Brittany & Erik's Elkhart Lake wedding

It was raining when Brittany and Erik woke up on their wedding day…and they’d planned an outdoor ceremony. Luckily, Mother Nature was on their side. “The rain let up just in time,” says the bride. Then, as soon as everyone was inside for cocktail hour, the skies opened. “I got the best of both worlds: an outdoor ceremony and the good luck that comes with a rainy wedding day!” she says.

When it came to selecting a spot for their indoor-outdoor festivities, the Weston couple chose the Osthoff Resort on the shore of Elkhart Lake. “It gave an old-fashioned feel, and reminded me of the resort in the movie Dirty Dancing,” explains Brittany, who wanted to mix modern-day elements with bright pops and ’50s flair—all too appropriate, since she met Erik at a martini lounge called Retro Club! Footwear made an especially big statement. “Best of all,” Brittany recalls, “our son’s personally designed Chuck Taylors had all the colors of the wedding and ‘Mini Beitz’ sewn on the side of each shoe.”

Among the day’s fun moments were many heartwarming ones, too. “When I was walking down the aisle, the first person I saw was my Grandma Joanne,” says the bride, who knows it took a lot of effort for her to be there. “We both instantly started crying, which was deeply meaningful because she is a pretty tough cookie. I gave her a hug, and it was a great way to start out the ceremony.”

“My bride did a wonderful job planning our wedding day,” says Erik, who calls Brittany an amazing mother and friend. “I am so lucky to have her as my wife.”

Location: Elkhart Lake
Date: June 16, 2012
Photographs: Ambiance Studios

Venue and catering: The Osthoff Resort; Officiant: Rev. Lorri Stewart; Ceremony harpist: Dorothy Walsh-Best; DJ: Chicagoland DJ Services; Gown: Justin Alexander from Dreams Bridal Boutique; Bride’s hair: Megan Woehler; Bride’s shoes: Badgley Mischka; Bride’s earrings: Macy’s; Bride’s bracelets: Claire’s, family heirloom; Bride’s garter: The Chica Boutique; Bridesmaid dresses and shoes: David’s Bridal; Bridesmaid necklaces: Forever 21; Bridesmaid earrings: Bride’s mother; Tuxedos and young attendants’ attire: Elegant Occasions Wedding Center; Wedding party shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars; Rings: Wickersham Jewelry; Florist: Diane Schmitt at K&M Piggly Wiggly, (920) 894-2445; Baker: Penni Gleason from K&M Piggly Wiggly, (920) 894-2445; Stationer: 129 Design

Ellie Martin Cliffe (104 Posts)

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.