framing the background became one of our favorite ceremony shots of the entire season. This is the kind of rich color palette wedding that reminds us why fall in Wisconsin is unmatched.

Golden Hour Portraits Worth Lingering On

After the ceremony, we headed straight into the fields surrounding The Eloise with the wedding party. The groomsmen in navy suits and the bridesmaids in burgundy dresses caught the late sun beautifully. One of our favorite frames is the full group mid-laugh with golden backlight pouring over their shoulders. That warmth carried into every portrait we took.

For Annaliese and Konner’s couple portraits, we used the old stone ruins on the property. Weathered doors, moss-covered walls, and wildflowers everywhere. The textures in those backgrounds made every frame feel like a painting. As the sun dropped lower, the sky turned pink and orange behind those crumbling stone walls, and we stayed out until we lost the light completely. Being their The Eloise wedding photographer means having access to backdrops like these, and that golden hour session is one we’ll be referencing for a long time.

A Brewery Reception Full of Personal Touches

The reception at Vintage Brewing Company in Sauk Prairie was a completely different vibe, and that shift is something we live for. Warm string lights hung over long tables set with gold chargers and burgundy napkins. The head table had a lush greenery garland and a sheer curtain backdrop dripping with fairy lights. Vinyl records served as the guest book. Family photos lined a memory table. Every detail told a story about who Annaliese and Konner are.

Felix and Fingers had the crowd on their feet all night. Konner swept Annaliese up during their first dance under exposed timber beams and purple uplighting, and the room erupted. Later, the two of them stepped outside to release a paper lantern with a handwritten message. Quiet, personal, just the two of them and the night sky. That moment, captured on a dark balcony with only the glow of the lantern between them, is the kind of ending that stays with you. Covering both the ceremony and this reception gave us a full, layered story to tell.