Abby and Anthony stopped halfway down the aisle for a dip and a kiss, with their family and friends applauding around them. A few moments later, they were walking hand in hand, smiling. That joy runs through their wedding day, right alongside the quieter moments: Abby holding her dad close, Anthony kissing his mom’s forehead, the two of them leaning into each other among the fall leaves.
They married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Crosby, where Anthony grew up and his family is still deeply involved. It is my church, too. I had already photographed his sister Madeline’s wedding to Sam and his niece Isabelle’s wedding to Gabe. Coming back to photograph another marriage in this family felt personal. There were familiar faces in the pews and another couple at the center of a day everyone had come to share.
On October 10, that sense of connection followed Abby and Anthony from the Lodge to the church and into their reception at The Gathering in Crosslake. I kept noticing the ways people cared for one another, often in the middle of doing something ordinary.
Surrounded by Care at The Gathering Lodge
At The Gathering Lodge, Abby and her ladies raised their glasses together in satin pajamas. Captivating Beauty took care of hair and makeup, and Abby was already laughing with her bouquet in her hands while her hair was still being finished. There is something lovely about keeping those overlapping moments in the story: everyone getting ready together, with time to laugh along the way.
Whitney Fisher of Irondale Acres made the flowers. As Abby got into her dress, the attention around her shifted to the small things that needed a helping hand—a fastening at the back of her gown, the strap of a jeweled shoe. Those gestures deserve room in a wedding story. They show the care surrounding her before she ever walked down the aisle.
Then came her first look with her dad, Kyle. Abby reached for him, and he held her with his face lowered over her shoulder. I’m glad they made time for that embrace. Later, when they held each other on the dance floor, it gave their day a connection I could see from morning to evening.
Time Together Among the Fall Leaves
Anthony waited for Abby on a path covered in fallen leaves. When he turned toward her, they smiled across the bouquet between them. Soon they were close together, his face resting against her temple as she smiled upward. I love the tenderness in that photograph—the way they fit together, with very little distance between them.
As we walked, Anthony carried the flowers and Abby lifted her train, their arms linked. With the wedding party around them, the energy grew: cheering in the trees, everyone gathering close on the dock, Abby’s lace train lifting as Anthony led her into a twirl. Their photographs have room for both that playfulness and the quieter closeness they shared.
We had already spent time together at their engagement session at Carver Park Reserve. That familiarity is something I value. During editorial portraits, I help with where to stand and what to do, so couples can settle in together. Then I keep watching for their own expressions and the little ways they respond to each other.
A St. Joseph Ceremony With Family History
At St. Joseph, Abby and Anthony’s marriage became part of a family connection to the parish that reaches back well before their wedding. Anthony had grown up coming through these doors. His family continues to be active here, and it meant something to me to photograph their ceremony in the church we share.
Anthony’s godfather, Jim, officiated the ceremony. With someone who already held a place in his life standing beside them, Abby and Anthony faced each other, hands joined. That family connection made this part of their day especially personal. Then came the kiss at the altar and, on their way back through their people, the dip in the aisle. The guests leaned out and applauded as Abby and Anthony made their way past.
One of the gifts of photographing this family again is seeing familiar people gather around a new couple, ready to celebrate them.
Close to Their People at The Gathering in Crosslake
Abby and Anthony entered The Gathering with their joined hands raised. Later, at the head table, Abby dabbed beneath her eye with a burgundy napkin while a bridesmaid spoke and Anthony listened beside her. Two little girls leaned in to kiss her cheeks. There was so much affection in the room, expressed in ways that belonged to the people showing it.
There was plenty of silliness, too: playful faces over the cake, frosting on fingers, a child flashing peace signs toward the camera. I want those photographs alongside the emotional ones. They are part of how a family celebrates together, and part of what made this day theirs.
During the parent dances, Abby closed her eyes and held Kyle close. Anthony kissed his mom Kolly’s forehead as she rested against him, their hands clasped. Those are the moments I linger over when I look back through this wedding. The room is still there around them, but each photograph brings us close to two people and the affection between them.
The Wedding Team
- Ceremony: St. Joseph Catholic Church, Crosby · Jim Kirzeder, officiant · Jill Wessler, pianist
- Reception and getting ready: The Gathering and The Gathering Lodge · Haley Van Buren
- Hair and makeup: Tracy with Captivating Beauty
- Flowers: Whitney Fisher of Irondale Acres
- Catering: Chef Mike’s Catering
- DJ and entertainment: Nick Makowsky · Electrifying Dynamics
- Transportation: Mark Young · Brainerd Party Bus
- Bartending: Ivy and Chad
- Photography: Tim Larsen Photography
Planning Your Crosslake Wedding
The photographs I want to make for you have room for the people you love and the way you are together. I’ll guide you through editorial portraits and help you feel comfortable in front of the camera, while staying attentive to the embraces, laughter, and small exchanges happening throughout the day. You should be able to look back and recognize yourselves.
If you’re planning a wedding at The Gathering or elsewhere in the Brainerd Lakes, tell me about your date and the people you want beside you. You can also explore my Brainerd Lakes wedding venue guide as your plans come together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Abby and Anthony married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Crosby, Minnesota, and celebrated their reception at The Gathering Event Center in Crosslake. Anthony grew up attending St. Joseph, where his family remains very active.
The Gathering Lodge offers overnight accommodation near The Gathering Event Center. Abby and her bridal party used the Lodge for getting ready, with hair and makeup by Captivating Beauty. Contact the venue for current lodging availability and arrangements.
Yes. Abby and Anthony paired their St. Joseph Catholic Church ceremony in Crosby with a reception at The Gathering in Crosslake. Build travel time into the timeline and coordinate ceremony plans with the parish and reception plans with the venue.
You do not need experience in front of a camera. I give clear direction during editorial portraits, including where to stand and what to do with your hands, while making room for conversation and movement. Documentary coverage follows the real interactions with the people around you.
