Karina & Michael McKinnon | 10.5.2024

What was your favorite moment of your wedding day?

Walking down the isle to Michael.

Would you change anything if you could do it all over again?

It was such a perfect day. I only wish I had gotten the chance to talk to all our guests.

What was one thing you obsessed over, but realized it did not matter? 

I was very concerned about our timeline, and while it does sort of matter, it ended up being totally fine.

Why did you host your wedding at Celebrations on the River? 

I’ve always been obsessed with Celebrations! The decor of River Park just felt like Michael and I. Plus, a venue that handles basically everything made planning so easy.

What was your color palette? Why did you choose those colors?

Cabernet, Terracotta, Cream, Sage and Dark Green – I chose them because they felt like fall.

What advice do you have for future couples planning their wedding?

You can keep it simple and still have the most beautiful day.

How did you manage your guest count? 

We set our budget first, then built our guest list, THEN gave our parents a set amount they could include with very clear boundaries.

Who were your vendors? (DJ, Photographer, Hair/Makeup, Florist, Dessert, etc.) How did you choose them?

• Photographer: Alder and Root Photography
• DJ: Ever After Entertainment
• Makeup: by Sarah Koblitz
• Flowers: Viroqua Floral Mercantile
• Cake: Meringue Bakery + Kwik Trip Bakery Glazers

A lot of these were suggestions from friends or Celebrations. I’ve known Sarah Koblitz since high school so that was an easy pick for make up. Desserts also were easy – who doesn’t love a Kwik Trip Glazer? Our couples cake from Meringue was mainly my mom’s idea, and the owner of that bakery is their neighbor.