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Wedding Win with Beauty and Badgers at Wisconsin Club

sweetpeacinema October 21, 2017

When the Badgers football team plays during your reception and you’re both die-hard fans and grads of UW, it’s a good thing to update your guests with the current score.

That’s exactly what groom Zach did when he began his toast. That way all the Badger fans in the crowd could then put away their phones and listen to the charming tribute he gave to his new wife, Liz.

The red and white run deep for this couple, who met at an UW alumni event and whose proposal was at the 50-yard-line of Camp Randall (Go Badgers!). Even their reception was held at the aptly named Wisconsin Club, the stunning historic mansion in downtown Milwaukee.

Their ceremony at Calvary Presbyterian was presided over by Pastor Nate Liedtke, Liz’s pastor from her hometown. His sermon centered around imperfect perfection. Even on their beautiful and incredible wedding day, he said, nothing is truly perfect. You see, one very important person was missing.

Keeping a Memory Alive

That absence was Liz’s beloved father, Ross, whose memory was kept alive throughout the joyous day. His presence was also brought to the party in high spirits by his good friend, Rick, who walked Liz down the aisle and was a worthy stand-in for the father-daughter dance. Liz’s brother, Erik, helped honor his father along with Rick by hoisting a glass to his dad at the end of his touching toast to his sister and brother-in-law.

Ross’ legacy is his children, and it was clear from the love showered on Liz throughout the day that he and his wife, Lisa, did a mighty fine job. The joy that everyone had for the union of these two Badger fans was felt in every hug, kiss and cheer.

The Badger football team did these alums proud on their wedding day, beating the Cornhuskers 38-17. But you could say the biggest winners that night were Liz and Zach, who started out their married lives together surrounded by beauty and so much love.

We hope you enjoy this Sneak Peek as we work on their larger project to come in the followin months.

The Team

Videography: Sweet Pea Cinema

Church: Calvary Presbyterian

Reception Venue: Wisconsin Club

DJ: A Personal Touch

Photography: Leo & Jenny Photography

Florist: Jane Kelly Floral

Bride’s gown: WTOO by Watters from Miss Ruby

Bridesmaid attire: Bari Jay from The Wedding Shoppe

Groom’s attire: Kenneth Cole from Men’s Wearhouse

Bride’s hair/makeup: Creative Beaute Agency

Cake: Classy Girl Cupcakes

Ceremony Musicians: Milwaukee String Quartet

Uniting Souls with Skittles at Pier Wisconsin

sweetpeacinema October 17, 2017

When two souls unite, it’s glorious to witness. And when Skittles are involved, can it get any better?

First, let’s discuss the uniting of souls. That part began years ago, when Asha and Kyle met in medical school. But it wasn’t until years later when these two Wisconsinites reunited and sparks really flew.

They tied the knot in late September at Pier Wisconsin in the Pilot House and later welcomed guests to a gorgeous on the grounds later that evening.

Kyle was a full participant in the Hindu religious rituals, including arriving in a truly unique way during the baraat. We’re fairly confident no other groom has arrived by boat with the “007” theme cutting through the airwaves.

Asha, who had been up well before dawn, looked stunning in a ruby-colored sari picked out just for the ceremony. Just moments before her uncle walked Asha down the aisle, as is the custom in Hindu weddings, four nephews gave the bride her own special entrance as they bore signs with cute sayings, such as “Has anyone seen the rings?” which were as cute as they are.

Hindu Wedding Rituals

If you’ve never experienced a Hindu wedding before, make sure you get yourself invited to one sometime soon. The rituals are intricate and meaningful, from the presentation of pure foods, blessings from waters of the Ganges River, to many people wrapping their tongues around the Hindi language for the first time. We loved the fun game the priest had Asha and Kyle play toward the end of the ceremony with the prize of finding a wedding band.

And let’s not forget about those Skittles! One of the traditions in a Hindi wedding is that the couple feed each other little sweets. Usually, the sweets are traditional delicacies, but the couple’s Hindu priest decided to modernize this rite and substituted the brightly colored candies, which gave everyone a moment to laugh.

Uniting Souls at the Reception

Promptly after the ceremony, all those little newphew attendants made off with Kyle’s shoes only to return them after a ransom was paid.

After serving guests a banquet of Indian delights from Chicago, the wedding couple returned to their hotel to get ready for the evening’s reception, as well as changing into their party clothes. They made a grand entrance into the Bartolotta tent following both sets of parents. Once the cake was cut, a romantic first dance found these two wrapped in each other’s arms while Etta James belted out “At Last.”

Perhaps that’s why Asha’s father, Nalin, teased his new son-in-law by asking why it had taken so long for Kyle to pop the question. But then he quickly welcomed Kyle into the family, a place he’d already fit comfortably in for some time.

