Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/63981
A Chic Photographed by Paper Antler When it came to entertaining a proposal from Spencer Striker, Gillian Morgan likes to joke about her high expectations. "I told Spencer I wanted elephants, a marching band and a fl ash mob to accom- pany any proposal of marriage aimed in my direction," she recalls with whimsy. But Spencer knew his wife-to-be well, and planned a more casual proposal, get- ting down on one knee while the pair lounged on trip to Detroit. Th e simplicity of the gesture was, quite simply, perfect. To plan their big day, the pair stayed true Soire� Summe� Inside the century-old Cooksville Community Center, which provided a cool respite for guests, the bridal party scribbled well-wishes for the happy couple. to their casual nature by creating an event that was high on style in the most simple of ways. Settled on throwing a summer soi- ree, they looked to rural Wisconsin to set the scene for a relaxed tent wedding near the rolling cornfi elds of Cooksville. Th e logistics of celebrating in the out- A white tent adjacent to a one- room schoolhouse provided ample shade for a lighthearted celebration and a great view of a late summer sunset. doors proved to be no issue. Just steps from the tent, which held both the ceremony and reception, sat a one-room school- house, adding an old-world touch perfect for this vintage clothing dealer and her groom. Outside, the tent was adorned with natural centerpieces and whimsical white balloons. Paired with crafty details such as the hand-painted vintage frames that served as a backdrop for their vows and a soft color scheme of off-whites and yel- lows, it was a day that proved simple, sweet and totally them. But about those high expectations? Well, Gillian has a plan. "If he ever does want to get me an ele- phant, we've got a lifetime of anniversaries ahead of us," she adds with a grin. Gillian is the daughter of Jackie and Jeff Morgan. Spencer is the son of Linda Stan- dridge and Albert Santopietro. The pair re- sides in Madison where Gillian is a student and vintage dealer, and Spencer is a profes- sor at UW-Whitewater and a Ph.D. student at UW-Madison. 54 BRAVA Magazine March 2012