Wedding season 2015 is upon us, and now more than ever any time of the year is fair game to schedule your upcoming nuptials! So while many ladies have already begun their planning, there are still a lot out there who are just getting started. Planning a wedding is as simple or as complicated as your dream for what the perfect day is to you as a couple and there are certainly plenty of highly trained and experienced professionals who can help you with all of the details, big or small.
Wedding planning can seem a little intimidating at first, even for the most enthusiastic bride-to-be, so it’s helpful to know where to begin. Kimmylea Konsel, designer and owner of LimeLight Expressions, provides her advice on the first steps of planning a wedding:
Set a Budget: Everyone has a budget and this will help determine all the other aspects of your wedding. Guest List: Before choosing a venue, you need to know approximately how many people you wish to invite to your wedding. Make sure to include both the bride and groom’s family wishes. Choose a Wedding Date: The wedding date can depend a lot on the wedding venue and whether it’s a destination wedding or a wedding in town. Choose the Ceremony and Reception Venue: Most venues get booked months (if not years) in advance. Make sure your venue can accommodate your guest list. If your reception is at a different location than the ceremony, you need to coordinate the time so that the venue is available after the ceremony.
She adds, “Planning your wedding as early as possible will allow you to get the items (especially the venues) that you want. It can also allow you to receive great discounts. Trending for 2015 will be having your wedding as interactive as possible for your guests from hot and cold food stations, chef-carving stations, dessert bars, design-your-own stations, even into the entertainment and decorations. LimeLight Expressions is a family owned and operated full-service event planning, photography and design company. We offer various event planning packages to fit your needs or can custom design a one-of-a-kind package, just for you!”
As for securing the perfect venue, there are a number of gorgeous and very unique places to host your ceremony, reception, celebration or all of the above in Omaha and the surrounding areas. For couples who opt for a site outside of the city, there is also a great deal of diversity to be found with these types of venues as well as a host of great benefits. “’Rustic elegance’ and ‘natural’ seem to be wedding themes that fit well at Lied Lodge and Arbor Day Farm,” says Patty Pierce, Wedding Coordinator at Lied Lodge & Conference Center. “The Historic Morton Barns continue to be a popular space for ceremonies and receptions, and new for 2015, select locations at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and mansion are also available, which is perfect for brides who want that one-of-a-kind, historic flair for their special day. Other outdoor ceremony locations include the Hazelnut Lawn and the East Lawn at Lied Lodge, both of which feature nature-filled backdrops and gorgeous settings for your vows. As for reception venues, the Rosenow Room, the Steinhart Room, and Steinhart Lodge are popular choices. Steinhart Lodge is a smaller venue, but has a rustic, classic feel which brides seem to love.”
She also advises, “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of a personal venue tour. Looking online gives you a general idea of what the venue has to offer, but seeing it in person – and meeting the staff members you’ll be working with on all the details — is the best way to get an idea for how your special day will unfold. The staff here at Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm takes great pride in making every wedding a one-of-a-kind success. We have the capabilities of “all inclusive” – meaning, we can hold your rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, gift opening/breakfast the following day, and your guests can stay on property for your entire event. It’s easy for the bride and wedding party, and also easy for your guests. Lied Lodge received the “Best of mywedding Award” by voters at mywedding.com for Best Venue, Best Ceremony Location, Best Rehearsal Location, and Best Accommodations — and it’s an honor! We love working with these couples and ensure that every detail of their big day is in good hands.”
Bellevue Berry Farm & Pumpkin Ranch is another popular destination for weddings that can accommodate both outdoor and indoor events. “A lot of people enjoy staying onsite for both their ceremony and reception, and we have four different wedding lodges that all have a very nice outside area,” explains Tyson Schaefer of Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch. “Each of them has great character and plenty of room for socializing and dancing. If bad weather presents itself, the flexibility of our venue allows us the ability to pull any of our outdoor events into the reception hall onsite. With the gorgeous landscape of the property, our western-chic atmosphere and tasteful Southwestern style décor combined with our flexible catering options, we are able to offer a country flavor that sets us apart from any other venue in the Omaha area. Furthermore, our expertise with hosting weddings allows us to bring everything together seamlessly for a much less stressful experience during the planning stages and on the big day. We offer a lot of services to our clients and also have the ability to connect them with other vendors and resources we’ve worked with in the past, which really simplifies the planning process. As for catering, our wedding fare is prepared from house recipes that have been in our family for generations and continues to be raved about by our past guests, but we also welcome brides and grooms to share a recipe or idea with us and we will work our culinary magic to make it happen. We do set up the meal in a buffet style food line and we even keep it out for an extended period of time, which is perfect for guests who want seconds or those who show up later on. As appetizer menus are trending for weddings, we have options for that as well. Generally for weddings, couples opt for two entrees and four side dishes in the appropriate amounts to accommodate the number of guest who will be attending—we guarantee that no one will leave hungry! My best advice is to choose a facility that fits your style. Also, make sure that it fits your guest list—if you’re in doubt, go for a bigger space instead of one that will barely accommodate the amount of people you are planning for. Moreover we realize that wedding planning can be stressful, but it’s second nature to us and we are always honored to be of service to our brides and grooms in whatever way we can.”
