A Magical Wedding at Bavaria Downs

Wedding Date: September 21, 2019

Sometimes no plan is the best plan of all. Cole Jacobs-Grodnick was set up on a date with one of Erin Dongoske's good high school friends; both Cole and the date agreed it wasn't a perfect match, so she introduced Cole to Erin. The next wrinkle: Cole spent two weeks Snapchatting the wrong person, but Erin finally reached out to invite him to a barbecue, and the two clicked. Nor were they that couple who knew exactly what kind of wedding they wanted. “We had virtually no expectations,” Erin says. Wedding planner Sarah Trotter of Lasting Impressions changed that, and their autumn celebration at Bavaria Downs made them feel “so special and loved,” Erin says. Honoring personal preferences was a hallmark: The bridesmaids picked out their own gowns in neutral colors, while the décor incorporated subtle tones of gold, champagne and silver. The duo each picked separate cakes, too (Oreo chocolate fudge for Cole and coconut for Erin). Because Cole was raised Jewish, while Erin grew up a Lutheran, a good friend officiated at a ceremony that incorporated traditions from both faiths. And though day-of forecasts predicted thunderstorms, they wed under sunny skies, with a perfect sunset during the cocktail hour.