Wisconsin Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

NFL Player & His Bride’s Traditional Wisconsin Wedding

When the Groom (Green Bay Packers’ Bryan Bulaga) proposes with a sparkly pair of Christian Louboutin slingbacks, you know the wedding is going to be a stylish occasion—especially when each bridesmaid is gifted a pair of red-soled beauties (how jealous are you?!)! Combine serious style with beautiful photography from Lexia Frank, and it’s safe to say this wedding was definitely a win. Take a look through the gallery for all the high-scoring details.

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From the beautiful bride… It all started traveling back from Bryan’s hometown, Crystal Lake, Illinois. He was acting strange, continuing to check the GPS estimated time of arrival, which was odd since we make this drive quite often and we know exactly how long it takes. By the time we got home, I ran into the house first, little did I know Bryan was right behind me. When I turned the corner from our garage, on our kitchen table sat a pair of Christian Louboutins that were covered in Swarovski crystals. At first instinct I thought he had bought me the shoes I had always said I wanted to wear on my wedding day, as a “here are your shoes but no ring yet.” Until I got closer to the table did I notice the note that he had written, which said: “My beautiful bride will be wearing red soles on her wedding day that is of course if…” When I turned around he was on one knee.

Our wedding day was beautiful beyond belief. Not many brides can say that their wedding was even more perfect than what they dreamed of as a young girl. Our vision for the wedding was elegant and classic, with some bling, which our wedding planner David Caruso and Dynamic Events accomplished on all aspects. Since classic and elegant was how we envisioned our wedding day, to help add to that we did a few special things for our wedding party. For the groomsmen we had custom suits made, we chose a classic style from Tom James. As for the bridesmaids, we gave each of them their own pair of Christian Louboutins, each was a classic statement that we wanted to add to our day and we wanted to make our wedding party feel special and elegant. Another special element was my bouquet. I wanted to incorporate a special item of my Great Grandmothers who passed away four years ago. While going through her jewelry box, I found an elephant charm that she wore on a necklace which had both her name and my great grandfather’s name. The charm was a beautiful pastel yellow and the elephant’s trunk was up, which is considered good luck, so I decided it would be perfect to attach to my bouquet.

The day went beyond smoothly, I believe in part to the hard work of our wedding planner and on part to the mindset Bryan and I took to planning the wedding. We made sure not to stress the small stuff. Bryan allowed me to do most of the planning alongside David and Dynamic Events, he was not into all of the details but when it came to the reception that was very important for him. He wanted to make sure our guest got enough food to eat and enough to drink, which I believe we accomplished with flying colors. Down to the three meal choices our guests were able to choose from, to the open bar all night. Not to mention the late night cupcakes that where all based on some of our favorite drinks. Such as margarita cupcakes that were soaked in tequila, caramel turtle cupcakes soaked in beer and mudslide cupcakes that were soaked in baileys. We also had late night sliders and, a Wisconsin classic, cheese curds. Along with all of the food and drinks our guest danced the night away, which we ended up adding an hour to the night last minute, because we just were not ready for the night to end. If I had any advice for brides it would be to slow down and take in the day, it goes by so fast and you will not want to miss a second of it. Also, be sure to allow your groom to take part in the planning, they may not want to be involved in the girly side of things, but if it is something they really want let them have it, the day is about you both; you will not regret it in the long run.

Modern Wisconsin Art Center Wedding

Don’t color-happy brides seem to have all the fun? Take this lovely Wisconsin wedding for example, with its cheery pops of blue and yellow that look crisp and elegant. Cherry Blossom Events worked its magic, with help from talents like Daffodil Parker, Stitely Orchestra and The Traveling Photo Booth, to make it an unforgettable event, and thanks to the talented Paper Antler you can see all the details right here.

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From the Bride… Andy and I were friends before we fell in love, and all along the way, we both have grown into who we are thanks to all the support we’ve had from each other, but also our dear friends and family. We wanted to make our wedding reflect our deep gratitude for this love and support we have been so lucky to have in our lives, growing up and growing together.

Our mantra throughout the planning process was about reminding ourselves why we were throwing this shindig in the first place and our saving grace in getting our vision to bloom was Sarah and her wonderful team at Cherry Blossom Events.

