Madden's on Gull Lake wedding — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN

Documentary & Editorial Wedding Photography

Madden's on Gull Lake Wedding Photographer

The Pavilion's wood ceiling, Wilson Bay's fireplaces and Gull Lake just outside. Documentary coverage of your celebration, with clear direction for editorial portraits on the peninsula.

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The Work

My Madden's on Gull Lake Portfolio

Wedding photographs from the shoreline, resort grounds and receptions at Madden's.

Couple silhouette on the dock at sunset — pine trees framing Gull Lake — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNBride and bridesmaids laughing on the wooden bridge — blush dresses and burgundy bouquets — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple dip kiss on the covered deck — lake and flowers in the background — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNAerial view of the event venue at dusk — lit bridge over the pond and fountain — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple laughing on the dock — spring wedding at Madden's on Gull Lake — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNBride and groom popping champagne against a blue sky — veil blowing in the wind — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple kissing on the bridge in peak fall color — orange and red trees reflecting in the pond — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNFull wedding party at the Golf Club at Madden's — timber-frame clubhouse entrance — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple sitting in the oversized Madden's chair — pine trees and resort sign — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple standing by the red and white seaplane on the dock — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple with vintage black convertible in front of the white resort lodge — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple's first dance on the lakeside lawn — dress flowing on the green grass — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple silhouette on the dock at sunset — orange sky through tree branches over Gull Lake — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple on the bridge at dusk with the event venue glowing behind them — white bouquet — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple sitting on stone steps in the garden — intimate moment between portraits — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNBride in the lodge getting ready — cathedral veil and warm wood interior — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNBride smiling with groom nuzzled close — white peony bouquet with greenery — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple walking on the beach at golden hour — lace sleeves and navy suit — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNBride walking down wooden stairs through the pines with her father — dappled sunlight — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MNCouple walking on the beach at Gull Lake — holding hands at golden hour — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
From the Journal

Real Madden's on Gull Lake Weddings

Emily & Brad — Lily Pads, a Pontoon, and the Last Light on Gull Lake — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
Madden's on Gull Lake · Summer

Emily & Brad — Lily Pads, a Pontoon, and the Last Light on Gull Lake

A garden-rose bouquet, a first look on the veranda, a pontoon ride between portraits, and a reception that ended with a chair lift and a dance floor that refused to quit — Madden's on Gull Lake.

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Madden's on Gull Lake Summer Wedding | Emily & Nick — Brainerd Lakes Photographer — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
Madden's on Gull Lake · Summer

Madden's on Gull Lake Summer Wedding | Emily & Nick — Brainerd Lakes Photographer

High summer at Madden's — a sand-ceremony kiss on the lawn, a veil caught in the sunset wind over Gull Lake, and a sparkler tunnel at the end of the night.

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Madden's on Gull Lake Summer Wedding | Melissa & Kody — Brainerd Lakes Photographer — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
Madden's on Gull Lake · Summer

Madden's on Gull Lake Summer Wedding | Melissa & Kody — Brainerd Lakes Photographer

A June Saturday at Madden's — a quiet cabin moment with her father, a champagne pop on the lawn, coral bridesmaids, a recessional dip-kiss, and a kiss on a dock between two boats on Gull Lake.

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Madden's on Gull Lake Wedding | Emily & Matthew — Brainerd MN — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
Madden's on Gull Lake · Spring

Madden's on Gull Lake Wedding | Emily & Matthew — Brainerd MN

A quiet mid-May day at Madden's — monogrammed jackets, a birch-lined first look, a timber-beamed ceremony, and a silhouette on the Gull Lake shore as night fell.

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Madison & Josh — An Open-Air Pavilion Ceremony and Fall Color at Madden's — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
Madden's on Gull Lake · Autumn

Madison & Josh — An Open-Air Pavilion Ceremony and Fall Color at Madden's

An autumn Madden's on Gull Lake wedding — flannel-and-burgundy bridesmaids, ring bearers with bubble guns, an open-air Pavilion ceremony, and footbridge portraits in the turning leaves.

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Hannah & David — A Pavilion Ceremony and a Gull Lake Sunset at Madden's — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
Madden's on Gull Lake · Autumn

Hannah & David — A Pavilion Ceremony and a Gull Lake Sunset at Madden's

An early-September Madden's on Gull Lake wedding — peach robes and mimosas, a first look down the dock, a chandelier-lit Pavilion ceremony, and a sunset silhouette over Gull Lake.

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The Venue

A Wedding on the Gull Lake Peninsula

The Pavilion brings a stained-wood ceiling and a stone fireplace to the Gull Lake shoreline. Wilson Bay has antler chandeliers, fireplaces and a beach nearby. Each gives the wedding a different setting, with indoor details and lake views close together.

Rooms and cabins make a weekend stay possible for guests who book them. We can plan photography around the parts of the celebration you want covered, from a rehearsal dinner to the wedding itself. I keep the portrait route practical so time by the water fits alongside time with your guests.

