Wedding Planning in Lincoln – February 2022

Planning your wedding may be one of the most exciting events you prepare for in your lifetime. The Lincoln area has so many options to suit the varying tastes of each couple that will meet at the altar that it’s often overwhelming to decide where and how to start. From picking a venue to finding the perfect dress or suit to choosing what’s for dinner, it’s a daunting task to plan a wedding. Don’t fret – we spoke to several local businesses and experts that are happy to offer their services to you and help you create your dream day!

Pre-Wedding Health and Wellness

It’s very common for newly-engaged couples to begin a workout plan to prepare for their big day. After all, who doesn’t want to feel their best on their big day? Fit4Lincoln (fit4lincoln.com) is a local gym that wants to help you reach your fitness goals for your big day and beyond. They are home of the Afterburn workouts – a group personal training program that uses a combination of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Active Rest Training to get your body to burn more fat and calories than traditional workouts that are twice as long. Every group training session is led by an experienced and certified personal trainer, and is deigned to be fun, high energy, and challenging all while burning maximum fat and toning your muscles.

“Everyone wants to look and feel their best on their wedding day!” shared CJ Cooper, owner. “Some of the most determined clients we see are those who are getting in shape for their wedding day. Exercising for your big day will get you into a good fitness routine that you can continue even after your wedding.”

CJ suggested recruiting your fiancé to join you on your workout journey, or even your bridesmaids or groomsmen, too. Odds are they’ll also want to look great in the wedding photos! Enlisting a workout partner will create accountability and encourage you to stick to your routine.

“Stress is no stranger to wedding planning, and exercise is a great way to help relieve yourself of pressure,” suggested CJ. “However, be sure to relax your body and keep it limber. You can do this through our Range of Motion and Flexibility (ROMAF) class that is offered on Sundays, in which we teach you how to work through your pain points. This will increase flexibility and recovery time, as well as strengthen the ligaments and tendons.”

Another wonderful way to take care of yourself leading up to your big day is by making a stop – or several! – to LIVE Hydration Spa (livehydrationspa.com). At LIVE, they provide you with valuable nutrients through IV therapy, which means they are delivered directly to the cells through the bloodstream and immediately available for your body’s use. This is a great way to improve overall wellbeing and boost feelings of wellness, restoring the body’s balance.

“We have several packages that soon-to-be-married couples should take advantage of to prepare for their big day,” said Mandy Brummels, co-owner. “To start, we offer a Beauty package, which provides the body with nutrients that will restore damaged skill cells. This leads to an improvement in the tone, texture, and overall health of your skin – giving you that wedding day ‘glow’!”

The Performance package is also something to keep in mind for those working out for their big day. This treatment offers Glutathione, B12, Magnesium, and carnitine, along with one liter of fluids to help boost athletic performance, increase strength, reduce fatigue, and shorten recovery time. Other treatments include Recover/Prepare, a
treatment that contains important electrolytes to help rehydrate while aiding in the relief of hangover symptoms; Pizazz, a package that enhances the immune system, reduces fatigue, and supports optimal thinking, concentration, and function; Eradicate, an immune booster IV treatment; Migraine, a package that offers migraine relief; and Hydration, a treatment providing dehydration relief.

“We are Nebraska’s ONLY distributor of NADIA skincare products,” said Mandy. “NADIA means NAD+ in Action. Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It is responsible for DNA repair and works with proteins to provide cellular nutrition to preserve cellular health. These levels decline with age, but NADIA skincare delivers highly concentrated NAD+ to the skin. NAD+ is also offered in dissolvable tablets and as an IV treatment right here at LIVE!”

For Smaller Gatherings

Calvert Venue is a new space available for couples that are looking to host a smaller wedding event. Whether it’s for the ceremony, reception, bridal shower, or any other occasion, it’s well-suited for a wide range of event needs.

“Calvert Venue is not only a gorgeous space inside, it’s in a fantastic location and is surrounded by a beautiful neighborhood,” shared Sam Kavan, who owns the venue alongside Jayson Becker and Marty Fortney. “Inside the venue, tables and chairs are provided, and we are able to coordinate the rental of linens with notice.”

