BCR_Illinois Valley Weddings_012721

Illinois Valley

Weddings January 2021

Wedding planning during a pandemic

Customizing engagement & wedding rings

How brides are revamping their weddings n Tips for keeping guests safe n

Also: n

Amazing outdoor wedding & reception venues

n

Getting supplies for a small backyard ceremony

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Contents

Illinois Valley Weddings

3 OUTDOOR VENUES Those looking for an outdoor venue for their wedding and reception have many great options in Bureau County.

Bureau County Republican 526 S. Bureau Valley Pkwy., Ste. F Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461 Publisher Dan Goetz

5 A SYMBOL OF UNION Custom engagement rings add an extra special touch.

Niche Editor Shannon Serpette

8 TYING THE KNOT PANDEMIC-STYLE COVID-19 led to a complete change in wedding plans for Ladd resident Sarah Mann.

Advertising Director Jeanette Smith

12 ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR SMALL, BACKYARD WEDDINGS Sullivan’s Foods and other grocery stores can be a source of wedding reception essentials.

Writers Becky Kramer Shannon Serpette Tara Traughber

14 PUTTING YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD Airbrush makeup is going mainstream for weddings.

Photographer Shannon Serpette

sserpette@shawmedia.com

jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Designer Liz Klein

On the cover: Sarah Mann and her husband Nicholas Mann kiss after their wedding on Aug. 18, 2020.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED/KENDRA POOLE AT KP PHOTOGRAPHY

Published by: est. 1851

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The Cider Mill, west of Princeton, offers a gorgeous country setting that can be used for both the wedding and the reception.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Getting married during the pandemic?

These outdoor venues work well for social distancing

B

By Becky Kramer

Brides and grooms spent most of 2020 turning to outside weddings as a way to protect the health of their friends and family. The first half of 2021 may be just as dire in terms of coronavirus cases.

Those looking for an outdoor venue for their wedding and reception have many great options in Bureau County. These venues range from rustic to upscale and everything in between. The venues’ employees and owners gave their opinion about what makes these locations a wonderful choice for special occasions like weddings and receptions.

THE BARN AT HORNBAKER GARDENS The Barn is located in the countryside, just south of Princeton, on the grounds of Hornbaker Gardens. The beautiful nursery provides a stunning background for an outdoor wed-

ding ceremony and many areas to take additional photographs. The reception venue, The Barn, is rustic on the exterior and elegant on the inside with an outside patio.

“I could list a thousand things I love about Hornbaker’s…the beauty of the property that surrounds me daily for weddings large and small, along with the willingness of our staff to make sure your day is exceptional, gives me all the feels,” Lindsay Funderberg, The Barn manager and event coordinator, said.

THE CIDER MILL The Cider Mill is located west of Princeton off Route 6 on the former 100 Acre Orchard site. The outdoor wedding venue is just steps from the banquet hall down a brick path. The See Venues page 4

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Venues FROM PAGE 3

wooded area behind the venue provides a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony and photographs. The banquet facility can accommodate up to 400 guests in the rustic setting.

“The Cider Mill is our beautiful country setting, outdoor wedding venue, and banquet facility,” owner Annette Davis said. “Our outdoor wedding venue offers picturesque views for a calm and relaxing wedding you have always dreamt about. Our designated wedding area features a brick patio with a brick aisle up to “the altar” with pink and red roses, dappled willow, and a wooded area as a backdrop.”

HARMON LAKE Harmon Lake is a 13-acre private lake located west of Tiskilwa. This quiet, peaceful area is an excellent location for an outside, picture-perfect wedding venue. There is a pavilion, and there are bathrooms on-site, plus many different areas to choose from for the ceremony.

“Our venue is private, relaxed, and so beautiful,” owner Nancy Johnston said.

CHAPEL HILL GOLF COURSE AND EVENT CENTER - PRINCETON Chapel Hill has several different locations available for an outdoor ceremony, including under the three oaks on Fairway 10, on the patio outside of the wine cellar, or in the wedding chapel, which holds 108 guests. The clubhouse building and wooded area provide a great backdrop for your outdoor location.

The clubhouse can accommodate more than 300 guests for the reception.

Overnight accommodations for up to nine guests are available in the on-site bed and breakfast.

“Our picturesque course and elegant clubhouse provide the perfect backdrop to your wedding celebration,” owner Dave Husemann said. “Our grounds provide countless settings allowing you, your bridal party, and your photographer to capture dozens of breathtaking and beautiful scenes ensuring you special moments that last for eternity.”

