Carrie & Lyle's Sheboygan wedding

When young Carrie first watched the Prince of Thieves marry Maid Marian at the end of Robin Hood, she knew that’s exactly how she wanted her wedding to be. “Literally, it took my breath away—relaxed, outdoors, in the fall and one where the center of the day and the core of the marriage is simply love,” she says. And she got just that.

Because it was a destination wedding for their guests, Carrie and Lyle put together an unforgettable weekend that began at County Clare, paused at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center for the rehearsal dinner, and finished with a vibrant autumn wedding at Whistling Straits. Despite a few snags along the way—“Rain during the cocktail hour? It’s good luck! Missing out on dessert? I got to do the tasting”—Carrie and Lyle couldn’t have asked for more.

Besides, a lot more went right for this Shorewood pair. The catering staff wowed with a tofu entree for Lyle and other vegetarians at the party. The music made a big impression, too. Says the bride, “I fretted about ceremony music probably more than anything else…When I finally picked the music, though, it all made sense.” The final processional choices: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Over the Rainbow” and “Storybook Love” from The Princess Bride. “Our recessional? ‘Free Bird’!” exclaims Carrie, who says the song led seamlessly into classic-rock cocktail hour.

As for the newlyweds, this day had been a long time coming: They’d been friends since middle school. “When we finally figured ‘it’ out [in their late 20s], there wasn’t even a question,” Carrie explains. “Of course we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.” So, it’s no surprise that at her wedding, the bride says, “I smiled the entire day. And I loved my red dress.”

Note: Carrie and Lyle’s photographer, Front Room Photography, gave us a sneak peek of the wedding album. Check it out below!

Location: Sheboygan
Date: September 4, 2011
Photography: Front Room Photography

Venue/catering: Whistling Straits; Venue coordinator: Trina Moynihan; Officiant: Benjamin Kohler, Esq.; DJ: Sound by Design; Gown: Ian Stuart; Bride’s shoes: Kenneth Cole; Bride’s hair/makeup: Heather at Sports Core Salon; Bridesmaid/flower girl dresses: Dessy; Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse; Bride’s wedding rings: Elise Worman of EMW Metalworks; Bride’s earrings: Her grandmother’s; Bridesmaid/flower girl accessories: Jaxie; Florist: Fresh Design; Baker: The Cake Lady; Stationer: 2 hearts 1 design; Favors: Sharpies; Transportation: Stardust Limousine; Wedding album: Front Room Photography

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.