Hanah & Josh's Wedding | Camp Hosea Couples

It was March 2023 when Josh arrived at Salem Lutheran School for an accreditation visit. Neither expected this routine workday to spark a life-changing connection, but as soon as Josh stepped into Hanah's first-grade classroom, he was captivated by her stunning eyes and confident teaching style.

For Hanah, the moment wasn’t as glamorous—she was mid-email, juggling classroom tasks, and trying to keep her cool under the pressure of accreditation. Yet, the spark was undeniable. During a teacher interview session later that day, Hanah’s leadership and eloquence caught Josh’s attention again. The seeds of their love story were planted, nurtured by the shared conviction that their meeting was part of God’s perfect plan.

Fast forward to December 2023, and Josh had an unforgettable surprise up his sleeve. Hanah was eager for an engagement, but Josh kept his plans a closely guarded secret. With the help of Hanah’s mom and sister, he orchestrated a day of birthday adventures in Chicago, culminating in a magical moment at Lincoln Park’s Honeycomb art display.

When Josh surprised Hanah on the boardwalk, her reaction was priceless. Her jaw dropped in shock as he knelt down and asked her to marry him. Her family’s joy and the wintry Chicago backdrop made the proposal picture-perfect, solidifying a memory they’ll cherish forever.

Hanah and Josh’s wedding was nothing short of a reflection of their personalities and passions. They chose a warm and inviting color palette of terracotta, sage green, creams, khaki, and gold. Their theme was simply “them,” with thoughtful details that highlighted their love story.

  • Family Traditions: Hanah’s dad officiated the ceremony, and the couple shared communion with bread and wine chosen by close family friends. Psalm 23, a Menke family tradition, was sung by Hanah’s brothers to unite their families in a beautiful moment of harmony.
  • Personal Details: As dedicated teachers, they included many children in their celebration, including a flower girl from Hanah’s class and Josh’s nephew as the ring bearer. Guests enjoyed a coffee cart named after their beloved dog, Kobe, while wedding favors featured honey from a family in Josh’s teaching community, blending Hanah’s love for bees with Josh’s connections.
  • Playful Surprises: The reception featured custom basketball jerseys and stat cards for the bridal party, a nod to Josh’s coaching background.

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Hanah and Josh knew they had found their perfect venue during their first tour of Camp Hosea. The serene lakeside chapel, thoughtful architectural details, and exceptional staff won their hearts. They couldn’t help but compare every other venue to Camp Hosea, which always came out on top.

A quote from the couple: "We had to hold a tournament bracket for the many beautiful venues we found. Camp Hosea made it down to the final four, which meant we would tour it. Camp Hosea was actually the first of the final four venues that we toured. We were sold by the end of the tour, but thought we needed to go look at the other venues on our list. We ended up touring two of the remaining 3 venues and couldn’t stop comparing everything to what we loved about Camp Hosea! We love how they put so much intention into the details while building Camp Hosea into a beautiful venue (like the lakeside view in the chapel, the fact that they brought in actual acoustic engineers to ensure the best sound in the chapel, the west side facing windows were smaller to prevent sneak peeks of the bride before the proper time/the glare from the setting sun, etc…)"

We are so glad that Hanah and Josh choose to get married here!!

The day itself was a dream. From the stunning décor to the heartfelt ceremony, every moment was infused with love and joy. One of the most touching highlights was their last dance as husband and wife—a private, intimate moment that felt like the perfect ending to a perfect day.

  • Photographer + Videographer | Faith & Fire Photography @faithandfire
  • Planner/Coordinator | Kerry Jackson
  • Caterer | Napa Flats - College Station @napaflats
  • Transportation | Royal Coach Classic Limousine Services
  • Honeymoon | Cancun
  • Hair | Glow + Grace Artistry - Stylist: Rubi
  • Jewelry + Accessories | Altar’d State (monogram “j” tennis bracelet and crystal linear dangle earrings) + Olive  & Piper (Ilse necklace - gold)
  • Registry | The Knot (Amazon, Target, West Elm, Anthropologie)

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