Nothing says Summer quite like a lakeside affair. And this beauty designed by Gracious Events checks off all the lake essentials: a weathered dock, refreshing beverages complete with cute straws and summery tablescapes perfect for dining al fresco. It’s my warm-weathered party dreams realized and you can see the whole shindig captured by M Three Studio right here. Now tell me you aren’t sold on Team Lake.
From the Bride…A short engagement was the best wedding decision that Wes and I made. It was a quiet Sunday morning in May when he chose to sneak up on me with a ring, and we were married a quick three months later in August — on a clear, warm afternoon in Wisconsin.
The thing about having three months to plan a wedding is that it really makes you, as a couple, focus on what’s most important to you. We knew from the start that our top two priorities were family and location. And as it happens, my parent’s lake home was the perfect spot. I’d been dreaming of getting married in the back yard there and it was a great middle point for our friends and family coming in from all over the country.
I wouldn’t say that I’m necessarily a whimsical or romantic type of person in my every day life but that’s exactly the vibe that I wanted for our day. All soft lines, candles and as many flowers as possible. The floral arbor for the ceremony was at the top of my wish list. We also decided on a color scheme of teal, gold and cream.
I should mention that for the first month, I was planning the wedding from Austin, TX where Wes and I call home. It was difficult feeling like I was making all these big decisions from 1200 miles away but luckily, I have an incredibly nice boss who let me work remotely for the final two months. But while I was far away from Texas, we didn’t want it to be too far from the wedding. One small way that we included it was to have only TX and WI beer at the reception.
To be honest, we didn’t do very much DIY. Although one project I did tackle with my mom was wedding day pictures of family members to hang at the reception. We both come from close-knit families and look to our parents and grandparents for guidance as a couple. I collected the six different portraits and we framed them in a cream mat. We then had the calligrapher write the names and date in gold. It was really fun to see the different poses, dresses and expressions. Wes’s maternal grandparents look like movie stars!
My dress was a happy accident. Two weeks after we got engaged I flew into Chicago to meet my mom, Wes’s mom, my sisters and a best friend — we had one day in the city to find my dress. I didn’t have an exact idea in mind of what I wanted. I took about 10 dresses back with me to try on. There were a few that I liked and thought would be safe bets. But I tried on the last dress and I knew it was it. I felt so great in it! It looked unique and made me feel romantic.
Of course not everything was perfect in the process, and I experience stressful days or sleepless nights just like every other bride. But I can confidently say that our wedding did reflect us as a couple and let us celebrate how we wanted to with our friends and family that day. Planning a wedding in three months is crazy, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
From M Three Studio Photography…Maggie & Wes were married in a lakeside ceremony at her parent’s vacation home in Wisconsin. With a focus on family and showing off their treasured Wisconsin retreat, the Austin-based couple had all their favorites on hand and peppered the day with light-hearted moments and an easy-breezy attitude that only exists on cool summer nights.
The day was filled with light, aqua touches, and all the best a Wisconsin summer has to offer: brown bag pie, drinks around the pool, dinner under the stars (and twinkle lights), and an old-time polka band (complete with lederhosen) to dance the night away to. Beers from Texas and Wisconsin, their favorite Southern dishes, family wedding photos from couples past on display, aqua-soled shoes for the groom, and a visit from their cutie poodle are just a few of my personal favorites.
Photography: m three studio | Event Design: Gracious Events | Floral Design: Gracious Events | Stationery: monograham | Ceremony: Private Residence | Reception: Delafield Fish Hatchery | Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Gracious Events | Hair & Makeup: Anton's Salon | Lighting: Sound by Design | Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss | Groomsmen Suits: Tommy Hilfiger | Bride's Gown: JLM Couture, Inc