Joseph and Raif
Joseph and Raif's farm wedding radiates love and an imaginative style that completely sets this one apart from anything else we've seen. It was a wedding where sharing their love for one another with their friends and family was paramount. "It really was a day more about them than us," Joseph and Raif tell us.
Location Madison, Wisconsin | Photographer Megan Saul
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Mr T - How and when did you meet?
R - We have been together for 8 years. We had a brief encounter randomly out 8 years ago, just a passing look while out. I instantly had love at first sight but didn't know his name, how to find him, or who he was. I just knew that he was special and was supposed to be mine. We randomly ran into each other again 6 months later and he came up to me and said "I want to kiss you", I literally grabbed him and we kissed in the middle of a crowd, not even knowing each other. We have been together ever since that night. We are complete opposites, yin & yang. We bring out the best in each other and help each other in the areas we are weak
I, Raif (the tall non-tattooed one), grew up moving all over the world. Joseph grew up in a small farm town in Wisconsin, his high school had 43 people in his senior class. We have grown together even more as a couple through travel. I love seeing Joseph experiencing the culture, food, sights that he had only dreamed of.
Mr T - Tell us a little about the earlier days of your relationship...
R - Joseph has been out since he was 15 and it was never an issue with his family. They have always loved and supported him in everything.
I didn’t come out until he was in his 20’s and just brought Joseph to my family reunion and said this is Joseph we are in love.
My family is more conservative and it was more stressful for me as I didn’t want to upset my family. I played football and ran track in high school trying to be a guys guy and make my father proud.
Mr T - What does Marriage mean to you?
R & J - It really is just a title that validates our love. We have be bonded since the day we met; it really was an instant connection and chemistry. We started living together within 6 months of meeting and have felt like a married couple for years before tying the knot. The wedding was more about sharing our love and lives with our friends and family.
Mr T - Who proposed and how?
R- While we were in Tulum, Mexico, Joseph insisted on taking sunrise photos and surprised me with the ring that I have always wanted and a super sweet proposal .
Mr T - When did you get married?
R & J - August 25th 2018
Joseph & Raif’s story continues below →
Joseph and Raif's farm wedding radiates love and an imaginative style that completely sets this one apart from anything else we've seen. It was a wedding where sharing their love for one another with their friends and family was paramount. "It really was a day more about them than us," Joseph and Raif tell us.
Location
Mr T - What was the main influence behind your wedding day?
R & J - We wanted to share special moments and memories of the 7 years we had been together in our wedding. We had many key decorations for our wedding that we have gathered over the years with our travels. We tried to make the wedding all about sharing who we are with our friends and family. A glimpse into the life we have created. We do not have any family in Texas so they never really get to see us in our home setting in Austin.
Mr T - What was the most important thing to you surrounding your wedding?
R & J - Sharing our love for one another with our friends and family, it really was a day more about them than us.
Mr T - Where did you find the bulk of your inspiration?
R & J - Mixing both of our personal styles. Our travels was a huge inspiration, we wanted to take our friends and family on a trip around the world!
Mr - T How did you choose your suppliers?
R & J - Mostly via instagram and the internet, we tried to find vendors that fit our vibe.
Mr T - Any standout suppliers?
R & J - A La Crate Rentals out of Madison Wisconsin. They had such unique vintage pieces that fit right in with out travel theme and fit in to the farm venue.
Saints Juice in Madison made us custom juices for all of our guest, they where a huge hit.
Pacific Floral Exchange out of Hawaii, the most amazing 12 cases of florals you have ever seen!
Mr T - Did you find it difficult to translate more common traditions into a ‘same-sex’ wedding?
R & J - Yes and no. To keep it simple and more about us we opted to not do a lot of traditional things. We didn’t have a wedding party. We had our grandmothers be our flowers girls (Raif’s grandmother was ill and couldn’t make it) and Joseph’s godmother got ordained so that she could marry us.
Mr T - What was the most difficult thing about planning your wedding?
J - Raif has been in hospitality for almost 20 years and is a control freak, he has planned so many weddings and events for other people that he wanted things to be perfect. It was also difficult planning the wedding remotely. We live in Austin and got married in Madison Wisconsin
Mr T - Where did you spend your honeymoon?
R & J - 2 weeks in Bali, one week on the beach at the Ritz Carlton Nua Dua and the second week in the jungle in Ubud at the Ritz Carlton Reserve. We also had a three day stopover on the way there in Singapore and stayed at the St. Regis. Raif went to high school in Singapore and loves visiting. Plus the food is amazing. Every hotel we stayed at went above and beyond to make it super special. So many special details that made it out of this world.
Mr T - Any advice for other couples planning their day and finding it difficult to navigate the journey?
R & J - Remember that is is your day and on your terms. Weddings always bring out lots of emotions and baggage from friends and family. We found it very important to meet with a therapist to discuss all of it so that way it didn’t impact us. We wanted to feel free and clear starting this union together.
Suppliers
Photographer Megan Saul
Venue Joseph’s Grandmother’s Farm just outside of Madison Wisconsin
Suits Suit Supply
Planner Raif and Joseph
Flowers Raif did all the arrangements
Cars Vintage John Deer Tractor
Catering Swagat Indian Catering, Thai Spring Rolls from Fresh Cool Drinks and Stoddard’s Market (pig roast)
Furniture A La Crate Rentals
Custom Juice Saint Juice, our favourite juice place in Madison made us custom juices for our wedding!
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