Quincy Area Bridal Magazine Issue 29

QUINCY AREA

Bridal

MAGAZINE ISSUE 29: 2023

LOCAL LOVE Allyson + Andrew Alyssa + Michael Breanna + Trevor Katelyn + Alex Taylor + Chris

Creating Your Reception

Playlist QAB Loves: Hanging

Floral Arrangements

ComingSoon

We are committed to providing readers with a beautifully designed publication each season that highlights and inspires the people of our communities and the businesses and organizations that serve them.

With Brandy, the new owner, an advisory board with lots of new ideas and a fresh re-brand, we are ready to launch the newly designed publication this fall in both digital and print mediums.

Head to the website now and subscribe to be the first to see the new issue when it launches mid September. qafmagazine.com

For questions or advertising opportunities please email us at connect@qafmagazine.com 2

editor

LETTER FROM THE Hello Readers,

As summer comes to an end, we bring you issue 29 of the bridal magazine. It’s been a great summer, and I’m excited to wrap it up with this next issue—only a few more weeks of the hot summer weather. I love warm weather over cold, but I’ve realized that the transitions from summer to fall might be my favorite time of year.

We have five unique weddings featured in this issue, accompanied by some fantastic photos and a list of the great local vendors who helped bring the couples wedding day together. Each wedding has its unique look and feel and is an excellent resource for couples planning their wedding.

Something I should have considered when I got married was to create my wedding day playlist.

After reading about the importance of a playlist, I researched and wrote an article about making your reception playlist. In the article, you can find ideas on creating your list and what not to do.

The article starts on page 58.

I don’t have anything specific to grooms this time, but there is an article about budgeting for your wedding day. There is much helpful information about stopping and thinking about what is most important to you and your soon-to-be spouse. This article is a follow-up to our 2022 Average Wedding Cost article in the last issue. Check out issue 30 later this year for other budget-related information.

The 2024 QAB Wedding Expo is right around the corner. Keep an eye on our social media to stay informed about everything related to the Expo. In this issue, I announced something new coming to the 2024 Expo, so be sure to check that out starting on page 66.

I hope you love this issue! Make sure you submit your engagements and weddings, or if you know someone recently engaged or married, send them to our submissions page on our website. Until next time Readers.

Brandy Owens

Editor in Chief sales@qabmagazine.com

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2529 Broadway St Quincy, IL 62301

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

QUINCY AREA BridalMAGAZINE IN THIS ISSUE

3 A Letter from the Editor

LOCAL LOVE 8 Allyson + Andrew 21 Alyssa + Michael 29 Breanna + Trevor 38 Katelyn + Alex 48 Taylor + Chris ENGAGEMENTS 60 Cierra + Lee 61 Ashley + Logan 62 Sarah + Stanton 63 Beverly + Nate ARTICLES & MORE 58 Creating Your Reception Playlist 64 QAB Loves: Hanging Floral Arrangements 66 New Announcement about 2024 Wedding Expo 68 Wedding Budget Breakdown 70 How to be Featured in QAB

QUINCY AREA Bridal MAGAZINE: issue 29 CREDIT ROLL EDITOR IN CHIEF, PRINCIPAL DESIGNER SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONTENT MANAGER Brandy Owens COVER PHOTO BY: CANYON MCCARTY

PHOTOGRAPHY

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allyson + andrew A June Wedding CANYON MCCARTY PHOTOGRAPHY 8

LOCA L from Allyson My husband and I were married on his grandfather’s farm, which they had recently converted into a winery, on a beautiful, sunny June day in 2022. The vines in the vineyard were full, the trees were in full bloom, the grass was green, and the flowers were beautiful.

Over 250 people attended, family flew in from out of town, it was everything I could have ever asked for and more. I remember looking out and seeing all our guests and thanking God for how beautiful the day was and how beautiful our life is about to be, knowing all of this was because two young teenagers who met working their part-time jobs over the course of one summer decided to find out what love was all about.

Flash forward to us dancing the night away to the band “Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters” while eating mini corn dogs and pretzel bites at our wedding reception. We could not have asked for a more perfect day and perfect life as husband and wife.

