UW Stevens Point Fall Wedding

A colorful, unconventional celebration of lifelong kindred spirits.

The Beginning

Briah and Matt have known each other since they were kids. They attended the same elementary school for one year. When Briah won an art competition, a teacher decided to rescind her victory and give it to a little boy who was absent the day of the winning announcement. “But without the 5th-grade art scandal, the name Matt Hoyt wouldn’t have stuck in my mind,” Briah shared. The two attended middle school and high school together, but it wasn’t until two years after graduating that they became friends and started talking.

Matt expressed interest in Briah’s newly published book, so they grabbed coffee and ice cream a few times and continually chatted over Facebook Messenger. “Life presented twists and turns for both of us quirky souls, leading us on different paths for a few years. During this time, we both still continued to support and like each other’s content on social media. You know how kids are these days!”

Fast-forward to 2020, during the pandemic, when the two were living a state apart. They reconnected on March 13 and have talked every day since then. What started as geeking out over music together evolved into a truly wonderful friendship. Their feelings for one another developed before they even realized it.

The Engagement

Briah and Matt’s engagement was a little unconventional, which is pretty on-brand for the couple. February 20, 2022, was a beautiful Sunday. The two were lounging around when they started casually chatting about weddings and how they were excited to tie the knot one day. Then, Matt asked, “Want to get engaged today?” Matt was on the phone with Briah’s dad a moment later to receive his blessing while she picked out the perfect dress and got ready. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘This is so exciting! I get to pick out what I wear when I get proposed to? Awesome!’”

They nicknamed the first time they hung out as a couple “the Night of Nostalgia” because they took a trip to all of their former schools, elementary through college. Their last stop was outside the Collins Classroom Center at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, where they ran into each other as fellow students. It was while they were sitting outside that building, catching up and admiring the sky together, that Matt knew he wanted to marry Briah. So, that’s where they became engaged.

The Dress

Briah found her dream wedding dress at I Do Too Consignment and Discount Bridal  ( now closed)  in Stevens Point. “I’m a thrifty girl at heart, and when I heard that my town had a secondhand wedding dress store, I was all in!” Her bridesmaids, sister (and maid of honor) Sierra, mom, mother-in-law, aunt, and grandma accompanied her as she found the perfect gown. “When I had it on, it felt like it represented my personality and my own aesthetic. It was timeless and classic, but it held character and detail.” The bridal party wore all the colors of the rainbow.

The Ceremony

Briah and Matt got married at their alma mater, UW–Stevens Point. Their close friend Ben served as the officiant, and another friend Sam was their photographer. In lieu of walking down the aisle to a traditional song, “Honeybody” by Kishi Bashi played over the speakers. The bridesmaids and groomsmen grooved down the aisle one by one, and the mothers of the bride and groom were the “flower girls” with bubble wands.

Their ceremony included a coffee unity, during which they made their first cup of coffee together as a married couple. Each ingredient symbolized something valuable in their lives ahead. They decided who was going to recite their vows first by playing rock, paper, scissors. “Reading and hearing each other’s vows was hands down the best part—aside from finally being married, of course!”

The Décor

The DIY table centerpieces represented the bride and groom perfectly. Briah is an author, Matt is an artist, and they both love reading and coffee. Each centerpiece featured two books as the base, a painter’s palette, and a coffee mug. Inside the mugs were photo holders with playing cards that acted as the table numbers as well as Polaroid pictures from the couple’s many adventures.

The Reception at UW Stevens Point

In addition to the first dances and tear-jerking maid of honor and best man speeches, Briah and Matt’s reception featured various unique elements. For the honeymoon fundraiser, the person whose jar had the most money in it by the end of the night received a whipped cream pie in the face. Matt “lost,” so his wife had to push a pie into his face. It was a fun and silly way to not only entertain their guests but also get some extra cash for their trip. Guests enjoyed chocolate-covered espresso beans for an extra jolt of energy to dance all night long.

The Cake

Briah’s mom baked and decorated the beautiful, colorful wedding cake for the couple and the cupcakes for the guests.

The Honeymoon

Briah and Matt embarked on a mini honeymoon the weekend after their wedding in Bayfield, Wisconsin. They are also planning a trip to the Netherlands.

Advice from Briah

 Some of the best advice I could give is to not be afraid to ask for help with planning because it is A LOT for two people to take on. And you want this day to feel special, lovely, and fun, so taking some of the burden off planning can keep you focused on the enjoyable aspects of your big day.
Also, wearing slippers for my wedding day instead of dress shoes was hands down one of the best decisions I made about my wedding aside from saying YES to the best person ever. Seriously, the slippers were awesome!

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