Lake Geneva Wedding at The Riviera Ballroom

A stunning late summer wedding for two unbelievably wonderful sports fans

How They Met

Kylee and Nick met at a San Diego State University basketball game. Nick had front row seats, while Kylee sat in the second row right behind him. “Normally, I’d be annoyed that such a tall dude would be standing in front of me, but I didn’t mind the view at all,” Kylee admits. Nick first asked for Kylee’s number during the San Diego State Aztecs vs Colorado State Rams game on February 17, 2015. They began playing TriviaCrack with one another, and Kylee made a bet that the loser had to take the winner out to dinner. “I absolutely cheated my way through that game to get a date with him!” So, the two grabbed dinner together, and the rest is history.

The Engagement

Both Kylee and Nick are big sports fans, which has always played a major role in their relationship. Kylee is an alum of San Diego State University, and the school holds an extra special place in her heart since that’s where she first met Nick. The campus had recently built a brand-new basketball training facility, the Jeff Jacobs JAM Center, which has a strict entry system and generally isn’t open to the public. Nick, who is a realtor, had been working with a basketball coach’s family to find them a home. One day, Nick surprised Kylee by letting her know that the coach offered to give them a tour of the facility.

They scheduled their visit for a Sunday afternoon. As they were walking out the door to drive to the JAM Center, Kylee jokingly asked Nick, “Wait, are you going to propose?” Apparently, Nick had a feeling his girlfriend would ask, so he hid the ring box in the waistband of his boxers. He even turned his pockets inside out to show her that, no, he “did not” have a ring. When they finally arrived, Nick said, “So, I kind of lied…” and got down on one knee as he asked Kylee to marry him.

The Dress

Kylee found her dream wedding dress online from BHLDN, the bridal brand of Anthropologie. She had saved the dress on her Pinterest board years ago and fell in love with it. When she had learned that the brand discontinued the style, she was bummed, but was hopeful she would find a similar dress in store. She went to BHLDN with her mom, mother-in-law, and a couple of her bridesmaids and found a few dresses that she liked but didn’t love as much as the one she had her eyes on for so long. She tried one other store and was underwhelmed there, too. Then, one of Kylee’s friends recommended looking at second hand dresses. Lo and behold, a woman in Florida was selling the dress – in her size! The seller’s wedding had been canceled because of the pandemic, so she never wore it. The moment the dress arrived, Kylee put it on and burst into tears. “I’d never felt more beautiful in my life.”

The Ceremony

Kylee and Nick celebrated the greatest day of their life at The Riviera Ballroom in Lake Geneva. One of their close friends served as their officiant, which was so special. The couple also wrote and recited their own vows. The only song that Nick had requested throughout the entire day was the one his bride walked down the aisle to – “First Date” by Taylor Acorn, a cover of his all-time favorite Blink-182 song. Upon hearing the song and grabbing each other’s hands, all of their nerves were completely gone.

The Reception

While the room was being prepared for the reception, the newlyweds and their guests embarked on an hour-long cocktail cruise of Lake Geneva provided by Lake Geneva Cruise Line – a fun and unique way to kick off the remainder of the evening. The party was, indeed, a lot of fun for everyone present. The couple’s main goal was to genuinely enjoy their day and spend quality time with their guests as well as with each other. Kylee and Nick stood at the front of the buffet to hand every single guest their dinner plates, which guaranteed face time and brief conversations with everyone. After dinner, they spent hours on the dance floor together, which was exactly what they wanted.

The Décor

Kylee and Nick’s wedding color palette predominantly included navy and cream. Gia Bella Flowers & Gifts in Burlington created a gorgeous arch and provided all of the greenery and floral elements.

The Food and Drinks

Dinner, which was prepared by Chef David’s Catered Events out of Kenosha, included asparagus, mashed potatoes, herb roasted chicken, and sirloin and au jus. The children enjoyed chicken nuggets and fruit skewers. Dessert, courtesy of Bodi’s Bake Shop in Twin Lakes, consisted of apple strudel, turtle brownies, eclairs, and cannolis. The party favors were baggies of the bride and groom’s favorite candies: Sour Patch Kids (Nick’s) and chocolate- and yogurt-covered pretzels (Kylee’s).

The Honeymoon

Kylee and Nick plan to celebrate their newly wedded bliss in May 2024. They booked their trip through Scenarious Travel, a service that specializes in Italian honeymoons and vacations.

Words of Wisdom from the Bride

I know everyone says this, but try to enjoy every part of it. There are going to be stressors, but every single part of your wedding day should reflect you – do what makes you and your partner happy. You’re the ones who will notice the small details and remember them! And when stuff inevitably gets messed up or goes haywire, remember that, at the end of the day, you’re married to your person, and that’s what’s most important!

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