North Star: Dayna & Charlie

April Pollington April Pollington | January 30, 2024 | Wedding Features,

A Chicago couple returns home to Wisconsin for a romantic Door County destination wedding.

DAYNA & CHARLIE

MAY 27, 2023

SISTER BAY, WISC.

Photographed by Kristina Lorraine

When Dayna James, the former director of marketing for DineAmic Hospitality, posted an Instagram story about the launch of Public House’s famous cake shake in 2018, Charlie McGinn replied. “He invited me to dinner at Gilt Bar and the rest is history,” Dayna says.

Though their love story began in Chicago, their wedding was an ode to Wisconsin. “We both grew up traveling to Door County during the summer, and it was also the first trip we took together,” Dayna says. “Bringing our friends and family to this place for our wedding weekend was the best decision.”

Their 198 guests sipped Spotted Cow during the ceremony, then moved into a stunning barn for a rustic-chic reception overrun with baby’s breath and towering cherry blossom arrangements. The couple called up Windy City band The Chicago Players to entertain; it was a 13-piece band, plus one more when Dayna’s brother joined for a surprise drum set to “Mr. Brightside.”

And then, the Wisconsin cherry on top: “We had trolleys shuttle our guests to a famous dive bar, Husby’s, when the reception was over,” Dayna says. “It was the perfect ending to the perfect Wisconsin night.”