Brandon wedding décor business buys Oakland Estate

OAKLAND — Weddings by Abby, a Brandon wedding and event décor business located at 389 Park Ave. East, has acquired Oakland Estate, a 24-acre outdoor wedding venue in the Oakland-Wawanesa area.

Possession officially changed hands on May 15, although the new owner began taking over operations in April to ensure booked couples experienced a smooth transition.

Abby Wenger, who started Weddings by Abby in 2021, did not disclose the purchase price, but the property had previously been listed for $1.95 million.

She said the acquisition was a natural next step for her growing business.

“It just makes sense for the business to have the venue as well,” she told the Sun on Monday. “Oakland Estate had already become one of the company’s favourite venues to decorate, with 80 to 90 per cent of the weddings there already using us.”

The brides love it because the décor outfit does the setup and the teardown, so it’s easier and less stressful for them, Wenger said.

The venue, situated about 30 kilometres south of Brandon, was previously owned by husband-and-wife team Jesse and Janice Charriere, who developed the property in 2021 after identifying a lack of outdoor wedding venues in the Brandon area.

Jesse Charriere said the venue was built from a shared vision between himself, who worked in construction, and his wife, a wedding photographer.

“We decided to sell because we are moving back to Steinbach,” he told the Sun on Monday. “It’s hard to sell because it was a passion project of ours — like we poured all of our energy into it, and I think most people who have experienced the property will kind of mention the attention to detail. That’s kind of what we take pride in.”

Wenger said the response from brides after the purchase has been overwhelmingly positive.

“They’re happy because now they’re only dealing with one person when it comes to the venue and décor,” she said.

Oakland Estate features a clear event tent that can accommodate up to 200 guests, harvest tables, cross-back chairs, a bridal cottage, a ceremony area surrounded by oak trees, landscaped walking paths and permanent washroom facilities.

Wenger said couples from Winnipeg and Saskatchewan are increasingly booking the venue because of both the scenery and affordability compared to larger urban venues.

“For a lot of them, the prices in Winnipeg are double,” Wenger said. “So, coming here just makes sense.”

While Weddings by Abby and Oakland Estate will remain separate businesses, Wenger said the partnership allows for greater convenience for clients while still preserving flexibility.

“If brides want to bring in their own decorators or vendors, they absolutely can,” she said. “We want them to have freedom.”

The acquisition comes amid rapid growth for Weddings by Abby.

Wenger said the company handled around 100 weddings in its first year and more than 330 events last year, including corporate functions and galas.

“There were weekends where we did more than 20 weddings,” she said.

The business currently employs 17 staff members, with seasonal workers increasing during peak wedding season.

Looking ahead, Wenger plans to continue expanding the Oakland Estate experience gradually. Proposed additions include lawn games, a future groom’s cottage and converting the bridal cottage into an Airbnb during the winter months, complete with a skating rink and hot tub.

“We want people to be able to enjoy it year-round,” she said.

Despite the expansion plans, Wenger said preserving the venue’s existing charm remains a priority.

“It’s already amazing the way it is,” she said. “Right now, we just want more people to know about it.”

The company now handles weddings, galas, corporate Christmas parties and other events across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with some floral rentals even shipped to provinces such as Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

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