Carson & Shawn’s Waupaca Wedding at Par 4 Resort

A Classic Golf Resort Wedding

Par 4 Romance

Shawn and Carson met while working at Par 4 Resort in Waupaca. They started off bartending weddings together and became instant friends. “I always looked forward to getting to work together,” Carson says. “Shawn was so easy to talk to, always made me laugh, and got along with everybody. I just knew he was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with!”

Over time, the two made an annual tradition of recreating their first date: a walk around the golf course one summer night. On this particular anniversary, it was pouring rain. Shawn insisted on taking a short walk anyway. “I thought it was strange, but hadn’t realized he was trying to propose to me!” Carson says. “I felt bad he ended up having to propose in the pouring rain. But it was still incredibly sweet and became an adventure neither of us will ever forget!”

Wedding Planning: Venue & Styling

Carson and Shawn’s love of Par 4 made it simple to choose a wedding venue. “Our venue was an easy choice—it’s where we met, had our first date, and Shawn proposed,” Carson says. “We always planned on getting married there. We’d also seen so many beautiful weddings from working there that we knew it was the right choice!” Par 4 helped everything come together easily. “The wedding & event coordinator, Kesha, along with the entire staff made the entire night amazing! From the decorations, the food, the service—it was all perfect.”

Adding to the look of the wedding were flowers by Firefly Floral. “The owner of the store, Jane, was so helpful,” Carson says. “Everything she created was beautiful! I wanted the bouquets and corsages to be white, and the tables to be decorated with greenery. The arrangements were beyond what I had expected, and I loved how everything looked.”

When it came to wedding-day attire, Carson wore her mom’s wedding dress. It started with trying on the dress just for fun, but it fit perfectly. “I loved it instantly! And it was really special being able to share that with her. It was simple and elegant—exactly the style I was looking for.” Shawn found his formalwear at Victorian Bridal in Waupaca, which is where some of the bridesmaids also found their dresses.

Par 4 Resort Wedding Ceremony & Reception

With an October wedding date, Carson and Shawn were a bit nervous about their outdoor ceremony, as they planned to say their “I do’s” in the gazebo on the grounds. Thankfully, it ended up being a beautiful 60-degree day. “We got really lucky! We kept the ceremony short and sweet. A family friend of ours was the officiant. We wrote vows together to read to one another, which was definitely a favorite part.” Looking back, Carson says this moment is one that sticks with her the most. “It was the most important part of the day! I truly think that was the happiest moment of my life.”

Dinner & Dancing

Par 4 catered all the food and drinks for the wedding reception. During cocktail hour, there was a signature drink, and for dinner there was chicken cordon bleu and beef tips with noodles. For dessert, Shawn’s mom made a small, special wedding cake plus a donut bar at Shawn’s request. “It was really fun and went over great with guests!”

Carson’s favorite part of the night was the dancing. She created her own wedding playlist for the night, and her brother also played the guitar and sang during the first dance.

“It was so fun to have all our friends and family together in one big party. It made us feel so loved having everyone there celebrating with us.”

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