A sweet love-story (dating back to high school!) brought this bride and groom together for their classically-chic nuptials. Emma Freeman Photography snapped up all of the thoughtful, personal details of this fall fête held at the beautiful The University Club of Milwaukee. Lovelies, there’s even more inspiration in the full gallery!
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From the Bride… My favorite teacher in high school was Mrs. Schneider. I had her for Chemistry and AP Biology. She was inspiring, motivating, cared about her students, loved her job and loved her family. She talked about her kids in class. She had a son, Jack, who was a couple years older than me, and a daughter, Betsy, who was a year younger. I ended-up getting a mall job during high school and working with Betsy. I met Jack, just once, when I was hanging-out with Betsy at the Schneider house. I thought he was cute … or so my journal entry from that day told me when I looked it up five years later…
Five years after I graduated from high school, my best guy friend, Ryan, asked me to go to Betsy’s wedding as his date, just as a friend — he wanted someone to dance with. It was at Betsy’s wedding that I met Jack for the second time. I guess I couldn’t resist an adorable man in a tuxedo. We totally hit it off, and I spent the night dancing with Jack, not Ryan! Five years after that, after a long-distance relationship between Chicago and Vermont, and my move to be with Jack in Vermont, Jack proposed in our hometown in Wisconsin. He proposed in my parents living room in front of my screaming parents. It was perfect! We knew we wanted to get married in Milwaukee, where our relationship first began. Jack was in medical school in Milwaukee, and I would travel up on weekends from Chicago. We had a list of favorite places, and we wanted to incorporate some of our favorite things about Milwaukee into our wedding.
We wanted a September wedding — warm days and cool nights. The purples and greens of fall were our colors. We wanted a venue with old Milwaukee charm and chose the University Club of Milwaukee for its beautiful brick exterior and view of Lake Michigan. The beautiful St. Hedwig’s Church is blocks from Jack’s medical school apartment and has the quintessential long aisle to walk down! The dress had to fit the classic feel of old Milwaukee and the elegance of the reception venue. I chose a strapless, lace, fit and flare gown with a slight sweetheart neckline. The men looked dapper in tuxedos and black bow-ties and to give their look some color, all wore purple argyle socks. Pictures were taken all around Milwaukee. The place where we wanted to capture moments the most was at our absolute favorite coffee shop, Alterra on the Lake. It was a place we frequented all the time and we have their beans delivered to us in Vermont! It made for a sentimental and beautiful spot for a few photos. No matter the location of the pictures, our photographer, Emma Freeman, managed to capture the most amazing shots throughout the day. The day wouldn’t have been the same without her expert eye and attention to detail!
Guests walked into cocktail hour to the music of a local Celtic group fiddling and fluting and were able to look at old wedding pictures of our family members. The flowers were amazing — some tables had high centerpieces with hanging candles, and others had low centerpieces in beautiful mercury glass vases. It was the perfect setting to enjoy great food, listen to touching toasts and dance the night away. Our wedding day was the best day of our lives, and looking back, I wouldn’t have changed a thing!
Wedding Photography: Emma Freeman Photography / Ceremony: St. Hedwig’s Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Reception: The University Club of Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Floral Design: Impressions by Esther / Event Design + Planning: The Bride and Groom / Wedding Cinematography: Chad Murdoch, A Friend of Bride / Wedding Invitations: Paper Envy / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair + Makeup: Erin Lobdell / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Nordstrom