Wedding P R E S E N T S
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Midway Golf & Games Tavern Hall Event Venue
A BEAUTIFUL, FUN &
CONVENIENT VENUE! Capacity: 160 Seated + Additional 60 on covered patio A variety of menus available from onsite caterer 44 Tavern
Includes: Banquet Tables, Chairs, and Linens for 160, Private Indoor/ Outdoor Bar, Patio Heaters, Projector & A/V Equipment Additional Activities On-site: Toptracer bays, mini golf, axe throwing, yard games, and more!
Scan the code to book your perfect event! 5500 W Van Horn Tavern Rd, Columbia, MO 65203
When your love burns eternal ... commemorate it with a custom small batch candle made with ingredients as pure as your love. Email hcwlbychelle@gmail.com for more info or to place an order.
We will work with you to customize the color, scent, vessel, and label. Perfect for wedding decor or favors! Our candles are non-toxic and cruelty free: each ingredient and material used is cultivated or created ethically & cruelty-free.
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From the Editor
A Day to Rememb
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fter spending the last two years planning my daughter’s wedding, I feel like a seasoned professional writing for this special wedding edition! And I am happy to say that we pulled off the wedding of a lifetime on October 7, 2023. From beginning to end, it was truly the most perfect, magical day. My biggest piece of advice is to try any way possible to work a wedding coordinator into your budget. (And I will take this opportunity to put in a plug for Ashley Minor with Delight Events. We could not have done this without her!) Having someone to refer all your questions to, having someone there to help creatively along the way, but most importantly, having someone there with you on the day of. I did not feel one single ounce of stress on the day of. I was able to sit and enjoy mimosas with my daughter and her friends while they did hair and makeup. I was able to walk into a fully decorated venue. I never had to worry about a timeline or making sure we were staying on track throughout the day. I never had to communicate with a single vendor. And the best part was, at the end of the night, we were able to leave the ruins at the end of the reception and continue to celebrate with our friends and family while Ashley, her team, and the Cooper’s Ridge staff did all of the cleanup! My next piece of advice is to find known and trusted vendors, and book them early! Unbeknownst to me, vendors’ schedules fi ll up very quickly. These vendors can make or break your day. We formed relationships with all our vendors, and I had all the faith in the world in them. It is fun to watch all the vendors work together. Ask for recommendations, ask questions, get to know your vendors ... sometimes it takes talking to a few to find the perfect fit. My daughter and son-in-law did several things throughout the day that
made the day extra special. Starting with private vows. Right after they did their fi rst look with each other, they read vows that they had each written to each other, when it was just the two of them. Then they did traditional vows during the ceremony. Another very special moment during the day for me was right before they were about to walk down the aisle. After all the guests were seated, we took a moment and gathered our family and the wedding party around Taylor and Zach and prayed over them. Praying for a lifetime of love and happiness. And lastly, at the end of the reception, we asked all guests to leave the venue, and Taylor and Zach had a private last dance together with just them — taking a moment together to reflect on the day and live in that moment. The day can get crazy, but it is so important to take those moments. You can find highlights from this magical day on pg 48. For anyone planning a wedding, this special wedding edition is for you. Find your tribe of people, take in the moments, and enjoy the ride! Cheers! Above: Kim with her
XO,
daughter, Taylor, on her wedding day. Opening photo: Coopers Ridge Event Venue.
KIM AMBRA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Photos by Toni Wieberg Photography
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A VENUE TO
Rememb
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Weddings are des tined to be memorable. A s is true in real es tate, ‘location, location, location’ may be the three mos t impor tant element s of yours . BY MICHELLE TERHUNE
New Eden Studios
Lighter Focus
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t used to be that when a couple decided to marry, they booked a church and a venue to hold a reception. These days, they’re opting for beaches, foreign destinations, backyards, and barns. Wedding parties are sitting during the ceremony — if there’s a bridal party at all. Tuxedos have given way to suits. Cocktails precede a sit-down dinner. The first dances are being replaced by last dances. And although white bridal dresses have been a standard since Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, brides are wearing colorful accessories, floral patterns, pastels, and bright colors. What this all means is that couples are making their special day more about them and less about all the same traditions that have been prominent for centuries. To make that work, they’re looking for venues that give them the flexibility to make them their own, and the people who can help make their dreams a reali-
New Eden Studios
ty. Many duos have found precisely that at Cooper’s Ridge Event Venue. Opened in the summer of 2018, Cooper’s Ridge is owned by Sean and Kelly McCollegan and Jeff and Brandi Huebner. Brandi Huebner is involved in the dayto-day operations, as well as corporate bookings. Kristen Russell has a background in wedding planning and event coordination. After she toured Cooper’s Ridge with a client in July 2020, she joined the team as a part-time event manager. Today, she’s the venue’s general manager.
