A Rustic and Delicate June Wedding at The Hay Loft in Watertown

How They Met

Sam and Alysia met through a mutual friend at a show in Watertown, Sam’s hometown. The entire night, they couldn’t stop staring at each other. Sam, the guitar tech for the band, left the next day to tour the U.S., but not before he and Alysia found each other on social media. The two began chatting more and more, and the rest is history.

The Engagement

Sam planned an elaborate proposal at Silver Springs State Park in Florida. He even roped their friends into the plan to help make the moment even more special. Aysia soon discovered that Sam had written a series of 10 letters detailing what he loves about Alysia, each of which was revealed at different locations throughout the park. The last note was at a small amphitheater on the park grounds, where there was a white arch with flowers and tulle set up. After Alysia read the letter, Sam came out from hiding, got down on one knee, and asked her to marry him!

The Ceremony and Reception

Sam and Alysia celebrated a rustic and delicate June wedding with their ceremony and reception both held at The Hay Loft in Watertown, a beautiful barn venue with amazing details.

Sam and Alysia’s ceremony focused on their love for each other and their shared Christianity, while including elements of different faiths. For instance, their wedding party surrounded them and laid their hands on them to pray over their marriage. Their pastor also did a congregational vow of accountability, where everyone in the audience verbalized their support of their vows.

The Decor

The wedding color scheme included touches of blush and rose gold for a warm vibe. To decorate the space, Sam and Alysia did a lot of the DIY projects themselves, with the help of their crafty mothers. Sam’s mom cut and stained all the hand-lettered boards, and both moms assembled the centerpieces and added beautiful flowers.

The Photos

Sam and Alysia hired Milwaukee-based wedding photographers Huntley and Shay to capture their big day. The bridal party took a short drive via their GO Riteway shuttle to a bridge in Watertown called Tivoli Island. While the bride and groom took photos, the guests got the party started. The backyard of the barn featured tons of snacks, drinks, and yard games.

The Food and Drinks

For dinner, Alysia and Sam opted for a barbecue from Glenn’s Marketing & Catering in Watertown, with pulled pork sandwiches, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken, and Krispy Kreme donuts for dessert.

Words of Wisdom from the Bride

“When you’re planning your wedding with the love of your life, things change in what you want, whether it’s compromise or your tastes change.” Alysia also shares, “You don’t have to do every single wedding tradition out there. It’s your wedding, and I think that your wedding should look like an extension of yourselves and your personalities, but also an extension of your values. We value faith, so that was a big aspect of our ceremony. We also value community, so we had games for guests to play together.”

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