From the gown to the décor, invitations to the hors d'oeurves, you're doing to working with a dizzying array of vendors — specialists in their niche — who provide the piences of the puzzle that all come together for your big day. With so many options, it can be hard to know where to begin. Relax — we've got you covered with Nebraska Wedding Day's Best of 2021, voted on by people just like you. Our winners' experience and know-how (and sometimes, saintlike patience) have made hundreds of couples' wedding dreams come true — and they can do that for you, too.
Best Dress Shop
Ellynne Bridal
Claim to fame: Founded in 2004 by Lynne Rustad, Ellynne Bridal has become the choice destination for couture gowns in Nebraska and for brides around the Midwest, with a vast selection of designer dresses and hundreds of accessories. Ellynne Bridal, located in Lincoln, creates their collection keeping in mind their motto “Where you’re always treated like a princess.” It rings true with styles from collections like Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings. For a free-spirited vibe, All Who Wander provides the perfect bohemian element, while Martina Liana provides a collection of sophisticated gowns. All of the dresses are a dream come true, hand-picked from international designers and curated to fit any style.
Finalists: Adorned Bridal, Blush Bridal Boutique
Best Bridesmaids' Dresses
Ellynne Bridal
Claim to fame: Not only is Ellynne Bridal a top pick for brides, but it also has a wide variety of gowns for their bridesmaids. This one-stop-shop has over 250 styles for bridesmaids, in all colors and themes. Stylishly sequined or beautifully beaded gowns can be found for a more ornate design, while velvet and chiffon dresses are available if you’re looking for a classic look to accompany the lady of the hour. Just as with bridal gowns, their experts have created the perfect selection for the bride’s entourage.
Finalists: Adorned Bridal, Dream Dress Express
Best Mother-of-the-Bride Apparel
Dream Dress Express
Claim to fame: All you could need for your special day is at Dream Dress Express in Lincoln, with dresses, tuxedos and alterations all in the same place for one-stop shopping. Dream Dress Express has done the work to provide you with designer looks at bargain prices. Gowns from Montage and Cameron Blake from Mon Cheri are among the stunning creations for the mother of the bride, with illusion necklines and sleeves, thicker shoulder straps and flattering skirts. Mothers can still be the height of fashion for any special occasion that arrives.
Finalists: Adorned Bridal, Ellynne Bridal
Best Gown Care & Alterations
Omaha Lace Cleaners
Claim to fame: Omaha Lace Cleaners uses an expert touch preserving, altering or dry-cleaning your fine fabrics, whether it’s a wedding gown or heir-loom table linens. They employ new methods as well as “Old World French technique” for eco-friendly, top-tier results, ensuring your clothes (and memories) last a lifetime. Designer Kimberly Wehrbein has more than two decades of experience, perfecting the craft for this world-class company.
Finalists: Max I. Walker, Tip Top Tux
Best Menswear
Gentleman's Choice Formalwear
Claim to fame: The gown gets most of the attention, so it’s only fair the groom has his own moment in the sartorial spotlight. For nearly 30 years, Gentleman’s Choice Formal Wear has been providing sharp suits and elegant tuxedos for a wide variety of formal occasions. Whether he knows what he wants or doesn’t know where to begin, Gentleman’s Choice Formal Wear has a team of specialists ready to help put together a handsome set from their collection. Located in Omaha, they provide full service with alterations included, so the lucky guy can have a suit tailored uniquely for him.
Finalists: Mr. Tuxedo, Tip Top Tux
Best Wedding Hair
Bungalow/8
Claim to fame: This Omaha boutique is the peak of excellence with a team of academy-trained experts and a stylish space for ultimate pampering and fun photo-ops. They use only the best products to ensure that hair of all textures can be primped to perfection. The spacious setup can accommodate even the largest wedding parties, so everyone will look their best. If the salon isn’t on the docket until day of, on-site stylists can come to you to coif your ’do.
