June 24, 2015 at 3:58 p.m.
The Festive Frog holds grand opening
The Festive Frog holds grand opening
The business provides rental of silk floral arrangements, an arch, as well as wedding and special event planning.
"I was a nurse for 47 years before my legs gave out," said owner Jeanne Pederson, who retired from nursing in 2010. "So I said, OK what can I do to keep working but not be as (physically) taxed as I was?'
Pederson had been planning and decorating for weddings for 25 to 30 years as a cottage industry before opening The Festive Frog. "But I always just did it for fun," she said. "It got to the point with inventory where it was either open a store or go to divorce court."
Downtown Rhinelander Inc. was essential to the process, Pederson said. "I just want to give them so much credit. They called ahead to the gentleman who owns this property unbeknownst to me and said, we know Jeanne Pederson...rent her a space. He said I got a call about you, and Downtown Rhinelander Inc. said I should rent to you, so I'll rent to you."
"This incubating businesses is a wonderful thing, and they were so willing to help me," Pederson added.
The store is filled with festive flower displays in every color imaginable, and Pederson said her aim is to save families money by allowing them to rent her beautiful displays, rather than buying fresh flowers.
"Our big push is we deal in silks. We are event planners as well as wedding planners. We can do themes. Our big thing is we believe we can save people a lot of money because we rent a lot of things," Pederson said.
"We rent our arches decorated or undecorated. We can plan a wedding from A to Z. We believe that what we bring to the table is a choice," she added.
Referrals are offered for brides who want fresh flowers, Pederson said. "We believe to keep Rhinelander alive and vibrant, if all of us work together and share and refer to each other, we can really keep it going in Rhinelander," Pederson said. "We're all motivated in saving Rhinelander's downtown district and working together, and we've really got one-stop shopping. We've got fresh flowers, silk flowers, caterers. You've got the (Hext Theatre) right around the store where you could hold a wedding."
"You could get married in downtown Rhinelander. Have your cake, your caterer, florist and entertainer and never leave downtown Rhinelander. For a small town I think it's pretty impressive," Pederson continued.
The Festive Frog is not only for weddings.
"We also have branched out now, we are event planners for corporate events or baby showers, bridal showers," Pederson said. "We've done everything but a Bar Mitzvah, but I'm sure we'll do one of those soon."
Another event The Festive Frog has never planned is a winter wedding. "We're looking for a winter wedding. All we'd have to do is rent the sleigh. That would be unbelievable. I hope we get one," Pederson said.
A very satisfied groom visited the grand opening on Tuesday. The Festive Frog handled the decorating details when Rich Whitaker married his wife, Gina, nearly two years ago.
"They did an amazing job. People still talk about the wedding," Whitaker said. "Everyone said at the time it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to. It was very elegant."
The wedding was outside, Whitaker said, and the chairs, the aisle, the entire reception area were all decorated.
"I still look back at the job they did and smile. It was spot on perfect." Whitaker said. "Everything we were thinking about they brought to life for us. Our dreams, they brought to reality."
Katie Perttunen may be reached at [email protected].
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