Wisconsin Bride Best of 2011 Winners

The votes have been cast, and the results are official—our readers have crowned 36 local wedding vendors the best of 2011. On the following pages, we raise our glasses to the industry’s premier wedding professionals—from creative cake bakers to floral dream-makers—who make each couple’s wedding-day vision a reality.
By Jeanne Kolker

BEST FLORIST
The finalists are: daffodil*parker; Beauty Blossoms Floral, Gift and Garden; Garden Laurels by Sager
The winner is: daffodil*parker
Madison | 608.663.2100 | daffodilparker.com
“I appreciated daffodil*parker’s expertise and imagination, not to mention their reasonable prices. They were professional and organized, responsive and understanding. On my wedding day, the flowers arrived on time with everything we had discussed.  They were perfect—better than I had imagined. Everyone commented on how beautiful the flowers were; they didn’t complete my wedding—they made my wedding. Words can’t express the beauty, creativity and love daffodil*parker put into my wedding.” – Katie Craig, Stevens Point, married June 2, 2007

BEST CAKES
The finalists are: Craig’s Cake Shop, “I Do” Cakes by Betty, Tamara’s the Cake Guru
The winner is: Craig’s Cake Shop
Verona | 608.848.6331 | craigscakeshop.com
“Craig’s Cakes was amazing because of their customer service, warm personalities and, of course, their superior cakes. My fiancé and I sat down with Craig to discuss what we would like. We had a design in mind already, so he brought one of his artists in. She did a quick sketch and captured exactly what we wanted. The final result was just beautiful.” – Shelly Andren, Madison, married Sept. 18, 2010    

BEST CALLIGRAPHY
The finalists are: The Blooming Quill, InkyDinkyDo Calligraphy, Linda P. Hancock Calligraphy & Design
The winner is: The Blooming Quill
Milwaukee | 262.268.0525 | bloomingquill.com
“Debi Zeinert of Blooming Quill is a true artist. Her unique talent adds so much to the design and ambiance of the wedding. Her beautiful handwriting will be seen on everything from my save-the-date cards to the invitations to the menu cards at the reception. Her amazing talent will make my stationery suite truly one-of-a-kind.” – Amy Johnson, Madison, to be married Aug. 27, 2011

BEST ATTENDANT DRESSES
The finalists are: Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc., David’s Bridal, Vera’s House of Bridals
The winner is: Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc.
New Glarus | 608.527.4436 | brandisbridal.com
“After visiting bridal stores in the Madison area, I felt very overwhelmed. I decided to call Brandi’s Bridal because I had heard about their wide selection of designer dresses. As soon as I arrived, I felt at ease. I loved everything about Brandi’s—my bridal consultant, the atmosphere, the prices and the selection.” – Tierney Jensen, Madison, to be married Sept. 17, 2011  

BEST INDOOR RECEPTION SITE
The finalists are: Lake Windsor Golf Club, The Madison Club, Monona Terrace
The winner is: Monona Terrace
Madison | 608.261.4000 | mononaterrace.com
“After one stroll around the building, we knew Monona Terrace was where we wanted to get married. The site and location are absolutely gorgeous for a wedding and reception, and we liked that it was all in one building so we didn’t have to travel. The ballroom looked beautiful for the reception, and the staff was professional, kind and helpful. They paid attention to every detail and fulfilled all our requests, from planning to setup to clean-up.”  – Abigail Clark Oliver, Jefferson, married Sept. 5, 2010  

BEST GIFT REGISTRY
The finalists are: Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy’s, Target
The winner is: Target
Multiple locations | 800.591.3869 | clubwed.com
“We decided to go with Target because we were
able to register for everything we wanted at one store. Target is also one of my favorite stores to shop at, so it was an easy choice! It took just a couple of minutes to set us up with a registry device and we were ready to go. It was very easy to come back to add things to our registry as well—you can manage and add or delete items at home.” – Amy Prince, Onalaska, married April 18, 2009

