wedding

February
2017

GuideLoren & Ashley Mitchell

Justin & Morgan Smerd

Bob and
Ages
Anderson
70 Years

Wedding
Musician Dan & Emilee Meador
S
A Special Supplement of
Darl Hansmeier The
tandard
Page 2
Relationship that began
during high school ends up
with promise of forever 13 years
later for Loren and Ashley Mitchell
by Kelli Boylen,
freelance writer
Ashley and Loren Mitchell of
Waterville first danced together
when he was a freshman
and she was a sophomore at
Waukon High School. This past
fall, 13 years later, they danced
together for the first time as
husband and wife.
In 2003 Ashley and Loren
started talking before school,
hanging out near her locker.
They went to a teen dance at
Wild Willys in Waukon and that
is when Loren realized how
much he really liked her.
Neither of them lived on a
farm, but they both milked cows
part-time at different farms.
She lived near the Hanover
area between Dorchester and
Waukon, and he was living in
Waterville. Since they started
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wedding guide
dating so young, she ended up
driving him on the dates at first
until he was old enough to get
his license.
They had an on-again/off-
again relationship during high
school and attended Prom
together Lorens senior year.
The reasons they broke up
long ago during and after
high school have long been
forgotten by both of them now.
We tried to go our separate
ways several times, Ashley
recalls. But we always ended
up getting back together, even
after dating other people.
About six years ago they
started dating again, and this
time it ended up being for good.
I just knew it was right when
we got back together. I just had
a feeling that she was the one
and I didnt need to look around
anymore, Loren says.
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Loren and Ashley both say
the same things that initially
drew them to one another are
still true today. For Ashley, it
was Lorens good looks and
personality. He is laid back
and easy to talk to, she says.
He was a flirt and a teddy
bear kind of guy.
I love how loving Ashley
is. Im attracted to her. She is
honest with me, there when I
need her and tells me how it is.
It brings joy to my life just to be
around her, Loren says.
Ashley has been a CNA at
Good Samaritan for the past
12 years, and Loren has been
a paramedic for Tri-State
Ambulance for five years and
Veterans Memorial Hospital
Mitchell
Continued on page 10
Ashley and Loren Mitchell
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February 15, 2017 Page 3

New life together begins in New Orleans for Waukon couple
by Lissa Blake
When Waukon natives Dan
Meador and Emilee Johnson
were looking for the perfect
place to tie the knot, they
decided on one of their favorite
spots: New Orleans, LA.
When we were talking about
the ideal place to have our
wedding, it made sense to have
it be a destination we enjoy,
said Dan.
We take a trip to New
Orleans every year, added
Emilee.
We love the food, music and
culture, Dan explained.
From the beginning
Dan, the son of Bruce and
Nelda Meador, is a 2000
graduate of Waukon High
School. Emilee is the daughter
of Melvin and Cindy Johnson,
and graduated in 2011 from
Waukon High School.
A little more than five years
ago, the couple started dating
after running into each other a
couple times around town. One
of my sisters friends made the
first introduction, because she
knew Emilee, remembered
Dan.
The couple started dating,
wedding guide
and by last year, Dan decided
it was time to pop the question,
and did so while they vacationed
to Hayward, WI.
Community support
The couple said they
couldnt have pulled off the big
day without a lot of help from
people back home. It started
before Dan even asked Emilee
for her hand, when he realized
he didnt know much about her
ring preferences.
Cheryl at Hammel Jewelers
in Decorah did a great job of
helping me, said Dan. After
hatching a plan with Cheryl,
Dan purchased a simple pearl
ring for Emilee, knowing it
would be the wrong size.
We (Dan and Cheryl) set
it up so Emilee would have
to go in to get it sized. Cheryl
just happened to be there,
and directed Emilee to the
engagement rings, said Dan.
I just saw them and said,
Oh, these are nice, can I
try some on? remembered
Emilee.
Now Dan knew her size
and her preferences. That
all worked pretty well,
remembered Dan.
Emilee later returned to
Hammel Jewelers and Cheryl
helped her pick out some
vintage wedding jewelry for the Emilee
big day as well.
and Dan
The perfect spot Meador
The couple next started
looking for the perfect venue and
caterer for what they decided
would be their September
17, 2016 wedding day. They
looked on Airbnb, an online
marketplace and homestay
network enabling people to list
or rent short-term lodging in
residential properties, with the
cost of such accommodation
set by the property owner.
They found the Bayou Oaks
plantation in Slidell, LA, about
45 minutes from New Orleans.
It worked out great because it
was a huge house and there
was enough room for a lot of
the guests to stay with us, said
Emilee.
Finalizing the details
Dan, who has experience in
the hospitality industry, knew it
would be hard to pick out the
perfect caterer from a distance,
so he and Emilee planned to
Meador
Continued on page 17

