Rehearsal Dinner

Jefferson Street Inn

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Winter

Our Wedding

Most people know that we met at the Rib Mountain Dog Park in the summer of 2022, but there is much more to the story than simply showing up in the same place at the right time! I got Ochai at the start of April 2022 and a large reason I decided to get a golden retriever is because I thought it would be the perfect dog to take to the dog park in town! At the time I joked with people that Ochai was going to go help me find a girlfriend and also find a mom for herself. Ochai was only about six months when I started to go to the dog park. This is a notable piece to the story because Ochai was often pretty intimidated by the bigger dogs and wanted to run away. Jessa on the other hand went to the dog park because Bailee still had insane black lab energy. So, she went most days to play fetch with Bailee. Jessa is also quite the bookworm, so she mostly sat on the bench reading when she wasn't throwing Bailee's ball. On my first day taking Ochai to the park I was pretty nervous, but she was in heaven. Eventually some bigger dogs started to overwhelm her and she searched for an escape. Well, that escape was the cute blonde girl sitting on the bench reading a book. With no hesitation Ochai launched off the ground into Jessa's lap. Which of course Jessa loved because who doesn't love a golden puppy jumping into their lap? At that moment I realized Ochai was definitely going to find a mom at the dog park. As the weeks went on Ochai was almost always near Jessa in case she needed to retreat to the safety of Jessa's lap. Which gave me a free excuse to be by Jessa. I also figured if I could win over her dog that would give me some pretty good brownie points if I asked her out on a date. So, I brought a ton of treats with me and funneled them into Bailee's mouth so she would follow me around. Eventually I stopped being a chicken and did ask Jessa out on a date. From there we couldn't get enough of each other and our dogs became best friends. We got engaged at the dog park where it all started. Like the first time we talked, it was in the pouring rain. If you look closely at Jessa's ring you will see on one side is the birthstone of Ochai and the other side features the birthstone of Bailee. We couldn't ask for better matchmakers and you will be sure to see them as a focal point of our wedding. As they were the foundation of us meeting, they will always be the foundation of our marriage going forward.

Through the eyes of Travis

When I moved up to Wausau, I came for my job, and to be closer to my sister, Marlee. Little did I know, I would find my forever dog park date! Bailee and I had been living in Wisconsin for about 6 months before I met Travis and Ochai. Bailee was 2 years old at that point, and your typical high energy black lab. Going to daycare all day while I worked, was just not going to cut it. In college we walked and went to the dog park frequently so I felt confident in her training and temperament to take her to the dog park. One sunny day, a baby golden retriever and her overly anxious owner came to the park for the first time. Baby Ochai was having the time of her life, while Travis was following her around everywhere, always within 3 feet to make sure she was okay. That day, the big dogs started to become too much for her, and she sought shelter in the form of my lap, while I was reading a book on 'my' bench. Imagine peacefully reading while Bailee pants nearby and all of the sudden a 30 pound dog is sitting on you.Of course, she was cute so I fought off the big dogs and cuddled for a while. After that, whenever she needed a break, she always knew she could come to me and I would save her from the big overwhelming dogs. It took me a while to actually notice her owner, Travis, as someone other than the anxious owner following his dog around, which I always joked about to the other dog owner friends I had made at the park. I am pretty sure by this point, he was already funneling treats into Bailee and throwing her ball for her. He was always near, playing with Bailee or being a weirdo and just hovering around but not talking to me. Until one day, when we got stuck in a random downpour and had to hide under a tree. The rest is history! We went on our first date, and then our second, and then I broke myself and didn't see each other for two weeks, which surprisingly didn't scare him away with my clumsiness! We moved in together and I forced him to get a dog door (which he tells everyone he only did it for me, but he secretly loves it and so do the girls) and then we got a cat (which he also loves but swears he doesn't) Charlie, to complete our little family!It was Ochai and Bailee who brought us together, and even when they are gone, they will forever be our favorite matchmakers and set in stone as a part of our love story.

Through the eyes of Jessa

Our Story

Photos

Marlee Samuels

Brit Samuels

Kassi Johnson

Alex Johnson

Katlyn Bokhoven

Easton Johnson

Bailee Bokhoven

Ochai Johnson

Beckett Samuels

The ones we can't forget

Kim Renze

Jessa's college friend and Bailee's dog boyfriends mom

Maggie Thielen

Jessa and Travis's friend from the dog park

Corey Rusch

Sam Lawson

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

Stay right where the wedding is! Your room will be just an elevator ride away from the ceremony and reception through a covered sky walk! *Free Covered Parking *Pet Friendly

Jefferson Street Inn, a member of Radisson Individuals

Stay in beautiful Rib Mountain! You will be close to shopping opportunities and just a step away from Granite Peak if you are looking to go skiing while in town,

Hilton Garden Inn Wausau

Courtyard Wausau

Travel

Granite Peak Ski Area

Rib Mountain State Park

Children's Imaginarium

We love cheese. (Typical Wisconsinites I know) This is our favorite place to get local cheese! 

Mullins Cheese Retail Store

Things to Do

<a href="https://www.thebreakfastbear.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Breakfast Bear </a>-New trendy breakfast join we enjoy!227308 Shrike Av, Wausau, WI 54401 <a href="https://erapancakesandcafe.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Era Pancakes &amp; Cafe</a>- Our go-to breakfast joint!151523 County Rd Nn, Wausau, WI 54401 <a href="https://lemongrasswi.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lemongrass Asian Fusion Restaurant &amp; Bar</a>- One of our favorite nice dinner choices!316 N 3rd Street, Wausau, WI 54403 <a href="https://www.vanacre.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Van Acre</a>-The location of our first date and every anniversary dinner!151401 County Road Nn, Wausau, WI 54401 <a href="http://www.wasabiweston.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wasabi Teppanyaki &amp; Sushi Bar</a>- Our favorite sushi date night!3703 Schofield Ave, Schofield, WI 54476 <a href="https://www.samspizzaofwausau.com/our_menu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam's Pizza of Schofield</a>-Best pizza, plus an arcade!5811 Business Highway 51 S, Schofield, WI 54476, Weston, WI 54476

Food Recomendations

Jessa & Travis

Jessa & Travis

Wedding Party

The ones we can't forget