Wedding Day

Ceremony

Appetizers & Mingling

Dinner

Games & Dancing

Send Off & Goodnight

Wedding

Our Wedding

Day-of Information

Hotel Recommendations

The Ingleside Hotel

Very close to the venue! It is right in downtown Waukesha

The Clarke Hotel

This place is right next to one of our favorite brunch spots (Brunch Berry)!

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Milwaukee-New Berlin by IHG

Breakfast

If you like the vibe of a little cute coffee shop that is on Main Street in downtown Waukesha, you will love Steaming Cup!!

The Steaming Cup

Brunch Berry

Great place for lunch/brunch (just a heads up it gets busy!). Their stuffed browns (hash browns) are very very good. It is down the street from Lydia's house.

Blue's Egg + Bakery

Before church every Sunday, Jonathan and Lydia love to grab some breakfast at McDonald's! If you like an easy option for breakfast, McDonald's is your choice!

McDonald's

Lunch

This is the Oscars when Jonathan asked Lydia to be his girlfriend! Jonathan and Lydia love to go back to Oscars and enjoy some Custard and cheesecurds

Oscar's Frozen Custard

One of Lydia's favorite lunch spots! It is about 15 minutes from the venue in Tosa where Lydia lives/goes to school.

Thai-namite Wauwatosa

Jon and Lydia go here all the time. They even went here for lunch immediately after Jon proposed.

Taco Bell

If you like burgers, you will like Joey's Diner! It is in downtown Waukesha, close to the venue!!

Joey's Diner

Red Lobster

Activities 

This is the park where Jonathan and Lydia had their very first date! It is also the location that Jonathan proposed to Lydia! If you want to go somewhere that is very special to Jonathan and Lydia, we highly recommend going to this park!

Frame Park

Great for frisbee golfing! Bring your discs along if you have them.

Valley View Park

Really fun paint-your-own Pottery Place! This is where we made our wedding/anniversary plates.

La Terraza

Hotels and Food

Registry

Emma is Lydia's favorite (and only) human sister (they have both agreed their dog Maddy will forever be their favorite sister)! Emma is the best sister anyone could ask for and she loves and cares so deeply for her people. Emma graduated from MSOE in May and started at Madison for Med School in the fall. In her free time she loves spending time with Gabe, the cats (Stella and Mouse), spending time with friends, and traveling!

Emma Klatt

Carolyn and Lydia grew up together at Cedar Campus in the UP and are basically sisters! They have spent many summers together laughing, sailing, hiking and pulling epic pranks. Carolyn is a kind, loyal, and loving friend who is firmly rooted in her faith. Carolyn is a middle/high school teacher in Ann Arbor and in her free time loves serving (some may say too many capacities she is always buzzing around lol), spending time with friends and loved ones, reading, and singing/playing guitar! 

Carolyn Corey

Grace and Lydia have been friends since middle school where they met through being in many many classes together (basically having the same schedule). They are now roommates and have loved living together! Grace is a marine biologist and she works at Aquatic Adventures in town. Be sure to congratulate her as she is officially a Dive Master!! In her free time she loves to listen to music (especially 21 pilots and Ghost), watch movies and anime, and hang out with friends!

Grace Kortens

Katherine and Lydia originally met through a Greek Mythology based school program, back in elementary school, but they really became close a little later when Jordan and Grace started bringing Lydia to hang out with their group! Katherine has such a kind heart and has always been there for Lydia no matter what and they have some great memories being in choir together. In her free time Katherine loves knitting, spending time with her niece and nephew, cooking and baking delicious food, and listening to music/attending concerts!

Katherine Ackley

Jordan (affectionately known as “Yordan”) and Lydia first met in Spanish class in 7th grade! They were in many many classes together along with Grace and they got to know each well through that time! Jordan, Grace and Lydia were always tethered at the hip in band together, Spanish events like the trip to Spain when they were 16, and swim team! Jordan works for the DNR and in her free time enjoys hanging out friends, spending time outside, and reading. She’s also excited to adopt a cat this year!

Jordan Rahlf

Sophia and Lydia met during their first year of med school through the Christian Medical and Dental Association! They attended many events together and got to know each other through Bible Study. They have great memories going on walks and talking about life, hanging out with Tia, playing board games, and planning her wedding for which Lydia will be Sophia’s maid of honor. In her free time Sophia sings at the Basilica of St Josaphat (she’s super talented), spending time with her family, and cooking with Nick 

Sophia Valenti

David is Jon’s older brother he is also the best man aka best groomer of the wedding. David works at Generac as a manager at the Richfield location. In his free time David enjoys spending time with his wife and their dog Bruno while playing Caton. David also likes taking his pontoon boat out for relaxing days on the lake and also likes to fish in the summer and hunt in the fall. 