I had always dreamed of opening my own line of stationery using those old fashioned alphabet beads. We took on the save-the-dates ourselves and Sarah took them to a mom-and-pop copy-shop to be printed and we hand-sewed each card with the beads and slapped a Wisconsin Badgers sticker on the envelope to seal each one closed. I designed the formal invitations, which were then transformed into a full stationery suite by the beautiful work of Sugar River Stationers.

Our wedding weekend was coined a “destination wedding” since both our extended families would be coming to Madison, Wisconsin from out of town. That was an invitation to show off the city we love to call home.

The day we got married was a classic blue-skied Madison day. While we got ready at the hotel, Andy’s father arrived with his usual smile and a gorgeous cheese tray from Fromagination. We then met up with Andy and the groomsmen on Lakeshore Path, and the dreamy Terrace just behind the Wisconsin Memorial Union, for photos. Finally, we were whisked off to the main event at the Overture Center for the Arts.

Cherry Blossom and the Overture Center team had transformed our space there into a perfect balance of comfortable and relaxed beauty with crisp and elegant lines and colors. Striking harvest tables from A La Crate were scattered throughout, intermixed with white rounds, all with milk glass vases scattered about. My step-mom and her friends found the vases antiquing just for this occasion. Pops of the lush flowers by Erin at Daffodil Parker brightened things up even more. Erin also designed my bouquet, and helped include my two grandmothers by weaving in their handkerchiefs.

We were married on the stage but it felt like we were under the stars. This part is hard to describe because it all went so quickly, but it all just felt magical. After a special moment with all of our parents, and a Swedish proverb in honor of Andy’s family, each of our close friends read us a wish for our future in this world. We felt so humbled all over again to be surrounded by so much love and support.

And then… Andy broke the glass, we were married, and the rest of the festivities began! The band kept everyone dancing all night, and it still felt like we were under the stars. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to have Paper Antler there for most of the weekend to capture these moments for us to savor forever.

Bravo TV’s Tara Clack’s Rustic Wisconsin Wedding

We first met Tara as she searched for true love on Bravo’s 100 Days Of Summer and we can officially say she got her happy ending with this fabulously rustic fall wedding. She paid homage to her family’s love of northern Wisconsin with canoes, antlers and one absolutely delicious sounding “field and stream” dining station and Lexia Frank snapped every second; see it all, from first kiss to fireworks, right here!

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From Lexia Frank… Below you’ll find a description of the day from Tara’s point of view, as well as information on all the vendors used. Tara’s Bravo TV show “100 Days Of Summer” centers around her getting engaged, which is aptly timed. A few of my favorite touches during the lovely event were the moccasins that were given to the bridesmaids, and gorgeous northern-inspired bouquets and hop-inspired floral hanging above each table and down the pillars of the tent. During the cocktail hour huge birch canoes were filled with seafood, and guests enjoyed an epic fireworks display over the lake at night.

From The Bride… I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful and memorable wedding day! We chose Chippewa Retreat and Resort in northern Wisconsin because it is on the chain of lakes where my parents and extended family have lake homes. My family has been going up there each summer since I was a little girl and I have wanted my wedding there for as long as I can remember. We chose early fall for our wedding and designed the decor for the reception to go with a rustic, yet classy “Northwoods” theme. I was very lucky that my sister, Brittany, is an interior designer who was able to help our florist come up with a look that embodied the theme we were striving for.

The day started with yoga on the pier, which definitely helped to calm my nerves. We took our photos prior to the ceremony at my parent’s cabin near the pond and lake. My now husband and I love to fish so my favorite photos were near the fishing boat with our dog, She-Ra. However, if I had to chose, I think my favorite part of the evening was the cocktail hour. The bridal party arrived from the church in a pontoon and when we pulled up, the reception setting was breathtaking. There was a rowboat full of seafood, a guitarist playing country music and my favorite drink, a moscow mule, in mason jars with birch-like straws. There were also canoes filled with beer and the double sided fireplace going for smores. My husband and I both went to UW-Madison so we had an ice sculpture with a “W” and also pine cones to tie in to the theme. We tried to use a lot of antlers, animal hides, chalkboards and driftwood to give it a true northern Wisconsin feel. We even had some driftwood pieces there that I had dremeled our last names in, sanded and stained years ago and decorated with fishing lures, hooks, etc.

