Real Wedding: Nate and Laura
Photography by Melissa Alderton Photography
Laura Robitschek met her future husband, Nate, when they were introduced by mutual friends who had recently begun dating. Soon a romance of their own began to blossom and in 2014, the couple got engaged while hiking in Door County’s Peninsula State Park.
They spent the next two years planning a modern, elegant wedding for 200 guests. Robitschek immediately knew Appleton had to be the setting for their big day.
“Our family lived in Appleton from 1997 to 2015. I consider it ‘home’ even though I moved to Illinois for medical school,” she says. “We have many ties to Appleton, and it felt like the perfect place to be married.”
On August 20, 2016, the couple wed at St. Thomas More Church in Appleton and, sure enough, their wedding party consisted of their matchmaking friends who had gotten married just the summer prior.
At a Glance
Date: August 20, 2016.
Budget: $45,000
Wedding vision: modern, elegant, family-oriented
Color palette: Ivory, gray, fresh greenery and hints of blush
Priorities: Great photography, delicious food, beautiful flowers
Nate and Laura began researching reception venues and the Warch Campus Center at Lawrence University was on the top of their list. “When we walked inside, we both turned to each other and knew immediately that it was our venue,” Robitschek says. “We loved the modern style and architecture of the building, and it had the most amazing floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Fox River.”
Neutral palettes with understated hints of color grew in popularity last year and will continue to be favored by brides in 2017 as well. To achieve a clean, modern look, Nate and Laura chose a palette with shades of ivory, gray, greenery and hints of blush for their floral arrangements and decor.
Along with photography and food, flowers were a top wedding day priority for Nate and Laura. “I think that flowers set the mood for the day,” says Robitschek, whose mother, Joan Kula, served as both wedding coordinator and florist. “My mom has always had a passion for beautiful flowers and a knack for arranging them with skill.” Kula drew rough sketches of different arrangements, including tall and short vases, greenery and candles. With the help of friends and family, she assembled all the table arrangements, bouquets and boutonnieres.
Brides and grooms will continue getting crafty in 2017, as the do-it-yourself trend remains popular with couples looking to save money and add personality to their celebrations. Nate and Laura found templates online for their table assignment board and table numbers, and simply printed them at OfficeMax. Their calligraphy signage was done by Laura’s mom who used a font she found online. “Our decor and flowers turned out even more beautifully than we could’ve imagined,” Robitschek says. “It felt even more special to know that it all came together because of my mom’s amazing talent.”
“Nate and I had a sweetheart table for dinner. We both wanted some extra time with just the two of us,” Robitschek says. “During dinner, we took a moment to pause and soak in how truly amazing it is to have all your friends and family come together for you on your wedding day. That was one of our favorite memories – feeling so overwhelmed and grateful for all the love and support we had that day.”
Simple place settings, accented by fresh greens and gold chargers from Wedding Perfect in Appleton, made an elegant statement against warm-toned linens.
When it comes to dessert, many bridal couples are choosing bite-sized treats over traditional, multitiered wedding cakes. Robitschek worked with Catering Director Lola Rottier and Pastry Chef Camille Malone from Lawrence University’s dining service provider, Bon Appetit, to plan the menu. They made a small cake for Nate and Laura to cut and guests then had their choice of cupcakes in flavors like roasted strawberry with marzipan frosting and chocolate with espresso frosting.
Robitschek worked with stylists from Anagen 11 in Appleton to achieve her chic updo and classic makeup.
Robitschek’s advice for brides and grooms-to-be is as timeless as her wedding style. “The wedding is just one day, and it goes by more quickly than you can ever imagine,” she says. “Don’t forget to take time to plan and prepare for a marriage that will last a lifetime.”
People
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