Travel Itinerary
Imagine exchanging vows surrounded by Wisconsin’s spectacular autumn foliage! Fall in Wisconsin transforms ordinary landscapes into magical settings with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows painting the scenery.
Many couples dream of capturing this seasonal beauty in their wedding photos, and luckily, the Badger State offers countless picturesque locations that make perfect backdrops for your special day.
1. Devil’s Lake State Park – Baraboo
Majestic quartzite bluffs rise dramatically above the crystal-clear waters, creating a jaw-dropping natural altar for your vows.
Autumn transforms the surrounding forest into a fiery tapestry of colors reflected perfectly in the lake’s mirror-like surface.
Countless hiking trails and scenic overlooks provide endless options for breathtaking wedding portraits that capture both intimate moments and sweeping landscapes.
2. Geneva Lake Shore Path – Lake Geneva
Walking this historic 21-mile footpath feels like stepping into a storybook with mansion gardens and lakefront views as your ceremony backdrop.
Fall breezes carry golden leaves across manicured lawns while the lake sparkles nearby.
Vintage boathouses and charming gazebos scattered along the path offer ready-made photo opportunities with minimal decorating needed.
3. Door Peninsula
Rustic charm meets coastal beauty across this finger of land jutting into Lake Michigan.
Lighthouses stand sentinel against backdrops of crimson maples and golden birches, while orchards offer picturesque ceremony settings.
Sunset ceremonies gain magical quality here as fading light illuminates fall foliage against water views, creating unforgettable golden-hour wedding portraits unique to this peninsula.
4. Lapham Peak – Delafield
Climb to new heights, literally, on your wedding day at this elevated location offering panoramic views of Kettle Moraine.
A 45-foot observation tower provides couples with a dramatic ceremony spot surrounded by rolling hills dressed in autumn splendor.
Winding paths through prairie grasses turned golden in fall create natural, textured backgrounds for wedding portraits unlike any studio setting.
5. Kohler-Andrae State Park – Sheboygan
Sand dunes meet autumn colors in this unique lakeshore setting where beach ceremonies gain unexpected fall beauty.
Waves crash dramatically against the shore while nearby wooded areas burst with seasonal color, offering two distinct backdrops in one location.
Wooden boardwalks winding through golden cordgrass create natural aisles leading to intimate ceremony spots with Lake Michigan providing a powerful soundtrack.
6. Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Hartford
Glacial landforms create natural amphitheaters perfect for intimate ceremonies surrounded by blazing fall colors.
Powerful Ice Age history meets romantic present as couples exchange vows amid landscapes formed thousands of years ago, now decorated with nature’s autumn palette.
Reflections of fiery maples and golden oaks dance across Pike Lake’s surface, doubling the visual impact of fall’s splendor in wedding photographs.
7. Rib Mountain State Park – Wausau
Saying “I do” at one of Wisconsin’s highest points rewards couples with breathtaking views extending for miles across valleys painted in autumn hues.
Ancient quartzite outcroppings provide natural altars with dramatic backdrops for ceremonies that literally rise above the ordinary.
Gnarled old-growth trees, their branches ablaze with fall colors, frame wedding portraits with character impossible to recreate elsewhere.
8. Havenwoods State Forest – Milwaukee
Urban accessibility meets natural beauty in Wisconsin’s only state forest within city limits.
Quiet meadows transformed by autumn’s touch provide surprisingly secluded ceremony spaces just minutes from downtown Milwaukee.
Former military lands reclaimed by nature offer meaningful symbolism for new beginnings, while diverse habitats provide varied backdrops from golden prairies to colorful woodland edges.
9. Grant Park – Milwaukee
Locals call it “Milwaukee’s secret garden” for good reason! This park hides stunning ravines and Lake Michigan views behind unassuming entrances.
Seven Bridges Trail creates magical ceremony settings where rustic wooden footbridges cross ravines filled with maple trees in full autumn glory.
Dramatic bluffs overlooking the lake offer sweeping backdrops where fall colors meet endless blue horizons for truly spectacular wedding photos.
10. Lodde’s Mill Bluff – Sauk City
Photographers adore this hidden gem where sandstone cliffs rise dramatically above the Wisconsin River, creating natural frames filled with autumn colors.
History whispers through this location where an old mill once stood, adding depth and character to wedding ceremonies held in its shadow.
Sunlight filtering through golden canopies creates natural spotlights on the forest floor, perfect for capturing intimate moments between newlyweds.
11. Big Foot Beach State Park – Lake Geneva
Gentle slopes leading to Geneva Lake’s shores create natural gathering spaces for wedding guests surrounded by oak trees in their autumn splendor.
Morning fog rising off the lake adds ethereal quality to early ceremonies, with mist weaving through trees draped in fall colors.
Secluded picnic areas transformed into reception spaces allow celebrations to flow seamlessly from vows to dinner under canopies of red and gold leaves.
12. University of Wisconsin Arboretum – Madison
Scientific precision meets natural beauty across 1,200 acres where researchers have cultivated diverse ecosystems now showcasing spectacular fall color.
Japanese gardens offer meticulously maintained backdrops where every fallen leaf seems artfully placed for perfect wedding photographs.
Restored prairies painted in autumn golds provide unique ceremony settings where couples can exchange vows surrounded by Wisconsin’s native landscape at its colorful peak.
13. Blue Mound State Park – Blue Mounds
Standing atop Wisconsin’s highest point, couples gain perspective both literally and figuratively as they begin married life with views stretching across three counties.
Ancient burial mounds add spiritual significance to ceremonies held amid hilltop prairies turned golden by fall’s touch.
Two observation towers offer unique elevated ceremony options where guests witness vows exchanged against backdrops of valleys filled with autumn’s most vibrant palette.
14. Perrot State Park – Trempealeau
Mississippi and Trempealeau rivers converge dramatically beneath 500-foot bluffs, creating one of Wisconsin’s most spectacular ceremony backdrops.
Native American history permeates this sacred place where couples can honor ancient traditions while creating new beginnings.
Hardwood forests explode with color each fall, while river valleys fill with morning mist, creating dreamy, atmospheric settings for wedding photographs unlike anywhere else.
15. Holy Hill – Hubertus
Fairy-tale towers of the basilica pierce the sky above rolling hills covered in autumn splendor, creating wedding backdrops that seem plucked from European countryside.
Spiritual significance combines with natural beauty at this landmark visible from miles away.
Winding roads leading to the hilltop cathedral pass through tunnels of maple trees in full color, creating memorable arrivals for wedding parties and unforgettable photographs.