Jen & McKinley

““We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.””

— Robert Fulghum

Jen’s mother, Sharon used these words to describe the relationship her daughter, Jen, shares with her now husband McKinley.

Jen & McKinley, both self proclaimed as anti-PDA, envisioned their wedding to be anything but traditional. They shared their lovely vows in front of the fireplace surrounded by their closest friends and family in the John Catlin Room at the Masonic Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Their words expressing their unique relationship, which began as a great friendship and eventually turned into a union that “just worked” had even the staff members in tears.

Their reception, featuring hand-made book page flower centerpieces, a Greenbush Bakery donut bar, and a screen with a live Instagram feed, was full of laughter and tears as their family members gave beautiful yet hilarious speeches. McKinley’s brother, Truman, who just so happened to be celebrating his 27th birthday on this particular day, had placed party hats under each and every chair and during his toast, invited everyone to wear them and sing him happy birthday. Jen’s sister, Lori, who had planned on quoting Shakespeare, ditched her speech and ended up quoting Ray Charles.

The couple also informed their guests that rather than the customary wine-clinking tradition, they wanted anyone who clinked their glass to demonstrate exactly how they should kiss. This inevitably had guests performing some pretty amusing, creative and even straight up dangerous acts that had the entire room in hysterics.

After the couple shared their first dance to “Hard to Concentrate” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Saturns 8, the unique DJ service that allows their guests to “dig the vinyl vault,” kicked off the party with some great dancing tunes.

Jen & McKinley, thank you for inviting us to capture your special day. We wish you a lifetime of happiness and mutually satisfying weirdness.