Wedding Day

Waterfront Hotel

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

We met back in our early twenties, when life was a little messy and full of possibilities. At the time, Madison was working in Madison (yes, the irony is not lost on us) and I was living in Iowa City going to school at the University of Iowa. Despite the miles between us, our connection was instant, and we both knew right away that this was something special. After dating for a little less than a year, the long-distance thing got old pretty fast, so I made the big leap and moved to Illinois. Since then, it feels like we have lived a whole lifetime together, bringing home our first dog, Greta, traveling and hiking whenever we can, and buying our first house, which we promptly tore apart and renovated into exactly what we wanted. When it came time to propose, I kept it perfectly “us.” No big crowds, no fireworks, just the two of us in our home, which made it even more meaningful. Because at the end of the day, it is not about the big moments. For us, it is about laughing together in the little ones, making memories, and choosing each other over and over again. From long drives between Iowa and Illinois, to new adventures big and small, to quiet nights at home, our love story has been nothing short of beautiful. Now we are ready for the greatest adventure yet, marriage, and we cannot wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you.

Our Story

Photos

Kayla is truly the sister I never had. From the moment she came into the family, she and I have been closer than cousins, and our bond has only grown stronger over the years. It has been such an incredible journey watching her grow into adulthood and come into her own as the amazing person she is today. Kayla and I have always shared a connection like no other, one built on trust, laughter, and unconditional love. She knows she can always call me, and I will drop anything to be there for her no matter what. I am so proud to call her my family and so thankful to have her as such an important part of my life. I know our bond will only continue to grow stronger in the years ahead, and I could not be happier to have her by my side on this day.

Kayla Maffioli

Ellie is my cousin, and even though she lives in North Carolina, she has always held such a special place in my heart. I wish we could spend more time together, but it has been such a joy to watch her grow into an amazing person, even from a distance. When I was close to her age, I had the honor of standing in her mom’s wedding, and now that she is standing in mine, it feels like the sweetest full-circle tradition. Ellie has such a bright spirit and a kind heart, and I know she will continue to grow into a beautiful, strong, and confident young woman. I am so grateful she is here to share this day with me, and I cannot wait to see all the incredible things her future holds.

Ellie Misenheimer

TaLeeah and I have been best friends since freshman year of high school, and we’ve truly grown up together. She’s always been the first person I turn to, and she has the brightest spirit, her kindness and laughter light up every room. From late nights as college roommates to all of life’s ups and downs, she has always had my back. Even though we don’t live as close as I wish, our bond has never wavered. I’ve always known TaLeeah would be standing by my side on my wedding day, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

TaLeeah Eerie

Aaliyah may technically be my sister-in-law, but she has felt like true family from the very first day my brother introduced us. She has been part of the family for almost as long as I have been with Madison, yet it feels like she has been here forever. Aaliyah is fun, easy to talk to, and such a breath of fresh air. She just gets me in a way that not everyone does. There is not a single thing I cannot share with her, and no matter what we are doing, we always manage to have the best time. She brings joy, laughter, and a sense of ease into every moment, and I feel so lucky to have her in my life and standing by my side on this day.

Aaliyah McCann

Liz and I first met while working together at Midland, and she quickly became one of my very first friends after I moved to Rockford. From the start, she made me feel so welcomed and at ease in a brand new place, and she honestly made Rockford feel like home. Since then, Liz has been my go-to person, the one I can count on to have my back no matter what and to tell it like it is. She is fun, caring, and always knows how to bring laughter and honesty into any moment. I am so thankful for the friendship we have built over the years, and I could not imagine this day without her by my side.

Liz Nava

Lily is my cousin, but she has always felt like so much more. Even though she is not a little kid anymore, she will always be the sweetest little baby to me. Over the years, it has been such a joy and a privilege to watch her grow into a beautiful, strong, and confident young woman. Lily is spunky, full of personality, and someone I can always share a laugh with no matter the situation. Sometimes it feels like she is less of a cousin and more of a little sister because of the bond we share. She knows she can come to me for anything, and I know I can always be there for her. I am so proud of the person she has become and so happy to have her standing by my side.

Lily Batterson

Our flower girl Ava is such a bright and special young girl. She is sweet, kind, and full of innocence that makes everyone around her smile. We only wish we could see her more often, because every moment with her is such a joy. Ava has such a gentle and caring nature, and we know as she grows she will always be the type of person to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. We feel so lucky to have her be a part of this day, and we cannot wait to see the amazing young woman she becomes

Ava Smith

Our flower girl Nora is the very definition of a wild child, and we absolutely love it. She has that true second-child energy that keeps everyone on their toes, and she is always finding new ways to make us laugh. Every time we are around her, we get a glimpse of the big personality she is already developing, and we cannot wait to see even more of it unfold. Nora has such a bright, spirited energy that makes her a joy to be around, and we know she is going to grow into someone bold, funny, and full of life. We could not be more excited to have her as part of this special day.

Nora Misenheimer

Our flower girl Charley is such a special little girl with the biggest personality. She is fun, outgoing, and always full of energy, and she has a laugh that can light up any room. Charley has a way of turning even the simplest moment into something memorable, and she reminds everyone around her how much joy there is in life. Watching her grow and discover who she is has been such a joy, and we hope she never loses that spark that makes her so uniquely her. We are so excited to have her be a part of this day, and we know she will make it even brighter just by being herself.

Charley Batterson

Wedding Party

River District Hotel

PSA: Please make sure when booking your room, you call the hotel or go directly to their website. Please do not go through a third party site as the hotel will not be able to accommodate if anything should happen. Your room will not be added to our room block if you do not call the hotel. Please make sure you are booking your room sooner rather than later. This area is known to be one of the best places in the Midwest for fall activities. We are right in prime time so the rooms will book up fast and you may miss out on getting a room for the wedding.

Madison & Kate

Madison & Kate

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