Bismarck Magazine - Wedding Edition 2023

Happily Ever After in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln

Photos by Jessica Heller Photography

Bismarck Bridal is published once a year and is complimentary. Bismarck Bridal is meant as a resource for future brides of our community. Copies are available across the Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln communities or online at bismarck-magazine.com

Bismarck Magazine Corporation, Copyright 2015 Bismarck Magazine and bismarck-magazine.com. All rights reserved. This periodical cannot be reproduced without the written permission of Bismarck Magazine. Bismarck Magazine will not be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. Bismarck Magazine Corporation accepts no liability for statements made by advertisers.

letter from the publishers

Welcome Bismarck Bridal readers! First off, if you are newly engaged CONGRATULATIONS! It is such an exciting time, enjoy it! Let me introduce myself, I am Caroline, one of the publishers of Bismarck Magazine Corporation. You may have read one of our other magazines River + Ranch Magazine or if you flip this cover you will see Bismarck Magazine. I am so excited to tell you a little bit about my wedding and the incredible local vendors I used even while getting married in Winter Park, Colorado.

I wasn’t the girl that dreamed of my wedding day, but I was excited to marry the man for me and wear a beautiful dress and dance with all my friends. Our perfect day took some coordinating being that it was out of state. It's incredible; all the planning, coordinating and vendors that go into making the day absolutely perfect. I am so lucky to say I had my perfect day, but not without a lot of help.

Over the last six years of publishing Bismarck Bridal I have been able to see the different styles, color schemes, hear all about the dos and don’ts of weddings and meet many local vendors along the way. As I started to plan my perfect day last year, I looked back at Bismarck Bridal Magazine for ideas and tips. It is funny how everything changes when you are now the bride rather than the bridesmaid.

First things first, the venue. Brent and I were on a walk in Winter Park, CO, a place where I have spent lots of time and is my favorite place in earth. We walked by The Headwaters Center and knew it was the perfect venue for us. With our wedding being in Colorado I wanted to still use as

many vendors as possible from Bismarck.

After the venue was secured I wanted to get my photographer secured as well. I knew who my dream wedding photoraper was, and I got her! Melanie Sioux Photography traveled from Bismarck to Colorado to be my photographer and I was elated. Melanie’s style of photography is my absolute favorite, light and airy and I knew she would capture the beautiful mountain setting perfectly.

My dream for my dress was elegant, simple and timeless. I was most excited to get this checked off the list. I went to White Lace Bridal because the dresses and lines they carry are not only diverse, but they are classic. I tried on 8 dresses and when I looked in the mirror on the 8th try, I was done. That was the dress and I knew it instantly.

Brent and I wanted our first dance to be elegant and fun, but we also didn’t want to look silly so we took an hour long dance lesson at Northern Plains Dance. Our instructor was great. She helped us to get the basic steps down specific to the song we had chosen and then showed us a few moves to spice up our routine. We were much more comfortable the day of because we had put in some practice time.

Because we got married in a very small town, I was not aware of any hair and makeup artists. I signed up for a one-onone lesson at Desirae's Makeup & Beauty Lounge. It was about an hour and a half where Desirae found the perfect products for my skin, and we talked about the look

I wanted to achieve for my wedding day. I took notes as we went through the makeup routine step by step. I practiced a few

times after, and by the wedding day I was comfortable doing my makeup for my big day.

Engaged life went quickly, and before I knew it, the big day had arrived. It was a perfect, sunny August mountain day. I started my day with yoga in the park with my best friends. Afterward we had brunch and relaxed until it was time to decorate and start getting ready. Melanie Sioux Photography snapped photos all day and I am so lucky to have captured moments with all our laughs and happy tears.

I could go on for pages on the incredible customer service we had with each and every one of our local vendors, truly incredible. The way each one of our local vendors went above and beyond to make our day perfect made our day the best day of our lives and stress free. Check out the list below for our local vendors and follow along with Bismarck Bridal for all your wedding tips!

