Bridgette and James met online, as many modern couples do. However, the journey to forever spanned distance and time. In 2015, James had been working as a computer engineer in California but believed his perfect match would be found in the Midwest. He took a leap on remote work and made the life-changing decision to move, which eventually led to meeting his future wife.
After attending the University of Madison-Wisconsin, Bridgette spent a few years in a master’s program in Social Work, laying the foundation for her career. She had flirted with the idea of online dating, but felt apprehensive about in-person meetings. Her roommate, Mara, incidentally made the connection first while scrolling through Bridgette’s messages. When she saw James’ profile, she confidently declared, “Him. He’s the one.”
Two months had already passed since his initial message, but Bridgette took her roommate’s advice and made a move. The couple’s first meeting lasted over four hours, full of stories and common interests shared over dinner and drinks–and even a history of being in classic rock cover bands! From that day forward, both Bridgette & James knew they had found their person.
After six years of sharing their lives, hanging out at home with their cat, singing together in the kitchen, and traveling around the country chasing a love of craft beer and hiking, James planned a proposal to remember.
On a hiking trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in 2021, James found the perfect spot to pop the question. With the sun peeking through an otherwise drizzly day, lighting up a breathtaking mountain view with a little stream rushing past, James pulled out a custom-made ring. He’d spent care and time to make sure the ring was perfect, choosing alexandrite to include both of their favorite colors, a heart shape for the rocks they collect on every vacation, cats in honor of their beloved pet, swirls for ocean waves, and music notes for their mutual love of music.
On their wedding day, Barnwood Events was the perfect location for Bridgette & James’ enchanted forest wedding. With the help of their invaluable wedding planner, Whitetail Events, they composed their perfect day full of personality, music, and love.
Bridgette & James’ outdoor ceremony was held under tall, shady trees and surrounded by the beauty of nature. Twig and Olive Photography captured stunning indoor and outdoor photos, with no shortage of backdrops to choose from. The bride wore a romantic, thinly strapped dress from Bon Bon Belle Boutique, with off-the-shoulder sleeves, a deep neckline, a flowing train, and glittery waist detailing that matched her hairpiece.
The couple teamed up in many ways to incorporate their interests and talents into their wedding. One of the most unique elements was their innovative reception centerpieces. Bridgette brought artistic flair to the design, which consisted of two moss-covered books on a beer bottle vase and lighted tree branches. Using his computer engineering skills, James then turned the stunning display into an immersive seating chart. Each centerpiece played ambient noises, like crickets and hooting owls, and lit up when each guest scanned their nametag into a book at the front of the venue, leading them to their assigned table.
The couple used various pieces from Event Essentials throughout the day to perfectly match their whimsical forest vibe. Their caterer, Beef Butter BBQ, was also a huge hit with guests, and desserts from Honey Bee Bakery were a delicious and adorable treat for the celebration.
Due to their musical pasts, booking live entertainment was crucial to the couple. They hired Live Band Karaoke and performed a “first song” instead of a first dance, with Bridgette singing and James playing the bass. The party continued all night, with their closest family and friends having the experience of being lead singers with the band!
When asked what advice they would give couples planning a wedding, Bridgette said:
“Hire the right vendors! We are two people that have big dreams but struggle with turning those dreams into an achievable plan of action. We lucked out and had a wedding planner who believed in our dream and navigated each step to turn it into a reality. Our venue was run by a couple that treated us like family, our photographer and videographers were incredible at what they do, and our florist went so far above expectations at bringing our vision to life.”
For more Madison, Wisconsin area wedding inspiration, visit our blog and follow us on social @wedplanmadison!
Sources
/Honey Bee Bakery/Beef Butter BBQ/Minted/Vistaprint/Woodbot by Ryan and Melissa Talbot/Event Essentials/Live Band Karaoke