The dinner was stations which also played on the Northwoods destination. A few Wisconsin favorites included a “field and stream” section with baked walleye, along with beef tenderloin and a pork roast. There were multiple side options but a few crowd favorites included a four cheese mac-n-cheese side dish and a creamed spinach dish.

For dessert, we had five types of pies, all displayed on various sized wood slabs along with some other desserts in mason jars. Finally, we offered an extensive candy buffet, all with a green and brown color scheme. We ended the night with a band followed by a DJ. The bridesmaids all changed into brown Minnetonka moccasins, while I put on a white pair to finish dancing the night away!

Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day and evening! From the moment I woke to the moment I retired to our honeymoon cabin, I enjoyed each and every moment. My advice for those planning a wedding is to enjoy each moment and take it all in. Design a wedding and decor that fits your personality so you can sit back in awe when the day is finally upon you!

Preppy Striped Kate Spade DIY Wedding

There are certain couples you can just tell had fun planning their wedding, and this charming duo is no exception. With the bold stripes, crisp black-and-white color scheme, and glittering gold accents, this fun Milwaukee wedding would make Kate Spade proud. Feast your eyes on all the darling details from this festive fete in the gallery.

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From Lisa Mathewson… Kirstin and Chris wanted their wedding day to truly reflect their style. Comfy, casual, yet stylish and fun! Kirstin incorporated fun stripes into the wedding theme with accompanying gold as a sparkly accent. Her wedding dress said it all! Flowy, soft and feminine yet comfortable. Kirstin wore stunning Kate Spade flats that set the tone for the day’s events. Their venue selection topped of the day with the fun, industrial space. The Milwaukee Public Market is a year-round indoor market of speciality shops and stores catering to the young, hip, crowd in Milwaukee’s trendy Third Ward. Set on the Milwaukee River, the Public Market boosts some of the best eats in the city!

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Ann Taylor

Fall 2014 Weddings Collection

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Romantic Terrace Wedding Overlooking Lake Michigan

Bathed in sunlight and surrounded by the most beautiful daffodil*parker florals, these law school loves set their sights on forever. From the gorgeous green palette to the stunning reception, one look at the photos from Heather Cook Elliott Photography and you’ll be dreaming of this lakeside loveliness for days. It’s all waiting for you here!

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From Heather Cook Elliott Photography… It’s an age-old saying, but one that bears repeating when it comes to these two: There is more to Katie & Ben than meets the eye.

They met in law school and quietly, slowly bonded over study sessions and coffee breaks and, I imagine, long philosophical discussions about everything under the sun. I get the sense that fairness, equality, justice and compassion are what interests them most about the profession they’ve chosen and, I think, what interests them most about one another. They are both incredibly thoughtful, careful people (ok, Katie is a bit of beautiful klutz as everyone who knows her can attest, but in love she takes great care) and together they form a sort of powerful force for good and happiness.

Bathed in sunlight and surrounded by the most beautiful florals I’ve ever photographed, their wedding day seemed to reflect this. There was joy in everything they did and joy is what I feel when I look back at their photos. I think I’ve written too much already when really, all one needs to see are the photos to know I’m telling the truth.

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

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Rustic Lakeside Lodge Wedding

This is one of those weddings that I just know I would have had a really great time at. I probably would have slipped off my high heels and played some bocce, then fawned over the pretty florals at the tables complete with the most subtle perfect little polka dots. Erin Jean and Sweet Pea Cinema captured all of these details so even though I couldn’t bask in the love then, we can still soak it all up right here.

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From Erin Jean Photography… Door County. A seriously good looking couple. Sunshine. Water. Details GALORE. A PERFECT DAY!

These two have souls that reach you. They are so sweet, and soooo in love. They are talented in life and how they love those around them. It was so obvious throughout their big day.

