By Lora Kaelber Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jul 23, 2017 at 11:56 AM

After Day Two’s incredible happenings, it was hard to imagine that Day Three of Country Thunder could get any better. But by only 1 p.m., the day has already seen the penultimate of weddings: hillybilly, Country Thunder style.

The invitation read: "You are cordially invited to the biggest event in Country Thunder history – the union in holy matrimony of Mr. Billy Badass [and] Ms. Gognwow. Bring your red solo cup (BYOB) and a friend."

I mean, seriously, who could pass that up?

So we grabbed a golf cart and headed for the campgrounds. First, I have to say, the mud out there was beyond the mother of all mud – at least six inches thick, slimy, sloppy and very likely mixed with manure. Not exactly the scene you’d picture for much beyond … well, nothing.

We arrived at Team Ramrod’s campground and were mesmerized by the transformation of the campground into a wedding chapel. They’d erected a canopy, and someone had built a small chapel. Just really cool. The aisle was about 12-feet worth of Bud Light cases.

In an interview with best man, Gopher, he said that, "Four years ago, Billy Badass and Gognwow (pronounced "gog-n-wow," a nickname whose explanation is not fit to say) said if we’re not married four years from now, we’re getting married at Country Thunder. It’s four years later, and it’s happening today." The bride said that Mr. Badass proposed to her three years ago at Country Thunder. She said that she wanted to get married at Country Thunder because everyone is like family. She was astounded at the turn out – about 50 people.

The couple was married by Red, a great friend and, by Friday via the internet, an ordained minister. There was a flower girl who tossed Bud Light bottle caps in lieu of flowers. The ring bearer transported a blow-up turtle with the rings attached to the top (I’m told Myrtle the Turtle was a long-time Country Thunder mascot).

The bride was walked down the aisle by a friend. Her dress was short and white. She, of course, wore cowboy boots. Her veil was adorned with Bud Light bottle caps and Bud Light cans. Her bouquet – complete with red, white and blue streamers – was a creative configuration of Bud Light cans. I mean, come on, how can you not love this couple?

The bride and groom shared very … creative vows, which included the groom declaring that, prior to about a week ago, he didn’t know what a [expletive] vow was. He did, though, go on to swear to be the greatest man to the bride and her family, and that he’d be there through the best and scariest of times. There were, of course, appropriately off-color references about unmentionables.

The bride went on to say that her groom far surpassed any dreams she had of her man. Through tears she said, "I was sinking, and you kept me afloat and accepted me for the trashiest [expletive] that I am." After the requisite kiss of the bride, the groom threw her over his shoulder and carried her back down the aisle.

It was endearing in that way that you really don’t expect – being married among a family of strangers, in the mud, where they first met.  

Country Thunder presented the couple with champagne, as well as a meet-and-greet with Thomas Rhett before his headlining show Saturday night. The bride screamed, and it was a little hard to tell in that moment whether she was excited to be newly married or to be meeting Thomas Rhett tonight.

The reception came later, after Rhett’s show. The invite requested you to bring your own hot dogs for "Hotdog Escapades" (*raises eyebrow*).

I think every couple hopes their wedding will be remembered for a long, long time. And for sure, this is one that every guest will remember for probably forever.

We are country. This is us. This is who we are – getting married with Garth Brooks’ "Friends in Low Places" playing in the background.  

Lora Kaelber Special to OnMilwaukee.com
Moving to Milwaukee in 1998, Lora quickly adapted to and embraced big city living. A graduate of Carthage College and Marquette University Law School, Lora clerked for the Hon. Diane Sykes at the Wisconsin Supreme Court, worked as a litigator in private practice, and most recently was employed as a development officer for the MACC Fund.

In all of her experiences, time was focused on writing which has been a passion since junior high school. A series of food service industry jobs both before and after law school taught her that bringing out the human side in any story is key to great storytelling and good writing.

A die-hard east side girl, you'll usually find Lora down by the lake or on the Oakleaf. She's an avid photographer, and sometimes storm chaser.

Hobbies include biking, gardening, cross country skiing, swimming, blogging, and of course working on her fictionalized autobiography--fictionalized, because whose life is really interesting enough to fill 400 pages?

She's in IMDb. Look her up.