Elissa and Kevin’s Classic Wedding at the Country Springs

Elissa and Kevin’s story is like something from a movie. They grew up in the same small town of Merton, Wisconsin, where they met at Merton Elementary. “We were both members of the 7th and 8th grade choir,” Elissa remembers. They sat right across the room from each other. “Kevin was the typical 8th grade boy — distracting, cracking jokes and making everyone around him laugh. He noticed I was always laughing at his jokes, and our little love story began right then and there. We’ve been together on-and-off ever since!”

When Kevin proposed, he took Elissa to Christmas Eve mass at Holy Hill church in Hartford, one of his favorite places. That night, the snow was gently falling over the hills as the church gleamed in the distance — “lit up like a castle,” Elissa says. It was a picture-perfect Christmas Eve. “After mass ended, Kevin asked me if I wanted to take a walk around the church. We found a quiet place and Kevin asked me if we would go to midnight mass every year together. I said yes. He then asked me if we would bring our future children with us every year. I said yes. That’s when he got on one knee and asked me to marry him!”

Kevin and Elissa planned a simple, elegant wedding with a church ceremony and hotel reception at the Country Springs. Their colors were dark purple, light gold, and silver — a soft but striking feel. Elissa had eight bridesmaids and is so grateful to Bliss Bridal in Brookfield for their help in outfitting each lovely lady. “The experience was amazing!” she says. “The store is gorgeous, the staff were attentive, patient, and knowledgeable. They handled my group of eight very well and worked hard with me to find a designer that could provide eight different chiffon dresses in the same color by the same designer.”

The church ceremony was held at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in North Lake, WI. The priest, Father Bill, took some time the night before the ceremony to talk to Elissa and Kevin’s guests about the happy couple. “He brought such a special touch to our wedding day by sharing stories he had heard from our guests. He made us laugh, blush, and ultimately cry with happiness.”

After they said “I do,” the wedding party boarded the party bus to take photos. “We rented Riteway’s brand new 24-person party bus. It had plenty of room for our 20-person party, photographers, and videographer. We would highly recommend them — the bus was very high-end and perfect for a dancing-while-driving bridal party.”

The group stopped to take pictures at a nearby barn — a rather last-minute decision on Elissa’s part: “The day before the wedding, it finally hit me where I wanted us to take pictures. Right across from the park where Kevin and I used to park his truck and talk under the stars, there’s a house with a barn.” Elissa confesses she always wanted a shabbyy chic barn wedding, and pictures in front of one would be perfect. “As we were driving, the photographer asked me if the owners of the barn knew we were coming. I said, ‘Well I didn’t exactly ask yet… But who can say no to a woman in a wedding dress!?’’” Kevin and Elissa jumped off the bus and approached the very confused owners. “They were honored that we wanted to take pictures in front of their barn. It’s like it was meant to be!”

After photos, it was on to the reception at the Country Springs Hotel. “I loved the reception — everything about it,” Elissa says. “The room was breathtaking. One of my favorite parts was the grand entrance, seeing all the people we love and cherish in the same room, cheering as we danced into the room. We had our parents walk in to a Bublé song, then had my brothers (the ushers) close the doors. They then busted in, acting as bouncers as thy led the rest of our crazy bridal party through.”

Other special moments were Kevin’s mother/son dance (“there wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” says Elissa) and a sorority circle (Elissa was a member of Tri Sigma). “They stopped the music and had me sit on my husband’s knee while the girls serenaded me with our sorority songs. It brought back college memories and was amazing to see how many of my sorority sisters were there!”

For dinner, the large bridal party sat at a U-shaped head table. Linens were provided by All Star Rentals, a vendor Elissa would highly recommend. “The great service started in the showroom where Amber patiently helped my mom and I play with linens and chairs for over an hour. She was so helpful and open to our ideas. She liked helping us so much that she insisted on helping her staff set up our room on the day of the wedding.”

Kevin and Elissa say the food, catered by the Country Springs, was phenomenal: “We received so many compliments about the entrées — prime rib and cashew-crusted chicken. Kevin even snuck two helpings of the prime rib! For late-night food, there was a nacho bar and pizza buffet. The servers were polite and attentive and the bartenders were also nice.” For drinks, guests enjoyed unlimited beer, wine, and soda — “our guests definitely didn’t go thirsty!”

Dessert came from the delicious Aggie’s Cakes. “It was the best!” says Elissa. “I’m not a fan of cake (I know, not normal) so I chose cheesecake with strawberry filling. This cheesecake, with white cake on the top and bottom of the cheesecake, was the best I’ve ever had. I still hear friends and family talking about how they fought over the extra pieces!”

Even with such scrumptious sweets, Elissa says the reception as a whole takes the cake in her book. “The experience was like none I could have imagined. All of the details my mother and I worked on for hours and hours were worth it in the end. It was truly a magical day for Kevin and I, and I wish we could go back and do it again. It was the best day of our lives!”

[table]
Bridal Show~Bridal Expo held at the Sheraton,Brookfield
Invitations~cardsandpockets.com
Ceremony~Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in North Lake, WI
Reception & Catering~Country Springs Hotel
Cake~Aggie’s Cakes
Flowers~Katie Thomas
Entertainment~Rhythm in Motion
Transportation~Go Riteway
Photographer~East Elm Photography
Videographer~Coasty Kid Productions
Dress~David Tutera from Germaines Bridal, Lake Geneva
Bridesmaid Dresses~Jim Hjelm from Bliss Bridal, Brookfield
Formalwear~Men’s Wearhouse
Rings~Zales and Kesslers
Rentals~All Star Rentals