Door County has that laidback easy feeling. The water and sand, the north woods, amazing food and a happy people. Betsy and Doug embraced all that and more. A ceremony over the bay, cocktail hour to follow on the lawn with vintage games. Thousands of antique vases filled with local blooms… I could go on and on.

I’ll let the photos do the talking for this one. WORDS can not describe!

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Jim Hjelm

Fall 2015

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Rustic Chic Desert Elopement Inspiration

From succulents to sand filled ceremonies, this wedding season we’re all about desert chic. Straight from the lens of Maison Meredith Photography this pretty little inspo is proof that no matter what your climate any idea is achievable. Overflowing with Alluring Blooms blooms the gallery is the perfect place to see it all, here!

From Maison Meredith Photography… Being in the wedding industry (and LOVING it!!), I am constantly on wedding websites drooling over inspiration boards or on other photographer’s Facebook pages admiring images and gathering inspiration. I have always found myself drawn to those photographers who live and shoot in the Southern regions of our beautiful country … you know, those beach weddings, or those Arizona desert weddings!?! I mean, c’mon, cacti and succulents are SO trendy right now and just downright beautiful!!

However, being from the Midwest, we are continually finding ourselves shooting in fields or meadows, at barns, country clubs, or an occasional urban venue. While all of these locations are absolutely beautiful (and I know people from the south are just as envious of our fall colors in the Midwest), I constantly kept coming back to the question of wondering whether or not brides felt stuck in their region of the country, confined to only what has “been done” or is “popular” in their area.

But what if a Wisconsin bride wants a desert themed wedding?

With this shoot, I was determined to prove that any bride, anywhere, can have ANY wedding she desires!!! It just takes a little thinking outside of the box, along with vendors who are on board and understand your vision!

Our desert style elopement was done in southern Wisconsin. A table for two, complete with homemade desserts, a simple yet elegant wedding cake, Ouzo traditional greek liquor from a local distillery, and a bottle of bubbly. We opted for a bright color palette of pinks, oranges and corals, with accents of muted green and gold, which would stand out against the rock and sand tones of the location. Wooden crates, antlers, and a set of antique folding chairs and old sewing table completed the simple, yet romantic and earthy feel.

The bride wore a flowy, handmade Monirose-Bespoke wedding gown and an edgy Stella & Dot necklace to blend the softness of the gown with the hard lines of the earth. Her extra long tulle veil was just perfect for those intimate shots of her and her groom!! Enjoy this elopement and remember that your dream wedding CAN most DEFINITELY be your dream wedding!!

Preppy Wisconsin Garden Wedding

What do you get when you combine a dash of southern charm and a boatload of pretty Fresh Design blooms? I’ll tell you, pure preppy perfection. Case in point? This lovely garden inspired affair overflowing with pretty. From their watercolored crest to the postcard guest book, every detail is darling and Heather Cook Elliott Photography captured it to share, right here!

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From Heather Cook Elliott Photography… Sarah & Hans’ engagement session found them wandering about a delightful city park in Chicago close to where they live. Among the trails and the flowers and the gardens they told Emily about how they met and how Hans asked Sarah to be his wife. Fast forward a few months and that garden feel was with them again on their wedding day a bit further north in Wisconsin close to Sarah’s family.

At the Milwaukee Country Club they skillfully designed a wedding day made incredibly intimate, sweetly playful and totally them by their delightful inclusion of critters, critters everywhere. They are kind of a signature of Sarah, who leaves them behind to say I love you to family and friends after visits long and short. A likely partial list of animals I spy throughout this submission are puppies, a mouse, otters, bees, and oodles of alligators – a sweet gesture in honor of the time she and Hans have spent at her grandfather’s (alligator friendly) South Carolina property outside of Charleston.

There is a bit of Southern charm to this thoroughly Mid-Western wedding and I can’t be complimentary enough about the dress Sarah chose, their willingness to mix and match here and there, and to incorporate so much of themselves in their details (Sarah watercolored their crest and drew their post card “guest book” as well as the maps included with guest welcome gifts), not to mention the gorgeous setting of the Club paired with its well-heeled china and silver place settings.

Their wedding wasn’t small or in a garden but that’s how it felt – like an intimate garden party among friends, and it was exactly what Sarah and Hans hoped it would be.

