Chenequa Country Club

Pickleball Tournament

Revere's Wells Street Tavern

Rehearsal Dinner

Wells Street Tavern

Welcome Party

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Our Wedding

A.J. and Emily met during the most unexpected time—May of 2020, during COVID—through a mutual friend when A.J. returned to Omaha at the start of the pandemic. A.J. was bold on the first date and wore all Creighton gear, UNO's rival in tennis, but Emily knew it meant he had a good sense of humor. For their first date, they got Juice Stop and walked through Elmwood Park for hours. A.J. knew she was the one the moment a couple asked where the nearest bathrooms were and Emily suggested the woods. Fast forward to the end of summer, A.J. was heading back to D.C. with his dream job in the White House Photo Office. After four weeks of deliberation about whether or not to do long-distance, Emily realized she couldn't imagine her life without A.J. Long distance was tough, but they both made an effort to see each other every month. They also wrote each other handwritten letters, which they both looked forward to receiving. After A.J.'s job at the White House ended, he took a job at Ohio Northern University. Their love only grew stronger with distance, and A.J. always promised to return to Omaha to be with Emily. In late 2022, as promised, A.J. came back to Omaha. They enjoyed their time with family and friends, had many adventures traveling the country together, and Emily brought Wilson, their Goldendoodle, into their lives. On a trip through the Grand Tetons, and after just shy of four years together, A.J. proposed to Emily during sunset in front of the mountains. A.J. and Emily constantly push each other to be better, to surround themselves with people who bring them up, and to not take life too seriously. A.J. and Emily have enjoyed the beginning of their next chapter in the D.C. area. They recently bought a rowhome in Alexandria, VA and they can't wait to spend the rest of their lives together.

Our Story

Photos

Rylee and Emily met through tennis at UNO, and they were roommates all four years of college. A few of Emily's favorite memories with Rylee are driving around Omaha and singing their favorite albums, going to Taylor Swift’s Reputation tour in Minneapolis, and seeing Arianna Grande in Milwaukee. Rylee taught Emily to study for hours, to love plant-based eating, and to cherish nights in.  Rylee graduated from Uniform University of the Health Sciences Medical School. She's a Captain in the Air Force, and she's a Psychiatrist in Dayton, OH.

Rylee Ramirez

Kelsey and Emily are second cousins, and they grew up going to family gatherings and reunions together. Emily and Kelsey reconnected again after college when they were both living in Omaha. Kelsey and Emily loved going to Aksarben Run Club together, doing swim workouts at her pool, attending barre classes, and hanging out at coffee shops. Kelsey lives in Fremont, NE and is the Director of Business Services for the Greater Fremont Development Council, where she serves and develops the community where she grew up.

Kelsey Martinez

Maddy and Emily met during their Gallup summer internship, and they became completely inseparable that summer.  Many people would confuse Maddy for Emily and Emily for Maddy and they ended up naming themselves "the professional idiots." When they were living in downtown Omaha, Maddy and Emily loved their regular coffee and work dates, dog walks with Murphy & Wilson, and hanging out at the pool together. Maddy lives in Omaha, NE and is a Sales Operations Manager for Avalara.

Maddy Sirois-Tingelhoff

Meagan and Emily became close as soon as Andy and Meagan started dating. While they live 2,700 miles and 2 time zones away from each other, Meg and Emily love texting each other to check-in, to send funny videos they think each other would like, and to share pictures after trips. Emily can't wait for Meagan to officially become a "Behling" and the sister that Emily always wanted. Meagan lives in Los Angeles, CA and is a Senior Manager, Digital and Partner Publishing at Adidas. 

Meagan Bryan

Meridyth and Emily met when Meridyth's Air Pod fell out during a Gallup Octoberfest 5K, and they quickly became close friends. During their time in Omaha, they only lived 0.5 miles away from each other, and loved going on long runs and walks, sweating their butts off at PowerLife classes, and hosting dinner/game nights. They're known for sending each other paragraph-length texts, and losing track of time on their "walk and talks." Meridyth lives in Littleton, CO and is a Learning & Development Consultant at Gallup.

Meridyth Moose-Shirley

Sydney and Emily met in middle school in the orchestra room, but it feels like just yesterday. Through many inseparable middle school and high school years, they had girls trips to Chicago, got ready for every single high school dance together, and still found time to visit each other in college. Emily is thankful that they can always pick up right where we left off when they're together. Sydney graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, and she is currently a Head and Neck Surgery Resident Physician at the Mayo Clinic.