My Local Vendor List:

Photography-Melanie Sioux Photography

Dress, Veil, Tuxes and Flower Girl DressesWhite Lace Bridal

Spray Tan- Kharma Vida

Make up-Desirae’s Makeup & Beauty Lounge

Dance Lessons- Northern Plains Dance Planner- J Kluting Design

-VENDORS-

VENUE

LAUGHING SUN BREWING

INFO@LAUGHINGSUNBREWING.COM | @LAUGHINGSUNBREWING

BRIDAL BOUTIQUE WHITE LACE BRIDAL HI@WHITELACEBRIDALND.COM | @WHITELACEBRIDALND

MAKEUP

CHLOE DANIELLE MUA

CHLOEDANIELLAMUA@GMAIL.COM | @CHLOEDANIELLAMUA

HAIR

GRATITUDE SPA & SALON

KRISTIN@GRATITUDESPAANDSALON.COM | @GRATITUDESPAANDSALON

FLORIST

ROBERTS FLORAL & GIFTS

INFO@ROBERTSFLORAL.COM | @ROBERTSFLORAL

JEWELRY ZORELLS JEWELRY

CUSTOMERSERVICE@ZORELLS.COM | @ZORELLSJEWELRY

DECORATOR

FOUND EVENTS + RENTALS

INFO@FOUNDEVENTSANDRENTALS.COM | @FOUNDEVENTSANDRENTALS

PHOTOGRAPHER

MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY MELANIESIOUX@GMAIL.COM | @MELANIESIOUX

Cozy & Individualistic

MANY BRIDES ARE CHOOSING TO REALLY LET THEIR FAVORITE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES AND STYLE SHINE THROUGH ON THEIR WEDDING DAY. WHETHER IT’S HOSTING YOUR WEDDING AT YOUR FAVORITE BREWERY, HAVING YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT CATER, OR FILLING THE ROOM WITH DECOR THAT’S UNIQUE TO THE COUPLE'S STYLE, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS FOR YOUR GUESTS TO FEEL EXTRA CLOSE TO YOU ON YOUR DAY. THE MIXTURE OF EARTHY MATERIALS, GLASSWARE, WOODS AND METALS IS THE PERFECT VIBE FOR A BRIDE WANTING TO EMBRACE NORTH DAKOTA’S NATURAL PALETTE.

BOUQUET-ROBERTS FLORAL JEWELRY-ZORELLS

venue

After planning events since 2000 in the corporate world, in 2014, Renee Murrish opened Signature Events, the first event planning company in the Bismarck/Mandan area. After 3 years of education, her persistence paid off, and the community started to embrace the concept of what a true event planner does for the client. In 2017, Signature Events purchased the Dream Day Bridal Show which showcases many professionals in the wedding industry and beyond, and couples enjoy along with family and friends a day full of experiences that create lasting memories. Signature Events reached one of their bucket list goals in 2020 by getting their own venue, the historic Mandan Depot, and in 2021 they accomplished another bucket list wish and launched the first ever in the region the Event Gallery, the one-stop event planning shop.

The Event Gallery

The Event Gallery is akin to having a bridal show all year round. It is a place where you can walk in and see every element that you would need to plan a wedding or any type of event. It is free for the public, free for vendors, and has public hours for people to walk around and foster ideas.

If you don’t have the budget to hire an actual planner, this is a great alternative to get the ball rolling. The early stages of planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but the Event Gallery presents vendor’s and wedding professional’s offerings in a way that is accessible and not intimidating, and with Renee’s guidance you can’t go wrong

Renee takes private appointments at the Event Gallery and finds joy in helping couples make their wedding their own, becoming their own guests. “Come for direction, hire us to make your day your vision and be a guest at your own wedding, or visit with us and idea dump and we can help sort it all out with NO judgement,” Renee explains. “Wedding planning is a journey, and you CAN love the journey.”

Dream Day Bridal Show

When it comes to brides and the Dream Day Bridal show Renee’s passion is evident. “We’re debuting something this year at the show with our tagline Bride|Bold|Beautiful. Our tagline is to remind brides that number one: you’re the BRIDE, number two: be BOLD in your vision because this is your wedding, and number three: you’re beautiful. So, even after you’re a bride, you still need to be bold as a woman, and you’re beautiful even after the wedding,” explains Renee excitedly.

Renee Murrish | Signature Events www.signatureeventsmandan.com

REBECCA BRICK

Signature Events

EMILY

EMILY

EMILY

EMILY KOHN, CANDID IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

decor

For Brenda Keller, the realization that help is essential when planning a wedding came after she did everything for her own wedding in 2002. “I did all my flowers, cake, and food. Pretty much everything,” Brenda explains. “The day after our wedding I said to my husband ‘What dummy does this to themselves?’” she laughs. Brenda went on to help plan weddings for family and friends and in 2006 Bridal Butler was officially born, and she did her first wedding for someone she had not known. A former CNA, Brenda has been full time with Bridal Butler for the last six years.

