A Gorgeous Summer Wedding at a Hidden Gem in the Mountains

Their Story

Dawn and Ryan wed on July 30, 2023 at Rock Island Lake Club in Sparta. The couple met in 2020 on a dating app. “I instantly felt like something was different just based on how easy our conversation flowed. Our first date went beyond my expectations—hours upon hours of deep laughs and great conversation,” she says.

The Proposal

“Throughout our relationship, one of our favorite things to do together was go to Island Beach State Park,” says Dawn. “We would always set up our tripod to get some pictures of the two of us with the sunrise behind us, and in the middle of taking pictures on the morning of May 30, 2022, Ryan surprised me by pulling out the ring box and asking me to marry him. Needless to say that I, in tears, said yes.”

Choosing the Venue

The couple picked Rock Island Lake Club because “it had the perfect blend of the outdoors with a modern and refined rustic vibe,” says Dawn. “It not only felt like it fit our personalities but also was a bit of a hidden gem in the mountains. We loved the private lakeside setting and the indoor/outdoor areas for guests to enjoy throughout the night.”

Details of the Day

The couple envisioned their wedding as a romantic garden flowing with lush colorful flowers, draping greenery and soft candlelight. “We wanted every corner to feature our favorite flowers–garden roses, ranunculus, and peonies—complemented by the warm glow of floating candles,” says Dawn.

“Embracing our venue’s long, rustic banquet-style tables, our design included alternating between a lush canopy of cascading florals with lower arrangements, creating texture throughout the space. We also incorporated a soft, neutral color palette throughout the rest of our wedding to create a dreamy, romantic ambiance for our special day.”

Instead of a traditional guest book, the couple asked guests to write notes on the pieces of a large Jenga set that they’d be able to read and play for years to come.

They incorporated their dog, Sully, into different elements throughout the day: a little sculpture of him beside the cake, custom cocktail napkins with his face, and a signature drink named after him.

Dawn and Ryan also incorporated their love of Disney into their special day. “I grew up obsessed with The Little Mermaid and Ryan is a big Disney fan as well so I surprised everyone by walking down the aisle to Kiss the Girl by Brent Morgan. For our first dance song we decided on one where all the lyrics hit just right—Growing Old With You by Restless Road.

Favors were scratch-off lottery tickets to honor Ryan’s late grandmother. “She used to tuck them under everyone’s dinner plates on holidays for everyone to enjoy,” the bride says. “It was a small gesture that brought her tradition into the celebration.”

“Incorporating our love for family was very important to both of us,” says Dawn. “Our entire bridal party, including 10 children, was composed of family members.”

For the ceremony, a Mets hat was placed on an empty chair as a simple tribute to Ryan’s late father and a reminder of his presence in spirit. Dawn shared a special dance with her grandmother during the reception and their family joined in to surround us on the dance floor. Some other details included a hairpin from Dawn’s great grandmother that was wrapped on her bouquet alongside charms of pictures of my late grandparents, a memorial pin that Ryan wore in his suit jacket with pictures of his late father and grandparents, and the sixpence for inside Dawn’s shoe that her mother-in-law gifted to her—passed down from Ryan’s great grandmother.

Aisle Style

Dawn’s getting-ready robe was crafted from her own mother’s wedding gown. Her mom presented it to her as a gift at her bridal shower. Wearing it that day reminded me about the life they built together and now we have this beautiful heirloom that we can continue to pass on,” Dawn says.

Her wedding gown, a fitted sheath style by Martina Liana, was adorned with 3D floral embellishments and sparkling beading that glistened in the sun, as well as an illusion scoop back and semi-sheer bodice. She added a custom matching overskirt that provided her with versatility for both the ceremony and the reception.

As for Ryan, he stood out from the groomsmen in a suit in slightly brighter slate blue compared to their navy ones. His jacket was lined with a faint camouflage print and his name was embroidered on the inside. He also opted to pass on a regular dress shoe and instead chose a chestnut-colored ostrich leather cowboy boot.

Favorite Moment

“Definitely our first look,” says Dawn. “I couldn’t wait to see Ryan and spend the rest of the day together.” “Also, keeping my dress a secret from him had to be the hardest thing about wedding planning!”

“Another favorite moment happened towards the end of the night when we had a few late night to-go stations. On one side we had a McDonald’s drive-through with hamburgers, cheeseburgers, nuggets and fries, and on the other side was brick-oven wood-fired pizza being served made to order or hot and ready. Ryan and I kicked off the stations by feeding each other cheeseburgers the same way as when we cut our cake.

Detail They Couldn’t Live Without

“The one thing we couldn’t live without was being surrounded by our loved ones when we said ‘I do,'” Dawn says. “Even though our wedding was more than we could have dreamed of, at the end of the day all that matters is that we had each other and were able to share it with the people who loved us most.”

Advice for Other Couples

“Take a few moments throughout the day to take it all in. The day will fly by faster than you could ever prepare for.”

Honeymoon 

The couple traveled to Moorea and Bora Bora in French Polynesia for two week, taking in the stunning views and incredible lagoon, swimming freely with sharks, riding ATVs around the islands, and trying out all the restaurants.