A while into our long-distance relationship between Wisconsin and Massachusetts, I finally met Jillian for drinks at Alterra one spring afternoon. (Oh wait, Colectivo. RIP Alterra.) And who did she bring along for the ride? Her DAD. Seriously, how cool is that?! Jillian and Henry’s delightful backyard lakeside wedding in Elkhart Lake had family at its core, and ultimately, was filled with laughter, friends and family from afar, a few happy tears, a near-miss-broken foot by Jillian (phew!), cute kids and a bow-tie clad Corgi, major dance moments, and a lot of love.
Henry’s family hails from the south, and the charming Midwest-meets-the-South vibes dreamed up by Emily of Emily Elizabeth Events and Jillian fit the day perfectly for this couple who is exactly that–charming! Their intimate outdoor ceremony took place overlooking the rolling hills of her grandfather’s property. They filled their wedding with meaningful, simple touches, including snuggling up at a sweetheart table for two at dinner and forgoing a wedding party. Rustic invitations included a hand-painted watercolor map painted by the bride herself, and a champagne toast celebrated the couple mid-ceremony. Wooden hand-painted signs with a Southern touch honored Henry’s family heritage and welcomed guests to pick a seat, not a side (y’all), and Henry took a special moment during the ceremony to light a candle in honor of his late father.
Their romantic outdoor reception took place at Victorian Village on Elkhart Lake, where their ‘first dance’ moves did not disappoint. (Victorian Village = think Dirty Dancing set in Wisconsin! SO CUTE.) Jillian’s fierce, infectious energy is only matched by her genuinely sweet spirit…she literally has spunk flowing out of her at all times, which I’m guessing inspired the name of her professional dance company, Spunk and CO. Jillian and Henry surprised everyone with a lively choreographed dance to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,’ and Jillian surprised her groom later in the night with an incredible performance by her company to Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love.” Everyone went absolutely wild, and it set the tone for the remainder of the night’s party. I could photograph the emotions that filled their wedding over and over again…take a look through my favorites of their fun-filled celebration below!
** Click here to see Jillian & Henry’s wedding featured on Wedding Chicks!
Wedding Venue: Backyard ceremony @ private residence | Outdoor reception @ Victorian Village Resort // Wedding Event Designer: Emily Elizabeth Events // Rentals: Relics Vintage Rentals // Bride’s Dress: BHLDN // Bride’s Earrings and Hairpin: BHLDN // Jewelry: BHLDN // Floral Design: Twig Flowers // Cake: Bettersweet Bakery // Live Band: Bobby and the Way Outs // String Quartet: Milwaukee Symphony String Quartet