BEST CEREMONY VENUE
The finalists are: Lake Windsor Golf Club, Monona Terrace, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
The winner is: Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Madison | 608.246.4550 | olbrich.org
“When I was little, I dreamed of getting married at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. When it came time, it was one of the only places we looked at. I really wanted a beautiful backdrop for my wedding, and our experience with Olbrich was great. The planners were always there to answer questions and help in any way they could. The staff really went above and beyond.” – Melissa Sweeney, Madison, married July 23, 2010 

BEST REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE
The finalists are: Bridges Restaurant Lounge and Banquet Center, Great Dane Pub, The Madison Club
The winner is: The Madison Club
Madison | 608.255.4861 | madisonclub.org
“The Madison Club was amazing! We wanted a
family-style dinner, but we had more than 40 people. Justin, the event director, put together a beautiful and enormous table in a room on the second floor that overlooks the lake. The chefs discussed with us what beers and wines would pair nicely with the dinner menu we chose. Everything, from the food to the atmosphere to the service was wonderful.” – Lindsay Riesch, Madison, married Oct. 2, 2010

BEST FAVORS
The finalists are: Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier, Blush Bash, The Traveling Photo Booth
The winner is: Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
Madison | 608.249.3500 | gailambrosius.com
“I’ve long been a devotee of Gail’s chocolates, and I knew I wanted to share them with my guests. Our wedding was planned long-distance, and with the help of family in Wisconsin willing to taste and pick up the favors from Gail’s accommodating and cheerful staff, I knew we’d have a product that exceeded our expectations. We especially appreciated Gail offering Goodman Community Center Hearts (which benefits a local neighborhood center) as an option for favors. It was the perfect way for us to give back.” – Barbara Gueldner, Denver, Colo., married Dec. 22, 2010   

BEST DANCE INSTRUCTOR
The finalists are: Dance on Air, Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Tempo Ballroom & Latin Dance Studio
The winner is: Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Madison | 608.833.2623 | fredastairemadison.com
“My husband and I aren’t very experienced when it comes to dancing, but our instructor at Fred Astaire was extremely friendly and made the learning process fun and painless. I know our guests were pretty surprised with the twirls and dips in our first dance, and we’re still pulling out some of the techniques we learned when we attend friends’ weddings.” – Nikki Bollig, Verona, married May 22, 2010

BEST CEREMONY MUSIC
The finalists are: Intermezzo String Quartet, LFQ String Quartet, Quartessence String Quartet
The winner is: LFQ String Quartet
Madison | 608.249.2900 | jukeboxbandstand.com“I loved everything about LFQ [a subsidiary of Juke Box Bandstand]. They were easy to work with and very professional. I enjoyed the wide variety of songs they offered, including contemporary selections. Working with them was great; I don’t live in Madison, and we were able to do everything via email. The first time I met them was when I walked down the aisle, and I couldn’t have asked for better musicians.” – Keary Bramwell, Chicago, married April 17, 2010 

BEST SPA FOR THE BRIDAL PARTY
The finalists are: Rejuvenation Spa, Sundara Inn & Spa, The Ultimate Spa & Salon
The winner is: Rejuvenation Spa
Madison | 608.831.7546 | rejuvenationspa.net  
“We had a wonderful experience with Rejuvenation Spa. The staff was very friendly and professional. Everything went smoothly, and they really went above and beyond to accommodate our large wedding party. We all had a good time, and everyone looked fabulous!” – Alison Anger, Madison, married June 20, 2009   

BEST WEDDING PLANNER
The finalists are: Cherry Blossom Events, Dynamic Events, The Wedding Guy
The winner is: The Wedding Guy
Madison | 608.358.0383 | thewedguy.com
“Working with [owner] Bill [Reed] was the best wedding decision I made. I had a vision of what I wanted, and he orchestrated all of my vendors so I didn’t have to deal with multiple calls and meetings. He helped me stress less and even let me call him when I needed to blow off a little steam. He guided the process from beginning to end. Bill is outstanding!” – Lisa K. Mansavage, Winnetka, Ill., married Oct. 9, 2010 

