Real Midwest Wedding: Kari and Curt, Lake Geneva, WI

I didn’t get a chance to post a real wedding yesterday because of some technical difficulties at mi casa. However I think it’s fitting that instead I post Kari and Curt’s beautiful day on Floral Friday, since one of the things that grabbed my attention in the first place were the beautiful flowers.

Curt and I met through my best friend who worked for the same company as Curt. For the first year and a half of our relationship we were long-distance, until by chance Curt got a job offer in the city where I was living. We had been dating three years when Curt proposed, and had just moved into our new house (he proposed the day we got the keys). Sixteen months later we were married.

Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony: Delvan First Baptist Church. Reception: The Riviera Ballroom. Photography: m three studio. Flowers: Fresh Design. Catering: Chef Jack’s Catering. Cake: Cake Lady Designs. Make-up: Blush. Invites: Paper Envy. Bride’s Dress: Melissa Sweet from Zita’s Bridal.

Kari went back and forth about the colors she wanted for the wedding. She decided since all the girls were picking their own style of dress that she’d go with navy fabric berry color sashes. She liked that the navy was classic, but the stripe of berry added a splash of color. Kari knew flowers were going to play a large part, so she also saw the navy as a great backdrop. Kari wore navy shoes to tie in her colors, and the men wore navy pin stripe suits.

In place of fresh flowers at the ceremony Kari purchased pom poms from an Etsy vendor, to add a touch of color and whimsy.

For their reception location Kari and Curt chose The Riviera Ballroom. This location was special to Kari in that she grew up seeing herself getting married there. Her aunt lives in Lake Geneva and she spent a lot of time there growing up.

Kari said that one of her favorite parts of planning was working with Karen at Fresh Design and sharing the ideas she had for flowers. Flowers have always been an important part of her life growing up, because her grandmothers, aunts, and mother are all avid gardeners. Gladiolas held a special place in Kari’s heart, and Karen made sure to include them in the reception arrangements. It was Kari’s way of including her late grandmothers in her and Curt’s special day.

Kari walked down the aisle to a special arrangement of “Across the Universe” by the Beatles. They also included lyrics from Beatles songs on paper luminaries at the reception. One of Kari and Curt’s favorite parts of their day was the music, which included a jazz trio of friends that played during the cocktail hour at the reception.