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Planning a WI wedding from AZ

Kavelessio27Kavelessio27 member
First Comment
in Wisconsin
My fiance and I are WI natives, currently living in AZ.  We've decided we want to have our wedding in WI, sometime in Aug-Oct '12.  Does anyone have any experiance planning a wedding from out of state?  Looking for tips/advice!!  We will be able to make a few weekend trips home for planning throughout the year but want to make the most out of the limited time we will have while we're there!
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Re: Planning a WI wedding from AZ

  • Victoria2013Victoria2013 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are but the wedding won't be until Sept 2014 and we won't be stateside until Oct 2012.  Although your wedding is only a year away what I have been doing is researching all vendors.  That way when you get to go to WI you have already done your research.  If your family is willing to help and you need their help have them take pictures of places and what not.  But honestly it isn't easy.  
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  • WiscisblissWiscisbliss
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My advice might be to pick venues that are pretty inclusive.  So the reception hall includes catering, linens, etc.  That way you have to work with fewer vendors. 
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  • amthomas0409amthomas0409
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    where in wi are you planning on having the wedding? i'm planning a wi wedding from illinois and its difficult! my recommendation is to be sure to work with vendors that have great communication. i'm going through a situation that sucks because of the lack of communication, and when all else fails ask for recommendations on here and othert wedding sites!

    good luck!
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  • kitty02katkitty02kat member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm planning from TX for an October 12 wedding and it's been surprisingly easy- I've only had to ask my mom to do one thing and we are only making two trips home before the wedding (Xmas and in about a month so my fiancé can see what WI looks like w/o snow lol) We're getting married in green bay. Message me if you have any questions or if I can help. :)
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  • smleonard55smleonard55 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Can I ask where you all are having your reception? I am planning from Michigan.
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  • kitty02katkitty02kat member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Green bay- KI convention center and Hotel Sierra ( name is changing to Hyatt). Angela has been super to work with!
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  • jennnejjennnej member
    Second Anniversary 10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am also planning my wedding from a distance, I live in KY but would like to have the wedding in Madison. I am deciding between Olbrich Garden or Monona Terrace as the ceremony+reception sites. Fiance and I will be traveling to Madison during winter break to decide. But my biggest challenge is to find good vendors, there are so many! Where do I even begin?? I limited lots of photographers already based on price and their location (so I don't have to pay traveling fee) but still got quite a few on my list, caterer would be easy once I decide on a location, what about florists and other little details??
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  • KatieD212KatieD212 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm glad you had a good experience with Sierra- we LOVED the hotel and wanted to stay there our wedding night (reception at Riverside Ballroom)  but they were very rude to my DH, so that morning he switched and we stayed at the Clarion next door for cheaper and they gave us a suite.  I was still mad, I wanted to stay at Sierra!  Where are you going to take your pictures at??
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  • BinxRoseBinxRose member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am planning mine from VA! So far my mom, my dads wife, and FMIL have been super helpful meeting with vendors and signing. And of course, whenever you go home, pack as much wedding stuff in as possible!
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  • kitty02katkitty02kat member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    @katied212 were doing some at pamprin park, UWGB, and the reforestration camp. Did you have other ideas?
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  • jberg134jberg134 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Jelenny just got married this past weekend and planned her Green Bay wedding from Ohio.  I know she's been pretty busy, but you might be able to PM her for advice as well.
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  • JelennyJelenny
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_wisconsin_planning-wi-wedding-az?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:118Discussion:38a1927a-ebd9-46eb-a9d4-4dc7cdfb68b8Post:b4836f7b-cfb7-492e-a6fb-abefeb61a703">Re: Planning a WI wedding from AZ</a>:
    [QUOTE]Jelenny just got married this past weekend and planned her Green Bay wedding from Ohio.  I know she's been pretty busy, but you might be able to PM her for advice as well.
    Posted by jberg134[/QUOTE]

    yup Jen is right....it was tricky since I did a lot myself but I had an AWESOME DOC and can get you her information she was worth every penny (and honestly not overly expensive)...

    feel free to hit me up.

    I owe ya ladies reviews but I literally just got back to Ohio at 4:30 yesterday and am functioning on little sleep....but one will come I promise!
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  • allegratreeallegratree member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are planning from St. Louis.  Our wedding is in Mauston (Wis Dells area) in June 2012.  We started planning almost as soon as the ring was on the finger so that by the time we moved to STL on Aug 1, most of the planning (the big stuff anyway) was done.
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  • Kavelessio27Kavelessio27 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you so much for all the insight!  We are looking at Milwaukee/Waukesha county venues.  I've been very busy online researching venues, and making phone calls.  We will be flying home next month to make a decision on the place and set the date.

    For those of you who have had your ceremony in a church...how did that work?  Neither my fiance or I have ties with a church back home, so would need to pick one blind...also I know many require you to do counseling sessions prior to the event.  How in the world is all this possible from so far away?
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  • trk1trk1
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I'm having my wedding in Milwaukee too and planning from Florida!  I'm doing the ceremony and reception at the same location - Milwaukee War Memorial - the closest thing to the beach in Wisconsin :) I think I'm only making one trip home beforehand so that trip will have a lot of work involved!  My family is not even from Milwaukee but it's not too hard, just reading a lot of reviews and lots of phone/email conversations.  I'm also trying to DIY for a lot of things (photographer, cake, flowers) so that I don't need to deal with as many vendors.  Hope this helps! 
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  • kitty02katkitty02kat member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are able to do our counceling when we go home but our minister offered to do skype if we weren't able to make a trip home.
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  • allegratreeallegratree member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would recommend seeking out a dedicated wedding chapel.  You would be in a church-type setting, but are not otherwise committed to the place.  I have been involved in (Catholic) liturgy and music for 15 years (the last 3 professionally), and I can tell you that the majority of churches will require you to be a registered (and preferably contributing!) member for so many months before the wedding.  This wouldn't really be feasible in your case.  We are able to do ours in the church we are because my family still has close ties to it, I attended the parish school, and served as organist there for 12 years, even though I haven't actually been a parishioner since 2008.  My parents were also married there in 1982.
    Is there any church at all that your family has ties to?  If so, I would start there rather than just looking at churches "because they're pretty."  This is a HUGE petpeeve to churches, when people just use their facilities for that reason.  That's why, in your case, I'd recommend a wedding chapel.  If you're willing to look outside the Milwaukee area, I would recommend either the Medina Wedding Chapel (@ 15 mi west of Appleton), or Cornerstone Chapel in downtown Appleton.  Good luck!
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  • Kavelessio27Kavelessio27 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Never would have thought of a chapel, thanks for the idea!  We have our venues narrowed to a few downtown Miwaukee and a few in Brookfield/Waukesha...so Appleton would be too far away.  Neither of our families have ties to churches (but of course still would like us to have a church wedding).  I'm not going to lie I was probably going to look for that "pretty" church, I will definitely tred lightly now :)
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  • allegratreeallegratree member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Glad I could be of help! :-)
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