Featured Bride Friday: Alison

Meet our featured bride and her groom

Married June 8, 2013

Alison and Dustin Cunningham

 

What was it like working with Charlotte’s?  The customer service there was top notch.  They were prompt, very helpful, and made me feel like a million bucks from finding the dress to my final fitting.

 

 

How did you meet?  We met several years ago through a former co-worker of Duke's. When we met, we became friends, but then we went our separate ways for some time. It wasn't until late December, in 2010, when we met up again for some drinks with friends and that is when sparks began to fly.

 

Wedding Gown Designer: 

Casablanca

 



Florist:  Flowers by Cindy (Cindy Krueger - La Crescent)

Hair:  Shannon Goodell at About Face Salon in Onalaska

 

Make-up: Darcy Grulkowski (Mary Kay) did my make-up consultation prior to the wedding but I did my own make-up on the Wedding Day

What was your ceremony site? Lewis Valley Lutheran Church in Holmen

 

What was your reception site?  Omni Center in Onalaska and catering by Blue Moon in Onalaska

 

 

How did he propose?  Duke was very clever with his proposal, from setting up plans for dinner and taking me to a special spot where we like to sit and talk. It was there, when he pulled out a special, early Christmas present that the butterflies began to float. The gift was a Shutterfly photobook with pages of photos from New Year's Eve 2011 up to a party bus trip only a couple weekends before. Finally, towards the end of the photo book, there was a page that said "Will you" in which I looked up at Duke for him to say "marry me" while holding the ring that I had my heart set on months ago.

 

 

What is one piece of advice you would give brides that are just beginning their search for the perfect wedding gown?:  My advice would be to take along a good girlfriend and try on anything and everything. You never know which one will be "the one!"

 

 

 

What was your favorite part of the day?:  My favorite part of our wedding day was the "first look". The photographer and Duke's best man took each of us to a meeting place for the first look. Duke's look was priceless when he saw me for the first time - it truly was a moment I will not forget. It was so nice to have a couple minutes alone together before the busy day continued. A close second would be having all of our family and friends together to help celebrate our marriage. It felt so good!

 



Is there anything special or unique about your wedding that you would like to highlight?:  A special treat for our wedding ceremony had to be Duke's dog, Gunnar, as our honorary ring bearer. Andre, my Godson, was also a ring bearer. He walked down a ivory colored retriever decorated with ribbon and rings. When Andre was about 3/4 of the way down the aisle, he then set the retriever down for Gunnar to do the rest. Meanwhile, Gunnar was on heal until Duke gave him the command to fetch the retriever and bring it to him. At that time, Duke had Gunnar sit, give the retriever, and give him a high five. The whole thing was a big hit with the crowd! Another highlight was the time spent with the wedding party and their guests in between the ceremony and the reception. We all loaded on the Redneck Express for refreshments, pictures, and great times. It was a blast having everyone together with us!

 Photos courtesy of Amber Abts