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Camp Wedding and Baby

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Welcome to Day 5 of Wandawega Week!

Today I’m going to share a little bit about the friendly folks behind the oh-so-creative camp. David, Tereasa…and a sweet, little cherub-faced girl named Charlie.

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“Boy meets girl. Boy proposes. Boy suggests that they purchase his abandoned childhood summer camp to be wed at. Girl accepts on both counts.”

David and Tereasa’s wedding ceremony was held at Wandawega, atop a hill, and overlooking the lake. Tereasa, carried a bouquet of daisies, and her father, Tom, walked her down the aisle to Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” played on the guitar by Nicholas Barron. They hired a Nashville-based company called Hatchshow Print to create their wooden wedding invitations and silk-screened RSVP and Save-the-Date postcards. The invitation and RSVP cards were packaged inside a brown kraft-paper envelope, along with an old map of the Wandawega resort. The envelopes were secured with a gingham ribbon and fastened with a small embroidered patch.

Upon arrival, wedding guests were greeted by a 1955 Mercury Monterrey. The couple shares a love for vintage cars and motorcycles, so it was only fitting that they park one from their collection on the property. Next to the car, Tereasa placed a “D.H. + T.S.” sign, and surrounded it with pots bursting with bunches of daisies.

Even though the day was rain-filled, Tereasa and David still describe their wedding as being “the color of sunshine“. Partly because of all the yellow rain slickers, rain boots, and the abundance of daisies- but also because they believe that “sunshine is very much a state of mind“. (I whole-heartedly agree!)

Their vanilla wedding cake was decorated with buttercream icing and daisies. And, of course, no camp gathering would be complete without a bonfire, so following the reception, everyone gathered ’round to roast marshmallows, sing campfire songs, and enjoy the starry night in the woods.

*swoon*

Here are all the dreamy wedding deets:

Venue: Camp Wandawega; available for rental through Town and Country Locations
Stationery: Hatch Showprint
Band: Nicholas Barron Quartet
Photography: Chris Strong; Matthew Gore; Robert Jillson; Mitch Gordon; Landis Smithers
Cake & Catering: Rodney Oksuita, besteventscatering.com
Desserts & Brunch: Christine Busby of Busby Bakes
Daisy Wreath and Garlands: Pesche’s Greenhouse
Bride’s Dress: Jenny Lee

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Fast forward to nine months ago. David and Tereasa welcomed daughter, Charlie, to the world…

Tereasa created a woodsy-style nursery for her in their Chicago home…

…and another one at Camp Wandawega…

To create a paint-by-number (PBN) mural like the one above, Tereasa suggests searching eBay to find an old school PBN painting guide you love. Next, give each of the colors on it a number, and then match each number to a paint chip.

Once you’ve decided on your palette, take your paint chips to the paint store and buy ’em up, Buttercup! After that, use a projector to display your PBN guide onto the wall and begin tracing it out with a pencil.

Last but not least, fill in your numbers with the latex paint your purchased using a foam brush.

Tereasa also broke out her brush to brighten up a collection of old cuckoo clocks hanging on the wall in the Charlies Wandawega nursery…

Yesterday, I asked Tereasa about where she draws her inspiration from. She said…

“My inspiration is 3-fold:

1- Our biggest project yet, 9 month old Charliegirl

2- My dear (late) Dad, Tom (Turtle)

3- My freakishly patient husband, David.

Each of them has made me hyper-aware of just how fleeting life is, and that you have to chase down your dreams like a cheetah. My three muses inspire me daily to look at things with a lens of optimism, and quite simply, transforming the homes and spaces around my loved ones makes them happy, which makes me happy.”

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Outgoing and hospitable, David and Tereasa host a constant, rotating stream of visitors at Wandawega.

If you’d like to visit them and their magical camp, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a 2-night stay for you and a friend, (if you’re parents with kids, the little ones are welcome too!) and we’ll randomly select a winner on Sunday (August 14, 2011) at noon (Central Time). Your getaway will include a welcome gift basket and access to all that wonderful Wandawega has to offer. Think: peace and quiet, boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, etc. David and Tereasa will be in touch with you to see about which dates will work best for you, based on availability. Good luck and may the fun force be with you!

PS- If you missed any of this week’s Wandawega posts- you can find them here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Roy Merideth

    I stumbled across your blog and have been visiting daily! I absolutely love the photography and design of this site. I would love to win the honor of staying at Camp Wandawega with my beautiful wife. She is a speech pathologist who works with birth to pre-K kids. She’s also the wonderful mother to our two ornery children. If anyone deserves a little rest and relaxation, it is her. If we don’t win the trip, I’m sure we’ll look into coming up anyway.

