Amanda & Lucas's love story began long before their elegant 550-guest celebration, growing from childhood friendship to a once-in-a-lifetime day filled with heartfelt moments, classic style, and a full dance floor!
Amanda and Lucas have known each other practically their entire lives, with Lucas being a good childhood friend of Amanda's brother. They met when they were young, enjoyed a cute first date mini golfing, and eventually dated through college until Lucas proposed in 2023 on a golf course in Florida. The symbolism of their first date and proposal led the couple to incorporate greenery as an accent color in their black-tie wedding.
Given their many shared friends, the couple knew their guest count would be high (over 500!). They scheduled a beautiful, personalized weekend, prioritizing finding a venue that could accommodate their guests, while also feeling clean, bright, airy, and fun! For the big day, they wanted to include a traditional ceremony, followed by drinks, delicious food, and a live band at the Old Schoolhouse.
The wedding day began with the couple putting their own flair on tradition by exchanging private vows in their sweats, "unfiltered and completely us." Though they absolutely wanted photography and videography to capture the day, they approached their documentation in a similarly authentic manner. Amanda credits Emily Barbara Photography and Hello Darling Films for balancing posed portraits with organic scenes so she and Lucas could enjoy their day to the fullest.
Amanda and Lucas's ceremony at Saint Luke Catholic Church was filled with friends and family against a backdrop of soaring ceilings, statues, stained glass, and stunning arches--and set to live music by Yahara Stings Quartet. Amanda writes, "To make our walk down the aisle feel intimate, we asked everyone in the church to face forward briefly, so it felt like it was just Luke and I at that moment--a memory I'll forever cherish."
The bride wore a timeless satin gown with structured, off-shoulder sleeves and a pearl-encrusted tulle veil from Anna Be Bridal Boutique. The groom and groomsmen looked sharp in crisp black suits, with white undershirts and black bowties from Men's Wearhouse, while the bridesmaids each chose their own black dress for the occasion.
After the ceremony, the 24-person wedding party and their spouses rode to the reception in a charming white school bus. Despite the large number of attendees, the couple focused on creating an intimate atmosphere for their reception. They rented a tent, checkered dance floor, and stage from Blue Peak Tents, which included a stunning floral arrangement above the circular bar, and rented a beautiful custom stage backdrop from Cedar & Spice. Event Essentials also provided many pieces to tie everything together. Guests enjoyed a variety of lawn games and playful activities that brought out their inner child, all set against a backdrop of stunning views.
Hanging lampshades, creatively designed by the day's florist, Ebb and Flow Florals, wrapped in greenery brought an extra layer of warmth to the design.
In addition to drinks, Cocktail Hour featured a massive cheese display, lovingly made by the couple's family cheese company, with crackers, meats, and fruits. Beautifully plated dinners by Blue Plate Catering were later served family-style during the reception, allowing plenty of time for speeches and special dances.
There were many personalized moments during Amanda and Lucas's day, including a charming guest book alternative that involved guests signing quilt squares to be sewn into a cozy keepsake. Craig's Cake Shop also baked an elegant wedding cake and provided delicious treats throughout the night. Elevate Events, Cedar and Spice, and Minted worked harmoniously for printed pieces, signage, and seating charts.
From the proposal to the last dance, Amanda and Lucas credit their most helpful planning tool as their planner, Elevate Events. The couple writes, "Katie and Kirstie with Elevate Events were amazing. If anyone knows Luke and I, they know we are not planners. We go with the flow and hope for the best... which is not always the best way to handle a wedding. So, hiring wedding planners was the best thing we could do! Katie and Kirstie were so kind, patient, and organized throughout the entire process. I never doubted that our day wouldn't go as planned with them on our side."
For those currently in the wedding planning process, Amanda encourages everyone to do a mother-daughter dance in addition to the more common pairings. She writes, "I surprised my mom to come to the dance floor with the other mothers and daughters in the room to join us. It was such a special moment surrounded by our favorite ladies."
Bluewater Kings Band kept the dance floor packed all night. Stars were visible beneath the clear-top tent, while guests also enjoyed a cigar bar, nacho bar, and Luke's only request--a mechanical bull.
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