we're married! let's celebrate

Anniversary party reminders/RSVPs will be mailed in June. Check the schedule tab for weekend details. Please notify us if your address has changed.

On 8/29/20 we said "I do!" at Ascension Lutheran Church; a parish with many special memories for the Cotter family. Surrounded by our immediate family and bridal party, we professed our written vows, sealed our commitment with a kiss and strutted down the aisle as Mr & Mrs to "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis! Chris made it through the ceremony without fainting (win) and Jenny learned her left from right hand after a failed first attempt at ring placement (amateur). We were so overjoyed this day was even possible and we couldn't wait to celebrate now as bride and groom...off to the Party Bus! Our COVID crew boarded the "Dark Knight" party bus and we cruised around Milwaukee for photo-ops and summer fun! We completed the ride with a group sing-a-long to Bruce's "Born to Run" (a family favorite) and pulled up to our venue, The Chef's Table. We had a wonderful intimate reception that was more than we could have imagined! It truly was a dream come true! We couldn't have asked for more loving friends and family that made the best company that night! The food was to die for thanks to Chef David, who gave the most personal culinary experience and speak easy tour of his historic building. We had some great laughs with our family speeches and friendly banter on Packers vs. Vikings rivalry plus a few small lotto winnings from our scratch off wedding favors. Soon after that the dance floor was calling... Chris and Jenny had their special first dances and we danced the night away playing our personal DJ requests! It was a night we will never forget! To top it all off, everyone remained safe and COVID-free which was such a blessing!

Milwaukee is known for it's Summer of Festivals: Irish Fest, Polish Fest, Pride Fest, German Fest, Summerfest...the list goes on and on. While neither Chris or Jenny are Italian, our mutual friend Mike is and loves to celebrate his birthday at Festa Italiana every year! In 2012, Chris and Jenny both attended his party which started at the local bar, The Irish Pub, before heading into Festa Italiana (I guess we supported all nationalities that night)! Jenny introduced herself to Chris at the bar as he was wearing the same birthday-inspired "Festa" t-shirt as the rest of the group...an easy in :) They hit it off and spent the rest of the night together at the Festival, dancing on picnic tables to cover bands and ending the night with a sky-glider ride! Phone numbers were exchanged and our love was sealed on our official first date at the Wisconsin State Fair- complete with corn dogs, giant swings, temporary tramp stamp tattoos, and stuffed animal game prizes... the perfect way to Jenny's heart!

Chris and Jenny had just closed on buying their first house in Bayview; a duplex they lived in together for the last five years and a long-standing family home owned by Chris' grandmother. Plans were made to take pictures in front of their new home prior to celebrating at dinner; yet, little did Jenny know, that wasn't all they were going to be celebrating! While his parent's captured photos of them at the house, Chris got down on one knee and asked Jenny to marry him! YES was said, bubbly was popped, and smiles were permanent for all of dinner :)