PB Rewards Spotlight: Lindsay & Joe’s East Troy Brewery Wedding

Congratulations to Joe and Lindsay, winners of our Premier Bride Rewards!
Lindsay and Joe 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!

A Festive Proposal

Every year for as long as Lindsay can remember, her family tradition is to attend the Exeland Trout Festival in northern Wisconsin. “Exeland is a town with a population of less than 200 where hunting, fishing, and nature are held sacred,” Lindsay explains. “Trout Festival is the perfect small-town festival to celebrate those things as well as to enjoy a street dance, tons of fun activities, and of course a trout sandwich on Friday night.”

Because Joe knows how much family means to Lindsay and how much she adores the Trout Festival, he planned his proposal for that weekend. But he had some trouble getting a moment alone with her as there was a constant stream of festival events that Lindsay didn’t want to miss. Finally (after Lindsay saved the day by distracting a runaway cow!), Joe was able to snag a walk with Lindsay down one of her favorite trails. Joe told Lindsay how much he was enjoying his first Trout Festival and spending time with Lindsay’s family. At a bend in the trail, Joe got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and asked Lindsay to marry him. After a tearful “yes,” they walked back to the crowd to share the exciting news.

A Wedding at the East Troy Brewery

Lindsay and Joe planned a late November 2020 wedding at the East Troy Brewery. The overall vibe was a bit casual, fall-feeling, and rustic. To suit the season, the wedding colors were dusty autumn tones of blush, sage, ivory, light blue, and mauve. The bridal party consisted of Lindsay’s kids and her nieces. Lindsay’s dad performed the ceremony and the bride and groom wrote their own vows.

The ceremony was held in the brewery’s outdoor beer garden. “A stroke of luck allowed us to do this comfortably for the time of year.” Since the wedding was held in the midst of the pandemic, some special changes were made. “We also had guests who couldn’t be with us in person join via Zoom. We ended up having quite a few people tune in from afar.”

Immediately after the ceremony, guests were directed to the indoor bar area where they were invited to toast with his and hers beers. “The Brewmaster worked with us to craft custom beers based on our tastes: a flavorful, juicy IPA for Joe and a pumpkin Oktoberfest for Lindsay.” Guests were able to pick their poison and enjoy their drinks during the speeches.

Joe and Lindsay loved that they were able to partake the entirety of the evening: “Opting to take photos ahead of time was something we were so happy about because it allowed us to flow into the fun of the post-ceremony night without pause.”

Flowers by Family

One of the most special parts of Joe and LIndsay’s wedding day were the flowers. Joe’s mom, Char, handled all of the bouquets and event arrangements, as she owned a successful flower shop in Michigan for many years. “My neighbor graciously offered to let me pick as many ivory hydrangeas as I wanted at the end of the season, which she then dried in her garage until the wedding day” Lindsay says. “Joe’s mom personally selected flowers and built everything the night before the wedding. Char did an amazing job, and I will never forget the time, effort, and love that was so clearly put into the flowers.”

Looking Back

Lindsay says that while she doesn’t want to remember COVID as being a part of the day, she can’t deny that it made an impact. “I will say the wedding gave people something happy and meaningful to remember about 2020. It gave them a safe place to celebrate, let loose, and forget the negativity and fear in the world.”

“Nobody felt pressured to be there. The 65 people who came accepted and understood the risks, and we trusted each other not to put others at risk if there was a known chance of being sick. Those who couldn’t come, but joined virtually, gave us a unique dynamic that we never would have expected. We will treasure it all and always remember.”