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BHLDN

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Plum Pretty Sugar

Castelbel & Trumpet

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Lilli Tru

PomPon

Plum Pretty Sugar for BHLDN

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Glamorous Beer Garden Inspired Wedding

Now this is a wedding weekend I can really get on board with. Think a fun-filled rehearsal dinner followed by a glamorous, candlelit wedding, all with a fabulous beer garden theme. It’s luxe red, blue and gold hues meets gorgeous florals (gorgeous) from Belle Fiori meets an entire gallery of beautiful images from Heather Cook Elliott Photography. Click here for all of the pretty.

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From Heather Cook Elliott Photography… Stephanie and Jay are my kind of people. They love coffee dates and lakeside walks, European beer gardens and travel, family traditions and did I mention beer? They live in Minnesota but traveled to her home state of Wisconsin for an October wedding that reflected a fair amount of those loves and its an understatement to write that we were thrilled to get to photograph it.

People in the midwest take their heritage seriously and this wedding proves it – both were born and raised in the midwest, but Stephanie’s family is solidly German, while Jay’s is all Scottish and they designed a wedding to celebrate both sides – blending cultural traditions with midwestern classics to create a wedding weekend that managed to be both glamorous and cozy, upscale and down-home; all about the drinks, the flowers and the love.

The original inspiration for most of their design ideas was to host the weekend in a beer garden – think floating lights and florals dripping from the ceiling and you have the right idea. To that end, the weekend started with a groom’s dinner at Best Place, a rathskeller type space that used to be the boardroom for executives at the Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee. Stephanie wore a dried flower crown for the evening in keeping with an old German tradition and their beer was served in glass boots from Mader’s, a local 100+ year old German restaurant.

The next day they revisited Pabst Brewery for stunning portraits on the campus before hosting guests at the Historic Pritzlaff where an area that used to be loading docks was transformed with dripping candles and florals to be their European style beer garden. On this day the flower girls wore the flower crown and Stephanie a bold Lazaro dress with gorgeous ruffles and a glam topknot. At the reception they offered guests a Milwaukee favorite – brandy old fashioneds – and the Scottish side changed into kilts (and the mother of the groom donned a tartan sash!). Stephanie even changed out of her sparkly Jimmy Choos and slipped into a tartan clad pair of shoes that I adored. Overall, the color palette was a surprise – teal and rust colors with pops of purple and lots of green – but I love how those deep fall colors suggested the change to kilts that was to come.

With gold details, lots of candle light and garlands galore on wooden tables the effect was perfect and beautiful and very Stephanie and Jay.

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WASIO photography + A Special Offer + A Giveaway!

Ask anyone I know and they’ll tell you I am rarely at a loss for words; I like to talk… a lot. But every once in awhile, I come across something sooo incredibly breathtaking and beautiful, words escape me. And that something is the brilliant work of WASIO photography, a talented team of photographers that know a thing or two about capturing your wedding day in images you’ll treasure for always. Made up of two husband and wife teams (Sasha & Yaneck + Magda & Marcin), WASIO photography is known for building personal relationships with each and every one of their clients; meeting them several times pre-wedding, bonding with them at their amazing engagement shoots and even inviting family members to the viewing sessions post-wedding. Which means that on your big day, you’ll have friends documenting all of those special moments, making their perspective that much more unique. And WASIO photography isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get the jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind image, whether it’s on the day of your nuptials, at night with their custom lighting or at one of their breathtaking sunrise engagement sessions. [iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/KZtDuEQCXM0 600 338] Visit WASIO photography today to talk to the team of photogs that will take your wedding photography to the next level. And don’t forget, if you book WASIO photography by June, 2015, you’ll receive a 16×24 beautifully matted fine art print printed on hand-made German 100% cotton museum paper ($450 value)!What: WASIO photography is giving away a sunset or sunrise 1-hour engagement session!* (Value $499)

How: To enter, go here!

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WASIO photography + A Special Offer + A Giveaway!