We hope you enjoy this Sneak Peek as much as we did in creating it, while we wait to finish their final project in a few months.

Congrats to the newlyweds!

The Team

Videography: Sweet Pea Cinema

Planner: Evenement (Thank you, Maya)

Photographer: Heather Cook Elliot

Venue: Pier Wisconsin

Unforgettable and Elegant Wedding at Farm at Dover

sweetpeacinema September 20, 2017

Lauren and Zach’s decades long love story had its biggest chapter to date earlier this month at the elegant Farm at Dover.

These two started out knowing each other as just kids in the neighborhood and even dated in high school, but it wasn’t until they bumped into each other on the busy streets of New York that something beyond friendship began.

And then earlier this month, these two brought family and friends from all over the country to the beautiful Farm at Dover to share in their faith-filled wedding ceremony and delight in all things Wisconsin.

Zach and Lauren keep God close to their hearts, so it’s no wonder that Bible verse Mark 10:8 was ever present throughout the day and was even engraved on the inside of Zach’s wedding band.

No longer two, but one

Wedding: From City to Farm

Bride and groom prep began at the Iron Horse Hotel a fitting way to start showcasing what Milwaukee has to offer in the Harley-Davidson-inspired hotel?

Once the bridal party arrived at the farm, the women headed to the antique-filled main house and the guys to the granary until it was time for Lauren and Zach’s first look and gift exchange. Keeping God close during this private moment, Lauren asked Zach to pray with her, a sacred request that was honored beautifully.

Attention to detail throughout this wedding day was amazing, the result of the couple, their families and wedding planner Meredith of Blue Fancy. Everywhere we turned, there was something beautiful to record: from Lauren’s custom-designed engagement and wedding band, to family jewelry being reset into a tie bar and cuff links, as well as the beautiful blue gem set into a wedding day ring that was Lauren’s something old, borrowed and blue.

Wedding Vows

New Life Church Lead Pastor Caleb Klinge presided over the ceremony that was tucked into a glen of trees, a green leafy canopy making nature’s best cathedral and floral by Bloom Floral & Event Design added a delicate pop of color. Lauren and Zach promised each other many things in their personalized vows, and their words were so poignant and loving that we made them the centerpiece of their Sneak Peek.

After the ceremony, family photos and wedding portraits brought everyone in close, but then it was on to the magnificent barn for the reception. If you haven’t had a chance to see the barn at the Farm at Dover, it should be on your list. Owners Tom and Juan have transformed the spot into a set worthy of a Hollywood feature: chandeliers, wild game mounts, original wood and plenty of space. We could also see the handiwork of wedding planner Merideth Blue Fancy everywhere we turned.

And like every good book, the best is often saved for the final pages. In this case, it was Lauren and Zach’s choreographed first dance, which is about as good as it can get. These two floated across the dance floor and reminded us of all the fantastic dancing in “La La Land,” making it look completely effortless.Congrats to the newlyweds!

The Team

Videography: Sweet Pea Cinema

Planner: Blue Fancy

Photography: Elizabeth Haase Photography

Venue: The Farm at Dover

Florals: Bloom Floral & Event Design

Hair & Makeup: Beauticianzillas

Bride’s dress: White Dress Bridal Boutique

Catering: Chef Jack’s

Bar: Drink Inc

Cake: Aggie’s Bakery and Cake Shop

DJ: All-Star Music

Bridesmaids’ attire: Adriana Papell

Wooded wonder at Burlap & Bells

sweetpeacinema September 2, 2017

In a wooded glade, stately pines tower over a spirited woman and a gentle man, and a little boy with fiery hair.

They gather under these venerable giants to declare their love for each other and permanently plant roots as a family of three.

Appy and Eric have been together for years, but made it official last fall in a civil ceremony and this August in a magical gathering in the forest at Burlap and Bells. Finn — Appy’s adorable boy with ginger hair — was happy to see his mom marry the man he had already decided was his dad.

Tiki torches and hundreds of hydrangeas lined the aisle and adorned an arbor of branches at the front of the gathering space. Treated to champagne upon their arrival, guests carried glasses as they walked along a narrow path to the ceremony, their steps muted by a thick carpet of pine needles dropped over hundreds of years. Rustic benches welcomed them, situated perfectly among the tall trunks. What a beautiful and serene setting for a wedding.

From the Wooded Ceremony to the Party!

After the ceremony, everyone headed to the reception that was ablaze under a canopy of Edison lights. The rustic chic vibe included sturdy farm tables flanked by a kaleidoscope of wooden chairs, as wells as sparkling purple agates, hollow copper tetrahedrons, sweet little succulents and myriad custom flatware, dishes and goblets. Candles, lace and greens pulled all the tables together, bringing the outdoors inside. And to top it all off, Willow Designs of Lake Geneva, which created the beautiful design along with Appy’s mom Joanne, installed large green and floral hoops like chandeliers through the barn’s ceiling.