BEAUTIFUL SETTING FOR A WEDDING Cooper’s Ridge Event Venue sits on 38 acres of land off Highway 98, a short fifteen minutes west of Columbia. Across the road lies Warm Springs Ranch, Budweiser’s Clydesdale breeding facility. It’s quiet, rural, and picturesque.
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In addition to the 6,200 square foot event center, Cooper’s Ridge features an outdoor seating area with wooden benches facing a pond, a meadow, and a stage where couples are framed by a rustic wooden hexagonal arbor. There’s a covered outdoor patio and a fire pit area with seating. Some couples choose Cooper’s Ridge to split the distance between Kansas City and St. Louis for their nuptials. But most are from Columbia and the surrounding area, seeking the perfect setting for their perfect day. For them, the venue is closer than some think it is. “We’re not that far away, just halfway between Columbia and Boonville. It is a misconception we are working to overcome,” Brandi Huebner says.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE COUPLE New Eden Studios
Bella Faith Photography
Cooper’s Ridge features a permanent, fully stocked bar staffed by experienced bartenders who can draw beer and create signature cocktails. You’ll see crystal chandeliers and swaths of fabric wrapped through wooden beams. It’s a setting that can be transformed according to the couple’s wishes, be it elegant, boho, classic, vintage, rustic, or anything else. “We are out on thirty-eight acres in a rural setting, but we definitely aren’t a barn venue,” Huebner says. “We worked really hard to make the space transitional so you can come in and have a more laid-back, rustic feel if that’s what you want. But if you want to have a vintage wedding or something more upscale, the space works as well. We focused on keeping a base aesthetic of modern rustic.” Indeed, one look through the wedding galleries that rotate on the Cooper’s Ridge website shows the variety of décor couples have used. That’s important because wedding trends are always changing. “Fall weddings are definitely the most popular now,” Russell says. “The boho style has probably been the most popular trend we’ve seen during the past couple of years. We’ve also seen couples striving for the timeless classic, black-and-white wedding with that look you can’t put a year on.” “Even if the overall aesthetic isn’t a trend, there are lots of trendy things happening within weddings,” Russell says. “You can see which types of vendors are becoming popular, like vintage rentals with vintage furniture and apothecary bottles. We’re seeing lots of fun vendors pop up, too, like cotton candy and food trucks.” She adds, “If nothing else, tradition is totally out the window. People are really making it their own. It’s all about the couple, their story, and what’s true to them.”
SIZE AND EXPERIENCE MATTERS The indoor venue at Cooper’s Ridge holds about 225 seated guests, although it can hold more for cocktail events. During the pandemic, the number of guests was small. Counts began to increase in 2021 and by 2022, Russell says weddings became quite large. They’ve tapered off Husband + Wife Photography 44
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New Eden Studios
somewhat in 2023, with most ranging from about 120 guests to 175. Huebner says the venue’s “sweet spot” is 150 to 175 guests. There are three packages couples can choose from, including one-, two-, and three-day events. Prices vary according to the day of the week and holiday events. But no matter when a wedding is scheduled, there’s a lot more than just an empty space included in the price. The rental fee includes event staffing, tables and chairs, set up, and clean up. But Cooper’s Ridge features two other great spaces for the couple and their wedding party. There’s the 1,200 squarefoot house on the property that has been converted to a bridal suite, plus the relatively new adjacent building called “The Coop.” That’s where the groom and groomsmen can get ready and hang out together before the ceremony. But it’s the aid and attention from the Cooper’s Ridge team that makes the difference. “We’re here to help our clients,” Huebner says. “Whether or not they are using a wedding coordinator, we just want to make sure the day’s running smoothly and according to plan. We’re going to make sure that everyone has a good experience when they’re here.”
