The Planning Process

Wedding Date:
September 13, 2025

Colors and Theme:
With views of Lake Geneva, the couple leaned into a Lakeside Wedding. Mixing colors of navy, white, green, yellow, orange and red for a perfect palette.

Wedding Planner:
Kelli Kunes

What Was the Favorite Design Element?
“I had a few favorite design parts – I loved the florals in front of the band, but the small personal details stole my heart. The sailboat bar sign, the personalized boat flags and the watercolor paintings on the signage.”

The Look

Bridal Gown: Volle’s Bridal & Boutique
Bridesmaids Dresses: Various Stores
Menswear: The Black Tux

How Many Dresses Did You Try On?
“I probably tried on 30 dresses. I put every style possible on and narrowed it down to what I felt comfortable in. From there it was fine tuning! When I put my dress on for the first time, I felt so comfortable and could fully picture myself as a bride for the first time.”

The Ceremony

Ceremony Location: Family Home
Photographer: Jordan Imhoff Photography

Ceremony Decor:
“The ceremony was in the front yard of the Baird family home on Lake Geneva. We wanted to keep the integrity of a lakeside yard wedding, so we opted at the beginning of the summer to collect large planters and grow flowers throughout the entire summer. Cassandra from Lilypots came in and added some fresh blooms the day of, but were were able to get some amazing blooms that grew all summer long!”

Ceremony Details & Favorite Moments:
“Before the ceremony, guests were welcomed with a glass of wine and were free to roam around the yard. They enjoyed photo opportunities on the lakeside, while the string quartet played in the background. During the ceremony, we did our own vows which we loved, but my favorite part was coming through the double doors of the house and seeing Noah at the end of the aisle. It was pretty spectacular to be able to look out and see everyone there to celebrate our love. After the ceremony, the bridal party left on the boat from the pier which was for sure a highlight.”

The Reception

Reception Venue: The Riviera Ballroom
Catering & Beverage: Celebration on Wells

What Made You Choose Your Venue?
“We love that the Riviera is directly on the lake. We wanted to arrive by boat and this venue gave us that opportunity. It is also a stunning historic building in the heart of downtown, can’t get any better! We had a unique connection to the venue, my aunt led the team that completed the renovation a few years back so we loved it even more.”

Reception Decor:
“We wanted to keep with the lakeside theme, lots of blues and stone. We decided with Lilypots floral and our planner to use only local growers. We wanted all the florals to feel like they had grown lakeside, which many did! Kelli our planner designed the entire ballroom and kept it really light and airy. We splurged on the chairs and linens, no regrets. It flowed with the ceremony decor flawlessly which was our ultimate goal!”

Reception Details & Favorite Moments:
“We had a blast dancing the night away with our loved ones. The band was amazing and played hits that everyone could dance to. All our guests were on the dance floor the entire night. The decor made it especially unique, Kelli has the gift of creativity and it came through in every aspect. I had never seen tables like what she put together for us! It was special and a true reflection of Noah and I’s personalities.”

Looking Back

Three Words That Described the Day:
“Intentional, Stunning & Emotional”

What Moments Stick With You the Most?
“Two weeks before the wedding, my (Sarah’s) little brother very unexpectedly passed away from a freak accident. It made for a very emotional weekend, but we were truly able to soak up all the love and time with our guests knowing our vendors had our backs. Our rehearsal dinner on Friday night at Celebration on Wells was stunning which led into a welcome party cruise hosted on the Lady of the Lake. The wedding on Saturday ran so smoothly, we couldn’t pick out anything after that went wrong. If it did, Kelli had it handled! At the end of the day, we’re just thrilled to be married and to start this next chapter of our lives together.”

Advice or Tips for Other Couples Planning Their Wedding?
“Get a planner, it’s worth every penny!”