Finalists: Hair by Brooke Brandt, Model Perfect Airbrush
Best Wedding Makeup
Model Perfect Airbrush
Claim to fame: Model Perfect Airbrush, located in Omaha, believes confidence is key to bringing out true beauty, though a layer of makeup doesn’t hurt either. As they like to say, “Makeup is self-confidence applied directly to the face.” They have many artists that have made this business the go-to shop for a flawless face for the big day. With wintery cool tones, pops of color, warm and smokey, and many more looks to choose from, Model Perfect Airbrush can do it all no matter the season or scheme, tailored uniquely to you.
Finalists: Bungalow/8, Candace White Makeup Artist
Best Spa Services
Lied Lodge & Conference Center
Claim to fame: When all the details have been nailed down and it’s time to relax, Arbor Day Farms’ Lied Lodge in Nebraska City is essential for maximum decompression. This architectural beauty sits amid a huge lawn with a breath-taking view from the terrace. The best part is their long list of services—just the escape you need after months of planning (or as a pick-me-up in the middle of things so you can get back to work refreshed and revitalized). The spa offers an extensive menu of massages, from deep-tissue to their signature Apple Blossom massage with apple-scented aromatherapy and full-body treatment. Finish it off with a visit to their on-site winery and let all your worries melt away.
Finalists: Body Nouveaux Spa, De Novo Spa
Best Jeweler
Borsheims
Claim to fame: Borsheims in Omaha has a legacy of over 150 years in the jewelry business, with an inventory of more than 100,000 pieces to accessorize in whatever style you can imagine. With online guides and many designs, Borsheims makes it easy to find jewelry that’s just right for you.
Finalists: Nebraska Diamond, Riddle's Jewelry
Best Officiant
We Do! Weddings and Events
Claim to fame: We Do! Weddings and Events makes your “I do’s” official. No matter your background, the officiants of We Do! are there to create a ceremony just for you. They specialize in non-denominational religious ceremonies so that honoring your love can be celebrated just the way you imagined.
Finalists: Hello Beautiful Bridal & Formal Wear, I Choose You Ceremonies
Best Wedding Planner
Rachel J. Events
Claim to fame: Your wedding is your day, and Rachel J. Events ensures every detail suits your tastes and needs. Located in Omaha, Rachel J. Events makes your day a seamless celebration that everyone will remember. With creative vision and expertise, a daunting task becomes a walk in the park so you can enjoy your engagement while she handles the rest.
Finalists: Event Design, We Do! Weddings and Events
Best Invitations
Dana Osborne Design
Claim to fame: Making a good first impression for your wedding is easy with the perfect invites. Dana Osborne Design in Omaha sets the tone with superior stationery for every aesthetic. With a free consultation to begin, Dana will get your party started with custom or pre-designed invitation suites that make a wonderful keepsake for you, your family and your friends.
Finalists: Revolution Paper Co., Tara's Designs
Best Calligraphy
Emily Jessen
Claim to fame: Signage ensures your guests’ experience flows flawlessly throughout the day, which makes the calligrapher’s role essential. Emily Jessen’s eye for design is multifaceted, and her services include hand-lettering and printmaking. Her modern, whimsical style adds personality to your event, turning function into fine art.
Finalists: Letter Lane Design Studio, Miranda Writes
Best Photography
Nikki McLeay Photography
Claim to fame: A picture is worth a thousand words, but Nikki McLeay Photography is an expert at capturing one word in particular: love. Your wedding day may feel like a blur, so immortalize all the moments of your special day with photographs that will last a lifetime. Nikki is based in Omaha, but will happily travel wherever you are to capture those memories filled with joy, laughter, and, yes, love.
Finalists: The Mullers, Sam Areman Photo
Best Videography
Alisha Cerny Films
Claim to fame: Based in Lincoln, videographer Alisha Cerny loves hearing her parents talk about their wedding, but still wishes she could watch it; now, she gives brides (and their family and friends, present and future) the chance to relive their weddings all over again. Professional editing, angles and storytelling doesn’t just document the event— she captures the true fairy-tale quality of your love story.
