Woodsy Elegance, Pastel Palette in Wedding at Camp Elsewhere

"I've always wanted to claim it was love at first sight, because in many ways, it feels like that. Our relationship started more on the 34,058th sight," says Molly O'Brien of her now-husband Ralph Hutchens. The pair grew up on the same lake, worked as counselors at the same summer camp and even lived a few blocks from each other while attending UW-Madison before they locked eyes at Blue Ox music festival and gave love a chance. From that moment on, despite long distance, the pair fell for each other in a relationship built on laughter, and in November of 2023, Ralph proposed to Molly on a weekend trip to Minneapolis. 

Choosing a venue reminiscent of their cherished memories working and making friends at summer camp, Camp Elsewhere served as the perfect backdrop for a weekend full of fun and love. It had been a rainy month, but the clouds parted for an idyllic wedding day. Delicate seasonal blooms in shades of light pink and white wove throughout the day, with the bridal party donning a variety of pastel hues to accentuate the airy playfulness of the day. Molly wore a show-stopping strapless dress and a whimsical veil adorned with soft 3D appliqué and Ralph wore a classic tuxedo paired with cowboy boots, the pair looking timeless and authentically themselves as they exchanged vows against the beauty of Northern Wisconsin. 

In lieu of a traditional videographer, Ralph and Molly placed their wedding day video in the hands those they loved with rented camcorders in which they were able to capture vows, candid guest interviews, speeches and dance floor footage. The tented reception ensued with simple elegance, marked by ivory florals and sweetly patterned napkins. An ode to their favorite date, an ice cream truck served up sweet treats for everyone to enjoy before dancing to live music, punctuating the evening with warm hugs and good-byes around the bonfire pit.