Karley + Eric
Lizzy + Wilson
Madelyn + Clayton
Robin + Justin
Kristin + Blake
TO fall for SAVE THE DATE FOR QAB’S EXPO
Well, here I am writing up my second “Letter from the Editor” and I can’t help but feel excited and a little nervous. Taking over the magazine has been nothing short of crazy fun and I’m so excited to be here. As I wrap up wedding season with my photography business it will now be time to jump in and get the final details of our upcoming wedding expo laid out. It is scheduled for January 14th, 2023 at the Oakley Lindsay Center in Quincy IL. Keep an eye out for more information.
In this 24th issue of Quincy Area Bridal Magazine you will find four amazing Local Loves that tell the love stories of each couple. One other Local Love (that I submitted) will have what I loved about their wedding day. As a photographer there are always things about the weddings we capture that we just love. I decided to gush about the wedding I submitted as this was a new location for me, and Robin and Justin were the sweetest.
You’ll have a chance to read on the research I did on Sola flowers and how amazing they look, and the creativeness that you can have with them. They’ve been a part of a few weddings that I photographed and I was intrigued by them, so, of course, I had to learn more. And, if you are looking for a fun new trend for your wedding, you can read about Balloon Décor. You’ll hear from one of our local vendors about her business as a Balloon Décor Artist. They are so customizable and unique, they really are fun for any age.
Again, I am so excited to be here. But I’m excited that you, the readers continue to return and enjoy the magazine. You are the reason we keep it going. I really hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time!
Brandy Owens Editor Chief sales@qabmagazine.com
From meeting young, to years later getting married. Read about how Karley knew after the first date Eric would be the one she spends the rest of her life with. pg 11
After shooting a few wedding where the bouquets were made of wood flowers I had to know more about them. Check out some of the things I learns, and the creative things you can do with these neat customizable flowers.
With what seemed like an unlikely chance of meeting, turned into being best friends, and a love celebrated with a beautiful Quincy wedding. Check out Lizzy and Wilson’s amazing day. Read about it starting on page 21.
A fun and creative way to decorate for your wedding, these balloon installations will blow your mind. Check out what one local vendor has to say about the adventures in her business of being a Ballon Decor Artist!
Look at these two now! They kind of had their first picture before Kristin was born. Interesting right?! Go to page 44 to read how their story started and how it moved into their beautiful wedding day.
After 23 Issues, we’ve seen our share of fall weddings - complete with swoon worthy bouquets. Check out the floral inspiration we’ve pulled from couples from the past. p.66
A July Wedding
A July Wedding
J. ASHLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
My husband and I met when we were little. We have known each other for 10 years. He would come up to his grandmas during the summer and I lived 10 minutes from her house.
After high school, he got out of the military after four years. He went to take care of his grandma the summer of 2017. He asked me out November 25, 2017. We went out to eat and went to a movie. I knew from then he would be the one. He kissed me goodnight and the rest was history.
We dated four and half years before getting engaged in November 2021. We got married July 2, 2022. Our wedding day was so gorgeous it was country themed.
We were happy to spend the day with the people we loved. Pointe D’vine was where our wedding took place and it is the most perfect spot for outside weddings.
CEREMONY: Point D’Vine
VENUE: Point D’Vine
CATERER: JJ’s Catering
DJ: Tappe Brothers Sound and Light
A July Wedding
MCDONALD VIDEO + PHOTOGRAPHY
Wilson and I met in April of 2017 - right before I graduated college. He was living and coaching football in Midland, TX and I was finishing up my senior year at Abilene Christian University.
Since the moment we met, we almost instantly became best friends. We wanted nothing more than to hang out and see each other as much as possible! Soon after graduation, Wilson somehow convinced me to move to Midland, TX. After only a few months living in the same town, I almost knew we would be together forever after that!
With myself being born in Nairobi, Kenya and Wilson being from Quincy it was so unlikely for us to meet, but we celebrated our love on 6/19/2021 in Quincy, Illinois and had the absolute best time of our lives with our closest friends and family! We are excited to start this new chapter of being husband and wife and look forward to our future together forever!
PHOTO: McDonald Video + Photography
CEREMONY: Spring Lake Country Club
VENUE: Spring Lake Country Club
CATERER: Spring Lake Country Club
MAKEUP: Lana McPike
HAIR: Melissa Lithila
FLOWERS: HyVee on Broadway
We are excited to start this new chapter of being husband and wife and look forward to our future together forever!
Clayton and I knew of each other in high school, but really got to know one another when we went to John Wood Community College. I asked him out on our first date.
