Hilary and Cory

Surrounded by dozens of roses on a brisk fall evening, Cory got down on one knee behind a candle-lit “Marry Me?” and asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him.  We decided on a New Year’s wedding and, although many considered us ridiculous for planning a winter wedding in Minnesota, we wouldn’t change anything about our day. Wearing my bridal gown, with its elegant beading and classic lines, I’ll never forget the look in Cory’s eyes when he saw me walking down the stairs at the Plummer house, where we met for the first time to take pictures. Unique Touch Photography captured our warmth for each other despite the cold January day. Someone told me that it looked like a close friend took our photographs, since they so intimately represented us. We were married during a candlelight church ceremony and celebrated with a reception of dinner and dancing at the Ramada Hotel.  The ambiance merged simplicity and elegance with a modern twist.   The theme was black and white. We added silver and frosted accents throughout and transformed the ballroom into an enchanting winter wonderland with soft, white floral centerpieces lit at the base, floating candles, and white draping throughout.  The bouquets were calla lilies simply wrapped. To add to the wintery theme, we opted out of a traditional wedding cake and replaced it with a stunning ice sculpture that had our initials engraved on it. The Ramada provided us with a classic 1931 Rolls Royce limo for transportation and photographs. We had a hot chocolate bar with specialty coffees that warmed up our guests and added a personal touch showing our love for coffee.   The room looked gorgeous, the flowers were stunning, the food was wonderful, the photos were incredible—though I may forget these things someday, I’ll never, ever, forget the way Cory’s eyes twinkled as we stood in front of all our friends and families and vowed our lives to one another.  BUSINESSES: The Creative Side (Decor), Le Jardin (Floral), Ramada Hotel and Conference Center (Reception), and Unique Touch Photography (Photography).     Rochester, MN

2010-01-24T14:53:05+00:00

19 hilary_and_cory Unique Touch Photography 1

2010-01-02

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Hilary and Cory

2010-01-24T15:16:45+00:00

I’m just a small town girl, and he’s a city boy. Despite our differences, we fell in love. Peter proposed under snow-filled skies in Vail, Colo., with our families present. For our wedding, we highlighted and integrated our differences, especially our Asian-American backgrounds.  Our rehearsal dinner was held at the Stone Barn at Mayowood. We feasted on barbeque and then sat on blankets to watch a slideshow of our lives and munch on popcorn under the stars. The barn was the perfect location. We were married inside it the next day, under the beautiful arches, with a cool breeze blowing through the open windows. The ceremony was simple and concluded with a string quartet rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. At that point, it was off to our reception at The Rochester Art Center under a shower of rose petals as we drove away.  The art center was beautifully decorated in black and white, with accent of lime green. Our guests mingled to soft, classical jazz music and enjoyed tasty and unique appetizers. The lounge areas, both inside and outside, provided the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new acquaintances.  Prior to dinner, our siblings, best man, and maid of honor graced us with the most amazing toasts. The best man’s included a picture of Peter in eighth grade strategically placed under each guest’s chair. Each speech was heartfelt and ended with us in tears. Following the toasts, dinner was served—an amazing blend of Asian and American fare. After, we cut our four-tiered, marble cake with white fondant and leaf impressions. Then, we showed off our new dancing skills with our first dance to “Fly Me to the Moon,” by Frank Sinatra. Our perfect wedding was completed by dancing the night away to an upbeat musical assortment by our live band.  BUSINESSES: Catering by Design (Catering), Mayowood Stone Barn (Ceremony and Rehearsal Dinner), Daube's Bakery (Cake), Everyday Bouquet (Floral), Weddings by Nancy (Invitations, Wedding Planning & Design), Incognito (Band), Olive Juice Studios (Photography), and Rochester Art Center (Reception).   Rochester, MN