Ask anyone I know and they’ll tell you I am rarely at a loss for words; I like to talk… a lot. But every once in awhile, I come across something sooo incredibly breathtaking and beautiful, words escape me. And that something is the brilliant work of WASIO photography, a talented team of photographers that know a thing or two about capturing your wedding day in images you’ll treasure for always. Made up of two husband and wife teams (Sasha & Yaneck + Magda & Marcin), WASIO photography is known for building personal relationships with each and every one of their clients; meeting them several times pre-wedding, bonding with them at their amazing engagement shoots and even inviting family members to the viewing sessions post-wedding. Which means that on your big day, you’ll have friends documenting all of those special moments, making their perspective that much more unique. And WASIO photography isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get the jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind image, whether it’s on the day of your nuptials, at night with their custom lighting or at one of their breathtaking sunrise engagement sessions. [iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/KZtDuEQCXM0 600 338] Visit WASIO photography today to talk to the team of photogs that will take your wedding photography to the next level. And don’t forget, if you book WASIO photography by June, 2015, you’ll receive a 16×24 beautifully matted fine art print printed on hand-made German 100% cotton museum paper ($450 value)! What: WASIO photography is giving away a sunset or sunrise 1-hour engagement session!* (Value $499)

How: To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us your why you would love a morning or evening session with the fantastic WASIO photography!

Who: One lucky reader, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on April 17, 2015! *Session must take place in Chicago or mutually agreed location on mutually agreed date. The giveaway includes session time plus eight WASIO Signature Edit high resolution photos. Online gallery will include all of the final images from the session and clients will have the option to purchase prints of additional images or add a USB of all high res images.

For terms and conditions, click here. Good luck, lovelies! Sponsored-Post

Elegant Boysenberry Wedding at The Villa Terrace

At first glance, you might mistake this slice of elegance from Lexia Frank Photography and Tailored Engagements for an affair set at an authentic Italian villa. That’s just how gorgeous The Villa Terrace in Milwaukee is—and a successful win-win for the beautiful Bride and Groom who craved a destination wedding packed with family. Drenched in the prettiest shade of boysenberry, it’s a beauty all-around.

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From Lexia Frank Photography…Kelly and Alessandro found the perfect place to marry. It was close to home for ailing relatives, but it felt like we were all transported to Italy, where all of the groom’s family resides. The villa terrace is an exact replica of a villa in Italy, so Kelly and Alessandro got the destination wedding they wanted, while also being able to celebrate with the entire family.

The ceremony took place on the terrace overlooking the water, and guests enjoyed a pre-ceremony cocktail hour in the courtyard. After the ceremony guests were welcomed down in the villa’s gardens where Italian style antipasti were served, children played soccer, and an incredible balloon artist created whimsical creations for the wedding’s youngest guests (and some of the bride and groom as well!). Later in the evening, children were ushered into their own private wedding ‘party’ while the adults were happy to dine together and listen to the live italian opera singer serenade the evening. It was a perfect day, and could not have been more lovely!

Traditionally Elegant Grove Wedding

Now this is what wedded bliss looks like. Bliss in the form of greenery chandeliers (hand-made by the bridal party!), hand-stamped favors, and romance all the way. It’s exactly what you’ll find in this elegant Quivey’s Grove affair from m three studio, and the full gallery is something truly special, right here!

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Spring Weddings

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From m three studio… Where to start with this gorgeous day? I think with the ribbons. It was the breeze and the ribbons that first captivated me. (Every bouquet should have trailing ribbons!) This wedding is like a barely cool breeze on a warm summer day – the kind you tilt your head to take in, close your eyes to enjoy the sunshine on your face and take a deep breath of the sweet air. That is this day. Quivey’s Grove was a perfect host to this beautiful and laid-back wedding. Ashley & Mike’s easy style translated so well into tables draped in greenery and speckled with candles, flowing grey bridesmaid dresses, gorgeous all white florals, the greenery chandeliers (hand-made by the bridal party!), vintage chalkboards, nods to their Wisconsin heritage (craft beers!) and little sprigs of lavender to gently scent the day.