Still comparing properties? I also cover Cragun's Resort across Gull Lake and Grand View Lodge up in Nisswa — three Gull Lake resorts, three very different weekends.

Couple laughing together after first look at Madden's on Gull Lake — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
The Photographer

Time with Your People. Photographs by the Lake.

I'm Tim Larsen, a documentary and editorial wedding photographer based in the Brainerd Lakes. I've photographed Madden's weddings in the spaces and seasons shown in the galleries here. I plan for the changes between a bright shoreline, a covered ceremony and an evening reception so your photographs feel consistent throughout the day.

During preparations, the ceremony and the reception, I pay attention to what is happening around you. The conversations between events and the reactions during the vows belong in the gallery alongside the larger moments.

For portraits, I give clear direction so you know where to go and what to do, even if being photographed feels unfamiliar. We choose a few locations that fit your plans and the light, then leave time for you to get back to the celebration.

Sparkler send-off at Madden's on Gull Lake — couple running through sparklers — Tim Larsen Photography, Brainerd Lakes MN
The Spaces

The Pavilion, Wilson Bay and the Shoreline

Your booked spaces set the route for the day. We choose portrait locations close to your ceremony and reception, and confirm any additional access with the resort. That leaves room for a change of setting without turning the afternoon into a tour of the property.

The Pavilion

Open-air ceremony & reception · Gull Lake shoreline

A stained-wood ceiling, a 17-foot stone fireplace and lake views give the Pavilion its character. The roof provides cover while the open sides connect the room to the shoreline. I work with the light as it changes through the ceremony and reception.

Wilson Bay

Indoor ceremony & reception · Beach nearby

Stone fireplaces, antler chandeliers and a covered deck give Wilson Bay a different feel from the Pavilion. The lake is close enough to work a short outdoor portrait session into the schedule. Confirm the room layout and guest limit with the resort.

Wilson Bay Beach

Outdoor ceremony · Gull Lake

Sand, pines and Gull Lake form the setting for a beach ceremony. We plan portraits around the ceremony setup, weather and the areas available to your wedding.

The Veranda

Outdoor cocktail hour · Pavilion terrace

The terrace keeps cocktail hour close to the Pavilion. It gives me space to photograph conversations and small groups while guests move between the reception and the lake views.

The Classic at Madden's

Timber-frame clubhouse · Portrait option

The clubhouse offers a timber backdrop distinct from the lakeside spaces. If you want portraits here, we will confirm access with the resort and include the trip in the photography timeline.

Accommodations

Rooms · Cabins · Weekend stays

Resort rooms and cabins make it possible to bring the celebration together over several days. Your room block and the resort’s availability determine who can stay on property and for how long.

The Light

Planning Portraits Around the Lake Light

At the Pavilion, I balance the light coming through the open sides with the wood interior. Out by the lake, the sky and water give us a different background. The choice depends on the time of day, the weather and where your guests are gathering.

If evening portraits matter to you, we leave a short window near sunset and adjust it to your date. Summer and autumn schedules need different timing. We also keep an alternative in mind so you can have portraits you like when the weather changes.

From Past Couples

What They Said Afterwards

We can't rave enough about our experience with Tim as our wedding photographer. Not only was he amazingly talented, but he was also hilarious and incredibly skilled at wrangling our huge wedding party. He got us our photos back so quickly.

Amy A.· Google Review

Not only did the photos turn out amazing — I adore his aesthetic — but he is so friendly and so easy to work with. Our wedding party and family loved him. He had our photos edited and ready to view three days after the wedding.

Stephanie B.· Google Review

52 five-star Google reviews →

The Plan

How It Works — From the First Conversation to the Gallery That Takes You Back to the Peninsula

01

Tell Me What You've Been Picturing

Reach out with your date and ceremony space — the Pavilion, Wilson Bay, the beach. Tell me what matters most. I'll share what I know about this peninsula and we'll build a timeline that puts you in the right place when the light is at its best.

02

Your Wedding Day — Be There, All the Way

I manage the photography and portrait timing while working with your venue team or coordinator. You have clear direction when you need it and room to spend the rest of the day with your guests.

03

The Gallery Arrives — and It All Comes Back

Within 2 weeks, your edited gallery brings together the events we covered: the people, the setting, the portraits and the moments between them. You receive full-resolution files in a private online gallery.

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Sample Timeline

A Summer Wedding at the Pavilion

A 12-hour example, from 10 AM to 10 PM, with the Pavilion and Veranda booked for your event. We adapt the locations and evening portrait window to your date, weather and resort arrangements.

10:00 AM

Getting Ready

Coverage begins with preparations and the people spending the morning with you. We allow time for details, getting dressed and candid photographs before portraits.

11:30 AM

Portraits with Your People

Individual portraits and small groups near the getting-ready rooms. I give clear direction and keep the groups moving without rushing anyone.

