Wedding Day

Eagle Waters Resort

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Fall

Our Wedding

It all starts with a bar, some really good friends, and country music. I met Kate Goering-Anderson at a friend's barbeque back in 2022 and she invited me to go line dancing at Saddle Up, a country line dancing bar in Aurora, Illinois and I fell in love with it and kept coming back week after week. It was at Saddle Up that I kept meeting more people who are now my best friends today. Kate had introduced me to Kara, Jason, and Tyler who is dating Erin. We all quickly became great friends with Erin becoming my closest friend. Fast forward a few months and it's March 2023. Well one fateful day at Saddle Up, specifically March 11, 2023 which happened to be the Chicago was dyeing the river green in celebration of St. Patrick's day. Kate, Erin, and I were cheering on an acquaintance (who was singing in the band that night) and I see this tall, handsome, dirty blonde guy wearing a kilt walk into the bar. I immediately thought "Wow, he's really attractive and he's wearing a kilt...that takes a lot of confidence! I need to talk to him." Unfortunately, his kilt caught the attention of a few people that I don't get along with. So, I kept eyeing him and waiting for my chance. Finally, I see him dancing next to one of my best guy friend's Jason and I saw my chance. I immediately went over and started dancing with Brad. I had then turned around and introduced myself saying "Hi, I'm Marie by the way". To which Brad responded "Yeah, I know I met you last week." I was taken aback and so I had responded with "Oh, I'm really sorry I don't remember that." Brad had said " That's ok! Your friend dragged me around the bar and introduced me to 75 people in 30 second introductions and your name is the only one that I remember." It was then that I saw his Norse rune tattoo and said "Oh you like Norse Mythology? So do I!". We hit it off that night and before we knew it, it was closing time. We exchanged phone numbers. Four days later on March 15th, he texted me asking me to go on a date (because he didn't want to seem too eager by asking the night we left the bar), I had told him "I'm sorry I have a cold and I'm not feeling well". He insisted anyway and said, "I don't care I have to see you again! Come over and we can get takeout, you said you like sushi right? Let's do that!" I agreed, but said I wanted to take things slow. A few days later it was St. Patrick's day and I asked him to meet me at Saddle Up and when he arrived I kissed him. On March 21st, we had another date and I asked him to be my boyfriend and without hesitation he agreed. Then on March 26th, exactly 15 days of knowing each other, Brad said "I love you" to which I had immediately said it back. About 9 months of knowing each other on December 17, 2023 I took Brad to Christkindlmarket in downtown Chicago. It was his first time ever going there and it was going to be our first Christmas together so I wanted to make it special and see the lights at Millenium Park too. We had been walking around for awhile and were making our way to the tree in Millenium Park when Brad pulled me off the side of the path amongst some pretty maple trees covered in white lights and handed me a note. I had asked "what's this?" and he said "Just read it". As I was reading the note I saw him videotaping me and asked"Why are you filming me?" and he said "Just keep reading". When I got to the bottom of his note I read "by the time you are done reading this I want you to look up and I'm going to put a ring on your finger and make you mine forever." As I looked up I said "are you serious?" and that's when I saw him on one knee with the most beautiful ring I have ever seen and he said " Will you marry me?" and that's when the video he was taking of me stops because I was so excited when I said yes that I tackled him. Now, it is time for our wedding on October 11, 2025, exactly 945 days from that fateful day at Saddle Up. 945 days of knowing each other is when we say "I DO!" and getting to celebrate being Mr. and Mrs. DeForest with our closest friends and family.

The Story of Us

Our Story

Photos

Bridesmaids & Groomsmen

Chris Huggett

Erin Buric

Chris Guisti 

Kara Kastenholz

Cam Charleston

Kate Goering-Anderson

Roy Carvatta

Jessica Zolfo

Patrick Zolfo

Dina Roman

Mike G Zolfo

Landon DeForest

Parents of the Bride & Groom

Mike R Zolfo

Jill Zolfo

Wayne DeForest

Arlene DeForest

Ushers

Jason Saba

Kenny DuLaney

Robb Roman

Wedding Party

Q + A

Travel

On the map of Eagle Waters Resort the red star is where our ceremony will be taking place. The green circle is where our reception will take place. Note: The map seems like everything is far away from each other, but this is not the case. The distance between the ceremony and reception is less than a 5-minute walk apart.

Map Of Eagle Waters Resort

Planning on extending your stay and enjoying a vacation in the Northwoods? There's so much to do in Eagle River!

Enjoy the fall colors on a hike or bike ride down one of the 27  trails in the Northwoods

Fitness CenterSaunaTennis CourtBasketball CourtVolleyball CourtShuffleboardHorsehoe PitSwingsBonfire PitGame RoomFish from the dockRent a kayak, canoe, or rowboat free with your stay

Enjoy the many amenities offered by Eagle Waters Resort

Cozy up with family and friends in front of a bonfire or make some s'mores down by Eagle Lake on Eagle Waters Resort

Golf at Eagle River Golf Course

Rent a boat and cruise or fish on Eagle Lake through Your Boat Club Eagle River

Things to do in The Northwoods of Wisconsin

Enjoy dinner or some drinks at Eagle Waters Resort's  Supper Club

Enjoy some appetizers, burgers, and drinks and relax lakeside at Kickback Grill

Grab a local beer or a bourbon with some wings, Wisconsin cheese curds, or a variety of sandwiches at Riverstone Brewing Company

Try some local spirits with a delicious cocktail or a flight at the tasting room at Northern Waters Distillery

Stop by Buckshots Saloon & Eatery for some perch, walleye fingers, sandwiches and some Wisconsin Old Fashioned's

Head on over to Bad Bones in Minocqua, WI for the best BBQ

Feeling like making a home cooked meal or getting some snacks for your room or getting extra toiletries? Stop by Eagle River's grocery store Trig's! Located at 925 E Wall St, Eagle River, WI 54521

Northwoods Bites & Brews 

Registry

Marie & Brad