Sydney Ring

Skylar and A.J. met during their freshman year of high school. Throughout high school they played ping pong at Skylar's house and went to school dances together.  When A.J. moved back to D.C., Skylar was kind enough to host A.J. for 3 weeks while he was finding a place to call home. In D.C. they frequent Madam's Organ, (a blues bar) and share a bond of trying local cider brands. Skylar lives in Alexandria, Virginia and works for the Social Security Administration.

Skylar Lowe

Wade and A.J. met the summer before freshman year of high school while conditioning for Skutt's cross-country team and the rest is history. They took several classes together and also sang in Skutt's choir. Wade would always one up A.J.'s high school peanut butter and jelly lunch with a steak or something amazing (probably his mom's cooking). Wade is currently stationed in Colorado Springs with the Space Force. 

Wade Olson

Andy and A.J. met in Wisconsin in the winter of 2021 when they built a snowman together. They have enjoyed many summers on Nagawicka Lake, grill outs, and game nights. A.J. always loses in Catan to Andy, a family favorite board game. A.J. has never had a sibling and is excited to have Andy as his brother! Currently, Andy lives with his fiancé, Meagan, in Los Angeles, California and is a producer and youth hockey coach.

Andy Behling

Sam and A.J. met through Bryce during a board game night and they became quick friends. A.J. stayed at Sam's place in Des Moines when he snuck away for a weekend to ask Emily's parents for her hand in marriage. The only thing that made A.J. nervous that weekend is when Sam asked what A.J. was going to do after he asked the question. Sam resides in Des Moines, Iowa and is the co-owner of Revival Concrete Coatings which services the greater Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska areas.

Sam Sapkota

While Bryce and A.J. formally met through his now-wife, Meridyth, and Emily, their first meeting was in college when A.J. created a photo of the first Creighton Cross-Country poster with the Omaha Skyline in the background. While in Omaha, Bryce, Meridyth, Emily, and A.J. would cook dinners, have grill outs and pool days. They all went on a trip to Wisconsin where Emily's dog, Wilson, and Bryce formed an unforgettable bond. Bryce currently lives in Omaha, Nebraska and is the co-owner of Revival Concrete Coatings with Sam.

Bryce Shirley

Wedding Party

Q + A

Hotel Information

We are so grateful that you’re traveling to celebrate our special day with us! Your presence means the world to us, and we can’t wait to make unforgettable memories together. Please note, there are limited hotels in the area, so we strongly encourage you to book your stay as early as possible. To make things easier, we’ve secured several room blocks at nearby hotels with discounted rates.

Hotel block with discounted rate in link below. Limited number of rooms in the block. Please book early. If calling the hotel for a reservation, you can use booking code BOW to apply the group rate.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Delafield, an IHG Hotel

Hotel block with discounted rate in link below. Can also call the hotel directly to book to make a reservation for Olnes/Behling wedding. Limited number of rooms in the block. Please book early.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Milwaukee Delafield

Hotel block with discounted rate in link below. Limited number of rooms in the block. Please book early.

TownePlace Suites Oconomowoc

Hotel block with discounted rate in link below. You must copy and paste the link into a new browser to access the discounted rates: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=MKEOCGI&amp;arrivalDate=2025-09-05&amp;departureDate=2025-09-07&amp;groupCode=BOW&amp;room1NumAdults=1 Can also call the hotel directly to book at 262.200.2222. Limited number of rooms in the block. Please book early.

Hilton Garden Inn Oconomowoc

Staybridge Suites Milwaukee West-Oconomowoc, an IHG Hotel

Travel

Northwestern&nbsp;Waukesha County's,&nbsp;Lake Country, encompasses over twenty lakes&nbsp;in the surrounding region.&nbsp;Located within easy&nbsp;traveling&nbsp;distance of both Milwaukee and Chicago, Lake Country became a popular&nbsp;destination for city dwellers in the late nineteenth century. Lake Country today is populated by year-round residents, and the culture is defined by its Midwestern warmth and unwavering work ethic. Whether seeking tranquility by the water’s edge or the excitement of nearby Milwaukee, Lake Country has something to offer everyone.

