Real Weddings: Lisa and Brendan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When I started looking through the photos of Lisa and Brendan’s day, I have to say I felt a bit overwhelmed. There were so many amazing details, beautiful colors, and every moment was captured perfectly by the talented Heather Cook Elliott. I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going to be able to make cuts, so we definitely have more images to look at in this post than usual. I also thought it was adorable that Brendan wrote the narrative for their day. It’s not often that groom’s get into the act of participating in the blog posts, but I have to say I love what he wrote. It really brings their day to life! A big thank you to Brendan and Lisa for sharing the details of the day, and to Heather Cook Elliott Photography for the lovely images.

Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony/Reception: Boerner Botanical Garden. Photography: Heather Cook Elliott Photography. Flowers: Floral Impressions by Esther. Vidography: Blu Couture. Photobooth: Dustin White. Bride and Bridesmaids Attire: Lela Rose. Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Jim’s Formal Wear.

Even more loveliness…

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From the groom, Brendan…

Our love story began in a rowdy northern Wisconsin honky tonk while throwing darts and downing beers. Don’t all the epic ones start in such a way? Lisa and I met through mutual friends and we were lucky enough to develop a friendship prior to falling in love. Even before we started dating, I knew Lisa possessed a heart so remarkably pure that, no matter the circumstance, she would do anything in her power to make life better for those around her. Lisa, meanwhile, knew there was more to me than just my dashing good looks and rugged masculinity. For instance, I think she was really impressed with my extensive knowledge about the Milwaukee Brewers.

Seriously, looking back, I can’t envision our path to happiness unwinding any other way. Our friendship – and the ability to laugh with one another – sparked a remarkable, unimaginable love. Lisa and I were engaged atop Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. It was a memorable proposal involving horses, a pair of affable Jamaican tour guides, a waterfall, some soaked cargo shorts and a comically undersized ring – but that’s a story best told in a Jamaican accent over a round of Red Stripe.

As unforgettable as the proposal was, it pales in comparison to our wedding day. Like anything Lisa does, she poured her heart and soul into making sure our special day would be remarkable. As the planning progressed, and her “wedding binder” grew into a living, breathing thing that weighed as much as a small hatchback, I knew every detail would be perfect. And indeed it was.

These are some of the words Lisa uses to describe our Anthropology-inspired wedding: eclectic, modern and country chic. I simply call it “magazineish” because every image captured by our insanely talented photographer, Heather Cook Elliot, looks like it could be in a catalog for wedding awesomeness. With help from our moms, we made the candy table bags, labels, name cards and ceremony programs by hand. Not only was it fun to make the items together, it also made me feel good that my wife-to-be trusted me with things like a glue stick, scissors and paper punch.

Our table numbers were also one-of-a-kind creations as they featured our beloved Australian Shepherds Montana and Finnegan. The dogs patiently posed for pictures taken in a tiny touristy town by our close friend Jeff Lazewski (owner of Gravidee Photography) during a vacation to the lake last summer. We were also fortunate to have Montana and Finn brought to the beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee, WI, following our ceremony so they could share in our joy and experience all the charm a 90-degree wedding day in Wisconsin has to offer!

Lisa and I both have quite a bit of Irish coursing through our blood (we honeymooned in Ireland) so we were proud to incorporate a good deal of Celtic tradition into our ceremony. Our Reverend Jennifer Miller was a kind and clever woman that worked hard to get to know us as people while providing us with a ceremony that matched our personalities.

For me, the most brilliant part of the wedding day was the moment I took Lisa’s hands in mine and, standing before family, friends and God, professed my devotion to the woman I love. Following our vows, as Mother Nature continued to turn up the thermostat while withholding even the slightest semblance of a breeze, Lisa noticed the sweat dripping down my forehead and kindly handed me her something old – a white lace hankie once owned by her great grandmother – so I could wipe my forehead. It was a simple and genuine act of kindness from my new wife, the most selfless person I’ve ever known.