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| 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | Vol. 7 Issue 9 le s s d ri ft www.decorahleader.com eddings W driftless
B-2 The Driftless Tuesday, February
Words, friends and family
25, 2025
Week 3 of the Driftless Wedding series is inserted in this edition!
Tyler Wright, Jaclyn Jirak treasure close connections during wedd ing FEBRUARY 25, 2025 PUBLISHED BY
week three
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BY SETH BOYES DECORAH LEADER NEWS EDITOR
I
t started with conversation. Tyler Wright and Jaclyn Jirak met in passing years ago, while one of Wright’s friends was getting married. But it wasn’t until he made a point of sitting down for a meal at Rubaiyat in Decorah, that he and his future wife truly connected. Brown chose to hold their wedding Annika Sean and business ImJirak, the daughter Decorah of Jerry and Gayle Street at their downtown reception works at the local Water Jirak, in a dance restaurant andon recalled Wright, They shared pact Coffee. son of Greg and Shirley Wright, would often bring venue. front of histhe laptop computer with him as he completed work for his business Wright Way Computers. The two gradually developed a relationship before marrying in September of 2024. “I don’t usually get too chatty, but we kind of struck up a conversation at one point, and I found out this is somebody I love to talk to,” Jirak said, adding she often looked forward to seeing Wright at the restaurant. “We always had— and still do have — really great conversation s about everything and anything.” Jirak described herself and her husband as straightforward, and both agreed they generally knew what they were looking for in a relationship going in — the couple recalled the concept of marriage coming up in conversation early in their relationship.
PHOTOS BY ADAM Clockwise from top left- Tyler Wright SCHAUFENBUEL and Jaclyn Jirak are pictured in downPHOTOGRAPHY town Decorah with their wedding transportation, Tyler's 1967 maroon Chevy Camaro. Jaclyn carried a bouquet of flowers from Oak and Olive Flowers and from her mother’s garden. She wore a antique art nouveau locket (a birthday gift from her groom) and a gold bracelet from her godmother. The couple was married Sept. 14, 2025 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Cresco.
“We didn’t beat around the bush,” Wright said. And once the couple decided they were meant for each other, they began looking at rings — deciding to shop locally at Holstrom’s Jewelers in Cresco. The ring for Wright arrived first, and Jirak took what she called a sneaky approach, surprising Wright with a proposal. The two were on a walk near Siewers Spring in Decorah — one of Jirak’s favorite sites, she said. Jirak planned to tie the ring box to the collar of her German shepherd for Wright to find. She was eventually able to get ahead of her soon-to-be fiancé, and place the box on the collar before sending the dog to Wright. Wright said, even though he considers himself
Congratulations
JACLYN & TYLER
BACKDROPS CENTERPIECES ARCHES SPECIALTY TABLES LINENS TABLE RUNNERS CHAIR COVERS QUALITY CANDLES BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
PartyIsland
Jirak Wright wedding
A neon sign reading continued PHOTOS BY on B-3 “the perfect blend” was MO SPEER one of the heartfelt dePHOTOGRAPHY tails at Sean and Annika Brown’s reception in Wyoming, and it was used again during their at hometown celebration Impact Coffee.
TAMMY BRINK 563-419-5784 Mabel, MN
partyisland2go@gmail.com www.partyislandrentals.net www.facebook.com/PartyIsland2Go
WEDDING RENTALS
Congratulations Jackie & Tyler! Wyoming + Decorah celebrations are
the perfect S blend
Thank
you couple locallocall ythe right combination forforchoosing grown flowers!
Adam Schaufenbuel Photography
sole owner of shop in town, and he is now graduation from Impact Coffee. After her BY ROZ WEIS to Minneapolis to Luther, Annika traveled DECORAH LEADER “try something new.” she said, “but STAFF WRITER “I worked at a little café,” I could gured fi I Decorah. mountain soon missed at et against the stunning with my parents, work move back in destination oakandolivefl views of Wyoming, the up some money. and saveowers.com coffee and Anni- Their story Watershop Street, Suite 1, Decorah, of Scott and104 aEast wedding of Sean Brown daughter IAmet, when the nally fi is I Annika Sean and was a dream is the son of That’s when ka Vande Krol of Decorah at Impact.” Kris Vande Krol, and Sean work to applied I hit, the Brown, all of Decorah. Both come true. When the COVID pandemic know the Jeff and Anja Sean members y graduates their communit school Many Highus Let take the stresscouple knew they needed to keep Impact Coffee in are Decorah out of planning your next special Annika in 2015. They both couple as the owners of event! they hosted in 2009 and Sean downtown Decorah - where on to study at Luther College. We have the and Annika need Krol Brown wedding a couple months went Vande a hometown reception for your special occasion earned his degree in 2013 space you becontinued on B-4! after their Wyoming ceremony. in 2019. After college, Sean of sentimental graduated start a coffee A sweet combination Vineyard Room working with his dad to gan day the lled fi details and western charm
We can feed your bridal party!
29, 2024, wedduring the couple’s June en vows ding. They exchanged hand-writt trees surunder a canopy of sprawling at the bride’s rounded by stunning views grandparents’ cabin in Wyoming.
A separate private dining space that seats up to 36 people
Custom Menu Dedicated Staff Contact Kim Bonnet to book
your
event www.rubaiyatrestaurant. com
117 West Water Street, Downtow
n Decorah | 563-382-9463
Coffee & Drinks • Baked Goods Breakfast • Lunch Tap Beer • Bloody Marys Wed-Sun 7:30-2 202 W Water St, Decorah • (563) 387-0593 mymagpiecoffee.com
Host your event at
We were honored to host Tyler & Jackie's wedding reception!
All three weeks of the Driftless Weddings series are available at DecorahLeader.com
Wedding expo and bridal show is March 15
The Bluffs Main Event Wedding Expo and Bridal Show will be held Saturday, March 15 at Pinter’s Event Center in Decorah. Now in its fourth year, the expo is a must-attend event for all brides. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the day comes to a close at 2 p.m. Brides and their guests will enjoy a jam-packed day of fun events, giveaways and a runway show and can mingle with over
on-site 25 vendors. Cocktails and refreshments will also be available. Pre-registration is required for all brides by March 1. To register, visit Eventbrite.com or find the event on Facebook. Pinter’s Event Center is located at 2475 Iowa 9, Decorah. The event is hosted by The Dress by Morgan Lynn and Pinter’s Event Center.