As the Bridal Butler, Brenda offers a wide variety of services to her wedding clients. First, a free consultation helps her understand a couple’s needs for their day. From there, pricing is decided, and the wedding date is held for two weeks. As soon as a contract is signed Brenda gets to work.

“We do everything from rentals all the way up to full on decorating. We have linens, chair covers, ceiling décor, and center pieces,” Brenda explains. She can also do artificial bouquets for brides and bridesmaids. Custom guestbooks are usually included in the couple’s package as well as custom signage.

Brenda’s timeline is pretty fluid until two months before the wedding date. “The only thing I tell everyone is that everything needs to be decided two months out. If I have to buy something anything later than two months is too close and I may not be able to get what the couple wants,” Brenda says.

During the week of the wedding Brenda meets with the couple to ensure everything is set and takes it from there. Even with help, we all know planning a wedding comes with some stressors and Brenda is always there for her brides when they need to chat. “If bride is having a panic attack or they want to talk wedding stuff and no one else wants to, they can call me,” Brenda says. “I could talk about wedding stuff all day long and I never get bored of it!”

How does Brenda continually facilitate unforgettable weddings? It's with the help of her three boys. After her husband, a big part of Bridal Butler, passed away last fall, Brenda’s sons Logan, Zachary, and Wyatt have stepped in and love weddings just as much as their mom. “Those boys are amazing. They take care of everything. Logan has done weddings on his own and Zachary wants to take over for me.”

Staying true to her Bridal Butler name, Brenda does as much or as little as her couples need, much like a traditional butler would. “Whatever needs to get done, we’ll do it,” she explains. Helping couples have the most incredible day is Brenda’s priority, and it’s a job she truly loves. “I just kind of fell into this but it’s the best job I’ve ever had,” she says smiling.

Brenda Keller | Bridal Butler www.facebook.com/brendabridalbutler

DEBORAH KATES FINE PHOTOGRAPHY

MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY

-VENDORS-

VENUE LUFT OFFICE@LUFTBAR.COM | @LUFTONTHEROOF

BRIDAL BOUTIQUE WHITE LACE BRIDAL HI@WHITELACEBRIDALND.COM | @WHITELACEBRIDALND

MAKEUP

CHLOE DANIELLE MUA CHLOEDANIELLAMUA@GMAIL.COM | @CHLOEDANIELLAMUA

HAIR GRATITUDE SPA & SALON KRISTIN@GRATITUDESPAANDSALON.COM | @GRATITUDESPAANDSALON

FLORIST

RUSTIC PETALS BISMARCKFLOWERSHOP@GMAIL.COM | @RUSTICPETALS

JEWELRY

SCHUMACHER DIAMOND CUTTERS CATHY@SCHUMACHERDIAMOND.COM | @SCHUMACHERDIAMOND

DECORATOR

BRIDAL BUTLER BRIDALBUTLER@GMAIL.COM | @BRIDALBUTLER

PHOTOGRAPHER MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY MELANIESIOUX@GMAIL.COM | @MELANIESIOUX

Love & Disco

TODAY'S BRIDE CAN EXPRESS THEIR UNIQUE STYLE MORE THAN EVER! INSPIRED BY BOLD COLORS AND THE FUN RETRO VIBES OF DISCO BALLS AND ROLLER SKATES. THIS VIBRANT BRIDE'S STYLE RADIATES JOY! THE LUFT OFFERS A BRIGHT AND AIRY FEEL ON A DOWNTOWN ROOFTOP, PERFECT FOR ANY BRIDE WHO IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.

BOUQUET-RUSTIC PETALS

MAKEUP- CHLOE DANIELLE MUA HAIR-GRATITUDE SALON JEWELRY-SCHUMACHER DIAMOND

honeymoon

Cassie Staiger and her team have been helping couples plan their dream destination weddings and perfect honeymoons for the last 9 years. Cassie’s company, Curated Travel Co. offers full-service planning for all your travel needs. Cassie and her team have travel planning down to a science, “We’ve honed in our process and that provides our couples peace of mind.” Whether you are booking a European honeymoon, or a tropical destination wedding you can trust your experience is in good hands with Curated Travel Co.

The Destination Wedding

Destination weddings are the perfect way for couples to celebrate the most important day of their lives with their closest family and friends in a unique location. While most couples have an idea of a destination, they have no idea of a specific place to get married. This is where Curated Travel Co. steps in and begins guiding the couple through the destination wedding planning process.

When working with Cassie and the Curated Travel Co. team to plan a destination wedding couples and their guests are provided with detailed individualized service from their intake form to post travel follow-up. Cassie explains that it is important to use an agent to streamline the planning process and take the effort of vacation planning off of the shoulders of the bride and groom.

