Waterside Lake Ellyn Boathouse Wedding

It might still be summer here in Chicago, but we are gearing up for gorgeous fall weddings right around the corner! To get in the mood, we are showing off this waterside Lake Ellyn Boathouse wedding! Melissa and Ben hosted a sustainable day amongst water and colorful trees and we need you to see it! Photographed by Kriztelle Halili Photography.

The Proposal

“Ben proposed to Melissa on October 10th, 2020 at Pinney County Park in Sturgeon Bay, WI on the harbor by the bay. This was a spot they frequented on their summer visit where they shared several core memories. Ben thought about waiting until sunset to propose to Melissa, but the ring was burning a hole in his pocket. He knew a mid-day sun proposal would make the ring sparkle. They brought a blanket to sit on the boulders next to the water. When Melissa laid out the blanket and turned around, Ben was on a knee with the brightest smile holding a baby blue box  that contained a stunning rose gold halo oval diamond ring. Surprised and with joy, Melissa asked, “Is this really happening right now?!” to which Ben replied, “Yes, this is happening right now!” Ben asked her to marry him. She said yes and asked in return if he would also marry her. Thankfully, he said yes. They celebrated the day outside at a local winery with friends and family on FaceTime, endless sunshine, and fall colors.”-Melissa and Ben

The Wedding Vision

“As nature and fall lovers, we knew we wanted an October outdoor ceremony with an indoor/outdoor reception. We envisioned water and trees being part of our scenery, so Lake Ellyn was the perfect spot. We wanted to plan a day that was financially sustainable and  to take our impact on the environment into account when deciding on our venue. The boathouse is LEED certified, fit in our budget, and checked all the boxes for scenery.

My bridesperson, Clare, and I created the brides-people’s bouquets from dried flowers and greenery.
My aunts collaborated on making the dried floral centerpiece vases, over fireplace wreath, and ceremony decor. We collected wine bottles and added twinkle lights to the inside of each for part of our centerpieces. Each table was named after a favorite location in Door County, including a picture of the memory.”-Melissa and Ben

Stand Out Vendor Team

“Our vision for food was: Simple, delicious, and customizable. We went with Billy Bricks because we love their ingredients and they worked with us to provide everything we needed. Plates and flatware, charcuterie grazing table for our appetizer, vegan options, signature pizzas and gelato flavors, and even our bar tenders for the night.

Kriztelle (Kriztelle Halili Photography) was phenomenal from start to finish and beyond. She helped us feel vulnerable in the best way.


Our day of coordinator, Briana, (Weddings by Danica) took care of each detail so we didn’t have to stress about anything.

Our DJ Brad (Boombox Entertainment) perfected our ceremony music flow and kept everyone energized throughout the night. He was an amazing MC, as well!
This trio really made our wedding unforgettable.”-Melissa and Ben