Wisconsin Bride Best of 2010
Wisconsin Bride Best of 2010
The votes are in, and our readers have chosen Wisconsin's best wedding vendors of 2010. Here, we recognize premier wedding professionals dedicated to turning every bride and groom's vision into reality. From attentive planners to artistic videographers, we applaud the experts who commit to making every couple's wedding-day dreams come true. –By Jeanne Kolker
Top of the Tiara
The finalists are: Beyond Elegant Events, Dynamic Events, One Fine Day Productions
The winner is: Dynamic Events
Milwaukee | 414.283.0050 | dynamiceventsinc.com
To create a spectacular wedding day without working themselves to the brink of exhaustion (or beyond), couples often turn to a wedding planner—someone who can attend to all the details so the bride and groom can live out their dream day stress-free. For many Wisconsin couples, that planner is David Caruso of Dynamic Events.
For Wauwatosa bride Shannon Salentine, finding someone like Caruso was a necessity. “When I got engaged, there was a possibility I would be asked to relocate to Nairobi for my job. I knew that I wanted to get married in my home state and it was important to us that we try our best to have an outdoor wedding in a natural setting. How were we going to plan a wedding if we ended up moving an ocean away?” she wondered.
Fortunately, an Internet search turned up the answer. “I clearly remember the night we stumbled upon a video clip of David and photos from an event he did at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. Not only did I know that this was the place for us to get married, but it was the first time that using a wedding planner even crossed my mind,” Salentine says.
Enter Caruso. “My approach is highly personalized,” he says. “I often work with brides and grooms from a distance, and I love to put them at ease and take the burden off their shoulders. I get to be so closely connected to people on the most important, emotional day of their lives, and I don’t take that lightly.”
After speaking with Caruso on Skype, Salentine and her fiancé were sold. “Choosing to have Dynamic Events plan our wedding was the best decision we could have made,” she says. “It saved us money, time, and allowed us to focus on each other and on our family and friends as we prepared to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Anne Conti of Madison chose Dynamic Events to help plan her reception at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “David made the planning process easy. He managed all the details; to be able to have no stress and truly enjoy the experience was the best part of working with David,” Conti says.
And for Caruso, each wedding is gratifying in its own special way. “Every time is such a new experience,” he says. “Throughout the planning process, I can see how everything is going to look in my mind, but my clients often have a harder time picturing it. That’s what I love the most: Catching the reaction on their faces when they see in person everything I’ve envisioned in my mind.”
Best Outdoor Reception Site
The finalists are: Heidel House Resort, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and Quivey’s Grove
The winner is: Quivey’s Grove
Madison | 608.273.4900 | quiveysgrove.com
“The staff at Quivey’s Grove obviously has lots of experience with weddings, and although I made the decisions, they executed everything perfectly. We didn’t have to figure out where to rent things or how to get things to and from the location because their wedding coordinator was so helpful. Our wedding day was perfect and I didn’t have to worry about a thing at Quivey’s—they had it under control and we just had to enjoy the day!” – Torilynne Kersten, Brooklyn, married June 20, 2009
Best Bridal Gowns
The finalists are: Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc., Amelishan Bridal, and Vera’s House of Bridals
The winner is: Vera’s House of Bridals
Madison | 608.833.6006 | verasbridals.com
“My experience with Vera’s was great! My consultant, Kay, asked me questions about my personality and what type of wedding gown I thought I wanted. She showed me several dresses, including a strapless gown with a green sash across the waist. I didn’t like the colored sash, but she urged me to try it on since the dress could be ordered without the color. That was the first wedding dress I tried on, and about a week later it was the dress I ended up buying. I’m so happy she got me to try it on.” – Jamie Stokstad, Stoughton, married Nov. 7, 2009
Best Jeweler
The finalists are: Kessler’s Diamonds, Diamond Center, and BR Diamond Suite
The winner is: Kessler’s Diamonds
Madison | 608.662.9800 | kesslersdiamonds.com
“After visiting several jewelers for my husband’s wedding band, we went to Kessler’s. We felt that the person who attended to us was very knowledgeable, and we liked their low-pressure, understanding approach. We ultimately decided to go with a ring from Kessler’s because they had very unusual pieces, one of which my husband and I just loved. The one-time size replacement for his tungsten ring was a bonus that we knew would come in handy in the future.” – Jacqueline Moga, Madison, married Aug. 8, 2009
Best Reception Site for a Small Wedding (fewer than 200 guests)
The finalists are: Heidel House Resort, The Madison Club, and Monona Terrace
