Afton Vangsness

Oct 28, 2020

Brenna + Luke: Ethereal Wisconsin Wedding

On a picturesque summer day, Brenna + Luke had the most gorgeous wedding straight out of a fairytale. Focusing on garden-inspired floral and pastel colored elements, the day was made for a modern day prince and princess.

All photos courtesy of Kayla Dutcher Photography

While the couple and vendor team were from the Chicago area, the wedding itself was in Burlington, Wisconsin at Mercantile Hall. Brenna and her girls got ready onsite with the help of Blush and Braids Beauty Bar, while team Afton Events began set up of the ceremony and reception.

Brenna's bridesmaids were the absolute sweetest, and the morning was so much fun. They were full of joy the entire time and unbelievably happy for the bride. I mean, look at their reaction to her in her dress!

Brenna looked like an angel in her Berta bridal gown from Ultimate Bride and her custom veil from Veiled by ChaCha. Her mom helped her get into her dress, and she did a first look with her dad. Her parents were very involved in the wedding planning, and you could tell how much this day meant to them as well.

The bridesmaids wore dresses from The Dessy Group, which paired perfectly with the stunning sherbet-hued floral arrangements from Luci Floral Design. Brenna absolutely loves flowers, so they were a crucial aspect to the day. She cried when she saw the arrangements that morning. As you'll see throughout these photos, there were flowers everywhere!

Luke and Brenna are both traditional and wanted to wait until the ceremony to see each other. Therefore, they were separate for most of the day and had fun with their bridesmaids and groomsmen.

One of my favorite parts about being a wedding planner is getting to know the wedding parties on the day of. Typically, they are just ready to have a good time! These guys and girls were no exception, and you could really see that the couple surrounds themselves with fun and loving people.

The ceremony was set up outside and transformed into an enchanted garden with lush greenery and floral installations, arrangements down the aisle, wood garden chairs, and cafe lighting.

Not doing a first look paid off, because Luke's reaction to seeing Brenna walk down the aisle was so beautiful.

The ceremony itself was very personal to the couple. It was officiated by one of the groomsmen, they wrote their own vows, and worship songs were played by people from their church. I don't think there was a dry eye in the crowd.

This right here is my favorite moment of a wedding day - the pure joy on the face of the couple after they are married, the cheering of all of their loved ones, the upbeat music, and the energy as it is time to let loose and have some fun! As a wedding planner, this is a moment when everything pays off!

While guests enjoyed cocktail hour outside with the cutest mobile bar, it was photo time for the bride, groom, and their wedding party!

Let me tell you a little more about the couple. Brenna is a complete sweetheart. She lights up a room, has such a warm presence, and is quite possibly the nicest person ever. Luke is hilarious, full of energy, and says whatever is on his mind with a sarcastic sense of humor. They balance each other so well, and the love between them is magnetic.

They were so happy to be married and to start this new chapter of their lives together!

The reception took place inside Mercantile Hall with their exposed brick and large windows. We had a mix of long rectangular tables and round tables with ivory and pale green linen. The tables had varying floral arrangements and unique floral pieces. The menus, tile place cards, and table numbers added a modern touch and a splash of pink.

Catering was through Wooden Paddle, who served a variety of gourmet pizzas straight from their wood-fired oven. The cake was made by the bride's sister, who owns Wholefully Made.

The statement piece of the reception was the sweetheart table, as it should be! The garden was brought indoors, and Brenna and Luke were enveloped in it as they enjoyed dinner and toasts.

Sweetheart table with lush floral installation

Toasts at wedding reception in Wisconsin

Brenna's father-daughter dance was sweet and sentimental. Luke's mother-son dance was hilarious and unconventional - starting with Celine Dion and ending with 'Yeah' by Usher.

Brenna and Luke's first dance was a showstopper. They danced to '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' from Dirty Dancing, complete with the famous lift at the end. It was beyond impressive.

They were SO GOOD!

Brenna and Luke became husband and wife on a perfect day filled with family, friends, love, and LOTS of laughter. It was powerfully meaningful while being an absolute blast. They were so deserving of such a flawless day.