Jenny is from Wisconsin & Matt is from Leeds, England. After meeting in New York by chance, they moved to Chicago where Jenny is an Occupational Therapist & Matt is a Professional Soccer (Football) Coach, after playing in the United Kingdom. They wanted to have a destination wedding where their family could fly in and enjoy a week of celebration and relaxation. Jenny grew up vacationing at their family’s cabin in Green Lake & she knew she wanted to have a lakeside outdoor wedding. This most certainly pleased her father, who was thrilled to see his daughter getting married again such a familiar backdrop.
Both sides of the family spent their morning getting ready at adjacent cabins on the lake. Matt’s family flew in from the UK and spent the week taking in Wisconsin’s summer beauty. It really was a weeklong celebration that culminated with Jenny and Matt giving their vows on the Grey Rock Lawn with the Green Lake behind them.
Upon their arrival, their guests were served cold lemonade by their nieces and nephews all dressed in white with pink suspenders. Jenny & Mat’s dog Hoosier, named after the Jenny’s alma matter, Indiana University’s mascot, was an important part of their day. The couple was determined to have Hoosier in on some of the fun.
Both of Jenny’s parents walked her down the isle as friend and family sat shaded beneath the trees. The breeze made for an ideal mid-August afternoon.
After saying “I Do,” in classic fashion, guests threw pink & white rose petals into the air as they made their way down the lawn aisle, however, upon reaching the end, Jenny & Matt took a ‘nuptial selfie’ to share with all their friends who weren’t able to make the trip across the pond.
Their reception was designed for their friends and family they hoped would share in their special day. Jenny went through much effort to ensure her miniature guests would be entertained while their parents were visit and celebrate more easily. Custom drawing books and games adorned the kid’s table while photos from their Chicago engagement were used for table decorations. English tea posts from Relics Vintage Rentals added a sophisticated touch to their American English infused wedding.
DJ Sound By Design |Florist Lauren Picado | Ice Cream Dessert Kelley Country Creamery | Centerpiece Rentals (Teapots) |Relics Vintage Rentals | Hair Salon Giovanni | Makeup Karolina Kwasniak | Officiant Kim Rasmussen
| Linens (Sash)I Do Decorating & Rental | Cake Ripon Pick’n Save Bakery |
We knew from the start we didn’t want to have a typical wedding. We approached the planning process with a clean slate and focused on what we wanted to do rather that what we were expected to do. Traditional aspects such as the bouquet toss, dollar dance, and wedding cake were skipped. We had our mom’s bake some of our favorite treats for a dessert bar instead which turned out to be a hit. A gender specific wedding party was also opted to be adapted. My brother stood in support as my man of honor next to my sister as the matron of honor. The ceremony and dinner were kept intimate and we expanded the guest list for the reception that evening.
Mike and I aimed to share our love for travel and adventure with our guests. We encouraged them to create their own itinerary while traveling to Chippewa Falls for our wedding by providing information for local attractions such as the Leinie Lodge, wineries, and music events within the invitations. We carried this over into the wedding décor as well. Tables were namesake of places we had traveled together and centerpieces were accompanied by photos illustrating those experiences. Escort cards were displayed below a set of wooden initials we had covered with maps of the towns we grew up in and the place we met. Banners of photos were displayed with some of the places we had gone with each other as well as friends. The venue (located two miles from our home) and ambiance were very “us”.
In reality, wedding planning was a community project. The death of a very close friend and a cancer diagnosis for my dad three months prior to the wedding left us focusing on more important aspects. My dad’s coworkers volunteered their time and cut down a birch tree for our centerpieces, something my dad had hoped he could do for us. Friends and family scouted garage sales for unique glassware to complete our vision. Mike’s dad assisted him in building the Lionshead bar and other items from scratch. A generous neighbor gave us materials to use from her dilapidated barn – a door that was turned into a table for the glassware, a window used as a display for our grandparents’ wedding photos, and barn boards for the arbor and other pieces. Our wedding became a celebration of much more than our future together. It also became a celebration of the wonderful people we are so blessed to be surrounded by. I’m happy to share my dad is cancer free and Mike and I continue to love each other more with every adventurous day.
Venue: White’s Wildwood Retreat, Lafayette/Chippewa Falls, WI