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Page 4 February 15, 2017

Beautiful music makes for a beautiful service: Daryl Hansmeier
reflects on his array of experience providing music for weddings
When one thinks about the
past quarter century or so, there
may not be too many couples
married in the local area during
that timeframe whose life as
husband and wife together
didnt begin with the musical
stylings of Waukon native Daryl
Hansmeier.
A 1991 graduate of Waukon
High School, where he
accomplished a very decorated
musical career, Hansmeier
remembers singing for his first
wedding while he was a high
school sophomore in the spring
of 1989 for a good high school
friend of his. I remember I got
paid $20! I thought that was
really cool - someone would
actually pay me to sing! he
shared.
Hansmeier remembers
taking voice lessons as a high
school student from former
Waukon High School vocal
instructor Al Leathers, and
notes that he had been studying
piano with local instructor and
accompanist Lois Fossum for
about a dozen years prior to
that. Building upon those early
wedding guide
lessons, one might suggest the local accompanist) and I worked
old adage that a star is born - together almost every weekend
or at the very least a bright spot for probably 40 weekends
that has shone and added so out of the year for at least 20
much to each wedding at which years, Hansmeier explained.
he performs. It was not uncommon for us to
It didnt take long and I was have a wedding on Friday night
either singing or playing for and two on Saturday. Faith and
weddings steadily after that, I worked so well together - we
Hansmeier remembers, noting knew each other, musically,
that a once favor for a friend inside and out.
has since turned into what No matter how busy the
some would call a career that schedule, however, he always
is still going strong more than felt that providing music for
20 years later. I quit counting a couple beginning a new
the number of weddings I have life together went far beyond
done after 2008, when I know just his own love of music. It
I had done over 800. Im just was fun - it was a chance to
guessing, but the count has to perform, work with different
be up to 1,100 by now! families and a way to make
Hansmeier certainly a little extra money. It was
acknowledges his musical also fun accompanying other
montage over the past nearly vocalists and instrumentalists
two dozen years has not always as time went on.
been a solo act, noting that
he has benefited from some Memorable moments
outstanding accompaniment As one might expect,
and musical partners, one of performing at so many
which was a mainstay for a weddings for so many years
majority of his time spent as a has obviously taken Hansmeier
wedding musician. to a number of different venues.
Faith Ericson (a well-known I have performed at weddings
at churches, chapels, peoples
homes, beaches, farms, parks,
retreats, riverboats, and even in
a hospital, he explained, listing
some of those venues among
his most unique experiences,
including the aforementioned
wedding in a hospital in
Phoenix, AZ.
I often tell people I could
write a book about my wedding
experiences, Hansmeier said.
I was doing a wedding at a
farm once, on their front lawn,
and the cattle got out and nearly
stampeded the guests. I sang
for a Thanksgiving weekend
wedding where the snow was
so bad I had to get there on a
snowmobile, and so did most
of the guests. Faith and I both
once forgot the music to a
piece and we both did it from
memory, and we never missed
a beat.
Hansmeier also lists
additional memorable moments
of flying to Puerto Vallarta for a
college friends wedding on the
beach; singing for an outdoor
wedding in Lansing and it
poured rain the whole time;
singing with a group of college
friends for another college
friends wedding; singing for a
wedding and having two of the
groomsmen pass out during
the service; and singing at a
wedding in La Crosse, WI and
having the brides father come
up to the balcony, when the
service was over, and tipping
Hansmeier and his musical
partners $500. In addition to
his unique singing moments,
Hansmeier also noted some
memorable experiences on the
instrumental side of the music
he provided, including playing
the organ for a wedding when
the power went out during the
processional and playing for
another wedding when the
organ pedals stuck terribly.
Lots of good memories,
and Ive gotten to meet a lot
of wonderful couples and their
families, he noted. Ive never
had a runaway bride; Im often
asked that one. But I have had
at least three couples cancel
their weddings just a few weeks
or days before the service was
Music
Continued on page 5

