Brides by Gannett Wisconsin Media

brides Sunday | february 16 | 2014

inside: the wedding of Nick & Naomi Skulan page 4 Historic Wade House offers charm page 10 Broaden horizons with Fox World Travel page 8 Fond du Lac Area Musicians serenade ceremonies page 14

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brides

2014 Brides is published by Action Reporter Media, Fond du Lac. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior consent of Action Reporter Media. For more information, contact Heather Bradwin, at 920-907-7901. General Manager/Karen Befus | Advertising Manager/Heather Bradwin Features Editor/Katie Larson | Assistant Editor/ Writer/Taima Kern Graphic Designer/Marie Rayome-Gill

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{ the wedding }

Through the bride’s eyes: The wedding of

By Taima Kern AcTion REpoRTER MEDiA

Nick & Naomi Skulan RIPoN CoLLeGe

PHOTOS By Taima Kern THUnDERSTRiKE pHoToGRApHY

brides

Sunday, february 16, 2014

sweethearts Nick Skulan and Naomi Jahn were married just before sunset on January 3, barefoot in the sands of Siesta Key, FL. The destination ceremony was private, with only two-dozen immediate family and close friends invited. They followed up a few weeks later with a 275-invitation reception at the Great Dane Pub & Brewery in Wausau. The couple met when she was 18 and he was 19, as freshman at Ripon College and pledges of the local co-ed fraternity Theta Sigma Tau. Nick proposed during a weekly house meeting a year or so later. The couple got the idea to plan a destination wedding, and Nick suggested Siesta Key after the stress of planning a large ceremony in Wisconsin began to get the bride-to-be a bit on edge. “She wasn’t really a bridezilla,” said Nick. “I mean, she was stressed, but she wasn’t ‘ARGH’ about it.”

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{ the wedding } Why did you choose to get married so young? “Getting married meant that we could start everything together – first house, first jobs, school and grad school,” said Naomi. They took the opportunity now rather than following the trends of people getting married older and later in life, and the trouble of trying to merge developed lives that goes along with it. Traditions “My mother started the ceremony with ‘Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday,’” laughed Naomi, quoting a line from the 1987 movie “Princess Bride.” “It’s safe to say the wedding was kind of non-traditional.” Naomi explained that they maintained traditional vows, that her mother, a United Methodist pastor, offered a prayer, and asked those assembled for their approval of the union. The majority of the ceremony, however, skewed away from tradition with

a reading about two dinosaurs, informal segments of the speech referencing how they met and the curiosities surrounding the wedding of two members of the same fraternal organization, and the focus that was put on family. “We wanted it to reflect ourselves,” said Naomi. The Honeymoon The couple left for their Disney cruise through the western Caribbean the following morning. The trip took them through the Grand Caymans, Cozumel, and to Disney’s private island. “I think our favorite part of the honeymoon was the game shows in the evening, and the night-club atmosphere of some of the adults-only entertainment,” Naomi said. “It was relaxing,” she added, a nice counterpoint to the stress of the planning. Advice “My advice would be to stick with some

place you know, somewhere you’ve been before. It ensures that you can envision how it will look, and will help you finding your vendors, dinner or reception location, flowers, everything,” said Nick. The couple had visited Siesta Key before, and knew it was perfect. “If it is within the financial means of the couple, visit ahead of time,” said Nick. “Go there and make sure that you want it, because it’s all about making the memories.” “I would probably suggest that the couple ask for help when they need it,” said Naomi. “I wish I had asked for help with more stuff. It was stressful to do it alone, and I understand why people hire wedding planners.” Naomi did much of the planning herself, though she notes that when she was making the wedding invites, she did rely on her fraternity sisters to aid her, creating a Monday-night assembly line in the fraternity’s lounge. The girls cut paper and added ribbons, tiny pearls, and all the

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aspects of the invitation design she had chosen. “It was disgusting,” laughs Naomi. “I don’t know why we decided to make our own invitations. I suggest you keep it simple, or you will regret gluing ribbons and little pearls on 200-some invites. And those bows.” The couple also suggests that if someone is planning a destination wedding, they should be sure to seek out vendors at the location who are well-established in the area, and who are professionals in what they do. “I never met any of my [Florida-based] vendors in person,” remarks Naomi. “With the exception of my hair stylist, everything was done over phone and via email.” The only things that the couple brought with them from Wisconsin were the dresses from David’s Bridal, the tux from Men’s Warehouse in Appleton, and their photographer.

