Kelly Mansell and Rich Daugherty
July 14, 2012

"Kelly and Rich have a fashion focus in their lifestyle and careers," says wedding planner David Caruso, owner of Dynamic Events. She owns 5 Hearts boutique, he works for Kohl’s Corp., and both have a "love for beautiful things."

But their lives are not all glamour. Kelly says, "We are a very laid-back couple. We do simple things together."

Their first date was Valentine’s Day, an evening of takeout and the Olympics. One year later, Rich presented Kelly with another pizza box. She discovered an engagement ring and Rich down on one knee. "It was a very ‘us’ proposal, not grand, super easy," she says.

Caruso, a family friend, was enlisted to help plan the wedding. "There was not one detail missed to create the ultimate experience for their guests," he says.

Invitations to the ceremony at St. Monica Parish were created by Paper Envy with calligraphy by The Blooming Quill. The bride was styled by Neroli Salon & Spa, Gloss Nail Spa and Blush, and wore a Vera Wang gown with Jimmy Choo peep toes. Tucked into her Fresh Design bouquet of cream, peach and pink flowers was something old, borrowed and blue. "My grandma, my dad’s mom, gave my oldest cousin a blue bird, which has been passed from cousin to cousin. It was very special," Kelly says.

The outdoor reception was held at Boerner Botanical Gardens. Caruso’s team spent a week setting up the custom-built Canopies cabana with a head table for 24, a raised bar and lounge area, and a multitiered stage for the eclectic David Rothstein Band with lighting and sound by Majic Enterprises. Décor by Barking Pony Studios and BBJ Table Fashions balanced Kelly’s soft, romantic style with dramatic, masculine elements.

"It was more than I ever imagined, absolutely gorgeous," Kelly says. "We have David and my parents to thank for that."

Dinner, custom cocktails and late-night snacks of sliders, fries and mini croque monsieurs were provided by Bartolotta Catering. The Cake Lady designed an elegant vanilla cake. Each table contributed marital advice to the guest book, which featured engagement pictures by Front Room Photography. Props encouraged interactive photos and guests danced all night on a unique fenced-in floor.

Kelly says, "We were happy it was beautiful, but more than that, we had fun. It was a joyous occasion."

Rocio Yousif and Joe Froehlich
July 28, 2012

In summer 2008, Rocio and Joe were individually invited to a dinner party at the Mequon home of Geralyn and Bill Cannon. Out on the balcony, the guests watched Michael Phelps win another gold medal, and Rocio and Joe saw each other for the first time.

"What are the chances?" Rocio wonders. "Our paths had never crossed, but it seems like they should have. We have many friends in common."

They became friends first, before they started "American dating," says Rocio, who was born in Columbia. Both had been married before and each had children about the same ages. "We were in the same phase of our lives," Joe says.

And yet, "In many ways we couldn’t be more opposite. She gives me the things I don’t have, and I her — a completing part. That’s what makes us so happy."

In January 2012, Joe gave Rocio a unique ring from Rohr Jewelers. "It was a very simple proposal," she says, "more of a process than a moment."

They planned a small, elegant wedding. Fabick Design crafted invitations to this celebration of family, friends and the couple. Judith Kubish officiated their ceremony, which was held on the Cannons’ balcony, overlooking the lake. Rocio and Joe wrote their own vows, and Joe recited them to her in Spanish. "My parents were in tears," she says.

Photographer Jessica Kaminski captured the event, from the yellow flowers adorning Rocio’s knee-length Monique Lhuillier gown to the vibrant lemon centerpieces by Sendik’s in Mequon. "Yellow was the theme of the day," says Joe, whose tie coordinated perfectly. "We didn’t want to be extravagant," Rocio adds. "This was festive and special."

A formal reception was hosted by their friends Dona and Terry Wakefield, and then everyone headed to Rocio’s house for a casual after party. Event planners Adriana and Gabriela Guardia of El Mazapan managed all the details, including rentals by Canopies Events with Distinction. Disc jockey Michael Weiss spun backyard beats. Rocio says, "It was a ton of fun."

About a month after the wedding, Joe and Rocio moved into a home of their own in River Hills. Their four children are back in college, but Romeo, a Portuguese Water Dog, keeps them company. Rocio says, "We can be very selfish. This time is about being with each other."