2010-01-24T14:35:49+00:00

17 laura_and_peter Olive Juice Studios 2

2009-05-30

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Laura and Peter

2010-01-24T15:16:31+00:00

The day Craig proposed was one of the happiest days of my life. That night, he took me on a bit of a wild goose chase that ended at a marina in Lake Geneva. He rented a speedboat, and we cruised into a shadow-glazed circle under an admiring willow tree. In his romantic style, Craig read me a poem. He blew me away when he later got down on one knee to ask me to marry him.  When it came to planning our wedding, it was difficult as Craig and I lived in Milwaukee. Luckily, my wonderful mother helped us out every step of the way. I found the dress of my dreams while in Chicago. While searching for bridesmaid’s dresses, I fell in love with tiffany blue dresses to accent the red roses we were using. When our wedding day arrived, it was evident the planning paid off. Our ceremony was absolutely stunning. Craig’s aunt, who is the conductor/director of Bella Voce Young Women’s Choir in Rochester, blessed us with incredible music. A string quartet that included Craig’s cousin also played, and another of his cousins played flute at the church ceremony as well as during cocktail hour at the reception at Riverview Greens in Stewartville. The ambiance of our chosen venue was beautiful—including high, vaulting ceilings, a huge dance floor, and picturesque windows that line the front of the room overlooking the fountains. We complimented each table with red-rose centerpieces and the personalized picture frames used to identify the tables. When we decided to have a June wedding, I imagined a warm, sunny day typical of summer. Who would have thought that it actually was going to be pouring rain with a high of 53 degrees? Regardless of the unfortunate weather conditions, the day was wonderful, and we loved the beautiful and creative pictures our photographer took. The pictures were fantastic and inventive! Our photographer even had us stand on the median on Broadway Street in Rochester kissing underneath a blue and white umbrella as cars honked, and people yelled congratulations.  BUSINESSES: The Creative Side (Decor), Le Jardin (Floral), Mike Hardwick Photography (Photography), and Coolpics Productions (Videography). Rochester, MN

2010-01-24T14:40:41+00:00

18 melissa_and_craig Mike Hardwick Photography 3

2009-01-02

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Melissa and Craig

2010-01-24T14:40:41+00:00

Thanks to my older brother, I’ve attended the World Series of Beep Baseball, a sport for the visually impaired, since I was 14. Little did I know that I would meet my future husband at the 2007 World Series in Rochester. Many of the National Beep Baseball Association Board of Directors couldn’t fly in because of a major March snowstorm, but Steve made it from New York. When we met at dinner the night before the games, we had an immediate connection.  After, we stayed in touch and became good friends. I felt like I’d known Steve forever, and he made me laugh every day. He soon became the first person I spoke to every morning and the last person I spoke to every evening. We started dating, long-distance, at the end of June. Then, on Jan. 25, 2008, Steve proposed. I couldn’t wait to begin our new life together, but we had to figure out logistics. Since I have two young daughters from my first marriage, Steve agreed to move to Rochester.  Steve moved here in August 2008, we bought a house in September, and were married at the courthouse in November. My daughters, Maddie and Taylor, stood with us as we exchanged vows and happily told everyone that “we” (all four of us) had gotten married.   Though our close family was at our wedding, we wanted to celebrate with all of our friends and relatives so we had a May 2 reception at the Radisson. It started with a renewal ceremony, including Maddie and Taylor. It was beautiful, filled with love, and was a great way to start an amazing evening. We felt very blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people to share in our happiness! To add to that happiness, we welcomed a third baby girl, Kaylee, into our family on Sept. 28. Steve and I just can’t believe how lucky we are to have found each other and to have these three beautiful little girls. BUSINESSES: Special Day Designs (Decor), Radisson Hotel (Dessert), Le Jardin (Floral), Maley Photography (Photography), and Radisson Hotel (Reception).   Rochester, MN

