Last summer, I had the chance to photograph Kate and Justin’s wedding in downtown Eau Claire, and honestly, it was such a fun day from beginning to end.

I absolutely love photographing weddings downtown. There’s just something about the mix of city textures, local spots, and personality that makes it feel different every time.

A First Look at The Dive Bar in Downtown Eau Claire

One of my favorite parts of the day was getting access to The Dive Bar a little early before things opened up.

If you’re local, you probably already know that The Dive Bar is attached to Informalist downtown, and it’s actually one of my husband and my favorite date night spots in Eau Claire. So yes… I was probably a little extra excited about this location.

But beyond being a cool space, it ended up being the perfect setting for Kate and Justin’s first look.

I always love when couples choose a more intimate location for this part of the day. Wedding days move fast, and couples rarely get many quiet moments together. Of course, I’m there photographing those reactions and emotions, but I also make sure to step back and give them a few moments to simply be together. If you want more informaiton on first looks, check out this blog post.

The Dive Bar gave us exactly that feeling. It was cozy, personal, and such a fun backdrop for both their first look and portraits.

Wedding Portraits in Downtown Eau Claire

After the first look, we spent some time taking portraits downtown before heading to the ceremony.

Downtown Eau Claire always photographs beautifully. Between the architecture, textures, and variety of little corners to explore, it offers so many great options for wedding portraits without needing to travel far.

Kate and Justin made photographing these moments easy. They were relaxed, sweet, and completely focused on each other, which always creates the best images.

A Rainy but Beautiful Ceremony at Brewing Projekt

After portraits, we headed over to Brewing Projekt for the ceremony.

On the drive over, we noticed dark clouds starting to roll in and quickly realized we needed to get things moving.

Unfortunately, the rain still decided to make an appearance during their patio ceremony.

And honestly? It didn’t take away from the day at all.

Sometimes rain becomes part of the story, and this ceremony was proof of that.

One of the most emotional moments came when Justin shared special vows with Kate’s kids. If you look through the photos below, you’ll see exactly what I mean. It was one of those moments that had everyone feeling something and easily became one of my favorite memories from the day.

A Brewing Projekt Wedding Reception with Chipotle Catering

After the ceremony, everyone moved inside for the reception, also hosted at Brewing Projekt in one of their rentable private event spaces.

I have to say… I was personally very excited about dinner.

They had Chipotle catered for their guests, and honestly? Wedding tacos and burrito bowls are a win in my book.

Brewing Projekt ended up being such a great venue choice for their celebration. Their event space worked especially well for a slightly smaller wedding while still giving guests plenty of room to eat, celebrate, and have a genuinely fun night together.

Sunset Glow and the Perfect Ending

As if the day wanted to apologize for the rain, the clouds finally cleared toward the end of the evening.

We were rewarded with the prettiest soft, glowy sunlight for a few final portraits.

Those last moments felt like the perfect ending to an already beautiful day.

Kate and Justin were an absolute dream to photograph, and I loved getting to work with both them and their families. Days like this are exactly why I love being a Wisconsin wedding photographer.

As an Eau Claire wedding photographer, one of my favorite things is getting to document wedding days that feel genuine and completely personal to each couple. If you’re planning a wedding in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, or beyond, you can learn more about my wedding experience here.