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LOV E

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LOCAL LOVE: Allyson + Andrew

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LOCAL LOVE: Allyson + Andrew

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LOCAL LOVE: Allyson + Andrew

local Vendors

WEDDING MANAGEMENT AND RENTALS:

Above and Beyond by Amy PHOTOGRAPHY: Canyon McCarty Photography BAND: Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters CEREMONY VENUE: Press House Winery RECEPTION VENUE: Smokin Gun Hunting Lodge CAKE: Blue Umbrella Bakery RENTALS: Kempkers True Value and Rental CATERING: Java River Bakery FLOWERS: Watering Can Floral and Gifts HAIR: MacKenzie Kleinert and Brianna Taylor MAKEUP: Kylie Nagel INVITATIONS: Sara King TUXES: Willow Tree Flowers and gifs VIDEOGRAPHER: Jami Jones and Madison Hafen

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alyssa + michael A May Wedding QUE MISSO-PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCA L from Alyssa

Our love story began when Michael and I met online through Facebook dating. We lived over an hour apart, so if it wasn’t for online dating our paths would never have crossed. His hometown is Unionville, Missouri, and I had never been there prior to meeting him.

We messaged back and forth for quite a while before meeting, trying to learn every detail about each other. About a month after talking, we finally decided it was time to meet. On our first date we met and cooked lunch together and talked for hours. Our connection just grew that much stronger. After the first meeting we were inseparable. I knew he was the one for me. He made me feel so loved. We met in early January 2022.

About a month after meeting Michael told me he loved me for the first time. We joke about it now, but I didn’t say it back. My response was “That’s good!” To me love is forever, I wanted to truly mean it before I said it back. Although, it only took me two weeks to say it back to him!

Continued on page 28

LOV E

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LOCAL LOVE: Alyssa + Michael

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His family was so welcoming and loving they already saw me as part of their family. I started to attend the First Baptist Church in Unionville, Missouri with him. This is the church Michael has attended since he was a child with his family. I am so grateful and blessed that we can grow our faith in God together.

On August 13th, 2022, Michael planned a day date and took me to Canton, Missouri. We ate at Big O’s Eats and Treats restaurant and then he took me to the observation tower that has a beautiful overlook to see the Mississippi river. While I was sitting on the bench, he then got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Of course, I said “Yes!” He knew the observation tower had a special place in my heart. My grandparents live close by, and that exact spot is where they go on their dates together.

Grandpa takes grandma to get milkshakes and then they go to the observation tower to enjoy their drinks and the beautiful view together.

On May 27th, 2023 we had the most perfect wedding day! They always say something is bound to go wrong on your wedding day, but looking back everything went as planned. We spent the following week after our wedding in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon, in which we had a wonderful time. God is so good and we are truly blessed to have found love in each other. We are expecting baby Robbins in February 2024! We can’t wait for our next step in life to fill the shoes of mommy and daddy to our little one!

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LOCAL LOVE: Alyssa + Michael

local Vendors

CEREMONY: Knox County Knights of Columbus Hall RECEPTION: Knox County Community Center PHOTOGRAPHY: Que Misso-Photography RENTALS: LE’S Rentals HAIR: Dazzled MAKEUP: Makeup by Marylyn CAKE AND DESSERTS: BER’S Cakes

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The Corinthian Event Center will fully decorate and furnish your event to provide the perfect atmosphere.

We also collaborate with top vendors to create the most memorable and exquisite weddings. +WEDDINGS +EVENTS +IN-HOUSE CATERING +FULL DECORATING SERVICES +FULL BAR SERVICES

415 Hampshire, Quincy, IL 62301 (217) 617-5333 thecorinthianevents@yahoo.com thecorinthianevents.com/our-story

breanna + trevor An April Wedding DOUG EWING PHOTO

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LOCA L

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LOV E from Breanna My husband and I are classic high school sweethearts. When we were in 8th grade I knew that this man was going to be my forever and always, him on the other hand, it took him until our sophomore year of high school. From asking me to be his girlfriend, to be his fiancé, he has always made me feel like I was the only girl in the world. When we got engaged I was still finishing up college, so we decided to wait until I graduated.

That was 2 years of planning, 2 years of stress and 2 years of chaos, but come our wedding day all stress and chaos paid off.

This man sweared up and down that he was NOT going to shed a single tear on our wedding day and as soon as he saw me walk down that aisle it was game over for him. He truly means the world to me and I’m so thankful to be his wife. Our wedding was definitely a mash between Trevor’s Celtic side and my love for cows. Now I know it sounds like these two patterns should in no way go together but in little bits in pieces they fit perfectly together. Our wedding day was very special to me specifically because we got married on what use to be on my grandpas farm and it made me feel as if he was still with me that day! I think our favorite part of our wedding was our first look together, our vows, and our party bus stop to carters before the reception!

We are truly blessed to have had such an amazing day with such great friends and family to surround us with love and support.

