A Romantic Wedding at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club in Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Liesa Wayson (24, an officer in the German Navy) and Brant Benjamin Wayson (25, an officer in the United States Marine Core) met at the United States Naval Academy’s languages department when she was an intern and were engaged within a year. Brant proposed through a scavenger hunt. “Following that pattern I went from place to place, collecting more hints and roses, stopping at all those beautiful places where we had built memories and established our relationship,” says Leisa. Brant met her at the last location and went down on his knees. In just seven months, the couple planned a romantic wedding in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Choosing the venue was their first step. Liesa and Brant chose the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club to house their ceremony and reception. “The location matched exactly the style we had envisioned for the wedding,” says Liesa. They were inspired by her home country and decorated the space in shades of pink, ivory, blush and rose. “I always loved pastel colors like light pinks, nudes and mints and I loved the rustic but elegant appearance of the castles we have in Germany, with the typical baroque pattern,” says Liesa. The couple’s wedding arch was topped with a gold baroque accents as roses, garden roses and greenery lined each wire post. Their aisle was lined with rose petals in ivory and pink hues as 85 guests sat in rows of white folding chairs alongside. After the ceremony, Liesa and Brant cut a log as part of a German tradition before he carried her through a heart shaped cut-out. The couple and their guests then went inside the country club for a seated reception with tables covered in ivory linens, tea roses and candles. For entertainment, the couple filled the space with music from a DJ, a photo booth and custom video detailing their relationship. To incorporate both American and German cultures, the couple gave their guests German and American to wave as they exited the reception.