BEST MOTHER-OF-THE-BRIDE APPAREL
The finalists are: Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc., Specially Hers, Vera’s House of Bridals
The winner is: Specially Hers
Baraboo | 608.356.3033 | speciallyhers.com
“After hearing about Specially Hers through a friend, I planned an afternoon to take my mom shopping. When we got to the store, I was absolutely amazed at the selection of dresses—they had 10 times more mothers’ dresses than any other bridal store I’d visited. I wanted my mom to share some of the spotlight on my special day, and she looked absolutely beautiful in her dress.” – Melissa Haag, Dane, married June 12, 2010  

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
The finalists are: Rejuvenation Spa, Renui Salon & Spa, The Ultimate Spa & Salon
The winner is: The Ultimate Spa & Salon
Monona | 608.222.4174 | ultimatespa.com
“The stylists at Ultimate are very friendly, fun and most importantly, they’re great at what they do! Colie and Carisa did the hair and makeup for my wedding party and everyone looked amazing. Colie took the extra time to make sure every detail of my look was complete. My favorite part about the salon is that it’s big enough to accommodate the whole wedding party—it was so fun to get our hair and makeup done at the same time.” – Michelle Pohl, Madison, married Sept. 4, 2010    

BEST PHOTO BOOTH
The finalists are: Beyond the Booth, Mugshotz Photobooth Rentals, The Traveling Photo Booth
The winner is: The Traveling Photo Booth
Madison and Milwaukee | 608.370.2831 or 414.881.1372 | thetravelingphotobooth.com
“I was pleasantly surprised at just how much fun people had using the Traveling Photo Booth—there was always a line of people waiting to use it. My family got Bucky Badger to surprise my husband at our wedding; we were able to choose our favorite picture of the two of us (and Bucky, of course), which the Traveling Photo Booth staff turned into our thank-you cards for us.”  – Katye Long Chwala, Janesville, May 15, 2010

BEST CATERING
The finalists are: Bartolotta Catering, Rockman’s Catering, Saz’s Catering
The winner is: Bartolotta Catering
Wauwatosa | 414.935.5000 | bartolottacatering.com
“We chose Bartolotta Catering because my fiancée and I had attended a wedding catered by them and absolutely loved the food. They were accommodating to our culinary needs, and we were very happy with the options that were available. They gave us excellent ideas that went very well with our Hawaiian theme—pineapple and mango salsas, coconut desserts—and all of our guests raved about the food!”  – Michael Hantke, Milwaukee, married Aug. 5, 2010

BEST BAND
The finalists are: Boogie & the YoYoz, Juke Box Bandstand, Spicy Tie Band
The winner is: Spicy Tie Band
Plover | 715.341.3967 | spicytie.com
“I’ve heard Spicy Tie Band play all over Wisconsin. They are an amazing group that not only plays great music but really gets the crowd going. The band plays a wide range of music and instruments to reach a variety of age groups and audiences. The two lead singers, Pat and Patience, are wonderful on stage together.” – Amy McCowen, Crystal Lake, Ill., to be married
May 12, 2012

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
The finalists are: Emily Steffen Photography, Ideal Impressions Photography, Natural Moments Photography
The winner is: Emily Steffen Photography
Statewide | 715.220.9443 | emilysteffen.com
“Emily captured amazing moments on our wedding day that I will cherish forever, such as the soft beauty in my mother’s hands as she buttoned my dress before the ceremony. Emily was also professional in every sense of the word—but the word ‘professional’ sounds too stiff and corporate to fully describe her. She was friendly, kind, creative, energetic, and you could tell she truly loves her job and wanted to make the day special for us. Her talent is immeasurable.” – Maren Luedtke, Hudson, married July 30, 2010

BEST HONEYMOON IN WISCONSIN
The finalists are: The American Club, Heidel House Resort & Spa, Sundara Inn & Spa
The winner is: Sundara Inn & Spa
Wisconsin Dells | 608.253.9200 | sundaraspa.com
“Sundara is an escape—once you arrive, all your worries seem to disappear. It’s amazing how quiet and relaxing it is. You can enjoy the outdoors year-round thanks to the heated pool and outdoor hot tubs. They have fantastic guest rooms as well, and we always feel well cared-for. Every morning, they serve a delicious complimentary brunch, which you can enjoy in their common area or take back to your room. The only sad part is that it’s an indication that your stay is close to being over!” – Heather Marr, Madison, married April 16, 2011   