We officially started dating on 9/10/2017. Clayton proposed on a warm day in February, where I go deer hunting. We were going to go shed hunting (look for deer antlers). We did end up finding two nice sheds.
We decided on 9/10/2022 since it would mark 5 years of us dating. We included special moments on our wedding day that meant so much to Clayton and me.
PHOTO: Racheal B Photography
VENUE: Holiday Inn-Tony’s Too
CATERER: Tony’s Too
CEREMONY: Trinity Lutheran Church in Golden IL
BRIDE’S HAIR: Mary Kay Shupe
BRIDESMAIDS’ HAIR: Hannah Kasparie
MAKEUP: GG Makeup Artist (Gayla Gastler)
CAKE: Annette Heinecke (Bride’s stepmom)
FLOWERS: DIY using Sola Wood Flowers
DRESS: Girls in White Satin
A July Wedding
Robin and Justin
BRANDY OWENS PHOTOGRAPHY
As my assistant/second shooter Courtney and I are driving up to Robin and Justin’s wedding we are really excited to be capturing a wedding at the Kingsley Inn in Fort Madison IA. A few weeks before the wedding I made a trip up to the Kingsley Inn to scout the location. It was beautiful! Its courtyard had a New Orleans feel but the ambiance of this Inn was charming with a timeless elegance. Equipped with an elevator made of glass on one side and a beautiful open staircase.
Just across the main road from the Inn you can see Old Fort Madison and the Mississippi river. Its clean-cut grassy areas, water fountain and pergola were amazing spots for the couple to have their photos done. It was quiet and peaceful. As a photographer we’re not always blessed with the best locations for wedding photos and sometimes you really have improvise and use your creative side. Not that I don’t enjoy these challenges but it can be so blissful when you arrive at a location and just from one spot you can see a million areas to capture great images.
So, other than the Kingsley Inn, my other favorite part of Robin and Justin’s wedding was the portable, stone baked pizza oven. It was something I had never seen at a wedding so I knew we had to capture some shots of the bride and groom putting a pizza in.
Robin and Justin were some of the sweetest people and it was an honor to capture their wedding day.
www.justinewrightphoto.com
Justine Wright Photography is a husband + wife photography team serving St. Louis, MO, Quincy, IL, and beyond. Specializing in family portraiture and weddings, and utilizing both film and digital mediums, they take only a limited number of clientele each year in order to provide an experience of the highest quality. When it comes to their style, they’re incredibly fond of soft, natural light, neutral tones, and the quiet, in-between moments that tell you story. While they believe that a good photograph should be aesthetically pleasing, they believe that a great photograph should evoke emotion; so when they click their shutters, they strive to create imagery that gives you all the feels (today and every day).
PHOTO: Lilly Wilson Photography
VENUE: Quincy Country Club
FLORIST: Sherri King Floral
PLANNER: Sara Reddick Events
VIDEO: Stark Studios
Our story starts off a long, long time ago - even before Kristin was born! Blake attended the same preschool class as Kristin’s brother, Jonathan, and our first picture together has a pregnant Cheryl standing next to Blake, so, technically, our first picture together was actually before Kristin was even born. Fast forward about fifteen years, and one day Kristin saw a couple of good-looking twins at the pool she was lifeguarding. She instantly told her best friend, Andi, that she was going to marry one of those twins; while it seemed destined to happen, only time would tell which twin it would be! In 2015, Blake was out with
friends at a local bar and first noticed Kristin. It is fitting that the name of this local bar is “The One” because it was where we each met ‘the one’. Thinking that she was pretty, Blake asked her to dance. Naturally, Kristin said no. However, as the night progressed, the two talked, laughed, and started to crush on one another. After some talking, we finally went on our first date. And look at us now. After a few years of dating and a year of engagement, we are finally married. We plan to stay in Quincy, raise a family, and live happily ever after.
We plan to stay in Quincy, raise a family, and live happily ever after.
Couples these days are moving away from some of the traditional wedding things, like real cut flower bouquets and boutonnieres. After shooting a few weddings where the bouquets were made of wood I knew this to be true. I was intrigued by the idea of these wood flowers and wanted to know more, so I decided to do some research.
Now, at first you might be thinking, wood flowers? Wouldn’t they be heavy and hard? The answer is nope! Wood flowers, made mostly of a plant called Sola (scientific name is Aeschyomene aspera), are actually soft, light weight and flexible. Because of this it is easy to move and shape the plant in too many different flower designs. Most of these Sola flowers are made by hand and are 100% biodegradable.
