Julie & Michael’s Whimsical, Waterside Wedding in Racine

Michael and Julie met, as Julie tells it, “on a random August night at Buckets Pub, eating wings.” Michael popped the question on Julie’s birthday, and the two planned an early August 2018 wedding with both the ceremony and reception at Festival Hall in Racine. To get inspired for the big day, Julie attended The Bridal Show at Fountain Hall. The overall style of Michael and Julie’s wedding was whimsical and bohemian with colors of plum, gold, greens, and ivory.

The ceremony was held outside by the Racine harbor. “It was a special ceremony because my mother and father made our wedding arch and we had a friend marry us,” Julie says. “Walking down the aisle with my father toward Mike — that’s the moment that sticks with me the most. It was windy that day, so it just felt magical. Also, it had been overcast the entire morning of the ceremony. About two minutes before I came down the aisle, the sun came out.”

After exchanging vows and rings from Rasmussen Diamonds (“Amazing!” Julie says), the wedding party snapped photos at Racine’s North Beach while guests enjoyed yard games outside of a towering white reception tent. All of the décor and activities were DIY projects. “From the yard games to the centerpieces, everything was made by my mother and myself,” Julie says.

They not only crafted gorgeous tablescapes for 16 guest tables, but also decked out the wedding party’s king table. “We had gold and greens draped down the center with two large gold lanterns. Around the lanterns, we had wreaths with succulents and fairy lights. Seeing as the tent was pretty tall, I wanted to bring the ceiling down, so we made big gold spheres to hang from above.”

For dinner, Michael and Julie opted for a few different stations. There was a slider station with three different types of meats with different buns and sauces, a pasta station with five different types of pasta served with four sauces, and finally a salad station with assorted toppings and dressings. Dessert was also an assortment: Three flavors of cupcakes, including carrot, salted caramel, and chocolate peanut butter. It was a sweet end to a day that Julie describes as “relaxed, fun, intimate” — everything a great wedding should be.

[table]
Bridal Shows Attended~The Bridal Show at Fountain Hall, Racine WI
Make-up & Hair~Marietta’s in Kenosha, WI
Invitations~Vista Print
Rehearsal Dinner~Casa Capri
Ceremony Location~Festival Hall (Outside by the water)
Reception & Bartending~Festival Hall in the White Tent
Caterer~Gooseberries
Dessert~Cupcakes by Natalie
Flowers~Donna’s Designs
Music/Entertainment~D.L. Entertainment
Transportation~Dickie’s Bar
Photographer~Sealed w/a Kiss Photography
Gown~Mori Lee- Affairs to Remember, Manitowoc WI
Bridesmaid Gowns~Mori Lee- Affairs to Remember, Manitowoc WI
Formalwear~Men’s Wearhouse
Rings~Rasmussen Diamonds
[/table]