Gabrielle and Zach’s Vendors

Photographer // Brooke Pavel Photography | Videographer // The Vine Productions | Ceremony Venue // Saints Center for Culture and the Arts | Reception Venue // Sixteen Oaks | Caterer // Lidderdale Country Store | Cake or Dessert // Moms Sweet Creations | Floral // Boesen the Florist | Hair // Shelby Erickson, East Side Salon, Hair/Makeup, Joey Nielson, Salon for Women | Nail Salon // Rio Nail Bar | Wedding dress // Allure dress, Pure Bridal | Bridesmaids dresses // Azazie Men’s suites or tuxes // Skeffington's Formal Wear | Stationery // Wedding suite by Livilou Designs, on Etsy.com | Jewelry // Greenberg's Jewelers | Ring box // TheMrsBox.com | Robes // Fig and Vine, on Etsy.com | Ceremony Music // Piano – Jody Rudolph, Guitar – Bill Ell Reception | Music // Chaos Productions | Décor and Rentals // White Willow Events, Vintage Love Rentals, Jensen event rentals and Joannes Event Rentals | Officiant // Ted Weishaupt | Hotels // AmericInn by Wyndham, Stuart, IA and Hotel Greenfield, Greenfield IA | Dress Alterations // Hands to Heart Custom Sewing

Once Zack decided he was going to propose to Gabrielle, he was just going to just “go with the flow” of the day and not plan anything. That day, Gabrielle had jokingly thrown out the idea of going for a romantic wine and canvas painting night. At first, Zack was totally against it, and then realized it could be the opportunity he was looking for.

When the couple walked in, it was all women, “girls night out,” bachelorette parties, a birthday party, not quite a romantic date night. But Zack went with it. He decided to go up front and ask the instructor for help on his canvas. After spending some time up there, the instructor asked the class, “LADIES, do you want to see what he painted?!?” He turned around the canvas and it said, “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” All the girls let out a big “AWWWWWW!!!” and Gabrielle was speechless, she almost thought it was a joke until he pulled out a ring and got down on one knee. It was a perfect surprise and a night the couple will never forget.

The couple thought they’d get married outside, but as the wedding got close with rain in the forecast, they made the call to move it indoors to Saint Center for Culture and the Arts. “I truly believe everything happens for a reason and I’m so happy how things turned out,” Gabrielle told us. “It’s a hidden secret, such a dreamy place to say ‘I do!’”

Gabrielle loved the vendors they worked with. “I wanted people who were energetic, kind hearted, detailed and most importantly would understand our personalities and style.” One of the couple’s favorite things was when their photographer, Brooke Pavel, sent them a wedding guide after they met. It was a small gesture but made a huge impact on Gabrielle’s wedding planning.

Gabrielle was all about the special touches too. Her soon-to-be father-in-law, Dave, helped Gabrielle make a lot of the elements for their day. And Gabrielle made over 300 jars of salsa as wedding favors. A huge task but was a big hit!

One of the sweetest moments for the couple was their 2 year-old daughter, Addy, and her “first look” with her dad, Zack. “It’s still something she talks about to this day,” Gabrielle said. And the pictures of the moment says it all. Zack and Gabrielle shared so many amazing moments with friends and family. “You seriously feel so special, we loved having everyone close to us in one place.”