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| Deb and John Kwasek in their horse-drawn sleigh following their December 31, 2005 wedding at Berwood Hill Inn.
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| Stephanie and Tom Scibora with ring bearer, Bosco, at their June 28, 2008 wedding. |
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From nostalgic to new age: wedding dreams come true
By Carol Thouin
What could be more special to a young couple than their wedding day? Weeks, months and sometimes even years of planning and fine-tuning go into preparing for the perfect event. Whether a casual affair or black-tie occasion, it's a bride and groom's prerogative how that special day will be celebrated. The following are excerpts from several brides and grooms who have planned their wedding day at Berwood Hill Inn, a historic country estate bed and breakfast located between Preston and Harmony, MN.
A winter wonderland
Getting married smack dab in the middle of winter may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for Deb (Peterson) Kwasek, it made for a storybook, dream-come-true wedding. Deb's parent's farm is located adjacent to the Berwood estate so the rolling landscape was one she knew well. "I have always thought that winter and Christmas are one of the most beautiful times of the year," Deb said.
Growing up around horses and being proposed to by her husband, John, in a horse-drawn sleigh, Deb knew she wanted that same romantic feeling for her wedding. "I dreamed of having a wedding that included a horse and sleigh," she said. Thanks to her dad, the perfect combination was procured for the December 31, 2005 wedding. Dressed in a custom designed, floor length sheath of imported lace and silk, Deb donned a velvet cape and muff before boarding the sleigh with her new husband. "I wanted something original," she said. "Our family and friends watched as we took our first champagne toast in the sleigh with my brother handling the reigns....it was perfect!" Deb said.
Deb and John chose to have a private ceremony for about 25 at the Inn, which was beautifully decorated with Christmas trees and white lights. "It made for a very elegant setting," recalls Deb. For the reception, 75 more guests joined the celebrants for winter themed drinks, dinner and dancing. "Because it was New Year's Eve, we had lots of party favors at midnight, a special champagne toast and gifts to our guests of mini bottles of champagne," Deb said.
While her winter wonderland wedding went off without a hitch, Deb recommends having alternate plans in case of inclement weather. "We had a car service and transported our guests to and from the wedding," she said. "Many of our guests were not from the area and we didn't want then getting lost on possible bad roads," she said. "We also knew they'd be safe."
A family affair
When Stephanie Hinsch married Tom Scibora on June 28, 2008 in an upscale garden affair, 140 family and friends gathered to share in their joyful union. Even the couple's bulldog, Bosco was included in the ceremony. "Bosco was going to be our ring bearer, along with my Godson, Brock," Stephanie said. "But he was far too exhausted for the task so caught up on his sleep while the ceremony took place.
Stephanie recalled the first time she set eyes on Berwood. It was in 2001 when Tom took her for a weekend getaway to celebrate her birthday. Berwood was a familiar place for Tom. His mother, Fran Scibora, grew up there and is the Inn's owner. It seemed a perfect location for a family function as important as a wedding. "I wanted an outdoor affair and Berwood, by far, has the most exquisite setting," said Stephanie. "To share in Fran's love and passion of the Inn and to watch her design my dream wedding was wonderful," she said.
Months of preparation went into making the grounds absolutely perfect for the event. Berwood's staff, following Fran's lead, made sure every last detail was completed before guests arrived. Despite a dark cloud of rain that set in, nothing could have dampened the mood. "I was in my glory," said Stephanie, who was dressed in a stunning gown by Spanish designer La Sposa. "It truly reflected my personality and was the first wedding dress I tried on. I instantly knew it was the perfect dress." she said. While Stephanie focused on décor, Tom pitched in by choosing the couple's wedding band, menus, groomsmen's suits and programs. "Tom set the agenda for the week, ensuring we had fun during the planning process," Stephanie said.
When asked about a favorite experience during her wedding day, Stephanie was hard pressed to come up with an answer. "I can't pick a favorite because I truly enjoyed every minute of the entire wedding weekend," she said. From gardening and decorating days before to our fabulous groom's barbeque on Friday night to the excitement of getting ready, every last moment seems etched in her memory. "It was especially exciting to see Berwood transform as the final touches were completed and then meeting my dad in Berwood's Garden Cottage to walk down the aisle with him." She said. "Seeing Tom for the first time and celebrating with all of our dearest friends and family....it was a magical weekend and certainly surpassed all of my dreams."
Guardians of the earth
Planning an environmentally friendly wedding is at the forefront of Carrie Hove and Daniel Stephens' to-do list for their special day on August 29th, 2009. "We intend to utilize the natural surroundings of Berwood Hill Inn," Carrie said. "Our wedding will be held outdoors among the lovely gardens," she added.
