ABOVE: Mother-daughter team Nancy Olson and Shari Chukuske of Say I Do Decor stand before a colorful selection of linens and backdrops they have available for weddings and other events.

FAIRMONT– Decorating for a wedding reception can be one of the most exciting– and stressful– parts about planning a wedding. Whether you’re looking for ideas or themes or someone to execute the vision you have, Say I Do Decor can offer as little or as much as help as needed.

The business is owned and operated by mother-daughter duo, Nancy Olson and Shari Chukuske. Nancy used to be property manager of Fives Lakes Centre where Shari was marketing director and had a photography studio. They formed Sew Fun and Event Decor Rentals 11 years ago and eight years ago moved to their current location at 208 Downtown Plaza in Fairmont.

“We officially changed the name two years ago,” Nancy said.

Say I do Decor offers full decorating services, but also rental services. For a wedding or event, people can rent cloth napkins, linens, wine glasses, table centerpieces, chandeliers, furniture and more.

“We have over 2,000 tablecloths and I wash and iron all of them,” Nancy said.

If someone is renting items for a wedding or event, they’ll either pick them up from the storefront, or the items can be delivered to the venue.

However Shari said most of what they do is full-on decorating. They typically meet with a couple to figure out the basics of where their venue is, how many guests they’re expecting but also what their vision is and what kind of look they want for their wedding reception.

Nancy and Shari said some brides come in with curated Pinterest boards so there are ideas to go off of but they have brides come in with no idea of what they want but are able to look around and find items they like and can create a vision from there.

The items they have on hand can meet a lot of people’s tastes whether it’s boho, rustic, vintage or more traditional.

“A lot of times brides like to combine styles,” Nancy said.

The two are constantly on the lookout to add to their inventory and often buy supplies from online vendors.

They have many artificial flowers on hand in a variety of colors and can easily create different combinations. Shari acknowledged that many couples opt for real flowers but noted that artificial flowers often look real and are a good option to save some money.

If they’re decorating a venue, they usually get in on Friday, the day before the event, and set everything up. For most events they tear down on Sunday.

“Some people go all out and want ceiling draping, a head table backdrop and centerpieces,” Shari said.

Locally, they’ve decorated at nearly all of the venues including Best Western, Red Rock Center for the Arts and the Martin County Arena.

“For the arena we have big curtains that can go around the whole arena and cover all of the walls,” Shari said.

The biggest wedding they’ve done was for about 500 guests but they’ve also decorated for smaller weddings with just 50 guests.

While most weddings are within a 30 mile radius of Fairmont, they’ve traveled to decorate venues in Okoboji and also in Worthington.

This year they’re looking forward to decorating for the first weddings to be held in both the new Madelia Event Center and Fox Lake Event Center in Sherburn.

Say I Do Decor handles about 30 weddings a year, whether they do full-on decorating or rent out items. The busiest time is either summer or fall but they get the occasional winter wedding.

In addition to decorating, the business also offers alterations. Nancy can work with wedding dresses, bridesmaids or flowers girl dresses, mother dresses and do alterations on tuxedos and suits.

“A lot of them, I’ve done their prom dresses. I’ve now done some of my prom girl’s wedding dresses so that has been fun,” Nancy said.

Speaking of her favorite thing about the business and what they’re able to offer, Nancy said,”within two hours of sitting down, we’ve planned their decorations and everything they need. And you see when they leave they say, ‘I can’t believe we got that all done.'”

“It’s a big weight off their shoulders,” added Shari.

Say I Do Decor is open by appointment only. Nancy and Sharon can be reached through their businesses’ Facebook page.

* This article ran in the Sentinel’s 2024 Bridal Guide, published Feb. 27.