September Lakeside Wedding Ceremony in Wisconsin | Erin + Mike

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Erin + Mike’s September Lakeside Wedding in Wisconsin

September gave Erin and Mike the loveliest weather for a lakeside Wisconsin wedding: sunshine, temperatures in the mid-sixties, and a day that still felt like summer. Their September 26 celebration at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan brought their story to the water, with family and friends close by.

Before the wedding, Erin told us she wanted their photographs to reflect the sweetness of their relationship. Mike’s answer was a little shorter: fun. Getting to know their story, both make perfect sense.

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A Firetruck FaceTime and a “Very Erin” Date

Erin and Mike matched on Bumble during Covid. Before meeting in person, Erin wanted a few FaceTime calls. On their first call, she was in comfy clothes with no makeup, and Mike was sitting inside a firetruck. She remembers feeling relaxed. Conversation came easily.

Mike wasn’t quite as convinced at first. He thought her hesitation to meet might mean things wouldn’t go anywhere. Luckily, he stuck around for those calls.

Their first evening together took an unexpected turn. Plans for drinks and a date became a house party with Mike’s friends instead. They had a good time and agreed to see each other again, but Erin has her own definition of their first real date: Starbucks for her very first pumpkin spice latte, followed by her very first trip to Costco.

She loved every minute. Such an Erin date.

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The Kindness That Made Her Sure

For Erin, knowing she wanted to marry Mike came through watching him over time. His patience with her family, her godson Levi and his brother Liam, and her beloved senior dog Teddy showed her the kind of husband he would be. Mike remembers a trip to Tennessee as the time he got to know Erin more deeply and began to feel their relationship was becoming something bigger.

They love trying new things together, from a sushi-making class to coffee shops and restaurants. Their travels have two traditions: finding local donuts and choosing an ornament for their Christmas tree. Little reminders of the places they’ve been together, ready to come out again each year.

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A January Surprise in Galena

Erin thought a proposal might happen on a June trip to Mackinac Island. Mike had another idea. They went to Galena in January 2025, despite a cold that nearly convinced Erin to cancel. After skiing, they stopped for a drink before dinner at Fried Green Tomatoes. Mike stepped outside to the car, then returned and asked Erin to come out.

She thought something had happened to her car. Instead, Mike got down on one knee on the sidewalk and asked her to marry him. A couple nearby recorded it on his phone. Erin still loves watching that video, and told us it gives her butterflies every time.

Mike had originally considered proposing on Saturday. Friday night, in the middle of town, ended up being the moment.

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A Childhood Photo and a Lakeside Ceremony

Before the ceremony, Erin had a surprise for her dad. She held up a framed photograph of herself as a little girl for his first look, then lowered it so he could see her in her wedding dress. The photos of the two of them together, still holding that picture, are such a sweet reminder of everything a wedding day holds for a family.

Her bouquet carried another piece of her heart: a little portrait charm of Teddy, her beloved dog, who lived to sixteen. Pale blue ran through the day, from the invitation suite and wax seal to the bridesmaids’ dresses and the flowers tucked into her bouquet.

The ceremony faced Delavan Lake, with white chairs lining a brick aisle and flowers framing the wooden arbor. Erin walked in with both of her parents beside her. Afterward, there were wedding-party cheers beneath the trees and time for the two of them by the water, her long veil trailing behind her.

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A Celebration with Their People

When we asked what they were looking forward to most about the wedding, their answers came back to each other. Erin couldn’t wait to see Mike’s reaction when he first saw her, exchange personal vows, and dance with family and friends. Mike was looking forward to seeing his bride and enjoying the day with their people.

The reception brought cake cutting, toasts, and a first dance beneath the room’s timber beams. Later, captain hats and light-up sticks joined the dance floor. There was sweetness, just as Erin had hoped, and plenty of the fun Mike was looking forward to.

Erin and Mike, thank you for trusting us with your day. Here’s to more trips, more local donuts, and a Christmas tree full of the places you’ve been together.

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Vendor Love:

Photography + Films: The McNiels | Venue + Coordination: Lake Lawn Resort | Florist: Trellis Wedding Flowers | Cake: Pastries by Chad | DJ: DJ Felix Entertainment | Hair + Makeup: JJ Bridal Artistry | Bridal Boutique: Bella Bianca Bridal Couture | Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie | Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Video Guestbook: Voast