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If you’re planning a wedding in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, there are so many decisions to make before the actual day gets here.

Where should we get married? Where should we take photos? What time should the ceremony start? Do we really need sunset photos? What happens if it rains?

After photographing weddings throughout Eau Claire and Western Wisconsin for years, I’ve learned that the best wedding days usually aren’t the ones where every little thing goes perfectly.

They’re the ones where couples have enough of a plan that when the wedding day finally gets here, they can actually enjoy it.

So if you’re getting married in Eau Claire, here are a few things I think are actually worth thinking about.

Choose an Eau Claire Wedding Venue That Fits Your Day

There are so many different wedding venues around Eau Claire, and they definitely don’t all feel the same.

Eau Claire Event District gives you a completely different wedding day than Dixon’s Apple Orchard. Lilydale feels different from Lake Wissota Golf & Events. And venues like Cady Acres and Oehme Oasis each have their own feel too.

I don’t think there is one “best” wedding venue.

I think there is a best one for you.

Think about how you actually want the day to feel. Do you want everyone together in one place all day? Do you love being outside? Is having a great dance floor important to you? Do you want somewhere with lots of options for photos without having to leave?

Those things matter way more than choosing a venue because it looked pretty on Instagram.

Check out my Wedding Venues in Eau Claire post too!

Leave Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need

One thing I wish every couple knew is that a good wedding timeline isn’t about cramming as many photos as possible into the day.

It’s actually the opposite.

I want enough time that you aren’t spending your wedding day looking at the clock.

Things run late. Buttons take longer than expected. Someone disappears right before family photos. Your grandma needs a few extra minutes getting to the ceremony.

That’s normal.

A little breathing room in your timeline means those things don’t suddenly turn into a crisis.

It also gives us room for the moments you couldn’t possibly put on a timeline.

Those are usually some of my favorites.

Think About Where You Want Your Photos

You absolutely do not need to spend your wedding day driving all over Eau Claire for photos.

If your venue has great light and plenty of variety, we can often do almost everything right there.

But if you want a different look, Eau Claire has plenty of options.

Downtown Eau Claire can give us buildings, city streets and a completely different feel from a country venue. Phoenix Park gives us river views and greenery while still being right downtown. There are also plenty of quieter natural areas throughout Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley.

And honestly, sometimes the best location is simply the one that means something to you.

Make Time for Sunset, Even If It’s Only Ten Minutes

You already know I’m going to say this one.

I love sunset.

Not because I think you need another hour-long portrait session in the middle of your reception.

You don’t.

Usually I just want to sneak you away for ten or fifteen minutes.

By that point, the nerves are gone. You’re married. Dinner is over. Everyone is having fun.

You get a few minutes alone together, and I get some of my favorite light of the entire day.

Then I send you right back to your party.

Check out my sunset blog post here! Why I love Golden Hour

Have a Rain Plan, Then Stop Worrying About the Weather

Wisconsin weather is going to do whatever Wisconsin weather wants to do.

I’ve photographed wedding days with rain, wind, heat, cold and weather forecasts that seemed to change every fifteen minutes.

Have a backup plan with your venue, especially if you’re planning an outdoor ceremony.

After that, let it go.

Rain does not ruin wedding photos.

Clouds do not ruin wedding photos.

And your wedding definitely isn’t ruined because the forecast didn’t cooperate.

Some of my favorite wedding days have had absolutely ridiculous weather.

You Don’t Have to Be Good at Photos

I hear this ALL the time.

“We’re awkward.”

“We have no idea what we’re doing.”

“We’ve never had professional pictures taken.”

Perfect.

You don’t need to show up knowing what to do.

I’ll give you direction when you need it, fix the little things you don’t notice, and then give you room to actually be together.

I want the photos where you’re both looking at the camera.

But I also want the laughing, the hugs, the tears, your mom fixing something on your dress, your friends losing it on the dance floor and all the little things happening around you.

Those are the photos that eventually become the really important ones.

Plan the Photos That Matter, Then Let the Rest Happen

Family photos matter.

Wedding party photos matter.

Photos of the two of you matter.

We’ll plan for those.

But I don’t want your entire wedding day to feel like one giant photoshoot.

You should get to drink the cocktail. Hug the people who came to celebrate you. Eat the food you spent months choosing. Dance with your friends. Sit down for five minutes and realize that you’re actually married.

My job is to photograph all of that without making you feel like you spent your entire wedding day taking pictures.

Looking for an Eau Claire Wedding Photographer?

If you’re planning a wedding in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Altoona, Menomonie, or anywhere throughout Western Wisconsin, I would love to hear what you’re planning.

My photography is joyful, authentic and true to color, with a mix of genuine moments and enough direction that you never have to wonder what you’re supposed to be doing.

More than anything, I want you to end up with photographs that actually feel like your wedding day.

The laughter. The people. The chaos. The quiet moments. And all the little pieces you didn’t even realize were happening.

Because those are the things you’re going to want to remember.