Today we're featuring Brita and Fred's stately, real summer wedding at the gorgeous Wisconsin Historical Society. With florals by daffodil*parker, stunning pieces from both Event Essentials and A La Crate Rentals, and an impressive cake from the talented Creative Confections by Alicia Russell, this wedding incorporates summer blooms, Wedgewood blue, gold, ivory, and marble elements that perfectly complement the beauty of the venue. Keep reading to see more from this memorable day!
WEDDING DATE: 7/14/2019
HOW DID YOU MEET? Fred and I met while working together on political campaigns and in the Wisconsin legislature.
HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD FOUND “THE ONE”? We’ve worked really hard to build a strong relationship over our years of dating. We’ve supported one another through losing loved ones, health challenges, and hectic schedules. After some experience in “for better, for worse” times, we were ready for the commitment of marriage.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: Fred proposed with doughnuts that spelled out “marry me” from Dough Baby Bakery, a woman-owned business in Madison and champagne from Square Wine Company.
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR DRESS: I was so lucky to spend an afternoon with my mother, sister, and niece trying on gowns at Miss Ruby Boutique in Milwaukee. I was fortunate to have great help and support from my Miss Ruby stylist and family. After a few hours of trying on several different styles, we were able to choose a dress I felt comfortable in and was within our budget – and it was a style that I didn’t think I would like, but really felt like myself in.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING THEME/STYLE IN FIVE WORDS OR LESS? We created a stately feel with summery garden blooms to play off the beautiful Historical Society space.
WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING COLOR PALETTE? Wedgewood blue, gold, ivory, and marble elements.
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: A summery mix of garden blooms playing off our color palette designed by daffodil*parker!
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION/DESIGN CONCEPT FOR YOUR OVERALL CEREMONY AND RECEPTION DECOR? Our venue itself, the historical society building, was the basis of where all of our wedding decor inspiration stemmed from!
DID YOU USE ANY SPECIALTY CHAIRS, LINENS, CHARGERS, GLASSWARE OR DINNERWARE? We rented gold Chiavari chairs, linens, and marble chargers from Event Essentials.
TELL US ABOUT THE FOOD, DESSERT, AND ANY SPECIALTY BEVERAGES ON THE MENU: We loved working with Tyler at The Black Sheep to plan our menu. Everything his team puts together is truly delicious!
WERE THERE ANY PERSONAL TOUCHES OR DIY ELEMENTS? We enjoyed incorporating humorous facts about our relationship on cocktail napkins. It was a way for us to share fun stories with our guests and were great conversation starters!
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING? Being in a room with all our friends and family was truly special. We were so lucky that so many people who are important to us were able to make the trip to be a part of our celebration. And the late-night hot dogs and dancing were pretty great too!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR HONEYMOON PLANS: We took a few days to wind down after the wedding at Sundara Spa in Wisconsin Dells and treated ourselves to many supper club dinners.
WHAT DOES LIFE LOOK LIKE AFTER THE WEDDING? A few months after our wedding, we both experienced some pretty significant job changes. Fred is busy serving as the chief of staff for Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, and I started my own political consulting business. When we’re not working, we’re spending time walking in Madison’s Tenney Park with our senior dog Oscar and fixing up our 100-year-old home.
IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO OTHER COUPLES PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? Hire a great team. We loved our day because of the great work of so many talented professionals. Trusting professionals over trying to DIY things I knew nothing about definitely saved my sanity!