2010-01-24T15:07:55+00:00

21 andrea_and_stephen Maley Photography 4

2008-11-21

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Andrea and Stephen

2010-01-24T15:16:21+00:00

September 14, 2008 My husband was born and raised a New Yorker. As we started planning our wedding, and decided on marrying in my hometown of Holmen, we became ecstatic about a “New York meets Wisconsin” wedding theme. Since Danny was an executive chef in New York City, we needed a venue where the food and ambiance would hold up to a New Yorker’s standard of excellence. From the moment we stepped into Drugan’s Castle Mound, we were convinced it was the perfect place to have the reception. September is the most beautiful time of year in Wisconsin, so we elected to have an outdoor ceremony then. Since Wisconsin is so far inland, we never dreamed Hurricane Ike would such a significant effect on our wedding weather. As the day approached, it was accompanied with significant rainfall. The morning of the wedding, the first stop was the hair salon and then Drugan’s—dodging raindrops the whole way. I suppose most brides are nervous about the vows or whether the flowers are the right color. To tell you the truth, I was most nervous about exchanging wedding gifts with my groom, not about the rain ruining my outdoor ceremony. Danny and I’d had a year-long, high-spirited competition to see who could come up with the most creative wedding gift for $99 or less. The best man delivered my hubby’s present, and I was in complete shock. My husband had written and published a book telling the story of how he met and fell in love with me. Suddenly, I felt that my gift, having a star named after him on our wedding date, was inadequate. However, when my maid of honor returned from delivering it, she assured me Danny’s teary eyes proved it was a hit, too. Although we only saw 45 rain-free minutes on our wedding day, that was long enough for us to marry outside, fulfilling my dream. No wedding day is ever seamless or exactly the way you may have planned it, but we didn’t take one minute for granted. It may not have looked perfect, but for us, it was! BUSINESSES: Drugan's Castle Mound (Catering & Reception), Guenthers (Floral), Luann Dibb (Photography) and Artistic Video Productions (Videography). Holmen, WI

2009-12-03T22:52:29+00:00

11 jessica_and_daniel Luann Dibb Photo 5

2008-09-14

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Jessica and Daniel

2010-01-05T23:47:08+00:00

June 14, 2009   Doug and I met while students at UW-La Crosse. Our first date and the night we got engaged were both spent in Riverside Park watching the summer sun set, with melting ice cream from the Pearl in hand. After our engagement, we were in the midst of graduating and moving on with life when we decided to make La Crosse an even more special place in our hearts by celebrating our marriage here. With less than a year until our big day, we struggled to find available vendors for Saturdays in June, but found Sunday to be a good alternative and started planning a semi-casual afternoon ceremony in Riverside Park. We capitalized on the gorgeous natural scenery and were married on the brick walkway by the water. Ivory, black, and chartreuse green accents popped against the bright blue sky. Guests kept cool with the ceremony programs, which doubled as fans.  The reception was also held in the park, under a high-peaked white tent. Centered around family and fun, we included yard games, treat bags for the kids, and a portable bar and dance floor. Personalized touches and easy handmade centerpieces of floating flowers, tea lights, and elegant vases with crystal-strung branches made it the wedding of our dreams without having to sweat every little detail. Candid pictures showed the fun and laidback atmosphere with smiles on every face. Our family and friends were the best part of our special day. Doug’s cousins and aunt catered a delicious, picnic-style meal of freshly grilled BBQ chicken, potato salad, and other summer staples. My parents made homemade wine, complete with custom labels. Our pastor and musicians were family friends, making the ceremony personalized and relaxed. From set up to take down and everything in between, our loved ones stepped up to every challenge, showing their incredible love and support. We look forward to returning to  La Crosse to revisit our deeply rooted college memories and one extraordinary June day.  BUSINESSES: Mestad's (Gown, Bridesmaids and Tuxedos), Mandi Moravits (Cake), Karen & Mandi Moravits (Catering), Music in Motion (DJ), Monet (Floral), TIffany Brubaker (Photography), Tent, Chairs and Tables (Topps Eilte Tent Rentals) <div> </div>   La Crosse, WI

2009-12-03T23:08:06+00:00

14 caitlin_and_douglas Tiffany Brubaker 6

2009-06-14

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Caitlin and Douglas

2010-01-05T23:45:42+00:00

March 28, 2008 When the time had come to propose, Brian rented the conservatory at Minnesota’s Como Zoo to ensure no one would interrupt the most important question he would ever ask. That evening he stood silently among the poinsettias, goldfish, and glowing lights that filled the garden while he waited for the limo that would drop me off in front of the building. I came in, walked along the reflection pool that ran the length of the room, and met him up at the altar where he was ready to propose. Our story had just begun. After a night of celebration, we followed the proposal with a trip to Disney World, for “The Year of a Million Dreams.” Then, it was time to get down to business and plan the wedding. Living in Bloomington and getting married in Rochester was challenging at times, but we made the most of it. We took a series of “mini-vacations” to Rochester that allowed us to meet with the people who would help to make this the wedding of our dreams. After considering several locations, we chose the Rochester Golf and Convention Center as the perfect place for our wedding. We were excited when we discovered the photographer, florist, DJ, and caterer all had worked together previously and spoke highly of one another. It felt destined to be a good time. Even though winter storms came late into the spring, the day of our wedding was sunny, cool, and dry. Our photographer captured the beauty of the day by taking photos around town in some of the most unexpected places. It was just what we wanted, a fun beginning to the perfect day. From the first moment we stood as an engaged couple, to the final dance the night of our wedding, we could not have been happier. We both look forward to the years ahead as Mr. and Mrs. Hayes. Rochester, MN