Being stewards of the earth is more than just a passing fad for the pair. "It's our lifestyle," Carrie said. "To find ways to conserve and protect our earth really should be important to everyone," she added. "We are noticing the effects of past carelessness and irresponsibility. Now, more than ever, it is important to try to turn those effects around."
To help with the couple's green-themed wedding, both the ceremony and reception will be held at Berwood to conserve gas for the 100 guests they plan to invite. "Berwood offers many amenities to use porcelain china, silver flatware, crystal stemware and table linens that are all reusable," Carrie explained. Specific requests also have been given to the caterer to use biodegradable paper products for any extra supplies that might be used throughout the event. "I want to reduce the amount of waste as much as possible," Carrie said. The couple also plans to rent or borrow items used in their wedding to further cut down on consumables. "I don't want to end up with a bunch of things that will not be used again, and then eventually thrown away," she said. Daniel and Carrie also plan to give their guests wedding favors with a Minnesota environmental theme. "Daniel and I have been researching issues that affect Minnesota, specifically," she said. One that the couple is honing in on is the endangered bee population, but they're keeping other ideas in mind as well.
Berwood's formal gardens will be the backdrop for the couple's semi-formal event. Carrie plans to wear a dress that has a vintage, earthy look to it, yet is classic. "Your wedding should reflect YOU as a couple," Carrie said. "Do what it is that you like, not what everyone else expects."
As supporters of small business owners, Daniel and Carrie plan to make a big effort to use local vendors for their wedding. "After living in the city for many years, you realize that 'Big City" does not always mean better services-- just more expensive," Carrie said
Pedal Pushers Café in Lanesboro will cater the event with meat products from Hilltop Pastures Family Farm in Fountain. Memories by Lizzie in Harmony will capture the event in photographs and wine from the Scenic Valley Winery in Lanesboro will be served to guests. The horse and carriage will be provided by Melvin Greenlee from Chatfield and local properties were recommended for those who need overnight accommodation in Lanesboro. "We also sent our guests a good listing of area tourist information so they can enjoy all the area has to offer," said Carrie.
When planning an eco-friendly wedding, Carrie had some thoughts to convey to future brides. "No one said you have to do all the conservation methods at once. Find and practice one or two smaller techniques and build from there," she said. "That is what I hope to convey at my wedding."
As far as planning a wedding at Berwood Hill Inn, Carrie recommends requesting a wedding tour so you can get a good look at things. "Berwood Hill Inn has much to offer for a beautiful wedding day," she said. "The Inn is a hidden gem."
A long-distance weekend
soirée
When it came to choosing Berwood Hill Inn as a wedding destination, it was a no-brainer for Megan Dee and Adam Berland who have slated June 20, 2009 for their nuptials. Adam's grandparents once lived on the Berwood estate and he has fond memories of the picturesque acreage. "I've been visiting Berwood regularly since I was born," said Adam, who is working on his PhD in Geography at the U of M. "My grandparents lived on the farm and I tagged along with my father to help with chores," he recalls.
Originally from Louisville, KY, Megan, an account executive for Procter and Gamble, now lives in St. Paul. While many in her family will be making the long trip from Kentucky, she feels the atmosphere at Berwood will be well worth the trip. "We knew we wanted to make a new family memory at this venue," she said. "Also, the land and gardens highlight the beauty of nature and we wanted to share our important day with our families and friends in a refreshing place."
Megan and Adam plan to show their out of town guests a good time by planning a weekend long event, which includes canoeing, hiking and bike riding along the Root River. "June is such a beautiful time of year in this area and will be a welcome retreat from the heat in Kentucky, "Megan said. Their 180 friends and family guest list will include folks from New York, Washington, D.C., Kentucky, Alabama and even New Zealand. They'll all be treated to a magnificent garden wedding followed by a champagne and hors d'oeuvres reception and formal dinner in Lulu Belle's Roost, Berwood's beautiful reception facility. A live band will provide music for anyone who wishes to dance until the sun goes down. And it could be a long evening. As Megan pointed out, "June 20th is the second longest day of the year!" Megan will be the center of attention that day in her nostalgic gown, once worn by her aunt and mother on their wedding days. "It has a combined 70 years of good marriage karma!" Megan said.
Not all the couple's plans are fine tuned yet, but soon will be. Megan's mother, and friend and future mother-in-law plan to have a girl's weekend at Berwood this month to officially kick-off the wedding planning process. "Our girl's weekend at Berwood is the perfect way to kick off the planning and begin building memories at this special venue," Megan said.
Adam isn't left out of the planning process. "He wants to make our wedding a wonderful experience for us, our families and our friends," Megan said. "But when it comes to the tough decisions, he always supports my choices.....I suppose he's on track to be a great husband," she said. "Having our families and friends together will be wonderful, but I'm most excited to know that we will be married from that point forward," Adam added.
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