A pop of red for your Tuesday! Laurelyn Savannah shared this lovely Lake Geneva wedding with us, and it is sure to brighten your day…

Says the bride, “I’ve always loved early August: in southeastern Wisconsin, it’s when the flowers and gardens are at their peak. I always remember my mom’s garden being so vivid that time of year. I’ve also always loved nature and wanted to incorporate some rustic elements to my wedding while still feeling very sophisticated. While I wanted the palette to be mostly creams and greens, I needed a pop of color to bring in that feeling I love about August.”

Why this venue? “Bigfoot Country Club has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. In fact, my grandparents first joined Bigfoot nearly 60 years ago! My parents used to drag me there as a kid every summer for golf lessons (which I was not a fan of) but I loved the Shirley Temples and milkshakes the bartender at the club house would make me afterwards. Bigfoot has the most incredible gardens, streams, and ponds and is set in a forest location. The inside of the club house is beautiful – elegant and very chateau-like.”

Table decorations incorporated the vibrant, rustic look that Cameron wanted: burlap and a variety of red and white fabrics, green and poppy red flowers, tomatoes and artichokes, wood accents, and (as a shout out to the state of Wisconsin) little cow creamers collected by the bride’s mother.

SEE THE FULL GALLERY FOR LOTS MORE DETAILS FROM THIS LAKE GENEVA WEDDING.

 

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding?  I was inspired by early August in southeastern Wisconsin, when the flowers and gardens are the most vivid. I needed a pop of color to bring in that feeling I love about August. Red also happens to be my favorite color (and our school color – go Cornell!), and by opting for poppy, I was able to incorporate both red and green while avoiding a Christmas-y look. My florist was fantastic in helping me create a wild and textured vibrant look while still looking refined. Since so many of our guests were traveling from out-of-state, I also wanted Wisconsin and its countless farms to shine through, hence the touches of dairy cows here and there and tomatoes and artichokes in the centerpieces.

What was your favorite moment or part of the day?  My favorite moment was during the ceremony.  This surprised me, because I was originally not at all thrilled about getting married in a church. Because of that, I put a lot of effort into making the ceremony personal and intimate. About halfway through the ceremony, I was sitting next to Rich, looking out at all our friends and family, and hearing one of my best friends and her husband sing “All Good Gifts” from the musical Godspell. This was the one moment of the day that I had to sit back, be moved by my friends’ incredible voices, and reflect on how incredibly lucky we are. It’s when I knew I was absolutely where I was supposed to be. It’s a moment and feeling I’ll never forget.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding?  I am one of three sisters and my mom is one of four. Whenever we get together and music and dancing are involved, “We Are Family” must be played, and so it was! I also have a special song with one of my sisters: Raspberry Beret by Prince. For some reason, a radio station would play it every morning as we’d drive to high school. I surprised my sisters and had the band play this song, and I supplied three raspberry berets which we totally rocked over our up-dos.  That was probably my second favorite moment of the wedding.

What was the best advice you received as a bride?  Plan well in advance!  Everyone tells you to enjoy the moment, take it all in, etc. But it’s easier to do that when you feel like you don’t have to stress the week of your wedding. I planned well in advance, and did my best to make sure everything was all set two weeks before the wedding so that I was able to enjoy the week of my wedding rather than run around like crazy.

Is there anything else that helps tell the story of the day?  Both of our families had an incredibly challenging year, which made our engagement bittersweet. Rich’s mom’s cancer had come back for the third time, and my dad suffered a major stroke that left him relearning how to walk, talk, and find his place in life. The fact that all of our parents were there and able to celebrate with us was a true gift. We wanted the wedding not just to be about the two of us, but a true celebration of what our families have persevered through, and all the friends and relatives who’ve supported us through all of it.

Photographer: Laurelyn Savannah / Ceremony: St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church / Reception Venue, Catering: Bigfoot Country Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin / Dress: Stephan Jolie / Suit: Joseph A. Banks / Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Robes: VanGo Beauty / Stationery: Minted / Floral Designer: Frontier Flowers of Fontana / Music: Chris Sarlas Orchestra / Cake: : Sweet Perfections / Cow Cookie Favors: Bittners Bakery / Hair, Makeup: Jasmine Salon & Spa

This post contains affiliate links. Minted is a sponsor of Snippet & Ink.