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{ service }

Ditch the ‘polar vortex,’ get hitched in the sun By Taima Kern | Action Reporter Media

“Destination

weddings are a trend that continues to grow in popularity. Currently approximately 20 percent of all weddings are destination weddings,” said Rose Gray, manager of business development - vacation sales at Fox World Travel, Inc., a fullservice travel agency based in the Fox Valley. Gray goes on to say, “one, cost savings: It is typically less expensive to do a destination wedding. Two, many brides like to roll the wedding and honeymoon into one “vacation.” Three, it’s great for second marriages, blended families, [and] four, [it is] much less

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stress than a traditional wedding.” The largest travel agency in Wisconsin, and a Fox-Valley-local service, Fox World Travel is a family business established in 1960. Grandfather Harold Juedes founded the organization, and his son David joined up in 1973. He then bought in to the family business in 1979. More recently, grandson Chip started with the company eight years ago. They presently own more than 20 travel agencies, and boast agents with an average of 11 years or more of experience. Fox World Travel Destination Wedding Specialists will consult with the bride and groom to help them

Popular wedding destinations include: • Riviera Maya, Mexico

• Cancun, Mexico

• Jamaica

• Puerto Vallarta

• Los Cabos

• Huatulco

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

• Hawaii

Why a destination wedding? • Saves time: To make planning a breeze, Fox World Travel can help you choose a destination and arrange tailored all-inclusive destination wedding packages for you and your guests. Most resorts have full-time, onsite wedding planners who can coordinate every aspect of your wedding day. • Memorable: Having your family and friends join you in a beautiful destinations for your all-inclusive wedding will create a celebration you’ll never forget. • Saves money: Destination weddings are often smaller than traditional, many resorts offer all-inclusive packages, and the transition to the honeymoon is often faster. • The guests have to travel anyways: With families and friends spread throughout the country and world, it is likely many of your guests will have to travel regardless of your wedding’s location. Plus the trip can double as a vacation for them.

select the perfect destination for their wedding. “Once that has been determined,” said Gray, “she will work with the couple to choose a resort or hotel and secure the date and time for the wedding. The wedding specialist will work with our preferred travel partners to offer the best pricing for complete packages which include airfare, transfers and accommodations for the bridal party and their guests.” Some resorts, Gray adds, especially in Mexico and the Caribbean offer complimentary weddings or special amenities and upgrades based on the number of guests that are traveling with the bridal couple. “The wedding specialists can also help provide assistance for those guests and family members who will need “a la carte” travel; i.e. travel from different departure cities or shorter stays. The

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guests deal directly with the wedding specialist to make the reservations and payments thereby removing that responsibility (and stress) from the bridal couple,” Gray said. The Fox World Travel Wedding Specialists will also put the bride in touch with the wedding coordinator at the property so that they can work together on the wedding details and can also assist with the legal requirements for marriage in an international destination. Though there are a number of travel agents at Fox World Travel to assist you, seven agents specialize in destination weddings. To narrow the list, Gray suggests that couples make contact with Laura Pierce and Sarah Timmers, (888) 739-9779, specifically, as they book destination weddings exclusively. For more information about Fox World Travel, visit gofox.com.

{ venue }

HistoricWade House offers charming location, comforts for weddings By Taima Kern AcTion REpoRTER MEDiA

DoTTeD WITH

nature, history and 21st century comforts, the Wade House’s grounds are the ideal place for princess, historybuff, costume, renaissance and nature-loving brides alike. Featuring everything from secluded natural and historical locations, horse-drawn carriages and omnibuses to rooms with full A/V capabilities, huge pull-down projector screens and acoustically pleasing concourses, the newly build visitor’s center and the expansive Wade House grounds located along Highway 23 in Greenbush, are available for a variety of different weddings. With various sites on the grounds able to support anywhere from 172 to more than 500 guests. Couples can take their pick from the herringbone hardwood floors of the Walnut Room or the grassy expanse of the meadow area, or a number of other locations speckled throughout the Wade House property. Couples can be wed at one of the historic sites, have dinner catered under a tent outside or inside within the Walnut room, and while they are off with the photographer, they can set up a cocktail hour for their guests in the main concourse. It will give guests something to do while they wait, they can check out the reproduction stage coach, or visit the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Mu-

seum. “Also,” David Simmons, Wade House Director adds, “the acoustics in the concourse are fabulous for live background music.” He suggests that jazz combos, a harpist or a small band would be a unique touch for entertaining during a cocktail hour. “DJs are good for dancing,” Simmons said, “but live music for a reception makes it special and unique.” If the main concourse is being utilized, guests can also set down their drinks and stroll through the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum located in the lower level. However, access to the carriage rides and the other buildings are not included automatically with a wedding package. “Admission to the wade site is not included, but we would be willing to negotiate for it at a heavily discounted admission to the rest of the facility,” said Simmons. Bridgett Zielke, Manager of Marketing, Public Programs and event Services at the Wade House Historic Site, assures couples that their ceremonies and events will be private, even though they are choosing a location that is a bit more public than a church. “Anything that takes place on the lawns needs

