Welcome to the first instalment of Community Connections, a series we will be bringing you that highlights the brilliant and amazing people who have lived right next door to all of us. For our very first feature, we are incredibly proud to introduce Nick Peter! 

 

Though many of you already know Nick and he has undoubtedly planned many of our most special and personal events, for those who have not met him yet, let me introduce our spectacular neighbor!

 

Nick runs his own event planning company, Nick Peter Weddings and Events, which he started in 2020 while many of us, or maybe just me, were busy experimenting with baking sourdough bread. And while my loaves kept coming out flat, Nick has been busy decorating Rose Bowl parade floats and the White House!

 

I was lucky enough to chat with Nick about his journey from Athens, Wisconsin, to participating having his work be seen by millions of people around the world! 

Born for This

Born close to Christmas, Nick has always had event planning on the brain, including planning events for his friends and family for free to gain experience and even decorating for his own Prom. Nick then went to college at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, where he graduated in 2016 with a degree in Landscape Design and Architecture. He soon landed a job and worked there until, as I said, in 2020 he officially started his company while still working at his previous job. But then in 2024 his business had grown enough to shift to full-time. 

 

From an outsider's perspective, his business seems to have grown based on a very simple and incredibly effective model: Be present, be kind, and have fun. It only takes one visit to any of his social media comment sections, or even asking around town to hear about just how happy the people that have worked with him are. This is especially impressive considering that Nick works with couples for anywhere from 30 days to 2 entire years. On top of this long-term partnering style of work, Nick is incredibly busy, but somehow he seems to thrive off of it! According to Nick, it is the business that allows him to try so many different things and enjoy each event as its own new challenge: 

 

“There’s just something about taking what they’re putting out in words, and putting it back out into a physical setup… We get to play with so many different things, each week is something completely different… I do anything from one event to six, and it’s amazing cause not one is ever alike.”

 

Working so many events makes it clear just how much Nick loves what he does, and it was only a matter of time before it was recognised.

Coast to Coast

In 2024, Nick Peter applied, for the second time as he unknowingly was underage the first, to be one of the lucky few individuals to help decorate the White House for Christmas. Nick shared all about the grandeur of the White House, how organised the event was, how enjoyable the people were, and he always always made sure to share how lucky he felt to be accepted: 

 

“To be selected (is such an honor), they say from anywhere between 3,000 to 12,000 applicants a year and anywhere in between, so to be one of 300, simply based on an essay…” 

 

But Nick is, of course, being modest, as his Instagram features immaculately elegant events that he has planned and designed with an incredible range of differing price points.

 

Remember Nick’s degree in Landscape Design? That is far from going to waste. With an eye for design and a green thumb, there's only one place I can think of that might suit Nick more than the White House, and that’s the Rose Bowl parade, but don’t worry, he’s already done that too!

Home Sweet Home

Nick gives a lot of credit to the relationships that he has made from his business, whether it be coworkers, clients, other businesses, or even the event spaces, he pours an incredible amount of time fostering his network, and even immediately after our interview he left to meet someone else at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art. 

When I asked him how it all had felt, he again reflected nothing but gratitude:

 

“This kid from Athens gets picked to go coast to coast to do these things, it's so fun to be able to bring those experiences back here... To be able to share those experiences back here and push people to apply for them.” 

 

Nick is not joking when he says this either; he even opens his own home annually for two days to share his insights, knowledge, and experience with anyone who is interested. And if that for some reason has not filled all of Nick’s spare time, he also frequently teaches workshops around the community.

 

When Nick is not working or giving back to our community, he can often be found gardening. Yet another thing in which he gives 120%. In fact, in 2022, he was one of 7 people chosen in the Athens County Master Garden Walk, where over 400 people visited to view the beautiful work he had done. 

 

In sum, all I can say is that Nick is exactly the kind of person that makes Athens, and our surrounding area, brilliant. Quick with a joke, generous with his time, and sharp as a tack! Nick Peter is a perfect example of why you never know who your neighbor might be and another wonderful point of proof about how people are what makes our area so special.

 

Oh and of course! These stunning pictures are all events that have been planned by Nick Peter and found on his company's social media accounts!