Lauren + Ben: Sweet Vows at South Shore Park Pavilion

Real Wedding
Written by
Jordan Dechambre

Published:

Fall/Winter 2018

Wedding: August 19, 2017

Photographer: Melissa Alderton Photography

Ceremony & Reception: South Shore Park Pavilion, Milwaukee

Honeymoon: Road trip in Oregon

To say Ben McCarville surprised Lauren Kirsch with his wedding proposal would be an understatement. In 2015, just before Christmas, Ben asked Lauren if she wanted to hop on the Amtrak from Milwaukee and visit Chicago for the day. However, once they parked at the airport and prepared to catch the train, Ben instead led her into the airport terminal and printed out two tickets to New York City. After a day of sightseeing in the Big Apple, Ben knelt on one knee and popped the question in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Less than two years later, Ben and Lauren tied the knot at South Shore Park Pavilion. Amid shabby-chic splendor, standing on a vintage rug from Goodwill, below a copper arch the couple made themselves, the couple’s low-key ceremony set the scene for a gorgeous yet casual wedding day. (Lauren even scoured antique and resale shops to find the 200 blue and green vases that adorned the tables at the reception.) Guests enjoyed local brews from the Fermentorium brewery in Cedarburg and plenty of sweet treats created by Ben’s mom and Lauren’s aunt.

City State:

Milwaukee

Season:

autumn
winter

Styles:

Rustic

WEDDING PRO TEAM

Gown
Bridesmaid dresses
Hair & makeup
Groom’s & groomsmen’s attire
Cake
Table numbers
Invitations