Short but so Sweet: Tying the Knot in Tripp
Newlywed Dan and Kristin Geil all smiles on the balcony of Tripp Commons. Photo courtesy of Dan and Kristin Geil.
Kristin and Dan Geil could not have imagined having wed anywhere else than Memorial Union. As lifetime alumni members of the Union it was a place where they met, spent time and grew together.
On Saturday afternoon, December 13, Kristin and Dan gathered with their four closest friends in the Tripp Commons Ballroom, to engage in a brief yet intimate ceremony followed by a champagne toast with pictures on the balcony overlooking the Terrace and Lake Mendota.
“The Union is one of our favorite places regardless of the season,” Kristin said. “It was the first thought as we have spent so much time there and it has become a part of our lives.”
Dan and Kristin are alumni of UW-Madison (’09) and after both working in Gordon Commons, they were friends throughout their college experience. Dan began working in Madison immediately after graduating and Kristin moved to Chicago to attend graduate school.
“I missed Madison so much that I decided to pursue an internship for the summer because I knew this is where I wanted to return after graduation,” Kristin said. “After that summer, we dated for four and a half years so we knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Although the idea of a traditional wedding deterred the Geils from getting married, they then considered carrying out the ceremony in a casual, close environment. Kristin spoke positively about how familiar and comfortable the experience was.
The Geils now both reside in Madison and say the Union is best in the nice weather where they love to sit on the Terrace by the lake and watch either the sunsets, sailboats or WUD music concerts.
“It is so nice to see people of all different age groups spending time at the Terrace, not just college students,” Kristin said. “It is a true community location.”
Do you know anyone that got married at the Union? Tell us in the comments section below!
