Photos: Anna Ko Photography
Wayzata wedding is wrapped in a couple’s classic aesthetic—with a bow.
Lilli (née Krelitz) and Kieran Knightly had a few lake-life centric reasons for having their June wedding ceremony miles away from Hoboken, New Jersey, where they now call home.
“We picked Lake Minnetonka and Wayzata because of our love of water activities, boating and lakes specifically,” says Lilli, formerly of Minnetonka. “I grew up on the water as did my whole family. CōV was the first restaurant I took Kieran [formerly of Chatham, New Jersey] when he came to Minnesota for the first time, so naturally, it would be where we had our first look before the ceremony.”
Bridesmaids were styled in long, black dresses of their choosing, and the bride gifted them with bow and pearl earrings, dovetailing with the (British brand) Jo Malone theme. In classic men’s fashion, the groom and groomsmen donned black tuxedos with black bow ties. The bride presented the groom, groomsmen, fathers of the couple, grandfather of the bride and the officiant with custom black, suede kippots with their initials embroidered in white.
Joining the couple, 110 guests gathered at The Hotel Landing in Wayzata, for the ceremony, held on the Great Lawn in front of the hotel—and steps away from Lake Minnetonka. The bride’s brother, Benjamin Krelitz, officiated, and the couple blended Jewish ceremony traditions with their “own personal spin,” Lilli says.
A classic black and white color story was carried through the wedding wear, dessert and, as shown here, the invitation suite.
A wedding day is filled with a bouquet of memorable moments with some standing alone, tucked into the couple’s hearts. Once the ceremony concluded, Lilli and Kieran took a unique opportunity to steal away for time alone. “The moment we loved the most was the break we had for just the two of us after the ceremony,” Lilli says. The couple were driven in the hotel’s luxury car to an intimate lakeside picnic for two with cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres and Champagne. “We practiced our first dance and just got to take a big deep breath together,” she says.
The couple rejoined their guests for cocktails, including Dew Drop Margaritas and Classic Old Fashioneds. The cocktail hour featured Asiago Crusted Chicken Sorrentino Skewers; Watermelon on a Spoon; Fried Goat Cheese and Grilled Peaches; Sesame Ahi Tuna; and Mango and Avocado Crispy Wontons.
A three-tiered cake, constructed with two layers of vanilla cake with amaretto filling and a chocolate cake with Baileys Irish Cream filling, was elegantly created by Buttercream Cakes & Desserts of Wayzata. In addition, Knead My Bread, owned by the bride’s aunt Lori Krelitz, served beautiful cookies as a special gift to the couple.
For the reception in The Hotel Landing’s Wayzata Ballroom, guests were guided to designated tables, each with a smalll carafe, holding a single white rose, with a handwritten name card attached. The carafes were from the same restaurant depot company started by Lilli’s great-grandfather. “They were full of sand from [Hurricane] Katrina when we picked them up, so the fact they’ve survived is pretty incredible,” she says.
As dinner service commenced, an amuse-bouche, courtesy of executive chef Jorge Cielo, was followed by Mixed Berry Salad with baby bib and romaine lettuce, watercress, shaved fennel berries, onion and Champagne vinaigrette. Entrees included Grilled Beef Tenderloin, joined by wild mushrooms, demi-glace, smashed baby red potatoes and grilled asparagus; Pan Fried Walleye was accompanied by lemon-caper beurre blanc, wild rice pilaf and charred broccolini; or Ricotta Gnocchi with butternut squash, Swiss chard and brown-butter sage.
With Lake Minnetonka as the only other guest, the bride and groom took a moment to themselves after the nuptials to toast their new beginning.
The personalized, curated spirit of the wedding wove its way through the evening and continued as Flower Power by Greta Van Fleet served as the soundtrack to the couple’s first dance.
… As the days pass by my mind
Are the wrong, the right, you are my sunshine
And as the night begins to die
We are the morning birds that sing against the sky.
Purchased in WONA NYC the bride wore a sheath wedding dress, designed by Eva Lendel, crafted from glossy satin fabric with a deep V and halter-style neckline with a backless design. The pièce de résistance might be the decorative train, which flowed from the neckline to the floor.
The Early Chapters
Lilli and Kieran Knightly live in Hoboken, New Jersey, but their story began in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2016, after spending a semester studying in Spain, Lilli returned to Wake Forest University, where Kieran was in his sophomore year.
The duo crossed paths, dated for about eight years and were engaged over St. Patrick’s Day weekend 2024 in New York City. To start the week, Kieran arranged a manicure appointment for an unsuspecting Lilli. That Saturday, the couple went to meet friends for brunch, which was a ruse; Kieran had other plans. Future plans.
“On the way down to the train, Kieran suggested we walk out to Pier 10 to look out on the city,” Lilli says. “As I was looking out, he got down on one knee and proposed.” A photographer was on hand to capture the moment, and Kieran also arranged an intimate engagement party with friends at an Irish pub later that evening to mark the occasion. “St. Patrick’s Day is my favorite holiday, and this was the best one ever,” Lilli says.
Vendors
- Day of Coordination: Lasting Impressions Weddings, lastingimpressionsweddings.com
- Desserts: Buttercream Cakes & Desserts, buttercream.info; Knead My Bread, kneadmybread@gmail.com
- Florals: Lilia Flower Boutique, liliaflower.com
- Hair and Makeup: Lady Vamp Artistry, ladyvampartistry.com
- Jewelry: John Paradiso Jewelry, johnparadisojewelry.com
- Music: Studio Veil Wedding Services, studioveil.com
- Photography: Anna Ko Photography, annakophoto.com
- Transportation: City View & White Knight Limousine Service, awhiteknightlimo.com
- Venue: The Hotel Landing, thehotellanding.com
- Videography: Story of Us Films, storyofusfilms.com
- Wedding Wear: J.Hilburn, jhilburn.com; Woná, wonabridal.com