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February 15, 2017 Page 5

Music
Continued from page 4
scheduled.
Making music - easier
As numerous as the different
experiences are that hes had
over the years are the wide
arrays of couples Hansmeier
has become acquainted with
by being such an integral part
of their special day. One of
the most interesting things
about weddings is working
with different couples, he
noted. Some couples are
very organized and know what
they want, and some are very
laid back and more open to
suggestions.
Knowing the variety of
people, music and other options
that can be experienced on
such a special day, Hansmeier
has developed a format he
tries to follow in order to take
at least some of the stress out
of planning and pulling off such
a monumental day. When
the couple calls to book their
wedding, we discuss the date,
the time, the venue, how many
are in the wedding party, what
kind of music they are into,
etc., he explained. I also ask
them to pay half of my fee when
they book the date, to hold the
date, with the balance due the
wedding guide
night of rehearsal. We then set
up a time to get together and
pick out music.
Based on his many years
of performing at weddings,
Hansmeier lends his musical
talent and diverse experience
to making the selection of music
that much easier and more
meaningful for each couple he
works with. If Im singing, I like
to show them newer pieces and
some older ones to get a feel
for what they like and what I like
to sing, along with pieces they
have already been thinking of.
A lot of popular music does not
lend itself to the service itself,
and I encourage them to save
those pieces for the reception/
dance/DJ, he explained.
Hansmeier says its a good
idea for the couple to have all of
their readings picked out prior
to meeting with the musicians,
so that the music makes more
sense with the rest of the
service. Its very easy, for me
anyway, to observe a wedding
that has been put together this
way. The whole service just
feels more cohesive and flows
better, he said.
He also suggests that
couples pick out music for
places in the service when
theyre moving around, such
as during the lighting of unity
candles, sharing of the peace,
greeting parents, communion,
and so on. Its often very
awkward when theres motion
in the service and no music
going on, it tends to make the
couple feel like theyre being
stared at and makes them
uncomfortable, he reasoned.
Choosing the right music with
the right musicians is one the
most important components of
the wedding, so I encourage
the couple to really think about
it. Beautiful music makes for a
beautiful service.
Anything goes -
but not always
As for the most popular
wedding music styles he
has performed at weddings,
Hansmeier says he has
experienced the gamut there
as well, although there are
certain songs that tend to be
the mainstay of weddings, in
general. It seems like a lot of
vocal and organ/piano music
stays on the roster for a long
time, he noted. Ill bet I have invited to sing. I dont see that
used the same processional
and recessional music for
couples at least 95% of the time.
Once a melody or song hits, it musical or its a tradition within
tends to stay in circulation for a
long time.
Hansmeier notes that
nowadays pretty much every
genre of music is used, from
country, pop or classical
to sacred or even jazz, for
example. But he also says it
wasnt always that open, as he
notes some of the changes that
have taken place during his
tenure performing at weddings.
Years ago, when I was first
starting out, many churches
only allowed sacred music to
be used during the service, he
explained. That mandate has
really softened, though. Now,
even if the church wont allow
something because of the text,
we will use it instrumentally.
A very popular modern trend
is what I call the mix; many
composers are blending
several melodies together
into one piece. Its a nice
change-up, actually, and fun to
perform. Something we used
to do years ago was to add a
congregational hymn to the
service where the guests were
it or that music really moved
very much anymore, unless
the guests themselves are very
that specific church. I actually
like it, because its a way to
involve your guests so theyre
not just sitting there for an
hour. I also see the bride and
groom utilizing brass, strings,
woodwinds and keyboards
more often now, too. I like it - I
think it adds a lot to the service.
No matter what changes hes
seen over the years, where
the venue might be located or
who the couple may be, there
is one thing that continues to
hold true for Hansmeier. Music
really does make or break
the ceremony, in my opinion,
he offered. Its an effective,
thoughtful way to make your
service special for your special
day, so take the time to put
some thought into it and reach
out to those musicians that
can help you make it special. I
think its the best money spent
on your wedding day. People
have stopped me years after a
ceremony and said something
to the effect of they remembered
that song you sang at so-and-
sos wedding - we never forgot
us - it added so much to the
day!