When planning with the venue staff, it is important to take note of what they have to offer vs. what you will have to provide yourself. For all of your other needs besides shelter, Honeyman Rent-All offers an extensive selection of rental items including tables, bars, chairs, linens, china, chafers, arches, lighting, slush and soft serve machines, and much more. “Many weddings and receptions are held in outdoor areas, and Honeyman Rent-All offers delivery and on-site set up of all necessary equipment as well as take-down after the event,” explains Troy Honeyman of Honeyman Rent-All. “We’ve been to most all of the venues in the area that brides like to use, so we are familiar with the set up options available and can suggest what works best for that particular venue from experience. We can also utilize a program that will calculate exactly how many tables and chairs will fit in a particular area, so we can also be of assistance with planning the layout to best accommodate your number of guests and any other specifications.”
You may also be considering the latest wedding trend: Destination weddings. Destination weddings have grown tremendously in popularity over the past several years and for very good reasons. A destination wedding can be a perfect choice as it fits the couple’s tastes/personalities, can gather family and friends from around the globe, and can also be quite cost effective. The cost of a traditional ceremony and reception can be astronomical and it only lasts a few hours. With a destination wedding you can spend several days together and create unforgettable memories with your closest friends and family.
“The location of your destination wedding can range from a tropical paradise setting in the sand, a luxury cruise ship, the big city, a European castle, or even a picturesque mountain backdrop,” explains Kris Reddy, owner of The Vacation Store and The Cruise Company. “The possibilities are endless! The Vacation Store and The Cruise Company have proudly been serving the Omaha area for over 30 years and we offer over 100 years of experience in guiding happy couples to their perfect nuptials. We can help make the couple’s wedding/honeymoon wishes come true! Our team works directly with our clients to create a trip that encompasses their specific needs, wishes and budget. We specialize in all kinds of travel and work closely with our vendors to provide the latest in travel at the best rates. Working with our Leisure Travel Specialist, couples can coordinate all aspects of their wedding including all wedding requirements, family and guest needs, airline tickets, transportation, and accommodations for all guests. The happy couple works directly with a wedding coordinator onsite and can be involved in all of the wedding details down to linens, flowers, and ceremony and reception locations.” Whether it’s an intimate celebration for two or a grand party of 150 friends and family, The Vacation Store and The Cruise Company has your perfect destination that will fit your budget. If you are more traditional and prefer a ceremony/reception at home, not to worry–The Vacation Store and The Cruise Company can create the perfect honeymoon getaway to celebrate your marriage and de-stress from all of the wedding madness!
If you can’t go to the island, you might just have to bring the island to your local event. For those who are having a tropical theme, or who just really enjoy smoothies, consider adding a fun special touch with Maui Wowi. “We love bringing our island flare to wedding receptions,” says Beth Howie of Maui Wowi. “Adding a unique, festive touch to your reception is as easy as bringing your guests a Hawaiian experience with refreshing smoothies served from a Tiki Hut! This is especially nice for the outdoor events in the warmer months. We are also the perfect option for those who want to offer their guests a variety of non-alcoholic options, from smoothies to specialty hot coffees, and we can happily accommodate any dietary restrictions.”
However you choose to treat your guests, a wedding cake or creative dessert alternative remains a major focal point in both traditional and contemporary weddings. “Weddings are something we do a lot of, and we take pride in doing anything and everything you can imagine!” says Michelle Kaiser, owner of Alotta Brownies Bakery. “Our creative team of designers and decorators are highly skilled and enjoy staying on the cutting edge of wedding trends. From the traditional wedding cake to the trending dessert bar, bride and groom cakes, and bridal shower goodies, there’s plenty of ways to incorporate sweet treats into your wedding festivities. Our dessert bars have been really popular and many brides have been booking with us from eight months to a year in advance, which is a good rule of thumb. This allows for plenty of time to plan all of the details together—consultations are a key part of the planning process at Alotta Brownies. We take just as much care with presentation as we do with the quality of the desserts we make, because it all ties together on the big day. A popular display has been smaller tiered cakes on pedestals surrounded by an array of treats—cupcakes, bars, brownies, or premier desserts such as Belguim mousse cups and cannolis. We have even done a brownie sundae buffet! We will take your budget into consideration and spread out the cost from the initial deposit up to the final consultation, which is helpful for planning. Changes WILL happen as you get closer to the date, so we always take a conservative approach in the beginning and allow our clients the option to add at any time. For example, if your guest list starting out is 200 people, during our initial consultation we would advise to book for 150. This way you can always add, even up to a week before the date with our bakery because everything is made fresh to order!”