BEST ACCESSORIES
The finalists are: Jaxie, Premiere Couture, Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc.
The winner is: Premiere Couture
Madison | 608.255.1921 | premierecouture.com
“I only had four months to buy my dress because my fiancé and I had to change our wedding date due to his deployment to Iraq. At Premiere Couture, every single dress I tried on was gorgeous! Laura, one of the owners, transformed my dress even more with a sash, flower pin and veil. She told me she would rush-order it at no charge, because she wanted to support the military and everything my husband does for this country. The service was beyond amazing, and I felt beautiful on my wedding day.”  – Amy Srnka, Madison, married Sept. 18, 2010  

BEST WEDDING-NIGHT HOTEL
The finalists are: The Iron Horse Hotel, The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club, The Pfister Hotel
The winner is: The Pfister Hotel
Milwaukee | 414.273.8222 | thepfisterhotel.com
“The Pfister staff was very professional and responsive to our needs. When we explained what we were looking for—a place for my bridesmaids and me to gather and get ready together before the ceremony—they upgraded us to a large suite with a separate parlor. It ended up being so lovely that we decided to make it the place where my husband and I had our ‘first look’ at one another before the ceremony—the backdrop for some of our favorite pictures from the day.”   – Julie Krawczyk, Wauwatosa, married Sept. 18, 2010   

BEST INVITATIONS
The finalists are: Creative Element, Paper Piper Designs, Sugar Pear Design
The winner is: Sugar Pear Design
Verona | 608.288.8976 | sugarpeardesign.com
“My husband and I wanted to create a wedding experience that truly reflected our passions, personalities and style, and we quickly realized that custom invitations were the best option for us to set the stage for our special day. We selected Kathy [Marcelle] of Sugar Pear Design because her understated approach to creating elegant invitations was aligned with our vision. She was committed to understanding us as a couple, which helped in driving the creation of a design that reflected our personal style.” – Kirsten Steinhauer, Verona, married Sept. 12, 2009  

BEST JEWELER
The finalists are: Chalmers Jewelers, The Diamond Center, Kesslers Diamonds
The winner is: Kesslers Diamonds
Multiple locations | 608.662.9800 | kesslersdiamonds.com
“My fiancé and I couldn’t be happier with the quality of service we received at Kesslers Diamonds. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. We decided to purchase both of our wedding bands from Kesslers as well; they took the time to sit down with us and give us advice. Their lifetime guarantee is incredible; it’s a relief to know that if something happens to either of our rings, Kesslers will be able to fix it or replace it at no cost.” – Lindsay Knipfer, Fitchburg, married Sept. 5, 2010  

BEST OUTDOOR RECEPTION SITE
The finalists are: The Enchanted Barn, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Quivey’s Grove
The winner is: The Enchanted Barn
Hillsdale | 715.254.1557 | theenchantedbarn.com
“The Enchanted Barn was the perfect setting for our wedding. The space is rustic; it provided a blank canvas for us to create a memorable country wedding. Family and friends still tell me it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever attended. Adults and kids alike had a fantastic time, and the neighbors’ horses grazing nearby created a memory that many of our city friends will not soon forget.” – Rae Ritchie, Minneapolis, married Aug. 28, 2010

BEST ATTENDANT GIFTS
The finalists are: Things Remembered, Tiffany & Co., Macy’s
The winner is: Things Remembered
Multiple locations | 866.902.4438 | thingsremembered.com
“My husband and I were on a budget because we had a large wedding party: eight groomsmen, two ushers and two mini-groomsmen. I went to Things Remembered and the sales staff was personable and helpful. We chose flasks for the adults, but I had no idea what to get the mini-groomsmen—ages 6 and 3—that both they and their parents could enjoy. We chose beautiful picture frames for photos of the children in the wedding, so the family can remember it for a lifetime.” – Amber Boldt, McFarland, married Nov. 6, 2010  