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Page 6 February 15, 2017

wedding guide
Bob and Agnes Anderson share story of 75-year relationship
Couple celebrated 70 years of marriage in August
by Lissa Blake August, but they were together We each paid 75 cents a
for five years before they week for room and board. Dad
When asked what it is that married. would bring me into town on
has sustained their relationship Sunday night, with a couple
for more than 75 years, Bob and Brown-eyed girl gallons of milk and some
Agnes Anderson of Waukon Bob and Agnes first met after potatoes, he said.
smile at each other. Bob started classes at Waukon The family had one son,
Weve just been real High School in 1939. Bob was and they opened their home
compatible, said Bob. a farm boy, and because there to four country boys, who lived
And we always went to were no school buses at the upstairs, and four country girls,
church every Sunday. I think time, he and a few other farm who lived downstairs. Next
church has a lot to do with it, friends rented rooms in a brick door was a family that rented
added Agnes. house on West Main Street
The couple celebrated their from the Harland Johnson Anderson
70th wedding anniversary last family. Continued on page 7

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Seating for up to 400 Bob and Agnes Anderson of Waukon on their wedding
Complete Bar day, August 11, 1946. The couple celebrated their 70th
wedding anniversary in August of 2016 and have enjoyed a
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February 15, 2017 Page 7

wedding guide
Anderson
Continued from page 6

rooms to six high school girls
from the country.
But Bob didnt take notice
of any of these young women,
because across the street lived
a girl named Agnes Johnson.
She was just beautiful with
that blonde, curly hair and
those big brown eyes, he said.
A courtship begins
Agnes was a year behind
Bob in school, and the couple
started dating when Agnes was
a sophomore. Bob graduated in
1942, and for Agnes graduation
a year later, he gave her an
engagement ring.
After high school, Bob did
some farming and worked at
the Wilson Packing Company in
Cedar Rapids before enlisting
in the U.S. Navy in 1944. He
served in the South Pacific as
an electricians mate from 1944
to 1946.
While Bob was away, Agnes
worked at the local Piggly
Wiggly store and then at West
End grocery.
They corresponded through
the mail almost daily. We had
the nicest mailman. If he saw
that I got a letter, he would bring
it to me at work, remembered
Agnes.
Tying the knot
After Bobs discharge, the
couple married August 11,
1946.
Agnes father had died
around the time of her
graduation, and her mother
was not well. The couple lived
with Agnes mother in order to
help care for her.
By 1947, the couple
started having children. Linda
(Krambeer) was born in 1947,
after which Larry came in 1951
and Lori (Hesse) was born in
1958.
Bob and Agnes Anderson (center in above photo) of Waukon were married August 11, 1946.
Anderson The couple had started dating approximately five years prior to getting married, making for a
Continued on page 8 relationship that has stood the test of time for the past 75 years.

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Page 8 February 15, 2017

wedding guide
Anderson
Continued from page 7

Bob worked a variety of The 70-year

jobs, including as an electrician
for the Paint Creek Farmers
Telephone Company of
Waterville. He then spent
10 years with Farm Service
Company as a bulk agent
hauling gas, before becoming
part owner of Waukon Home
Oil.
For 30 years he hauled
heating oil, gasoline and diesel
to farmers. Agnes stayed home
to look after the children.
After we were married, I
never worked. I took care of the
family, and they all turned out
excellent, said Agnes.
Linda became a school
teacher, Larry worked with U.S.
Fish and Wildlife and Lori is the
Allamakee County Treasurer.
The Andersons have eight
grandchildren and 13 great-
grandchildren.
Making it work
When asked about their
enduring relationship, Bob and
Agnes, now 93 and 91 years of
age, respectively, say its been
pretty easy.
I liked to golf, and she never
frowned on that. And we bowled
together, said Bob.
In recent years, Bob has gone
through four heart bypasses
and a knee replacement. He
said if it werent for Agnes care,
he might be in a nursing home.
Agnes added Bobs sense
of humor has always helped.
He loves to tell jokes. Our
grandson even made a book of
some of his jokes, she said.
Agnes said although she and
Bob could sometimes argue,
just like any other couple it
would always blow over.
marriage of Bob and
Agnes Anderson of
Waukon has seen
the development of
a large family they
have been able to
enjoy and watch
grow over the years.
That family, many
members of which
are pictured at
left, includes three
children of their
own, along with
eight grandchildren
and 13 great-
grandchildren.
Larry (their son) said we
stay together because Ive
been buttering his toast for 70
years, she quipped. I guess
after more than 70 years, the
romance is partly gone, but the
love is still there.