The Honeymoon

When it comes to the honeymoon Cassie wants her couples to know that taking the post-wedding trip is almost always possible with a realistic budget and timeline in mind. Cassie says they are seeing honeymooners venture past the warm weather winter escape and are exploring Greece, Italy and even African safari’s. “Bucket list destination requests have been increasingly common in the past years and an advisor can help piece together the specific destinations and experiences.”

Knowing well in advance where the new couple will honeymoon also helps Cassie’s team of experienced travel agents design an extraordinary itinerary curated to both the bride’s and groom’s wants. Thanks to their incredible network of insiders and resources around the world couples can be guaranteed a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list trip.

A Match made in Tech Heaven

Curated Travel Co utilizes tech to assist couples and their guests once they go wheels up. Cassie offers a comprehensive itinerary planning service that conveniently places your trip itinerary in an easy to access app that synchronizes with all smart devices. “We take pride in providing our clients with the best local experiences which is why we offer an itinerary creation service. It includes everything from tour booking, transportation guidance, restaurant suggestions and reservations, city guides, and travel tips,” Cassie explains.

Cassie is enthusiastic about travel herself and loves facilitating incredible experiences for couples. She hopes that by providing such great experiences she is creating clients for life.

Cassie Staiger | Curated Travel Co. www.curatedtravelco.com

catering

www.laughinsunbrewing.com

Laughing Sun Brewing has been named to Bismarck Tribune’s Best of the Best list for Best Brewery, Best Catering Service, Best Live Music Venue, and Best BBQ. With this many awards they are bound to make an impact on your guests. With a delicious menu sure to satisfy your hungriest guest and a venue offering fun and games for all, Laughing Sun Brewing is the perfect place to kick off your life together. We sat down with Jared Shoults to find out more about everything Laughing Sun Brewing has to offer for, and leading up to, your best day ever.

Jared and his brother Colton are co-owners of Grand Junction and partnered with Laughing Sun in January of 2020. Since the partnership began, catering services for everything from weddings to corporate parties have been revamped. “Our goal is to bring fun to Bismarck/Mandan,” Jared explains. “From weddings to live music, axe throwing, patio parties, we have a great spot for facilitating good times.”

Laughing Sun is the perfect place for pre-wedding festivities. “Our groom’s dinners and rehearsal dinners are perfect because we have an awesome enclosed patio space that can be used year-round. It's perfect for a group of 30-40 people,” Jared explains. Food for these parties includes self-serve slider bars with meats like brisket and pulled pork accompanied with house made toppings, as well as taco/ nacho bars and don’t forget about their famous mac & cheese which makes for the perfect side or the main dish.

Speaking of food… Laughing Sun’s award-winning BBQ is the perfect complement to all your wedding celebrations. “We’re really known for our meats, that’s our bread and butter. Any good BBQ spot has to have a great brisket and we’re known for ours,” Jared says. “Our smoked turkey is low key the best thing on our menu and it’s a nice, healthy option.”

Able to cater to a wide variety of dietary needs, Laughing Sun offers many vegetarian options and salad platters, and all Laughing Sun’s BBQ meats are gluten free.

You are welcome to bring in your own cake but if cake isn’t your jam, Laughing Sun’s kitchen staff will work with you to personalize whatever dessert you’re looking for. Whether it's bread pudding, triple chocolate brownies or root beer floats made with Laughing Sun’s own root beer, couples are sure to find the perfect sweet note to balance the brewery’s savory BBQ.

Looking for bachelor/bachelorette party spots or what about late night pizzas, with free delivery, or day of sandwiches? Jared has you covered. A partnership with The CraftCade as well as Grand Junction makes for a wedding festivity triple threat. The CraftCade, with its free play arcade games and fantastic pizza is a great spot for bachelor/bachelorette parties. Grand Junction is ready to provide you and your wedding party with the all-important day of sandwich platters to settle nerves and provide nourishment before the party starts.

Laughing Sun Brewing, along with Grand Junction and The CraftCade, offers the best options for your perfect day.

Laughing Sun Team | Lauging Sun Brewing Co.

