This Low-Key Lakeside Wedding Is a Breath of Fresh Air

“When I was on a date, I was meeting people who weren’t ‘it’. And I wanted to make it clear what ‘that’ was for me,” says Daisy, who lives in Duluth, Minnesota. So she made notes on her phone with 17 things she was looking for, including “emotionally available”, “having a happy life”, “can start a fire or change tires”. She met Ted in 2019 and said she had manifested him. They got married in Lake Superior in July 2021. Here Daisy talks about the decor of Goodwill’s wedding and the jokes of the vows people told her not to make…

“During the pandemic, we dressed up, made some lovely dinners, drank wine and danced around the apartment. It was so sweet. Ted is trying to make something special.

“This may sound like a nightmare for some people, but we chose to go on a date a month away and told everyone. Then we had to find a place. Community Center On the beach where slots opened in the afternoon. I think I would have rented $125. That day we showed up, swam in the lake, and prepared at the community center. I wanted flowers in my hair, so my friend took the baby’s breath. I took the dress from Nordstrom out of the rack and put on my own makeup. ”

“In the summer of 2021, due to joint travel restrictions, my family and friends from Tanzania were unable to come.

“We walked to the beach together and tall grass formed a corridor.”

“Before the wedding we came up with the idea of ​​holding our feet in the water and having the ceremony. Given our love for Lake Superior, it felt right. My best friend was the host.”

“We gathered for people out of town the night before. I joked, “One day, we’re all going to die…”.

“It was a public beach and when we kissed, a stranger nearby cheered and applauded with our friends and family. It was lovely.”

“The community centre is a government building so it’s not cute, but it was helpful to party outside. I went to the goodwill and found a lace panel, so the field was quite large and along the street, making it feel more private and intimate.

“I was able to feel the fullness of the industrial complex of weddings. We worked briefly with wedding coordinators who were used to having more luxurious weddings. Every time they suggested something, they took it five notches. I don’t mind this kind of thing, and I’m not going to borrow money for it. We stopped working with them and spent money on certain things that we cared about. For example, we were concerned about the food, but we didn’t care if the food was flashy or not. We hired a food truck and it was great. In total, I think we spent about $2,000. ”

“My musician friend Peter Whitlack did an incredible job like our DJ. He strummed his guitar on the beach before the ceremony.”

“It felt like the backyard was hanging with friends when a good song came out and people came dancing. We had the perfect wedding for us.”

Thank you so much, Daisy!

PS More wedding posts, including four New York City Hall weddings and previous weddings in Brooklyn.

(photograph Liz Paulik. )