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LOCAL LOVE: Breanna + Trevor

from Trevor It all started in high school and I was a very oblivious guy. It took me a while to find Breanna, we were kind of opposites.

She was good at English, but at math and I was good at history while she hated it.

Sophomore year in drama club, Bre and I started spending a little more time together and after she invited me to go see the live action Beauty and The Beast movie I knew she was my person. We got married 4/22/23 and in my vows I put “We may be opposites but it’s hard to build a puzzle with the same pieces” I love that she puts up with all my antics and allowed me to embrace my Celtic heritage on our wedding day by letting me wear my kilt.

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LOCAL LOVE: Breanna + Trevor

local Vendors

PHOTO: Doug Ewing Photography CEREMONY: Windsong Acers RECEPTION: Holiday Inn FLOWERS: County Market on 48th ENTERTAINMENT: Pizzaz Entertainment DRESS: Girls in White Satin

“I knew that this man was going to be my forever and always” 35

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katelyn + alex A May Wedding JOSELYN RAE PHOTOGRAPHY

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LOCA L

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LOV E from Katelyn While growing up in the same hometown, we didn’t really cross paths until our 8th-grade advanced algebra class, held jointly for participating students from all the area Catholic schools at Quincy Notre Dame (QND) High School. After that, we entered the same class at QND where we enjoyed the company of several mutual friends, interacting briefly at sporting events and get-togethers but still had never formally met.

During the spring semester of our junior year, we both happened to be signed up for the Spanish class trip to Spain during Holy Week. We quickly became friends throughout the trip, discovering our common knack for playing Euchre, love for sports, and appreciation for the beautiful Catholic churches we visited. Though we were both in other relationships at the time, each of us recognized something special in the other and made a point to remain friends even after the trip had ended.

A few months passed, and we both found ourselves *conveniently* single as the summer got underway.

We started hanging around each other’s friends almost every night of the week and grew into close confidants (while trying not to let our mutual crushes become too obvious).

continued on page 46

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LOCAL LOVE: KATELYN + ALEX

After a QND Campus Ministry bonfire on July 9th, 2018, Alex FINALLY mustered up the courage to ask Katelyn out on a date. We wasted no time and decided to leave straight from the bonfire to go to the famous Gengenbacher’s Shaved Ice Shack. We enjoyed our classic summer treats on the bed of Alex’s truck, chit-chatting the night away as late as our curfews allowed, and we’ve been together ever since!

Here we are, five years later, striving to fulfill the vocational call to marriage placed on our hearts by the Lord and enjoying entering this next season of life together.

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local Vendors

PHOTO: Joselyn Rae Photography VIDEO: The Film Jar, Inc. CEREMONY: Church of Saint Peter RECEPTION: Pointe D’Vine FLOWERS: Bella Rose Floral ENTERTAINMENT: Tappe Brothers Sound and Light CATERER: JJ’s Catering CAKE: Kraves TREATS: Tri-State SnoBiz DRESS: Eight Avenue Villager PHOTO LOCATION: Women’s City Club JEWELERY: Sturhahn Jewelers

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Contact us today at sales@qabmagazine.com to find out how you can advertise with Quincy Area Bridal Magazine. +Magazine Ads +Online Vendor Catalog +Upcoming Wedding Expos

Taylor + chris A May Wedding E.THREE PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCA L From Taylor

Chris and I met like most couples these days, on a dating app one summer! We grew closer and closer throughout the fall and winter, and when we went to celebrate Mardi Gras in St. Louis, Chris finally told me he loved me, even though looking back we both knew we loved each other way sooner than that.

Weeks later, COVID hit. The pandemic was when Chris and I really got close to each other. We binged corny TV shows and had dinner dates with take out sitting in bed. Even though the world was shut down, we were okay because we had each other and found ways to have fun no matter the circumstances.

We bought our first house together and shortly after rescued a little pitbull who we named Dottie. She quickly became our whole world and we became those annoying “dog parents” who treated our Dottie girl like our child. Dottie is a needy and high maintenance little girl, but quicky we fell in love with her. Our little family was perfect.

Chris and I went on a vacation with his family to the Smokey Mountains last summer. I was 99% positive he was going to propose there. During our stay, Chris’s niece Brenli looked at him and said “Uncle Chris, why haven’t you married Taylor yet, because I need to be a flower girl!” Which had us all laughing!

Vacation came and went, with no engagement.

One Wednesday in October, I had worked late in my classroom and had to stop at CVS on the way home.

