A Fun and Memorable Wedding at the Watertown Country Club

How They Met

When Rich walked into Anne’s work for the first time back in 2006, the connection was immediate. Over the years, Rich would stop in to say hi to Anne, but these visits stopped when Rich moved away. In 2012, Rich came back to see if Anne was still working at the same place; she was and he finally asked her out.

The Engagement

Rich came over to Anne’s apartment one summer day when she was unpacking and settling in after a week-long camping trip at Country USA, a music festival in Oshkosh. Rich wanted to take a walk around a lake in Oconomowoc, but Anne insisted she had too much to do, including running to the store to pick up duct tape. Rich finally gave in to the duct tape errand, but before they reached the door to leave, he got down on one knee, confessed his love, and proposed. It obviously wasn’t quite his plan, but to this day, the two joke that we got engaged with duct tape.

The Dress

Anne found her dream wedding dress, a stunning Sophia Tolli gown at Amelishan Bridal in Hubertus.

The Bachelor and Bacherlorette Party

Anne and Rich threw one big party on a friend’s party bus, stopping at different bars in Watertown, Ixonia, Oconomowoc, and Pewaukee.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Anne and Rich threw one big party on a friend’s party bus, stopping at different bars in Watertown, Ixonia, Oconomowoc, and Pewaukee.

The Ceremony

Anne and Rich’s wedding ceremony took place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Evangelical Church in Oconomowoc. A good friend of Anne’s sang and her best friend’s parents played the guitar and piano. As the door opened for Anne to walk down the aisle with her father, everything disappeared besides Rich. Anne recalls one of the best moments of the ceremony when Rich’s 10-year-old son Riyder handed the pastor the wedding rings, then turned to the audience and gave everyone a huge smile and thumbs up.

The Reception

The reception was held at the Watertown Country Club, where everything went exactly as planned, thanks to Angela Catteruccia, the club’s Wedding Consultant.

Anne and Rich created a slideshow of photos of themselves throughout their lives, from childhood to highlights as a couple. Anne’s parents celebrated their 35th anniversary a few days after the wedding, so the newlyweds dedicated a song and dance to them.

The Photos

Fort Atkinson-based photographer Ryan Ebert (Ebert Studios) snapped photos of the couple and the wedding party around the club’s magnificent golf course, complete with gorgeous scenery and golf carts.

The Food and Drinks

The food received high praise from guests, who had a choice of pork prime steak or lemon chicken piccata for their entrées. The late-night snack was a nacho cheese fountain – only in Wisconsin!

Instead of serving a traditional wedding cake, one of Anne’s friends, a baker extraordinaire, made about 700 cake pops and arranged them to look like flowers for the centerpieces. They were so good, people were actually sticking cake pops in their jackets and purses to take home.

A Favorite Memory

Rich’s son ran up to him at the reception, hugged him, and started crying. When Rich asked him why he was crying, Riyder said, “Dad, this is just the best day of my life and I’m so happy.” It was a very special moment.

Words of Wisdom from the Bride

“Relax and enjoy the ride because it’s over too quickly. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for help, and don’t panic about the small things; it will all work out.”

This article was originally featured in Premier Bride of Milwaukee and Northeast Wisconsin,