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February 15, 2017 Page 9

The tie that binds - even hundreds of miles apart:
Morgan Mahoney and Justin Smerud plan their wedding,
start their married life together more than half a country apart
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
Is love a biological attraction?
For Morgan Mahoney of
Waukon and Justin Smerud
of Lansing, the answer is
definitely yes.
Meeting as Biology majors
in undergraduate studies at
Viterbo University in La Crosse,
WI, the two began dating.
Morgan said, I liked his sense
of humor, and Justin stated, I
loved her smile.
Justin had lived in La Crosse
for a while before starting
school at Viterbo and Morgan
moved there when she started
college. Justins parents are
Cullen and Denise Becker of
Lansing and Morgans parents
are Brian and Suzette Mahoney
of Waukon.
They dated for two and a
half years and then became
engaged in February of 2015.
They had looked at rings
and discussed marriage, but
Morgan had no idea that Justin
had purchased the ring she
wanted and was waiting for the
wedding guide
perfect moment to ask Morgan
to join their lives together in
marriage. The proposal came
as a surprise to Morgan, but
the answer was yes and the
process of planning a wedding
began. Morgans engagement
ring was a princess cut
solitaire diamond, with Justin
purchasing the engagement
and wedding rings from Rogers
and Hollands in La Crosse.
Preparing for the wedding
The engagement lasted a
year and half and during that
time, many things changed in
the lives of Morgan and Justin.
Graduating from Viterbo, they
discovered that their career
paths took them in different
directions. Justin got a job with
the United States Geological
Survey and Morgan wanted to
pursue a career in optometry.
After exploring options, she
decided the best school for her
was in San Antonio, TX.
During much of the planning
time for the wedding, Morgan
was in Texas and Justin was
back in Iowa and Wisconsin.
Morgan explains, Since we
got engaged in February of our
senior year of college, we tried
to get as much of the planning
done as possible before I
started school in August;
however, much of the planning
had to be done while I was in
Texas. Justin lives in Lansing,
so he was heavily involved in
the wedding planning process.
I would come up with some
ideas and he would do the leg
work for me. Both our mothers,
Denise Becker and Suzette
Mahoney, were both extremely
helpful and it wouldnt have
been possible without them. I
suppose our situation was also
unique because I was so busy
with school. I would come up
with general ideas and they
would pitch me back a few
options on how we could work
it and I would choose one, so
the majority of the actual plans
were made by the three of them
Smerud Justin and Morgan Smerud
Continued on page 12

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Page 10 February 15, 2017

wedding guide
Mitchell
Continued from page 2
in Waukon for about eight
years. They both love outdoor
activities, including fishing and
ATV riding, and watching the
Green Bay Packers.
Their work schedules
sometimes keep them apart
more than they would like, and
that can be challenging, but it Photo by BMW
does make them appreciate Photography,
Brittany Tilleraas
their time together more.
Ashley recalls one day more
than two years ago they were
hanging out in the living room
having a small spat, and she
off-handedly commented
that she was not getting any
younger, referring to marriage
and having children. Loren
admitted that he had been
considering getting married.
His sister had gotten married
and had children, which made
him realize that he was ready
to do the same.
They let that topic drop for a
while, but in 2014 Loren gave
her a tackle box for Christmas,
with a special gift inside to land
a very special catch.
I knew something was up
because he was acting all
nervous, and I was suspicious
because he had gotten off work, The large number of members of Loren and Ashley Mitchells wedding party did not allow for a ride on the Waterville Fire
which usually doesnt happen Department fire truck, but they were still able to include the vehicle to help make a wedding day memory. Loren serves as
on a holiday, Ashley said. Her
entire family was present, and Fire Chief for the Waterville Fire Department.
when everyone saw the small
jewelers box on the bottom of
the tackle box there was a lot
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Mitchell
Continued on page 13

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wedding guide
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Ashley
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Page 12 February 15, 2017

Smerud
Continued from page 9
and I was just the decision
maker.We used many vendors
in La Crosse because it was
very convenient with Justin
working there. He could run a
lot of errands.
One of the first big decisions
was where to have the wedding.
Justin elaborated, We both
wanted an outdoor wedding
but we also wanted someplace
where we could have a
reception and dance indoors.
We did look at several other
venues but we decided on the
Dousman House in Prairie du
Chien due to a combination of
cost and it being large enough
to hold all our guests. Its also a
very pretty location being right
next to the river.
The Dousman House in
wedding guide
Prairie du Chien, WI is an
historical landmark which
has been restored. It began
its life in 1864 as the Railway
Hotel when the Milwaukee and
Prairie du Chien railroads were
the major transportation lines.
Groundbreaking for the hotel
began when President Lincoln
was in office. It functioned as
a hotel until 1908. From that
time forward it has served as
a chemical company, a meat
packing plant, a storage facility
and an unused building. In
1966, it was named to the
National Register of Historic
Places. It is now a restored
event center.
Smerud
Continued on page 14
Among the treats for guests at the wedding reception for
Justin and Morgan Smerud were more than 400 cupcakes