I came home tired, and frustrated at the expense of all the things we needed at the drugstore! Chris said “Hey go look at Dottie!”. I noticed she was locked in the bedroom behind the baby gate and got mad at Chris for locking her away!

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LOV E

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LOCAL LOVE: Maria + Derek

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He let her out and she ran around crazy jumping and kissing me!. He said “Look at her outfit!” I finally noticed she had on a bandana that said “Will you marry my dad?” I immediately said, “Are you being serious?” because I was not expecting it! Chris said “Yes, will you marry me?” and pulled out the most beautiful ring.

Come to find out, Chris was planning on proposing in the Smokey Mountains, but took the wrong ring box and didn’t realize it until we got up in the mountains!

Chris and I knew we wanted a spring wedding, when it wasn’t too hot. Chris let me take the lead with decorations, as he knew I love DIY projects and decorating!

My idea for the wedding was dark and moody, with some vintage vibes. The Armory was the perfect venue to bring my vision together.

I also am a huge reader and love books. So I wanted some subtle decorations and book themed items incorporated in the wedding. Our flower girl threw paper hearts cut from old books as she went down the aisle.

Our ring bearer carried our rings inside a book.

We also wanted our dog to be incorporated, but knew she would be too nervous to be involved in the actual wedding. Instead, my aunt read a poem comparing falling in love to owning a dog at the ceremony. We had a dog treat bar for guests to fill a bag to take home to their dogs and also called the bar “Dottie’s Bar” with a signature drink called the “Pawgartia”.

We wanted our ceremony to be meaningful and unique. We did a handfasting ceremony in which we wrapped cords around our hands as the officiant read a poem about the importance of holding each other’s hands through the phases of life. We had a ring warming ceremony, during which our rings were passed through our wedding party and family as each person held them as a way to “bless” our rings with warm wishes. All in all, the ceremony, reception, and entire day was perfect.

local Vendors 54

PHOTO: E.three Photography VENUE: The Armory Event Center DJ: Mike Howerton Entertainment PLANNER: Shelby Obert Events HAIR: Hair by Claire Thompson MAKEUP: Taylor Kaitlyn Makeup Artist CATERER: Hy-Vee Catering DRESS: Girls in White Satin

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Playlist

Creating your reception

D

o you remember the music at the last wedding you attended? Are there specific songs that stand out? When choosing the music for your wedding day, these are good questions to ask yourself and your significant other. Remember the music you enjoyed at other weddings, what others enjoyed, and what you did not like.

When you and your soon-to-be spouse start thinking about the music you want to play at your wedding, think about the music you love. To help with that, think about happy memories. Were there songs playing during the memory? Maybe there is a song that reminds you of a happy moment you both shared. Think about your close family and friends as well. There may be a song you share with your best friend or one you and your mom dance to every time it comes on. These will help add a great personal touch to your wedding day playlist.

The music you select can help set the overall vibe you want for your wedding reception, so take your time, chat with your DJ or Band, and choose the best songs. There are millions of songs worldwide, so every wedding reception should be unique. The right songs can add energy to a room and fuel the vibe for the evening, but the wrong songs can also affect the party.

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Love is a friendship set to music

Joseph Campbell

While you’re looking through all the music in the world, trying to pick the best songs for your big day, create a “must-play” list and a “do-not-play” list. These will help your entertainers plan for the evening. They are professionals and know how to read a room, but having your playlist can help them use your choices to spark the vibe.

It’s good to have a “do-not-play” list as well. It may be more important than your “must-play” list. Some songs can affect the vibe you want to set and cause your guests to leave the dance floor.

You may have a vibe you want to set but also keep your guests in mind. Everyone likes different styles of music, so don’t be afraid to crossover from country to hip-hop to rock. The great thing is that artists from different genres have collaborated, so why can’t you mix it up for your wedding reception? At the end of the day, what kind of party or experience are you looking to provide your guests? Fun experiences are the most memorable. After all, it’s your wedding day soundtrack; make it what you, your spouse, and your guest will love.

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ENGAGE Cierra+Lee

One of the things I love about Lee, is he is always taking me by surprise. The week before we got engaged, we went on a Mexico trip with my family.

Each day I was thinking, this is it. Today has to be the day he will pop the question. The vacation came and went with no ring.

As disappointed as I was, little did I know what Lee had in store for me. Lee picked the perfect spot for our engagement, our first home together. He had the fire place going, romantic music playing, and our fur babies around us. I couldn’t have wished for anything more than to spend it with my forever guy.