  4. Heather

    Another Heather currently living in WI. Whether or not I win, I’m happy to know about lovely Camp Wandawega.

  5. Karrie Gee

    I LOVE the tree house….even pinned it on my board on pinterest!!!! I was just showing my boys this morning the tree house and they were freakin out….every little boys dream! Then I read this post and new I had to at least try!!! Happy camping!!!! 🙂

    Karrie Gee
    Nashville, TN

  6. jan

    Layla, thanks so much for the wonderful posts on the the camp. You did an amazing job – what a dreamy place. I woke up thinking about it this morning.

  7. Jessica Davenport

    The camp is beautiful and I love all of the history and family stories. Those are what makes a place come alive! Thank you for sharing! It would be amazing to stay there.

  11. Michele

    Oh my gosh! What a perfect place for a family vacation in the midwest! I hope we win. My little girls and big hubby would love it.

  12. Amy

    This looks like the most amazing place! They did an incredible job bringing it back to life. I would be honored and SOOOOOO excited to visit their place!!!

  13. Breanna

    I would love this getaway! My husband and I are both from Wisconsin. We now live in California, but would love a reason to go back….particularly for a relaxing weekend at this awesome location!!!

  17. Sarah C

    Thanks for sharing Wandawega with us. I love the story and idea of it. Although our vision of it would look different, my husband and I have actually drawn out ideas for a remote gathering place with little cottages where we could welcome and host family and friends for weekend gatherings, I like to think that we can make it a reality one day. ~ Sarah

  18. Tracy R

    What an amazing gift some lucky soul is going to win. Over the moon is how I’d be if it was my family! Layla thank you thank you for sharing Wandawega with us this past week — knowing this places exists just makes me happy…

  19. Sarah

    I’m not a camper. My idea of “roughing it” is a bumpy road to the Holiday Inn.
    I have to say, after all these great post, I would so love to meet this couple!

    And, it looks like even the tents are up off the ground, so I’m sure I’d be fine 🙂

  22. Patricia Elsberry

    What a wonderful gift for someone. It was a delight to view today. August is the month both of children passed away with Cystic Fibrosis. Today was 14 years ago today and August 1st was 2 years for my son. I spent my morning pulling weeds and grass from my neglected flower beds thanking Gos for getting me out today in the fresh air. Life is good. This a place to put on your bucket list.
    Thanks
    Pat.

  25. Diane

    I have followed your blog for a couple of years now and always love your ideas…thanks for all the inspiration. And your postings this week are no different….I have fallen in love! As soon as I get off work, I’m headed to the bookstore for copies of “A very Modest Cottage” and “Found, Free & Flea”. Their camp is a real treasure…I’d love, love, love to spend some time there!

  26. Jill McB

    This place looks amazing! I love all of the character that is has and the stories behind it. Great series of posts!

  28. Trish

    Wow, I’m constantly amazed with what people do with their lives. This has been very inspiring. Wondering if there are any camps available for sale here in Oregon. Not that I have the gumption or talent to restore one this way!:-)

  29. Lisa

    oh dear!! yes please. 🙂 🙂 i have a 9-month old sweetie just like that.

    so fun! thanks for the giveaway!

  31. Heather N

    I would love to win the getaway. What a wonderful chance to connect to the great outdoors as well as appreciate great indoor decor. Thanks!

  33. erin vega

    i am having a complete love affair with all of these Wandawega posts. It is hands down the most inspiring and beautiful and lovely and… (shall i go on??) *sigh*..most wonderful thing i’ve seen ever.

  34. Sally

    Sooooo cute, I love the old camp style, bonfires, all of it! I would be thrilled to enjoy their world for a get-a-way!

  36. frances

    I would love to win this trip I went to there website and it was wonderful..Love the idea of the paint by numbers Thanks for the posts on this I think I will go winner or not. Frances

  37. Keri Sheckler

    Camping can be fun and sophisticated. A couple of nights there would be amazing!

  41. Brenda

    I loved reading the history of such a lovely place, how beautiful and peaceful! I just retired, my husband and I both love outdoors and would so enjoy this getaway.

  42. Susan

    Wow! You can tell all the love that has gone into to creating their magical place on earth. What a dream. It has inspired me to get busy on the little woodshed out back.

    It would be awesome to see this in person. Thanks for sharing.

  48. Bethany Tee

    I have really enjoyed the week-long feature. My husband and I live in the Chicago-land area and just had baby #3 (a day ago!)….we’d love to spend some time at this incredible oasis up north with our 2 girls and newest addition to the family – a baby boy.

  49. Riley

    Oh my! way to win a girl’s heart. Imagine the surprise…hunny, we’re going away for awhile! We could use an escape.