The winner is: Monona Terrace
Madison | 608.261.4000 | mononaterrace.com
“I chose Monona Terrace because I knew the location was beautiful. I held the ceremony on the rooftop overlooking the lake and had the reception in one of the ballrooms. The food was delicious, and the staff and planners were friendly and great to work with. I was planning everything from New York, and they were very accommodating in terms of planning over the phone and through e-mail. I had an amazing experience and would recommend Monona Terrace to anyone.” – Mikaela Figueroa, Madison, married June 16, 2009
Best Planner
The finalists are: The Wedding Guy, Dynamic Events, and Beyond Elegant Events
The winner is: The Wedding Guy
Madison | 608.358.0383 | thewedguy.com
“I was looking for a wedding coordinator I could really trust so we wouldn’t have to worry about anything on our big day. We hired [owner] Bill Reed to be our coordinator for the day of the wedding, but he helped us a great deal throughout the entire planning process. We met with him two days before our wedding and filled his van with all of our supplies and had a final meeting about the wedding day. It couldn’t have gone more perfectly, and we have Bill to thank for that. He took care of every detail and handled every problem so our families didn’t have to worry about a thing!” – Emily Baseheart, Madison, married Sept. 6, 2009
Best Hair and Makeup
The finalists are: Sundara Inn & Spa, ANiU Salon & Spa, and The Ultimate Spa and Salon
The winner is: ANiU Salon & Spa
Middleton | 608.833.2898 | aniusalonandspa.com
“A good friend highly recommended ANiU, so I made an appointment. Without any ideas of my own, I let the stylist have free creative rein—and it turned out beautifully! She was great; I truly felt that she took the time to listen to what I liked and didn’t like, and was then able to transform that into something that worked great with my hair and bone structure.” – Ali Klein, Fitchburg, married Feb. 20, 2010
Best Videographer
The finalists are: Aerodef Productions, One Fine Day Productions, and Frogman Productions
The winner is: One Fine Day Productions
Madison and Milwaukee | onefinedayproductions.com
“My mom visited One Fine Day’s booth at a bridal fair and was completely sold! Amy [Johnson] had a video playing of another wedding she had done that had my mom in tears. On our wedding day, Amy and her assistant were right there, recording our every move. They captured shots that our photographers missed. When we got the wedding video back we were absolutely blown away. It was over an hour long and told the story of our day perfectly. We’ll watch it again on our anniversary—it’s definitely the best way to relive our special day.” – Jessica Leibrock, Apple Valley, Minn., married Sept. 18, 2009
Best Florist
The finalists are: Personal Expressions, Beauty Blossoms, and daffodil*parker
The winner is: Beauty Blossoms
Madison | 608.831.4242 | beautyblossomsonline.com
“I met Beth from Beauty Blossoms at a small wedding show. She asked many questions to get a feeling for the style and theme I wanted and seemed genuinely excited to be a part of our wedding. She was obviously very knowledgeable and always creative in her suggestions. At the wedding and afterward, I received so many compliments from family and friends on the flowers. Our wedding was large, and the centerpieces and arrangements really complemented the unique feeling and atmosphere of the day. Everything was just beautiful and I couldn’t have been more pleased!” – Susan Lawniczak, Madison, married July 25, 2009
Best Band
The finalists are: Spicy Tie Band, Piano Fondue, and Eddie Butts Band
The winner is: Spicy Tie Band
Plover | 715.341.3967 | spicytie.com
“From contacting me personally about specific songs we wanted played to emceeing our grand march, Spicy Tie was the perfect fit for our wedding. Their communication with us was fantastic and they accommodated all of our song requests. The dance floor was packed all night long, and my husband and I are still getting compliments on the most fun wedding ever. It wouldn’t have been possible without Spicy Tie. They really made our wedding day memorable.” – Megan Freund Jacquet, Winneconne, married Sept. 6, 2008
Best Hotel for Guests
The finalists are: Heidel House Resort, The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club, and Four Points by Sheraton Milwaukee
The winner is: The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club
Madison | 608.257.6000 | concoursehotel.com
“We chose the Concourse because I wanted our out-of-town guests to be able to stay close to all that downtown Madison has to offer, while having a beautiful and unique place to return to at the end of the day. Our experience was stellar—they really went above and beyond what I expected to make our wedding weekend wonderful. Someone gifted us a stay at the Concourse for the night of our wedding but didn’t realize we wouldn’t leave for the honeymoon until two days later. The hotel was sold out, but the fabulous people at the Concourse went out of their way to find my new husband and me a room for the following night as well.” – Katy Svec, Madison, married Sept. 4, 2009
Best Attendant Dresses
The finalists are: Bella Bridesmaid, Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc., and Vera’s House of Bridals
The winner is: Brandi’s Bridal galleria, etc.
