A grandmother at a wedding once told me that it’s good luck for it to rain on your wedding day. I’d never heard that before, but it was a nice idea — especially since it was pouring rain at the time. It seems like it’s even better luck to get what Meredith and Jeremy got Saturday: Where it looks like it’s going to rain most of the day, and it even sprinkles a bit, but the weather holds and you get a beautiful day to start your lives together.

Meredith and Jeremy were married at St. Luke’s Church in Plain, Wisconsin. It was the second time I had the privilege to photograph a wedding there, and it’s simply one of the most stunning churches I’ve ever visited in Wisconsin. The wedding party also had five Corvettes lined up to drive off in — the white one for the bride and groom — which didn’t hurt.

Meredith’s dad was a little choked up thinking about giving away his only daughter. It was very sweet.

So was Jeremy’s mom, as she brought the rings out to the gentlemen.

One of Meredith’s mom’s friends noted afterward that Jeremy was one of the happiest grooms she’d ever seen. I have to agree.

The priest asked the guests to join hands across the aisle, which made this lovely mass of people supporting them.

Congratulations, Meredith and Jeremy, on a gorgeous wedding and the start of your lives together!

Lacy and Jeremy were married Saturday at St. Paul’s church in Baraboo with a huge supporting cast (14 bridesmaids and groomsmen!) there for encouragement beforehand and to have a lot of fun afterward.

For a big wedding, it was extremely well organized and everyone was so relaxed. They even impressed the church lady in charge, which is never easy.

I love this expression!

The ladies’ prep room was a dance room in the church basement. All of the colors and mirrors and cartwheeling silhouettes made it look kind of chaotic, but Lacy and her bridesmaids (including her four sisters) were so mellow.

Upstairs the guys gave Jeremy some encouragement.

The sanctuary was lovely, and the bridesmaids dresses — all red, each a different design — looked stunning all lined up.

Married Pastors Steve and Deb Ohrtman conducted the ceremony and did a beautiful job. I love the idea of one couple ushering another into marriage.

I think I missed whatever was so funny, but I love all their smiling faces in a row…

We found this ivy-covered wall by one of the taverns we stopped at on the way to the reception at the Kalahari Resort. This photo turned out so sweet and relaxed.

I love this image just for her hand. I think this is the most graceful bouquet toss I’ve ever seen. Take note, ladies!

The bride and her new mother-in-law getting down with the Electric Slide. Guests at summer weddings wear such cute and colorful dresses.

The groom’s dad dancing with his own lovely bride.

Congratulations, Lacy and Jeremy, on your marriage and on joining your two wonderfully loving families. Have a fabulous time on your Mediterranean cruise!

Technical difficulties prevented me from posting about last weekend’s wedding of Jessica and Sam, so to make up for the delay, this is going to be long. However, it was a gorgeous wedding with so many charming, homespun details that it won’t be hard to pick a lot of images to share.

Jessica and Sam were married at the tiny Methodist church in Ironton, and their reception was held at Jessica’s parents’ beautifully refurbished barn a few miles from town. I headed out there first to get some details shots before the guests arrived, so I’ll start with those…

The seating assignments were hung on a clothesline…

…and each table’s theme was a kind of cheese. The head table fittingly got fresh curd.

The bridesmaids’ bouquets, in mason jars. Isn’t that sweet? Jessica had beautifully planned everything, but it all came off very relaxed.

The lovely Jessica getting ready.

Her dress was, in a word, spectacular, especially the tiered pleats down the back.

I love this image, showing her circle of friends (and sister) surrounding and supporting her.

When Sam proposed to Jessica, he didn’t have a ring yet, so he made one from a blade of grass. She kept it in a little jewelery box, and delicately put it on beneath her engagement ring to wear during the wedding.

Jessica’s mom arrived, and though she had been holding it together up until then, Jessica started tearing up. They’re obviously very close.

Sister and maid of honor Nicole was there to fan away the tears.

The church was very quaint and packed with friends and family.

I love the way Sam is looking at her here. You get the sense he knows how lucky he is.

They rode from the ceremony in Jessica’s grandma’s car, which was so awesomely vintage. The dice were a nice touch.

We sneaked off to get a few shots along a road not far from the farm. This is just about straight from the camera; the afternoon was absolutely perfect.

Good friends getting their own photos of the couple when they arrived at the farm for the reception.

When Jessica told me the reception would be in a barn, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But it was gorgeous. Sam and some of the men hung huge white paper lanterns and strings of white lights from the rafters, and the warm late-day sun streamed in through the doors and windows. It was really lovely.

In fact, I now recommend that everyone have their first dance in a barn, in front of a large open door facing west just before dusk. Because this was the best first-dance lighting I’ve ever experienced. It didn’t hurt, either, that the bride herself was glowing…

Congratulations, Jessica and Sam, and thank you so much for welcoming me to spend the day with your friends and family in such a beautiful setting. I hope you’re enjoying your honeymoon in Costa Rica!