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When we witnessed the forceful, free-spirited frivolity of Donny and Shelly’s moves on the dance floor here in Milwaukee at the old Pabst Brewery’s Best Place during Pat and Becki’s beautiful wedding earlier this summer, we knew that their own day was going to be special–and a lot of fun, to boot. We had only to wait a month to capture it, and we weren’t disappointed.
They were, as everyone tends to be, a bit more subdued on their wedding day, their nerves a bit more tightly wound, taking it all in carefully and completely, not letting a moment go by too lightly or unnoticed. And you could tell they put a great deal of thought and care into every detail. From the beautiful location they picked out in rural Illinois and the musicians they chose to entertain their guests, to the simple charm of their DIY table settings and the understated elegance of their own attire, everything seemed to go together perfectly on August 18th, 2012, most of all the couple getting hitched.
There were highlights of apple orchards and honey. There was a surf rock band playing during the cocktail hour in the yard–which the couples’ fathers ended with a surprisingly great version of Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” with new, Shelley-and-Donny themed lyrics.
After dinner and a round of speeches brought home with a touching tearjerker from Donny’s brother (with comic relief provided by his son staring up in wonder at his Dad and hiding between his legs), the couple let off a round of floating lanterns with their guests wishes scrawled across them.
And then the dancing began. We had to leave before the evening ended, but I like to think some of those funky moves they were making on the dance floor when we saw them earlier this summer made an reappearance later in the night, and will continue to make appearances in their Chicago home for many, many years to come.
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- Kat & Dylan Schleicher
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