Finalists: A Final Take Films & DJ, K. LaFluer Films
Best Dance Instruction
Simply Ballroom
Claim to fame: Your wedding day means you’re the center of attention. If you’re worried about your steps on the dance floor in the spotlight, Simply Ballroom in Omaha can instruct you in any dance you can think of—waltz, foxtrot, tango and swing, to name a few. Blow your guests away with your new moves, and get the party started on the right foot.
Finalists: Omaha Ballroom, Vintage Ballroom
Best DJ
Complete Weddings + Events
Claim to fame: Dancing The right music gets you and your guests on their feet. Complete Weddings + Events of Omaha knows how to fit the mood, whether it’s a balance of rock and rap or an evening of classic country sounds. These talented DJs will get the guests grooving; they’ll make sure to play songs you love and nix the songs you don’t, for the perfect playlist for you and your guests.
Finalists: DJ Patrick Geho/P-H Productions, Image Entertainment
Best Band
Lemon Fresh Day
Claim to fame: If you’re looking for live music, Lemon Fresh Day from Omaha is well known as one of the top cover bands in the city. Since 1998, the band has been performing covers of top hits from the past five decades in a variety of genres. They live by the motto “Never the same show twice,” so you know you won’t get the same old wedding setlist, and know how to get everyone up and moving.
Finalists: eNVy, On The Fritz
Best Rental & Décor
Hillcrest Wedding Decor
Claim to fame: Hillcrest Wedding Decor, located in Seward, has all kinds of unique pieces to dress up your venue. From dessert displays and vases to furniture and lighted signs, they have an unmatched eye for aesthetics that will provide you with your dream decorations. They bring out the beauty wherever you are, with details big and small for your special day.
Finalists: AAA Rents & Events Services, Elite Events Rental
Best Transportation
Ollie the Trolley
Claim to fame: Ollie the Trolley has been in business for over 35 years, ferrying passengers around the city for a variety of scenic tours. One of the eight cleverly named trollies can be your main mode of transportation for the wedding party and even to get you and your bridesmaids to the salon on the wedding day morning. It’s a fun, relaxed way for you and your party to hang out, and a stress-free way to get to all the necessary locations.
Finalists: Leisure Limousine, VIP Sedan & Limousine
Best Florist
Rose Joy Events Gifting and Rentals
Claim to fame: Rose Joy serves both Omaha and Lincoln to create beautifully unorthodox arrangements for centerpieces, bouquets, installations and arches. They use an intriguing combination of large blooms like ranunculus, peonies, garden roses and orchids in their European-style arrangements, as well as the best in-season florals to match or complement your color scheme.
Finalists: Fancy Plants, Russ's Market
Best Caterer
Attitude On Food
Claim to fame: Located in Omaha, Attitude on Food has been providing top-tier culinary services since 2002. Owner and general manager Nathan Newhouse has created extensive menus for breakfast and brunch, gluten-free, and regular full-course meals. You can choose from a plethora of expertly crafted dishes to mix and match, all made with local produce and unparalleled attention to detail. But their menus are only the beginning; talk to them about your vision for your wedding day feast, because the possibilities are endless.
Finalists: Catering Creations, Patricia Catering & Cocktails
Best Wedding Cakes & Desserts
The Confectionist
Claim to fame: Founder Christina Whitney is a self-taught baker, starting back in her grandmother’s kitchen. This personalized touch translates to her baking, with an array of mouth-watering cake flavors like gingerbread and red velvet, plus even more buttercream and ganache flavors. Located at her bakery in Wahoo, wedding cakes aren’t the only route; she also makes cupcakes and a vast choice of French macarons, among other options, to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.
Finalists: Cake Expressions, Inc., Sweet Cakes & Roses
Best Guest Accommodations
Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District
Claim to fame: The Omaha Lincoln Marriott, the landmark for the city’s new Capitol District, is at the center of it all in downtown Omaha. The hotel boasts the best in hospitality, with floor-to-ceiling windows for a bright atmosphere and a classic modern interior with the perfect mix of elegance and comfort. The hotel also features a rooftop pool for a spectacular view of the city and a great place to unwind before the excitement begins.
