Milwaukee Wedding at Jan Serr Studio

A Wisconsin elegant disco-themed celebration of love

Love at First Sight… Literally

Hope and Dean connected in the operating room at Froedtert Hospital. Dean was in his first week of his anesthesia residency, while Hope was finishing up her master’s degree in anesthesiology. But since they were in the OR, they were wearing face masks, meaning they could only see each other’s eyes. It truly was love at first sight.

A few months later, Hope and Dean got to chatting, during which they learned they shared a mutual love for thin crust pizza. Dean even offered to bring Hope back some of his favorite pizza from his hometown of St. Louis. The two have been together ever since.

The Engagement

When Dean completed his residency and began his fellowship, he and Hope planned a fun vacation to Cabo to celebrate. On the first day of their trip, they visited a golf course so Dean could play and Hope could bask in the gorgeous views. Hope, although not planning to take any swings, initially put on a golf outfit, sneakers and all. However, Dean did everything in his power to get her to change into the tennis dress she packed. She eventually changed into a tennis dress, oblivious to what was about to happen.

On the thirteenth hole, Dean hit the ball into the rough — on purpose. He asked Hope to help him look for it, so she eagerly ran into the foliage to find it. Dean chased after her, and when she turned around, he was already down on one knee holding the ring, which was cleverly tucked inside a golf ball. Although his actual shot wasn’t a hole in one, his proposal certainly was.

The Dress

After trying on about seven dresses, Hope found her dream gown at White Dress Bridal Boutique in Milwaukee. The dress was strapless, but she had her heart set on sleeves and a simple design. One day, she stumbled upon KIT Co. in Oconomowoc, where she had a beautiful bolero with sleeves and a mock neck custom designed just for her.

The Ceremony

Hope and Dean were married at Gesu Catholic Church on Marquette University’s campus. The ceremony was gorgeous, as the sun shone brightly through the stained glass windows while the organ music filled the chapel. Hope’s late grandfather grew up near Gesu and attended Marquette University High School, and her grandmother also grew up in Milwaukee, so she felt like she had a special piece of them with her.

The Reception

The wedding reception was held at the Jan Serr Studio on the Upper East Side near UW-Milwaukee. The room was breathtaking as the sun set behind the view of the city, the lake, and the trees that were changing colors.

Sound by Design installed glistening disco balls and chandeliers in front of the massive windows that overlooked the city. Hope and Dean had their first dance as newlyweds after the sun had set and the disco balls lit up the dance floor.

The Food and Drinks

Saz’s catered the reception dinner and went “above and beyond” for the food. The couple, party, and guests enjoyed petite filets with rosemary mashed potatoes and cheddar broccoli, sweet chili salmon with risotto and parmesan Brussels sprouts, and vegan grilled vegetables with barley risotto. The featured cocktail was a classic Wisconsin brandy old-fashioned. Lakefront Brewery Pumpkin Lager was also served as a seasonal specialty beer.

Simma’s Bakery provided dessert that “held up to all its glory,” as Hope describes. The wedding cake was the bakery’s iconic cheesecake. Strawberry genoise and ganache was also offered to guests, and the non-cake lovers were able to indulge in fruit tarts and lemon custard tarts. For late night munchies, Saz’s provided its “festival famous” platter, a trio of fries, cheese curds, and mozzarella sticks.

The Honeymoon

Hope and Dean honeymooned in Napa, California.

The Bride’s Words of Wisdom

“You should aim to please yourself and your partner, no one else. People will always give you their opinions, but unless it is part of your partner’s or your wedding image, do not give it any ounce of your stress.”

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