Food

Coffee

-Blue Collar Coffee: enjoy espresso and handcrafted coffee drinks made from beans roasted by Wisconsin-based Ruby Coffee Roasters. Blue Collar has free WiFi, lounge seating, a robust drink menu including tea and smoothies, and a welcoming, friendly environment. -Mama D's—Wales: a post-high school hangout and study spot for the bride, the coffee shop takes pride in its quality coffee and baked goods. They work with local vendors from Valentine Coffee Roasters for their coffee to farm-fresh Three Brothers Eggs.&nbsp;Mama D's has two bakers who prepare all of their baked goods fresh daily. -Roots Coffeebar &amp; Cafe: a relaxing atmosphere welcoming you to sit and chat with your friends or to play board games. Roots has coffee, other coffee-related drinks, teas, soda, and smoothies. Also has a a variety of baked goods, sandwiches, appetizers, soups, salads, and pizzas. -Whelan's Coffee &amp; Ice Cream: a family-owned business in downtown Oconomowoc that opened in 2007. Whelan's coffeehouse continues to grow and offers an environment to create, build, and maintain relationships over a cup of rich coffee, a scoop of ice cream, or any of the specialty treats they offer.

Breakfast

-Lumber Inn: a Delafield staple breakfast and brunch spot. The bride would go here with her dad and brother on Sunday mornings (to give Mom a little break from the kids). An unbeatable menu, known for their famous pancakes, skillet breakfasts, classic cheeseburgers, and so much more. -Green Door Café: nestled in downtown Delafield, the family-owned Green Door Café is dishing up fresh and healthy options for breakfast and lunch. The café focuses on creating breakfast and lunch full of nutrients and flavors. Green Door has gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. -Glenda's Café: a small, homey, neighborhood café with plenty of classic options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From omelets to quiches, to pancakes, to French toast, Glenda's has it all. Even better, everything is made ready-to-order.

Lunch/Dinner

-Fishbones Cajun &amp; Creole Restaurant: the bride and groom's favorite restaurant in the area. Fishbones is known for its bold flavors, inviting&nbsp;atmosphere, and thirst-quenching craft cocktails. The bride's favorite thing off the menu is the Ragin Cajun Pasta and the groom's order is the Jambalaya Ya-Ya. -Belfre Kitchen: the restaurant lives by a simplistic motto: food &amp; friends. Whether you're sitting inside, or outside on the patio, Belfre wants you to enjoy your food while you connect with your people. You can expect a vibrant, tasty meal full of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and delicious hand-crafted cocktails, beer, and wine. -The Picnic Basket: a casual spot for delicious handcrafted subs, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, and more. Picnic Basket is your local restaurant serving Nashotah and the Lake Country community with the freshest ingredients – using hand-carved meats, daily baked bread, local dairy, and fresh vegetables. Open for lunch or dinner and dine-in or carry-out. -5 O'Clock Club: a casual supper club with full-service dining room and bar. Originally a summer farmette retreat built in the 1860s, this farmhouse-turned restaurant has retained its homey lake-country appeal. The menu includes classic American favorites such as steaks, ribs, pork chops, chicken and seafood. If you want the full experience, the Wisconsin Fish Fry is one of the best! -Weisbergerber's Golden Mast Inn: the family-owned Golden Mast has been one of the area’s top restaurants for over 50 years. A higher-end restaurant that serves seafood, steaks, and traditional German dishes in a unique setting with views of Okauchee Lake and a warm European atmosphere. The Golden Mast is a unique experience that is not to be missed.

Dessert

-The Kiltie: an old-school drive-in known for its custard and car hop service. This place is a Wisconsin classic that can't be missed, and it's the bride and groom's favorite place for dessert. Emily orders a twist in a waffle cone and A.J. loves the Kiltie's strawberry shake. The Kiltie is open during the summer months and is CASH ONLY. -Here's the Scoop: a cute, locally-owned, small-town ice cream shop in downtown Delafield with a variety of rotating flavors. There's plenty of seating both indoors and out in a little courtyard. -Golosi Gelato Café: authentic artisan Italian gelato committed to using fresh, local ingredients from local farmers. Italian paninis, soup, coffee, hot chocolate, and wine spot in downtown Oconomowoc. -Mullen's Dairy Bar: premium ice cream shop with several locations around Lake Country. Mullen's is known for its delicious ice cream and small-batch homemade ice cream in retail outlets throughout Wisconsin.

