WEDDING DAY STYLE

Hillary’s gown came from Azazie. After trying on several dresses, she found her perfect match with the help of a very honest critic—her niece. When her niece gave her stamp of approval, Hillary knew she had found the dress.
For the men, Du Bois Formalwear came through in a big way — finding a color match for the bridesmaid dresses that tied the whole wedding party together seamlessly.
Hair was handled by Alyssa at Ulta Beauty in Green Bay, who delivered a beautiful result from start to finish. Makeup for Hillary and the entire bridal party was done at Blo in Green Bay, where the team created a calm, welcoming space in the middle of a busy morning — doing exceptional work while making sure everyone felt taken care of. Both are highly recommended.

THE RUSTIC VISION

With a shared love of the outdoors, Hillary and Tom leaned into a rustic, nature-inspired aesthetic filled with meaningful details. Sage green and buttercup yellow set the tone, complemented by natural wood textures, greenery, and thoughtful handmade touches throughout the day.
Kate of Archer & Bliss Floral brought their vision to life with locally grown flowers and foliage, even going the extra mile to source sunflowers—Hillary’s favorite flower—despite them being out of season. It was one of many thoughtful touches that made the day feel truly special.
The centerpieces were a true labor of love. Hillary and Tom sourced tree slices from a sawmill in Oshkosh and topped them with mason jars they painted themselves — a hands-on detail that made the reception feel personal in the best possible way. Birch bark and wood accents carried throughout, and artistic friends and family contributed custom signage that added warmth and personality to every corner of the space.

THE VENUE

It was important to them that the out-of-town guests be able to stay on-site. The ceremony and reception were both held at the Tundra Lodge, a venue that checked every box from the moment they walked in.  The natural wood accents, the taxidermy, the rustic character already built into the space — it was all right there. Laura at the Tundra was communicative, collaborative, and genuinely invested in making their vision a reality, and that relationship made the entire planning process smoother than Hillary and Tom could have hoped for. With 13 months of planning and a guest count of 287, having a venue team that was truly in their corner made all the difference.

Diane Tremmel of White Swan Wedding Ceremonies handled ceremony coordination with precision and care, ensuring every person knew exactly where to be and when — no small feat for a wedding of this size.

THE CEREMONY

Hillary and Tom were married under a stunning birch arbor draped in eucalyptus, baby’s breath, and sunflowers — one of Hillary’s favorite design elements of the entire day and a true showstopper. Greenery adorned the end of every row of seats, creating an aisle that felt lush and intentional without being overdone.

Hillary walked down the aisle to a piano instrumental of the Friends theme song — a detail that meant far more than it might appear on the surface. Watching Friends with her dad has been one of their shared rituals since she was eleven years old. Walking toward Tom with her dad by her side, to the song they had sung together in her living room as a kid, was the kind of moment that only makes sense in retrospect. It was quietly perfect.

Tom and I wrote our own vows and got many compliments on them. We are both goofy, informal, and for lack of a better word, unique. These traits shone through in our vows. We laughed, we cried, and most importantly, we showed everyone what we had already known- that we were made for each other!

CAPTURING THE DAY

Jake of Sleger Photography was a natural choice — he is their neighbor, he had already shot their engagement photos, and the results had been stunning. By the wedding day, the comfort and trust were already there. Jake delivered over 1,000 images, capturing everything from the sweet and sentimental to the genuinely funny — including the moment Hillary’s bouquet sailed through the air during the bouquet toss and lodged itself directly in the chandelier. A moment that could only happen at a wedding this full of personality.
Photo stops included Lambeau Field and the Titletown area, as well as Player 2 Arcade Bar — two Green Bay spots that mean something real to Hillary and Tom. At the arcade, they got a shot kissing over a pinball machine and another of Hillary playing pinball in her full wedding dress. Tom and Hillary are serious pinball players, and their friends and family know it. Those two photos captured their relationship more honestly than any traditional portrait ever could.

THE RECEPTION

The reception at the Tundra Lodge was exactly the party Hillary and Tom had envisioned — high energy, full dance floor, and a room full of people genuinely having the time of their lives.
Cocktail hour featured an open bar and a spread of appetizers that leaned into the couple’s roots — ham and pickle rollups (affectionately dubbed “Midwest Sushi” by Hillary’s dad), crudités, and ham and cheese pinwheels. It was the kind of food that feels like home, and guests loved it.

Dinner was served family style, with herb-crusted chicken, baked haddock, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, salad, and seasonal veggies. The Tundra Lodge servers kept every table fully stocked throughout the meal, attending to guests with the kind of attentiveness that makes a large wedding still feel warm and personal. One of the most memorable touches of the evening came from Jake, their photographer, who went table by table during dinner, taking photos. The result is a complete portrait of everyone who was there — including new connections made across tables, like Hillary’s high school best friend and her college best friend, who had never met before that night and have since exchanged numbers.

The music throughout the evening leaned into artists Hillary and Tom have actually seen in concert — Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, and Luke Combs featured heavily, giving the reception a personal soundtrack that felt intentional rather than generic. Their first dance was to “With You I Am” by Cody Johnson — warm, country, and completely them. Adam from The Music Caterer read the crowd all night, kept the energy exactly right, and delivered a dance floor that was elbow-to-elbow by the end of the evening.

The cake from Monzu Cakes and Bakery of Green Bay was a showstopper — custom designed to look like a birch tree with Hillary and Tom’s initials carved into it, offered in three different flavors. Multiple guests called it the best wedding cake they had ever eaten. High praise, and apparently well earned.

ADVICE FROM THE COUPLE

Don’t let outside opinions shape your vision.
At the end of the day, your wedding should reflect your relationship—not anyone else’s expectations. Trust what feels right, stay true to yourselves, and everything else will fall into place.
(Pro tip: Pack a change of clothes—you’ll thank yourself later.)