2009-03-27T03:41:08+00:00

10 emily_and_brian_ Fine Exposures 7

2008-03-28

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Emily and Brian

2010-01-05T23:28:59+00:00

Nancy Flottmeyer Unique. That’s what we wanted our wedding to be. Adam and I wanted to express our personalities and give our guests an experience they would never forget. At the same time, it was important to us to incorporate family and tradition. This proved challenging, yet fun. It all started with the dress—antique ivory and old fashioned—so, we centered the rest of the design elements of the wedding on a vintage theme. Our love for Frank Sinatra also had a huge impact on the wedding. Initially, we wanted his songs played by a pianist during the first part of the evening, but my Dad found a Sinatra impersonator to play with a big band. At that point, everything centered around Sinatra and the ’40s and ’50s. Our florist and our wedding planner created the kind of lounge atmosphere at the reception that Sinatra would have performed in back in his day. We had dramatic centerpieces of feathers, palms, and orchids paired up with a cascade of candles and vintage lamps set on tables done in rich, chocolate-brown linens with gold napkins. Ambient lighting and ice sculptures for our martini bars and ice cream buffet also set the mood. We had a traveling photo booth where guests got their picture taken, kept a copy, and we got one in a scrapbook alongside which guests could write us a note. Our wedding was a fairytale we could never have envisioned. The ceremony was beautiful and traditional, and the reception was unforgettable. The dance floor stayed packed. Everyone loved the Sinatra impersonator and the DJ from Music Mix. The two different types of entertainment kept our guests energized. It was a unique and memorable day that Adam and I and our family and friends will never forget. La Crosse, WI

2009-03-20T02:41:21+00:00

5 jessica_and_adam Mueller Photography 8

2008-07-26

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Jessica and Adam

2010-01-05T23:44:08+00:00

A wedding is a time to share, with friends and family, the story of the two of you. Our venue allowed us to create an intimate surrounding that did just that. We chose the La Crosse Country Club because of its beautiful, intimate outdoor setting and wonderful staff. My wedding planner was able to transform the outdoor setting with an aisle strewn with rose petals and a beautiful arch of pink peonies—the perfect place for us to exchange our vows. Tents billowing with pink fabric were the location for cocktail hour. When deciding the feel of our wedding, we wanted guests to share in our memories and be able to take a piece of our wedding home with them. The Traveling Photobooth, where guests could have fun having their picture taken in a photo booth, did just that. Guests took home one photo strip of themselves and the other went in a guest book they could sign. The day after our wedding, Brandon and I had so much fun laughing at all of the wonderful pictures and fun words of wisdom. Our guests also loved the dessert bar—complete with chocolate fountain, tiny cheesecakes, pink marshmallows, and fruit for dipping. Because of our attention to detail and our creation of a warm atmosphere, guests were able to let their guard down and really have fun. Our wedding allowed us to share with our guests the things that make us a couple—a fondness for memories, the outdoors, romance, and a weakness for the sweeter things in life. The realization of our vision was a beautiful image that will be a part of our memories forever. La Crosse, WI

