Brittany and Britany had the modern downtown Madison rooftop wedding of their dreams this past September, and we're here for every detail! From a ceremony at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, taking pictures on the Square and Capitol Building, and reception at Park Hotel to top off the evening, these two prioritized soaking in the city they love with the people they love and, let's just say, their day was stunning! Take a look for yourself.
WEDDING DATE: 09/05/21
HOW DID YOU MEET? In early 2017, Brit and I matched on social media and began our first conversations via texts and phone calls. It was a "modern-day love connection" that went on a few weeks before we decided we needed to meet in person. Brit drove from Milwaukee to Madison on Wednesday, February 22nd, to get a drink with me at my favorite cocktail bar, Merchant. It was an immediate connection. We talked over cheese curds and old fashions all night and realized we had more in common than we thought. We took a walking tour of Capitol Square hand in hand to get some fresh air and ended with a climb onto the top of the closed fountain on Monona Terrace so we could gaze at the lit-up Capitol building. A security guard swiftly informed us that we were trespassing and must get down immediately. Our first date night was only a glimpse into the love, adoration, and adventure the two of us would share. The story continues!
HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD FOUND "THE ONE?" Brit knew I was the one when she would get up at 3 AM on the weekends to hike a mountain and watch the sunrise at the summit. I knew Brit was the one when she always said yes to my crazy ideas and adventures. :)
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: During one of our first conversations, we were discussing bucket list travel places. Brit said that if "this becomes a thing" (i.e., you become my girlfriend), we will go together. We planned the trip about a year after Brit asked me to be her girlfriend. In 2019, I carried the ring secretly all the way to Peru, through TSA, hotel changes, and the hike up to the top of Machu Picchu. I got down on one knee, Brit said yes, and there was a lot of ugly crying!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: During one of our first conversations, we were discussing bucket list travel places. Brit said that if "this becomes a thing" (i.e., you become my girlfriend), we will go together. We planned the trip about a year after Brit asked me to be her girlfriend. In 2019, I carried the ring secretly all the way to Peru, through TSA, hotel changes, and the hike up to the top of Machu Picchu. I got down on one knee, Brit said yes, and there was a lot of ugly crying!
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR DRESS: I spent hours looking for the perfect dress, visiting six different dress shops, and trying on every dress in each shop more than once. I tried dresses on in multiple cities and took six months of looking to finally narrow it down to the one. In the end, I chose a wedding dress at Bucci's Bridal and had the absolute best experience working with them!
Brit tried on two dresses, and the second dress she tried she wore on our wedding day from Strike Bridal Bar!
WERE THERE ANY PERSONAL TOUCHES OR DIY ELEMENTS? We designed and printed our save the dates, Ceremony Welcome sign, and reception place cards. We also bought $100 worth of Popcorn from Clary's on State, filled cute bags that read "Our Love is Poppin'," and placed them on the reception tables. We ordered a neon sign on Etsy and created a photo wall with our flower wall for photo ops. We also had a polaroid camera for guests to take pictures and put them in our guest book.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING THEME/STYLE IN FIVE WORDS OR LESS? Modern, romantic, rooftop, downtown.
WHAT WAS YOUR WEDDING COLOR PALETTE? Navy blue, white, and gold.
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: White, blues, and a little green bouquets for the brides.
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION/DESIGN CONCEPT FOR YOUR OVERALL CEREMONY AND RECEPTION DECOR? We knew we wanted a classy downtown Madison wedding, and seeing the top of the Park Hotel really helped us hone in on that theme. It overlooks all of our favorite parts of Madison, including the Capitol building and the lakes!
DID YOU USE ANY SPECIALTY CHAIRS, LINENS, CHARGERS, GLASSWARE, OR DINNERWARE? We didn't use any specialty linens or chairs, but we requested that they use their white linens, navy napkins, and gold plate holders.
TELL US ABOUT THE FOOD, DESSERT, AND ANY SPECIALTY BEVERAGES ON THE MENU: The cake was a 4-tier with a buttercream frosting, and each tier was a different flavor; lemon poppy seed or chocolate peanut butter. The specialty drink was a Paloma which we love, and our guests seemed to love as well.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING? Exchanging the vows we wrote to one another.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR HONEYMOON PLANS: We have a honeymoon booked in 2022 to go to the Greek Islands. We plan to hike, boat, eat and drink our way through the islands. We look forward to the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets on the coast.
WHAT DOES LIFE LOOK LIKE AFTER THE WEDDING? We are happily getting settled into our married life. From planning our honeymoon to Greece to planning a renovation of our condo, life couldn't be better. We spend nights cooking together and still get up super early to watch the sunrise and drink coffee.
IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU'D GIVE TO OTHER COUPLES PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? Enjoy the planning process. It is beautiful and should be fun for you and your partner to do together. It's your day - make it exactly what YOU want and hire the right vendors to help you bring your dreams to reality.
For more Wisconsin wedding inspiration, head to the WedPlan Madison blog!