WYATT

flowers

Nesland | Rustic Petals www.bismarckflowershop.com

Jacey Nesland is a mainstay in the Bismarck/Mandan floral world and her shop, Rustic Petals, continues to make an impact on the bridal scene with creativity and beautiful floral design. The Rustic Petals owner’s passion, creativity, and natural talent lend themselves perfectly to the ever-changing floral design industry. “I have my own style that draws people in,” Jacey says. A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Jacey loves her job and enjoys knowing her arrangements can completely transform a photo, a venue, and even an entire day. “Many of my brides and clients just simply give me a vision and a color scheme and let me do my thing and run with it. Those, I find, are the most fun and where I am my most creative. They trust me with their vision, but also trust my professional opinion.”

While wedding trends are ever changing a few trends in floral have stayed consistent. The Boho theme is still popular, but a shift of colors has brought a fresh look to the current trend. “We’re still seeing the pampas grass and eucalyptus,” Jacey explains, “The trends are always changing not only from year to year, but season to season and we strive to stay on top of them in order to create unique pieces for each and every bride.”

With just a few dates available in 2023 at the time of print, Jacey’s advice to future brides is to book their florist early. Jacey suggests booking about a year in advance to ensure your date. “Most of our brides book a year or more before their wedding date. Although we suggest early notice, we do welcome last minute brides, shot gun weddings are exciting and fun. A small deposit is required to secure your date and we like to make the process as easy and simple for our couples as possible,” says Jacey.

The process of booking your florist shouldn’t be complicated. “If a bride comes in prepared for our consultation it can go quickly, but we also enjoy helping those who aren’t quite sure what direction they want to take.” Jacey explains. During a free consultation Jacey sits down with each bride and they talk through the bride’s vision for her wedding day. Jacey encourages brides to bring inspiration photos and prepare a list of everyone that will need flowers. Having a good idea of exactly what floral you’ll need on your wedding day helps Jacey put together a budget conscious proposal. Include centerpieces, corsages and boutonnieres, bride and bridal party bouquets as well as altar and memory arrangements.

Each Rustic Petals wedding is customizable ensuring that no two weddings are the same. While colors and themes can be similar, Jacey likes to add small, creative touches that ensure her brides have unique bouquets and floral arrangements.

If Jacey had free reign to design any kind of floral for a wedding, she’d include color. “I’d like to see vibrant colors and I love unique things,” she says.

Jacey pours her heart and soul into each of her weddings and putting a smile on her bride’s faces is her priority. “Every bride has a vision and I get to bring it to life,” smiles Jacey.

Jacey

Follow The Trends

Rustic Petals

BEN GUMERINGER PHOTOGRAPHY

BEN

-VENDORS-

VENUE

AUGUST HOUSE

AUGUSTHOUSEVENUE@GMAIL.COM | @AUGUSTHOUSE_VENUE

BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

WHITE LACE BRIDAL HI@WHITELACEBRIDALND.COM | @WHITELACEBRIDALND

MAKEUP

CHLOE DANIELLE MUA CHLOEDANIELLAMUA@GMAIL.COM | @CHLOEDANIELLAMUA

HAIR

GRATITUDE SPA & SALON KRISTIN@GRATITUDESPAANDSALON.COM | @GRATITUDESPAANDSALON

FLORIST BEYOND THE BLOOMS BEYONDTHEBLOOMS@GMAIL.COM | @MANDANBEYONDTHEBLOOMS

JEWELRY

RIDDLE'S JEWELRY BISMARCK@RIDDLESJEWELRY.COM | @RIDDLESJEWELRY

DECORATOR

701 DESIGNS + EVENTS

701DESIGNANDEVENTS@GMAIL.COM | @701DESIGNANDEVENTS

PHOTOGRAPHER

MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY MELANIESIOUX@GMAIL.COM | @MELANIESIOUX

Whimsically Modern

MINIMALIST AND SIMPLISTIC TRENDS CONTINUE TO MAKE BIG STATEMENTS IN THE BRIDAL INDUSTRY. FOR A BRIDE WHO REALLY WANTS TO EMBRACE THIS TREND, THE SOFT DRAPING AND LIGHT COLORS REALLY SOFTEN THIS LOOK TO FEEL TRULY ROMANTIC. AND WHAT COULD BE MORE STATEMENT MAKING FOR A BRIDE THAN A FUN DRESS CHANGE OR A BLACK GOWN? BLACK GOWNS CONTINUE TO MAKE APPEARANCES ON BRIDAL RUNWAYS FOR THE BRIDE SEEKING TO PUSH THE LIMITS ON TRENDS! THE BRIDE ISN’T THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE AN OUTFIT CHANGE, A RECEPTION JACKET CAN BE A FUN WAY FOR A GROOM TO SPICE UP HIS LOOK FOR THE EVENING AS WELL!

