Elizabeth & John’s Springtime Wedding at Tuscan Hall

When Australian-born Elizabeth traveled all the way to America from Down Under to visit family, one her cousins decided to set her up with John, a friend from school. “She lied to us, saying we each liked each other.” When the two started dating, Elizabeth ended up extending her trip. Throughout their courtship, John and Elizabeth did their share of long distance — “but I always came back,” Elizabeth says.

John always knew that Elizabeth wanted a private proposal. On the night he popped the question, the two had dinner followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride around Milwaukee, but John waited until they got home to propose. According to Elizabeth, “It was perfect.”

The couple planned a May wedding in Wisconsin, with an entire Australian contingent that flew in to celebrate the happy occasion. Elizabeth found her gown at Eva’s Bridal, and John chose a suit from Dubois Formalwear. On the day of the wedding, it was a balmy 90 degrees — a bit of a springtime curveball. “The ceremony was outside and everyone was hiding in the shade,” Elizabeth says. “My favorite part was John and I spilling the sand from our unity ceremony everywhere.”

After cleaning up the sand and saying “I do,” the party moved to Tuscan Hall for the reception, which was outfitted with linens and chair covers from Cover It With Class. “We had amazing food from Tuscan Hall! We served chicken and beef, and the cake was amazing as well. We also had ice cream, which was a big hit on a 90-degree day.”

Elizabeth says her favorite thing she planned for the wedding was her father-daughter dance. “Only three people knew what the song was going to be: me, John, and my mother. My father only thought to ask what he would be dancing to a couple minutes before the dance itself. I had picked a song from my childhood that he always used to sing to my brother and I. It wasn’t a dancing song at all, but it was very funny.” In the end, Elizabeth’s dad agreed it was the perfect song.

Other highlights from the day included DIY signage and programs, an LED dance floor (“everyone loved that!”), and time spent with friends and family for memories in the making. One thing Elizabeth wishes she would have known before planning her wedding: “How busy the last week before the wedding would be. I should have taken time off work!” In the end, through all the busyness, John and Elizabeth’s lovely, traditional wedding was everything they hoped it would be: “Fun, crazy, and exciting!”