The venue partners with Doorstep Diner Catering, a reputable caterer that can please the taste buds of each of your guests. This in-house service offers a diverse menu to choose from and conveniently helps you cross two things off your wedding planning list at once.

“Calvert Venue is truly ‘The Place to Be,’” said Sam. We hope to make the venue process as smooth as possible for our clients. We invite you to come visit our location and let us help you make it the space that you need it to be!”

A Location with Rustic-Urban Charm

Talon Room (talonroom.com) is an event venue owned by Matthew Rogge and located in the historic Spaghetti Works building. They are unique due to their ability to host the entire weekend, from the rehearsal dinner to the ceremony to the reception. In addition to this convenient perk, Talon Room can also provide in-house catering and bar service – and private tastings beforehand!

“There’s already enough on your plate when planning your wedding, so we help out where we can,” said Matthew. “We make decorating easy and provide select decorations for a small fee – we are also always adding new items to our arsenal. In addition, the building presents a beautiful aesthetic, featuring exposed brick and rustic-urban charm.”

Talon Room has introduced a vendor wedding package that includes flowers, photography, DJ, photo booth, and more. This package depends on vendor availability, so contact Talon Room today to save your spot! Matthew left us with a piece of advice to share with soon-to-be-married couples.

“I recommend finding venues now because they book fast and it will make the decision process much easier,” said Matthew. “It’s a good idea to take tours of any options you come across, because you’ll never know what you’ll like best!”

Celebrate with a Touch of History

For an especially unique wedding venue, try out Lincoln’s oldest tourist destination! Robber’s Cave (robberscavelincoln.com) boasts four different event spaces that can hold anywhere from 40 to 400 people, in addition to the historic cave that can be found below the venue. The cave consists of 56,000 square feet of tunnels, giving couples and their guests an experience unlike any other.

“The history of Robber’s Cave dates back to 1864,” shared Venue Manager Justin Fuchs. “We work hard to bring a little history to your story while adding your story to our own history! Every couple that celebrates with us gets to spend time in the cave taking some remarkable photos; they take wedding day photos that are unlike any other couple’s!”

The management team at Robber’s Cave has over 10 years of event planning experience and works with each party to create custom floor plans, schedules, and event ideas to produce a truly memorable event. Justin happily shared one of his favorite parts of helping a couple plan their wedding: the first showing of their space.

“When couples tour Robber’s Cave, they discover a multi-level venue where they can provide guests with indoor and outdoor experiences while keeping the event fresh by moving guests through the building,” said Justin. “It’s a magical experience to be able to hear the words, ‘I love this place’. It’s a satisfying feeling. We want our couples to LOVE our venue, not just settle for a location.”

Outdoor Weddings

For outdoor weddings, visit Wilderness Ridge (wildernessridgegolf.com). Overlooking the natural beauty of the golf course, the clubhouse carries out its “wilderness” theme with handcrafted woodwork throughout, natural stone landscaping, and beautiful rustic artwork. Wedding ceremonies are held on Wedding Island, which features a stone path highlighted with blooming flower beds and a sprawling elm tree.

“When you host your wedding at Wilderness Ridge, you can have peace of mind knowing that our team will be helping you take care of everything,” said Margie Merchant, social sales manager. “Golf carts will be waiting at the front doors as you head out to take photos at various picturesque spots throughout the property. Parking is no worry for your guests as they begin to arrive with ample parking situated right in front of the clubhouse.”

Whether it’s a small, intimate rehearsal dinner or a large and lavish wedding reception, Wilderness Ridge takes care of setup and tear down, table service and glassware, centerpiece and linen options, audio/visual equipment, menu options, and exquisite presentation. They aim to relieve you of some of the stress that often comes with wedding day planning and enjoy helping you make your special day memorable.

Meet Me at the Courtyard!