HAIR-GRATITUDE SALON MEN’S RING-RIDDLES

BOUQUET-BEYOND THE BLOOMS

MAKEUP-CHLOE DANIELLE MUA JEWELRY- RIDDLES HAIR-GRATITUDE SALON

dress

www.whitelacebridalnd.com

Dress Shopping FAQ

Dress shopping is always one of the biggest moments in your wedding planning experiences! As a locally owned boutique, Anne and her staff are your local experts you can lean on through the process to make sure everything goes smoothly for your big day. Here are the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions so you can feel prepared when it’s time to shop!

When should I buy my wedding dress?

The normal window for ordering your wedding dress is during the 8-12 months before the wedding. This allows the designer time to create your gown from scratch so that customizations can be made, as well as time for shipping and local alterations. With some delays still happening in some supply chains, we currently refer to 10 months before the wedding as a “sweet spot” in your timeline. Keep in mind many brides get peace of mind by shopping and ordering earlier than that, which is perfectly fine. If you have a shorter engagement, you can always order a gown from a designer that is a quick ship or buy a gown straight off the rack as well!

How many people should I invite to dress shop with me?

We typically recommend bringing 3-4 people with you when you dress shop. It’s best to focus on just having the people with you whose opinions you need and will give you encouragement and valuable feedback! Some of our bridal appointments limit the number of guests you can bring to 5 people on our busier days, but if you want to bring a larger group we also offer private and VIP appointments for larger groups.

What should I expect to spend on my wedding gown?

We do our best to work with all budgets, but it’s good to plan and know what you want to spend before you begin shopping. The national average is around $1800. Our regular gowns that can be ordered range from $1100-3000. Another thing to keep in mind is that alterations are not included in the price of the gown, and almost every gown is going to need at least minimal alterations.

How many dresses do brides typically try on?

This can really range from bride to bride. At an individual appointment a bride typically tries on 12-15 dresses. Many brides go to multiple appointments before making their decision. Sometimes this can get to be overwhelming for the bride or the people shopping with her. Our advice when it comes to shopping is to go into every appointment with the mindset and hope of finding your gown, some brides try on only a few dresses because they find the perfect gown quickly or at their first appointment and that’s great! Some brides try on less than a handful and others will try on a couple dozen before they find the one, every bride’s experience is different and that’s what makes it so great!

WLB Team | White Lace Bridal

BEN GUMERINGER PHOTOGRAPHY

White Lace Bridal is definitely hands down the best place in the Midwest! I had absolutely NO idea what I was wanting in my wedding dress and Cate helped me so much! We ended up finding my dress after 5 dresses and I couldn't have imagined another dress for our day! The long 2 tiered cathedral veil was such an amazing touch as well!

White Lace Bridal was my first and only stop to find the dress of my dreams! Rachel was so kind and helpful while picking out my dress and made it a really fun experience for my friends, family and myself! Anne, Cate, and all the other girls who work there were extremely helpful when it came to picking out our menswear, adjusting colors for ties, and every other little detail we probably would have forgotten about if it weren't for them.

I would highly recommend White Lace Bridal if you are looking for an amazing experience picking out your wedding dress and everything else needed to make your day perfect!

Teah Weisbeck

Morgan Kautzmann

MARILYN ELEZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY

dessert

Cake Dreams Wedding Cakes

We want every cake to be unique and reflect the couple's personality and theme of their special day. We offer a free consultation and tasting where questions are answered and ideas can be brought to life, all while designing your custom cake. Starting from the base up with size, flavors, colors and details. Choose new flavors to try or stick to the trusted and loved flavors during your complimentary tasting for you and your future spouse. You are sure to find just the right flavor for your dream day and create the perfect wedding cake that will be talked about for years to come. Everyone will not only compliment the two of you, but also the sweets that helped celebrate your big day. You will leave them all in wonder of where and how you got these delicious delectables!

Life has been a whole lot sweeter since Jessica Miller, owner and lead decorator at Cake Dreams in Mandan, has been providing brides and grooms with the cake of their dreams for over seven years now and continues to wow everybody with her creativity and skill! Jessica can help make your wedding dreams come true with your wedding cake, cupcakes or groom's cake. And if you want your wedding unique and special in your own way, Jessica can offer you all that will suit you and your wedding dreams.

Over the last few years, trends have included her renowned cutout cookies, specialty bars, cheesecake, kuchen and macarons. Jessica continues to add more flavor choices for guests with over 35 flavors of cupcakes to choose from all decorated in the wedding cake's flavors in a desired style chosen.

