Paige & Chase at Geneva National in Lake Geneva

Congratulations to Paige and Chase, newlyweds as of July 20th, 2019 and winners of our Premier Bride Rewards! Chase and Paige won the chance to have the spotlight shine on their love story, right here on the Premier Bride blog. Watch for our next issue of Premier Bride to see what new rewards could be yours in 2020!

How They Met: The Luck of the Irish!

Paige was born and raised in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Chase’s dad was a football coach, so although he was born in Sacramento, California, he moved around a lot. The two had a serendipitous meeting at a mutual friend’s “Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day Party.” At the time, Chase was a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Paige was studying nursing at Bradley University. After the party, the two dated long distance for a year and a half before moving in together.

From Mom’s Permission to Proposal

In 2016, Paige and Chase started their life together in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chase followed in his father’s footsteps and went into the football coaching industry, and his first gig as a graduate assistant was at the University of Nebraska. Unbeknownst to Paige, Chase flew from Lincoln to Chicago one August day while Paige was at work. “He met up with my mom to get her permission to marry me,” Paige says. “He then flew home and was back at our apartment by the time I got back from work.”

One September weekend, Paige’s mom and sister came into town for a visit and a football game. Chase suggested that he and Paige take a walk along the golf course that was part of their apartment complex. “We walked over by a willow tree and pond and he got down on one knee,” Paige remembers. “Chase had a photographer waiting. I was so surprised and it was so beautiful!”

The Ceremony

Both the ceremony and reception were held at Geneva National Resort in Lake Geneva. Originally the ceremony was supposed to take place outside at the Lake View Terrace, but a downpour moved the event indoors. Luckily, by the time the ceremony was over, the sun had come out once more. “We got to do our photos outside, which was a huge relief!”

One of Paige’s favorite parts of the ceremony was having her mom walk her down the aisle. “My mother basically raised me on her own, so I wanted nothing more than to be given away by her,” Paige says. “She is the most amazing person I know, and because we walked down the aisle together, she was my saving grace. She calmed me down so I could see straight and enjoy the moment.”

Chase and Paige agree that the moment that sticks with them most from their wedding day was when they first saw each other down the aisle. “Chase cried the moment he saw me and didn’t stop crying until the end of the ceremony. He was so emotional and nobody expected that!”

Geneva National: Catering to a Dream

Geneva National truly gave Paige and Chase the wedding of their dreams and made the entire experience seamless. “We cannot say enough about how amazing the staff at Geneva National were! They were so accommodating to us, and our coordinator Pam was the best! She answered our many phone calls and emails and made our day perfect. Geneva National wants you to have the wedding of your dreams and will do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

Dinner and drinks were also provided by Geneva National. Dinner was plated with a choice of steak, chicken, or vegetarian. As a starter, there was tomato bisque and a salad. “Our guests raved about the food all night long!” For drinks, there was an open bar serving pretty much anything guests desired. Dessert was a spread of mini treats, including brownies, cheesecake bites, cupcakes, and cookies. As a nod to tradition, the bride and groom also had a 6-inch mini cake just for themselves — ”to cut into and save for our one-year anniversary!”

The Reception: Special Moments

Chase and Paige agree that their reception in the Grand Ballroom at Geneva National was one of the most fun nights of their lives. “My favorite part was that instead of a father-daughter dance, my mom, sister, and I did a dance together to Shania Twain’s ‘Man, I Feel Like a Woman,’ which was my favorite song as a child,” Paige says. “If it was on the radio, I would blast it in our house and we would have a mini dance party together, so it felt perfect to do it again as a married woman. I loved sharing that dance with them!”

Paige advises brides to follow their heart and do the maybe-crazy thing, like she did with her Shania Twain dance break. “Do what you think will make your day stand out to YOU. I was super nervous to do the mother-sister-bride dance, because I thought people would judge or think it was weird. But it’s my favorite memory and I’m so glad we did it!”

Top Tip: Hire a Videographer!

Looking back on the day, Chase and Paige say their best move was hiring their videographer, Ideal Impressions. “Being completely honest, we didn’t hire them until the week before our wedding! We had looked at the cost and decided we didn’t need one. But we are SO thankful we changed our minds! After the big day is over, you are left with some sadness because it was the best day ever and it went so fast. But then you have a wonderful video to look back on and watch as many times as you want and it makes you so happy all over again. We recommend to everyone to get a videographer — the investment is worth it!”