From the beautiful Bride… Mike and I live in Boston, but we both grew up in Wisconsin and wanted to incorporate some of our Midwest favorites throughout the day. We served cheese curds, brandy old fashioneds (Mike’s favorite), WI beer, and requested that the DJ play a few polka songs during the reception. Our east coast friends still bring up the cheese curds. If only we could get those out in Boston. :)

I’m really lucky to have so many creative friends and family. Creative and generous. I flew into Wisconsin only a couple days before the wedding and my florist, bridesmaids, and family helped me bring all of my ideas to life. My brother, Ross, created a stamp in the shape of WI for our welcome bags and helped me stamp and stuff the bags for hours one night. My dear friend and bridesmaid, Katie, created all of the gorgeous design elements for my day. Whenever I had a new idea, she would just quickly whip something up and viola!

My other ‘DIY” favorite was the wreath we made for our dinner tent, and by we, I mean I had a vision of what I wanted, but I really have to thank my florist, cousins, and friends for making it all come together. After my bridesmaids and I were done getting ready, we took a walk around the property to help with the last minute details, and found a couple of my bridesmaids husbands in the dinner tent (already dressed in their suits for the party) hard at work hoisting the wreath up above the tables. I remember stopping at that moment and feeling so blessed.

My friend’s mom, Mary, was our amazing florist. I did most of my planning over the internet and had to sort of hope for the best, but Mary made me 100% confident right from the beginning. I told her I wanted everything to look earthy and imperfect, and sent her some pictures of flowers that I liked, but she really brought my vision to life. She made games for our cocktail hour, lent us furniture, decor and even grew her own herbs that she tucked into the greenery and our bouquets. It really surpassed my expectations, and it smelled amazing. :)

Again, without all of the help Mike and I received, we wouldn’t have been able to make everything come together.

If I could offer any advise to engaged couples: Don’t take on more than you can handle and ask for help! I’m a bit of a perfectionist and wanted to be involved in every detail. However, planning a wedding from across the country didn’t make that very easy. It was difficult for me to delegate, mainly because I felt like I was burdening my friends and family, but without them, I would have never been able to make everything possible.

Walking down the aisle with my dad was a moment I’ll never forget. He told me that he was so proud of me, but I started to get emotional and didn’t want to cry, so as we turned the corner, I asked him to talk about the least emotional topic he could think of. He chose the new vegetables he added to his garden that season. “Well Ashley, I added sweet corn, sweet potatoes…” Haha.

But, my favorite moment of the day was when Mike caught me off guard and made a speech during our dinner. He started by thanking my parents for hosting our beautiful day, and then he turned and put all of the attention on me (eek!) and thanked me for being his rock and for always supporting him throughout our relationship. Mike was in school in WI when I met him, and we eventually moved across the country together, started new jobs, and really depended on each other to get through all of the changes in our lives. It’s one thing to have your partner say sweet things to just you, but to have them spoken to all of your friends and family, that really takes it to another level. The entire bridal party was in tears, myself included!

Farm to Table Inspiration

Farm to table style inspiration is always a good thing, but add a team of Milwaukee’s finest vendors to the mix and it’s an entirely new level of amazing. But I guess that’s what happens when Britt Taylor, Events To A T, Miranda K Levy and Rachel R Lee (just to name a few) combine their creative talents to craft a shoot that is all at once rustic, modern and fabulous. See it all right here.

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Seasons

Summer Weddings

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Urban Space

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Rustic

From Britt Taylor… Britt Taylor Photography and Tiara with Events to a T came together with Milwaukee’s most creative vendors to achieve this modern day feast. The goal was to create a relaxed sense of togetherness with a heavy emphasis on beautiful organic textures and simple elegance. One of the main focal pieces is the farm to table style dining which is showcased beautifully by the craft style cascading banner menu designed by PaperWhites.

The decor lends itself perfectly to creating a relaxed atmosphere; the paint chipped farm house chairs add a fantastic texture while joining the grand wooden feast style table all provided by Relics Vintage Rentals. This style of dinning allows for guest to feel incredibly relaxed and engaged with the intimacy of the celebration. With the visual focus remaining on the feast we wanted to incorporate natural elements that would be an alternative to traditional florals. The use of moss and hand picked Wisconsin grown foliage enhance the visual splendor.