Outdoor Activities

-Lapham Peak Observation Tour: Lapham Peak has a 45-foot observation tower, which is the highest point in Waukesha County. Also a great place to go hiking. Daily admission for vehicles with out-of-state plates is $11 and for those with WI plates, daily entry is $8. -Waukesha County Parks: the Waukesha County Park system is over 8,500-acres, and each park has natural resources-based&nbsp;system with diverse landscapes, high-quality&nbsp;natural areas, a variety of trails, and beautiful lakes,&nbsp;ponds, and waterways. You can find a full list of parks in the area on this <a href="https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/landandparks/park-system/find-a-park/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>. -Golfing: The Club at Lac La Belle was rated one of the top 25 public golf courses in the state of Wisconsin, it has earned quite the reputation. The course wanders across lush, gently rolling countryside with many mature trees. Naga-Waukee War Memorial Golf Course is a gem and one of the best municipal courses in Wisconsin. The course is tucked between Nagawicka and Pewaukee lakes, and there are stunning views of the lake from the 14th and 16th tee boxes. -Fowler Lake: take a walk around the lake. Start in the parking lot behind Oconomowoc City Hall and check out the historic homes along the way. The entire loop is about 2.5 miles, and there are many great food establishments and shops around the lake. -Oconomowoc Farmers Market: provides opportunities for local farmers to provide the community with fresh, local and healthy food. Market-goers can find a variety of goods including seasonal produce, spices, herbs, soups, handmade arts and crafts, baked goods, plants, honey, cheeses, jams, canned goods, maple syrup, breads, and farm fresh eggs and meats.&nbsp;Every Saturday at Bank Five Nine Campus Lot, 155 W. Wisconsin Avenue&nbsp;from 8AM - 12PM. -Paddle Boarding &amp; Kayaking: Rent paddleboards and kayaks directly from&nbsp;Clear Water Outdoor at&nbsp;1000 Genesee Street, Delafield, WI. You can take your paddleboards and/or kayaks out on Nagawicka Lake.

Shopping

-Element Style Boutique: the bride's favorite boutique in downtown Delafield. Element is a mix of women’s apparel and accessories.&nbsp;The store has&nbsp;fun gift ideas and home décor.&nbsp;The store is beautifully staged, and the prices are reasonable.&nbsp;Element Style is always changing and refreshing their selections, and there's something for everyone. -Fray Boutique: also one of the bride's favorite women's clothing boutiques in the heart of downtown Oconomowoc. Fray specializes in handpicked clothing for women of all ages, accessories, gifts &amp; home décor. The owner has an eye for finding unique and beautiful pieces that are both trendy and timeless. -Mission Road Boutique &amp; The Well: a home goods and gift shop in downtown Oconomowoc. The store has items for your home include furniture, wall décor and goods for the kitchen and bath. Gifts range from custom pillows and drinkware to gourmet treats. They also have nice collections for wedding, baby and pets. -Harvest Home: located in an old renovated house in historic downtown Pewaukee, Harvest Home is a hidden gem. Their main focus in beautiful home décor, but they also have numerous pieces of jewelry, clothing, and purses. HH is perfectly decorated, and they have the most unique decorations, gifts, cards, etc. -Performance Running Outfitters: for 17 years, Performance Running has served Southeast Wisconsin for performance footwear and athletic apparel. With a passion for running excellence, PRO has curated a diverse selection of top-tier products tailored to enhance your running experience. Beyond their exceptional inventory, they foster a vibrant community through weekly group runs, uniting local enthusiasts in their pursuit of fitness and camaraderie. -Dick Smith's Live Bait &amp; Tackle: a true family business since 1982 and your one-stop shop for all your fishing needs. The business is located in the basement of “The Barn," at the corner of Hwy 83 and I-94. The Barn has been a landmark in Lake Country for over 100 years. The Barn’s original “Face” was grey barn wood with a smiley face.&nbsp; -Homebody: a stylish women's clothing boutique in Oconomowoc. Their brand focuses on an unimagined customer experience and elevated merchandising. Homebody focuses on sensibility across many lifestyles and telling that story through a diverse assortment of wares. Homebody strives to leave their customers feeling inspired to wear that new dress that is unexpectedly perfect.&nbsp; -Sherper's - Oconomowoc: a family-owned business specializing in outdoor gear and apparel. They offer a wide range of products for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Founded in 1935, Sherper's has a long history of providing quality outdoor equipment and excellent customer service. The Oconomowoc location often hosts events and workshops related to outdoor activities, enhancing the local community's outdoor experience. -The Doggy Bag Pet Bakery &amp; Boutique: The Doggy Bag is the place for pet lovers who want to spoil their four-legged friends. It is a dog bakery and boutique that specializes in all natural dog treats. Homemade dog treats are baked fresh daily in small batches. Also, a selection of leashes, collars, bowls and accessories as well as unique gifts for dog and cat lovers. -Wingman Gift + Supply: Wingman opened in 2021 with the hope to offer something different in men’s retail in downtown Delafield. They saw a need for good quality everyday items beyond clothing and shoes – in one location. Wingman carries a selection of high quality daily-use products such as grooming, everyday carry, writing, watches and books.

A.J. & Emily

A.J. & Emily

A&E

Welcome Party

Wedding Day