A summer wedding.
A story worth keeping.
Katie Piatt and Tobias Wernet married at Legacy Hill Farm in Welch, Minnesota, on July 7, 2018. Their day moved from letters and first looks in the barn to an outdoor ceremony overlooking the green fields, then back inside to celebrate.
There was a piano detour in robes, a tree planted during their vows, and a cornhole photograph that cost me a few beanbags. One last portrait outside the barn would eventually become the cover of my book.
A Minnesota beginning.
A Minnesota license plate and their save-the-date card: a fitting place to begin Katie and Tobias’s story. Their wedding would bring everyone to Legacy Hill Farm in Welch, Minnesota.
Before the dress.
Katie read the letter Tobias had sent her that morning, with her bridesmaids gathered around. These quiet minutes are part of the wedding day, too.
A detour to the piano.
The girls wandered out to the ceremony area in their robes and started playing at the piano. I followed them outside. Sometimes the best thing to do is simply go where the fun is.
Through the glass.
Meanwhile, Tobias was getting ready. I used the glass to give this photograph a little atmosphere while keeping the attention on him.
Ready in the mirror.
A mirror gives me another way to photograph the preparations. Here, Tobias checks his suit before heading outside.
The day is beginning.
Tobias slipped on his jacket and came outside for photographs. I liked the light in the doorway and the simplicity of this moment.
Watch their faces.
This is one of my favorite images of the day. I stood beside the door where Katie would come out, with her bridesmaids waiting at the other end of the room. I wanted their expressions the instant they saw her. Look closely and you can spot my reflection in the mirror.
The first first look.
Before she saw Tobias, Katie had a first look with her dad. There is something wonderful about giving that moment its own space in the day.
Together at last.
Then it was Tobias’s turn. The barn gave them a quiet place to see each other before the ceremony.
Let the moment unfold.
Once they are together, I like to let the first look unfold. A little time and space gives them room to be themselves.
And a little spin.
Tobias gave Katie a spin. I kept the framing consistent through these three photographs so their first look can read as a small sequence.
Beside the bicycle.
I loved the composition of this little scene: a mom painting the flower girl’s nails, the bicycle beside them, and all that green around them. A small moment with a lot to look at.
A place for a portrait.
The farm’s little bar made a great setting for a portrait of Tobias. I am always looking for spaces that feel connected to the place where the couple chose to marry.
A different point of focus.
We were making portraits outside by the fence when I ran inside for this view. I wanted the table details sharp and the couple soft in the background, keeping them in the photograph while showing another part of their day.
Something worth watching.
The ring bearers and flower girl found the goats. I spotted them leaning over the pen and made this photograph before they moved on to their next adventure.
Here comes the bride.
Katie made her way down the aisle with her dad. The white pews, flowers, and green fields made a beautiful setting for their entrance.
A wedding in the green.
I stepped back to show the whole ceremony setting. The pews outside, the trees, and the summer fields all belonged in the story.
Looking down the aisle.
The freestanding doors gave me a frame looking straight down the aisle. I like photographs that help the couple remember how it felt to arrive at their ceremony.
The day in their hands.
A program in a guest’s hands is a simple way to keep the printed details connected to the people who were there.
Something to grow.
Katie and Tobias planted a tree as part of their vows. A living reminder of the day, and something they could nurture together.
Back down the aisle.
Married, smiling, and walking back through their family and friends. I love the change in energy once the ceremony is over.
Along the old windows.
The old windows and white siding gave us a lovely place for another portrait of Tobias. I kept the lines and light simple.
A little softness around them.
Then Katie joined him. I used the windows and soft foreground to keep the attention on the two of them.
Everybody, a little closer.
We made the formal family portraits, and then I asked everyone to hug. Those extra frames often become the images couples choose for their albums.
Let the formal turn fun.
The same invitation with another family group: get close and give each other a hug. It is a small direction that makes room for a lot of personality.
One big group hug.
I brought the wedding party together at the top of the hill and asked them to hug, too. I loved this one in black and white, with the group against that open sky.
Keep walking.
Next, everyone held hands and walked together. It reminded me a little of a scene from Ferris Bueller. A simple idea, and a photograph full of movement.
Their names, their day.
Their invitation brings us back to the details: Kathryn Piatt and Tobias Wernet, July 7, 2018, at Legacy Hill Farm in Welch. I photographed it against the bicycle wheel to keep the setting part of the image.
A little piece of the weekend.
The other side of the invitation carried the wedding weekend details and a drawing of the barn. Together, the two sides preserve another piece of what they created for their guests.
Ready for the celebration.
I photographed the reception room before the guests came in. The tables were set and the barn was ready for the evening.
Something sweet by the window.
The cake and desserts were set beside the window, with flowers above them. I wanted a view that showed the whole display.
Their name on top.
A closer look at the cake topper, with their married name in gold.
Worth a few beanbags.
For this photograph, I knelt behind the cornhole board. I took a few beanbags getting the shot, but I loved where the bag landed in the frame and the animated boys out of focus behind it.
Back for another round.
Then one of the boys came to retrieve the bags. Staying low gave me another fun view of the game.
Make an entrance.
Katie and Tobias came into the room with their arms in the air. Time to celebrate with everyone.
Raise a glass.
I moved behind Katie and Tobias during the toast. From there, I could keep their raised glasses and the celebration together in the same frame.
A little help with the knife.
Katie and Tobias cutting the cake, with plenty of laughter. I like how their expressions carry this photograph.
A wedding image with another chapter.
I wanted one more photograph of Katie and Tobias outside the barn. This image went on to become the cover of my book, The Secrets of Spectacular Wedding Photography. I wrote it for couples, with about 70 tips on photography, timelines, and things to consider before, during, and after the wedding, whoever their photographer may be.
The moments between.
The bridesmaids seeing Katie, the children at the goat pen, the family hugs, and a beanbag in midair. Alongside the portraits and the ceremony, these are the moments that bring the day back.
I am glad this story ends with the two of them outside the barn. It is a photograph I have carried into another part of my work, and a reminder of a very happy Minnesota wedding day.