Danes Hall Summer Wedding

How They Met

When Candice and Alec met on the dating app Tinder, neither of them were particularly looking for a long-term relationship. However, they soon discovered they had a lot in common, and that’s exactly what happened. The pair dated for six years before they got married.

The Dress

Candice found her dream wedding gown at Tiffani’s Bridal in Appleton. She tried on 10 dresses before she found “the one,” which instantly made her feel happy and pretty.

The Ceremony

Candice and Alec always wanted to have a destination wedding, and they stuck with their plan. The couple tied the knot at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. The overview chapel featured the beautiful, iconic Rocky Mountain National Park as the background. Although their ceremony was delayed by about 20 minutes due to a heavy storm passing through the mountains, the skies quickly cleared up, providing a bright blue canvas during their special moment.

At the end of the ceremony, Candice’s grandpa’s
“12 Rules to a Happy Home” were read aloud:
If you sleep in it, make it.
If you drip on it, clean it up.
If you open it, close it.
If you drop it, pick it up.
If you wear it, hang it up.
If you empty it, fill it up.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you spill it, wipe it up.
If it rings, answer it.
If it howls, feed it.
If it climbs on you, hug it.
If it breathes, love it.

The Reception

Several weeks after their ceremony and honeymoon in Colorado, Candice and Alec held their reception in Waupaca, Wisconsin at Danes Hall. They wanted to host a fun, laid-back party for everyone after they were officially husband and wife. They decided to have their reception in Waupaca because it’s a place near and dear to them, as they vacation along the lakes every year for a week. When they began researching reception venues, Alec’s dad and stepmom highly recommended Danes Hall. They immediately fell in love with the venue because of the building’s history.

The Food and Drinks

Candice and Alec’s reception dinner featured a delicious Mexican buffet catered by the Oconomowoc-based food truck Bocadillos. Guests had the option of chicken, steak, and fish along with rice, beans, guacamole, chips, corn tortillas, and Mexican lemonade. The Danes Hall bar staff kept the drinks – beer, wine, and cocktails – flowing all night.

For dessert, guests enjoyed donuts from Festival Foods and Happy Bellies in Appleton. In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, the couple opted for a donut wall adorned with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and a variety of donut flavors. Additionally, Candice’s mom baked and decorated homemade cookies for everyone to take home. The cookies were in the shape of mountains in honor of the ceremony.

The Photos

Candice and Alec hired two different wedding photographers – one for their ceremony in Colorado and another for their reception in Waupaca. In Colorado, their photos featured various ranges of the Rocky Mountains, including the Never Summer Mountains, which get their name from the fact they are snow-capped year-round. Many of their reception photos were taken in the park outside of Danes Hall, which gives off a whimsical, fairy princess vibe. The vibrant flowers throughout the landscape gave the photos a summery pop of color.

The Honeymoon

Candice and Alec combined their ceremony with their honeymoon in Estes Park, Colorado, one of their favorite places in the world.

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