Winter Wedding in Hartford, Wisconsin

Chandelier Ballroom Fireplace Wedding Ceremony & Reception

“Hallmark Movie”  Meet! 

Karrie equates meeting Chris to something out of a Hallmark movie. They were set up by mutual friends, but it took a little convincing for them to meet. At the time, the holidays were fast approaching, and Chris was working on his farm, helping sell Christmas trees. “So I went with two friends to see a guy about a tree,” Karrie says. “I’m so glad I did.”

Chris took Karrie around to look at trees, shaking snow off each one so she could get a good look. “There was just something about him,” she says. “The kindness in his eyes really got me.” She wanted to bring her tree home that night, but Chris insisted she come back with a bigger vehicle. So she gave him her number. The next day, he texted and offered to deliver the tree. “I took him up on his delivery offer. I felt pretty special!” Chris delivered the tree and got it all set up. Karrie had pizza waiting, and they spent a few hours getting to know one another. The next weekend, they had their first official date. “We took a walk through the lights at Enchantment in the Park. He held my hand and it just felt right!”

A Christmas-Time Proposal

In December of 2019, Karrie and Chris were at Karrie’s parents’ house for a post-Christmas gathering. They were in the middle of staged family photos, and it was Karrie and Chris’ turn to take a few pictures in front of the tree. “As we were smiling for pictures, Chris got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I was speechless. Of course I said YES, and the whole night we celebrated.”

Winter Wedding Gown

Karrie found her dress at Amelishan Bridal. She had tried on about five dresses and almost didn’t try on the gown that ended up being the one. “It was the last one, and on the hanger, it didn’t ‘show’ very well. But my sister was in the fitting room helping me, and she said ‘Hey, why not try it on—it’s here!’ The dress fit like a glove. It was perfect for winter, full of sequins and sparkle, and it twirled like a dream. The layers of fabric gave off the illusion of snow. I cried—we all did! I knew then that I was taking the dress home.”

A Pair of Weddings

Because of Covid, Chris and Karrie had two weddings, so to speak. “Our actual wedding was in January 2021. We chose to have a smaller, more intimate wedding ceremony and reception. We postponed the wedding celebration to January of 2022, on the weekend of our one-year anniversary. At that time, we did a vow renewal.”

Both times, Karrie and Chris celebrated their wedding at the Chandelier Ballroom in Hartford. Their first ceremony was held in the fireplace room, surrounded by about 30 of their closest friends and family. “It was the perfect backdrop to a winter wedding! Especially since we had a snow storm that night.” A year later, at their bigger wedding reception, Chris and Karrie renewed their vows in the middle of the ballroom, their full guest list present. “Despite the fact that Covid caused us to plan two weddings, I wouldn’t change a thing about it. It’s part of our love story!”

Choosing the Chandelier Ballroom

How did Chris and Karrie land on the Chandelier Ballroom? “Originally we knew that we most likely would have a larger guest list, so we needed a venue that could accommodate that. Both of us had been to several weddings at Chandelier Ballroom and they were fantastic. We also were looking for a venue that could accommodate our wedding ceremony as well.”

They were also drawn in by the history behind the Chandelier Ballroom. “The cozy charm of the fireplace room and the elegance of the grand ballroom helped make our decision easy! Who wouldn’t want to have a winter wedding in front of a fireplace? Having catering on site, that was definitely a plus! The food was just as amazing day-of as it was for our menu tastings.”

Chandelier Ballroom Ceremony

Karrie and Chris’s wedding ceremony was officiated by Michele, the executive director at the Chandelier Ballroom. “She made a point to really get to know Chris and me,” Karris says. “We had my nephew’s two little boys walk down the aisle before me with cute signs, my cousin’s daughter read the poem ‘The Art of Marriage,’ and we did an evergreen tree planting ceremony to symbolize our unity that day.”

Photo Break With Wild Elegance

Chris and Karrie took photos on the Ice Age Trail, bridal party portraits at Loew Lake, and family photos in the Chandelier Ballroom itself. Marie, the owner of Wild Elegance, was there to capture the day. “She stuck by Chris and I through the entire planning process! From engagement pictures, planning meetings, emails/texts, and day-of photography, we knew we could count on Marie to make it happen. She was so in tune with capturing special moments for us! Since we had a winter wedding, it wasn’t the warmest to linger outside, but Marie was spot on with her direction and photography skills. I really feel we became friends over the planning process. It wasn’t just a job to her—she truly cares, and her work shows it! Our wedding photos turned out perfect. I would recommend her hands down!”

Wedding Planning

To get ideas and mingle with potential vendors, Karrie went to several wedding shows, including the Wonderful World of Weddings at State Fair Park and the Terrace 164 show in Washington County. For wedding colors, Karrie chose burgundy, rose gold, and dark grey to keep the vibe wintry and cozy.

DIY Projects

“Pinterest sure could be the death of a bride!” Karrie says. She and her friends and family tackled a lot of DIY projects to bring the wedding day together, like crafting the invitations—twice. “It was a lot of work, but it was fun to hang out together! We had lots of laughter and good bonding time.” For decor, Karrie ordered wholesale greens for the centerpieces and arranged everything with the help of friends and family. She made the table numbers, spray painting each number rose gold. “We went through five or six cans of glitter paint. It was the most challenging task, believe it or not!” Karrie is so grateful to everyone who pitched in. “They were all such great and positive helpers!”

Chandelier Ballroom Dinner

Karrie and Chris couldn’t be happier with their dining experience at Chandelier Ballroom. “The food was AMAZING! We had so many people compliment us on it. We had a buffet of braised beef tips, chicken with a lemon thyme cream sauce, loaded mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and a colorful vegetable medley. The tables were set with salad and rolls. The waitstaff and bar service was top notch too!”

Looking Back

Reflecting on their wedding day and reception a year later, Karris says she and Chris are most struck by the amount of love and support they felt. “We have so many people in our lives that care about us and did whatever it took to help make our wedding(s) perfect! It was an emotional roller coaster of planning, but together we made it through and were happy with our decision to do a smaller, more-intimate ceremony on our actual wedding date. And it was so much fun to celebrate a year later for our anniversary weekend!”