NYE Green Bay Wedding

Brianna & John’s Wedding

A sparkling, romantic, festive celebration for a beautiful Wisconsin couple.

Months to Plan: 5 | Guest Count: 275 | Music down the Aisle: Cannon in D

How They Met

Green Bay natives Brianna and John met when they were young. They both attended small Catholic schools, and John’s mom was Brianna’s art teacher. They even ran track together in middle school. Years later, they reconnected when Brianna moved back to her hometown.

The Engagement

During a family trip to Carlsbad, California, John dressed his and Brianna’s then-one-year-old daughter Wren in a shirt with a question printed on it: “Mommy, will you marry my daddy?” When Brianna noticed the shirt, John got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife.

The Dress

Brianna found her dream wedding dress, a gown designed by Martina Liana, at Tie The Knot Bridal Boutique in Green Bay. “I started swaying in the dress and could not stop smiling. That’s how I knew it was the one.”

The Ceremony

Brianna and John were married at Hamlet Creek in Green Bay. The bride wrote the entire ceremony script herself, and John’s dad and Brianna’s stepdad got ordained and served as the co-officiants. “The feeling of being surrounded by all those you love is indescribable. My stepdad instructed us to look at the crowd and see all the love in the room while we stood at the altar,” Brianna shared. “That moment was so beautiful.” The couple participated in a candle-lighting ceremony with the help of their mothers. John’s four siblings and Brianna’s three siblings also played a role in the ceremony. John popped a bottle of champagne at the altar, and the newlyweds walked down the aisle as a family with their daughter Wren.

The Décor

For their big day, Brianna and John wanted “the ultimate New Year’s Eve party,” with large white floral pieces on vintage gold candelabras, black velvet and satin table linens from Ruby Design Event Rentals, lots of candles, an art deco-inspired cake from Monzù Bakery & Custom Cakes, cold-spark fireworks from Peace of Mind Entertainment during their first dance, party hats and glow sticks for the dance floor, and a gelato cart from Sara’s Artisan Gelato.

The seating chart was printed and organized by table number, and gold envelope seals were used to hang the papers on the mirror. On the wedding day, Brianna’s siblings, stepdad, and best friend’s mom decorated the space, which turned out absolutely gorgeous. Brianna also designed the guest signature book, which featured her and John’s engagement photos on each page.

The Photos

The couple hired Appleton-based photographer Meghan Lee Harris to capture their wedding day’s beautiful moments. In addition to their ceremony and reception venues, they took photos at Hotel Northland for an elegant art deco vibe. “Meghan was amazing and helped me so much. She sent us the cutest little gift when we booked her a personalized ring holder with our initials, and she helped create the timeline for the wedding day. Her work is beautiful, and we are so happy to have her as our photographer.”

The Reception

The reception was held at Stadium View Sports Bar & Event Hall in Green Bay, just a block from Lambeau Field. The bride and groom joined cocktail hour to mingle with their guests. For their grand entrance into the reception room, Brianna and John were greeted by cold sparklers before they shared their first dance, which was choreographed with Ballroom by Jay. John’s favorite part was “John’s Power Hour,” the one-hour period during which he bodysurfed the crowd on the dance floor.

The Food and Drinks

During cocktail hour, guests munched on a variety of appetizers before enjoying a family-style dinner catered by Stadium View. “The service was incredible, and all our guests loved it.” Dessert featured Sara’s Artisan Gelato, and everyone was offered champagne throughout the evening, a New Year’s Eve classic.

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