While a dating app might have initially helped Mariana & Joseph connect, fate stepped in when they happened to cross paths on a night out. Joseph recognized Mariana from her photos and took a chance, messaging her in the app to confirm. They met up for a drink that night and quickly scheduled a “real” first date, which included an Italian dinner followed by a show at the Majestic.
Over the next few years, Mariana & Joseph became inseparable. To celebrate their sixth anniversary, Joseph planned a low-key proposal at their home, where he cooked one of their favorite recipes.
Their initial wedding plan looked much different: a micro wedding or an elopement. However, after a serious illness in the family, they switched course to a bigger, more traditional celebration. Mariana wrote, “We realized how meaningful it would be to gather all of our loved ones in one place to celebrate our marriage. Choosing a traditional wedding turned out to be the best decision—we’ll always treasure those memories, and we wouldn’t change a thing.”
They used WedPlan as a resource when starting their vendor search. In addition to our planning guide, our printed pieces and website helped Mariana & Joseph find inspiration, narrow down venues and photographers, and find the best local talent.
Given the planning and logistics of a full-scale wedding, Mariana & Joseph knew hiring a wedding planner was a must. They selected a package from Copper Feather Events, who assisted with the last two months and day-of coordination. Looking back, they view their planner as an “essential resource and teammate” who helped pull their vision together and reduce stress throughout the process.
The couple kept the theme classic and elegant, with a black tie color palette plus pops of orange in the ceremony and reception florals.
Mariana found her dream dress by designer Maggie Sottero at Vera’s House of Bridals. The strapless A-line gown bridged classic with modern, featuring simple, luxe satin fabric, a structured, pleated bodice, and a deep-v illusion neckline. Bridal Hair Couture loosely curled and styled Mariana’s hair into a half-updo, perfect to accessorize with a long tulle veil.
Makeup by Francesca elevated Mariana’s natural beauty with subtle eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush, and a warm lip.
Mariana & Joseph’s wedding venue, The Madison Club, also played a key role in setting the day’s tone and simplifying communication. The Madison Club is a beautiful, unique, and inviting venue located right in downtown Madison. All wedding packages include a professional event planner, the event space, award-winning cuisine, including an on-site pastry chef, tables, votives, chairs, and linens. With the basics, catering, and desserts covered, the couple could focus on décor, personal details, and entertainment. Plus, its historic charm makes for beautiful photo backdrops!
The bride reflected,
“I loved that the Madison Club provided a single location for the ceremony, cocktail hour,
and reception, and offered packages that included catering and bar.
The energy and look of the Madison Club was exactly what we needed.”
The couple exchanged vows in The Roosevelt Room on the first floor. The beautiful, cozy space features black and white walls (with butterfly accents!), décor, and flooring, with the aisle leading to a fireplace at the back of the room. Mariana & Joseph personalized a unity ceremony by creating a time capsule box, which they filled with a bottle of wine to enjoy while opening letters to their future selves.
After the ceremony, photographer Mariah Jones Photo accompanied the couple to the nearby Capitol for portraits. They found a variety of stunning indoor and outdoor locations, playing with movement in twirling and the veil moving in the breeze.
The Madison Club was also a unique location for couple portraits, with Mariana & Joseph posing by the vintage bar, in the hallways, and on the spiral staircase.
Daffodil Parker designed the day’s florals, beginning with a sculptural, long-stem bridal bouquet composed of lilies, orchids, long grasses, and artfully folded leaves. Additional blooms were added at the ceremony backdrop, sweetheart table, and centerpieces, including chrysanthemum, greenery, and bold orange poppies and ranunculus.
The Madison Club provided delicious in-house catering, bar, and desserts. Guests enjoyed small bites, charcuterie, and signature drinks at cocktail hour and dinner, then a beautiful three-tier, textured wedding cake adorned with white lilies.
Later in the evening, Mariana changed into a second look, a short white dress with floral appliqués. The reception continued with a full dance floor thanks to music and entertainment from Luxe Productions.
The couple remembers their last dance as one of the most special moments of the day. They wrote,
“In general, the joy of having our closest friends and family gather in one place to help us celebrate was an unforgettable feeling of love and gratitude. More specifically, for our final dance, Spencer (our DJ) had the guests form a circle around us to start off the song. They ended up joining hands and swaying to the music while we slow danced and took it all in. Then the song remixed into a dance song, and everyone filled in the dance floor and we closed out the night basically jumping up and down together like we were at a concert. It was so fun and unexpected!”
For more Madison, Wisconsin area wedding inspiration, visit our blog and follow us on social @wedplanmadison. Also, click the links below to learn more about the talented local vendors who brought Mariana & Joseph’s stunning wedding to life!