New Glarus | 608.527.4436 | brandisbridal.com
“Brandi’s is unlike any bridal store I’ve been in. The moment my friend and I walked in, the friendly staff greeted us, set us up in a dressing room and showed us a huge selection of attendant dresses. Any questions we had, the staff was by our side to assist us. We felt no pressure from anyone. I had a great time working with the staff; Brandi, Kirsten, and Laurie the seamstress were fantastic! They made the time leading up to our day even more special than I ever imagined.” – Katie Selz, Madison, married Sept. 19, 2009
Best Cake
The finalists are: “I Do” Cakes by Betty, Craig’s Cake Shop, and Chris’s Confections
The winner is: Craig’s Cake Shop
Verona | 608.848.6331 | craigscakeshop.com
“Craig was so nice to work with, and his staff is so helpful and responsive. They helped us work through the myriad mousse, jam, and cake combinations, and in the end our cake looked so fantastic that we didn’t want to cut into it; it looked just like the picture. What’s better is that it was so delicious; our guests made a point of telling us how great it tasted. We plan to order another for our one-year wedding anniversary.” – Heather Kassens, Oconomowoc, married Sept. 19, 2009
Best Calligraphy
The finalists are: The Blooming Quill, Paper Envy, and Linda P. Hancock Calligraphy & Design
The winner is: The Blooming Quill
Milwaukee | 262.268.0525 | bloomingquill.com
“My husband and I absolutely loved working with [owner] Debi Zeinert. We met her at a bridal show at the very beginning stages of our wedding planning. As soon as I saw her work, I knew that I wanted her to design our invitations. We met with Debi a few times—she was so easy to work with—and we were able to do a lot of our correspondence via e-mail. Her work is unique, and incredibly beautiful. I received so many compliments from our guests on the work that Debi did—it definitely added to the elegance of our wedding!” – Rachel Plasky Steele, Mequon, married Sept. 6, 2009
Best Rehearsal Dinner Venue
The finalists are: The Madison Club, Lake Windsor Golf Club, and The Great Dane
The winner is: The Madison Club
Madison | 608.255.4861 | madisonclub.org
“I had been to a few other events at the Madison Club, including a small wedding, and fell in love with the style of the rooms on the second floor. The staff set everything up perfectly, the food was great, and we received many compliments on the entire event. The downtown location was a great way to show off the city we love to our out-of-town guests.” – Kendra O’Connell, Sun Prairie, married Aug. 8, 2009
Best DJ
The finalists are: Celebrations Entertainment, Juke Box Bandstand, and Sound by Design
The winner is: Juke box Bandstand
Madison | 608.249.2900 | jukeboxbandstand.com
“As my fiancé Eric and I were researching DJs online, Juke Box Bandstand had the best prices for what we were looking for, as we needed an outdoor PA system for our wedding. We sent them an e-mail requesting more info, plus a quote with our added need. Their response was very timely, and I was impressed with the quote. On our wedding day, the music selections were perfect. I was out on the dance floor for almost every song—they were that good!” – Shanna Baurichter, Watertown, married June 27, 2009
Best Gift Registry
The finalists are: Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Macy’s
The winner is: Bed Bath & Beyond
Statewide | 800.462.3966 | bedbathandbeyond.com
“Choosing Bed Bath & Beyond for our gift registry turned out to be the most convenient choice we could have made. The registry consultants were extremely helpful. They remembered us and even let us stay in the store past business hours to work on our registry. Everything we needed was in one place—it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.” – Bridget Zebrowski, Hales Corners, married Sept. 26, 2009