Even though we were miles from civilization, Enos Farms catering delivered a meal fit for an upscale urban eatery: two starters of a fresh greens salad and an unbelievably gorgeous and delicious beet and cauliflower salad followed by main courses of rare prime rib, poached white fish and a decadent creamy layered potato dish. Not only was the food incredible, but the service was top notch with attention to guests as if we were dining in a high-end steakhouse.

Our Drone Gets the Shot

After touching toasts from Appy’s father Edgar (which ended with a shot for every guest!!), as well as matron of honor Katie and best man Dylan, the Bluewater Kings band took the stage and brought nearly every guest to the dance floor. There’s nothing like a live band to get everyone into the party spirit, and BWKs knows how to deliver it! We loved our drone work at the height of the dancing, pulling away from the reception, a tiny dot of twinkling light encircled by acres and acres of dark forest.

That’s how Appy and Eric have carved out their lives together: a tight-knit circle of light against the darkness. So sweet. So magical.

We hope you enjoy this little Sneak Peek of Appy and Eric’s beautiful woodland wedding and we wish the newlyweds all the best!

Cheers, Cindy

The Team

Wedding Videography: Sweet Pea Cinema

Photographer: Narrowleaf Photography

Ceremony & Reception venue: Burlap & Bells

Band: Bluewater Kings

Florist/decor: Willow Design and Appy’s mom Joanne

Caterer: Enos Farms

Bride’s gown: Lazaro from Nordstrom

A Sea of Romantic Blue at Pier Wisconsin

sweetpeacinema August 29, 2017

When we think about Nikki and Sergie’s wedding, the color blue washes over our memories.

Azure waves of Lake Michigan glinting in the sun.

Indigo petals of hydrangeas, delicate and yet gorgeous.

Cerulean curves of the sky that seems to expand forever.

Hues of blue were everywhere at their Pier Wisconsin wedding and reception in the stately Pilot House that offers one of the grandest views of Milwaukee’s lakefront and of the lake. Deep blues of the water and sky contrasted beautifully with dozens of white sales and hulls bobbing on the lake below. The couple embraced those colors in their elegant decor and even in their beautiful wedding cake by Simma’s Bakery that had bold swaths of blue and white raking across its surface, mimicking the always changing colors of the water below.

Laughter in their vows

We will also remember their wedding because Nikki and Sergie personalized their wedding vows, offering genuine insights into their strong relationship that has as many contrasts as similarities, which both agreed help push as well as support each other when they needed it the most. As serious and romantic as these two are, they’re also hilarious and managed to work a tater tot and hashbrown metaphor into their vows, as well as a pledge to do the dishes correctly. Both deadpan declarations had guests laughing and smiling. And the laughs didn’t end there. Nikki’s brother, Connor, presided over the wedding that also showcased the Norris family skill for humor, starting out with a quick impersonation from “Princess Bride.” Who can resist laughing when anyone says “maywidge, maywidge.”

Building a Blue Reception, Too

After the ceremony, guests were treated to Wisconsin-themed appetizers and drinks in the Great Lakes Future Exhibit, another location bringing the water theme to the fore. Then dinner and dancing back in the pilot house, which had been transformed into an elegant dining space by the fantastic crew of Bartolotta Catering & Events.

Nikki and Sergie had their first dance to Aqualung’s “What a Feeling,” which seemed so appropriate for these two:

“What a feeling in my soul

Love burns brighter than sunshine

It’s brighter than sunshine.”

And since we can’t license Matt Hales’ music (and nearly all popular music!), we thought “Alive” by Kyle Reynolds (licensed via SongFreedom) would bring a similar romantic and upbeat feeling to their Sneak Peek. We hope you agree!

We wish these two many happy years together and hope they fondly remember their wedding day, as it was so filled with love and joy.

Cheers to the newlyweds! Cindy

The Team

Videography: Sweet Pea Cinema

Planner: The Midwestern Bride (Thank you, Brittany!)

Bride and Groom prep location: Hilton Milwaukee City Center and Milwaukee Marriott Downtown

Ceremony & Reception venue: Pilot House at Pier Wisconsin

DJ: Sound by Design (Thank you Dylan!)

Photographer: Leo & Jenny Photography (Thanks, Leo & Jenny!)

Florist: Bank of Flowers

Cake: Simma’s

Bride’s gown: Matthew Christopher from Nordstrom Bridal Suite

Bridesmaids attire: J Crew

Groom’s attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Bride’s hairstylist & Makeup: DiCarlo Salon

Wedding jewelry: Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds