Planning Your Wedding

As most of us are well aware, while spring and summer weddings are still popular affairs, there really isn’t a well-defined “wedding season” but rather, a year round calendar of nuptials to attend. All four seasons now provide a gorgeous backdrop depending on what your vision is for your big day. That being said, planning your wedding is still something that is advised to do well in advance so that you secure the date you want as well as your preferred vendors. For all of your brides, grooms, friends and family members who will be planning a future wedding, we’ve included plenty of information on the essentials as well as a variety of local resources to check out!

The Dress:

For brides, the wedding dress is a priority set above just about everything else. It’s not only important to find “the one,” but it’s also a memento that will likely need to be preserved and may even be passed on to future generations.

As far as finding THE dress, you’ll want to work with a local resource that can seamlessly help you through the entire process from finding the right one from the numerous choices available to placing the order to get your dress in when you need it, coordinating the bridal party attire and on to making the necessary alterations closer to the date.

After the wedding, it’s important to get your wedding dress in to your professional cleaner of choice as soon as possible in order for it to be in optimal condition to undergo the cleaning and preservation process.

“Whether vintage or new, our experts will give your wedding dress the care and consideration it deserves,” emphasizes Betty McKernan of Stilettos Dryclean Delivery. “We inspect and hand-treat each gown individually, taking the extra care to safeguard and protect the delicate beading, embroidery and lace with 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Even with wearing the gown only once, stains from food or beverages along with oils from the skin will cause damage or weakness to the fabric over time. We always advise our clients to bring their gown in as soon as it is possible, whether they bring it in themselves or have a family member or friend transport it to us. In the event that someone else brings it in, we can meet ahead of time to make sure that all of the bride’s wishes are taken into account and expectations are met. Stilettos understands the importance of all of the details and our staff of professionals operate with specific cleaning protocol in line with the preservation of your gown for generations to come. We even welcome the bride to stop by and see the gown after it’s been cleaned to ensure that we’ve met her expectations before the gown is actually packed and preserved. For us, it’s all about giving our clients peace of mind so they can take comfort in knowing that the gown is well-preserved for safekeeping. Wedding gowns are prized possessions and quite often family heirlooms so we treat them accordingly.

Our Wedding Gown Preservation program also includes a luxurious Bridal Keepsafe acid-neutral box that offers superior protection along with extraordinary beauty. The crystal clear viewing window is perfect for reflecting on your special day. Furthermore, our acid-free tissue paper assures the preservation for years to come. Your golden Bridal Keepsafe is enclosed in a sturdy cardboard box and plastic bag cover to provide years of protection as well. There are also different sizes of boxes to accommodate any type of dress as well as any other items that you’d like to be preserved. We take pride in ensuring that your precious memories will be preserved, especially with the possibility of passing them down someday.

Above all, make sure to entrust the cleaning of your wedding gown with experienced professionals who have excellent customer reviews and who offer a guarantee on their services.”

The Venue:

Choosing (and booking) the venue is one of the very first things on the planning list as the most popular ones often will have very limited availability. Once you have your heart set on a certain location, it’s a must to get your date on the books so you can begin arranging the rest of the details accordingly. If you haven’t quite found the right venue yet, not to worry, we’ve highlighted several of the best in the Omaha area.

Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm offers a picturesque location with plenty of amenities that are sure to impress. No matter which season you choose for the backdrop, you’ll be surrounded by the beauty of nature on your big day.

 

“My phone is ringing with brides who are choosing winter weddings, which is a refreshing change,” says Patty Pierce, Wedding Coordinator at the Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm. “Lied Lodge is particularly beautiful in the winter with our slate-and-timber fireplaces and cozy, lodge-style ambiance.

While any kind of setting can be achieved here, ‘rustic charm’ and ‘natural beauty’ seem to be themes that fit well at Lied Lodge and Arbor Day Farm. Our Historic Morton Barns offer a unique space for both ceremonies and receptions, and it’s just a short walk from Lied Lodge & Conference Center. We also offer outdoor ceremony locations on the Hazelnut Lawn and the East Lawn; both feature nature-filled backdrops that are gorgeous settings for your vows, as well as Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, home of the J. Sterling Morton Mansion. 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.

Furthermore, Lied Lodge just completed a $9 million renovation, which included the construction of an assortment of suites. These larger, amenity-filled spaces are perfect places for wedding parties to gather or bridesmaids to get ready before the ceremony, etc. My clients are greatly appreciating the extra room to spread out and get comfortable before their big day.

Also, we’re now offering ceremony sites at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park – the 52-room mansion and estate of J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska City. This historical gem makes for a beautiful place to say ‘I do,’ particularly for weddings with a vintage vibe.

Lied Lodge & Conference Center continues to be honored to receive the “Best of mywedding Award” by voters at mywedding.com for Best Venue, Best Ceremony, Best Rehearsal, and Best Accommodations. This award is for wedding professionals who are most loved by mywedding.com couples. We truly love working with these couples and ensuring that their big day is in good hands.”

She adds, “My best advice for choosing the perfect venue is to visit in person for a tour. Looking online is helpful for getting 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.”

Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch is another venue that offers a natural backdrop, but with a little bit of country flare too.

“Our venue is ideal for weddings year-round, as our facilities offer indoor and outdoor options,” explains Tyson Schaefer of Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch. “With our four barns on-site we have a very good mix of options as far as space to comfortably accommodate guests. Each of them has great character and plenty of room for socializing and dancing. We recommend 75-150 guests for our two smaller barns, 175-225 guests for our mid-size barn and up to 400 guests for our large barn. As with any venue you’ll want to make sure that the one you book fits your guest list, and when in doubt, go for a bigger space instead of one that will barely accommodate the amount of people you are planning for.

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 on-site. 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. This summer we did a lot of work on landscaping the buildings as well as installing new dance floors and wall finishes, so the barns are looking better than ever inside and out.

During our fall season we have plenty of festivals, which have been popular with guests as there’s something for the whole family to enjoy during any down time. We’ve even had past weddings tie the theme of the festivals into their receptions. Our rustic barns offer a wide open space that’s a blank canvas ready to be transformed. If you like the western feel, the décor is already almost done for you but if you’re looking to add some charming extras, you’re more than welcome to decorate however you please. We have a decorator that we’ve worked with on many different occasions and we are always happy to connect our clients with her. This option also tends to be much easier and more cost effective than finding the decorations and piecing everything together on your own if that’s not something that’s your strong suit.

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, style of cuisine or idea with us and we will work our culinary magic to make it happen. Generally the only thing left for the couple to line up is the wedding cake or dessert options of choice.

Essentially the way we’ve set up wedding planning is geared towards covering all of the bases with the exception of the bridal wear and wedding cake, or alternatively, being of service in whichever specific areas are requested. We are already booking events for 2016 and even into 2017, so we can set a date as far out as needed but with our resources on-site and vendor relationships we are also able to get everything booked within a month or two. Every wedding is different so it all just depends on your vision and the specific details you’ll be planning for. 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, and we are always honored to be of service to our brides and grooms in whatever way we can. Whether you’re planning a year or more out or on short notice, we welcome you to come out and see us. We host a lot of weddings at our venue and are happy to give a tour and lend our advice. Feel free to call us at (402) 331-2763 or visit our website at bellevueberryfarm.com to find out more!”

The newly expanded, full-service clubhouse at the picturesque Shoreline Golf Course is yet another perfect choice for your wedding reception or any other related festivities such as your rehearsal dinner or bridal shower. With a convenient location five minutes from downtown Omaha and Eppley Airfield, along with being minutes from the Council Bluffs Casinos and offering plenty of entertainment with golfing on-site, Shoreline is a fantastic venue that your guests are sure to enjoy. Their friendly, courteous staff specializes in organizing all types of functions and is capable of designing events to match any style and budget. With seating for over 175 in the dining room as well as additional seating on the patio overlooking the beautiful scenery of the golf course on Carter Lake, you’ll have first-rate accommodations with the finest amenities. Rental fees include professional staff to assist in event planning, setup and takedown for your event, as well as catering which includes your meal and service plus the use of linens, skirting, tables and chairs. The catering menu has a wide variety of choices from hors d’oeuvres to both hot and cold selections. Catering services are arranged with flexible options for the amount of guests you will be expecting, with the final headcount submitted up to one week prior to your event. This is especially nice for weddings, as you will most likely have a few last minute RSVPs come in!

When planning with the venue staff, as previously touched upon it is important to take note of what they have to offer versus 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. If you are renting tables for an outdoor event, Honeyman Rent-All will even supply clips at no charge to secure covers or tablecloths to the tables so the wind cannot blow them off.

“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.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as you may never know if your vision can be achieved if you don’t ask,” adds Bart Brown of United Rent-All. “We have such a vast array of items that you might be surprised by what you can rent. In fact, at United Rent-All we’re known for having just about everything you would need to rent for not only the wedding ceremony/reception, but for bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners and lots of other events. We have rented everything from cotton candy machines to penguin props for weddings over the years. Many people are interested in creative ways to serve or present their food/beverages for their events and we have added to our inventory to accommodate family style, individually plated or ‘small bites’ menus. We pride ourselves on having great relationships with a majority of venues, caterers, event planners and florists in the area so that we all work well together to make everyone’s wedding memorable and special.

Furthermore, we are always on the lookout for the next ‘big thing.’ Recently we have seen a resurgence of everything gold, so we’ve added some new candelabras, linen and serving pieces to satisfy people’s wishes. Another area we continue to expand is lighting for events; we have some exciting new things we can do with centerpieces, table lighting and room accent lighting. We also will be attending several special event trade shows over the next few months to see what is new and exciting!”

He further advises, “Planning an event like a wedding should be fun; it’s important to enjoy the experience. Never lose sight of what you are celebrating. Weddings can be a great place to show your personality and express what is important to you, so let your imagination run wild!”

The Cake (or Dessert of Choice!):

When it comes to wedding staples, the cake is just as iconic as the dress and the rings. This is another item that you’ll want to plan for in advance to make sure you get exactly what you hoped for on the big day.

“While we offer a wide variety of creative options for weddings, we’ve recently seen the return of the large, traditional tiered wedding cakes in classic white,” says Michelle Kaiser, owner of Alotta Brownies Bakery. “It’s also a great canvas to start from as any number of design features can be incorporated. Along with the wedding cake or for the adventurous types that wish to deviate from the ‘norm,’ we offer a wealth of unique options from custom dessert recipes to elaborate displays such as buffet-style dessert bars. These can include a variation of the same type of dessert or an assortment of different treats – cakes, cupcakes, bars, brownies or event premier desserts such as cannolis and Belguim mousse cups or a themed display such as a brownie sundae buffet. Our creative team of designers and decorators are highly skilled and enjoy staying on the cutting edge of wedding trends and taking on new projects. 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. If you’re looking for a healthier option to offer your guests, we are now able to offer gluten-free cakes as well. We don’t necessarily recommend this for those with Celiac’s or life or death dietary restrictions, but just as a preferred recipe choice. At Alotta Brownies Bakery we bake everything fresh to order and take great pride in creating delicious desserts that stand out. This is one occasion where you really want the key aspects to shine, with desserts being one of them as it’s a classic wedding feature.

As far as tradition goes, there’s another thing that’s trending and it’s NOT eating your year-old wedding cake on your 1st anniversary. While it is an absolutely romantic in theory, in reality it makes for a less than wonderful moment when you’re eating a chalky, flavorless piece of old wedding cake. Not to mention one of you may end up angry with the other if someone shuffles something around in the freezer and smashes your preserved wedding cake tucked in the back. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging anyone as it’s very important to some people that tradition is honored. However, if you’re looking for a fresh twist to celebrate, we can recreate a couples cake for your anniversary with the same theme you used for your wedding cake! Oftentimes I suggest it to men as an adorable surprise and a truly special treat to share with their wives. So instead of saving your cake, just enjoy it and share it with your guests and then get a cute, fresh version to celebrate with on your anniversary!”

She further advises, “If you don’t really know what you want yet, do your research and bring us your ideas. Pinterest is a wonderful resource and we always love to see pictures as it greatly helps us to get on the same page. Once you come in, sit down with our designers and show us what ideas you’ve been attracted to, we can draw up something for you to review. If it isn’t what you want, we can go back to the drawing board and reimagine a new scenario – it’s that easy and as bakery artists, we enjoy the process just as much as delivering the finished product. We can work within any budget and offer several options that would provide you with what you want at a price you can afford. I assure you that you can always tell the difference in quality, so it’s essential to work with a professional because it’s your big day and it’s absolutely worth it!”

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 to assist so many brides and grooms with their big day. Whether 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.”

She continues, “During the planning stage of a wedding things can get stressful at times, so helping each other and being a part of this process together is so important!  Just make sure to have fun and stay true to who you are as a couple. Advice from loved ones and friends is awesome but this is your time to introduce yourselves as a couple and you should make sure that it reflects just that! Also remember that it is one night to showcase who you are as a couple and where you are heading. Have fun with it. Look at tons of pictures, see what fits and make it your own. Our baker has been doing wedding cakes for over thirty years so nothing is impossible with Smallcakes! Hope to see y’all in soon!”

The Entertaining:

As with entertaining guests at any event, a major focus is on making sure everyone has an enjoyable experience. Especially in the case of weddings, this includes making sure guests are fed and have access to refreshments so they can relax and party it up!

Just Good Meat launched its catering service at the beginning of this year, and it’s already been a big hit with many wedding clients this season. Their wedding packages are customized for each group, with a wide variety of main courses and sides to choose from depending on the size of your guest list and your event budget.

“We expanded our offerings into event catering because we have so much to offer in the store and we’ve always been honored to help our customers put together a meal for their parties or events, so it made sense to begin bringing our fare directly to the venue and offering meal service when requested,” explains Sean Fuller, owner of Just Good Meat. “With our new food truck we can do backyard or outdoor weddings, along with the capability to provide meals for larger groups than ever before. From smoked prime rib to marinated, smoked chicken breasts in a variety of flavors and on to other delicacies such as fish, lobster tail, and Alaskan King Crab Legs or even unique meats such as elk and frog legs, there’s a customized meal to fit any taste and budget. Our list of sides is just as lengthy, with homemade garlic mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and a variety of different pasta salads just to name a few of our most popular. We can also create a spread of hors d’oeuvres for weddings, with options ranging from Italian meatballs to little smokies to cheese and meat platters or a combination of our meats and sides in smaller portions for a heavier salad bar.

Especially in the case of weddings, there’s generally no two that are alike so we enjoy tailoring a package to what the couple envision for their wedding meal. Since even the bride and groom sometimes want different things, we’ve found that it’s much more enjoyable to plan a meal together if there are plenty of options to choose from at different price points. At Just Good Meat we pride ourselves in offering premium quality products at highly competitive prices and our catering services are certainly no different, so you won’t have to sacrifice quality to get everything that you want for your meal. We consider the keys to a good meal being great flavor, competitive pricing and attractive presentation, and when it comes to events, this should be done well in a timely manner with fantastic service. It’s important for our clients to have the best for any event that they will be hosting, weddings included.

To get everything booked and nailed down as far as the menu, we offer a complimentary consultation where we go over the wide variety of options and establish the menu along with all of the other necessary details. For catering there are several things we’d need to know to help you plan: the approximate number of guests you’re inviting, any dietary restrictions, your budget for catering services, how many choices for main courses and sides that you’ll want to offer, and the location as well as any amenities that are available to use on-site.”

He adds, “For smaller events such as a picnic for the bridal shower or if the guys want to grill before going out for the bachelor party, we are happy to cater these too or we can have the complete meal ready to pick up in the store.”