Best Caterer for a Small Reception (fewer than 200 guests)
The finalists are: Viviani’s Catering Service, Saz’s Catering, and Zuppas Catering
The winner is: Viviani’s Catering Service
Middleton | 608.831.1818 | vivianiscatering.com
“My husband and I wanted an appetizer buffet instead of a traditional dinner for our reception. [Owner] Rick Viviani made us feel comfortable right away at our tasting. He had a delectable spread of appetizers, ranging from bacon-wrapped scallops to chicken wings. Everything was delicious and Rick helped answer all of our questions and offered us some great tips. The food was excellent and we had so many compliments on everything Rick made. He has a great personality; working with him was an excellent experience.” – Randi Simon, Waunakee, married Aug. 1, 2009
Best Mother-of-the-Bride Apparel
The finalists are: Vera’s House of Bridals, Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc., and Specially Hers
The winner is: Specially Hers
Baraboo | 608.356.3033 | speciallyhers.com
“We chose Specially Hers because of their big selection and price points. They had items from very affordable to very expensive and everything in between. They have dresses, skirts, dress pants, and blazers, because not every woman wants to wear a dress. The staff is very helpful. They helped my mom and I pick the perfect dress that made my mom look just about as stunning as me on my wedding day!” – Amanda Heelein, Evansville, married Dec. 12, 2009
Best Transportation for the Wedding Party
The finalists are: Abracadabra Limousines, Badger Coaches, and Gallant Knight Limousine
The winner is: Gallant Knight Limousine
Madison | 608.242.7000 | gallantknightusa.com
“We chose Gallant Knight because they had the best price and were the most flexible. We were not looking for an all-day limo, more just a fun way to give the wedding party a break in between a long ceremony and a night of dancing. The driver we had was phenomenal. He was very friendly and outgoing; he cracked a couple of jokes and made everyone smile and feel comfortable. Everything went perfectly!” – Lindsey Hart, Madison, married Sept. 5, 2009
Best Favors
The finalists are: The Traveling Photo Booth, Michaels, and Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
The winner is: Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
Madison | 608.249.3500 | gailambrosius.com
“I loved working with Gail because she was willing to work with my ideas. I was planning a winter wedding and wanted to use personalized silver boxes. Gail and Sandy were so excited to be a part of the project; it’s always a treat working with people who are passionate about their jobs. I supplied Gail with silver boxes to be filled with four of her outstanding chocolates, all of which I chose at the shop myself. I was going for something sparkly, and they achieved that by sprinkling each chocolate with wintry edible accents. They were a wonderful team to work with.” – Katherine Steinhauer, Cincinnati, married Jan. 17, 2010
Best Honeymoon in Wisconsin
The finalists are: American Club, Heidel House Resort, and Sundara Inn & Spa
The winner is: Sundara Inn & Spa
Wisconsin Dells | 608.253.9200 | sundaraspa.com
“My husband and I planned a honeymoon to Indonesia for a month after the wedding but knew we needed a bit of time to recover from the wedding. So we spent a three-day mini-moon tucked away in a private villa at Sundara, where we could escape from everything. Even though we were relaxed just from the environment, we scheduled side-by-side massages in a gorgeous spa room for our last day so that we left feeling ready to face the real world again.” – Heidi Michel, Madison, married Sept. 19, 2009
Best Photographer
The finalists are: Ideal Impressions Photography, Natural Moments Photography, and Pierre’s Portrait Art Co.