Jessica Miller | Cake Dreams facebook.com/CakeDreamsND

SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED

Cupcakes

Cupcakes are always a fun option. Not only can you add custom sprinkles to match your wedding colors, you can also mix and match cake and frosting flavors to give you the freedom to offer your guests variety and flair. Being able to customize the decorating options with frosting, sprinkles or gourmet styles and flavors will allow couples to create a cohesive cake table for all to enjoy. These individual, perfect portions of deliciousness are an easy self-served item to be enjoyed by all.

Cookies, Bars, Cheesecakes & More

Not a big fan of cake, or just want more? Totally fine! We love doing personalized cookies and bars. We can do all shapes, sizes, colors and flavors. It is so much fun to see what the bride and groom can come up with and to watch their creativity being explored. Personalized cookies are definitely a fun way to do just that or if you had a favorite bar growing up and want to share that with your guests, add it! If you are not a traditional cake couple, cheesecakes and kuchens are always a crowd pleaser and can come in all types of flavors. Cheesecakes can also come in all different sizes from bite size to full sheets to serve a crowd. Remember your day is all about you!

flowers

www.robertsfloral.com

Since 1958 Roberts Floral & Gifts has been one of Bismarck’s most trusted floral shops. The locally owned fourth generation shop is known for their quality, creativity. The most important thing to current managers Amy and Joe Pierce is the relationships they build with their customers.

To bring their beloved customers new and exciting trends and techniques, Roberts Floral makes education a priority. Amy, Joe, and 3rd generation owner Laura attend classes to hone their skills. “We stay educated in the floral arts so that we do the best job for our customers,” explains Joe.

Speaking of trends, Joe anticipates a return to color for the 2023 wedding season. “We did a lot of muted tones this year and I really think we’re going to see more rich tones like burgundy, rich blues, and deep greens. I think Boho is going to hang on another year, but we are starting to see a return to more colonial shapes, so trend-wise really good color and a more vintage modern look.”

Complementing dresses and expressing personal style are also elements Joe feels will trend throughout the next year. “We like when people bring in sentimental items to work into their bridal, such as lace from their grandmother’s dress, prayer books, bibles, heirloom jewelry like broaches and pearls, and other special pieces.”

When preparing for a visit to Roberts Floral for all your wedding needs, Joe suggests having a few pieces of information handy. He likes to know what your colors are, how many people are in your wedding party, and what style you’re going for. This is where things like Pinterest and industry magazines come in handy. “I love it when a bride comes in with her Pinterest boards and pictures saved on her phone,” says Joe. “We focus on listening to what our clients want. Your wedding is our wedding, we want to be there with you and see your vision so you can get exactly what you want.”

Roberts Floral has several designers, so they are able to take a few weddings a weekend and rarely have to say no to a wedding.

“We do the wedding parties, and we can also decorate the church, venue, tables, and the reception. We have arches and silver pieces to rent,” Joe explains. “Its truly 100 percent customizable, whatever the couple is looking for we work with them to make it happen.”

“We have people coming in right now and ordering anniversary flowers that we did their wedding 50 years ago and brides coming in saying we did their parent’s wedding,” Joe says. “It’s generational and that’s really cool. We want our customers to feel like they can trust us with anything.”

Pat and Laura Ressler & Amy and Joe Pierce Roberts Floral & Gifts

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jewelry

“W

e are in the love business,” founder Jesse Riddle often said of his jewelry stores. For over 60 years and in 60 stores throughout nine states this sentiment has remained true. Now a thirdgeneration company, Riddle’s Jewelry has been providing excellent customer service and outstanding quality jewelry since 1959.

The process of buying an engagement ring at Riddle’s Jewelry is all about the customer’s needs. Store manager Ryan Faul and his staff recognize that not everyone who walks into the store is a jewelry expert. The great news is that Ryan and his staff are. They can help even the most nervous of future grooms find the perfect engagement ring. “Getting to know our customers and their needs is a priority for our staff. These are significant purchases, and we want our customers to know they can trust us to help them make a great decision.”

“Sometimes they don’t have any idea and we take them step by step through all the options from golds for the setting to diamond cuts and color,” Ryan explains. “Most of the time though they have a pretty good idea what they’re looking for. From start to finish we listen, help them feel comfortable, and really build that trust. We put our best foot forward and because of that we’re confident that couples will return after she says yes and for years to come after that.”

