Schommer Family Residence

Wisconsin Wedding Reception

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour(s)

Dinner & Reception

Our Wedding

The Story of Zach and Nikki

Zach and Nikki met in 2014 while they were both in their master's programs at FSU. Zach was starting his second year as a master's student in jazz studies, and Nikki was a first year ethnomusicology student. They had music bibliography together, and Nikki always jokes that Zach was the only good thing that came out of that class. In November, he invited her out to hear him play. She thought it was a date. It wasn't. But, it turned into one anyway.

Florida Man definitely had plenty of fun in the snow! Nikki was less thrilled about having to build snow people in freezing temperatures, but she did it with him anyway.

That first year, they had all sorts of fun adventures together. They traveled to Wisconsin again and biked in Door County, did some crafting, and went on fun dates!

Nikki missed Zach quite a lot, so one day in November she sent him several photos of a kitten in her apartment. He said, "Is that a kitten in your apartment?" She said, "Yes! His name is Oliver, and I love him!" From that day forward, they became cat parents, and Zach helped teach Oliver to walk on a leash so that they could take him places.

After that, Nikki started her PhD. Zach was still working on his DMA. They got another cat to fill the void of long distance. Beaver certainly filled Nikki's apartment with plenty of extra hair, but the cuddles are worth it.

Finally, in 2019, Nikki moved to Miami after she finished the coursework for her PhD and became a PhD Candidate. Zach learned that she has a lot of stuff. They redecorated the house and created a music studio where they both teach private lessons.

Zach and Nikki love recording and performing together. They have done several projects in their home studio together and have performed in other venues in Miami.

Turns out, the cats love music too!

The Engagement Story!

After Thanksgiving 2020, Zach and Nikki got their second annual Christmas tree and set it up. They also had a specific planned shopping excursion...

Zach and Nikki are now fully enmeshed in the wedding planning process, and they cannot wait to see you all in Tallahassee on April 1st!

Our Story

Photos

Although Heather is originally from Wisconsin, she and Nikki did not meet until grad school at FSU where they quickly became best friends. Dr. Paudler is probably the most talented person on the planet. She can wire a house, is skilled in carpentry, speaks many languages, has a PhD in musicology, and is an avid gardener, among many other things. She is an amazing person and a loyal friend though she once abandoned Nikki in the presence of a crocodile (it snuck up on them while they were picnicking). Heather bought Zach's mom's house in Tallahassee, and she and Nikki had lots of fun doing home improvement projects, complete with alcohol and power tools. She now lives in Norway with her husband Reza.

Heather Arghandeh Paudler

Sarah is Zach's little sister, and although he used to push her stroller off the porch with her in it while they were babies, they have since grown very close. Sarah always knows how to have a good time, is very funny, and has a big personality. If you need cocktail advice, this professional bartender has got your back! Sarah is the most loyal sister and friend; please don't insult anyone she cares about, or we won't be able to promise your safety. She has historically been a tough judge on Zach's past girlfriends, but Nikki has completely won her over and they are now best buds. She currently lives in D.C., and we love visiting her and her cool cat, Monster.

Sarah Bartholomew

Katelyn Best is.....well, simply speaking, the best. When Nikki moved to Tallahassee, Katelyn immediately took her under her wing. Cue multiple sleepovers with pizza, Oreos, and living room forts. Katelyn is a true inspiration, and time spent with her is never dull; she is always ready for an adventure, can probably drink you under the table, and is always willing to pull out her VAST world music instrument collection for some fun improv time (ask her about her new alpine horn). Dr. Best can make friends with absolutely anyone, which makes her a fantastic ethnomusicologist. She and her husband Ryan are in the process of moving to West Virginia where Katelyn will start a new job as Teaching Assistant Professor of Musicology at WVU.

Katelyn Best

Brandon is one of Zach's best friends and was his bandmate for many years. They met as freshmen at FSU when they were placed in the same jazz combo. They later formed a jazz trio that ended up lasting 7 years until Zach moved to Miami. During that time, they played hundreds of gigs, created an album, and toured the country. Brandon has a huge personality, and boy, can this man spin a tale! Ask Brandon for a story and you might hear about how he's the reason Zach and Nikki are together... (not exactly true). In all seriousness, Brandon is a blast to hang out with and a lovely person. He and his wife Angelica and their two kids (Noelle and Maven) live in LaBelle, FL, and Brandon is a professor at FGCU.

