Jennifer & Dan | Milwaukee Art Museum Wedding

Jenny & Dan are married! Their ceremony was held at St. Alphonsus and the celebration followed at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

So, all through their engagement, I thought these Jenny & Dan were “highschool sweethearts”. I’m not sure if we ever heard the full story, or if they just told us they “met in high school”. I (Shannon) shouldn’t have assumed. It wasn’t until Jenny’s father’s toast, I learned the actual story. They did, in fact, meet in high school. They were friends and even went to homecoming together their senior year. After high school, they went their separate ways. After college, while both were home for Easter with family, Dan’s family was seated in front of Jenny’s during church at St. Alphonsus. During the Rite of Peace, Dan & Jenny exchanged glances… Dan asked her to hang out and so the story goes! Jenny’s father’s speech was one of the best we’ve heard. It is no surprise this was one of Jenny & Dan’s favorite surprises of the entire day. They said, “For both of us, the speeches (were our favorite part of the day). We knew they would be great, but we were absolutely blown away by all of them. Especially by my father’s speech.”

On December 19, 2014, Dan proposed. Jenny told the story, “After a car ride filled with me trying to guess where we were ultimately going and a missed turn that may or may not have been planned, we arrived at Lake Park Bistro. We love trying new restaurants together and this was no exception. We first enjoyed a cocktail at the bar and then dinner. Afterwards I was eyeing up the dessert menu – per usual – and Dan excused himself from the table. When he came back, I noticed that his mood had changed. As Dan began talking about us and forever, and before he could even ask the question of all questions, I saw it in his eyes and felt it in every word he was saying. I kept interrupting, asking him “Is this happening right now?” He had to tell me to stop talking and since I was in the corner of the dining room, he asked me to step out from behind the table. Dan then got down on his knee, opened a box with the most beautiful ring, and asked me to marry him. After saying yes, the waiter brought us champagne and dessert so we could celebrate!”

Throughout the engagement, these two have been cool as cucumbers. However, come the wedding day and nerves were a little high. As soon as Jenny stepped into the aisle at St. Alphonsus though, all was right. They said this was their favorite moment of the day, seeing each other for the first time. Jenny said, “I was an emotional, nervous bride all morning. When my dad and I started walking though, all of my nerves magically disappeared and the only person I saw was Dan. Best feeling in the world.”

When we asked Jenny & Dan their advice to future brides and grooms, they were well prepared:
“1. Hire Shannon & TJ Uttke.
2. Be a sponge. Yes, a sponge. From the moment you get engaged to when you wake up the next morning, look at your new spouse and ask them, “Was that all a dream?” Soak it all in, both in your heart and soul. Squeeze out every drop of love and gratitude towards each other, your family and your friends.
3. Take time to get to know your vendors. It will make the wedding day not only more comfortable, but so much more fun.
4. Have 3x the dessert.
5. Really. See #4.
6. I’m not kidding. #4.”

Now, without further ado, here’s how we saw their day…