A VENUE WITH AN EDGE The Cooper’s Ridge team hosted a goal-surpassing forty-nine weddings in 2023. Now, their goal is to hit sixty every year. Although that’s a lot of weddings for them, for most of their couples, it’s their
first and, they hope, the only one they’ll have. Huebner says the team is dedicated to making every wedding fabulous, which is why Cooper’s Ridge is always looking for ways to improve. “There aren’t many venues that sit on thirty-eight acres, especially near Columbia,” Huebner says. “We really pride ourselves on our customer service and level of involvement. And then there are the tools that we provide to clients to help keep everyone organized to help create a great event.” Those tools include an online, shared planning document the couple and the venue have access to from the time they sign the contract. The venue team meets with the couple just before the wedding to make sure all the boxes have been checked. For example, there’s an extremely detailed timeline that includes vendors, from booking through to what time they show up on the day of the event. The venue also provides a forty-page document that’s a helpful wedding planning tool for clients to use. Perhaps the commitment to go above and beyond is why Cooper’s Ridge was one of the five finalists for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award. Couples are making their own traditions for their weddings these days. That means venues must be versatile enough to become whatever setting they choose for their big event. Cooper’s Ridge, sitting on the cusp of Columbia, is checking all the boxes for weddings that may last a few hours or a few days, but remain memories for a lifetime.
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Wedding Co dinat s:
T H E L I N C H PI N TO YO U R PE R F E CT DAY A great wedding coordinator helps make sure your special day is a dream — and not a nightmare. BY EMMI WEINER | PHOTOS BY NEW EDEN STUDIOS
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n engaged couple’s wedding day can be magical. For some, it is a day they have dreamed of since they were a child, with details carefully journaled and collaged over the years. But turning those collages and daydreams into reality is a daunting task in itself. From cultural traditions to personal taste, there are endless options and ideas. But balancing Pinterest board dreams with overbearing in-laws can leave nearlyweds dreading their special day. It’s a conundrum that event and wedding coordinator Ashley Minor helps brides and couples avoid and navigate. “There are so many minute details that people do not think of,” says Minor, owner of Deight Events. “Each question just leads to more questions. And what
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happens if they don’t have a wedding coordinator, they get to the day, and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, who’s cutting the cake, and then what are we doing with the cake?’ and then “Did anyone bring plates for the cake? And if we have all this cake leftover, who’s taking it?’ and are you freezing the top of the cake?” Th is isn’t new information. The trope of weddings being stressful is solidly in the cultural zeitgeist. But how can you make sure your wedding day won’t become a scary story to tell in the dark? A wedding coordinator.
WHEN IT’S TIME TO ASK FOR HELP It is not unusual for a person to get overwhelmed while planning a wed-
ding. The amount of decisions one must make is daunting and decision fatigue is real. Pair that with a stressful job or taking care of kids and a wedding starts to sound a lot less fun. “I think there’s a lot of things that do go overlooked but even on the day of, it’s like, ‘You know, do you want photos of this beautiful tablescape that you spend hundreds of dollars creating?’ And then your candles aren’t lit for a photo? Who’s gonna light those candles, blow them out, and then relight them for you later when the guests are actually there?” Minor explains. “It’s stuff like that that I can take care of so you don’t have to be pulled away from what you’re supposed to be doing, which is relaxing, enjoying your
friends, enjoying your family, getting your hair and makeup done.” Ideally, the journey starts with a wedding coordinator already on your team. Sometimes, it is a last-minute Hail Mary situation where an aunt said she would handle some things but it turns out she can’t. That’s how Minor got her start as a wedding coordinator. “My cousin was engaged. My aunt had asked me for help with one small part of the wedding. And then it morphed into, well, I kind of did like a total wedding takeover,” she adds in a moment of modest humility.
WHAT DO COORDINATORS EVEN DO? When it comes to inviting a wedding coordinator into your planning, it is important to know what they can do for you. Wedding coordinators can offer anything from turn-key ready planned packages to custom, elaborate plans from beginning to end. Wedding coordinators manage just about every situation that could arise and take care of factors that are often overlooked. “We manage budgets, we design, we make sure everything is going according to the timeline. We are working with other vendors as they’re coming and setting up. We are pinning boutonnieres on groomsmen,” Minor says, listing a litany of things she does on any given wedding day.
When it comes to those minute and burdensome details, wedding coordinators help ease bridal burdens by: • Dealing with vendors so you don’t have to. From the venue to the caterer to the flowers, picking the right vendors can make all the difference. Wedding coordinators have established relationships with these vendors, and in a city like Columbia, those established relationships are vital. Wedding coordinators can even hand-select vendors for brides to match their style and vision.
