Jon (Lucky) and Mary Jo VanMinsel got married July 26, 2025, one of the hottest days of the whole year, but they still declared the day perfect!
This was the second wedding for both Lucky and Mary Jo; they wanted a venue where they could relax and enjoy the day. When they checked out Bluff Country Retreat in rural Whalan, they knew they had found it, a beautiful setting for the ceremony and a private, quiet place for the reception. The retreat is primarily a small crafting retreat which is not set up for large groups; however, it perfectly suited this wedding.
After Jon and Mary Jo set a date for the wedding to take place, it only took a couple weeks for the wedding to come together. Electronic wedding invitations and RSVPs were sent via the Punchbowl app. The couple sent text message updates to their guests, urging them to dress comfortably for the expected heat. Mary Jo stressed that they didn’t want people to be uncomfortable or feel that the wedding was stuffy.
The couple rented a tent from Three Rivers Party Rental in St. Charles; they also rented an arch for the ceremony, tables, chairs and tablecloths from the same company.
Jen Teske, a friend of the couple who has a horticultural background, did the floral arrangements, decorated the tables and lined up the curtain to decorate the wedding arch. Jon and Mary Jo did all the set up themselves: Mary Jo exclaimed that the arch felt like carrying a cross – it was so heavy when they unloaded and carried it!
Mary Jo found the perfect wedding dress at White Rose Bridal in St. Charles. The dress was sheer with a nude underlay. She credited Terri’s Tender Loving Stitches for the wonderful alterations. When Mary Jo’s brother kept commenting on her dress at the wedding, she kindly offered to lend it to him if he wished!
Jon had decided he needed a new suit anyway and purchased a navy suit at the Men’s Wearhouse in Rochester. Mary Jo’s daughter ordered a light blue dress to wear as she walked her mom down the aisle. With that, the color blue ended up part of the theme for the wedding.
For her bouquet and Jon’s boutonnière and wrist corsages for their mothers, Carol Janisch and Elaine VanMinsel, Mary Jo asked her son’s girlfriend Kadence Keller, who works at Country Lane Floral in Plainview, to create them. She simply told Kadence her colors and Kadence took care of the rest. Kadence also created the large arrangement on the arch.
Jon asked his personal friend, Brett Stecher, to provide the food and wedding cake for their wedding. Brett, who is owner of the Lanesboro Pastry Shoppe, and his employee Maria created a fabulous meal that featured filet mignon. Brett wouldn’t tell Jon what he was making, but Jon commented, “He’s that chef that if he says it’ll be good, it’ll be good!” And so it was! Their guests raved about the food.
Mary Jo serendipitously found her photographer while at lunch at Pappy’s Place in Rochester. Her waitress mentioned that she had a business, Salt & Pepper Photography. Mary Jo became her new customer after checking out her work.
Mary Jo and her daughter Lydia went to Chataeu de Chic in Spring Valley to have their hair done, but Mary Jo did her own nails in the car and her own makeup. They needed to get back and finish setting up!
Mary Jo shared, “The night before the wedding Lucky (Jon) changed the processional for the wedding!” The couple used Jon’s phone with a play list and a sound bar to provide music. Mary Jo stressed that they wanted to be able to visit with their guests and not be drowned out by music.
The VanMinsels asked Pastor Kerry Eversole to come out of retirement to perform their wedding. Pastor Kerry had known Jon very well for a long time. “He was phenomenal!” Mary Jo and Jon exclaimed. They got many comments on how cool the ceremony was.
Jon’s daughter Mikayla and Mary Jo’s daughter Lydia acted as witnesses for the wedding and signed the wedding license.
Mary Jo commented, “ We were either kissing or laughing the whole time of the wedding!”
When asked what they each liked best about the wedding day, Jon replied, “Mary Jo!”
Mary Jo responded, “Him! But also the laid back vibe of the day!”
Jon headed off a real problem the night before the wedding. He’d stopped out to check the venue and found it overrun with mosquitoes. After a half hour conversation with Bob, the Bugman, Lucky talked him into coming out to the Retreat early in the morning of the wedding to deal with the mosquitoes. What could have been a disaster became a non-issue.
Jon had only one thing he wished they’d done differently; he wished they had taken fewer pictures and spent more time with family and friends. Mary Jo chuckled; she had specifically told their photographer not to take too many photos. Mary Jo pointed out that they had needed to spend some time taking family pictures with Lucky’s large family. (Jon has 13 brothers and sisters.)
The VanMinsels had known each other from years ago. They reconnected after Mary Jo wished Jon a happy birthday on Facebook. Jon replied and soon the couple was talking on the phone which led to a first date. Their official first date was a trip to Niagara Cave. Date nights for Mary Jo and Lucky were usually on Wednesday nights at Jac’s Bar & Grill in Chatfield, which was exactly half way between their Harmony and Plainview homes. Lucky officially asked Mary Jo to marry him on Christmas Eve 2024 in front of their Christmas tree.
Mary Jo and Lucky plan to take a honeymoon cruise on the new Norwegian “Aqua” this winter. The cruise will take them to various ports in the Caribbean such as St. Thomas, the Dominican Republic and a private island in the Bahamas.
The VanMinsels are enjoying married life and each other. They “have a ton of fun” as they kayak, fish, golf and visit caves. Congratulations, Mary Jo and Jon!
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