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February 15, 2017
Mitchell
Continued from page 10
Even though it is hard for him
to speak in front of groups of
people, Loren got down on
one knee to pop the question.
Ashley said she could hardly
hear him pop the question due
to all the ruckus from her family.
They bought a house in
Waterville the summer after
they became engaged because
the opportunity to buy a house
they liked presented itself.
Loren and Ashley were
married October 8, 2016 at
St. Patrick Catholic Church in
Waukon. Its a very pretty time
of the year and I always wanted
a fall wedding. We couldnt
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have had a better day, Ashley
said.
They ended up with a big
bridal party - eight bridesmaids,
eight groomsmen, two ushers
and two usherettes, because,
on our special day we didnt
want to leave out any of the
people who are always there
for us, Ashley said.
The only thing that didnt
go as they had hoped on their
wedding day is that they had
hoped to ride on a fire truck, as
Loren is the Fire Chief for the
Waterville Fire Department. But
they had too large of a wedding
party to make it work.
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Page 13
For a honeymoon they went Loren and Ashley are Jeff Mitchell and Pam Mitchell,
to Two Harbors, MN. Loren and expecting their first child later and Ashley is the daughter of
Ashley recommend not waiting this year. Loren is the son of Rich and Jackie Johnson.
to take a honeymoon because
that decreases the chances of
ever going.
Additional advice they have
for other couples considering
getting married? Sometimes
the perfect person is right in
front of you all along. And, dont
sweat the small stuff, says
Ashley.
Loren adds, Enjoy your
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Page 14
Smerud
Continued from page 12
With the event location
secured, Morgan set out to find
that elusive must for brides:
the perfect wedding dress.
She searched several stores
but finally went back to the
Wedding Tree in La Crosse,
WI and picked out one of the
first dresses she tried on. She
shared, It was the only one for
me. I tried on several others but
I always kept coming back to
this dress. My ivory dress was
a strapless, sweetheart front
lace ball gown with a beaded
bodice and a chapel train
covered in lace. I wore a simple
lace veil that was incorporated
into the back of my hairstyle for
the day.
The wedding party consisted
of five bridesmaids and five
groomsmen, plus a flower
girl and three ring bearers,
who were the couples
nephews. The men wore grey
tuxes with eggplant purple vests
that matched the bridesmaids
eggplant dresses, which were
a chiffon material with a strap
over one shoulder. All of their
attire came from the Wedding
Tree. Morgan explained, It was
great having all of our outfits
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Thank you to all the brides of 2016 that allowed us to do
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wedding guide
come from the same place.
No wedding scenario is
complete without flowers.
The wedding flowers were
white hydrangeas with
accents of yellow roses,
purple chrysanthemums and
carnations with chartreuse
greenery. All the flowers were
from the Blooming Basket in
Prairie du Chien.
The night before the
wedding, the rehearsal dinner
was held at The Barn in Prairie
du Chien with the immediate
wedding party and close family
members.
The Big Day
The actual day of the
wedding, June 11 of last year,
was a beautiful summer day, but
it was hot and humid. The 250
guests arrived and were seated
in the picturesque outdoor
space next to the Mississippi
River. The white chairs lined
up in rows were accented by
eggplant ribbon and yellow
forsythia. The young flower girl
and ring bearers performed
to perfection, taking their
respective jobs very seriously.
The 20-minute ceremony
Established
1928
February 15, 2017
included the Celtic handfasting
rather than a unity candle.
The ancient Irish custom,
originating around 7000 BC,
was the official wedding custom
for couples to tie the knot.
Originally, the hand fasting
ceremony was the equivalent
of the modern engagement ring
and the marriage took place
a year later. As the custom
was passed down through
the centuries, it became
more popular to include the
handfasting as part of the
marriage ceremony. Morgan
and Justins colorful braided
cord was wound around the
couples hands to indicate that
they would be bound together
forever.
After the ceremony, the Morgan and Justin Smerud chose to include the ancient
wedding party and guests Irish custom of handfasting in their June 11, 2016 outdoor
proceeded into Dousman wedding ceremony. The braided handfasting cord can be seen
House, where beautiful round wrapped around their hands symbolizing that their lives would
tables covered in white linens now be bound together into one forever.
with eggplant napkins and
hydrangea centerpieces colored ribbons and white the night not a crumb was left!
welcomed them to continue frosting roses highlighted one The Barn in Prairie du Chien
the celebration. Both Justin table. Surrounding it were made the cake and catered the
and Morgan agree that the air 425 cupcakes featuring 10 rest of the reception.
conditioning was a relief after different flavors such as salted Soon, the party began in
the humidity of the day. caramel, red velvet, pumpkin earnest as Music by Stewart
The wedding cake, a simple, cheesecake, red raspberry and
yet elegant three-tiered, white- many more, all made by Justins Smerud
frosted cake with eggplant- mother, Denise. By the end of Continued on page 16
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February 15, 2017 Page 15