Brandon Robertson

Carrie and Nikki met in 2014 when they entered FSU's musicology program together. Carrie is originally from Minnesota, so they immediately bonded over their shared Midwestern-ness (except for the fact that Carrie is a Vikings fan... Nikki hasn't managed to convert her yet). Dr. Danielson is probably the sweetest person you'll ever meet. She has a beautiful mind - one that is incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, and kind. She is also a master of the pun and is always ready to drop a witty one-liner. Ask Carrie about the year she lived in Sweden and, ABBA-cadabra!, you'll hear a Swedish pun! Currently, she lives in Tallahassee and will be starting a new job as Visiting Assistant Professor of Musicology at FSU.

Carrie Danielson

Rodolfo and Zach met in Miami and became friends after they started playing gigs together. Rodolfo is a tier-one drummer who has toured the world with high-profile artists like Julio Iglesias (though he's been fired by that guy a few times). Although Rodolfo is one of the busiest musicians in all of Miami, he always makes time to hang with Zach and Nikki (his new bestie), which shows what an amazing friend he is. Zach and Nikki recently attended Rodolfo and his wife Caroline's wedding in Costa Rica, and now Rodolfo will be moving to California soon to start his new job as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Cal State Fullerton. He's promised Zach and Nikki 50% of his salary because Zach basically got him the job...

Rodolfo Zúñiga

Nicole is Nicole's sister-in-law. Yes, they are both named Nicole Schommer, and yes, it does get confusing sometimes. Nicole started dating Craig around the same time that Zach and Nikki met, and Nikki immediately loved her, especially because she helps Nikki play jokes on her brother (ask about a bedazzled dog collar). Nicole is a wonderfully kind and truly genuine human being. She is passionate and driven (she owns her own business called Absolute Wellness) and is always quick to lend a helping hand. She also excels in her new role as a mom. Get to know Nicole, people! You won't regret it. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband Craig and their son Matthew.

Nicole Schommer

Jesse and Zach have been friends since they were 6 years old. They were neighbors down the dirt road from each other and grew up riding four-wheelers, go-carts, and dirt bikes. They also worked as child laborers on Zach's dad's mushroom farm. Jesse is a man of many talents. He sky dives and scuba dives, and he also has a commercial fishing license! He has grown into an accomplished chef and entrepreneur. He and his family own and operate the best restaurant in all of Tallahassee (Backwoods Crossing), which you will all get to experience at the reception because he is also catering the wedding! If you have any complaints about the food, it's his fault. 

Jesse Rice

Craig is the middle child of the Schommer siblings, so of course, he claims that he "got in trouble for everything" when they were kids. And you know what? He kind of did. Then again, Nicole never threw footballs in the house smashing Grandma's decorative glassware. Craig and Nicole didn't always get along growing up. He was a terror as only little brothers can be, but thankfully they've grown much closer over the years. Craig is one of the most jovial human beings you'll ever meet, and his "sissy" gets seriously annoyed when he makes her laugh if she's trying to be mad at him. Hang out with Craig, and you're guaranteed a good time. Craig is an Audit Manager at Baker Tilly in WI.

Craig Schommer

Zach and David have been best buddies since the 1st grade. Their relationship has evolved over the years from trading X-Men cards and playing Star Trek on the playground (David was Captain Picard and Zach was Commander Data), to sharing a bed together on road trips, to being college roommates while at FSU, to both becoming doctors (but not the kind that help people). David is incredibly smart and successful, and he is also one of the funniest guys you'll ever meet. He is a tenured professor of risk management and insurance at St. John's University in New York City. He and his wife Fanie and their newborn son Henry live in New Jersey.

David Pooser

Eric is Nikki's youngest brother. She often calls him "tiniest brother" though he is much taller than her. Eric is skilled at many things; he's a talented electrician, an avid hunter and fisherman, and a witty conversationalist. He's also not as skilled at some things as he thinks he is. For example, he will unfailingly claim that he's "the best driver in the family," but he has definitely hit the most vehicles/buildings/other inanimate objects out of everyone. Eric has a huge heart and an extremely funny personality. He's fun to laugh with and and has some killer dance moves. Be on the lookout for a guy with smooth hips and a twinkle in his eye. Eric is a Master Electrician at Schommer Electric in Wisconsin.

Eric Schommer

Nantahala and Zach grew up together in the backwoods of Sopchoppy and have been friends since elementary school. After college, they saw a lot of each other at Backwoods Bistro, where Nantahala - sporting some serious dreads - bartended and would often overserve Zach. Their friendship grew after they survived numerous alcohol-infused visits to Destin where Zach's sister Sarah lived at the time. Nantahala has since cleaned up his act and is a proud homeowner, boat owner, and contributing member of society. He works full time as a foreman, meaning that he's really good at sitting back and supervising others as they do the actual work. But seriously, he is an amazing friend and always makes time to see Zach when he goes back to Tallahassee.

