Photo by Burken Photography

Do you hear those bells? It’s time again for our annual how-to to getting hitched in the Chippewa Valley with our Weddings & Occasions guide. Inside you’ll find a plethora of local tips, checklists, and more to help your nuptials go smoothly and get the day of your dreams. Everything from photographers, florists, venues, officiants, DJs, performers, and more, we’ve done our very best to help make the arduous – but joyous – task just a little less daunting.

I’ve been collecting and organizing this guide for the past eight years. Now that I’m in the process of planning my own ceremony and reception, I’ve learned a lot about the world of weddings first-hand.

A lot has changed in the industry even over the last year, and more changes will be ahead. Of course everything costs a bit more, but we’re also seeing a lot of vendors start to innovate on how to meet the needs of weddings on smaller budgets. Micro-weddings and elopements are becoming more popular. People are having their dresses custom-designed or thrifted. Couples are opting for more intimate, low-key experiences in general. But within those changes, there’s always room to make a few choices that you’ll really remember.

So if you’re getting married soon (congratulations!) grab a pen and start taking down names. Or just live vicariously through the charming array of visuals, themes, and styles contained within.