Married on horseback on August 13, 2011, Ellie Neerdaels and Ron Jensen exchanged heartfelt vows written by the groom. They promised to trust each other with their hearts. Ellie rode her stallion that she raised as a baby, Opus Black Mikasa. A horse she created from a dream. He is history’s first registered stallion in a new breed, the Moriesian. Ron rode astride his daughter– Mikasa’s Bold Dandy. Dandy is the first in history of a 2nd generation Moriesian horse.
Officiating the marriage on top of straw bales was Jan Baer. During the ceremony Patti Eisenrich, a friend of the couple read the poem “Two Trails Become One”. Patti was also in charge of the décor and organized the event. The theme for the day was Western - the bride wore a western cut dress showing off her Victorian laced boots. The event took place at Pamperin Park in Howard.
Two trails become One
The one I live with laugh with - Love
We are hitched !
The bride is the daughter of Pat Neerdaels and the late Peter J. Neerdaels of Green Bay, WI. The groom is the son of Norman and Irene Jensen of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. The best man was Bill Cone and the Matron of Honor Kaylyn Cone, both longtime friends. Bridesmaids wore prairie dresses along with boots. Joan Oliver was -Matron of Horses, Kate Damp -Matron of Ceremony and Chris Heise, sister of the bride was Matron of Personal Attendant. Linda Charniak created beautiful gladiolus bouquets that the bridesmaids carried. Gladioli were chosen as Ellie’s grandfather was well known for growing and selling beautiful gladiolus and she enjoyed reliving those childhood memories. Linda also pulled the little red antique wagon for refreshments during photo shoot time. Groomsmen were Scott Damp, Kevin Alksnis and Chad Jensen, the groom’s son. They wore a black vest and jeans along with their cowboy boots and hats. The song “Waited all my life for you” played as three young ladies; Krysta and Ashly, the groom’s daughters and Kellie, the groom’s future daughter-in-law led the procession. Next walked the groom’s parents Norman and Irene Jensen; then Peter W. Neerdaels, the bride’s brother escorted their mother, Pat Neerdaels down the isle. The mood changed to a peppy song “Back in the saddle again”. That was the cue for all 7 kids to gallop down the isle on their stick horses. Kylie Jensen age 3 - Kayden Wisniewski age 3 - Hayley Jensen, age 4 - Lauraleanne Neerdaels age 4-Dakota Jensen age 5 - Brandon Van Stedum age 6. They were led by Bryson Mazur age 10, who played the family’s antique guitar.
Cindy Lemke, friend of the couple made matching prairie dress so the girls looked just like the bridesmaids. The boys had matching black vests and jeans like the groomsmen. The kids looked so cute in their western attire with boots and hats and really played up their part as they yee-hawed down the isle. The kids led the way on their stick horses to the podium between old wagon wheels and a long isle of straw bales. The isle was decorated with milk cans containing tall grasses, wheat and cattails.
After the beautiful ceremony the couple broke the seriousness and added some fun. As the song by Trace Adkins “Hold my Beer” started, Kaylyn handed Ellie a can of beer who passed it to Ron. Ron took a drink and passed it to his best man - in time to the words in the song. "Hold my beer, this won't take long, I want it back, I don't want it gone, I trust you, buddy” After Ron passed it to Bill, they backed up their horses and trotted off down the isle… they still don’t know who finished up that beer?
Hay Bill - "Hold my beer"
Ushers were Justin Cone & Dr. Jammie Verstoppen with Billie Cone as the apple picker person. Behind the scenes who made it all happen were Cindy Kropp, Linda Charniak and Barb Braun. The best man and maid of honor provided horse-drawn wagon rides during the afternoon to the guests. Adults and kids loved it and the last ride was enjoyed by the whole wedding party. Everyone had polished up their best dancing boots and showed up in western attire with hats & bandanas to share in the theme.
All went without a hitch except the truck breaking down. As Kaylyn drove the horses to the park for the ceremony; the power steering and brakes went out. As the experienced horsewoman she is, she wrestled the truck/trailer the rest of the way to make it in time. As Ron was getting married in two hours, he contacted the repair shop to come and get it fixed for Monday as the ferry they needed to catch waits for no one. Ron planned to take his new bride and horses to Canada for their honeymoon, lucky it all turned out and the couple had a wonderful time together. They enjoyed Niagara Falls and trail-riding and working with cows on their horses in Canada.