Many guests will be traveling from out of town to attend your wedding, so be sure to reserve a wedding block at Courtyard by Marriott – Downtown Lincoln Haymarket (marriott.com/hotels/travel/lnkcy-courtyard-lincoln-downtown-haymarket). In just one phone call, they can set up your wedding block, send you a custom reservation link to share with guests, and even reserve your wedding suite (chocolate covered strawberries and champagne included!). They offer a warm and welcoming environment to all who stay with them, and your guests will be no exception.

“We would be happy to help you host a shower or rehearsal dinner, as well,” shared Director of Sales Melanie Maynard. “Courtyard has plenty of room to space out. In addition, we offer full onsite catering as well as the ability to have the bar anywhere you’d like. We can cater to special requests as well!”

Courtyard by Marriott prides themselves on great communication and timeliness. They’ll check in with you every few months to share updates as your wedding date approaches. You’ll even receive reminders from them before the cutoff date. Their goal is to answer your questions before you even realize you have them!

Melanie also shared with us that she finds the most significant part about the entire process is the wedding itself. Here is a special moment she has witnessed in her time helping couples plan and hold their weddings:

“The most precious thing I experienced was a wedding that moved forward when they were limited to 10 people at gatherings,” Melanie explained. “They had a small ceremony at the hotel followed by a family style dinner. It was sweet and intimate, and all that mattered was for them to get married. I think planners should help ground the couple and help them see what’s really important and not stress about the small things.”

Fill Up Your Plate!

The food served at your wedding is often one of the most memorable parts of the day for your guests. Leave them feeling satisfied by ordering catered food from Venue Catering & Events (yourvenue.net/catering), a concept by PILLAR Restaurant Group. Their team will work with couples to select amazing food that matches their style – and their budget. Even if you don’t see something you are looking for within their seemingly-endless menu options, their talented chefs will do their best to create menus that suit your needs and cravings. Furthermore, the gluten-free certified establishment understands that some of your guests may have dietary restrictions, so they are available to accommodate to the best of their ability with ample notice.

“In addition to catering, we also offer unique locations of different sizes for you to hold your celebration,” said Lisa Peterson, event coordinator. “We have rooms at three of PILLAR’s restaurants – Venue Restaurant & Lounge, Piedmont Bistro, and Cactus Modern Mexican & Cantina. We also have beautiful, historic spaces in downtown Lincoln. The Jasmine Room can be found in the Grand Manse building, and The Scottish Rite Ballroom is located at Centennial Mall.”

Whether it’s the wedding rehearsal dinner or the big reception, Venue looks forward to helping you on your big day by bringing in delicious, made-from-scratch recipes that no one will forget.

Party in Style

Koozies have become a staple at weddings as party favors, along with other customized items such as plastic cups served with dinner or tailored gifts for the wedding party. Order yours from Flicker Promotions (flickerpromotions.com), where you can find a huge array of different options to personalize your wedding day experience.

“It’s very popular to offer a customized item as a party favor at weddings,” explained Owner Amy Doele. “Drinkware is a popular option. Many couples order customized cups with their names and wedding dates, and maybe a fun tagline that represents their day, to serve at the reception rather than the typical clear or red plastic cups. These branded cups will match your theme and can be taken home by your guests as a memento, reminding them of your celebration every time they pull it out of their cupboard!”

 

To further “tailor” the experience to truly match your dream day, rent a party bus from Tailored Dreams Party Buses (tailoreddreamslimousines.com). Tailored Dreams offers a variety of different busses with carrying capacities ranging from 26 to 45, so no matter the size of your wedding party, you can bring the whole crew to celebrate! Party buses are great for bachelor and bachelorette parties as well; Tailored Dreams offers a discount if you rent a bus for both your wedding and bachelor or bachelorette party!

“All of our buses have a Bluetooth sound system, loud speakers, heating and A/C, and fun LED lights,” shared Owner DeeDee Loomis. “We are also the only party bus company in the area that has handicap accessible buses in their fleet. We recommend reserving a party bus as soon as possible, as slots are filling up a year in advance!”

Wedding planning certainly brings on some stress, but the experience and passion provided by these experts makes the planning process a breeze! We recommend contacting these local businesses to help you create your perfect wedding day.