So you’re ready to start planning your wedding. Where do you start? Well, roll out the red carpet and cue the music for the winners of our debut Best of Weddings & Occasions poll, part of our 2022 Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll. While you wait for the results of the entire poll (which will be published in our Feb. 10 issue), here’s a peek at what our readers love the most (besides their fiancés!) when walking down the aisle. –Rebecca Mennecke

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BEST TAYLOR/ALTERATION SHOP

1st Place: K Alteration Shop
2nd Place: Fastitch Alterations
3rd Place: Lee’s Alterations

So, your wedding dress is a little long. Instead of tripping over the hem and ripping the delicate fabric of your stunning dress, trust it in the capable hands of some of the best tailors in town. K Alterations Shop (221 N. Barstow St., Eau Claire) offers professional alteration services, perfect for suits, wedding dresses, or any other tailoring needs. Fastitch Alterations (1212 Hayden Ave., Altoona) specializes in zipper repairs and replacements and clothing hemming. Lee’s Alterations (1414 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire) can handle alterations on suits as well as wedding, prom, and bridesmaid dresses. 

 

BEST HAIR STYLIST FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY

1st Place: SAXY Salon
2nd Place: VER Salon
3rd Place: Saylon Seven

Scrolling through Pinterest, you find the perfect hairstyle. Instead of your wedding-day hair turning out just perfect for one of those “Wedding Fails” lists, trust these local salons to accomplish an easy, breezy, and beautiful look. SAXY Salon (329 Water St., Eau Claire) offers wedding hair services, makeup services, as well as coloring, haircuts, facials, tanning, and teeth whitening. VER Salon (403 Water St., Eau Claire) create a supportive, loving, inclusive environment focused on kindness, community, and team work – perfect for your special day. In third place, Saylon Seven (314 N. Barstow St., Eau Claire) offers updos and also specializes in Black women’s hair, offering cornrows, twisties, coils, and smoothing and straightening.

 

BEST HOTEL FOR WEDDING GUESTS

1st Place: The Lismore
2nd Place: The Oxbow Hotel
3rd Place: Staybridge Suites Altoona

After a long day of celebrating with family and friends, it’s time for a quick refresh before jetting off to your honeymoon. Readers agree The Lismore (333 Gibson St., Eau Claire) is the best hotel for you and your wedding guests. Be sure to check out The Dive for some of the best drinks in town, and head over to The Informalist for brunch. In second place, check out The Oxbow Hotel (516 Galloway St., Eau Claire), which offers complimentary vinyl records to soothe your ears. Grab an Old Fashioned from The Lakely, too! Staybridge Suites (1515 Bluestem Blvd., Altoona) offers a home-like environment that is perfect to rest and recharge.

 

BEST LOCATION FOR WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

1st Place: Dixon’s Apple Orchard
2nd Place: Phoenix Park
3rd Place: Irvine Park

Remember: your wedding and engagement photos are the kind of thing your mom and grandma will have framed in their living rooms for the rest of your darn life. Make your photos memorable by choosing the perfect location. Readers agree Dixon’s Apple Orchard (22404 20th Ave., Cadott) is the best place to grab one-of-a-kind wedding and engagement photos – and one-of-a-kind apples, too! Snagging second place is the popular Phoenix Park in Eau Claire, which offers scenic views of the Chippewa River. Finally, find flair and drama at Chippewa Falls’ Irvine Park, where the pavilion offers a stunning spot for photos. 

 

BEST OVERALL WEDDING VENUE

1st Place: Dixon’s Apple Orchard
2nd Place: The Enchanted Barn
3rd Place: The Florian Gardens

Picking the perfect place to hold your wedding and reception may just be one of the hardest decisions of your lifetime – yes, even harder than saying “I do.” Readers agree that Dixon’s Apple Orchard (22404 20th Ave., Cadott) is the best place in the Chippewa Valley to exchange vows and seal the deal. Going for silver is award-winning venue The Enchanted Barn (1543 6 1/2 Ave., Hillsdale), which features a rustic 1880s-era barn and scenic rural views. In third place, The Florian Gardens (2340 Lorch Ave., Eau Claire) is a photographer’s paradise, with stunning views and perfect lighting. 

 

BEST PLACE TO GET A BRIDESMAID DRESS

1st Place: Foreign 5’s Bridal Sweet
2nd Place: David’s Bridal
3rd Place: Off the Rack Bridal World Consignment Boutique

We know the struggle: Your bridesmaids all have different heights, skin tones, and body types. How are you supposed to get dresses that look spectacular on everyone in your bridal party? Readers agree Foreign 5’s Bridal Sweet (123 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls) is the place to go. In second place, David’s Bridal (4840 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire) offers countless affordable options. Off the Rack Bridal World Consignment Boutique (1825 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire) offers a little something for everyone, including flower girl dresses and mother-of- the-bride attire.  