2009-03-10T22:05:36+00:00

4 danielle__brandon Bruce De Fries Studio 9

2008-06-14

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Danielle & Brandon

2010-01-05T23:42:59+00:00

July 12, 2008 - La Crosse The wedding party stayed at the Bentley Wheeler Bed and Breakfast on Cass Street, giving our party and their families a sense of togetherness. The girls were in the main house and the boys in the guesthouse. I stayed in the ballroom suite and felt like a princess that day. The day of our wedding, we were transported everywhere by train. The ceremony was held on the deck outside Pettibone Resort alongside the Mississippi River—it was the perfect place for the beauty and splendor of our event. After, guests made their way to a tent set up on the lawn for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live music by the Rosewood Trio. At this time, guests were encouraged to use watercolor pencils to color in a square on a large drawing I made of the tree where Grandpa proposed to Grandma 54 years prior. At home after the wedding, I used water to turn the drawing into a painting from which we made magnets. It became the front of our thank-you cards so guests could keep a copy of the artwork they helped create. After cocktails, dinner was served inside. Our décor included frames, handmade by my dad and hand-painted by my art students from Washington. The frames held black and white photographs. On the backs were guests’ names and a quiz question. Instead of having guests clink their glasses for us to kiss, we challenged them to answer the questions on the back. If they answered one correctly, we kissed. After dinner, we surprised guests with a variety of pies from Norske Nook in Osseo for dessert, instead of cake. Then, we danced our way into the evening. Our wedding was an amazing memory we will cherish forever! La Crosse, WI

2009-03-20T03:15:24+00:00

6 jill_and_chris Janet Mootz Photography 10

2008-07-12

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Jill and Chris

2009-04-30T15:30:11+00:00

August 8, 2007 Pat proposed on Christmas Eve 2007 in Chicago. He gave me a digital photo frame with uploaded pictures. One was a picture of a ring in a jewelry box, and one was of his family holding a sign that said “Please, say, ‘Yes!’” As I realized what was happening, I turned to find Pat on one knee. I said “Yes!” We hugged, and I cried. The day after Christmas, I flew home to Minneapolis to see my family. We decided to look for a dress right away. The first one I tried on was a strapless La Sposa, made of off-white silk shantung. Although I shopped around, I knew it was the one. My grandmother loaned me a pearl and crystal necklace she and her three sisters wore at their weddings in the ’40s. It went perfectly and was so meaningful. For our venue, we chose my college campus, St. Mary’s University in Winona, since it was convenient for family and friends from Chicago and Minneapolis. We held our ceremony, rehearsal dinner, and reception there. Pat’s cousin, Laura, officiated. Me, my mom, and Aunt Maggie May love the movie Pride and Prejudice, so my cousin Whitney played songs from it on piano for the ceremony. Pat and I saw each other for the first time that day when I walked down the aisle. It was amazing when we locked eyes. The feeling was overwhelming; I was so completely happy. The ceremony went quickly, but was a perfect blend of our personalities. We had great music, a funny reading of Adam Sandler’s, and moving words from our officiant. At the reception, our band played Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” as the last song. Everyone screamed, ran onto the dance floor, and sang every word. It was a great end to our day! Rochester, MN

2009-03-27T03:37:34+00:00

9 sarah_and_patrick Christa Butler Photography 11

2007-08-08

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Sarah and Patrick

2009-05-12T19:14:33+00:00

January 5, 2008 Dax and I got engaged on a beautiful summer evening at sunset. After we shared our exciting news with family and friends, we opened a bottle of wine to celebrate and began discussing our hopes for our wedding day. Initially, we thought it would be romantic and exciting to have a destination wedding and get married on the beach. But after discussing our idea with family and friends, we quickly realized this would not be possible for us. Within a few days, we had a new plan that was just the opposite— a winter wedding in Wisconsin. The day was absolutely perfect, with the temperature in the upper ’40s and beautiful sunshine all day. For us, the highlight was meeting privately in Pettibone Park by the gazebo before the ceremony. Our photographer captured the moment we first saw each other that day on film. Afterward, we went back to the church where we completed the wedding party and family photos. Following our ceremony, the entire wedding party was transported to Riverside Park for outdoor group photos. We had so much fun! Never in a million years did we think our wedding day would involve a snowball fight and ducks waddling out of the Mississippi River to follow our wedding party throughout the park. The lively spirit continued at the reception and was enhanced by beauty. The tables were covered with teal table runners and we had fuchsia long-stem roses for centerpieces. Soft white candles accented the tables along with queen amazone rose petals in a mixture of soft white and fuchsia. White lights accented the reception hall and provided a very romantic, soft atmosphere. Neither of us imagined a winter wedding, but after having one, we wouldn’t change a thing. La Crosse, WI