You can find Sola flowers in their natural color or you can find them painted, dyed, or bleached. After talking with a couple of my brides who choose to use Sola flowers for their wedding, I learned that they hired someone to build the bouquets and color the flowers for them. This way they matched the color scheme of the wedding. I’m told that the different ways used to color these flowers could be acrylic paints, spray print, fabric dye, watercolor
paints and some times more natural colorants like coffee and wine. Sounds like another fun way to get artistic.
One great thing about Sola flowers is they can last a really long time, if cared for properly. I know some couples don’t like the idea of paying for real cut flowers because they eventually die. I’ve seen more and more lately, couples using faux flowers and now these Sola flowers for their bouquets and boutonnieres.
With the mention of cost above, this is another reason Sola flowers are gaining popularity. Not only are they long lasting, they are more cost effective for those with smaller budgets.
Some other positives when using Sola flowers is you can mold them to look like whatever flower you want for your wedding day, regardless if it would be a seasonal flower that might not be in season during your wedding. If you are someone that has allergies to flowers, you won’t have that issue with Sola flowers. I also read that they hold up better in higher temps, so they won’t lose their wow look for those hot summer weddings.
So, if you might be interested in Sola flowers for your wedding day, I would suggest purchasing a small set so that you can touch and feel them before fully deciding. They are neat but like most things, might not be for everyone.
Sara Reddick Events brings your wedding to life through timeless and undeniably chic design. We believe in the art of hospitality, planning with intention and an eye for the finer details — providing your guests’ with an unforgettable experience throughout every touch point of your day.
THOUGHTFULLY CREATIVE DESIGNS THROUGH A SOPHISTICATED AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO WEDDING PLANNING.
SARAELIZABETHWEDDINGS.COM
Rocking 24 issues with 2023 just around the corner.
Be a part of our upcoming issues and submit your: engagement wedding article work inspiration advice story
We are not just a magazine. We are a loving conversation between local couples, our community, and wedding professionals. Be a part of QAB.
e’ve recently been following a few local balloon decor artists and are just amazed at what they can do.
What is a balloon décor artist you ask? It is someone that creates custom and/or traditional balloon décor like bouquets, arches, columns, or balloon sculptures. They can build large, more extravagant displays for events and we find them amazing and all the buzz right now. There are just so may possibilities.
When we asked Torie Cassens with Pumped Up Balloons + Beyond her thoughts on this topic, here is what she had to say…
“My favorite part about balloon installations is the fact that they are completely customizable to you.
Often times when you’re looking for backdrop rentals or other decorative pieces, they’re often use over and over again but with a balloon install, you get something that is unique and different! Most of the time when coming up with an installation (whether it’s a ceiling install, balloon wall, a combination of backdrop + balloons, etc.), my clients give me their inspiration. Whether it’s other balloon artists’ work, a previous install we’ve done, or their wedding colors/ vibes, we work together to come up with something that fits their vision. I love when clients give me free creative reign because it allows me to do things I’ve never done before, but we’re also happy to put our own twist on things that have been created in the past. Balloons bring so much joy and even though they’re often times seen as something that tends to be for children, balloons can be very elegant and whimsical. It’s definitely the new trend and Pumped Up Balloons + Beyond is here for it!”
Uniquely enough, balloons really have a way of wowing us, no matter what age you are. There are so many sizes, colors, and shapes to really help pull a design together. You can even add greenery, streamers, flowers and more to really round out the overall design and make it unique. Like Torie mentioned, “they are completely customizable to you”. With all the different options out there, the sky really is the limit when it comes to Balloon Décor for any event.
“It’s definitely the new trend”
We have it all under one roof and can accomodate events of any size and style.
Dressing Rooms * Ceremony
Cocktail Hour * Reception
Saying “I do” has never been easier!
Over the last eight years, we have seen our share of fall weddings. While we’ve seen some changes to styles and trends, one thing has stayed the same - bouquets incorporating deep shades and vivid colors. We’ve crawled our archives and picked out some of out favorite fall florals from issues past.
1. September wedding from issue 9. Organically shaped bouquets with bright tones is a favorite for any season, but adding brown elements like wheat or dried flowers will add the fall tones.
2. November wedding featured in Issue 12. Adding blue shades to a fall wedding is a sure way to stand out. This wedding’s bright and bold fall shades look amazing against the dark blue dresses
3. October wedding featured in Issue 11. This faux flower bouquet has shades of deep read and peach tones, and makes the perfect keepsake from a beautiful fall wedding!