David Harry

Andrew is a long time friend of Jon’s they have known each other for almost 20 years now. Andrew works for Ethnos 360 in Florida, if you don’t know Ethnos they train and missionaries to send out in the field. Andrew likes the latest and greatest Marvel movies and also loves spending his time with his wife Martha and his kids. 


Andrew Wegner

Joe is Jon’s brother-in-law, law he married Jon’s sister Pam. They live in Rolla, MO and if you don’t know this place it is a small town in the middle of MO. Joe owns his own business doing IT MSP work for clients around MO. Joe enjoys spending his time tickering on technology and spending time with his wife Pam and their 3 dogs. 

Joe Bales

Austin knows Jon through marrying Jon’s cousin Nicole. Austin and Jon have only known each other for a couple years now but like to joke around when they hang out with each other. Austin started working for a HVAC worker company in Florida even though it gets really hot down there. Austin loves to spend time with his wife Nicole and their Dog. 


Austin McGowan

Daniel is Jon’s cousin and they have known each other for their whole lives. Daniel works as a receptionist for a business in Florida. Daniel likes to spend time playing the piano and spending time with fiends. Daniel also likes to go to the Disney parks in Orlando with friends and family. 

Daniel Sills

Gabe met Jon through hanging out with Lydia’s family. Gabe is her sister’s fiance and he is a design engineer. Gabe enjoys board game nights, playing Magic, golf, and using his new Switch 2. He also loves hanging out with Emma and his two cats, Mouse and Stella, in Madison.

Gabe Brito

Wedding Party

On October 19, 2024, Jon attended his brother David’s wedding shower, celebrating with David’s fiancée Karina—who happened to be Lydia’s friend from medical school. Jon and Lydia didn’t interact much that day, aside from a brief moment when he was asked to take a group photo of the medical students (pictured here). Lydia thought he was cute but assumed he was already taken, so she didn’t dwell on it. As the event was winding down, Lydia was chatting with David and Karina when they asked if they could give her number to Jon. Surprised—and happy—to learn he was single, she said yes. She left the party unsure if she’d actually hear from him, figuring it might not go anywhere. After Lydia left, David and Karina made their way over to Jon’s table and encouraged him to reach out. Later that day, Karina sent Jon Lydia’s number. Unsure whether to text her that evening or wait, Jon went disc golfing. Eventually, he decided to take a chance and send a message. That same evening, Lydia was at a fall party at her friend Andrew’s barn. She saw the text while getting ready for bed but, being the sleepy soul she is, decided to wait until morning to reply. From that first exchange, the conversation never really stopped.

How we met:

Spoiler alert: this story involves a dead body. After a week of nonstop texting, Jon and Lydia decided it was time to meet in person. They picked Frame Park in Waukesha for their first date. Lydia, expecting more of a rugged hiking adventure, showed up in hiking boots, leggings, and a shirt covered in aggressive-looking plants. Jon, fresh from work, arrived looking much more polished—nice shoes, jeans, a polo, and a jacket. The park was gorgeous, with paved trails winding along the river. They walked and talked for hours, conversation flowing effortlessly. Even as the sun set and the air cooled, they lingered by their cars, still talking. A police car rolled by and they casually waved. Eventually, they realized how late it had gotten. They said goodnight, and Jon offered a classic homeschool side hug. He drove off to grab McDonald’s, while Lydia, exhausted from her surgery rotation, headed straight to bed. Two days later, the news reported that a body had been discovered in Frame Park—and had been there the night of their date.

First Date:

After many, many more dates that became increasingly frequent—almost daily—Jon took Lydia out for dinner at Red Lobster, followed by dessert at Oscar’s Custard. They shared a peanut butter sundae, and as Lydia tore apart a styrofoam cup, Jon took the leap and asked her to be his girlfriend. To his delight, Lydia laughed and said she had been planning to ask him the same thing if he hadn’t! Just over a week later, they went to see Red One at the movie theater. They shared popcorn, and Lydia treated herself to a delicious Icee (which she’s absolutely obsessed with). Partway through the movie, Lydia had a bit of a sugar crash and dozed off, resting her head on Jon’s shoulder. After the movie ended, they lingered, talking and enjoying each other’s company. Eventually, Jon asked if he could give her a peck. Lydia grinned and teased, “Where?” So Jon playfully pointed to her nose, then her cheeks, and finally her lips, asking, “Here? Here? Here?” Lydia replied, “You can kiss me if you want.” (She had been planning to kiss him that night anyway if he didn’t make the move!) And just like that, they shared their first kiss—complete with actual fireworks in the sky. As they said goodbye, Jon was so giddy he wanted to do doughnuts in the snow-covered parking lot. Some time later, during a visit to downtown Waukesha, they were sitting in the car when Lydia reached for Jon’s hand and said bluntly, “You know I love you, right?” She had been feeling it for a while. Jon looked at her and said he loved her too—he’d been planning to tell her that very day.