PICKING THE RIGHT COORDINATOR Now that you know what a wedding coordinator does, how do you go about making sure you found the right one for you? The most important things to consider are: • Your budget and guest list: Each wedding coordinator has different specialties. By having this information handy when starting your search, you will be more likely to find the best match for your needs. You do not need to have every detail planned, but an idea of how big and how much helps. • Personality match: Working with a coordinator who matches your vibes will save everyone loads of stress and
• Planning timelines so you can enjoy and not worry about making sure the DJ plays your fi rst dance at exactly 7:35. A wedding coordinator will provide a detailed timeline of what needs to happen and when it will happen. The wedding coordinator will make sure everything ends up in the right place at the right time, including you. • People management/emotional support: While some are blessed with a family that all gets along, others have less functional family dynamics. It’s a wedding coordinator’s task to make sure that you are having a great time. They will assist you with everything from making sure your body is situated in your outfit for pictures to making sure you aren’t bothered by overbearing relatives.
headaches. When you show up for your consultations, be authentic and candid. Be upfront about your needs and expectations around communication and vision. Finding the right coordinator will make your day all that more special and your memories will be about the most positive highlights instead of the hassle of trying to get all the aunties to light candles as guests are arriving at the reception. “There’s not much that happens at a wedding that we do not touch and I know that it’s the way that I make a living,” Minor says. “But I honestly do not know how people have weddings without professional help.”
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FEATURED WEDDING
1 0 .7. 2 3
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Taylor &Zach Hi
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VENDORS: VENUE: Cooper’s Ridge Event Venue @coopersridgeeventvenue COORDINATOR: Delight Events @delighteventsmo PHOTOGRAPHER: Toni Wieberg Photography @toniwiebergphotography FLORALS: Tiger Gardens @mutigergarden CATERING: Haller’s Homestyle Catering @hallershomestylecatering PHOTO BOOTH: Blue Diamond Events @ bluediamondeventsweddings LIGHTING & FIREWORKS: SW Productions @swprodesigns HAIR: MK Lush @mk.lush MAKEUP: Luxe Refinery Como @luxerefinerycomo DRESS: Gracie’s Bridal @graciesbridal DJ: DJ Shark Attack @djsharkattackcomo LIT LETTERS: Alpha Lit @alphalitmidmo
Would you like to see your wedding featured in COMO Magazine? Contact Kim@comocompanies.com
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Prep ing students f
Tiger Garden tracks and teaches floral trends. BY HANNA SOUTHER AND LESLEIGHAN KRAFT CRAVENS
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re you ready to “wow!” wedding guests with bright seasonal summer blooms in centerpieces and arrangements that feature fruit? That’s right. Picture a themed wedding display of colorful corals, orange, and yellows, accented by lemons, grapefruits, and oranges. It’s a floral trend that Tiger Garden, the student-run florist at the University of Missouri, has added to its lineup of services and decor. Tiger Garden is a full-service floral shop that is part of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). Tiger Garden opened in 2005 and offers an array of holiday
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decorating services, wreaths, garlands, trees, fresh centerpieces, and a seemingly endless variety of custom arrangements. Each step in the design and retail process, including marketing, customer relations, product development, orders, delivery, and set up are learning experiences for young creatives employed with Tiger Garden. (Tiger Garden averages about twenty student employees each school year.) What about the new colorful trend of combining floral and fruit — and vegetables? Tiger Garden keeps a keen eye on trends, the latest design styles, and new developments in the industry. The latest trend comes from the “what’s old is new” practice of designs heavily influenced by European tastes. The most evident from that old-is-new trend is the Della Robbins, a composition formed by the dominant use of fruit within wreaths, swags, or other arrangements. The style is named for Luco della Robbia (1399-1482) who created glazed terra-cotta reliefs of garlands of fruits and flowers.
COMO
The fusion of florals using fruits and vegetables is a unique combination that celebrates nature's bounty, bringing together the beauty of flowers and the lusciousness of fruits and vegetables supplying a variety of colors, textures, and patterns. Tiger Garden staff saw that trend in abundance at the annual American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) symposium, as well as in floral magazines and in designs around the world. Tiger Garden has applied the trend to several events. For instance, the bright citrus wedding of corals, orange, and yellows imbued with similar hues of fruit placed down the center of guest tables. Adding in simple clear bud vases can pop with bright seasonal summer blooms, with matching taper candles in modern glass cube holders to tie the tablescape together on top of coral cheese cloth runners.
