The first thing guests saw when arriving for Ashley Brown and Brice Wiltgen’s summertime nuptials was an elegant, billowy white tent. Perched on scaffolding atop the water of Ashley’s parents’ backyard lake in Overton, Nebraska, it was the perfect way to kick off their wedding extravaganza. Since her family’s backyard was the home of many festive parties during Ashley’s childhood years, the couple decided it would make a beautiful “destination” wedding and reception setting. Placing the tent over the water created an “infinity pool” ambiance. Once the wedding was over, within just 30 minutes, a large crew quickly turned the ceremony tent into a festive reception venue.

When they got engaged, Ashley was attending the University of Kansas on a track scholarship and Brice was on a football scholarship at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, so Ashley planned their entire wedding long-distance with her mother, who used I Do wedding software. At the same time she was planning their wedding, Ashley also ran in the Olympic trials, knowing that if she made the team she would have to leave for the games the day after their marriage.

Family friend and wedding coordinator Brianne Aldinger addressed the couple’s chocolate brown/champagne/sage green invitations with beautiful handwritten calligraphy. Janelle Reed designed their wedding logo, invitations, programs, and valet parking tags.

About 30 relatives from Boston attended. Ashley’s track teammates (who were like her second family) made the 5½ hour drive, returning home again the same night due to their athletic commitments. Brice’s football teammates also flew in from other states. Out-of-town guests were treated to a “Welcome to Nebraska” bag upon arrival at their hotel. It included a list of fun attractions, an itinerary for the weekend, Nebraska popcorn, and other goodies, including a water bottle personalized with the couple’s wedding logo.

Campus pastor Andy Falk was their officiant, which was special to the couple since he had been Brice’s spiritual mentor. Andy’s two daughters were their flower girls. 

The couple said traditional Christian vows and performed the salt covenant from the Bible. This involves using two containers of salt and pouring them together like sand. If each person can take back his or her own grains of salt then the covenant will be broken; since that is not possible, the marriage is preserved. 

Family traditions included: Ashley giving Brice the ring her father had given her on her 16^th birthday and placing a rose from Ashley’s bouquet on an empty chair to honor her late grandmother. Her bouquet also had photo charms of all the grandparents woven into it.

Ashley wore a crème on ivory satin dress designed by Casablanca. It was form-fitting and fully beaded, with a lace overlay, a scalloped deep V front and back, and a small train. She wore her hair half up and half down with a small veil. Her bouquet was made up of ivory and pale pink roses with white stephanotis flowers and pearls in the center. 

Ashley’s six attendants included friends from childhood through college and her sister, Justine Brown, as her maid of honor. They wore chocolate brown, chiffon, halter tea-length dresses tied with a side sash; and they carried roses and white hydrangeas. The groom and his attendants wore dark champagne colored suits with ivory shirts; and their boutonnières were stephanotis flowers.

Brice and Ashley’s sunset “Southern style” reception included jazz entertainment and beautifully presented heavy hors d’oeuvres of chicken skewers, beef tenderloin with coffee rub, shrimp, and scampi. Carved fruit baskets held fruit and vegetables; and an Italian soda bar served custom-made sodas. They had a four-tier ivory cake, which had chocolate brown ribbon around it and was adorned with fresh flowers. Dozens of cheesecakes in various flavors like raspberry truffle, caramel, and chocolate chip were also served for dessert.

The bride and groom chose each other’s rings, which were custom designed by J. Dillon Design in Overland Park, KS.  

The couple’s magnificent wedding day ended with a city-caliber fireworks display, and guests made a tunnel of sparklers for the bride and groom to walk through as they left. They spent their honeymoon at the Marriott Beach Resort in Kauai, where they hiked and enjoyed the waterfalls. It was the perfect way to begin their life as husband and wife.

Vendors

Wedding Coordinator: Brianne Aldinger

Ceremony & Reception Location: Bride’s parents’ lake home

Photographer: Melenbacker Photography

Florist: Steinbrink’s Landscaping, planters and beds

Kearney Floral, bouquets and cut arrangements

Wedding Tent: Lincoln Tent

Catering: Alley Rose and Shawn Engberg

Bride’s Dress: Casablanca Design modified by Johna Munch

Groom and Groomsmen’s Formal Wear: Men’s Wearhouse

Invitations, Calligraphy, and Logo Design: Janelle Reed

Cake: Kris Kuck