Rachel & Jake’s Danes Hall Wedding in Waupaca

An Intimate Wedding Full of Fabulous Local Vendors

From Reconnecting to a Real Proposal

Rachel and Jake went to the same high school but didn’t get together until after college. In 2019, the two reconnected over Facebook. “We went on our first date at Taber’s Country Inn just outside of Waupaca,” Rachel remembers. “I knew pretty early on that he was definitely the one! Jake is a hard worker, loves being outside, and has the gentlest, kindest spirit I’ve ever seen. He made me feel so special right away!”

Rachel says she saw the proposal coming, but Jake still managed to take her by surprise in the moment. “He had jokingly gotten down on one knee before, then pretended to tie his shoe, so I actually thought he was joking.” Jake popped the question at High Cliff State Park in November of 2020. “My initial response was ‘Get out of there!’ and I pushed him away… Then I realized he was being serious.” She eventually found the word she was searching for: Yes! Jake later told Rachel that he had been planning to ask her on Christmas Eve, but decided he couldn’t wait that long.

A Danes Hall Wedding

Jake and Rachel planned a simple, classic wedding with a ceremony, reception, and even their rehearsal dinner held at the historic Danes Hall in Waupaca, which was built in 1894. “We loved the historical significance of Danes Hall. It is a beautiful three-story building with a clean, simple interior that can match any style. It provides many wonderful amenities at a very reasonable price.”

“The staff was very easy to work with, and we always felt like they were striving to make this the best day of our lives. Aimee and Keegan were the on-site coordinators, and they are amazing! They did such a wonderful job helping us make decisions, laying out all our options, and checking in with us throughout the wedding day to make sure we were doing well.”

“The building has been beautifully refurbished in the last few years. The remodeling gives the building an early 20th century vibe. There are big windows that allow for great natural lighting. The building is open to the public during most evening hours, and I would highly recommend people come check it out if they are in the Waupaca area!”

Fashion Forward

Rachel only tried on about six dresses before finding the gown of her dreams by Melissa Sweet. “I had scheduled just one time to try on dresses. I knew what I was looking for, but I didn’t know exactly if I wanted a long dress or a shorter one. I ended up going with my gown because I loved the mock neck look and the lace overlay. I felt absolutely beautiful and so confident in it!”

Navy blue and magenta were the main colors of the day. Rachel had only two bridesmaids—her sister as her Maid of Honor and her sister-in-law as a bridesmaid. The ladies wore dusky rose and magenta, each in a style of dress they felt confident in and could see themselves wearing again. The men wore navy suits with magenta ties and pocket squares.

Jake and his party found their suits at Victorian Bridal & Formal Wear in Waupaca. The rings came from Fletcher’s Jewelry, also in Waupaca. One thing Rachel loves is how they were able to keep so many of their vendors local. “Everyone we worked with lives in Waupaca or in the surrounding area, minus David’s Bridal. We are so lucky to have worked with such wonderful people. I would highly recommend every single person and business listed here for any type of milestone event.”

Ceremony & Reception

 On the eve of the wedding, Rachel and Jake’s rehearsal dinner also took place at Danes Hall. “We ordered pizza from Wheelhouse in Waupaca and brought it into the hall. Their taco pizza is excellent!”

On the wedding day, they had the entire building to themselves—all three floors of it. “The top floor, the Ballroom, housed our ceremony and reception. The main floor had our guestbook and pictures of those who have passed on. The basement, the Granite Cellar, housed the men before the ceremony and then provided drinks and popcorn to our guests while we took pictures.” Pictures were taken outside as it was getting dark. “We got some great pictures by the river and outside of Danes Hall in the unique lighting. Our photographer had a great eye!”

The ceremony was short, but meaningful. Rachel is a self-proclaimed over-thinker, so she thought through every aspect of the ceremony to ensure it reflected them as a couple. The processional songs came from Rachel’s favorite movie, “Pride and Prejudice” and the recessional song was the Main Theme from “Lord of the Rings.”

The reception was small—less than 50 guests. Rachel isn’t a fan of attention, so there was no grand march. “We didn’t have a DJ, but instead utilized the Bluetooth capabilities at Danes Hall and streamed Sirius XM’s wedding music channel. We did three special dances before opening up the dance floor to everyone.” The first dance was “When You Say Nothing At All” by Alison Krauss & Union Station. The father/daughter and mother/son dance was “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban. Lasly, there was an all-couples dance to “Simply the Best” by Stephanie Rainey.

Dinner & Drinks

Food was catered buffet-style by Par 4 in Waupaca. “They have AMAZING food!” Rachel says. “My favorite was the Door County Cherry Pork Loin. I am not a huge pork fan, but the cherry sauce made it absolutely fantastic! All of the food they served was wonderful. We had a little cake for the two of us, and then vanilla and chocolate cupcakes for our guests from Amherst Family Foods in Amherst. Linda, in the bakery, makes the best cakes! We had an open bar for pop, wine, and specific beer, served by the fantastic Danes Hall staff.”

The Bride’s Favorite Thing

When asked about her favorite thing that she planned for their wedding, Rachel had this to say: “I am so glad that we stayed true to ourselves and kept the wedding small. We were able to connect with everyone during the day and have meaningful conversations with those we love. We did not feel overwhelmed, nor did we feel that we couldn’t enjoy what was happening in real time. It was such a special day and we feel that we will treasure it forever!”