The Vision

If there is one word that defines Amanda and Jose’s wedding aesthetic, it is color — and the reason runs deeper than style. Jose is red-green colorblind, so from the very beginning, the couple knew that pink and white simply would not do.  Their florist, Kate Guth of Archer & Bliss Floral, created wildflower-inspired arrangements in yellows, pinks, blues, oranges, and greens — a full spectrum of joyful, saturated color woven throughout every floral element of the day. Kate also collaborated with Amanda’s mom to plant matching flowers throughout the backyard before the wedding, so the landscaping itself became part of the design. The yard was in full bloom by the time guests arrived, creating a ceremony and reception space where the venue and florals were completely inseparable.

The glassware deserves its own mention. Amanda’s dad hand-built a seven-foot wooden shelf to display the collection, and guests were invited to choose their favorite glass and use it for the night. The result was a table setting full of color that coordinated beautifully without needing to match — one of Amanda’s proudest wedding hacks and one of the most talked-about details of the entire evening.

The overall vibe was colorful backyard garden party — with emphasis on the party. Amanda gathered most of her inspiration from Pinterest, steering toward lakehouse aesthetics that stepped outside of traditional wedding conventions. She planned the entire event herself over twelve months, with her mom by her side and a team of detail-oriented women from her life recruited as what she lovingly called her CoordinatHERS. One handled decor, one managed vendors, one assisted the photographer, and one kept the timeline on track. Amanda got to enjoy the day.

WEDDING DAY LOOKS

Amanda’s gown was designed by Madi Lane and purchased from a&bé bridal in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she and Jose now live. After trying on about ten dresses, she knew hers was the one the moment she looked in the mirror — it had exactly the nature-inspired detailing she had been searching for. Bridesmaids were given the freedom to choose their own dresses, with many selecting from Birdy Grey, Azazie, and Beginnings Boutique. The result was a beautifully varied bridal party that felt personal and relaxed rather than uniform.

The groomsmen wore lightweight tan suits.  The standout detail was the ties: each groomsman wore a unique tie from HolmesTies on Etsy, specifically chosen to coordinate with the colors of the bridesmaid dress of the person they were walking down the aisle with. A small detail with a big payoff.

Rings came from Martin Jewellers in Shawano — Amanda’s were custom-made, and Jose’s was laser engraved with her initials and their wedding date.
Hair was done by Salon 2140 in Shawano. Amanda did her own wedding makeup — and she did a beautiful job. She did a trial run on her hair ahead of the day, skipped the makeup trial, and trusted herself. It worked.

THE CEREMONY

Amanda and Jose were married in her parents’ backyard on the Wolf River, with chairs arranged to face the water and a stunning floral ground arch positioned at the water’s edge between two large trees. A single-stem aisle lined with hundreds of colorful flowers guided guests to their seats, and the landscaping — full of planted flowers that matched every floral arrangement — made the yard itself feel like the most intentional decor of all. Two tables at the entrance held signage, programs, and dried flower confetti for guests to throw at the end of the ceremony. The setting was so naturally beautiful that simplicity was the right call, and Amanda knew it.
Amanda walked down the aisle to Golden Hour — the cello version by JVKE — a dreamy, romantic choice that fit the waterfront moment perfectly.
The ceremony followed the traditions of the Episcopal Church with several meaningful modern touches. Two of their closest friends did the readings. Amanda’s uncle, Dr. Jon Pahl, gave the homily — which he had translated into Spanish and printed as a handout so Jose’s family could read along in their first language. Fr. Patrick Twomey conducted the remainder of the ceremony as an ordained minister. Together, they created something that felt both sacred and genuinely personal.
Because Jose’s family speaks Spanish as a first language, Amanda and Jose made the intentional choice to have key parts of the ceremony conducted bilingually. They delivered their vows — both the traditional Book of Common Prayer vows and personal vows they wrote themselves — in both English and Spanish. For their unity ceremony, they chose El Lazo, a traditional element of Mexican wedding ceremonies. Each set of parents placed an ornate double-looped rosary over the couple’s shoulders, blessing their marriage with stability and longevity. Both sets of parents have been married for over 25 years. In that moment, two families became one.
One practical and thoughtful detail worth noting: with ninety-degree heat and a best man recovering from a torn Achilles, Amanda and Jose had their wedding party seated for the majority of the ceremony. It kept everyone comfortable and present — and nobody passed out.
DJ David Novak of SoundBlessed provided ceremony music that set exactly the right tone throughout.