Finalists: Graduate Lincoln, The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel
Best Rehearsal Dinner Venue
Wilderness Ridge
Claim to fame: Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln provides a charming, rustic environment for high-end cuisine with a more casual feel. They offer American classics from steak to seafood, which you can enjoy on the wrap-around deck. Some weekend evenings feature live music to accompany your relaxed rehearsal dinner.
Finalists: Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Best Barn Venue
Lied Lodge & Conference Center
Claim to fame: Not only is Lied Lodge in Nebraska City perfect as a rejuvenating spa retreat, but it can also double as your wedding venue. The historic barn, with a trail from the main lodge, can seat up to 350. It’s an enchanting fusion of rustic elegance with a woodsy interior that can be draped with lights and linen for a magical ambiance.
Finalists: The Barn At Ackerhurst Dairy Farm, Creekside Event Barn at Roca Berry Farm
Best Winery/Vineyard Venue
Bella Terre Reception Hall and Vineyard
Claim to fame: Having an eight-acre vineyard all to your- self sounds like a dream— and it can come true at Bella Terre Reception Hall and Vineyard. Nestled in the Loess Hills in Glenwood, Iowa, just 15 minutes from Omaha, this Italian-inspired vineyard feels like you’ve been transported to Europe, with breathtaking views as the backdrop for your vows. Your guests have access to the outdoor elevated terrace, with a complimentary champagne toast included for the head table. Essentially an all-inclusive venue, this is a stress-free and picture-perfect place for your special event.
Finalists: The Fountains Ballroom, Slattery Vintage Estates
Best Country Club/Golf Course Venue
Wilderness Ridge
Claim to fame: In addition to good food and live music, Wilderness Ridge also hosts a scenic 18-hole golf course. The lush greens complement the main lodge, making for a sophisticated woodland atmosphere right in Lincoln.
Finalists: The Club at Indian Creek, Tiburon Golf Club at Banquet Facility
Best Historic Venue
The Durham Museum
Claim to fame: The historic halls of the Durham Museum in Omaha are a classic choice for a chic celebration. With glittering chandeliers, ornate vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, the museum is bound to make your event memorable. The Art Deco architecture combined with any modern décor is sure to create the perfect blend of past and present that everyone attending will appreciate.
Finalists: Lied Lodge & Conference Center, Orpheum Theater
Best Museum Venue
Joslyn Art Museum
Claim to fame: The Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden is a picture-perfect location for those looking for an artistic setting. The garden, part of the Joslyn Museum of Art in Omaha, features elegantly designed landscaping with an expansive plaza, a serene reflecting pool, ambient water wall and a variety of magnificent sculptures from world-renowned artists. This museum dates back to the late 1920s when Sarah H. Joslyn donated it to the Omaha community in memory of her husband. The building is constructed of handsome Georgia pink marble, continued into the structure’s interior with a combination of nearly 40 kinds of marble from around the globe. The pink marble also lines three walls of the museum’s atrium; the fourth wall is all glass, with a vaulted ceiling that lets in even more natural light.
Finalists: The Durham Museum, Sheldon Museum of Art
Best Venue in Nebraska
Lied Lodge & Conference Center
Claim to fame: This gorgeous property in Nebraska City boasts an array of amenities and a variety of ceremony sites, checking all the boxes for your wedding needs. On-site wedding planners ensure everything goes smoothly, and you can’t go wrong with in-house catering, not to mention access to luxurious massages at the spa and or a stop at the winery. Younger guests will love the Treetop Village (a lot of the adults will too, truth be told).
Finalists: Villa Aletta, Wilderness Ridge
Best New Vendor
Villa Aletta
Claim to fame: Located in Northwest Omaha, Villa Aletta is home to an enchanting outdoor ceremony site, perfect for up to 250 guests. Indoors has an equally elegant setup for your reception with bright natural light and a handsome fireplace. It’s easy to do everything on-site, with catering, bridal and groom suites, bartending, furniture and linens included with a set-up and take-down crew who will make your weddding a breeze.