Chances are you won’t need to look long to find the perfect ring at Riddle’s. An industry leader in jewelry technology Riddle’s designs settings with their exclusive Noventa Diamonds cut at their headquarters in Rapid City, South Dakota. These beautifully cut stones include 90 facets so that they produce the most incredibly eye-catching sparkle. Riddle’s also offers engagement rings from Gabriel & Co. and the fully customizable Designed with Love line to name a few.

For the guys, Riddle’s offers an extensive collection of in-store wedding bands including the comfortable MFIT line. Dubbed one of the most comfortable men’s rings on the market, the interior of the ring reduces pressure points and allows the finger to breathe. Alternative metal bands including Tantalum, Ceramic, Titanium and silicone bands are also available.

Riddles has an on-site goldsmith so once the proposal has been made and she’s said yes, sizing can happen right in the store. “This is usually when we get to meet the bride and groom as an engaged couple and that’s a really cool part of what we do,” explains Ryan.

The newly renovated store in Kirkwood Mall is inviting, light and bright. “We’ve been here for over 30 years, and we love the look of our new store. We’re so excited to help our customers find the jewelry of their dreams in our new space,” Ryan says. From their website, “Riddle’s is happy to be a part of our local communities, and unlike large corporations, we pride ourselves on being able to cater to our individual customer’s unique needs and sense of style.”

“At Riddle’s, we know we’re selling more than just jewelry. We’re helping you celebrate life’s most important events,” Ryan says with a smile.

Ryan Faul | Riddle's Jewelry www.riddlesjewelry.com

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www.getcozybars.com

Are you looking to add a unique, fun, and social element to your wedding or event? If you’re emphatically nodding your head YES!, Bubbles and Brews ND has you covered.

Meet Pearl

Pearl, the refurbished 1983 Vintage Piaggio Ape, came all the way from Italy to North Dakota and is the perfect way to add big personality to your event. This mobile bar is completely customizable from her custom signage bar panels to the tap handles and can serve up YOUR CHOICE of beer, wine, craft cocktails, mocktails, and sodas on tap to you and your guests!

The Bubbles and Brews ND team works directly with you months in advance of your special day to assist in planning every detail from the décor and craft drink selections to the estimated number of drinks that you will go through based on your event. “Bubbles and Brews ND is so much more than just a mobile bar. Our goal is to make the bar fit in perfectly with our client’s style and vision. It is usually the gathering area of any event and people just love it and it really is exciting to bring everything together to create the perfect centerpiece and social atmosphere,” says Cassidy Hartman, co-owner of Bubbles and Brews ND.

This unique bar service is equipped with 7 taps and a chiller system making it easy to offer your guests a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Whether it’s custom his and hers cocktails, your favorite craft or domestic brew, or Shirley Temples for the kids, Pearl can keep your drinks cold and flowing throughout the night. “We have worked with many venues across the state and continue to add more approved venues every month as people learn about our services. Our clients purchase the alcohol directly from their venue, a retailer or distributor depending on the requirements, and we arrive as a unique way to serve it. If the venue requires their servers to serve out of our bar taps, no problem! We are more than happy to work with any venue to bring our client’s vision to life by having our mobile bar serve their guests,” explains Cassidy. “Venues love having us because it is a way to easily add a second bar location almost anywhere onsite, indoors or outdoors, and it creates the option to keep the open bar area separate from the cash bar.”

“I recently booked Bubbles and Brews ND for a bachelorette party, and they were AMAZING! They helped me craft a special custom cocktail for the bride to be, and I didn't have to worry about a thing. It was such a great piece to the party and made it extra special for the bride to be. The girls had a great time trying different signature cocktails and taking photos with the bar! It made the party!” shares a 2022 Bubbles and Brews ND Client.

Why Bubbles and Brews ND?

Cassidy, along with her business partner Krysten Faehnrich had a goal to start a business that would allow them to help others celebrate special life events. “We’re North Dakota girls that wanted to bring something to the community that could help other local businesses and other people in general celebrate their wins and unforgettable life events. That’s the passion that helped spark the idea of Bubbles and Brews ND in 2019,” she explains.

“We want to help our clients create those lasting memories and take the stress of drink service off of their plate so that they can simply enjoy their party,” Cassidy explains, “Everyone loves to watch us roll up and set up at the perfect spot in the event space and as we are honking the horn and driving away at the end of the night, they hate to watch us leave!”

There is only one Vintage Piaggio Ape mobile bar in North Dakota, so reach out to book your special day with Bubbles and Brews ND today!

Cassidy Hartman & Krysten Faehnrich Bubbles and Brews ND

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