CAPTURING THE DAY

Kurt Wagner Photo was chosen specifically for his documentary-style approach to wedding photography — and he delivered everything Amanda had hoped for and more. Rather than extended posed sessions, Kurt prioritized candid moments and genuine connection. He shot on a film camera, resulting in beautifully grainy, cinematic images that look less like wedding photos and more like frames from a movie. He brought a second shooter and did not miss a single moment of the day. He also had a gift for working a crowd — telling unexpected jokes mid-shoot to get genuine reactions, arranging groups together and then letting conversations happen naturally. Nearly every guest commented on how much they loved having him there.

Because her parents home had enough unique settings to cover everything, no travel was required for photos. The groomsmen shot in the yard next door, the bridal party and family in the front yard, and Amanda and Jose slipped away during blue hour for portraits on the water. The group photos included one recurring challenge — finding creative ways to hide the best man’s crutches — which Kurt handled with both skill and humor.

Nathan Mallek of Mallek Film served as videographer and brought the same easy, genuine energy that made the experience so memorable. Guests loved him. The film speaks for itself.

THE RECEPTION

The reception took place under a large white tent on the side of the house — positioned perfectly between the bar on the deck and the El Tequila food truck parked on the tennis court, so guests never had to go far for anything. Long banquet tables replaced the traditional rounds, giving the whole space the feeling of one big family dinner. White linens and white chairs provided a clean base, and all the color came from the details — a hanging floral installation above the dance floor, the repurposed ground arch framing the sweetheart table, colorful satin napkins, thrifted glassware in every shade imaginable, and the aisle flower stems tucked into bud vases down the center of every table.

El Tequila Food Truck was an unqualified hit. During the pre-ceremony cocktail hour, they served pork belly wontons, elote bites, and quesadillas. Dinner brought the full menu — carne asada, barbacoa, and al pastor tacos, burritos, chimichangas, rice bowls, chef’s specials, rice, beans, and chorizo asada fries. Forty boxes of tacos were prepared for late-night snacking. Zero were left over. Guest after guest called it the best wedding food they had ever eaten.

The bar featured a full open selection alongside specialty cocktails that quickly became the talk of the night — frozen margaritas, frozen horchata, and cucumber jalapeño margaritas. Amanda’s mom rented two frozen margarita machines from Qualheims and had them running all day. A beer canoe stocked with sodas, seltzers, water bottles, local Wisconsin beers, and Mexican beers rounded out the setup. It was cool, it was fun, and it was absolutely worth the last-minute ice run.

For their first dance, Amanda and Jose chose a Bachata remix of Tattoo by Loreen — a choice that made perfect sense once you know that Jose can actually dance, and spent the months before the wedding teaching Amanda Bachata so they could share that moment together.

Entertainment shifted between DJ David Novak of SoundBlessed and a live set from Amanda’s dad’s cover band, Brosbee — during which she requested specific songs that hold meaning between her and her dad. The music spanned classic rock, Latin, and EDM, making sure there was something for everyone on the floor. SoundBlessed also conducted a spirited game of Thunderstruck that became one of the most memorable moments of the night.

Advice from the Couple

Know when to lock in—and know when to let go.
The planning process matters, but so does trusting it. By putting in the work ahead of time and then handing things off, Jose and Amanda were able to fully step into their wedding day—present, relaxed, and ready to enjoy every moment.

Wisconsin Wedding Vendor Team

A talented team of wedding professionals came together to transform this private Wolf River property into a beautiful and unforgettable wedding celebration.

Ceremony & Reception Venue
Private Residence –  Shawano, Wisconsin

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Photography
Kurt Wagner Photo

Wedding Film | Videographer
Nathan Mallek

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Floral Design
Archer & Bliss Floral

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Entertainment
SoundBlessed

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Catering & Late-Night Eats
El Tequila Food Truck

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Rentals
Green Bay Expo Services

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Transportation
BusTaMove Party Bus

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Hair
Salon 2140 – Shawano

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Bridal Gown Designer
Madi Lane Bridal

Bridal Boutique:
a&bé bridal, Raleigh, NC

Bridesmaid Gowns:
Birdy Grey,| Azazie | Beginnings Boutique
Men’s Formalwear:
Men’s Wearhouse

Ties:
Holmes Ties | Etsy

Rings:
Martin Jewellers, Shawano

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Rehearsal Dinner:
Luigi’s Pizza & Pasta, Shawano