Finalists: DJ Patrick Geho/P-H Productions, Elle Seals Events
Top of the Tiara: Best All-Around Vendor
Wilderness Ridge
Claim to fame: Your guests feel like VIPs when they arrive at this remarkable venue, which greets them with a waterfall and lake at the entrance. Hand-carved front doors are just the beginning of the “wild” ambiance, with rustic interior and a long list of amenities. An expansive golf course makes an ideal backdrop for photos of you and your beau. Set-up and take-down come with venue rental, so you can focus on your special day.
Finalists: Hillcrest Wedding Decor and Rentals, We Do! Wedding and Events
Members of the Year
Amanda Leise and Sam Areman
Claim to fame: Areman's and Leise's photography styles differ, but they share an important commonality: their approach to their clients and the Nebraska Wedding Day community. They strive for the best in all that they do, from styled shoots to wedding-day photos, and their product is always a work of art. They’re each also known for being the kind of person who you just feel great working with. Clients say that their attitudes—laid-back yet can-do—make them not just once-in-a-lifetime vendors, but lifelong friends.
Editor's Picks
Best Floral Design
Lavish Flower Design
Pairing together gorgeous pastel hues with refreshing white florals, these arrangements are simply dreamy. Pops of vibrance coming from lavender-colored elements encasing the entire bouquet make these effortlessly chic and ethereal. Perfect for a bride looking for something whimsical, these gorgeous florals are truly unique.
Best Event Design
Magnolia Events and Creations
With event planning, rentals and custom décor all at your disposal with Magnolia Events and Creations, the possibilities for a stunning event are truly endless. This design paired elegant tablescapes with a bold palette featuring hues of green, red and purple for this design. Live florals throughout the event made for a lively ambiance and tied together this dynamic, chic wedding.
Best Invitation Suite
Wandering Heart Paper Co.
For Laura Green, it's all about finding the invitation suite of your dreams. With knowledge in both graphic design and calligraphy, the range of options is vast when Wandering Heart Paper Co. is involved, and Laura's mission is to find stylish options that are perfectly catered to each couple. These invitation suites offer a rustic touch, featuring dainty drawings and simple text. Addressed by hand, these invitation suites are a fantastic way to set the tone for your event to come.
Best Photo
Laura Elizabeth Photography
Surrounded by a breathtaking backdrop, this photo embodies adventure. Coming from a creative family, Laura aims to make her photos genuine with an emphasis on real Laura Elizabeth Photography is based in Lincoln, but who could say no to Utah’s Arches National Park, where she documented this adventurous elopement? “Between the barefoot bride and her flowy cape, the couple fit in perfectly with the natural desert element,” says Laura Elizabeth of this dreamy moment she captured.
Best Dressed
Lilly Gillam in Willowby
Talk about ethereal - this dress is the complete embodiment of elegance. A trailing train giving the dress extraordinary length and shape and gorgeous lace detailing make this dress a total showstopper and paired with a bohemian flower crown tied the entire look together. Also featuring an open back, the dress brings some contemporary elements to a classic silhouette.
Best Cake
Cake Drip Omaha
Featuring countless stunning creations, Cake Drip has been perfecting wedding cakes for over a year. Featuring their signature drip, these cakes add a pop of color and fun to any wedding, and of course, are completley mouth-watering. With a huge range of colors, styles and flavors to play around with, there is something for every couple with these festive creations.
Best Catering Idea
Patricia Catering and Cocktails
Edible florals are one trend we hope will stick around. They add the wow factor to desserts, apps and cocktails, such as these floral ice cubes by Patricia Catering and Cocktails. Like a garden party in a glass, these flowers not only look lovely, they're perfectly safe to pop in your refreshments to make them even more enticing.
And a special thank you to our #BestOf2021 sponsors!
