Published Sept. 3, 2005, in the Waukesha Freeman

Story by Matthew Webber

PEWAUKEE - When Jessica Krentz and Sean Lau became engaged one year ago this weekend, they just wanted to get married. They weren't trying to follow any trends.

But, when the couple walk the aisle Dec. 9 after more than a year of planning, they will be one of many Midwestern couples following a trend of, in their words, "streamlining" their big day.

To make the wedding day as convenient, comfortable and enjoyable for guests as it is for them, couples like Krentz and Lau are exchanging certain old traditions for new ones.

For Krentz, 24, of Pewaukee and Lau, 25, of Wales, these choices include letting the bridesmaids wear the previously taboo color of black, so they actually might want to wear their dresses again, and holding the ceremony and reception one after the other, in the same location, to reduce travel time.

After a summer wedding season in which they attended several weddings of their friends, Krentz and Lau learned they are not alone in trying new ideas, although some couples are continuing to follow the old traditions.

Most couples are combining aspects of both old and new, doing whatever it takes to make the day special - and whatever it takes to share the day with loved ones.

"By having it all at one place basically at one time, we thought more people would come to both," Krentz said. "We don't want an empty room when we get married. We want everyone there. We invited them because we care about them."

We've only just begun

Krentz said she started planning her wedding the day after Lau proposed last September, although they already shared many ideas about the event after dating since April 2000.

A winter wedding made sense for several reasons. They both prefer cold weather. They could decorate in red and gold, Krentz's favorite colors.

Also, due to their engagement late last year, many reception halls, photographers, caterers, disc jockeys, florists, limousine drivers etc. already were booked for this spring and summer.

So they set a date of Dec. 9 and hired a wedding planner to help them find everything else: a justice of the peace, a banquet hall at the Milwaukee Marriott West, a DJ instead of a band, a more photojournalistic style of photographer, a wintry theme and more. Snowflakes have appeared as a unifying theme on everything from invitations to napkins.

Throughout the planning process, the couple's two major goals were streamlining the event and creating a relaxed but formal atmosphere, matching the ideas they liked from their friends.

"We went to three supertraditional weddings this year where it was, you know, the big church and the big dress and bigger wedding parties, and a relatively formal dinner but not superformal. And then we've gone to some that were just kind of laid back," said Krentz, who has seen other brides holding their ceremony and reception back-to-back and choosing different color patterns.

"It used to be really faux pas and wrong to have black bridesmaids dresses. We chose to do it because everybody looks good in black," she said. "We thought that would be easier, and then it also gave more of a formal feel. We've gone to two other weddings where they've also chosen black."

When choosing tuxedos for his groomsmen, Lau also ended up following a trend that's quickly becoming a new tradition.

"Instead of going with the traditional bow tie, I've seen more and more weddings with a kind of English style, with a standard knot, which is what we're doing, too," Lau said. Also, he added, "No tails."

Wonderful tonight

The couple's wedding planner, Colleen Boehm of Event Artistry in Sussex, said Krentz and Lau are typical of other Wisconsin couples in preferring the quality of the event over the quantity of people or items involved. In wedding planning, it's still the thought that counts.

"In general, just adding your personality into the wedding is going to become more and more popular," said Boehm, who has been planning events for eight years. "We'll make your guests feel like you put so much thought into this. That really makes a successful wedding and makes guests feel like it was amazing."

Whether couples prefer something traditional or more contemporary, Boehm always urges them to add their personalities. When she helps them plan their wedding day, she is helping them "tap into what they love," she said.

Boehm has seen many couples like Krentz and Lau choosing a unifying theme, black dresses or other new ideas while still keeping a nice, traditional day. Other options she has planned at weddings include live bands, signature drinks of a favorite color or flavor, smaller cakes and alternate entree options.

Many brides and grooms in the Milwaukee area take ideas from television or magazines, but Boehm said few imitate the larger and more expensive weddings on either coast. For parents and their pocketbooks, this is probably preferred.

"Whether or not some of the trends will get picked up here is always questionable," Boehm said. "But you can have a less expensive wedding in Milwaukee, and you can still do something amazingly beautiful."