Custom Wedding Charter
"Its' Your Dream" Package
January 1 - December 31, 2008
See our Wedding Video
Wedding Packages
Stationary Package
Basic Wedding
Wedding Ceremony
Plus
Wedding Lunch Train
Wedding Dinner Train
Custom Wedding Charter
Fall Colors Wedding Lunch
Available Services
Additional Information
Wedding Guidelines
Availability Calendar
Chapel Car Everlasting
Our Wedding Album
Wedding Extras
Wedding Service Directory
You can even have a custom Drumhead sign
made to commemorate your special day. Perfect as a light box in your
study
or bedroom
for years to come.
Bride and Groom cut the cake in the
dance car following dinner aboard
The Great Wedding Train.
Custom Wedding Charter $1000.00 +
The Wedding Charter option allows you to choose exactly what day and time you would like your wedding train to depart. It gives you the flexibility to plan for the number of guests. Currently the maximum is 184. You can have hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast, banquet or buffet dinner, a social hour, dancing in the car, and then spend your night aboard a luxury private car. A Great Wedding Train Charter can include almost anything you can dream up. The Wedding Charter is a blank canvas to paint your ultimate wedding picture. We will try to give you some ideas of what your wedding charter could be and will delight in working with you to add those special extras that will totally customize your experience.
There are many basic components involved in planning a wedding charter. This package will give you a good look at many, if you have questions please contact your wedding coordinator.
Pre-departure Activities
Wedding Rehearsal- The Great Wedding Train requires a rehearsal with all members of the wedding party. Your wedding coordinator will walk everyone through the ceremony and give your wedding party a summary of safety rules and concerns. The wedding rehearsal will also walk your group through the train and complete schedule of events so everyone knows how the events will flow throughout your special day. The rehearsal is best done early the day of the ceremony so all of the cars required will be in the train exactly as they will be during the actual charter. If possible to do it the day of the event, we will work to make it as convenient as possible. There is a charge of $100 for rehearsal on the day of your event and a charge of $250 on any other day to cover the cost of switching the chapel car to the station.
Wedding Photos- You have the option of having an outside photographer take pictures aboard the chapel car prior to your ceremony. It is advisable to schedule photos prior to departure so you can enjoy your train experience after the ceremony. Also keep in mind that it will be much more difficult for your wedding party and family to pose while the train is in motion. There is a charge of $200 per hour for the use of the chapel car with an outside photographer.
Hors d’oeuvres- Depending on the timing of the activities and departure, you might want to consider offering your guests hors d’oeuvres on the station platform prior to boarding. This can be concurrent with photography or the rehearsal in the chapel.
Boarding- Boarding of the train generally begins ½ hour prior to departure. Depending on the number of guests, age and mobility issues, you may need some more time. Guests will be required to walk up four stairs to board the train. If you have guests who require assistance, please notify your wedding coordinator so accommodations can be made.
Wedding Ceremony
Officiate - You are free to bring your personal Officiate or have your wedding
coordinator give you a list of local officiates that can perform your ceremony. The cost of a local officiate is between you and the officiate.
Musician - The Great Wedding Train will find you a local organist, violinist, guitarist or you can bring your own. Speak directly with your coordinator to make arrangements for your ceremony music.
Soloist - You are welcome to have your friends or family members participate in your ceremony. If you do not have a soloist, your wedding coordinator can give you the name of a local soloist specializing in either classical or contemporary songs.
Ceremony - Part of the planning for your wedding train includes putting together a timetable of activities. This is important for a number of reasons, first of which is to ensure a stress free flow to your day, second is federal regulations limit hours certain railroads employees are allowed to work. Typically wedding ceremonies last between 20 minutes and one hour. Please keep in mind that space is limit on board the chapel car, your guests have been seated approximately 45 minutes as the train traveled from the depot to the ceremony location and a shorter ceremony is probably better.
After the Ceremony
Receiving Line- Following your ceremony, you can choose to hold a receiving line in the bar car as your guests move from the chapel car to the dinning cars. The linear layout of the train makes for a perfect flow of guests, and the time required allows guests to find their assigned seats in the dinning car.
DJ- The bar and dance car has a state of the art audio system that can play CD or cassette. The Great Wedding Train has a large collection of various types of music and you are welcome to bring your own. Music can be put on automatic or we can have a local DJ. If you wish to bring your own DJ, please speak with you wedding coordinator and ask for our policies and procedures handout.
