Real Wedding: Jeffrey and William

William and Jeffrey met during their freshman year of college at UW-La Crosse, where they lived two doors down from each other in the dorms. Who knew then that they would one day be celebrating the wedding of their dreams?!

Jeffery chose a very sweet way to propose — literally. It all began with Skittles: “William loves Skittles,” Jeffrey says. “More importantly, he loves having them around the house. So I got him a gum-ball machine that would dispense handfuls of Skittles.” When William tried the machine for the first time, the first thing to fall out was a ring — and Jeffrey got down on one knee. You might have guessed it: William said yes.

Both the ceremony and reception were held at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino — a venue that Jeffrey and William adored. “We both have always loved going to Potawatomi, so when they opened a new venue, we knew that was the place to be married at.” The wedding theme was “starry night in a birch forest” — a perfect balance of the glitz and glam that Jeffrey loves and the more natural beauty that William is partial to. The team at Potawatomi really helped bring William and Jeffrey’s vision to life. “The lighting in our reception room was customizable, and the space itself was beautiful. The outdoor terrace right off the reception room was an added bonus!”

Jeffrey and William say they weren’t really nervous for the ceremony; they wrote it themselves and had their best friend officiate. The ceremony started with something special that really played to the “starry night” theme: “Just before the ceremony started, all of the shades dropped to create darkness. Then our groomsmaids (our sisters — we each have two) carried glowing blue lanterns into the space. With each sister that entered, the light became brighter and brighter.”

At one point in the ceremony, the couple shared a mixology drink in place of lighting a unity candle. Jeffrey and William each held a glass with a different color liquor; when they poured the liquids together, a blue mixed drink was created and shared between them. The drink was called The Groom’s Kiss.

During the reception, the theme continued with a signature Starry Night cocktail and birchwood accents. William and Jeffrey made their wedding arch and birch tree centerpieces. When the reception started, all of the shades were still pulled on the windows. “None of our guests even knew that there were windows behind the head table, so when our wedding coordinator raised the shades to reveal the Milwaukee skyline at night, everybody ‘ooh-ed’ and ‘aah-ed.’ It was amazing!”

Also amazing: the food. Guests were offered a wide variety of appetizers, both plated and self-serve. “A good balance is key. You don’t want guests waiting for someone to come around, and you also don’t want them to have to stand in line forever.” For drinks, there was the aforementioned signature cocktail and two different types of beer, plus a cash bar.

Dinner consisted of salmon, pork, chicken, or a vegetarian option, as well as late-night pizzas. Potawatomi also provided the wedding cake, and as William and Jeffrey say: “It was everything we ever wanted.” There were three different types of cake — vanilla bean, red velvet, and chocolate — and the talented chefs created sweet treats to fit the starry night theme perfectly.

Beyond delicious food, Jeffrey and William’s reception rocked with lots of music, photos, and games. Cream City Weddings’ photographers and videographers beautifully captured everything from the dance floor to the intimate details. The couple made their own Punch-O-Bunch game: “It was a lot of fun to make and really represented our style and gave our guests an opportunity to learn more about us.” The DJ, Muzic in Motion, kept the party going all night long. “Muzic in Motion actually offers a great class that couples can attend before the wedding that teaches all about receptions — the dos and don’ts and all of the options you have. It was really cool.”

What really stands out about Jeffrey and William’s wedding, aside from their dedication to the theme, is their dedication to each other and the way they poured themselves fully into this once-in-a-lifetime event. “We wanted our wedding to be a celebration not only of our love for each other but also of all those who have supported us and our lives together. Everything that we do has always been collaborative, and our wedding was no exception — it had been almost 10 years in the making.”

The couple’s advice to future wedding-planners: “Do what makes you happy. Have fun with it and do as much as you can  yourself — it will not only save you some money, but it will give you so many memories leading up to that day and special keepsakes to cherish. We just put our wedding arch that William built in out backyard as a lasting reminder of our wonderful wedding day.”

Bachelor Party~Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells
Registry~SEARS & Bed Bath & Beyond
Invitations~Hand Made by the Grooms
Ceremony, Reception, Catering, Cake~Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
Music/Entertainment~Muzic In Motion
Photo & Video~Cream City Weddings
Formal Wear~Men’s Wearhouse
Rings~Kay Jewelers