 

BEST PLACE TO GET A WEDDING CAKE

1st Place: Em’inent Desserts - Emily Lewallen
2nd Place: Michayla’s Sweets
3rd Place: Bloomer Bakery 

A wedding cake shouldn’t just look spectacular; it should taste a-freaking-mazing. That’s why readers voted Em’inent Desserts as the best place in the Chippewa Valley to get a wedding cake. This home-based bakery offers custom sweet treats. Another home-based bakery, Michayla’s Sweets, is sure to catch your eye, as they stole silver with their incredible-looking creations. In third place, check out Bloomer Bakery (1415 Main St., Bloomer) offers award-winning baked goods.

 

BEST PLACE TO GET A WEDDING DRESS

1st Place: Foreign 5’s Bridal Sweet
2nd Place: David’s Bridal
3rd Place: Off the Rack Bridal Consignment 

Say “yes” to the dress – and not just any dress, but the perfect dress at these best-ranked wedding dress shops in the Chippewa Valley. Volume One readers say Foreign 5’s Bridal Sweet (123 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls) is the place to go to find your perfect wedding attire. In second place, David’s Bridal (4840 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire) offers countless affordable options. Off the Rack Bridal World Consignment Boutique (1825 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire) offers a little something for everyone, including flower girl dresses and mother-of- the-bride attire.

 

BEST PLACE TO GET RINGS

1st Place: Lasker Jewelers
2nd Place: Eric’s Diamonds & Fine Jewelry
3rd Place: Kay Jewelers

Poll voters believe there’s a reason that “Ask her” rhymes with “Lasker”: Lasker Jewelers (3705 Oakwood Mall Drive, Eau Claire) tops the ranks for the best place to get wedding bands. In second place, independently owned Eric’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry (111 N. Bridge St, Chippewa Falls) offers custom jewelry designs for a specialized ring for your life partner. In third place, Kay Jewelers (Oakwood Mall, Eau Claire) offers timeless rings that could someday become family heirlooms.

 

BEST PLACE TO GET WEDDING GIFTS

1st Place: Forever Flowers by Abbie
2nd Place: The Local Store & Volume One Gallery
3rd Place: Tangled Up in Hue

Struggling with the perfect gift to get your bridal party? Or maybe your guests are looking for ideas for gifts that are meaningful for you and your honey? That’s where Forever Flowers by Abbie comes in, taking your bridal bouquets and transforming them into forever pieces of art. In second place, The Local Store & Volume One Gallery (205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire) offers a plethora of gift ideas, including custom gift baskets full of locally made candles, chocolates, and coffees. Who could say “no” to that? In third place, Tangled Up in Hue (505 S. Barstow St., Suite B, Eau Claire) offers locally made art, jewelry, and home goods.

 

BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR WEDDING MAKEUP DONE

1st Place: Makeup by Maddie
2nd Place: SAXY Salon
3rd Place: Gloss Beautique

No bride wants to look like a wet raccoon on her wedding day, which is why they should trust the expert hands of Makeup by Maddie, which offers natural luxury wedding and event makeup. In second place, SAXY Salon (329 Water St., Eau Claire) offers seamless makeup services to ensure there’s not a single eyelash out of place in your photos. Finally, Gloss Beautique (4330 Golf Terrace, Suite 110, Eau Claire) offers unique airbrush makeup application, allowing for all-day wear.

 

BEST PLACE TO RENT A TUX

1st Place: Foreign 5’s Bridal Sweet
2nd Place: Muldoon’s Men’s Wear
3rd Place: Men’s Wearhouse

Just like every bride wants to make a bang when she walks down the aisle, every groom needs his “wow” moment, too. That’s why readers trust Foreign 5’s Bridal Sweet (123 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls) for grooms’ attire. Muldoon’s Men’s Wear (1506 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire) features regular, big, tall, short, and small sizes. In third place, Men’s Wearhouse (4619 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire) features top designer brands to keep you looking fresh on your big day. 

 

BEST REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE

1st Place: Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
2nd Place: Cowboy Jack’s 
3rd Place: Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub

The rehearsal dinner is an important time to connect with family and friends who have traveled from far and wide to join you on your special day. And Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse (4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire) knows a thing or two about making important moments feel magical, as they consistently rank at the top of our Reader Poll. In second place, Cowboy Jack’s (1432 Front Porch Place, Altoona) brings a more relaxed vibe to a rehearsal dinner, with their relaxing outdoor patio in the summertime. In third place, Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub (415 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) brings unique food to the table. 

 

BEST RUSTIC WEDDING VENUE

1st Place: The Enchanted Barn
2nd Place: Dixon’s Apple Orchard
3rd Place: The Barn on Stoney Hill

When it comes to a classic Midwestern vibe to your wedding day, The Enchanted Barn (1543 6½ Ave., Hillsdale) is just the way to go, with their stunning 1880s-era barn and scenic rural views. In second place, Dixon’s Apple Orchard (22404 20th Ave., Cadott) boasts stunning orchard views – and delicious apples, too! In third place, check out The Barn on Stoney Hill (27192 170th Ave., Cornell), which provides an elegant yet rustic   setting for your celebration.