Wedding Advice from Erica // The Waterfront Lacrosse, WI

Steven and Erica are the sweetest couple. They have this calm nature that I really love. Erica got ready at the gorgeous Charmant Hotel in Lacrosse on the most beautiful September Day.  I loved her gorgeous dress, her hair down and mismatched bridesmaids dresses. I loved their patio ceremony with the backdrop of the Mississippi. I loved their kings table at dinner and all the fun speeches and the timeless details that really made their day simple, meaningful and about them. When I think back to their day I remember how beautiful the weather was, how calm the timeline went,  how I watched people ride bikes and enjoy the park, I thought to myself how much I really like downtown Lacrosse, and how lucky I felt to be part of this day.  Erica's wedding advice is particularly great because she adds an article that I think speaks true.  Enjoy! 

1. What was your favorite memory from the wedding? Undoubtedly, our first look. It was one of the only moments of the day where it felt as though time actually slowed down. That moment where all of our stress and worries of the morning melted away and we were reminded of what the day is really all about- each other. 
 

2. What could you have done without? We wouldn't have changed a thing. From favors to decor, we were very intentional about our choices. We wanted an environment that was reflective of our style and values. We agreed from the start that we would be true to ourselves, even if that meant breaking some wedding "traditions".

3. What is your best advice for planning brides? This article captures it all: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle-rothweiler/your-wedding-is-not-the-most-important-day-_b_9739500.html
The author says it best...."When you look at your wedding as not the “best day ever” but as “the best is yet to come,” you will free yourself from the pressure of everything having to be perfect, and instead you will realize one thing: it already is. Because you found each other. Lucky you."

4. Looking back, what was the MOST important? Cliche as it is, the most important part was being surrounded by all of our friends and family. In 5,10,50 years you will likely forget all of the little details that you agonized over, but it's the feelings and emotion attached to that day that you will always remember. Our guests brought so much love and laughter to our day. It wouldn't have been the same without them. 

5.  What did you plan/Book first? Dress, venue, Photographer? We knew we wanted a September wedding but eventually chose our date based on the availability of Dani and the venue. We considered photography to be our most important investment, followed by food of course :) 

Wedding Advice from Jess // Enchanted Barn Wedding

Jess and Michael's sweet wedding at The Enchanted Barn was one I will always remember. They are the sweetest couple ever and their are a direct reflection of their sweet family and friends. I loved Jess's meaningful details and advice she is sharing here with all of you! Enjoy! 

1. What was your favorite memory from the wedding?
One moment that my husband and I will both cherish forever was during dinner. The sun was setting, candles lit and we just sat at the head table and looked out over our friends and family that were there to celebrate us. The room was filled with smiles, laughter and love. A rare occasion to have all of those special people together! We also loved the dance party after dinner. The dance floor was full until midnight and my 93-year-old great aunt led a few line dances that everyone loved.

2. What could you have done without?
I glued many streamers to sticks and placed them around the ceremony space before the ceremony took place. I wanted people to shake them around after we kissed and walked back down the aisle. Well, only 2 people waved them around. Ha! So, I would say to instruct your guests very clearly or spend your time doing something else. J

3. What is your best advice for planning brides?

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Think back to other weddings you have been to and try to remember exactly what they had for centerpieces. Most likely, you won’t be able to remember! Yes, you want all of your tables to look nice but buying expensive trinkets and decorations to fill the table isn’t necessary. The simple, elegant look goes a long way! Your guests will have more room at the table and you can spend more money on items that your guests will remember like the food, dessert, dance and your beautiful dress.

2. Delegate tasks for the day (and trust that they will do them!) so you don’t have to worry about them that day. Also, I REALLY appreciated having one venue for the ceremony/happy hour/reception that also included tables, chairs, bar/bartender, preferred caterers and staff to help the day flow. Not having to organize each of the above aspects separately made our lives SO much easier. The above contacts all had a great working relationship, paid attention to detail and communicated between each other to make the whole experience flow. Managing fewer necessary conversations, payment schedules and arrival times will help to manage the stress!

3. Get the people you love involved with their talents!

4. Relax, relax, relax and remember the main reason behind your amazing wedding.

5. Take your pictures before the ceremony if you can. Then you can spend more time with your guests who traveled to see you rather than disappearing for a few hours to do photography between the ceremony and reception.

4. Looking back, what was the MOST important?
Enjoying the day with my husband. My face hurt at the end of the day from all of the smiling and laughing. Make sure you dance and keep the day filled with personal touches!

