Meg & Dan's Elkhart Lake wedding

Spending summers at her family’s home on Elkhart Lake, one would think it was only a matter of time before L.A. native Meg met Dan, who’s from nearby Crystal Lake. But it wasn’t their close proximity in Wisconsin that brought the two together, but rather the fact that they were both students at Cornell University in New York.

Soon after they met, Meg could see that Dan had a heart of gold, because he’d taken her younger brothers under his wing. “My brothers continue to look up to him today,” she says—and that’s important, because family is a big part of both of their lives. Dan proposed in front of both their families while vacationing in Jamaica, and when he and Meg said their vows, they also held hands with their parents.

“Growing up, my mom always erected a tent for our big family parties—graduations, birthdays, you name it,” says Meg, who now thinks “party” whenever she sees one. “Not surprisingly, I had always dreamed of having a tent wedding near my family’s summer home on Elkhart Lake.”

Thanks to a Beatles cover band, an ice cream bar and a photo booth, plus that classic Midwestern summertime ambience, the bride and groom (and their wedding coordinators) pulled off an unforgettable day. The festive, carefree atmosphere made it easy for the Oak Park, Illinois, newlyweds, to mingle with their guests, but they made time to spend together, too. “Promise yourselves that you’ll stay by each other’s side for the entirety of the reception,” Dan advises. “You’ll be so glad that you did, and you’ll never miss a dance!”

Location: Sheboygan, Elkhart Lake
Date: July 2, 2011
Photographs: Anna Page Photography

Event coordinators: Whitney Brockway, Laura Cooper; Cinematography: I Do Films; Church: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church; Officiant: Monsignor John F. Barry of American Martyrs Catholic Community; Ceremony musicians: Frank Trcka; Tim Regan; Jubilate String Quartet, (920) 467-3600; Reception site: Victorian Village Resort; Tent, lighting and rentals: Canopies Events; Band: The Cavern Beat; DJ: Matt’s DJ Service; Gown: Amsale from Belle Vie Bridal Couture; Bride’s shoes: Vince Camuto, Aldo; Women’s hair and makeup: Aspira Spa at The Osthoff Resort; Women’s earrings: Anthropologie; Bride’s bracelet: J.Crew; Bride’s hair clip: Sara Gabriel; Bridesmaid dresses: Vera Wang; Bridesmaid shoes: Chose their own; included Enzo Angiolini, Jessica Simpson and others; Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse; Men’s neckwear: Brooks Brothers; Engagement ring and groom’s ring: Steve Quick Jeweler; Florist: Twig Flowers; Baker: Natalie’s Pastries, (920) 946-7436; Ice cream: Scoops Ice Cream Parlor; Stationery: Bella Figura; Stationery designer: The Blooming Quill; Blackboard cocktail signs: HerMajestysPug; Ice cream sign: The Back Porch Shoppe; Photo booth: Beyond the Booth Photo Booth; Wedding party transportation: StarGazer Limousine; Guest transportation: Discovery Coach

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.