Band - The bar and dance floor car has limited room for set up of musical equipment. If you wish to discuss having a band onboard your wedding train, please make an appointment with your wedding coordinator and view the facilities to determine if your band can be accommodated.
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad offers a variety of food service options for service onboard its’ trains. These food service can be exclusive or combined it fit you particular needs.
Hors d’oeuvre Service
Our Hors d’oeuvre Service can be integrated into your wedding number of ways. You could offer your guests one of our hors d’oeuvre packages during the arrival and boarding time, following the ceremony during a social hour before dinner, or during the dance on a late train following dinner. You could also decide to serve only hose d’oeuvre packages during a social hour depending on your scheduled departure time. We offer 4 levels of hors d’oeuvre packages. Prices are per person.
Banquet Service
Our Banquet service has food served at your table by our professional wait staff. All banquet menus include a garden salad, dinner roll, and a choice of two beverages. You may provide your guests with a choice of two menu selections (Menu #1-6) for additional charge of two dollars per person.
Buffet Service
Buffet service on the Wisconsin Great Northern is served in our central buffet kitchen and requires passengers to walk up to the buffet table and serve themselves. Our wait staff will handle all beverage service and will also be available to assist passengers as they make their dinner selections. In addition to the side dishes you select, all dinners are served with dinner rolls and your choice of two beverages.
Buffet #1 (One Entrée, One Starch, Two Vegetables, Two Salads) $11.95 per person
Buffet #2 (Two Entrée, One Starch, Two Vegetables, Two Salads) $13.95 per person
Buffet #3 (Three Entrée, Two Starch, Two Vegetables, Two Salads)
$15.95 per personBuffet #4 (Four Entrée, Two Starch, Two Vegetables, Three Salads) $17.95 per person
Dessert/ Wedding cake Service
The Great Wedding Train offers a number of different deserts or wedding cake options; Custom wedding cakes may be brought onboard the train.
We offer a variety of beverage service options aboard The Great Wedding Train. From a Champagne Toast to a Cash Bar, Host Bar or Host Tokens we have your guests needs covered. Click the link above to see all of our beverage service options.
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad offers a number of entertainment options onboard The Great Wedding Train. From the talented local folk musician Kevin McMullin to the comedy of the Rawhide Renegades Train Robberies, we have something that everyone will enjoy. Click the link above to see all of the details of these entertainment options.
Book Your Custom Wedding Charter Today
Once you have reviewed all of our Custom Wedding Charter information you should call your personal wedding coordinator to discuss the details of your Custom Wedding
Charter. Your wedding coordinator will help you determine which items suit your personal taste and determine a schedule of events. Based on your choices and schedule, your wedding coordinator will complete a Wedding Charter Order Form and come up with an estimated cost for your ultimate Great Wedding Train experience. Following this consultation your wedding coordinator will print out your Charter Order Form and mail two copies to you. If everything is acceptable you should sign both copies and send one along with the appropriate booking retainer back to your coordinator. This form outlines the basic plan for you Great Wedding Train.
You will have the opportunity to make changes as necessary in the plan for your wedding until 30 days prior to departure. The final month will allow you to finalize your guest list and make your guaranteed number of guests. Final payment based on your guaranteed number of guests is due 3 days prior to departure. Please consult our wedding guidelines for details regarding polices and procedures. This website contains pages with a variety of examples of items that may be added to you package. There is also a page in the Reservation Form for special requests, so make notes and discuss these directly with your wedding coordinator.
Have fun planning your event and call us today with any questions!
Mardell Vreeland, Wedding Coordinator
(715)635-3200or
Greg Vreeland, General Manager
(715)635-3200
Schedule and fares subject to change without notice prior to booking your wedding train. Prices are guaranteed as soon as you pay your non-refundable booking retainer. All package prices listed are for roundtrip transportation for the number of guests listed in the package details. Additional guests up to the maximum listed in package options may be added at additional price as listed in specific package. Advance order of wedding train packages is required with final payment for all estimated services due 3 days prior to departure. Trains will run rain or shine. Boarding of chapel car Everlasting will begin 30 minutes prior to published departure times. Smoking is only allowed in the open concession car which may or may not be accessible to your wedding party based on package selection and other onboard activities on day of wedding. A good selection of souvenirs are available for purchase in the Spooner Depot Gift Shop. Layover at an intermediate point may be available by advance arrangement. The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad reserves the right to substitute equipment as operating conditions dictate. Cab rides are available at an additional charge (limited to two persons per trip). See Wedding Guidelines for additional policies and procedures.