Milwaukee Magazine | Crafting Experiences

Crafting Experiences

These four local experts have helped put together dozens of Wisconsin weddings. We asked them to share their tips on planning ahead, the latest trends and how to make the big day special.

David Caruso President and Creative Director, Dynamic Events by David Caruso

Hadley Shully Head Chef, Shully’s Cuisine and Events

Nina Shully-Darling Event Planner, Shully’s Cuisine and Events

Dana McIntosh Esthetician, Owner, Urbaine Oasis Spa Boutique

What are some of the latest trends in weddings?

DANA M c INTOSH: First off, the guest list is increasing again.

HADLEY SHULLY: Absolutely. Thank goodness.

NINA SHULLY-DARLING: We recently did a wedding that was just shy of 400 people. And I feel as though post-pandemic there’s this new focus on supporting local businesses.

DAVID CARUSO: I would say, especially coming out of COVID, that the fun factor, the extravagance, the personalized experience, are more important than ever. I think the biggest trend for 2023 is that really anything goes. It’s about not being afraid, being ultra-expressive. I think it’s going to be about being bold and vibrant.

One trend that I know for sure is going to be big in terms of décor is crafting setpieces with seating displays that are more of a designed and decorated area than just, say, a frame with a list of people’s names or a table with placecards on it.

Another thing is a variety of entertainment. Gone are the days of having one DJ or one band. Instead, having a variety of different kinds of entertainment at one party is going to be something very different and popular.

Because things are still busy after COVID, there’s a need for people to look outside of traditional venues. I

think that a unique location can really set a wedding apart. We did a wedding that was at Road America on turn five at the racetrack. You know no one will ever go to a wedding like that again.

DM: In makeup, toward the end of the year, there were more coppers. I believe that’s starting to trend into next year as well, coppers and more golds and champagnes. A lot of my brides have been closer to a no-makeup look. I’ve been seeing a lot of demure colors for the eyes, and maybe pops of color for the liner. I’ve seen more dotted, graphic liner. Still the nude lip. The dewy look for the face has been trending as well. I’ve been trying to encourage people to add pops of color.

Men have been coming in and getting their facials and brows. I’m loving it because for so long, you saw only one person of the couple getting services, but now it seems to be something that they’re doing together.

What are some ways couples can make their big day stand out? Do any weddings you’ve been involved in really stick in your memory?

HS: Basically any wedding we did with David. He makes them so specific to the couple, down to the minutest detail. It’s so beautiful, and that’s what makes a wedding unique, making it solely about the couple and their love. It’s their favorite food, their favorite cocktail, the little treat on the guest’s table.

“I think the biggest trend for 2023 is that really anything goes. It’s about not being afraid, being ultraexpressive.”

NSD: What was something they ate at their first date? We can recreate that. There was a wedding we did with David for a couple who really loved books. The couple’s whole personality was throughout the event, from the hors d’oeuvre trays to the décor. I feel like if you’re not being true to yourself as a couple, it shows.

DM: One of the events that I went to this summer had a photo booth, and that was a hit. They had slomo options, they had costumes for people who wanted to dress up as superheroes. Couples are really thinking about the experience that their guests are having, especially while they’re getting all their photos or videography done between the ceremony and the reception.

DC: I think what’s sometimes misunderstood about what we’re saying is that it is about making it about the couple, but that doesn’t mean it has to cost a lot of money. It’s more about putting thought into what the

details are. A lot of those details can be more homespun and still be done well. It really is about picking a few elements that stand out about you as a couple – I call it accentuating the positive – and really creating these signature statements that your guests are going to know are thoughtful and have the stamp of you.

I think that a few really easy ways to do that are even just incorporating pictures of yourselves into the party scene, at the bar, or in a lounge or a food station.

HS: One of my favorites that David did with us was this wedding where they had spoons. It was the coolest thing ever. David, you tell it.

DC: So this couple told me that when they have people over for parties at their house they have this fun thing, where they have everyone just grab wooden spoons and spatulas and use them as microphones and do karaoke. So for the wedding, we had 270 wooden spoons engraved with

the date and the couple’s names. During the mother’s speech, she started talking about the karaoke parties, and the Shully’s staff came out with trays of wooden spoons stacked up, and everybody came out onto the dance floor and grabbed a spoon, and they were dancing and singing “Don’t Stop Believin’.” It was that small detail that nobody will ever forget.

What are some common mistakes couples make planning their weddings? And how can they be avoided?

DC: Don’t do it yourself. That is how people feel the most stressed, have the most anxiety and have the least successful outcome.

Cheap is expensive – if you’re doing it yourself to save money, that isn’t always necessarily what happens. Thinking you can do it because a friend of yours did it isn’t the right way to create a path forward that’s going to be fun. Aunt Betsy really

“The biggest mistake is not being true to yourself. Listen to your gut and your partner.”

Experience a Landmark moment.

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does not want to be setting your tables. Trust professionals, because proven expertise and experience are going to be the best value for your investment. It doesn’t have to come at a huge cost, but it pays off in ways that you can never imagine.

HS: The Shullys say ditto.

DM: And Dana says amen. I try to explain to my brides that hiring a professional takes the guesswork out of it. I work with photographers to understand what lighting they’re going to use, so I can use makeup that will look the best. And if someone has a skin condition, I can color-correct and mix different formulations to help everyone look as flawless as possible. There are different makeup formulations for the summer versus the cooler months. These are the things that we take into consideration.

HS: Definitely. For us, our family has been in business coming up on 40 years

next year, which is incredible. Our parents have seen every single [situation] for the past 40 years of craziness when it comes to weddings. There are a lot of different situations and venues and styles in which we can make memories really special. And there are limitations, too, that we know. Like, if you want your wedding in a field, do you have a generator, because we can’t cook if we don’t have electrical. And if your wedding’s outdoors, you always have to have a good Plan B because we’re in Wisconsin and nine times out of 10 it’s going to rain.

DM: That is critical. I did a wedding on a llama farm. There was no cellphone reception, so the bride couldn’t even communicate with her vendors. They had to have runners, because no one could get a hold of anyone.

NSD: And budget is huge. Know your price overall, or a number that’s comfortable per person.

DC: If you can afford a wedding for 50 people, don’t have one for 250. Not only does Aunt Betsy not want to help, she really does not want to come and spend a Saturday afternoon bored out of her mind. If you can only do it for 50 people, then do it right for those 50 and let the other 200 enjoy their day.

HS: Absolutely. We had a bride this December who had a wedding for just 15 people. They’re foodies. She just wanted their 15 closest family members to eat some really good food, and then go home. I was like, that’s so nice. Dream wedding.

NSD: I think the biggest mistake, and we touched on this earlier, is not being true to yourself. Listen to your gut and your partner. Always work with vendors who want to have a conversation with you first. We want to get to know our couples, what they like, what they dislike. Once we know that, we can jump in with two feet and make it happen.

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