We loved the modern design of Project Runway alum Miranda K. Levy’s Bridal gown. The high neckline and cropped waist create a really chic fashion forward look while the beautiful choice of satin retain a timeless elegance. Rachel Lee developed a romantic natural hair and makeup look by emphasizing our brides lashes with individual lash extensions and keeping her palette to all neutrals with a pinky nude lip. She finished this polished look with the perfect amount of cheek luminizer to create a etherial glow. Our bride’s look was perfected by the custom jeweled caplet by Elan Couture. We love the idea the bride jewelry can be incredibly unexpected and completely exciting. Her cathedral veil from Miss Ruby’s Boutique was adorned with an Wisconsin grown sprig.

Our Groom keep his fashions simple, comfortable and sophisticated by mixing patterns and adding an extra detail of texture with his leather adorned suspenders. we enjoyed creating an event that both Bride and Groom can feel very inspired by and can easily achieve by mixing different textures, patterns and keeping the color palette to a muted minimum.

Elegant Milwaukee Summer Wedding

A beautiful day, pretty petals galore, a gorgeous couple and an adorable pup; what more could you ask for? This wedding right here is the epitome of lovely and the little bee’s scattered throughout, from stationery to jewelry, paying homage to the couple’s last name, is as sweet as can be. m three studio captured it all so we too can soak up the love that radiates from this buzzworthy Bride and Groom.

Colors

Seasons

Summer Weddings

Settings

Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

Styles

Classic Weddings

From m three studio… A classically beautiful day in absolutely every way – Christina and Chris had the sort of wedding day you see in movies. Perfect weather, a gorgeous dress, a fun and attentive wedding party, loving families on both sides full of joy, adorable littles running around, lush florals, a dramatic ballroom, and love, love, love everywhere. The perfection of it all can leave you dizzy like a good glass of champagne.

What I love most though are the small touches that they incorporated to make it all so personal – you have to really pay attention to see them. Well, the first one is hard to miss – they made sure their beloved pup got to join in on the fun for their bridal party pictures. Chris’ love for baseball was incorporated into the men’s dressing area (that’s vintage Milwaukee Braves memorabilia on the walls) and the guestbook and favors; baseballs for guests to sign and crackerjacks to take home. Chris’ last name is Beesley and his Mom has a long standing tradition of incorporating bees into her home decor and life moments. Christina intends to continue the tradition and made sure one appeared in their invitations, menu cards, on the guest welcome bags, and also gave each bridesmaid a gold bee charm bracelet. Christina’s mercury glass collection gave each dinner table an eclectic and personal touch. Their stationer got things rolling with a custom illustration of Milwaukee for their invitations.

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Vera Wang

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Kristin La Voie Photography + A Discount + A Giveaway!

http://kristinlavoie.comAround these parts, Kristin La Voie Photography is totally legend. An award winning photographer recently named one of the Best Wedding Photographers of 2015, she is a serious expert at capturing each and every gorgeous moment of your day as it unfolds naturally. In other words? Stunning images for you, and a whole lot of swooning for those of us here at SMP. We call that a win-win, lovelies.

A specialist in film photography, and one of the leading film photogs in the Chicago area, we’ve been obsessed with Kristin’s work since the very moment we laid our eyes on her breathtaking captures. Think beautiful light-filled images that document your day in the prettiest of ways. With Kristin La Voie Photography, you’ll have those special moments you didn’t even realize were being captured (she’s that good, people) to remember for always. And, bonus. Kristin La Voie Photography recently launched KLP BEAUTY, a brand new site totally devoted to capturing all of you stunning brides pre-wedding in a beautiful + oh-so-romantic light. It’s boudoir reinvented, and it’s totally awesome.

Contact Kristin La Voie Photography today to get started on your amazing journey. And don’t forget that Kristin is offering SMP readers $300 off any 2015 wedding package through March 31st!

Kristin La Voie Photography is giving away a Boudoir Mini Session to one lucky SMP reader, which will include session time (30 minutes) and digital images!* To enter, leave a comment below telling us your most beautiful feature! The winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, March 27, 2015. For terms and conditions, click here. Good luck, lovelies! xo

*Boudoir session must be held at a location within 20 miles of 60174. Value $450.

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