BEST RENTAL AND DECOR
The finalists are: A to Z Event Essentials, BBJ Linen, Cover It Up
The winner is: A to Z Event Essentials
Madison | 800.848.4651 | eventessentials.com
“I chose A to Z Event Essentials because they have an excellent selection to choose from and they were very helpful and easy-going. Farrah [Slinger], whom we worked with, was great about letting me make last-minute changes without penalty and was very flexible in everything relating to my wedding experience.” – Sara Williams, Oshkosh, married Sept. 25, 2010   

BEST FORMALWEAR
The finalists are: DuBois Formalwear, Men’s Wearhouse, Nedrebo’s Formal Wear
The winner is: Nedrebo’s Formal Wear
Multiple locations | 608.271.1042 | nedrebos.com
“Nedrebo’s customer service is amazing. They work with you throughout the entire wedding process, from the wedding invitations to the first fitting; then on to your gift selections while finishing up with dress preservation. They are not just a tuxedo store, they are more like a one-stop wedding shop where you can knock out many of your to-do’s before your I-do’s.” – Lauren Moser Klink, Sun Prairie, married Dec. 31, 2010  

BEST VIDEOGRAPHER
The finalists are: Aerodef Productions, Frogman Productions, One Fine Day Productions
The winner is: One Fine Day Productions
Madison and Milwaukee | 608.850.2793 | onefinedayproductions.com
“We watched a few sample wedding videos from Amy [Johnson] at One Fine Day and decided we’d be crazy not to hire her. When we received our video after the wedding, we both agreed that it was the best memento we have from our big day—it captures the essence and feeling of our day exactly. Amy and her team are extremely professional and we never felt that they were intruding on our day. Working with them is an immense value for the beautifully created memory you receive.”  – Megan Mulligan, Oconomowoc, married Oct. 3, 2009   

BEST OFFICIANT
The finalists are: Ceremonies by Design, Happily Ever After Wedding Officiants, Let’s Get Married Wedding Officiants
The winner is: Happily Ever After Wedding Officiants
Madison | 608.831.0993 | happilyeverafterweddings.info
“We chose Happily Ever After because Connie and Jim [Engmann] are down-to-earth people who understand exactly what we were looking for in our wedding ceremony. They allowed us to be a part of the process, explaining all of the details. I remember the first time that I met with Connie and Jim—our meeting was full of laughter and relief. I was so happy to find officiants like them who saw what our vision was and made us feel comfortable.” – Cori Martin, Evansville, married April 30, 2011  

BEST TRANSPORTATION
The finalists are: Abracadabra Limousines, Gallant Knight Limousine, Xecutive Limousine, LLC
The winner is: Gallant Knight Limousine
Madison | 608.242.7000 | gallantknightusa.com  
“Gallant Knight was by far the best limousine service I’ve ever encountered. The staff was very attentive, punctual and personable. Their professionalism and quality service helped to make our wedding day extra-special.” – Ashley Showers, Arlington, married Feb. 12, 2011

 

BEST HOTEL FOR GUESTS
The finalists are: Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club, The Pfister Hotel
The winner is: The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club
Madison | 608.257.6000 | concoursehotel.com
“The Concourse staff was wonderful in accommodating our large, out-of-town group—they even delivered welcome bags to each room in our party. Our day was literally perfect—there was not one thing that went wrong or one thing that I would have changed, and I think that is largely due to the people at the Concourse. My guests have been raving about the hotel, the rooms, the facilities, the amenities and the service, all of which was far beyond exceptional.” – Emily Burke Dula, Alexandria, Va., married Nov. 27, 2010

BEST BRIDAL GOWNS
The finalists are: Amelishan Bridal, Brandi’s Bridal Galleria, Etc., Vera’s House of Bridals
The winner is: Vera’s House of Bridals
Madison | 608.833.6006 | verasbridals.com
“When I was searching for a wedding dress, I went to a few different places, but found my perfect dress at Vera’s. Most stores I went to were helpful in getting the dresses I asked for, but at no other store did the staff pick out dresses for me based on what they thought would look best on me. I’m so grateful I went there, because I would’ve missed out on my perfect dress otherwise. I genuinely felt like they cared about me at Vera’s.” – Megan Beld, Madison, married May 22, 2010

