Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse

Ceremony

Reception

Zoom Link for Our Ceremony

Concordia Ballroom

Our Wedding

Please read Questions & Answers First

Gregg and I met thanks to Carol Erickson and Hans Mayer. In December 2023 Laura Moriarty asked me to go with her to a birthday party for herself, Carol Erickson and other Christmas babies. At the last minute the party was moved to Gregg's house, and when I saw his Star Trek Christmas tree I was intrigued. Not many people are as nerdy as I am. I was also impressed with a vinyl collection that needs its own zip code. And just like me, he has a decorating style best described as “More is More".I was also definitley not looking for a relationship and told him so. Being a smart man, he took the hint and just… didn’t push. He played the long game.Meanwhile, I was pleased to see I already knew half of the guests at that party, even though he and I had never met. They told me he was one of the nicest guys they knew - so already vetted! It turned out we had an almost unfair number of things in common: live music, spirituality, questionable enthusiasm for antiques, and a shared determination for turning serious life challenges into opportunities to learn about and improve ourselves.From the beginning we had deep conversations about everything — philosophy, science fiction, ethics, ancient obscure TV shows, especially Star Trek.We still make each other laugh daily, and we get each other’s weird references to obscure facts. In fact, he joined not only my cherished fellowship community at UU La Crosse, but also my trivia team, which is either romantic or strategic — possibly both.We share the same core values: kindness, generosity, doing the right thing even when it’s inconvenient, and telling the truth. As for our differences — he’s an early bird, I’m a night owl. Coincidentaly, we’ve both run our own businesses which means -yikes! - we both instinctively want to be in charge. We’re sorting that out the old-fashioned way: actually listening to each other and being curious to understand ourselves and each other better.This is his first marriage at 73. It took him a while to find the right one. He’ll be the first to tell you I was worth the wait. As for me, I'm so incredibly glad I finally realized how much joy we share - and that he's the right man for me.

Our Story

Our Engagement Party

When We Were In Our Teens

Photos

We're thrilled to share a little background on the incredible people helping bring our wedding celebration to life! This will clue you in on their amazing talents and interesting personalities. We hope you get a chance to visit with them at the reception.

For Our Guests

Donna generally has solid instincts, but you wouldn’t know it since she invited her kid brother to officiate her wedding. 

Dom is a former radio guy, but he will not be taking any requests during or after the ceremony. You’ll have to play Lynyrd Skynyrd or Taylor Swift in your car on the way home.

He’s a writer, with 29 published books, which you can find at DomTestaBooks.com. He also hosts a YouTube channel featuring a fascinating music series called Beyond The Tracks. Hear it by searching for @DomTestaStories, where you will also see videos of his Daily Quiz game, the Mind Bender.


Dom Testa

Geri Wettstein grew up in La Crosse and spent 30 years as an educator in La Crosse public schools. She also spent 13 years with UWL Physics Department primarily teaching early childhood development education. She is a mom to three adult children and a grandmother of two. 

Geri volunteers at the Kids Clothes Closet and a rotating cast of service organizations around town. If there’s a good cause nearby, chances are Gerianne is already there, sleeves rolled up.
Donna and Geri met at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and they quickly became lasting friends.
When she’s not busy making the world a little better, you’ll find Geri spoiling her Frenchie rescue pup, Shelby, who has fully claimed the title of beloved Dogdaughter to Donna.

Gerianne Wettstein

Eddie and Gregg met at a summer camp near Lake Tahoe in the summer of 1974.  They were drinking Olympia beer, which explains a lot.  Eddie became everybody's favorite staffer at the camp, so much so that Gregg moved to the Coulee Region to be near Ed and his first wife, Daun Allen.  Gregg was the best man at both that wedding and at Eddie's wedding to Annie Allen-Wyman.  Ed is only going to get this one chance with Gregg.  Eddie is a highly regarded writer, songwriter and storyteller.  Just ask him to tell you the story about his other first wife, Peg. 

Eddie Allen

Dominic and his lovely wife Sabra live on a beach in Hawaii. Sabra is an ER nurse and an artist, and is equally happy talking about new painting techniques or gross medical stories. Dominic, aka Charlie Keaton, is Donna's favorite nephew, and everyone knows it. Donna never fails to remind him to "put the candle back".  Sabra says he makes a mean veggie stir fry but that's the only mean thing about him! .Find more about him at his really impressive website - www.charliekeaton.com

Dominic Testa

Jack is Gregg's nephew and lives in Long Beach, California.  He is the son of Gregg's much loved Sister Nancy, who passed in 2008.
Jack has been clean and sober for 7 years and is about to complete his training as a Helicopter Pilot Instructor. Somehow he manages to write the most comprehensive helicopter training manuals people have ever seen while taking care of his rescue dog, Hoover.

Jack Weingartner

Hans Mayer and Hot Sauce play original music and sometimes cover styles from Rock, Folk, Americana, Blues and a little bit of Swing. Featured is accomplished Singer and Songwriter Hans Mayer on Lead Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, and Native American flute. Wayne Beezley is the primary Mandolinist.  He also plays the much larger Octave Mandolin and
sings. Dedrick Benz is on Bass and Vocals.  Hans Mayer has played with many popular groups in the region including Blind Baby Olin, Smith and Mayer, Jawbone, String Ties, Bill Miller, and the Mayer Brothers Band.  The band will perform two of Hans' original songs during the Wedding Ceremony.             Find more info at    hansmayer.com

Musical Guests

The Shufflin' Duprees, is a 4 piece is a rockin' blues band formed in 2006  They perform a very dance-able blend of Chicago Blues, R&B, Funk and Rock. 
Local legend, Joseph Martin Shelley III, will delight you with his Bass Guitar styling and Vocals. Then there is Terry Nirva on Percussion.  His fans know how pivotal he's been in creating a ‘La Crosse Sound’ across genres. On Guitar, the Shufflin’ Duprees have Mr. Dave Rogers, who will treat you to some incredible guitar work, and his Santana tributes will amaze you!  On Blues Harp, Keyboards and Vocals is Joe Hauser. Front man for the band, Joe keeps things rolling and fun. 

Last, but certainly not least, the talented Karen Lee will sing a few tunes with the Shufflin' Dupree's.
Raised in La Crosse, she performed in New York City for nearly a decade, and now lends her smooth and distinctive voice to the band The Twilights.  Follow them for upcoming shows at 
Facebook.com/thetwilightslacrosse


Gregg & Donna

Gregg & Donna

Dress Code

Dress Code coming soon!