The winner is: Natural Moments Photography
Madison | 608.776.4615 | naturalmomentsphoto.com
“[Owner] Lisa Braley and the staff at Natural Moments Photography perfectly captured the essence of our special day. Photos of the surroundings that we may not have noticed in the flurry of the day are documented. Those subtle details—not just of the surroundings, but of ourselves and our guests—were captured in a professional and meaningful way. My husband and I are grateful to have such wonderful keepsakes!” – Kathleen Stoneman Norris, Madison, married June 23, 2009
Best Invitations
The finalists are: Paper Piper Designs, Paper Envy, and Sugar Pear Design
The winner is: Sugar Pear Design
Verona | 608.288.8976 | sugarpeardesign.com
“We liked working with [owner] Kathy Marcelle at Sugar Pear Design because she really took the time to understand who we are as people, what our style is, and what vibe we wanted for the wedding—then she incorporated all of that into the most beautiful invitations I’ve ever seen. I really appreciated that we were getting something unique to us as a couple, and our guests took notice. So many people called me up when they got the invitation to tell me how beautiful they were.” – Amy Cavanaugh, Madison, married May 16, 2009
Best Reception Site for a Large Wedding (more than 200 guests)
The finalists are: Monona Terrace, Lake Windsor Golf Club, and The Madison Club
The winner is: Lake Windsor Golf Club
Windsor | 608.846.4711 | lakewindsor.com
“We chose Lake Windsor for many reasons; first, the location is beautiful and the landscape changes with the seasons. Also, the reception site was just what we were looking for—that elegant look that went with our theme. The food for the reception could not have been more perfect; the appetizers were amazing. After the ceremony, we were able to take a golf cart out and get some beautiful pictures on the course. Overall, our experience at Lake Windsor could not have been better—there were no surprises and we were pleased every step of the way.” – Amanda Stankus, Madison, married Sept. 18, 2009
Best Attendant Gifts
The finalists are: The Knot, Things Remembered, and Macy’s
The winner is: Things Remembered
Statewide | 866.902.4438 | thingsremembered.com
“My husband chose Things Remembered because of the selection they had for gifts for his groomsmen. The customer service at Things Remembered was excellent. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and we received our order within a few days of placing it. They left such an impression that we still shop at Things Remembered.” – Lori Wild, Stoughton, married Sept. 27, 2008
Best Travel Agency
The finalists are: Burkhalter Travel, Middleton Travel, and Fox World Travel
The winner is: Fox World Travel
Statewide | 888.369.8785 | gofox.com
“Planning a destination wedding and trying to arrange 22 people traveling from three different states was way too much for me to handle. I worked with Cindy Brill at Fox World Travel, who took care of everything for me. She handled my nervous-bride-to-be questions and mini freak-outs, kept me informed and reassured me throughout the planning process. When we traveled I had the peace of mind of knowing I had someone to call if something went wrong, and in the end everything went great!” – Leah Geerts, Concord, N.C., married March 11, 2010
Best Spa for the Bridal Party
The finalists are: Renui Salon and Spa, ANiU Salon & Spa, and The Ultimate Salon and Spa
The winner is: Renui Salon and Spa
Darlington | 608.776.8088 | renuisalonspa.com
“My bridesmaids and I got manicures and pedicures and the whole spa treatment at Renui before my wedding. The staff there was very sweet, and gave us champagne and fruit and really allowed us to kick back and relax. The best thing about Renui is the personal attention the staff provides. They are based in a small town and are invested in their clients. It was such a welcoming environment, and I felt so well cared-for at such an important time in my life.” – Katie Ritchie, East Troy, married Aug. 15, 2009
Best Dance Instructor
The finalists are: Tempo, Dance On Air, and Fred Astaire Dance Studios
The winner is: Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Madison | 608.833.2623 | fredastairemadison.com
“My wife and I won a free dance lesson from Fred Astaire Dance Studios, and we enjoyed the experience so much that we signed up for additional sessions. Overall, our experience was positive because they made us comfortable despite us having no previous dance experience. We were able to learn a variety of dances that we could incorporate into our wedding night, making it more enjoyable than just going around in circles.” – Ryan Peterson, New Glarus, married May 9, 2009
Best Formalwear
The finalists are: Nedrebo’s Formalwear, Men’s Warehouse, and Du Bois Formalwear