2009-03-27T02:49:36+00:00

7 angela_and_dax LuAnn Dibb Photography 12

2008-01-05

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Angela and Dax

2010-01-05T23:41:09+00:00

September 2, 2007 After years of living in large cities around the country and traveling internationally, we decided to move back to our hometown of La Crosse, unaware we would soon meet each other, fall in love, and realize that all we’d been searching for was back home. Family and friends are important to us, so when we decided to marry, we planned our wedding over Labor Day weekend so they could travel to celebrate with us and experience the beauty of the region. On Friday afternoon, we had an outdoor barbecue at Andrew’s log home on the Mississippi, followed by a river cruise aboard the Julia Belle Swain, and an aerial fireworks display. On Saturday, guests could take a bus tour of Amish country or enjoy 18-holes at the La Crosse Country Club. That evening, our rehearsal dinner was held at The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern with singer, songwriter, and pianist Rob Gonzalez entertaining guests. The day of the wedding, my father and I entered Christ Episcopal Church to the sound of trumpets blaring “The Prince of Denmark March,” the same processional Mom used when she wed Dad. Andrew and I exchanged traditional vows that day because we wanted the connection with our parents’ tradition. At the end, we left church to the pealing of bells and a flurry of white rose petals. Our reception was held at Andrew’s father’s home nestled in the hills in the country. Candles in glass globes floated in one of the six spring-fed trout ponds with a willow in the foreground hung with lit glass votives, crystal prisms, and tiny white lights. Guests enjoyed our Latin-theme and our signature drink, Tequila Sunrise. After the cocktail hour, we moved to the dinner tent decorated with large, white, lit paper lanterns, rim lighting, and white organza draping. After dinner, we performed our first dance, a combination of a choreographed fox trot to “It Had To Be You,” and ending with a lively salsa routine complete with lifts. When it was time for us to leave, guests lined the driveway and watched as we drove away in a 1953 black Thunderbird amid fountain fireworks lining the drive. La Crosse, WI

2009-03-27T03:35:33+00:00

8 jamie_and_andrew Olive Juice Studios 13

2007-09-02

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Jamie and Andrew

2010-01-05T23:40:02+00:00

June, 6, 2009   From the moment I met J.J., I knew one of his passions was world travel. As I sat down to begin planning our wedding three years later, I immediately decided we would incorporate our mutual love of travel into our celebration.  Each table at our reception was named for a place J.J. and I had traveled together, such as Ixtapa, Amsterdam, and Waikiki, and embellished with a picture of us at that location. Seating place cards were luggage tags bearing the table and each guest’s name. Vases of green hydrangeas were decorated with maps, and crossword puzzles quizzed guests on our favorite locales. Our younger guests entertained themselves with vacation-themed Mad Libs. During our travels, J.J. and I had met many friends around the globe. Guests journeyed from across the country to share our special day with us.  The day before our wedding was beautiful and sunny, and our wedding party enjoyed an afternoon cruising the Mississippi River on the La Crosse Queen. Unfortunately, the next day was unseasonably cold, rainy, and windy. It even boasted a broken La Crosse record—the coldest temperature, 57 degrees, ever recorded on that date. By the time we gathered together for our 4 p.m. outdoor ceremony, the temperature had dropped to the low 40s. The large, constant raindrops, however, added freshness to the beginning of our new journey. It also brought out the lush quality of the green bouquets of hydrangeas and roses and the bridesmaids’ clover-colored dresses. Since J.J. and I met at Sunrise Acres Elementary School as fourth grade teachers, we wanted our wedding to be as fun as our classrooms. We incorporated elements that gave it a whimsical feel. A slideshow scrolled through our childhood pictures before dinner. A candy bar teeming with green tootsie rolls, key lime and vanilla taffy, lime sour balls, and green gummy bears catered to everyone’s sweet tooth. Individual raspberry buttercream cupcakes decorated in emerald and white fondant adorned the dessert table and made everyone feel special. It was truly unforgettable.  BUSINESSES: The Wedding Tree (Gown), Syl' Place (Ceremony), La Crosse Tent & Awning (Chairs), SSE Music (Ceremony Music), Timothy Synold (DJ), La Crosse Floral (Floral), Namipix (Photography), Fox Hollow Golf & Banquet (Reception), Men's Warehouse (Tux), and Take 5 Productions (Videography)   West Salem, WI

2009-12-03T23:01:35+00:00

12 heather_and_jj Nami Pix Photography 14

2009-06-06

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Heather and J.J.

