The eleventh month of my travel challenge brought me to the small town of Siren, Wisconsin. Had I been to Wisconsin previously? Yes. Had I been to Siren previously? No. So rather than try to jam two weekend getaways into one month, I decided, count it! I’d be spending two nights in Siren, celebrating the wedding of two people who could not complement each other more. I was blessed to be asked to be the personal attendant for the wedding, so the majority of my time in Wisconsin was spent immersed in wedding festivities. Even though the ceremony lasted a brief less than five minutes, there was much celebration to participate in for these lovebirds. The venue, The Lodge at Crooked Lake, remained the same for all of the major wedding events, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception. This rustic-chic location provided a great space for everything that was needed, including a fun atmosphere for the wedding party and family to relax after the rehearsal Friday night and a spacious room for the ladies to spread out allllll the makeup and hair products Saturday morning. We also utilized the large room for the entire bridal party (along with a few close family members and friends) to share a bottle of Boones Farm and to take part in a round of the sacred drinking ritual: Thunderstruck. Keeping with tradition, the bridesmaids did steal the groom for a post ceremony drink at one of the local watering holes, The Pour House. The groomsmen did the same with the bride (only in Wisconsin can you just toss a bunch of guys in vests in the back of a truck and roll down the main drag). After a delicious dinner, guest could choose whether they wanted to spend the evening on the outdoor patio playing bags or indoors bustin’ a move on the dance floor.
Sunday morning, I was up early, per my usual style, so I did venture away from The Lodge for a good cup of coffee at Crosshatch Coffee Company. I remember sitting at one of their tables outside in the sunshine and I remember that the coffee hit the spot. While my “trip” to Siren, WI was certainly a different kind of adventure than I’d been experiencing the previous 10 months, my heart could not have been more full for two people during that weekend. Thinking back, I am still so honored to have played a role in one of the most special days of their lives. Josh and Erin will soon have a day that is going to compete with the joy they felt on their wedding day; the birth of their first child. I cannot wait to watch as they embark on the next chapter of their journey together.