Along with serving food, you’ll also want to have beverages available for your guests to enjoy. This is another area that may or may not be covered by your venue of choice, and if it’s isn’t, not to worry because there are excellent local resources for this aspect of entertaining too!

“Hiring Maui Wowi for your wedding, or pre-wedding festivities, allows you to enjoy your event with confidence that we will handle serving drinks and coffees!” says Beth Howie, owner of the Maui Wowi Omaha franchise.  “We can provide alcoholic or non-alcoholic fresh fruit smoothies, as well as coffee drinks that are sure to be a hit! So no matter what time of year your wedding date is set for, we can customize the drink options to fit with warmer or cooler temperatures. We serve our beverages from a Tiki Hut, which allows us the freedom to set up shop indoors or outdoors and really adds a unique, festive touch to any event – especially if there’s a tropical theme!”

The Special Touches:

From the invitations to the gifts for the bridal party to the centerpieces at the reception and so on, there are a plethora of special details for weddings that you don’t want to forget!

Especially regarding invitations, as these are most generally customized, you’ll need to plan well in advance in order to stay in line with the proper etiquette of inviting your guests with enough time for them to plan accordingly.

Located at 3904 Farnam, Pulp is a new paperie and gift boutique that combines modern design with timeless quality to bring people joy. Your customized wedding invitations are a signature piece that should be memorable, distinctive, and showcase your unique personality as a couple. With specialty ink and paper created by independent designers and produced by artisanal methods, all found at Pulp Boutique, your invitations are sure to be incredible.

“We are excited to add custom invitations to our list of offerings in September!” says Erin Luong, owner of Pulp Boutique. “We’re happy to take walk-ins, but an appointment is recommended to make the most of our time together. Invitation design has really come a long way in the 12+ years I’ve been consulting with couples and families during this special time in their lives. We will offer a full range of design services specializing in Letterpress and custom wedding packages in addition to programs, menus, etc.

In addition to the design services we offer, Pulp also carries an array of unique gifts for the bridal party. Our Hand in Hand line is a popular choice because the beautiful packaging for the items are little works of art by themselves. Made in the USA, along with being cruelty-, palm- and paraben-free, their candles, sugar scrub, bath salts and soaps pair perfectly to pamper the ladies. For each product purchased, 50 sq. ft. of old-growth rainforest is saved and a child in the developing world receives one bar of lifesaving soap and a month of clean drinking water. And this is only one of our many lines where social giving and sustainability are an intrinsic part of your purchase.

Our Melinda Maria jewelry offers brides another option to commemorate their special day for their bridal party. Her Goddess Collection of necklaces and bracelets represent the greatest qualities inside of all women. Strength, Prosperity, Power, Peace and Sisterhood. Each piece is finely crafted with 14 karat gold or silver and handset with semi-precious stones and engraving. It’s a memorable piece that will be cherished long after your special day. This is a popular item so I do recommend going with a special order of 3-4 weeks ahead of time to allow plenty of time.

Our bestsellers for grooms’ gifts include our Spitfire Girl flasks made by artisans in Los Angeles. There are two versions: cork and sustainably harvested cherry wood. Each comes with a carrying bag. We also have a selection of dopp kits and Jack Black grooming products that get rave reviews.”

She further advises, “Proper planning and knowing your budget early on are important factors to making any wedding successful. Do your research and collect samples/pictures of things you like (and don’t like). Know what you want, but be willing to be flexible when necessary. Your wedding will be a magical day, but the most important factor is the new life you and your partner are beginning!”

So for all of you ladies and gentlemen out there who are planning weddings, whether it’s yet this year or your date is set for 2016, there are plenty of options available and the sky’s the limit. Just make sure you have a set budget established as well as areas that you’ve agreed to spend more money versus those that are lower on your priority list. As one of the most important days of your entire life, and the start of your life together as husband and wife, it’s important to work with experienced professionals who will make sure that all of the bases are covered so that you get to enjoy all of the wonderful moments and make the memories you’ll cherish forever on your special wedding day.