Nantahala DeVoss

Jason and Nikki met in grad school at FSU and were fast friends. He gave Nikki her first real taste of the south in everything from customs to food to the accent. In fact, Jason is infamous in their friend group for his "Southernisms," which include phrases like "finer than frog's hair split three ways" and numerous others (though they're usually not so clean). Jason is skilled at everything a true southern boy should know, like fishin', huntin', and line-dancin', but he's also a talented jazz saxophonist, photographer, and ethnomusicologist. He's like an uncut gemstone - beautiful if also a little rough around the edges. Jason studies the music of the ABC islands in the Caribbean and currently works at a dive and archery shop in Tallahassee.

Jason Mitchell

Drew and Nikki became great friends in grad school after they discovered that they shared a love of all things fantasy. Two years ago, that friendship extended to Zach when the three of them began a Dungeons & Dragons adventure campaign with some friends (Drew has only managed to kill off Nikki's character once). Originally from Georgia, Drew is quite good at playing the "old Southern curmudgeon." In real life, he might be mistaken for one of those characters on occasion. For example, he generally hates weddings, but he's told Nikki that he's determined to like this one. In all seriousness, Drew is awesome, and he's always good for a solid wine recommendation. He recently got a job at Clemson University Press and became a new homeowner.

Drew Griffin

Nicole and Bob have known each other for literally longer than she can remember. In fact, her earliest childhood memory was of waking up from a nightmare in which Bob, her favorite person, was eaten by a yellow bulldozer. The Zemples and the Schommers were neighbors, and Bob helped raise Nicole. He started out in her life as a babysitter who made great pizza and Mac & cheese with hotdogs, but over the years he quickly became a friend and confidant. Now, Bob and his wife Sarah are among Zach and Nicole's dearest friends. Bob is an avid WI Badgers fan, a skilled electrician (that's his 'for fun' job), and a loving family man. He lives in WI with Sarah and their four kids. Since he is an EMS Physician, he's the only doctor at this wedding that can actually help in a medical emergency (don't ask any of the other doctors here - those are a different kind).

Bob Zemple

Tyler and Zach have been best buds since their early years growing up in Sopchoppy. They spent many days exploring in the woods, jumping off rope-swings, riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers, and other fun, though potentially dangerous, activities unsupervised boys do growing up in the country. As a kid, Tyler always had a love of building things and taking them apart (resulting in a few destroyed toys throughout the years). This interest evolved from homemade catapults, to a mechanical engineering degree, to a big-shot engineering job in the Middle East working for Schlumberger oil company.  Years of success and hard work in the oil industry taught Tyler one valuable life lesson: working on an oil rig in the Middle East kind of sucks. Tyler has returned to his Florida roots and opened Backwoods Crossing with his brother, Jesse.

Tyler Rice

Wedding Party

Q + A

**UPDATED**Transportation To and From Reception

**Guest Shuttle Trolley Schedule:3:30pm:&nbsp;Pick up at&nbsp;Four Points By Sheraton&nbsp;316 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301, USA 3:45pm - 4:00pm:&nbsp;Pick up at&nbsp;Hilton Garden Inn3333 THOMASVILLE RD, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308, USA 4:30pm:Drop off at Reception:Loblolly Rise&nbsp;2962 US Highway 319 South, Thomasville, GA 31792 10:45pm - 11pm: Pickup Time at ReceptionDropoff at Magnolia Manor, Hilton Garden Inn, and Four Points by Sheraton&nbsp; ** Since Loblolly Rise - technically in Georgia - is about a 30-35 minute drive from the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, we will be reserving a 56-passenger charter bus through Mike's Limousine to shuttle guests to and from our reception venue (Loblolly Rise) following the wedding ceremony. We don't want anyone drinking and driving! The bus will pick up guests at the two hotel blocks that we are offering (info coming soon) and will shuttle them back to the same locations around 9:00pm and 11:00pm, tentatively. The fee will be $35 per guest. If you are interested in this service, please let us know asap as this will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. Those interested can send payment directly to Zach via Venmo, Zelle, or Paypal. Please add a note in your electronic payment that indicates that this is for wedding transportation! Venmo: @Zach-Bartholomew-1Zelle: phone 850-545-6526 or email zbtrio@gmail.comPayPal: zbtrio@gmail.com