Steven Stolman and Rich WIlkie
Nov. 1, 2012

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Steven and Rich ended up in The Bronx for their nuptials, not lower Manhattan as planned. "The airport was closed, the subway was partially down, there was no power below 39th Street," Steven remembers. "We took four trains to Yankee Stadium."

They were wed by Shirley Saunders, a deputy city clerk at The Bronx Marriage Bureau, and exchanged simple platinum bands from Tiffany & Co. A photo snapped outside the courthouse recorded their jeans, ties and custom navy blazers.

Then began their journey to Milwaukee, where Rich grew up. "We booked two flights to be sure we’d get out," he says. "So many people were fleeing the city."

Fortunately, the newlyweds did arrive in time for their weekend celebration. "We love Milwaukee and think it’s underappreciated," Rich says of their destination. "This was our opportunity to show it off."

Guests stayed at the University Club and The Pfister Hotel, were treated to a Friday fish fry at The Knick, toured the Milwaukee Art Museum and explored Discovery World. On Sunday, everyone gathered at Rich and Steven’s Wauwatosa home for a Packers game-day brunch of bagels and lox and beer and brats.

The highlight of the weekend occurred on Saturday, Nov. 3. Steven and Rich hosted a cocktail party with a piano bar vibe in the University Club’s rooftop lounge, timed for panoramic views of the sunset on Lake Michigan. "It was a dreamy city party," Steven says.

Matt Haas Photography took candid images throughout the event, which was emceed by their attorney friend Earl M. Crittenden Jr. In an emotional moment, he read an excerpt from the New York State Marriage Equality Act. Both Steven and Rich participated in the traditional breaking of the glass, and everyone chorused, "Mazel tov!"

Old-fashioned cocktail fare was served by the club, and Zaffiro’s Pizza provided late-night sustenance. A large arrangement of orchids by Regency Florist was displayed near Buckley’s carrot cake. Children were welcome, but spent most of the party in the kid’s lounge with a special menu and entertainment. Adults gathered around Michael Ferreri at the piano to sing along. The Chicken Dance, a requirement of Wisconsin weddings, closed the night.

"There is a Yiddish expression, freilach, that means happy or cheerful. Our reception was truly freilach," Steven says.

Ali Bunting and Nathan Walton
July 28, 2012

Travel is the highlight of Ali and Nate’s life together. They met in the Los Angeles airport, reconnected 18 months later in New York, and then spent three weeks hiking in South America. On New Year’s Eve on a beach in St. Barts, Nate proposed.

He proposed again in Grafton, with the blessing of her parents and an 8-carat yellow diamond ring. Though the couple reside in Santa Monica, there was nowhere else they’d rather be married than Bunting Family Farm.

Ali hired Janelle Meyer-Brown of événement to help plan the wedding. A relative, Susie Redding, also was integral to the event, creating programs inspired by airline tickets and menu cards featuring antique postcards.

The afternoon ceremony was held in a gazebo where Nate, son of basketball legend Bill Walton, waited with his groomsmen, who were dressed by Anchor Menswear. The procession included a bagpiper, children dressed in white, bridesmaids in ivory BariJay dresses and wreaths of good-luck herbs, and the bride. Ali carried a bouquet of Wisconsin flowers from Impressions by Esther Fleming, and wore a bohemian dress from BHLDN by Anthropologie with white Jimmy Choo cowboy boots. The Rev. Ron Meyer officiated. Paper airplanes were thrown instead of rice.

A horse-drawn carriage whisked away the newlyweds for photos with The Artist Group. Guests rode in the carriage, played lawn games and enjoyed signature cocktails from Bartenders on the Go. White ducks and white turkeys, bred especially for the occasion, wandered the property.

Top Choice Rental erected a tent near the cornfield, which charmed all the out-of-towners. Mismatched tables were covered in white eyelet BBJ Linens. Dinner by Shully’s Cuisine was served on antique china, collected for a year by Ali’s mother and grandmother. Guests took home vintage berry bowls. Door County cherry cobbler replaced the traditional wedding cake.

Music provided by ACA Entertainment included Xeno & Joe and SaddleBrook. The barn was decorated in black and gray, with fresh greens and uplighting. A men’s lounge for cigars and spirits was located in a nearby outbuilding, labeled the W Saloon. Lanterns glowed in the trees. The evening concluded with everyone gathered on the beach of the pond to make s’mores and relax by the fire.

Ali says, "We tried to make every detail fun and different. We wanted it to be memorable for everyone."