Joy and Justin’s wedding at The Fitzgerald in Milwaukee, WI, was the perfect blend of elegance and warmth. On a brisk October day, the couple said “I do” under blue skies, with subtle hints of fall colors and climbing ivy creating a lovely backdrop. Surrounded by their closest family members, they capped off the night with a lively sparkler send-off; it was magical! Scroll on to read their Q&A and to see some of my favorite snapshots from their day.

Can you share the details of your proposal story—who was involved, what happened, where it took place, and when it all unfolded?

We were walking along the Milwaukee Lakefront on one of the last nice weekends in March before the weather was supposed to get cold again in April. I had arranged for a friend to take pictures, but she needed time to set up, so I walked extra slowly. Joy noticed (I'm usually the fast walker between us) but didn't think much of it. When I finally got the text that the friend was ready, we made our way to the area where we rode bikes on our first date. We stopped in front of the water, and, with the sun shining out from behind the clouds, I got on one knee and asked Joy to marry me. ~ Justin

What was your favorite moment from your wedding day?

Our private first look and personal vows! We really appreciated having a second to step away from the chaos and just have a moment to ourselves. Carley captured the moment beautifully while giving us the perfect amount of space where we felt like it was just the two of us together.

Can you share a memorable or funny story from your wedding day?

During one of the photo sessions, Justin was supposed to dip Joy down for a kiss, but Joy was walking on Justin's other side from what we had practiced. Justin does martial arts, so instinct took over, and he "hip-bumped" Joy and lifted her completely off the ground. Fortunately, Justin hung onto Joy. The second time went much smoother.

How did your family and friends contribute to making your wedding day special?

We both come from big families, so it was a blessing to have their support and presence throughout the planning process and at the wedding. In addition, our siblings were in our wedding party and gave speeches, Justin's dad delivered the homily, and Justin's mom made the cakes.

How did Carley contribute to making your wedding day stress-free and enjoyable?

Carley was super professional and detailed throughout the whole planning process, so by the wedding day, we had very little to worry about for photography. Carley had us make a list of all the family photos we wanted, which was super helpful to streamline family photos on the day of wedding.

How did you feel when you first saw your wedding photos?

We felt elated to get our photos (first the sneak preview, then the full album) from Carley! It was like reliving our wedding day. Seeing all the special moments captured from a third perspective made it all the more magical.

How did your wedding photography experience make you feel, and what stood out to you about the process?

From first contacting Carley to the wedding day, Carley made the entire wedding photography process professional and streamlined. We were both drawn to Carley's artistic style and found it to reflect well what we wanted in our wedding photos. Carley always responded promptly to any questions we had and always asked for our input to ensure she knew what we wanted. It was a pleasure to work with Carley, and we could not be happier with the photos we got!

Do you have any shoutouts or thank yous for family, friends, or vendors?

Thank you to both our parents, Jess and Chen, and the rest of our siblings for all their support, planning, and help on the day of the wedding. Thanks also to Carley, for the wonderful pictures, and Tyler, for being an amazing wedding coordinator. We also want to thank God for His provision and His love which enables us to love each other.

Hair: Gina Vallejos
Email: gina@blackorchidbeauty.net
Website: blackorchidbeauty.net

Makeup: Rose
Website: nikavaughanbridalartists.com

Gown Designer/Retailer: Vera’s House of Bridals
Website: verasbridals.com

Florist: Belle Fiori Florist
Email: info@bellefioriflorist.com
Website: bellefioriflorist.com

DJ/Band: Marco (Milwaukee Airwaves)
Email: marco@milwaukeeairwaves.com
Website: milwaukeeairwaves.com

Caterer: Bubbs BBQ
Email: info@bubbs.com
Website: bubbs.com

Invitations: Joy & Justin’s Wedding Website
Website: withjoy.com/joyandjustin/welcome

Planner/Day of Coordinator: Tyler Janes
Email: iamtylerjanes@gmail.com

Joy & Justin’s Wedding at The Fitzgerald in Milwaukee, WI