Crisp Summer Palette in Lakeside Wedding at Madden's Resort

Emily and Henry didn’t need to look far to find the perfect setting—Gull Lake had been the backdrop of their love story for years. With family ties to its shoreline and a proposal on its water, the couple returned to the lake for a joyous wedding that honored their shared history. They first met at a New Year’s Eve party during college, then spent months navigating long distance while Henry played junior hockey in Canada and Emily attended University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. When summer brought them back to the same place in 2019, their relationship took off.

Years later, the bride and groom found themselves donning their wedding-day best with their respective parties in the various lakeside cabins owned by Henry’s family. Following their church ceremony, the newlyweds arrived at their waterside reception as guests gathered along the shore.

A palette of soft blues and crisp whites guided the design, anchored by abundant hydrangeas that nodded to the East Coast–leaning aesthetic of the weekend. Clean, classic arrangements paired with natural greenery kept the look feeling relaxed and abundant—a design seemingly plucked from the shores of New England. A custom crest featuring the pair’s now-shared last initial bolstered the sophistication: from the seating chart to the cornhole boards.

Loved ones had a plethora of desserts to choose from—chocolate chip cookies, donuts, macarons and beyond personified the sweetness of the day. Every detail revolved around the wedding’s locale, which was a place that already meant everything, dressed for the occasion. —Megan Simpson Teeter