1:30 PM

First Look

If a first look fits your plans, we choose a quiet location and leave time for the two of you together before the wedding party joins us.

2:00 PM

Wedding Party & Family Portraits

We work through your agreed group list in one or two nearby locations, with time to return before guests arrive.

4:30 PM

Ceremony — The Pavilion

The ceremony takes place beneath the Pavilion’s wood ceiling. I photograph the setting, the vows and the reactions throughout the space.

5:30 PM

Cocktail Hour — The Veranda

Guests gather on the terrace while we finish any remaining family photographs. This example assumes the Pavilion and terrace are included in your booking.

6:30 PM

Couple Portraits — By the Lake

A short portrait session in an accessible lakeside location. I guide you through a few frames, then leave space for you to settle into them.

7:00 PM

Dinner & Toasts

Dinner and toasts in the Pavilion. I photograph the speakers, the reactions around the room and the details of your reception.

8:30 PM

Evening Portraits

For this summer example, we leave an optional short window for evening light. We adjust it to the actual sunset, weather and available shoreline access on your date.

9:30 PM

Dance Floor

Coverage continues through the dancing and the people gathered around it. If a send-off is part of your plans, we arrange its timing and location with the resort.

10:00 PM

Photography Complete

This example includes twelve hours of photography. Your edited gallery will be ready within 2 weeks.

Why It Matters

You Only Get One Madden's Wedding. The Photographs Are How You Keep It.

The lake and the room are part of what you chose. So are the people who come to celebrate with you. I photograph both, from a wider view of the setting to the small exchanges happening at the tables.

Your gallery should make room for the day as it happened and for portraits you want to print. That is why I work with both documentary coverage and directed editorial photography.

Compare Venues

Still comparing wedding venues across the Brainerd Lakes? See all 10 venues side-by-side — capacity, season, photography style, and who each is right for — in the complete Brainerd Lakes wedding venues guide.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Reach out once you have a date or a shortlist of dates from the resort. I can check my availability before you finalize the photography plan. If your wedding is closer, it is still worth asking about openings.

A second photographer is useful when preparations happen in separate rooms or you want simultaneous ceremony angles and guest coverage. Collection One and the Wedding Weekend include two photographers. We will review your locations and schedule when choosing coverage.

Documentary photography follows what happens during the day: preparations, vows, conversations and dancing. Editorial photography uses clear direction to build portraits with light and composition. At Madden’s, I combine both, giving you natural coverage of the celebration and time for portraits by the lake.

You do not need to know what to do before we start. I give simple direction, show you where to stand and let you move into the photograph at your own pace. We keep the portrait sessions focused so you can return to your guests.

The shoreline offers room for evening portraits, while covered spaces can help when the sun is stronger or the weather changes. I check sunset for your date and plan a short portrait window around your ceremony and reception. The exact timing depends on the season, clouds and available access.

No. Madden’s is in the Brainerd Lakes area where I am based, and travel there is included in my wedding collections.

Your gallery brings together documentary coverage, editorial portraits and the details of your celebration. I edit for natural color and a consistent finish, and deliver full-resolution files in a private online gallery within 2 weeks. The final image count depends on your coverage and the day’s events.

Wedding-day collections run $2,995–$5,895. Collection One is $5,895 for 12 hours, two photographers and a 120-image album; Collection Two is $4,695 for 10 hours. For a celebration across several days, the Wedding Weekend is $11,500 and includes 3 hours at the rehearsal dinner, 12 hours on the wedding day and 2 hours at brunch, with two photographers. Every collection includes design consultation, a private online gallery and full-resolution files within 2 weeks. Travel to Madden’s is included.

The resort lists the Pavilion for receptions of up to 250 guests. Wilson Bay is another indoor option; ask the resort for the guest limit for your date and room setup. Confirm seating, dancing space and any weather backup before finalizing your guest list. Overnight accommodation depends on your room block and availability.

The peninsula brings the Pavilion, Wilson Bay, shoreline and resort accommodations into one property. You can plan time together beyond the wedding day through separately arranged meals and stays. For photography, the wood interiors, beach and lake views give us several settings within the resort.

Madden’s is on Pine Beach Peninsula in the East Gull Lake area, just outside Brainerd. The drive from the Twin Cities is roughly two and a half hours, depending on your starting point and traffic. Include time for guests to check in and find the ceremony location.

Weighing photography against the rest of your Madden's weekend? Here's what a wedding photographer costs in Minnesota — real market ranges, with my own numbers in context.

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Getting Married at Madden's? Let's Talk About Your Weekend.

Whether you're at the Pavilion watching the sun drop over Gull Lake or in Wilson Bay with the beach right outside — I want to hear about it. Tell me your date, your ceremony plan, and what you're picturing. I'll be in touch within 24 hours.

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10–12 hours can cover preparations through evening events. Galleries delivered within 2 weeks.