A Northwoods Love Story: Sydney & Grant’s Lakeside Celebration

June 17, 2026 Marylouise George

There are weddings, and then there are weekends that feel like a love letter to a place. Sydney and Grant’s August celebration was the latter—a lively and elegant ceremony and dinner reception set against the water and pines of Chippewa Retreat, full of personal touches, seasonal blooms, and a few delightful surprises along the way. For Sydney, a Mercer girl through and through, it was also a homecoming. We were honored to host them, and we can’t wait to share the day with you.

Sydney & Grant's first look on the Lakeside Lawn — Katie Ricard Photography

A Morning to Themselves

Before the lakeside vows and the dance floor, the couple began their wedding day with something quietly perfect: a private breakfast, cooked by Grant himself. It’s the kind of small, intentional moment that set the tone for everything that followed.

Bride hugs loved one before vow exchange during ceremony on Lakeside Lawn at Chippewa Retreat Resort

Vows by the Water

The ceremony unfolded lakeside, with Lake Manitowish as the backdrop and the couple’s friend Kerry officiating—a personal touch that made the moment all the more meaningful. The highlight was a beautiful ring warming ceremony, passing the rings through the hands of loved ones so each guest could offer a silent blessing before they were exchanged. It’s a tradition that turns a circle of witnesses into active participants, and it suited Sydney and Grant beautifully.

Poolside, Then Into the Lodge

From the lakeshore, the celebration flowed to poolside cocktails before moving into the lodge for dinner and dancing. The design throughout was flower-forward and layered with garden textures—a seasonal, garden-party elegance brought to life by Copper Feather Events and the blooms of Wanderwild. Faille periwinkle and bone linens grounded the tables, and the lodge chandeliers were given a stunning enhancement that left guests looking up in awe.

A favorite detail: there was no head table. Instead, the couple chose to intermingle at a dinner table with family and members of the wedding party—a warm, inclusive choice that kept them in the middle of the celebration rather than apart from it.

A Feast Worth Remembering

Dinner, catered by Rockaman’s, leaned into comfort and craft in equal measure—a buffet anchored by chef-carved tenderloin and a beloved white cheddar mac and cheese. And in the most Wisconsin move imaginable, the late-night snack was fresh cheese curds with ranch, the perfect fuel for a long night on the dance floor.

Then there was the cake. FIKA Bakery brought four kinds of cake to the celebration—and if you ask Grant, it might have been the thing he was most excited about all day (besides marrying Sydney, of course!).

Seating Chart by Lettered by Shi hung as guests enter the main dining room — Katie Ricard Photography

The Details in the Details

The paper goods and signage, all by Lettered by Shi, tied the day together with quiet craft: a fabric seating chart, a linen bar sign, place cards, table numbers, and a cards-and-gifts sign. A beautiful keepsake trunk stood ready to collect cards and well-wishes—a piece the couple gets to keep long after the weekend ends.

Guests on the dance floor with Kuhl Entertainment Djing the party in the White Oak Dining Room. Photography by Katie Ricard

A Dance Party to Close the Night

When it was time to celebrate, Kuhl Entertainment brought a true club vibe to the dance floor and kept the energy high deep into the evening. And Grant—not content with just one memorable pair of shoes—debuted a second pair specifically for the dance party. A small, joyful flourish that says everything about the spirit of the day.

Congratulations, Sydney & Grant

From a quiet morning breakfast to a club-energy send-off, every part of this day reflected the couple at the center of it. Thank you for letting Chippewa Retreat be the backdrop for your forever.