WEDDING BUSINESS UPDATE
The colors are extra vibrant against crisp white linens in a beautiful outdoor green lush setting. Limes have also shined brighter in Tiger Garden’s designs for themed events. One setting used two vases that fit into each other with about an inch of space; sliced fruit was placed between the glass vases. Adding water to the center container and inserting fresh flowers creates such a sleek modern look, which is always a conversation starter. Mandarin oranges and tangerines took the stage at the COMO Magazine customer happy hour with fruit and florals strung in shades of orange draped from the ceiling, with large modern blue bottles hung between them. The exhibit created a dynamic display with contrasting colors and movement. Incorporating fruits and vegetables into arrangements is sure to add depth
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WEDDING BUSINESS UPDATE
and texture, and something unique. The trend invites us to appreciate the beauty of the natural world. Get ready to embrace the harvest, let your style bloom, and bring a touch of the garden into your next project. (Natural-themed trends affect all sorts of industries so keep an eye out for that cute beet pattern shirt or those cherry themed pants.) Tiger Garden’s expansion into the wedding and event industry in 2012 led to the creation of a smaller team of students who have an eye on entering that sector of the floral and wedding industry. The team helps create weddings and events locally and throughout Missouri offering fresh florals, custom balloon displays, plant and backdrop rentals, holiday decorating, plant maintenance, and event coordinating services. The floral artistry and management part of the program allows Tiger Garden to help educate students on five levels of floral design. Upon successful completion, students receive their certificate in floral artistry and management. The courses are Introduction to Floral Design, Everyday Floral Design, Special Occasion Floral Design, Wedding Floral Design, and Retail Floral Management. Along with these courses, the students also have an opportunity to join the Mizzou Student Chapter of the American Institute
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Students also have an opportunity to join the Mizzou Student Chapter of the American Institute of Floral Designers and may be able to participate in the largest floral design conference in the world and compete in competitions with other students from across the nation.
of Floral Designers, the student umbrella of AIFD. As a result, students may be able to participate in the largest floral design conference in the world and compete in competitions with other students from across the nation. Tiger Garden’s mission is to expand the educational process by combining traditional textbook learning with hands-on small business experience in an entrepreneurial environment. Tiger Garden works closely with the floral design program in the Division of Plant Sciences and other schools and colleges across campus to provide other learning experiences for students. TIGER GARDEN 2-34 Agriculture Building 573-884-1191 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(573) 445-7040 mathnasium.com/columbiamo 3906 Peachtree Dr, Suite E Columbia MO 65203
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EVENT WITH
the perfect blend
Adding a custom label to your favorite bag of Lakota coffee beans will create a lasting aromatic keepsake from your special day. From photos, to QR codes we can accommodate any design.
LakotaCoffee.com | (573) 874-2852
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COMO
SPECIAL WEDDING SECTION
WEDDING CHECKLIST
12 mon s bef ee □ Set a budget □ Make a guest list □ Choose bridal party
8 mon s bef e □ Choose bridesmaid dresses
□ Decide style and theme □ Choose a venue □ Sample and select a caterer
7 mon s bef e □ Book rehearsal dinner
□ Choose color scheme □ Hire photographer & Videographer
□ Hire band or DJ
□ Choose music for
□ Order decorations □ Hire of ficiant
6 mon s bef e □ Book transport for guests
10 mon s bef e
□ Book transport for you
5 mon s bef e □ Book honeymoon
9 mon s bef e □ Buy wedding dress
□ Book or rent men’s tuxedos/suits
A N D M O S T I M P O R TA N T LY
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□ Hair & makeup trial
3 mon s bef e
□ Choose guest favors □ Write vows □ Select readings
2 mon s bef e □ Dress fitting
□ Send wedding invites □ Pick up marriage license
1 mon bef e
□ Assemble gif t bags □ Pay vendors in full □ Create seating chart □ Final meetings with venue/vendors
□ Final dress fitting
□ Send save the dates □ Book hotel rooms
□ Buy wedding bands
venue
ceremony
11 mon s bef e
□ Choose cake
□ Choose flowers/florist
□ Hire a wedding coordinator
4 mon s bef e
The night bef e
□ Eat a healthy meal □ Drink water □ Get a good night’s sleep
Enjoy Yo Day!
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