The Lyonses kept it local with their choice in ring designer. Caitlyn’s ring set, pictured here, was custom made at The Jeweler’s Bench in Hudson, Wisconsin. Photos: Tonya Hjort Photography
Elegant details and a focus on the guest experience define a couple’s hometown wedding.
Western Wisconsin is a special place to Caitlyn (née Cody) and Dalton Lyons. Born-and-raised St. Croix County residents (Caitlyn is from Baldwin; Dalton is from Somerset.), the pair met through mutual friends at a local softball game. An immediate, organic connection formed, and Dalton proposed while on a four-wheeler ride near the family cabin. Under a canopy of green on the winding River Road north of St. Croix Falls, Dalton pulled over and got down on one knee.
The ceremony took place on the lush lawn at La Pointe Events in Somerset, Wisconsin, overlooking a bend in the Apple River.
From the start, the pair knew they wanted to keep their nuptials close to home. As soon as they toured La Pointe Events in Somerset, owned by their family friends Brock and Liz Montpetit, the Lyonses were smitten. With a strong vision for their timeless black-tie nuptials, Caitlyn thought the venue’s modern structures and natural beauty would be an ideal backdrop for their day.
On May 17, 2025, the pair tied the knot on the bank of the Apple River, surrounded by their 195 guests. Both Caitlyn and Dalton walked down the aisle in white. Caitlyn donned a satin cowl neck gown by Le Blanc; Dalton, inspired by his father’s wedding attire, wore a white tuxedo jacket with a black lapel. The wedding party stood alongside them in all black.
Marquee letters lit up the night at the Lyonses’ reception, pairing beautifully with the venue’s twinkle-light-laden trees.
Guest experience was a top priority for the Lyonses, and they added fun, custom elements to their day. The cocktail hour, immediately following the ceremony, was a focus for the couple. “I think that [cocktail hour] can kind of make or break the guest experience,” Caitlyn says. The newlyweds were able to receive all of their guests individually following the ceremony, “then also get a cocktail, be able to eat and then roam around and socialize,” she says. Appetizers of Italian Tortellini Skewers and Spinach Artichoke Cups were served to the guests, who chatted and mingled while the rich timbre of a live violin swept softly through the venue.
Caitlyn and Dalton Lyons knew they wanted to incorporate their favorite cocktail into their wedding reception. This Espresso Martini luge by Minnesota Ice proved a memorable addition to the day.
As guests filtered into the reception space and took their seats, they were treated to personal Chocolate Fudge Mini Cakes at their place settings featuring vanilla frosting and decorative black bows to complement the couple’s two-tier red velvet cutting cake. When the wedding party joined the reception, they introduced a distinctive element that celebrated the Lyons’ love for Espresso Martinis—a monogrammed ice luge by Minnesota Ice. For the rest of the night, guests could enjoy Espresso Martinis prepared by La Point’s bartenders, then chilled and poured into a glass via ice luge.
Complete with black bows and detailed piping, the red velvet cutting cake by Hey There Cupcake mirrored the personalized mini cakes that adorned each guest’s place setting.
Caitlyn joined Dalton on the checkered dance floor for their first dance as newlyweds in her second gown, another satin La Blanc dress with a halter neck and a cascading ribbon down the back. As Dalton lifted Caitlyn into the air for a spin, planner Kenzie Heckmann cued the sparklers, delighting the guests. “The lift wasn’t planned. That was just kind of like a spur-of-the-moment thing,” Caitlyn says.
The Lyonses wanted to enjoy each element of their day to the fullest and credit their coordinator, Kenzie Heckmann, and other vendors for making that possible.
The Lyonses also decided on a unique alternative to a guest book: playing cards. Guests were encouraged to select and sign a playing card of their choice; the couple will be able to use and enjoy this special deck for years to come. “Dalton and his family love to play cards, and so we just kind of thought it was fitting,” Caitlin says. Even the late-night details were planned to perfection, with a custom Lyons sign from Alpha-Lit Marquee Letters and pizzas served with custom boxes.
In lieu of a traditional guestbook, the Lyonses opted to have guests sign individual playing cards. These notes and names will be a part of game nights for years to come.
“The day as a whole couldn’t have come together any better,” Dalton says. Giving kudos to the event’s vendors, Caitlin adds, “Everybody coming together to make the day what it was, it was just amazing.”
Vendors
- Desserts: Hey There Cupcake, heytherecupcake.com
- DJ: Aaron Strawn, djaa.live
- Content Creation, Event Planning, Printing and Rentals: Kenzie Heckmann Events, kenzieheckmannevents.com
- Florals: Hive & Hollow, hiveandhollow.earth
- Hair: Samantha B Styles, Instagram: @sammibstyles
- Ice Luge: Minnesota Ice, minnesota-ice.com
- Jewelry: The Jeweler’s Bench, jewelersbenchhudson.com
- Lighted Reception Signage: Alpha-Lit Marquee Letters, alphalitletters.com
- Makeup: The Beauty Collective, thebeautycollective.com
- Officiant: Brits & Brides, britsandbrides.com
- Photography: Tonya Hjort Photography, tonyahjortphoto.com
- Venue and Catering: La Pointe Events, lapointeevents.com
- Videography: Tim Thornburg Films, timthornburg.com
- Wedding Wear: Bella Bridal Boutique, bellabridalboutique.com; Milbern Clothing Co., milbern.com