Photos by: Lilly Wilson Photography

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EMENTS Ashley+Logan

We are kind of high school sweet hearts. We attended different high schools but have been together since 2017 during our junior year.

On July 28th we got engaged while on a minivacation to Kansas City. We were out to a nice dinner, flowers were delivered, and a little black box was placed on a dessert tray. Needless to say it was very romantic and memorable.

Our big day is November 4th, 2023 and our dating anniversary is November 3rd. We’ll start our 7th year together as a married couple and we are so excited.

Photos by: Brittany Howe Photography LLC

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ENGAGE Sarah+Stanton

Sarah and Stanton first met in high school, when Avon and Abingdon consolidated in 2013. Sarah caught Stanton’s eye when they were picking partners for home economics. He was too nervous to approach her at first, but later in the year, he decided to message her on Facebook. It actually took two years for the couple’s paths to cross again, while Sarah was attending nursing school at Quincy University. Sarah was home for summer break, Stanton contacted Sarah again, asking her to go out for ice cream. The ice cream date turned into hours of talking and a blossoming romance.

During college Stanton moved to Quincy and later bought a house in Clayton, a little town outside of Quincy. Together they have renovated the house and turned it into a home with their two dogs, Ellie and Annie.

Stanton proposed to Sarah at their favorite restaurant in Burlington Iowa—Martinis. It was December 30th (Stantons Birthday), and the couple had just finished their main course. Right before dessert was brought out Stanton asked Sarah to get up for a picture and got down on one knee. Needless to say, Sarah said yes!

Photos by: Mariah Johnson Photography 62

EMENTS Beverly+Nate

I have been with the love of my life since age 15.

We met at Hannibal Middle School initially, and started dating our sophomore year. We are currently attending MWSU in St. Joseph, Missouri together, and entering into our sophomore year of college.

Our engagement was perfectly imperfect. Let me explain. Our date nights consisted of listening to music and watching the stars at Lover’s Leap. That was out peaceful place together. Nate waited for the perfect snow in December to take me back to Lover’s Leap while on winter break and was going to propose, playing our song. When we arrived, there was a bunch of young kids running around, so he ditched that plan and we went to Riverview Park lookout. While it wasn’t exactly what he had planned, it was perfect because it was with the man of my dreams.

Photos by: Carrie Hooper

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QABHanging Loves: Floral Arrangements A

s someone who stalks everything related to weddings, I find new things to fall in love with. Recently I have seen more weddings changing the look and feel of their venues simply by hanging florals or greenery from ceilings and rafters. There are many different ways to hang them, but most importantly, different ways to style them to create the aesthetic you want on your wedding day.

I’ve seen these fantastic arrangements hanging at the altar for a ceremony, above a sweetheart’s table at a reception, and at the guest tables. They can make a statement and cause a wow effect on your guests as a focal point to the entire event. They are pretty impressive and beautiful to look at. The sky is the limit on these as there are many ways to arrange and display them.

While falling down the rabbit hole on the idea of hanging floral and greenery arrangements, I found 64

some valuable tips if you consider them for your wedding day.

•A hanging arrangement will be a great choice to save space on long tables.

•Make sure your venue can hang these arrangements but also, is it allowed? Some venues may have a policy against them.

•If allowed at your venue, ensure you can give your florist access and enough time to build and hang the arrangements.

•Book a professional florist. These are most likely not a “do it yourself” job unless you are already familiar with them.

•To keep costs down, shop local and try to use in-season flowers. You can even use artificial flowers with extra foliage to stay within your budget.

• If you use real flowers or greenery, ensure the room stays air-conditioned or cool so they do not wilt.

These unique hanging floral and greenery arrangements create the right kind of drama for your wedding day and have a huge impact visually.

Your guests are sure to remember them.

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01.13.2024 Save the Date for our 9th AnnualWeddingExpo

photo from: apracticalwedding.com

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photo from: inspiredbythis.com

What’s NEW for the 2024 Wedding Expo?

Wedding Fashion Runway Show

We’ve decided to add a runway show to our upcoming Wedding Expo and we are SUPER excited! You will have the chance to see some of the newest bridal gown designs as well as wedding attire for the everyone in your wedding party. Keep an eye on our social media and website for open registration.

photo from: bridalbuyer.com / bridal week London

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Wedding Budget

I

n our last issue, we discussed the average cost of a wedding in 2022 being $30,000 based on a study by The Knot Real Weddings. This may or may not be your budget, and that’s ok.