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
The finalists are: Burkhalter Travel, Fox World Travel, Middleton Travel
The winner is: Fox World Travel
Multiple locations | 888.369.8785 | gofox.com
“My fiancé and I decided to book our honeymoon to St. Lucia with Fox World Travel because the staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. An agent was able to tell us which resort would give us the best all-inclusive experience, yet stay within our budget. Within minutes, our travel agent found us a flight to St. Lucia leaving on our desired date. If we had tried to book this trip on our own, I have no idea how long it would’ve taken us.”  – Kristin Adelmann, Milwaukee, to be married Oct. 8, 2011   

BEST DJ
The finalists are: Celebrations Entertainment, Juke Box Bandstand, Sound by Design
The winner is: Juke Box Bandstand
Madison | 608.249.2900 | jukeboxbandstand.com
“Martie Schultz, the owner, was an absolute pleasure to work with. She is such a sweet person and really took the time to get to know us in order to match us with the best DJ, who was superb. He really added to the memories of our wedding reception and helped make it a true celebration. I would not have changed a thing with the service they provided; it was above and beyond what I ever expected!” – McKinsey Lowenberg, Arlington, married May 8, 2010   

TOP OF THE TIARA: ALL-AROUND BEST WEDDING VENDOR
The finalists are: Ideal Impressions Photography, Lake Windsor Golf Club, One Fine Day Productions
The winner is: Lake Windsor Golf Club
Windsor | 608.846.4711 | lakewindsor.com

When a newly engaged couple sets out to plan the wedding of their dreams, one word that often comes up is “elegant.” For those who choose Lake Windsor Golf Club, that wish is granted.
“The moment I walked into their crystal ballroom, I knew,” says Kimberly Kreines, who exchanged vows at Lake Windsor on Dec. 11, 2010. “The setting was breathtaking.” Kreines’ winter wedding fell on the day of a spectacular blizzard. That could have dampened a couple’s excitement, but it only made her Lake Windsor wedding more stunning.
     “The wind was whipping the snow outside the windows, but everything inside was lit with crystal chandeliers and candlelight. The effect was an elegant, inside-next-to-the-fireplace kind of feeling,” she recalls. It was a special feeling of warmth, she said, because “it felt like my whole wedding was taking place inside a snow globe.”
     Jennifer Larson, Lake Windsor’s general manager, couldn’t agree more. “Our rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and the candlelight reflects off the windows to create a cozy, calming glow,” she says. “We love to create an elegant atmosphere.”
Whether indoors or out, whether large guest-list or small, Lake Windsor has a reputation as one of the most beautiful settings for any couple’s dream wedding.
     “We really wanted an outdoor wedding, and Lake Windsor had it all: a gorgeous setting, an attentive staff,” says Julie Rindy of Middleton, who exchanged vows in a September ceremony at the golf club. “I felt confident that everything would go smoothly on our wedding day. In the end, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect experience.”
     While the staff takes pride in their attention to detail, Larson says, what really gets the guests’ attention is the food. “Our banquet food is exceptional. Our chef, Joe Karll, makes homestyle food with flair. We do a fresh plate-up, which means we don’t use holding warmers. If toasts or speeches run long, the food isn’t sitting there waiting. It goes from chef to plate to table.” Groom Paul Dorow was duly impressed. “We were on a budget, so we chose an intimate dinner at Lake Windsor, just for family. The food was absolutely delicious—especially the steaks,” he says. After dinner, Dorow and his bride Amelia opened the New Year’s Eve reception to extended family and friends, enjoying a dessert buffet that served as a sweet ending to the day and the year.
     Finding that perfect balance between finances and fantasy is a hallmark of Lake Windsor’s event staff. “We work with each couple to understand what they want, so it can be the most calm experience possible,” says Larson. “Each couple gets an event coordinator and a banquet manager, and they really bond.”
Alicia Whitburn of Waunakee credits Lake Windsor’s wedding planners for helping her realize her dream. “Working with their staff was amazingly simple and stress-free,” she says. “They truly handled all of the details of our flawless wedding day.”