2010-01-05T23:38:31+00:00

June, 13, 2009 The greatest thing about your wedding day is that it’s your day. You get to wear the prettiest dress you’ve ever owned, celebrate in style, and at the end of the day, you’ll be married to the man of your dreams! Our wedding was the most incredible day of my life. Most of the time the planning was just a lot of work––but as our day came closer, the planning and details became more fun. We tried to be really creative with the wedding details since it’s the personal touches that people remember, not how much money you spend. I put my design skills to use for the invitations, menus, and programs. My mom handmade all of the table centerpieces and guest favors. Our creativity not only saved money, it helped make the wedding as unique as we are.  Finding the dresses was my favorite part of the planning. For the bridesmaids, I didn’t want anything typical, so I looked at nontraditional places. There are no rules about bridesmaid dresses, so look everywhere. We found ours at Dale’s. The hardest to find was my dress. Seriously, I tried on several hundred wedding gowns. When I finally found my dress, I knew it was perfect. Our wedding party looked amazing.  For the location, Wes and I chose the historic Trempealeau Hotel. It was our dream setting. The hotel staff made sure everything ran smoothly. We had no idea how important a good event staff was until the day after our wedding. Our photography was important as well. We wanted pictures we could enjoy forever. The photos Mueller Photography took are beautiful––they captured the very essence of our wedding. Looking back, everything went perfectly. We were really lucky. Everyone who was part of our wedding planning was helpful. It’s important to be able to trust in the people with whom you work. They will go the extra mile for you, and it’ll make your day much better. Although all of the pre-wedding planning is detailed and sometimes seems endless, it’s worth it. In the end, all we had to do was show up and enjoy our day.  BUSINESSES: Famous Dave's (Catering), La Fleur Jardine (Floral), Mueller Photography (Photography), and The Trempealeau Hotel (Reception)   Trempealeau, WI

2009-12-03T23:04:57+00:00

13 jordana_and_wes Mueller Photography 15

2009-06-13

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Jordana and Wes

2009-12-03T23:04:57+00:00

June 20, 2009   During our backpacking trip through Europe, Brian proposed on a hilltop castle in Germany overlooking the point where three rivers meet in the town where his grandmother grew up. In keeping with our fairy-tale summer engagement, we knew we wanted a summer wedding and quickly settled on a midsummer’s eve theme. The day of the wedding, I arrived at the ceremony on the banks of the Mississippi River in a horse-drawn carriage and walked up the aisle to bagpipe music. We exchanged marriage vows we had written ourselves, shared our first drink together as a married couple in a Celtic Loving Cup ceremony, and then recessed down the aisle as a harpist played Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After moving through the receiving line, guests were invited to partake in an ancient Celtic stone-tossing ceremony. Tradition holds that whenever Celtic couples married near water, wedding guests would throw a stone into the water and make a wish or blessing for the bride and groom. An authentic pig roast was the highlight of dinner, followed by wedding cake that was half cheesecake and half white cake with strawberry filling and buttercream frosting. The cake was decorated with frosted vines, leaves, and flowers, and embellished with whimsical butterflies, birds, and fairies. In lieu of numbered tables, each was named after herbs and flowers that the ancient Celts believed had magical powers on midsummer’s eve. The tables were dressed with colorful purple runners and arranged with hurricane and votive candles, river rocks, silk greenery, and flowers, and decorative fairies. Guest favors included colorful sachets of parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Outside the banquet hall, an open deck allowed guests to enjoy beautiful views of the Mississippi River. At sunset, Brian and I lit a bonfire together––a good luck ritual for Celtic couples who married on midsummer’s eve––and invited our guests to take a break from the dancing and merriment to enjoy a late-night snack of s’mores by the glow of the firelight. Our storybook day ended in a beautiful honeymoon suite on the banks of the Mississippi as we began living our life together “happily ever after.”  BUSINESSES: International Bake Shoppe (Cake), Pettibone Resort (Ceremony, Catering & Reception), Carol Johnson (Floral), Cinderella Carriages (Carriage), Music Mix of La Crosse (DJ), Mike Watson (Bagpipe), Barry Byrne (Harpist), and Janet Mootz (Photography)   La Crosse, WI