to start at 5:30 p.m. or later, to give the carriage rides enough time to drop oﬀ the last passengers of the day and get out of the way,” said Zielke. She adds that if your event is inside the main structure, in the Walnut room, visitors don’t have access to there anyways. “Ceremonies can be scheduled after hours or on days when the grounds would be otherwise closed. In addition, locations such as the Meadow and the Carriage Pavilion can be used during the day, they are pretty, secluded, sur-

rounded by nature,” she said. “All our wedding packages include on-site event assistance, use of Wade House grounds for photo opportunities and a complimentary ceremony rehearsal,” said Zielke. The cost of a wedding ceremony at the Wade House is comparable to other area hotels and venues. For more information on the Wade House Historical site, visit wadehouse.wisconsinhistory.org, call (920) 526-3271, or visit the site, W7965 Highway 23, Greenbush.

The Wade House staff works with the following preferred caterers for weddings at their establishment. Fond du Lac based: Sheboygan based: • Eden Catering, 115 E. Main • The Kitchens of Kohler, 795A Woodlake Road, Kohler. For St., Eden. For information, information, contact Ty Dassler, (920) 457-6570 ext. 55424 contact Jeff Duehring at (920) or Ty.dassler@kohler.com 477-2711, (800) 538-4630 or • Watson’s Elite Catering, 2335 Union Ave., Sheboygan. For info@edenmeat.com information, contact Bradley Buchberger at (920) 694-3417 • Linstrom’s Catering, 505 or bbuchberger@watsoninc.net Maona Ave., Fond du Lac. For They also work with the preferred vendor Tents Inc., information, contact Heather 4634 Frontage Rd, Sheboygan, for their tent rentals. Linstrom at (920) 929-0404, To contact Tents Inc., call (920) 451-9071 or visit tentsinc.net. (920) 602-2909 (cell) or fdlcater@gmail.com 10

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{ service }

Keeping the tradition:

Live, local musicians available for bookings By Taima Kern | Action Reporter Media

The Fond du Lac Area

Musicians are doing what they can to keep live music just that: Alive. Thirteen area groups or single performers make up the Fond du Lac Area Musicians, and they have everything from a solo pianist to five and six piece groups performing country, rock, modern, polkas, waltzes, to name a few. This group of musical groups came together as an association in 1995. “We hardly play weddings anymore. DJs have taken over,” said Pete Runde, of the Fond du Lac Area Musicians, noting that many of the bands in their organization are available to be booked for a wedding ceremony or reception or both. “It depends on the personality of the couple, I think,” said Pete, noting that not everyone wants the standard DJ-list of popular songs. “A live band puts more personality into a performance than a DJ, and people are drawn more to live music than to a DJ.” Many of the bands in the Fond du Lac Area Musicians are best known for their performances during the Music Under the Stars concert series held at Buttermilk Creek Park during the summer. For a full list of bands and contact information, see the organization’s advertisement on page 12 or visit them online at fdlmusicians.com To name a few… The Downtowners A five piece band under the leadership of Bob and Jane Shirek, with performers Dan Seidl, Annie Wisner and Greg Kilmer. Styles of music include country, jazz, swing, polkas and rock. The band was formed in the 1980s and used to perform at the former Colony Supper Club. Instrumentation for the band includes trumpet, saxophones, clarinet, guitar, accordion and flugelhorn. Page Four Page Four was started by bandleader

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The Downtowners

Anne Abel 30 years ago, with the help of Sharon Vollendorf and Nancy Johnston. The all-female band later took on drummer Mark Hintz to join Abel on keyboard, Johnston, a vocalist on bass guitar, and Vollendorf on guitar, banjo and solo vocals. They play typical weddingdance variety music, modern songs mixed with 1950s and 60s music, polkas and waltzes. The Groeschel Band Formed 50 years ago by the late Syl Groeschel, the Groeschel Pete Runde Band originally bore its founder’s name. Presently led by drummer Dale Mueller, the Groeschel Band is a sixpiece ensemble that performs German polkas, waltzes, and big Band music. Whiskey River Band This group got its start in the Waupun area in the late 1970s, and is widely known for performing more traditional country music. The group was performed all over Wisconsin and the Midwest, opened for larger country music stars, and competed in Nashville. The six piece band includes Al Blau, vocalist and lead guitarist; Judd Blau on the rhythm guitar; Vinnie Boehlin on drums; Brent Clauson, who plays steel guitar and the fiddle. Jim Peronto, the band’s 1977 founder plays bass guitar and sings, and his wife Bonnie performs as a vocalist.

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