The winner is: Nedrebo’s Formalwear
Statewide | 800.234.2727 | nedrebos.com
“We chose Nedrebo’s because they had a large selection of tuxedos and their prices were reasonable. The salespeople were very helpful and friendly and always answered any questions we had. When the wedding day rolled around the groom and groomsmen couldn’t have looked sharper! I would recommend Nedrebo’s to anyone getting married; they were excellent to do business with.” – Julie Seales, Janesville, married Oct. 3, 2009
Best Ceremony Venue
The finalists are: Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Monona Terrace, and Lake Windsor Golf Club
The winner is: Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Madison | 608.246.4550 | olbrich.org
“I had my heart set on Olbrich from the time my husband proposed! I knew I wanted an outdoor wedding, but the thought of rain did scare me a bit. That is why Olbrich is the perfect solution; there’s an indoor area that looks just as gorgeous as the outdoors. As it turned out, the day was beautiful, sunny, and picture-perfect. I could not have been happier with the location, and our photographs, with the beautiful gardens in the background, are breathtaking.” – Janelle Van Erem, Madison, married June 13, 2009
Best Rental and Décor
The finalists are: A to Z Event Essentials, BBJ Linens, and Canopies
The winner is: A to Z Event Essentials
Madison | 800.848.4651 | eventessentials.com
“I chose A to Z because I had used them before in event planning in a prior job. Also, our wedding site and reception venue said they had delivered there many times, so I thought going with a company that knows the site would be better than starting from scratch. [Manager] Farrah Slinger was really helpful and flexible with making changes along the way; we decided to change our reception from a dinner to an evening cocktail and appetizer hour and she helped us make those changes without any problems. I would definitely recommend A to Z!” – Heather Garrison, Madison, married Aug. 29, 2009
Best Ceremony Music
The finalists are: LFQ String Quartet, Quartessence String Quartet, and Juke Box Bandstand
The winner is: Quartessence String Quartet
Madison | 608.669.1418 | quartessence.com
“Our experience with Quartessence was wonderful. I e-mailed them about their services and they replied to me immediately. They sent me a sample CD through the mail, and I loved their music. They really listened to what we wanted for our ceremony. They did an amazing job at our ceremony and we received many compliments from our guests. I am actually sad that I wasn’t in the audience to hear all of the music they played!” – Brenda Swenson, Janesville, married Sept. 19, 2009
Best Caterer for a Large Reception (more than 200 guests)
The finalists are: Lee John’s Catering, Blue Plate Catering, and Saz’s Catering
The winner is: Lee John’s Catering
Waukesha | 262.549.0006 | leejohns.com
“Our wedding planner recommended we have a tasting with Lee John’s. They were amazing; I really liked the creativity, attention to detail, flavor of the food, and the portions. Lee John’s is well-respected—everyone I know who is familiar with their food has given them a ringing endorsement.” – Christine Specht, Brookfield, married July 10, 2010
Best Accessories
The finalists are: Vera’s House of Bridals, Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc., and Premiere Couture
The winner is: Premiere Couture
Madison | 608.255.1921 | premierecouture.com
“I really enjoyed my experience with Rosemary and Laura at Premiere Couture. I purchased my dress, shoes, and a hair accessory from their shop. All of their products were high quality and fit my style. More important, when I walked through the doors, they always greeted me by name and seemed sincerely interested in how the wedding planning was going. Premiere Couture is a special place where women can feel comfortable taking their time and will always receive top-notch, personal customer service.” – Jacqui Guthrie, Waunakee, married July 19, 2009
Best Wedding-Night Hotel
The finalists are: The Pfister, Hilton Monona Terrace, and Heidel House Resort
The winner is: Heidel House Resort
Green Lake | 920.294.3344 | heidelhouse.com
“We chose Heidel House because of its unique resort location, the lake views, and the ceremony site on the lake. We had a great experience with the staff; they were a lot of help with planning, food tasting, everything. Having the golf course and spa right across the street made for a great time for both guys and girls on the day before the wedding. All in all, our wedding experience was as close to perfect as we could have hoped for, and for a reasonable price.” – Nick Popp, Beloit, married June 13, 2009
Thank you to our awards ceremony partners: