Lake Geneva Wedding at The Abbey Resort

A beautiful, elegant celebration of love for two lifelong friends.

How They Met

Jocelyn, a Janesville native, and Paul, who is from Plymouth, met as kids in middle school at Pilgrim Center, a summer camp on Green Lake. The youngsters happened to be at camp during the same week and became fast friends. They even shared their first kiss while watching the Fourth of July fireworks over the lake. When the week came to an end, Jocelyn wrote Paul a love letter encouraging him to download AOL Instant Messenger and be her pen pal. Paul held onto the letter but never wrote back. However, Paul brought the letter down for Jocelyn to read again on one of their first dates after they reconnected in adulthood. The letter was still in its stamped envelope and was on display at their wedding.

The Engagement

Paul took Jocelyn, along with their dog Annie, back to the Pilgrim Center (which is now the Daycholah Center) and told her they were just going for a little trip down Memory Lane. They ran into a staff member when they arrived, who offered them a tour. Paul leads Jocelyn down to the lakefront, knelt down to “fill up the dog’s water dish,” and popped the question. Their tour guide even snapped a great candid picture of the proposal.

The Dress

Jocelyn found her dream wedding dress at Strike Bridal Bar in Downtown Milwaukee. She tried on about 15 dresses before she felt confident that it was the one she wanted to walk down the aisle in.

The Rehearsal

The evening before their big day, Jocelyn and Paul hosted their rehearsal dinner at The Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, the venue they selected for their ceremony and reception. After dinner, the couple and their wedding party embarked on a cocktail cruise with Lake Geneva Cruise Line. It was the perfect way to ease pre-nuptial jitters with their closest friends and family!

The Ceremony

Jocelyn and Paul tied the knot during a brief wedding outdoor ceremony at the Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva. The ceremony was outside and that day, the weather was absolutely beautiful. Their officiant was a close family friend of Paul’s, and their dog Annie was present as well — one of Paul’s wedding “must-haves.” The couple wrote their own vows, which was one of their favorite parts. Paul really outdid himself and even incorporated some pharmacy humor. As the newlyweds transcended down the aisle, they were showered by a flower confetti toss.

The Reception

The ceremony was held inside the Harbor Ballroom at the Abbey Resort. Jocelyn and Paul knew they wanted a live band to provide the tunes for their big day, and Platinum certainly did not disappoint! The dance floor was packed all night. The ballroom was absolutely beautiful and the perfect spot for a fabulous party!

The Food and Drinks

During dinner, the couple and their guests enjoyed New York strip steak and Parmesan crusted chicken. The open bar featured plenty of drinks, including rosé wine, Jocelyn’s favorite. The dessert course was layer cake made by Julie Michelle with multiple layers, including lemon with boysenberry, chocolate with peanut butter, and vanilla with chocolate.

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