If it weren’t for skydiving, Josie and Joe’s relationship may never have begun. Mutual friends had invited the two to jump with them one weekend, and by Sunday evening, there was no turning back! “We were together from that day forward and it didn’t take us long to know we were right for each other,” explains Josie.
For their fall wedding, the outdoorsy couple wanted to bring nature indoors. Tree-inspired elements, such as leaves, a log and branches, did the trick. “I wanted the flowers to have a wildflower feel to them,” says the bride, who loved their tall centerpieces (and her dress, of course!). “I had no clue what they were going to look like, and they turned out amazing!”
Joe and Josie, who live in Germantown, searched the Milwaukee metro area for the right reception venue, and when they found it, jumped at the chance to host their party at The Black Swan. “It’s a beautiful space that overlooks the river in Grafton and has a loft-like feel to it,” Josie says. It doesn’t have a liquor license, she adds, so couples who book this space would need to bring their own.
“Joe took part in most of the planning—more than a lot of guys probably do,” she says, explaining that the two balance each other out. Despite it being rainy, Josie reports their rustic-vintage wedding day was a success. “Joe and I both had a ton of fun. All the planning was worth it in the end.”
Locations: Mequon, Grafton
Date: October 13, 2012
Photographs: Ambiance Studios
Church: Trinity Lutheran Church; Officiant: Rev. Carl Lehenbauer; Reception site: The Black Swan Banquet Hall; Caterer, florist: Zilli Hospitality Group; DJ: Music 2 Remember; Gown: Allure Bridals from Amelishan Bridal; Bride’s shoes: Dyeables from Amelishan Bridal; Bride’s hair, makeup: Vici Capilli; Bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos: Amelishan Bridal; Bridesmaid necklaces: Made by the bride; Flower girl dress: Heim’s Bridal Shop; Rings: Kesslers Diamonds; Bride’s necklace: Amelishan Bridal; Baker: Simma’s Bakery; Stationer: MagnetStreet.com; Favors: Candy buffet; Transportation: Cheesehead Limo
By the end of high school, Ellie Martin Cliffe was completely enamored of journalism, so she chose the most logical college major possible: anthropology. Disappointed by the minimal emphasis on writing and editing, she changed tracks and earned a comm degree from Carroll College. Ellie has since tackled many facets of the field including books, magazines and the Web at places like The Knot and Reader's Digest. She now works full time in book publishing, and is thrilled to get her wedding fix with WedInMilwaukee.com. When she isn’t wielding her (red) pen, Ellie can be found in the garden, at any concert that showcases a fiddle, playing pub trivia or in the kitchen. She and her husband live in Riverwest with their hedgehog, Guinness, and grapefruit tree, Sprout.
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