The couple planned their reception to be a good ‘old fashioned finger likin’ buffet and Western Hoedown with root beer and beer on tap. The mealtime prayer was written and shared by Norman Jensen, father of the groom. Dinner was a pig roast with all the trimmings put on by the Four Way Bar crew. The owner Jamie, rang a triangle dinner bell and yelled YEHAW- lets eat!!! During the dinner we enjoyed a slide show with special songs and photos of us growing up, and of family & friends created by Tammy Jeppeson. Her husband Tom set up our TV and did all the “techie” work. The cake was decorated in a western decor and combined their two themes. Next to the cake was a large statue of a couple on horseback-holding hands, Two Trails Become One. The heart shape lighted cake topper had a sketch of a cowboy horseback handing a gal a rose with the words; live love laugh. The bottom cake plaque was the poem Two trails become one, matched with the same sketch.
On the table were bridal portraits of Ellie riding her stallion sidesaddle. Kate had warned Ellie to absolutely not take the risk of riding in the pond, rightly so as Kate helped Ellie for months to try and find the right dress. So... Kaylyn removed the slight water stains on the dress and - beautiful is the memory and no disaster.
M O RE PICTURES COMING SOON
more pictures to come daily
Star fire, a family country and western band provided live entertainment for the evening. And awesome entertainment it was! The youngest, age 14 Josiah—jumped up on a chair and stood above the crowd and played the fiddle like someone far beyond his years. “Devil went down to Georgia” and “Orange blossom Special” were their specialties. At our Grand entrance – we showed off our two-step to the song “Can I trust you with my heart”. We took dancing lessons and practiced many nights dancing in our barn. The Grand March was to the song “Beer for my horses” and our 1st dance was the song “Your Man”. That song got the celebration started as Ron had first planned to elope. One night camping, we heard Star Fire playing “Your Man” that changed everything and here we are today, HITCHED.
MORE pictures coming soon - please let us know asap if you have any wedding photo's to share
Everyone was surprised when the mock gunfight broke out on the dance floor. In the true spirit of the west - Ellie pulled her “pistol” on Ron as he tried to remove her garter. Ellie’s plan backfired on her when Sheriff Bill and Ron pulled out their “guns” and it turned it into a gunfight. Kaylyn and Patti responded with their “pistols” they bought out west for robbing trains on horseback “in Miss Ellie’s single days.” But all was broken up when Kevin snuck up with his “gun” out-matching them. Sheriff Bill/the best man, then handcuffed the bride… as she had initiated the scuffle. Ellie had only told Ron & Joan of her plans and Joan was sworn to secrecy; so this part of the wedding Ellie did not plan. Ron had warned Sheriff Bill ahead of time the gals were up to something, so bring your guns and handcuffs. Sheriff Bill, however, forgot the key for the handcuffs and now Ron and Ellie were joined at the wrist. We wondered where Bill was, one of his duties was to attend to Ron’s horse if needed – he was missing!!! Lucky replacement keys did arrive, but only later did we find out why he was not doing his duty.
This could have been very awkward, as the first time Sheriff Bill and Ron met, Bill told him to run!!!
But
Ron did not run, and stood the test of time in the face of fun and hard work at the stables.
But all has been forgiven and Ron and Ellie continue to live their lives by the motto
LIVE… LOVE… LAUGH!
Pamprin Park Memories
Love was meant to be shared with
parents, family and friends
This day I will marry my best friend,
the one I laugh with, live for, love.
Together we laugh, we dream, we love
and on this day, we marry.
We thank you - Because your love and friendship
have helped us become who we are.
1:00 Wedding Ceremony - The two of us exchange wedding vows and begin our new life together.
Ellie riding - Opus Black Mikasa
Ron riding - Mikasa's Bold Dandy
Ron & Ellie will ride off
for a photo shoot till 3:30
1:45-4:00 Horse drawn wagon rides
Lemonade & Root Beer & Beer on tap along with Hors d'oeuvres
4:00 Dinner
5:00 Star Fire Western Band
9:30 Time to wind down
10:00 Park closed - off to Four Way Bar to continue the party