Ashley & Greg’s Rustic-Glam DIY Wedding at Hawk’s View

Ashley from Wales and Greg from Waterford got engaged while out on Ashley’s parents’ boat on a hot summer day. “On Friday night, Greg asked my dad’s permission to marry me. The next day, he set the proposal with my parents. We were out on Pewaukee Lake with about 70 other boats. Greg kept asking me to get him drinks out of the cooler, and about five drinks in, he finally signaled my mom that he was ready to put the ring in the cooler. He asked for his final drink, and when I went to open the cooler, there was little ring box sitting on ice. When I turned around, Greg was on one knee — and of course I said yes!”

Greg and Ashley planned a rustic-glam wedding at Hawk’s View Golf Club in Lake Geneva. “We wanted some outdoor elements, like wood features and antlers, but with the added sparkle of sequins and gold. The color scheme was gold, champagne, and blush.” Ashley found her dress at Stone Manor Bridal in Grafton, and the couple chose Ideal Impressions Photography and Vital Image Videography to capture their day. The ceremony was held outside at Hawk’s View, with a childhood friend of Ashley’s officiating.

Hawk’s View also catered dinner: “The food was fabulous! Guests had a choice between a filet or chicken caprese, and both were delicious.” For dessert, Greg’s aunt made a wedding cake. The baking of the cake is only the tip of the iceberg in a laundry list of amazing ways Ashley and Greg’s family pulled together to help make their day a special one. “Literally everything was done by family,” Ashley says. “My mom and aunt designed and put together the invitations. For our aisle runner, we hand painted 1,500 rose petals, because we couldn’t find the right shade of gold, and then glued each one in place on 20 yards of fabric. My aunt also hand painted our monogram on the runner.”

Ashley’s grandma cut 3,000 circles out of three different kinds of fabric, creating swirls that were then attached as a flourish for each chair. “They were fabulous!” Greg and Ashley designed and made the centerpieces, and their reception favors were 14 batches of Ashley’s grandma’s homemade caramel corn, presented in a monogrammed fry box. No detail was left behind; even the bathroom was decorated!

With all this wonderful DIY, Ashley still says her favorite thing they planned for their wedding was a choreographed first dance. “We took private dance lessons starting six months before the wedding. I also took lessons with my dad for the father/daughter dance — same for Greg and his mom.” The fun of a choreographed dance number really set the tone for the party that followed: “After that, the dance floor was never empty!”

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Bridal Shows Attended~Discover Lake Geneva Bridal Showcase
Day-of-Coordinator~Erica from Rustic Bride Wedding Rentals
Dance Lessons~Social Style Dance
Invitations~Brides Mother and Aunt
Rehearsal Dinner~Gino’s East Lake, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Ceremony, Reception & Catering~Hawks View Golf Club, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Cake~Made by Groom’s Aunt
Flowers~Twins Flowers & Home Décor
Music~Sound by Design
Transportation~Guest Shuttle provided by Hawks View
Photographer~Ideal Impressions Photography
Videographer~Vital Image
Gown~Essense of Australia from Stone Manor, Grafton, Wisconsin
Formal Wear~Men’s Wearhouse
Rings~Dan’s L&L Fine Jewelry Inc., Waukesha, Wisconsin
Rentals~Chair Covers :Sassypants Events   | Large Doors and Arch:Rustic Bridal Wedding Rentals | Lighting/Uplighting: Double Platinum
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