Who is the best wedding photographer for The Waters in Oshkosh?

James Stokes & Co. is an editorial wedding photography house with extensive experience at The Waters and across the Fox Valley. Led by James and Katie Stokes, the studio has photographed weddings in Wisconsin in the editorial tradition since 2010 — at The Waters, Villa Terrace, The Pfister Hotel, The American Club, and other historic Wisconsin venues.

What is The Waters Oshkosh and what makes it a notable wedding venue?

The Waters is a historic Georgian Revival venue on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Originally built in 1903 by architect William Waters as the Oshkosh Yacht Club, the property was restored in 2008. The venue offers three event spaces — The Club, The Harbor, and The Winnebago — with capacity for up to 300 guests, a screened porch, a double staircase, a second-floor balcony overlooking Lake Winnebago, and a harbor-side lawn.

What is the best time of day for wedding portraits at The Waters?

Golden hour over Lake Winnebago — roughly the ninety minutes before sunset — produces the most cinematic portrait light at The Waters. The second-floor balcony, the harbor dock, and the lawn facing Lake Winnebago all face west, which means warm, directional sunset light across the water. For first looks, the screened porch and the double staircase offer beautiful indoor light at any hour.

Can you photograph a winter wedding at The Waters in Oshkosh?

Yes. Winter weddings at The Waters frequently take advantage of the indoor staircase, the screened porch under string lights, and the Lake Winnebago shoreline at dusk. Snow on the harbor, ice on the lake, and the warm interior light against blue-hour windows produce some of the venue's most distinctive winter portraits. Coverage is structured around shorter daylight and indoor ceremony spaces.

What are the best photo locations on The Waters property?

The most-photographed locations at The Waters include the second-floor balcony overlooking Lake Winnebago, the harbor dock, the double interior staircase, the screened porch, the lakefront lawn, and the building's Georgian Revival exterior. Portraits frequently extend to the public lakefront just beyond the property for sunset coverage over the water. Adjacent Menominee Park offers eight acres of additional lakefront green space steps from the venue.

Who is the best wedding photographer for The Waters in Oshkosh?

James Stokes & Co. is a luxury editorial wedding photography studio with extensive experience at The Waters and across the Fox Valley. Led by husband-and-wife team James and Katie Stokes with over 15 years of experience, they specialize in documentary and fine art wedding photography at historic Wisconsin venues including The Waters, Villa Terrace, The Pfister Hotel, and The American Club. Collections begin at $6,500.

How much does a wedding at The Waters in Oshkosh cost?

The Waters offers three wedding packages: The Club, The Harbor, and The Winnebago. Pricing varies by season, day of week, and package. Couples typically invest between $7,000 and $15,000 for venue rental at The Waters before catering, bar, and other vendors. Wedding photography at this caliber of venue typically ranges from $6,500 to $12,000.

What's the best time of day for wedding portraits at The Waters?

Golden hour over Lake Winnebago — roughly the 90 minutes before sunset — produces the most cinematic portrait light at The Waters. The second-floor balcony, the harbor dock, and the lawn facing Lake Winnebago all face west, which means warm, directional sunset light across the water. For first looks, the screened porch and the double staircase offer beautiful indoor light at any hour.

Can you photograph a winter wedding at The Waters in Oshkosh?

Yes. The Waters is exceptionally photogenic in winter — the white Georgian Revival facade against snow, ceremonies by the indoor fireplace, and Lake Winnebago as a sweeping winter landscape. Winter weddings at The Waters offer a distinctive, understated luxury that summer cannot replicate.

Where are the best photo locations near The Waters in Oshkosh?

The Waters' own grounds offer the most striking locations: the Nantucket-inspired screened porch, the second-floor balcony, the double staircase, the harbor dock, and the lawn facing Lake Winnebago. Adjacent Menominee Park (8 acres of lakefront green space, treelined paths) provides additional portrait options just steps from the venue.

How far in advance should I book a Waters Oshkosh wedding photographer?

Peak Saturday dates from May through October at The Waters book 12 to 18 months in advance. James Stokes & Co. photographs a limited number of weddings each season by design. Inquire as soon as your venue date is confirmed.

The Waters Oshkosh Wedding Photographer | James Stokes & Co.

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James Stokes & Co. · Est. 2010

James Stokes & Co. Photographers

The Waters Oshkosh
Wedding PhotographerA 1903 Georgian Revival on Lake Winnebago

Editorial wedding photography for couples celebrating at one of Wisconsin's most distinguished waterfront venues — the historic former Oshkosh Yacht Club.

The Waters Oshkosh Wedding Photography

A heritage wedding venue on the shore of Lake Winnebago

James Stokes & Co. is a luxury editorial wedding photography studio based in Wisconsin. Led by husband-and-wife team James and Katie Stokes, we bring over fifteen years of experience and a documentary-first, editorially-refined approach to weddings at one of the Fox Valley's most distinguished properties.

Built in 1903 by local architect William Waters as the original Oshkosh Yacht Club and lovingly restored in 2008, The Waters stands as a Georgian Revival landmark on the shore of Lake Winnebago. Its Nantucket-inspired screened porch, second-floor balcony, and double staircase have become signature backdrops for the kind of timeless, story-driven wedding photography we love most.

Wedding photography collections begin at $6,500. Wedding film collections begin at $3,000.

A Recent Waters Wedding

Nikki & Zach

Groom waiting at the ceremony arch with Lake Winnebago harbor in the background — The Waters Oshkosh wedding photography by James Stokes and Co

The Ceremony · The Waters

Awaiting His Bride

Lakefront wedding ceremony with bride and father at the altar arch over Lake Winnebago — The Waters Oshkosh wedding photography by James Stokes and Co

The Vows · Lake Winnebago

Lakefront Ceremony

The Recessional · The Waters

Just Married

Editorial black and white couple portrait at The Waters Oshkosh — wedding photography by James Stokes and Co

The Portrait · Editorial

A Quiet Moment

The Spaces of The Waters

We know every room, every angle, every hour of light

A great venue is many places at once. The Waters has six distinct settings within a single property — each with its own light, its own architecture, its own moment in the wedding day. We've studied all of them.

The Grand Ballroom

Second-floor reception space, crystal chandeliers, seating up to 200 guests under restored 1903 architecture

Nantucket-Inspired Porch

Private screened porch overlooking the harbor — golden hour cocktails and intimate first-look portraits

Second-Floor Balcony

Sweeping views of Lake Winnebago — first looks, sunset portraits, the long view of 132,000 acres of water

The Double Staircase

Restored mahogany staircase — the venue's most photographed architectural feature for bridal portraits

The Harbor & Dock

Working dock, sailboats, original yacht club character — for ceremony and waterfront portraits

Menominee Park

Adjacent 8-acre lakefront park — treelined paths, additional photography locations steps from the venue

Our Approach

Prime lenses. Natural light. Your real story.

We shoot exclusively with prime lenses — 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. The compression and rendering of a prime lens is what gives wedding portraits their weight and warmth. At a venue like The Waters, where the architecture, the lake, and the harbor each compete for attention, we keep you at the center of every frame.

Our coverage is documentary first — we capture the day as it actually unfolds — with guided portrait sessions woven in at the moments that serve the light and the schedule best. You work directly with James and Katie from inquiry through delivery. No sales team, no hand-offs.

Editorial bridal portrait with cascading bouquet at The Waters Oshkosh — wedding photography by James Stokes and Co

"James & Katie were everything we could've hoped for in wedding photographers — and then some. From the moment they arrived, they brought such an easy-going, fun, and positive energy that instantly put us and everyone around us at ease."

— A Wisconsin Couple

Pairs Beautifully With

Trusted partners for a seamless Waters wedding day

Catering Partners

Zuppas Plated & family-style
Catering with Taste Full-service
LaSure's Banquets & Catering Plated dinner
Oshkosh Waterfront Catering Lakefront cuisine
The Roxy Supper club tradition

Ceremony Locations

St. Mary's Catholic Church Oshkosh
St. Vincent de Paul Oshkosh
Sacred Heart Oshkosh
On-Site at The Waters Lakefront ceremony

Continue Exploring

View Wedding Collections & Pricing Nikki & Zach: A Lakeside Wedding at The Waters Best Wisconsin Engagement Photo Locations Wedding Photography at The American Club, Kohler A Photographer's Guide to Lake Geneva Weddings SentryWorld & Stevens Point Weddings A Villa Terrace Milwaukee Wedding

Currently Booking 2026 & 2027

Planning a wedding at The Waters?

We photograph a limited number of Wisconsin weddings each season. We'd love to hear about your date, your vision, and what matters most to you.

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James & Katie Stokes · James Stokes & Co. Photographers
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The Waters OshkoshWedding PhotographerA 1903 Georgian Revival on Lake Winnebago