Joey & Kaylie Fredrick

08/01/2022

What was the creative inspiration for your wedding?

I've always wanted a bright and airy wedding and The Charmant Rooftop was perfect for us. It was intimate and beautiful—minimal decorations were needed because the La Crosse area is scenery enough.

 

How did you personalize your wedding and make it about the two of you?

We both love the La Crosse area, so we wanted to do something special for our guests. We had bags for our family and friends when they checked in at The Charmant filled with local food and gifts from local vendors to welcome them to our home.

 

What is one thing you were glad you insisted on?

No phones during the ceremony. We both wanted our guests to be absolutely present in that moment with us rather than trying to take videos or pictures.

 

What was the significance of your
wedding date and/or location?

We chose the summer since Joey is a teacher. We originally were supposed to get married at a different location with 400 guests, but Covid-19 had different plans. We had to cut our guest list down to 42, and we changed our venue to The Charmant Hotel a month before our wedding date.

 

What was your favorite moment in your ceremony and wedding reception?

Our first look—hands down! We originally did not want to do a first look because we wanted the more traditional “walk down the aisle.” Joey and I read our more personal vows at our first look, where it was just him and me. Emily let us have some time alone afterward. It will forever be my favorite memory.

 

What is one thing you would have done differently?

I wish we would have booked The Charmant Hotel from the start. Having a small wedding and working with the event planner, Danielle, was the best combination. Due to Covid, we had to cut our guest list down by over 350 guests and change our venue a month before our wedding date.

 

If you could tell couples planning their wedding one piece of advice, what would it be?

People say your wedding day goes by fast, but I really did not know how fast! Savor every moment you have, and remember that this day is about you and your lifelong best friend.

 

What did you obsess over that you
realized in the end didn’t matter?

Covid! I mean, planning your wedding is stressful enough, why not add a pandemic on top of that? It was truly a blessing in disguise because our wedding day was absolutely perfect. However, cutting our guest list from 400 to 42 was one of the hardest things we have had to do.

 

WEDDING TEAM

CEREMONY/RECEPTION The Charmant Hotel

OFFICIANT Cliff Pim, family friend

CAKE Crumbtastic Cakery

CATERER/EVENING SNACKS/DESSERT The Charmant Hotel

FLORIST Bittersweet Flower Market

INVITATIONS NikiPressDesigns, Etsy

BEAUTY Sue Kolve’s Salon & Day Spa

BRIDAL GOWN Grace Loves Lace

MEN’S ATTIRE The Wedding Tree

RINGS Howes Diamond Jewelers

PHOTOGRAPHER Emily Jean Photography

WEDDING PLANNER Danielle Campbell, The Charmant Hotel

WELCOME BAG ITEMS Drift Mercantile, Great River Popcorn Company