May 23, 2026
Unless your Evite invitation specifically states "+1", we are not allowing plus ones at our wedding, as we'd like to keep the guest list just to those who know us well.
Similar to the plus one FAQ above, unless your invitation specifically includes your children, we are not allowing the addition of children, as we'd like to keep the guest list just to those who know us well. In addition, due to space restrictions, we cannot accommodate guests under 10 years old on our wedding day.
Cocktail or semi-formal.
Yes, free street parking or free parking at the Public Lot (behind Mercantile Hall) at 132 E. Washington St. and the Parking Garage at 224 E. Washington St., both of which are within walking distance. Please note that Pine Street will be under construction this summer so street parking may be more limited.
3:30 pm (30 minutes before the ceremony at 4 pm).
Nope! Everything (ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and reception) is located at Mercantile Hall.
Weather permitting, the ceremony and cocktail hour and a half will be outdoors with a hard concrete surface (so stiletto or otherwise-thin heels are OK). If the weather doesn't cooperate, the ceremony, cocktail hour and a half, dinner and reception will all be indoors.
During the actual ceremony (only 30 minutes), we kindly ask that you keep our wedding "unplugged" and refrain from taking any photos or videos. We want our guests to truly be in the moment with us during this particular part of our special day and give our professional wedding photographer and dog attendant the best possible shots without interference. Please feel free to take tons of pics and videos before or after the ceremony. We will have a Guestpix QR Code available so you can upload and share your pics/videos.
No, we don't have a wedding registry, as we have all the household items we need. If you would like to honor us with a gift, you can have it delivered to Kirk's home, 29447 River View Parkway, Burlington, WI 53105 or Kathryn's IL home, 6344 Pontiac Dr., Indian Head Park, IL 60525. Alternatively, a wedding card box will be available when you arrive at Mercantile Hall. We always enjoy experiences!
At 3:30 pm, doors will open and you can enjoy a Welcome Mocktail outside (weather permitting). If you are earlier than 3:30 pm, there are several nearby boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Check out the Things to Do page.
Yes, please check out the Things to Do page.
Smokin' Blue BBQ will serve a buffet of pulled chicken, pulled pork, brisket and sides (mac n cheese, potato salad, green beans, cornbread). If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know when you RSVP or email Kathryn at kathryntmccarty@gmail.com. For dessert, we will have a sweets table with cake, lemon tarts, chocolate dipped strawberries, macarons, and cannoli from Blackbird Bakery, a local Burlington favorite.
Yes, of course! This is Wisconsin after all! There'll be an open bar for guests to enjoy throughout the cocktail hour and reception (4:30 pm to 11:45 pm), however, we do recommend bringing cash or a credit card along for tipping and/or if you plan to attend any after-party, as drinks after the reception won't necessarily be covered. Drink Wisconsibly!
If you miss the deadline to reserve a room in our block, reach out to the hotel and mention our wedding anyway—they may be able to accommodate you with our discount in a room outside of our block. If not, you can find additional nearby accommodations on our Travel page.
Milwaukee (45 minutes) or O'Hare (1 hour) are closest to the wedding venue.
Weather permitting, we have reserved nearby Tuckwell Park on Browns Lake in Burlington for Saturday, June 20 for anyone who is in town and would like to join in a casual lake day. We have a house on the channel/lake (3031 Knollcrest Dr., Burlington, WI 53105) and will have the pontoon boat and multiple kayaks and a canoe (and life vests) available for use. If you will be attending, please bring your swimsuit, towel and sunscreen. Please let Kathryn (kathryntmccarty@gmail.com) know if you are interested in attending so we can plan accordingly. We will also send a separate Evite to those who will be attending the wedding closer to the date.