2009-12-03T23:11:36+00:00

16 jessica_and_brian Janet Mootz Photography 16

2009-06-20

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Jessica and Brian

2010-01-05T23:36:05+00:00

<div style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: #ffffff; background-position: initial initial; margin: 8px;"> The day Craig proposed was one of the happiest days of my life. That night, he took me on a bit of a wild goose chase that ended at a marina in Lake Geneva. He rented a speedboat, and we cruised into a shadow-glazed circle under an admiring willow tree. In his romantic style, Craig read me a poem. He blew me away when he later got down on one knee to ask me to marry him.  When it came to planning our wedding, it was difficult as Craig and I lived in Milwaukee. Luckily, my wonderful mother helped us out every step of the way. I found the dress of my dreams while in Chicago. While searching for bridesmaid’s dresses, I fell in love with tiffany blue dresses to accent the red roses we were using. When our wedding day arrived, it was evident the planning paid off. Our ceremony was absolutely stunning. Craig’s aunt, who is the conductor/director of Bella Voce Young Women’s Choir in Rochester, blessed us with incredible music. A string quartet that included Craig’s cousin also played, and another of his cousins played flute at the church ceremony as well as during cocktail hour at the reception at Riverview Greens in Stewartville. The ambiance of our chosen venue was beautiful—including high, vaulting ceilings, a huge dance floor, and picturesque windows that line the front of the room overlooking the fountains. We complimented each table with red-rose centerpieces and the personalized picture frames used to identify the tables. When we decided to have a June wedding, I imagined a warm, sunny day typical of summer. Who would have thought that it actually was going to be pouring rain with a high of 53 degrees? Regardless of the unfortunate weather conditions, the day was wonderful, and we loved the beautiful and creative pictures our photographer took. The pictures were fantastic and inventive! Our photographer even had us stand on the median on Broadway Street in Rochester kissing underneath a blue and white umbrella as cars honked, and people yelled congratulations.  BUSINESSES: St. John’s Catholic Church (Ceremony), www.topperswithglitz.com (Dessert topper), Mestad’s Bridal & Formal Wear (Dress), Le Jardin (Floral), About Face (Hair and Make-up), Lisa Houghton Design (Invitations), and Somerby Golf Club (Reception). <div> </div> </div> Rochester, MN

2010-01-24T15:12:37+00:00

22 casie_and_tony Olive Juice Studios 17

2009-08-15

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Casie and Tony

2010-01-24T15:12:37+00:00

The day Craig proposed was one of the happiest days of my life. That night, he took me on a bit of a wild goose chase that ended at a marina in Lake Geneva. He rented a speedboat, and we cruised into a shadow-glazed circle under an admiring willow tree. In his romantic style, Craig read me a poem. He blew me away when he later got down on one knee to ask me to marry him.  When it came to planning our wedding, it was difficult as Craig and I lived in Milwaukee. Luckily, my wonderful mother helped us out every step of the way. I found the dress of my dreams while in Chicago. While searching for bridesmaid’s dresses, I fell in love with tiffany blue dresses to accent the red roses we were using. When our wedding day arrived, it was evident the planning paid off. Our ceremony was absolutely stunning. Craig’s aunt, who is the conductor/director of Bella Voce Young Women’s Choir in Rochester, blessed us with incredible music. A string quartet that included Craig’s cousin also played, and another of his cousins played flute at the church ceremony as well as during cocktail hour at the reception at Riverview Greens in Stewartville. The ambiance of our chosen venue was beautiful—including high, vaulting ceilings, a huge dance floor, and picturesque windows that line the front of the room overlooking the fountains. We complimented each table with red-rose centerpieces and the personalized picture frames used to identify the tables. When we decided to have a June wedding, I imagined a warm, sunny day typical of summer. Who would have thought that it actually was going to be pouring rain with a high of 53 degrees? Regardless of the unfortunate weather conditions, the day was wonderful, and we loved the beautiful and creative pictures our photographer took. The pictures were fantastic and inventive! Our photographer even had us stand on the median on Broadway Street in Rochester kissing underneath a blue and white umbrella as cars honked, and people yelled congratulations.  BUSINESSES: St. John’s Catholic Church (Ceremony), www.topperswithglitz.com (Dessert topper), Mestad’s Bridal & Formal Wear (Dress), Le Jardin (Floral), About Face (Hair and Make-up), Lisa Houghton Design (Invitations), and Somerby Golf Club (Reception).   Rochester, MN

2010-01-24T15:15:25+00:00

23 casie_and_tony Olive Juice Studios 18

2009-08-15

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Casie and Tony

2010-01-24T15:15:25+00:00