Local Love – Kelley & Roger at Geneva National Resort

Kelley and Roger met as students at the University of Illinois. They knew their relationship was something special from the start, as they shared the same values and had so much fun together. When it came time to tie the knot, they wanted a special venue that was somewhere between Chicago and Door County. They ended up booking the first place they toured, Geneva National Resort, because it was a perfect fit!

The pair made sure to enjoy every moment of their wedding weekend. On Friday, the men played golf at the Resort while the ladies attended a bridal tea at The Baker House. They capped the night off with a rehearsal dinner at Pier 290 where they celebrated late into the night with friends and family. Kelley and Roger woke up to a rainy wedding day, but never let the weather get them down. “We got to spend more time cruising around in the trolley enjoying ourselves with the wedding party (and beer!),” Kelley said of the rain.

The couple’s laid back, stress-free personalities were evident throughout their Big Day. Kelley opted for a simple but gorgeous wedding dress that allowed her to dance and move around without worry. She also asked her bridesmaids to choose their own outfit, in a range of hues from rose gold to nude, so they would be more comfortable. “It worked perfectly and brought so much more character to the pictures,” Kelley shared. The couple chose to decorate with white flowers with accents of rose gold throughout the décor, while incorporating some fun, unexpected items like artichokes and rosemary sprigs on the tables. They left the rest of the aesthetic work to the beautiful venue and lovely view of the golf course.

Kelley and Roger made sure their wedding felt personal and unique to them as a couple. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, their guests enjoyed iconic chocolate cakes from Portillo’s, a personal favorite of the couple. Roger’s favorite memory from their Big Day was when the moms led everyone in a round of the Illinois Fight Song and brought out the Illini flag to celebrate Roger’s die-hard fandom. Kelley said she most enjoyed being surrounded by all of their closest friends and family who had such a fabulous time celebrating all weekend. The couple embraced simplicity in wedding planning and focused on spending their time and energy enjoying their loved ones and each other as they began their new life together.

Vendor List:

Venue: Geneva National Resort

Photography: Dory L Tuohey Photography

Officiant: Ben Lidbury

Wedding Rings: Windy City Diamonds

Engagement Ring: Oliverio Jewelers

Bride’s Gown: Houghton via Alice in Ivory

Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Hair & Makeup: Appease, Inc.

Formalwear: The Black Tux

Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas

Floral & Décor: Gia Bella Flowers

Entertainment: Toast & Jam

Cake: Portillo’s