5. What did you plan/Book first? Dress, venue, Photographer ?
e booked our venue, then photographer and DJ within the first few months of getting engaged (~ 1 year from the date). I felt much better knowing that if everything else didn’t work out, I would still have a good party and pictures to help reminisce!

Wedding Advice From Laura // Lacrosse, WI Tent Wedding

I'm SO excited about this post. Laura and Travis are on of my favorite couples and it was definitely one of my favorite weddings, one I will always remember with a big smile on my face. Laura really thought about things like lighting! throughout the day ( a photographers dream client) and they both just let go and embraced the day with open hearts and free of any expectations. For lack of better words I like to think Laura wore her heart on her sleeve that day.  I mean that as a huge compliment, I believe Laura expressed her emotions freely and openly for all to see, capturing these moments made my heart burst inside, I actually felt her joy.  It was written all over her beautiful face.  That is the reason this is one of my all time favorite weddings.  I could go on and on but since this post is about wedding planning I will attempt to stick to that.  Laura is sharing some pivotal advice for planning brides including timeline, vendors (local vendors! YAY) and guest experience.  I can say, as a guest, having the local food and beer vendors made a big impact on the day!  Scroll ALL the way down for the full blog preview of this memorable wedding.  

1.  What was your favorite memory from the wedding?

I have so many favorite “little moments” from our wedding weekend but if I had to pick one favorite, I would say it was during the ceremony when Travis and I were finally seated together in church and I looked out to see the church filled with our family and friends.  All I could think was “when are we ever going to have all of our favorite people in the world all in one place TOGETHER?" I’ve never felt surrounded by so much love and and support in all my life.

2. What could you have done without?

I really enjoyed planning the small details and tried to strike a balance between having a wedding with a cohesive style while not letting all of the little details consume me. A detail I could have done without was the flowers/greenery on the dinner menus.  I found this idea on Pinterest and thought it would be the perfect addition to the place settings. It ended up being more of a hassle because half of the greenery wilted and half was misplaced; something that would never happen in Pinterest land! Our awesome catering staff improvised with some left over flowers/greenery from the centerpieces and it turned out beautifully, but I’m certain the menus would have been just as pretty without this unnecessary detail. Lesson learned- cut some of the smaller details and spend your time/energy on details that will have more of an impact. 

3. What is your best advice for planning brides? 
Before selecting a venue or hiring vendors, have a discussion your fiancé about top priorities for your wedding.  You will have to make some difficult decisions, but if you have identified your shared priorities, these decisions will be easier to make.  It will also help guide discussions with family and friends who offer their suggestions and advice for your wedding. 

Travis and I wanted to create a day that reflected us as a couple and gave our guests a glimpse of what our life is like in La Crosse. We identified priorities including serving guests a delicious dinner featuring locally grown food, top notch beer from our favorite local brewery, decadent desserts from my sister’s gluten free bakery and finding a venue that allowed guests to have a relaxing evening while enjoying the beauty of La Crosse. People are still talking about the food, dessert and venue at our wedding.

In addition to identifying priorities, try not to get overwhelmed with what you “should" and “shouldn’t do.”  We spent time thinking about many of the wedding traditions such as the grand march, wedding favors, a bouquet toss, etc. and decided only to incorporate the traditions that we found meaningful. No one missed any of those things! 

4. Looking back, what was the MOST important?

Travis and I wanted our day to be scheduled in a way that allowed us to spend time with our wedding party, our immediate family, our guests and most importantly, each other. I consulted with a few different people (including Dani) who helped me plan our “day of” timeline that allowed us to really have time with these people to celebrate. I had a relaxing morning getting ready with the bridesmaids and my mom at a local bed and breakfast, while Travis was able to spend time with the groomsmen.  A very special moment was the first look with my dad; it was incredibly special to have time with him. The wedding party and close friends went to our favorite brewery and enjoyed a beer after the ceremony.  As quickly as the day went, I am so glad we planned our day this way. 

5.  What did you plan/Book first? Dress, venue, Photographer ?

Photographer, venue, dress.  We like to do things out of order! I had been following Dani’s blog for some time and knew that finding the right photographer (Dani!) was a priority. Travis contacted Dani to inquire about her availability, etc. before he even proposed. 

After we got engaged, we booked a venue that didn’t end up being large enough. Although this was a very stressful discovery, it turned out to be a major blessing.  Once we decided on our new venue, then I started shopping for my dress. 

Travis and Laura's wedding preview can be found here: WEDDING