about us

ABOUT SONJA: I currently am working as the Recruitment Coordinator in the Career Services Office, University of Wisconsin-Stout. I earned my Bachelor’s of Science Degree from UW-Stout in December 2005 in Retail Merchandising & Management: Human Resource Management & Business Administration. In my spare time I like to surround myself with friends and family, I also love scrapbooking, book club and finding good buys.

ABOUT CHAD: He is attending the Chippewa Valley Technical College for Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, while continuing to work for West CAP in Glenwood City as their HVAC Specialist. Chad also stays very busy maintaining our ever growing lawn and working on the new deck and house projects. Of course, there is ice fishing and bow hunting – he is a busy guy!

HOW WE MET: Chad and I both grew up in the small town of Boyceville, Wisconsin. We attended the same high school, but Chad was a year older than me. We really didn't get to know each other until we both started hanging with the same group of friends during the evenings and weekends. It was your typical high school crush :) I liked him, but was too shy to talk to him; he liked me, but didn't understand why I didn't talk to him! Luckily we both had our friend Amanda - she played the greatest game in the middle bringing us together! The next thing we knew, Chad is a senior and I'm a junior at the Homecoming Dance, 9.24.2000 (Chad was even on court). This is where he asked me out! Of course I was thrilled! Hard to believe all of this was 10 years ago already!

the proposal

WHEN WE GOT ENGAGED: Friday, September 25, 2009
(Egg Harbor, Wisc.)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Each September Chad and I try to take a small trip for our dating anniversary. This year the plan was to head to Door County, Wisc. Neither of us have been there before, but heard some great things about that area.

Since we always take a trip in September, I was in no way expecting a proposal. Chad and I have been together for 10 years, so we both knew this day would come and it had been talked about in the past. But this proposal was a complete surprise.

Before we headed for our trip, Syren and I thought it would be fun to go and get manicures. We tried the new Alice Nails 2 in South Menomonie, boy was it an experience, but thinking back – it all seemed to fit together. I picked out three colors I liked, when checking the names I realized that all three colors were the same. The name you ask? WILL YOU MARI-ACHI ME? Syren and I got a big kick out of this one and had a great time teasing Chad about it when we met up with him after our manicures. He’s a tough one though – not even that story made him slip up that it was his plan all along to propose to me the very next day!

We left for Door County on Friday morning and had about a 4.5 hour drive to get there. By the time we reached Egg Harbor we were both pretty tired of the car. After checking into the Egg Harbor Lodge I went into the bathroom to freshen up. When I came back out Chad was sitting on the bed watching TV. I joined him – but to tell you the truth now, I could not even tell you what we were watching. He pulled the ring box out and handed me this suede box. No way, I could not believe it! I opened the box and he had picked out the most beautiful ring ever! Exactly what I would have wanted! And then it got even better – this beautiful ring was from Tiffany & Co. I said, no way (again) you asked my dad, and he had! He then asked if I would marry him and of course I said YES!!!

The rest of the weekend was a pure celebration! We waited to tell everyone until we went back home – this way the entire weekend was just for us. And it was a wonderful weekend, we took a Scenic Trolley tour of Fish Creek and went to the top of the most amazing bluffs, we ate well and toured a couple of wineries! One was even in a 90 year old stone barn (Stone’s Throw Winery). I could not have asked for a more perfect engagement or weekend to follow.

HOW HE ASKED MY DAD: So as many of you know, my dad is the Athletic Director for Boyceville Schools. And this is no small feat of a position, it keeps him very busy and he loves it. Every day on Chad’s way home from work he would drive by my parents and check to see if dad’s truck was home, of course it hardly ever is, so Chad ended up finding dad working on the new concession stand for our football field. This is where he asked him! And true to character he said “I think that would be alright.” That is a total Bud response! At least he didn’t say “Oh Golly!”

THE PLAN: Without my knowledge, Chad has been planning this for quite some time. He works 4 – 10 hour days and would take his Friday to do all the planning. It all started out well and good, the closest Tiffany & Co. is located in Edina, MN, so that is where he headed. He worked with one sales associate and picked out exactly what he had wanted, she said she would get a few more in so he could pick out the exact diamond. When he went back, his sales associate no longer worked there. The manager said he would try to locate this gals notes so they could just continue from where she left off. The manager called not long after and said he could not find notes, nor was he able to get a hold of the old associate. So unfortunately, he had to go back over there and start fresh. Trip #3 was spent re-picking everything out and selecting just the right thing! Finally trip #4 and the ring was his! This was like pure torture for a boy like Chad – I teased him that I had no idea he loved me that much!

ABOUT THE RING: The title of my ring is ‘The Tiffany Setting’. From reading all the information that comes with the ring, I have learned that this style was created by Mr. Tiffany over a century ago. It was his original ring design and of course also comes with the famous Tiffany blue box.

the wedding

WHEN: Saturday, September 25, 2010

WHERE: The ceremony will be held at my family's church, Our Savior's Lutheran.

Our Savior's Lutheran Church first opened its doors in 1898 and has been in my family for 4 generations.

Address: 603 West Main Street, Wheeler, Wisc.

The reception/dance will be held immediately after at the EconoLodge Conference Center.

Address: 1815 Broadway Street North, Menomonie, Wisc.

ABOUT THE BIG DAY:

Cake: Heather Fischer with the Grain Bin Market and Bakery.

Photography: Suzanne Wynveen Photography, http://www.suzannewynveenphotography.com/.

Catering: Glen and Sarah Hein (my cousin's family) owners of Black Tie Catering, http://www.cateringbyblacktie.com/.

THE WEDDING PARTY:

SONJA'S ATTENDANT

Jill R. Kittilson - Matron of Honor - Sister of the Bride

CHAD'S ATTENDANT

Erik W. Arnold - Best Man - Brother of the Groom

--Make sure to check back often for all the new updates as they develop.