Always on the same page:

Jon suggested they start a couples devotional, envisioning it as something they could do together each year. It quickly became a meaningful tradition—one that has played a key role in deepening their connection. The devotional sparked honest, thoughtful conversations that brought them closer and opened up topics they may not have explored so early on. Each week, they set aside an hour to talk through a new devotion, covering subjects like conflict resolution, open communication, compromise, serving one another, and building healthy relationships. One of their favorite lessons centered on the idea that conflict is often just a matter of perspective. When they both trust that the other has their best interests at heart, its easier to recognize that they may simply be viewing the situation differently.

Growing our relationship:

From early on they both knew they had found the one. As Jon says “The lid to their pot. The cork to their wine bottle.” Jon had planned to ask Lydia’s family for their blessing over Easter weekend during a visit to her hometown. But a few days before that, in the spirit of equality, Lydia decided to flip tradition on its head. She approached Jon’s dad and asked for his hand in marriage. He laughed and said, “So… you’re asking permission to say yes when he proposes?” She smiled and said, “Exactly.” His dad, playing along, asked, “How’s Jon going to support your lavish lifestyle?” Without missing a beat, Jon chimed in, “Let’s be honest, I have a more lavish lifestyle than she does.” Turning to Lydia, his dad joked, “Then how do you plan to support Jon’s lavish lifestyle?” Lydia grinned and replied, “I’m going to be a doctor—we’ll be fine.” That weekend, at her parents’ house, with his cheeks shaking like a leaf, Jon nervously asked for permission to marry Lydia. But before he could even finish his sentence, her parents—and even her grandma—were already grinning from ear to ear and immediately said, “Absolutely, yes.”

Progressing towards engagement:

Disclaimer: No weed was consumed. Neither Jon nor Lydia is particularly skilled at keeping secrets. So, naturally, Lydia had a pretty good idea of when the proposal was coming. (In hindsight, they both agreed it was for the best—she knew when to take a break from sweatshirts and when to get her nails done.) Her grandma had hinted, “It will come with food,” so Lydia assumed the big moment would happen at dinner—probably at Red Lobster (where they were planning to eat) or maybe afterward at Oscar’s Custard, just like when Jon asked her to be his girlfriend. The day began simply: making breakfast together, followed by a stroll through the farmer’s market. A bird randomly attacked Jon. Lydia met an author she admired. They continued with a walk through downtown Waukesha—the very place they first said I love you. Lydia was calm and unsuspecting, thinking the proposal would come later that evening. Then Jon asked if she was ready to go. As they drove off, he looked over and said, “You really have no idea where we are, do you?” Lydia looked around, clueless as ever with directions, and admitted, “Nope, no clue.” But a few minutes later, she caught a glimpse of a river—and suddenly it clicked. It was Frame Park, where they had their very first date. Overwhelmed with surprise, she began to tear up. They got out of the car and wandered until they reached a beautiful garden area. Jon pulled her into a hug, began talking about their journey together, how much he loved her… and then he got down on one knee and said, “It’s time to ask that age-old question—will you marry me?" Through happy tears, she finally said yes—but before even looking at the ring, she reached into her purse, pulled out a bracelet she had gotten for Jon, got down on one knee, and proposed right back. He said yes. They were both crying. She put the bracelet on him, he slid the ring onto her finger—and she was nearly blinded by how beautiful and sparkly it was. Then, in perfect Frame Park fashion (which has its own chaotic reputation), Jon asked, “Do you want some weed?” Lydia looked at him, completely confused, until he pointed to the ground… where there was, indeed, a random bag of weed. From a park once known for discovering a body, to surprise drugs on their proposal day—it all felt oddly fitting. In other words, it was perfect. After retracing the path they walked on their first date, they celebrated with a perfect lineup of activities: Taco Bell for lunch, mini golf, dinner at Red Lobster, a pit stop at Bob’s Discount Furniture (because why not?), dessert at Oscar’s Custard, and finally watching Finding Nemo in 3D to end the night. It was the most magical, meaningful, and unforgettable day—exactly their kind of perfect.

Jonathan & Lydia