Although Smallcakes of Omaha: A Cupcakery is also well known for offering plenty of sweet treats that are perfect for weddings, namely their delicious cupcakes, wedding cake is among their specialties too. “We’ve been honored couples are looking a traditional wedding cake or going in another direction for desserts, we have so many options for the bride and groom to choose from, including over 100 different flavor profiles,” emphasizes Faith Musil, owner of Smallcakes of Omaha: A Cupcakery. “The wedding cake is incredibly important as it is the feature of the reception, so not only do we want the cake to look amazing we also want it to taste amazing! The same applies for the wealth of other creative dessert options that are available, so it really comes down to what best fits your taste as a couple, your colors or vision for design, and the number of guests you will be expecting. Our baker has been doing wedding cakes for over thirty years so nothing is impossible with Smallcakes! Hope to see y’all in soon!”
Another creative resource for wedding treats, Colby Ridge offers a wide variety of products and options to fit any theme or color palette. Popcorn is one of their traditional specialties, and they can make custom colors for your wedding and assemble personalized, individual bags to hand out to your guests. You can also buy the popcorn in bulk and use it for a popcorn bar. If popcorn isn’t your thing, Colby Ridge owns and operates a candy store with over 200 bins of colorful candy–which is perfect for a candy bar at your reception! This could include the bride and groom’s favorite candies or we can even coordinate the colors of the candy to match the colors you’ve chosen for your wedding.”
For treats of the frozen beverage variety, The Margarita Man offers high capacity, commercial grade margarita machines for all sizes and types of special events. There are 22 gourmet flavors to choose from; all of which can be made virgin so that kids can also enjoy a tasty treat during the reception. The popular Fiesta Package includes local delivery, setup and mixing of your first batches, drink cups and straws, pick up and cleaning of the machine. The Margarita Man also offers a Grande Fiesta Package which includes rental of two machines. This package is perfect for larger events or for those who want to provide both regular and non-alcoholic options. “One thing that makes our company unique is that we try and take all the hassle away from the host of the party,” says Matt Cover, co-owner of The Margarita Man. “We set up the machine, make the first batch and provide the cups and straws leaving you and your guest to enjoy countless frozen beverages with the ease of self-serving themselves by simply pulling the handle down on the machine. You can’t go wrong with providing delicious frozen margaritas, daiquiris, piña coladas or fruit slushies from The Margarita Man for your guests—not only is there no stress involved, there’s no better way to celebrate!”
So, you’ve covered all of the bases for planning your wedding and you’re officially ready to say “I Do.” Aside from the honeymoon, there are also other plans to be made now for after the wedding. After your very special day it is so easy to forget about that beautiful dress hanging in your closet that you wore for the biggest day of your life. As time slips by, you may not see any stains or soil. But even as the gown was only worn once, soil such as body oils, makeup, or perspiration may not be visible right away, but rest assured it will make itself visible down the road. “Those hidden stains will cause damage to the gown with discoloration or weakness to the fabric over the course of time,” explains John Perlebach of Stillettos Dryclean Delivery. “Important memories like the bride’s wedding gown should always be preserved, especially with the hope of possibly passing it down someday. With respect for the importance of all of the details that have gone into selecting the perfect gown, we take great care in applying our professional knowledge for the aftermarket care. Each gown is examined for the most suitable cleaning method, is guided through each step of the process with care, and the cleaning of the garment is directly followed by preservation for the proper storage. For your dress to be preserved in the best possible condition it should be cleaned within days; try not to extend this out past a few weeks at the most. Our package includes a specialty bridal museum box, which features a crystal clear viewing window and bust form with acid free paper to preserve your most precious memory.”
Your wedding day is a major life milestone and it can be easy to get wrapped up in the significance so much that you forget to enjoy yourself during the journey. If you utilize the experience of seasoned industry professionals it will lift the weight off of your shoulders while exposing you to things you may have never even known were possible and ensuring that none of the important details are overlooked. Now that you’ve got the basics of wedding planning down for the most part, you can incorporate the unique finishing touches here and there and you’ll be enjoying your wedding day festivities before you know it!