To help you plan your wedding day and ensure it’s within your budget, we will break down the expenses and show you the average percentage couples spend on their vendors.

The first thing you need to do, and probably the most important, is decide your max overall spending budget. It’ll be hard to move forward with planning your dream wedding if you do not set a max budget.

Wedding budgets can be stressful, and planning can feel daunting, but having a budget and breaking it down can help alleviate some of those feelings.

The wedding budget breakdown is from data collected from The Knot 2022 Real Weddings Study and is a general guide for the different elements of a wedding. Using this information as a starting point is best as it is based on national averages and adds up to more than 100%. That’s because your final breakdown depends on different factors related to you, your soon-to-be spouse, and your priorities for your wedding day.

• • • • • • • •

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Venue: 37% Catering: 29% Band: 13% Photography: 9% Wedding Rings: 9% Alcohol/Liquor: 8% Flowers: 8% Videography: 7%

Breakdown

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Attire (Dress & Suit): 7% Wedding Planner: 6% Event Rentals: 6% Lighting & Décor: 6% DJ: 5% Guest Entertainment: 4% Transportation: 3% Ceremony Musicians: 3% Stationery: 2% Cake/Desserts: 2% Hair & Makeup: 1% Wedding Favors & Gifts: 1% Officiant: 1%

You’ve seen a wedding budget breakdown; now what? Start with the top elements that are most important to you. As mentioned earlier, all weddings are different and different factors come into play for other couples. Here are a few things to remember while you work on your budget. What can you afford? Be honest with your wedding day expectations.

Kristen Gall, retail expert and president of Rakuten Rewards says, “The best way to stay on budget is to be realistic about what you are willing to pay each step of the way, from the venue to the vendors to your dress and accessories.” You may have to cut back from another to get what you want in one area.

Think about your guest list size. With weddings, you pay per head for the food and drinks, so the larger the guest list, the higher the food and drinks cost. It also contributes to the cost of other details like stationery, décor, and favors. The date, time, and venue can play a big part in figuring out your wedding budget. Wedding season typically runs from May thru October, so expect to pay higher fees during this time frame. The venue may also charge more during the wedding season due to the higher demand. So, if you are set on a venue, maybe consider a time of year that does not fall during the wedding season.

A lot goes into planning a wedding and hashing out your budget plans. This breakdown is not intended to be used literally but more as a guide to help you start planning your budget. November 15th will be our next issue, and we will discuss the mistakes commonly made with wedding budgets.

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your story in QAB MAGAZINE

what to submit

YOUR WEDDING 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 DETAILS 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.

GETTING READY 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 PRE-CEREMONY We love to see that first look and any shots either of you take with your wedding party, before you say, I DO CEREMONY 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!

RECEPTION 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 one - cue the sparklers!

YOUR ENGAGEMENT 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!

YOUR MARRIAGE 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!

how to submit

FAQ’s

ON OUR WEBSITE Go the SUBMISSION page of qabmagazine.com and find the way you’d like to be featured.

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!

ON SOCIAL Send us a message on Facebook or Instagram and let us know your interested

VIA EMAIL 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 THROUGH YOUR VENDOR 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.

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GROUP PORTRAITS 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!

How much does it cost?

It’s FREE to be featured in any Local Loves, Engagements, and/or 20 Questions!

Can I submit on behalf of someone else?

Sure! We’ve had moms and besties submit in the past, but we will need to reach out to the couple and get their approval first!

Wedding Vendors get featured in QAB MAGAZINE what to submit for free exposure

YOUR WORK 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 YOUR EXPERTISE 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!

YOUR MARRIAGE 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!

EMAIL SALES@QABMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION

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2529 Broadway St Quincy, IL 62301

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(217) 224-2641

Wedding Invitations • Envelopes Save the Date Cards • Programs Napkins • Thank You Notes • Signage

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8thavenuevillager.com

Quincy Location: 2615 Ellington Road Quincy, IL 62305 217-222-0617 Macomb Location: 319 N Lafayette St Macomb, IL 61455 309-833-2845

www.royal-printing.com

For more information, contact 217-223-1000 300 Civic Center Plaza, Quincy, IL

We have it all under one roof and can accomodate events of any size and style.

Dressing Rooms * Ceremony Cocktail Hour * Reception Images by Jennifer Lee Photographee

Saying “I do” has never been easier!

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Getting Married?

We have an amazing list of local vendors available to you!

Go to the website and click on Venodors or scan the QR code for a direct link.. sales@qabmagazine.com | www.qabmagazine.com $10.00