Why We chose the Wilderness for Our Wedding

By Axa N.

It was a breezy August evening in 2023. I was sitting on the balcony of one of the villas at the Wilderness when my aunt casually said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if you got married here?”

Aesthetics and guest experience were two big things for my husband Mark and I when we started planning our wedding. My family lives in Milwaukee and his family lives around the northern Wisconsin and Minnesota area. This made location a very important determinant of our wedding venue search. We deliberated and the Dells seemed to be a good compromise and middle point. So, we began our quest to find the perfect venue.

We set up a time to visit the Wilderness. We drove into the parking lot of the Glacier Canyon Conference Center and were pleased with the number of parking spaces available. Kayla Manthey, the Wilderness wedding coordinator was very warm and greeted us at the door. She was diligent, knowledgeable and streamlined our experience. She showed us around and outlined what services were included while giving us a detailed cost breakdown. She also showed us a portfolio of pictures from previous couples’ weddings at the Wilderness to create realistic expectations. The highlight of our visit was perhaps, the wonderful patio ceremony space adjoining the ballroom. It was very intimate but spacious. We were happy to learn about reserving room blocks for our guests. This would make wedding day logistics seamless and our wedding guests would not have to worry about lodging and transportation. Choosing the Wilderness would allow our guests to enjoy multiple entertainment options like the waterpark, the golf courses and various dining places. I started imagining my wedding in that space and it felt surreal. Kayla didn’t rush us to make a decision. We told her we had inquired from other venues and would get back to her.

Mark and I decided we were getting married at the Wilderness. The next few months, Kayla was my best friend. Literally! She was proactive and answered our questions and concerns in a timely fashion. She gave great suggestions, went above and beyond to get things done and made special arrangements for us (within reason). We wanted a live duet for our ceremony and she coordinated arrangements for music plug-ins and set up. Not only did Kayla help with the logistical mayhem of wedding planning, she was also a comforting voice and would check in with me emotionally. The day before the wedding, she made accommodations for our musicians to come in and practice their ensemble. This was specifically helpful to them as they familiarized themselves with the location and the music plug-ins for running the ceremony. We were also able to go to the ballroom the night before the wedding and put out some decorations.

The morning of our wedding we had a rehearsal and Kayla spearheaded the whole operation. She was able to deliver expectations clearly and concisely. She listened to our ideas and gave meaningful suggestions so the ceremony would go smoothly. Moreover, she worked with all of our other vendors in a professional manner, guided them to the spaces they needed to be and helped with set up. We also had getting ready rooms for the bride and groom just across the ballroom. This was great as it allowed my bridesmaids and I to get ready together which was a delight. Moreover, it facilitated pre-ceremony pictures. The groom and his friends got some candid pre-ceremony pictures as well.

All my childhood dreams came true when I walked down the aisle in my white dress. Everything was so beautiful and perfect, just as I had imagined. I caught a whiff of the roses as the breeze blew and I took a deep breath to let the moment sink in. The ceremony ran like clockwork and it was absolutely magical! Afterwards, we were able to take pictures with our family and wedding party on the patio. We then went on a nature trail just behind the ballroom and took our couple portraits, which was the best part. It gave my husband and I the chance to get away from the busyness of the day and have a moment to ourselves while taking breathtaking photos.

The reception was magnificent! We had 120 guests. The ballroom was organized and decorated beautifully. We got several compliments from our guests about the quality of the food and drinks and the choices available. The placement of the bar next to the dance floor was an excellent idea so guests didn’t have to walk far for refills while dancing. We also had a kids activity table, a guestbook table, a cards/gifts table and a table for our caricaturist covered with linens, and adorned with skirting and lights. Everything was tastefully decorated which made our wedding feel elegant and royal. The patio lights created a romantic aura at night and we enjoyed dancing and enjoying a private moment. I looked at the horizon and I remembered my aunt saying, “Wouldn’t it be nice if you got married here?” I smiled and realized we had come full circle from that moment.

Our wedding was exceptional! Thanks to Kayla and the wonderful Wilderness team!

Editor’s Note: To get started planning your wedding at the Wilderness please contact Kayla at  [email protected] or call her at 608.253.2488