This hotel is located within walking distance of Downtown and Midtown, and also has a shuttle service that is free for guests (only for nearby areas in town - not the reception)! The shuttle service can pick you up from the airport and can also shuttle guests to different areas around Tallahassee like Collegetown, Downtown, and Midtown if you want to go check out the nightlife during your stay. The hotel has a nice pool, restaurant, bar, and is right next door to a Tallahassee staple - <a href="https://birdsoystershack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bird's Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack</a>!Highly recommend this for guests wanting to go out at night while they are here for the wedding. The charter bus we are booking to shuttle guests to the reception at Loblolly Rise will pick up and drop off guests at, or very close to, this Downtown location. Reservations for this hotel block with the group rate are on a first-come, first-served basis. The last day for reservations is March 4th, 2022. The hotel group block we have reserved goes from Wednesday, March 30th - Sunday, April 3rd. That means any or all of those days can be booked for the wedding group rate. Click <a href="https://www.marriott.com/events/start.mi?id=1640804774195&amp;key=GRP" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">THIS LINK</a> to access the special group discount.

Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown

This hotel is on the northern side of Tallahassee in between the ceremony site and reception venue. It is located near Thomasville Rd and I-10, which are two major roads around Tallahassee. It's easy to get everywhere from here! If you have a vehicle and plan on driving around town and/or to the venue, this may be a good option since it's only a 20 minute drive to Loblolly. The hotel has a restaurant/bar (free breakfast coupons included with the group code) and a pool. If you don't want to drive to the venue, we'll still have the shuttle pick up and drop off at this location as well, so don't worry! Reservations for this hotel block with the group rate are on a first-come, first-served basis. The last day for reservations is March 4th, 2022. The hotel group block we have reserved goes from Wednesday, March 30th - Sunday, April 3rd. That means any or all of those days can be booked for the wedding group rate. Call 850-574-4900 and dial 0 for the from desk and using the group code&nbsp;BSW or click on this special link <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/tlhtlgi-bsw-0f2e6eff-a19b-47af-a9b2-47d5f2484e10/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

Hilton Garden Inn Tallahassee

Other Options

There are numerous other places to stay in Tallahassee if you are looking for a cheaper option or one with more space. In general, staying downtown will be a bit more expensive, but there are other hotels along Apalachee Pkwy that are more affordable. Additionally, we would recommend checking out AirBnB or VRBO if you are looking for a place with more room or if you are looking for a house or apartment.

Travel/Accommodations

The Springtime Tallahassee Festival is going on the same weekend as our wedding!The festival includes a lot of fun for families and friends, such as: Springtime Tallahassee Music Festival on Kleman Plaza featuring national entertainment, the Grand Parade, Jubilee in the Park, Children’s Park, and the entertainment stages throughout the Jubilee with local entertainment. Be sure to check out the fantastic group of arts, crafts and food vendors that offer a variety of items. You can visit the Community &amp; Tallahassee Music Week Stages to enjoy great local talent.All of this will be just a few minutes walk from the <a href="https://www.marriott.com/events/start.mi?id=1640804774195&amp;key=GRP" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Four Points at Sheraton</a> where we have room blocks reserved for the wedding.

Springtime Tallahassee Festival

If you want to go zip-lining and/or walk around a beautiful outdoor area and check out some native Florida animals, the Tallahassee Museum is for you! Great outdoor fun for all ages. The zip line includes some fun obstacle courses as well and gives you a great view of the animals.

Tallahassee Museum

One of the largest springs in the United States, Wakulla Springs is where films like "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "Tarzan" were filmed. You can go on a jungle boat cruise (eat your heart out, Dwayne Johnson), swim, and also eat at the restaurant located in the lodge. There is also a soda fountain located in the lodge if you want to get some ice cream or an old fashioned milkshake.Wakulla Springs is about 25-30 minute south of Tallahassee.

Wakulla Springs State Park

One of our favorite things to do in northern Florida is to canoe/kayak and the Wacissa is a beautiful place to go. Make sure you paddle to the "Big Blue" swimming hole a little ways down the river to swim and jump off the rope swings! This is about a 25-30 minute drive from Tallahassee.

Wacissa River Canoe & Kayak Rental

If you want to walk around and enjoy some beautiful scenery without going out of town, this is a great option. It is especially close to the Hilton Garden hotel listed on the Travel/Accommodations page.

Nicole & Zach

Nicole & Zach

Photos