wedding guide
Morgan and Justin Smerud

Morgan Smeruds bridesmaids included friends and family. The

ladies wore eggplant-colored dresses that matched the color
of the vests worn by the groomsmen, and they were made of a
chiffon material and featured a strap over one shoulder.

Friends and family members made up the groomsmen roster

Your Dream
for the wedding of Justin and Morgan Smerud held at the
Dousman House in Prairie du Chien, WI June 11, 2016. The
groomsmen wore grey tuxedos with eggplant-colored vests to
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Page 16
Smerud
Continued from page 14
from Ultimate Entertainment in
Prairie du Chien began spinning
the tunes. Morgan said, We
gave him a small list of songs
that we really liked and that
represented our general taste
in music, which is highly varied,
and he did a great job selecting
music for the whole evening,
beginning with our first dance
song, which was Clint Blacks
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wedding guide
Something That We Do.
Justin added, The
atmosphere was relaxed and
fun. Everybody had a great
time. People were able to stay
out and dance on the dance
floor and have full access to the
bar if they wanted, but if people
wanted a quieter place to visit,
that was available as well in the
reception area. The Dousman
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February 15, 2017
Morgan
House was a great venue for Smerud
our celebration. chose to
wear an ivory
Life after the wedding strapless ball
Morgan had always wanted
to go to Ireland, so Ireland gown for her
was the couples honeymoon wedding day.
destination. She explained, The gown
We both saw it as a great featured
opportunity to travel outside sweetheart
the country without a lot of front lace,
commitments at this point in a beaded
our lives. We left the Monday bodice and a
after the wedding. chapel train
Justin added, We went to covered in
Ireland for our honeymoon,
which was wonderful. We spent lace. Her
eight days traveling through simple veil
Ireland visiting six cities. It is a
very beautiful country that we
was made
of lace and
both would like to visit again
some day.
incorporated
into the
Real life does have to set in
after the honeymoon, and for
back of her
wedding day
Justin and Morgan that means hairstyle.
living hundreds of miles apart
for a while longer because of
their current work and school Morgans school schedule home and that is where Morgan
situations. The handfasting doesnt allow her many breaks. and Justin believe they will find
cord needs to have maximum Morgan will be done with that the cord that tied them
stretch to spread over those school in May of 2019 and together during the wedding
miles from Wisconsin/Iowa to hopes that she can pursue her will be once again taut. The
Texas. They say they FaceTime career back in her hometown love that bound them together
Our
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six to eight weeks because Iowa. They both feel this is future.
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February 15, 2017 Page 17

Meador
Continued from page 3
arrive in New Orleans a few
days before the wedding to
finalize the details.
Its hard to ascertain
the quality of a caterer long
distance, so we knew wed
probably just have to go with
the flow, said Dan.
The couple bought tickets to
fly in on Wednesday, thinking
Thursday and Friday would
give them plenty of time to take
care of everything before the
wedding at 3 p.m. Saturday.
However, in researching
how to get his license to
perform the ceremony, the
preacher, Dans uncle, Chuck
Coggins, stumbled upon a
detail that could have changed
everything. My uncle pointed
out that in Louisiana, there is
a 72-hour waiting period to get
married after you procure your
marriage license, said Dan.
Their flight was scheduled to
arrive at 1 p.m., so theyd only
have two hours to rent a car
wedding guide
and drive to St. Tamany Parish
for the license. Luckily, their
arrival went like clockwork and
they made it to the courthouse Emilee
with just minutes to spare.
We cut it pretty close. If and
it hadnt been for Chuck, we
wouldnt even have known Dan
about that, Dan said.
Meador
Coming together
After the license scare,
things went pretty smoothly
from there. The couple decided
on the South Side Caf as
their caterer, lining up some Dan and Emilee Meador
of their Creole favorites such honored their parents and
as gumbo, crawfish etouffee, grandparents with a photo
jambalaya and grits. display at their September 17,
With bad weather looming, 2016 wedding in Louisiana.
they also picked out a rain Family played an integral part
location for their wedding. of being able to put a wedding
The day before the wedding, in Louisiana together from up
they gathered for photos at in northeast Iowa.
nearby Oak Alley Plantation.
Meador
1 Continued on page 19
Northeast Iowa musicians
Jeni Grouws, Chris Avey and
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Page 18 February 15, 2017