4. November wedding featured in Issue 21. Dahlias, seeded eucalyptus, stock flowers and astilbe make this bouquet whimsical and airy, but also bold.
5. October wedding from Issue 16. This bouquet is hitting all the fall feels with rustic colors of orange and brown, accented with light greens and pale pinks.
Haven’t chosen your fall color palette yet? Here are some of our favorites. Take a screenshot, and share with your florists, invitation designers, and decorators. Each includes deep shades that can be used in bridesmaids dresses, in suits, or in print. Each also includes natural colors that can be incorporated into your bouquet!
so good to be back!
Rocking 25 issues with 2023 just around the corner.
Be a part of our upcoming issues and submit your: engagement wedding article work inspiration advice story
We are not just a magazine. We are a loving conversation between local couples, our community, and wedding professionals. Be a part of QAB.
When we first launched QAB Magazine it 2015 we were hoping to feature talented local businesses. As we began meeting couples - newly engaged, planning a wedding, or already married - we realized there were so many stories to tell. How couples found each other, how they made their day special, who they worked with and more; were all a part of the fabric of Quincy Area Bridal Magazine. We can’t wait to hear more about weddings in Quincy in 2023. There are so many ways to be a part of upcoming issues. Join the conversation and let’s tell your story!
Tell us how you met, or what your wedding day was like. Submit your images and your story, your wedding might be featured in the section we call, Local Love
Here’s a list of images we LOVE to see
Your photographer will be very familiar with the term, flatlay. It will include stylized images of the invitation or program and other details like the wedding rings, cuff links or jewelry.
We’d love to see the couples getting ready, putting make-up or adding those finishing touches to their tie. It’s always a tear jerker when we see you getting your parents and grandparents involved
We love to see that first look and any shots either of you take with your wedding party, before you say, I DO
The venue and your entrance is always a favorite, and if your photographer also caught the groom’s reaction, we’d love to see it! The first kiss is always sweet and creative exits from your ceremony space make for lovely full page spreads!
We don’t look for too many of these. One or two of the whole wedding party - post ceremony - is plenty. We don’t need every family shot with each aunt and uncle that jumped in for a pic!
Details of the room help our readers understand the tone and mood of your wedding. Was it wild and vibrant, or soft and elegant. Images of the wedding cake almost ALWAYS make the cut! Send us a few of the first dances and definitely an exiting exit from the reception ,if you did onecue the sparklers!
What’s the first thing you should do after you get those engagement photos back? Submit to QAB Magazine, of course. We’d love to help you share your big news AND you’ll be first on the list to call TO SUBMIT YOUR WEDDING! It’s fun way to be featured in a local publication and in our social media channels!
Don’t think for one second that you have no place here if you’ve married for years. We love to feature people who have already been through the planning process in our Let’s Play 20 Questions section of the magazine. Plus, we love is you submit your wedding photo and a current photo!
Send us a message on Facebook or Instagram and let us know your interested
Go the SUBMISSION page of qabmagazine.com and find the way you’d like to be featured.
You can email us a photo or two and tell us a bit about yourself, and we’ll reach out for the rest, once we decide to more forward. Email: sales@qabmagazine.com
You might get an email from us that says we’d like to feature you wedding. Most likely, one of your vendors was SO proud of the work they did that they submitted to the magazine.
How much does it cost?
It’s FREE to be featured in any Local Loves, Engagements, and/or 20 Questions!
How long before I know?
We try our best to get back to each couple as soon as possible. Some weddings fit a particular theme better than others, but we will definitely reach out!
Can I submit on behalf of someone else? Sure! We’ve had moms and besties
You know you’re amazing. Let’s show the community what you’ve done. Submit images of your recent weddings to our Local Love feature. If your couple is chosen, your business if featured FOR FREE
Write an article on trends in your industry, or give engaged couples advice in your area. This is a great way to get more exposure!
Yep, wedding vendors should be featured to. Answer 20 Questions with your spouse and share some advice for new couples. Plus, you’ll get an added plug for your business. If you’re interested in partnering with us as an advertiser, there are many more ways to showcase your business, including booths in our annual expo, social media posts and marketing help! We help write content, we design ads and your keep the collateral. That means you can use a QAB designed ad anywhere you want!
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tiers
Tiers of joy! Cakes so dreamy you could cry. Contact your bakery for all the delicious details.
Formal or not, our Catering Managers are ready to help you design the menu you’ve always wanted. Contact your store for details.
Our award-winning floral specialists love to share new ideas for decorating with fresh flowers. From cascading roses to seasonal centerpieces, come see what’s new.
