Ryan & Kellyn Henke

05/19/2018

What was the inspiration for the look and feel of your wedding?
Twinkly lights, sparklers, fun, and family-oriented. We wanted our wedding to be classy and elegant. We both love nature and the river, so our venue was in the perfect location to capture all of this.

What was your color palette?
Navy, coral, and white.

What was the significance of your wedding location?
We chose our location because we now live in the La Crosse area and spend a lot of time around Riverside Park, at Pettibone, and on the river. We wanted to include those outdoor aspects in the wedding. The Waterfront is a beautiful venue, so it was an easy choice!

What was your favorite moment in your ceremony and reception?
One favorite moment was when we read our vows to each other during our first look. Then, during the reception, the DJ played “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett, which I love. As we were dancing, I realized that it was actually Ryan singing the song. The pictures of my face when I realized that Ryan and his best man, Craig, recorded the song as a surprise for me are priceless.

Would you change anything if you could do it over again? If so, what?
At first, we said that we would change the loud rap music that was playing on the beach across the river during our ceremony. Now, it just makes for a funny story. Guests joked that they noticed us dancing to the music during the ceremony.

What advice do you have for other couples planning their weddings?
Have fun and enjoy planning the day together. It is important to remember that no matter what happens, you get to marry each other at the end of the day. Figure out what aspects of the day are important to both of you, and focus more of your budget on that. We wanted our dance floor packed until the night ended. We had a great DJ, and everyone had so much fun.

WEDDING TEAM
CEREMONY/RECEPTION The Waterfront Cargill Room
OFFICIANT Pastor Taylor Haley, First Presbyterian Church
CAKE Linda’s Bakery
CATERER The Waterfront
FLORIST Sola Wood Flowers
BEAUTY Makeup by Brooke Weber (makeup); Untangled Salon (hair)
BRIDAL GOWN/BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES The Wedding Tree
TUXEDOS JC Penney
RECEPTION MUSIC Alec Nissen (DJ), Music Mix
PHOTOGRAPHER Emily Jean Photography
VIDEOGRAPHER Morrison Media