Like many modern-day romances, this one started – and almost ended – online. “I unintentionally ghosted her for two weeks,” says Katie Neau, as she failed to see a notification for Courtney Walton’s reply on an online-dating site. “[But] she gave me a shot.”
In September of 2018, Katie proposed while hiking at Devil’s Lake State Park. Plans to marry two years later were postponed due to the pandemic. Finally, the following September, they tied the knot in front of 100 guests at Circa on Seventh in downtown Kenosha, a former theater near Lake Michigan’s harbor with exposed-brick walls and 22-foot ceilings.
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Supporting Wisconsin businesses is important to the couple – including on their wedding day. Flowers were procured from Lynkzstudio Flowers in Mount Pleasant; and platters of cookies and brownies, along with two sheet cakes, sourced from Festival Foods. The night before the wedding, Courtney stayed in an Airbnb above a beloved Kenosha diner.
The couple’s personality shines through in every detail, starting with engagement photos by Roost Photography’s Brandon J. Brown. After snapping dreamy shots at sunrise along Lake Michigan, the second half of the session turned to emulating characters’ poses, down to ’90s-themed outfits thrifted at Goodwill, from their favorite movie – Masterminds, a crime-comedy starring Kate McKinnon.
“We wanted to incorporate our weirdness and our fun,” says Katie. “Brandon was cracking up the whole time. We knew our splurge was going to be on the photography as that’s going to last the longest.”
Couple’s Questionnaire
Bridal Outfits
Katie donned a hunter-green suit bought at Mike Bjorn’s in Kenosha while Courtney found her white gown at Shel’s Bridal in Kenosha
Most Memorable Moment
Writing their own vows allowed for personalization. “That was us, essentially us,” says Katie. “That was fun for me to stand up there and not deliver some cheesy thing.”
Most Romantic Moment
“We bought sparklers so everyone could go outside for a photo with a backdrop of sparklers,” says Courtney, “and Katie did a nice dip with me.”
Funniest Moment
“Instead of having any sort of father-daughter dance, [I thought] ‘Let’s be true to our relationship,’ so we karaoke-d together,” says Katie. “Since I was a kid, we have jammed out to Radiohead’s ‘Creep.’”
Best Splurge
Two extra uplights paid off, improving the quality of photos taken.
Best Savings
Swapping out a multi-tiered expensive cake with a small cake for the ceremony and two grocery-store sheet cakes didn’t compromise quality or taste but did save money.
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