Matt and Kelly get married- Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

About 3 days a week I arrive at a coffee shop before dawn. The cafe is always empty when I get there, aside from Matt, who has already started brewing coffee and making the scones for the day. Nearly every Tuesday for the last 3 years we’ve worked the morning shift together. In the week leading up to his wedding, we opened the shop together three days in a row. It was so great to share in the excitement and anticipation of their big day together for the days leading up. We always capture our weddings from a friends' perspective, but this time we were a friend that has been waiting years for these two to get married. I don't think they could have planned a more beautiful day.

Matt and Kelly got married at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Brown Deer, Wisconsin. The Schlitz has 185 acres of land to enjoy, some of it being along Lake Michigan. We were able to explore the grounds for a couple hours before the ceremony, and hang out on the beach together. We took pictures, hiked the tower, joked and chatted, and the day flew by. Part of what's special about getting married at the Audubon Center is couples have the option of having bird of prey out for their guests to see up close. Matt and Kelly enthusiastically agreed they wanted to have the birds, so they were out during cocktail hour. As you'll see, there were a variety of birds there with their handlers; a bald eagle, great horned owl, saw-whet owl, red tailed hawk, and barred owl. Once in a while the birds would get a little nervous and try to take off, which made for some pretty fun moments and pictures.The day went off without a hitch, and we were quite honored to be able to capture such a beautiful event for our friends. Matt and Kelly, thank you for sharing your day with us, it was beautiful.