Emyrson & Zach | Colorful Summer Wedding at The Midnight Gem | Swisher, Iowa
On Friday, July 11, 2025, Emyrson Seeser and Zach Bierman said “I do” at The Midnight Gem in Swisher, Iowa, just outside Cedar Rapids. Their day brought a little bit of everything—beautiful details, wild Midwest weather, and a reception that kept the dance floor packed all night long!
The morning was full of anticipation and excitement as Emy kicked off the day with a series of sweet and fun first looks—with Zach, her dad, her three brothers, and her bridesmaids. She even surprised her dad and brothers with shots of Fireball to lighten the mood. Boone, their dog, made a quick appearance too, which was such a treat to photograph.
The couple held out hope for their outdoor ceremony as long as they could, but with tornado warnings and rain moving in fast, everything had to shift inside. The team pulled it off beautifully. Katie, the coordinator, was absolutely incredible: calm, kind, and organized, going above and beyond for the couple and for all the vendors. Max, the DJ from Center Stage Productions, was equally fantastic, keeping the energy up and the day moving smoothly. Watching everyone pitch in to reset the room so quickly was truly impressive.
Just before walking down the aisle, Emy shared a sweet exchange with her mom as the rain came down outside. Her mom told her, “You’re going to be really lucky!” Emy grinned and said, “I better have like six kids, six dogs, and a lot of land then!” Such a memorable moment between them.
Chad Delzell, a family friend, officiated the ceremony, keeping it short, meaningful, and heartfelt.
The bridesmaids wore soft baby blue dresses and carried colorful bouquets from Ella Floral Design. The groomsmen wore tan suits, and Emy’s sparkly gown from Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique was absolutely perfect for her. Their guestbook was one of my favorite touches. Guests signed on a calendar page for their birthdays, such a fun keepsake idea!
The reception kicked off with a high-energy entrance by the wedding party, complete with signs, bubbles, and cold sparks. Emy and Zach cut their cake from Sprinkled Confections right after entering, at a table across from their gorgeous display of colorful cupcakes and cookies. After a prayer and toasts from the maid of honor and two best men, the dance floor opened up and the real party began!
One of the highlights of the night was when Emy slipped into a short, sparkly, fringed dress and kicked off her shoes to dance barefoot. The dance floor stayed packed all evening, and it was so fun to capture everyone truly enjoying themselves.
It was such a pleasure working alongside the wonderful vendor team, especially Katie and Max, who made the day run as smoothly as possible despite the weather and last-minute changes. I don’t think I stopped moving all day! Running between details, portraits, and candids…but that’s just part of making sure my couples get everything they can out of their day.
Even though the weather threw a few curveballs, the result was a vibrant, memorable, and joy-filled celebration that no one will soon forget.
Congratulations, Emy and Zach, and cheers to your next big adventure together!
Vendor Shoutout:
Venue: The Midnight Gem
Florist: Ella Floral Design
Catering: The Silver Spoon
Cake & Desserts: Sprinkled Confections
DJ: Max at Center Stage Productions
Videographer: Filmmaking Masters
Hair: Morgan at Salon Kelaya
Makeup: Morgan Lorraine
Bride’s Dress: Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique
Coordinator: Katie (venue coordinator)
Huge thanks to this amazing vendor team (and to my lovely assistant/husband!) for working together to create such a beautiful and memorable day!