wedding guide
Bayou Oaks plantation, located in Slidell, LA about 45
minutes outside of New Orleans, served as the location
Emilee for the September 17, 2016 wedding of Emilee Johnson
and Dan Meador of Waukon. The couple had taken an
and annual trip to the New Orleans area while dating and
decided it would also be an ideal place to start their new
Dan life together as husband and wife.

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February 15, 2017 Page 19

wedding guide
Meador
Continued from page 17
They also had pictures taken
the day of the wedding at
Bayou Oaks.
Because of the foreboding
forecast, they waffled on
whether or not to move the
ceremony. We didnt actually
decide the location of our
wedding until the last minute,
said Emilee, adding the
weather cooperated for the
outdoor ceremony.
Everything else had gone
pretty well for them, but the
morning of the wedding,
Emilees personal assistant,
Stephanie Henning, had a
little trouble reaching the
bride. Henning had come to
help Emilee with her hair and
make-up. She was staying in
New Orleans and had lined
up an Uber ride for 4 a.m.,
to help Emilee get ready for
pictures. When the car showed
up to take her and she told the Members of the families of Emilee Johnson and Dan Meador of Waukon all made the trek to Louisiana to share in their wedding
driver where she needed to go, September 17, 2016. Along with immediate family, about 50 other family members and friends took part in their special day.
he declined (because of the
distance). A second driver had
the same reaction.
She finally found someone
who would do it. When she
showed up, she just said,
ONE CALL WEVE GOT YOU COVERED! RENTALS
Party Tents
Lets get you ready to go,
remembered Emilee. Tables & C
Other local people who made hairs
the trek to share in the big day Porta-Pott
included photographer Brittany
ies
Hand Was
Todd and local musicians
PING
h
Jeni Grouws, Chris Avey and SEPTIC PUM
Inspector
Stations
David Abdo. Around 50 friends Time of Transfer
Tents, Tables & Chairs
and family came to share the Rentals - Porta-potties, STATE CERTIFIED IN:
563-568-1379
special day as well. SEPTIC PUMPING &
TIME OF TRANSFER INSPECTOR
With that small of a group,
we actually got to spend time
with everybody there, said
Dan.
They also enjoyed having
friends and family involved in
the wedding. Maid of honor
was Alicia Strong of Rice Lake,
WI, and the best man was THE WEDDING MAGAZINE
Curtis Triggs of Minneapolis, Proof Acceptance
MN. Ring bearers were niece 2016-17
and nephew, John and Nadia
Cottington, and the flower girl
This proof is submitted to ensure the accuracy of your order.
was another niece, Aria Strong. We exercise reasonable care to avoid errors, but the customer
It all went pretty well, said is responsible for the final decision with this order, and assumes
Dan. full responsibility.

Clearly mark any corrections. We are not responsible for errors not
Plans to return indicated at this time. Authors alterations may be chargeable after the
The couple said although second proof at a cost of $25 for each additional proof.
they have always enjoyed going Note: The color you view on your monitor or laser printer will not be
to New Orleans, return trips will exact to what we print. Color accuracy of laser proofs and PDF files
now be extra special. They said are at the mercy of the medium.
theyll probably go back every Please mark appropriate level of approval below, sign, and return
year by themselves; every five with original copy of all proofs.
years, they may invite friends Ok to proceed to next proof, changes noted
and family and rent out Bayou Ok to print with corrections marked
Oaks again, if it is available Ok to print as is
We were really blessed Customer Signature:
to have so many friends and Date:
family (there), Dan concluded. Ads designed by The Wedding Magazine are for exclusive use in The Wedding
Today, Dan and his dad Magazine publications only.
run Meador Roofing and To meet production deadlines, this proof MUST be returned upon receipt.
Remodeling, and Emilee has This printing order cannot be processed until proof acceptance has been
her own company, where she checked, signed and returned to our office. Please return promptly!
specializes in social media and The Wedding Magazine in care of Sandy Clark
website design. The couple Phone: 608-792-0054 | Fax: 608-788-2867
also operates a host home for
Mosaic in Waukon.
Page 20 February 15, 2017
wedding guide