BUREAU COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS The Bureau County Fairgrounds, located on the west edge of Princeton, has several areas available to host a gorgeous outdoor wedding. Facilities are available for the reception, too, using a caterer of your choice.

“The Bureau County Fairgrounds is a reasonably priced location for a casual outdoor wedding,” Kathy Bauer, executive secretary/event manager, said. “You can hold your ceremony under the large shade trees in the center of the grounds.

There is plenty of room to help your guests be socially distanced. There is plenty of parking, restrooms, and lots of chairs available.

This venue also has a unique twist for horse fans.

“Want to do your ceremony and include your horses? The horse arena has bleacher seating for your guests,” she said.

THE BUREAU COUNTY METRO CENTER Located on the west side of Princeton, the Bureau County Metro Center provides a beautiful location for an outdoor ceremony. The ceremony can take place at the Metro Center lake or in front of the tall nearby trees, or even at one of the beautiful parks in Princeton. The reception would then take place at the Metro Center’s Shoemake Event Center with a caterer of your choice.

“Shoemake Event Center presents a professional setting for your intimate wedding. There is seating for 200,” Park District executive director Tammy Lange said.

The Cider Mill is our beautiful country setting for an outdoor wedding venue and banquet facility.

Our outdoor wedding venue offers picturesque views for a calm and relaxing wedding you have always dreamt about. Our designated wedding area features a brick patio with a brick aisle up to “the altar,” with pink and red roses, dappled willow and a wooded area as a back drop.

Engaged couples have the opportunity to celebrate their wedding and reception at the same venue making their day a pleasure for both their guests and themselves.

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We have expanded our banquet facility to accommodate up to 400 guests and added an indoor wedding venue with a rustic barn door and barn wood as a back drop for your wedding. Our engaged couples will now be able to have their wedding and reception at the same venue during the winter months.

The Cider Mill is a beautiful setting for your wedding, reception, gathering, meeting or luncheon.

Outdoor Wedding Venue & Banquet Facility at

A Hundred Acres Orchard

14180 1800 East St. • Princeton, IL 815-303-1045

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Gary Bruce, owner of Bruce Jewelers in Princeton, can help couples whether they want to customize a ring or choose from one already in stock.

A symbol of union Custom engagement rings add an extra special touch Story by Tara Traughber • Photos by Shannon Serpette

H

earing the words “custom-made ring” may lead one to automatically think of an additional cost on an already high-priced item. But, according to Gary Bruce, owner of Bruce Jewelers in Princeton, it allows just the opposite by providing the ability to tweak aspects of the finished product to match all of your needs, including budget.

“We design custom pieces,” Bruce said. “It’s actually one of the biggest parts of our business.

We don’t charge for a design.”

It takes excellent listening skills and effort to create a custom piece, according to Bruce.

He ensures that customer service in his store is driven by needs rather than sales.

To avoid sales-driven service,

employees are not paid by commission at his shop. By avoiding commission sales, it creates a lower-pressure environment.

It’s important to Bruce that a customer does not feel pressured to make a purchase that isn’t right for them.

And while online shopping is popular, Bruce believes it’s better to visit an actual store.

“Brick-and-mortar provides a lot more service and value,” he said.

He illustrates that point by sharing a typical occurrence in his shop. He said guys often come in the store and show him a picture of a ring, but also discuss what the lady he’s buying for doesn’t like about it.

They can then turn to a custom design to eliminate the

aspects the woman doesn’t like about a ring. Bruce Jewelers is ready and able to assist with that kind of project.

The custom process plays out on a large screen in the shop.

Bruce can show you exactly what your different requests will look like in a final product. You can choose the shape of the stone – oval, round, square – as well as the size, type of metal for the band, and more.

“We have a library of components to work from,” he said.

Bruce can start from scratch, creating a custom piece, or take a base model and modify it as desired. The result is a 3D picture of what the ring would look like. If the customer isn’t See Rings page 6

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Rings

ding or engagement ring, that might not be the smartest option.

FROM PAGE 5 “There has to be a lot of consideration given as to the Nicholas and Sarah Mann of Ladd were married on Aug. 18, 2020. durability,” he said. completely sold on the ring For Sarah’s engagement ring, they went with the most popular As a compromise to havthey’ve just constructed, they metal right now – white gold. ing a colored center stone, can change the elements of “My engagement ring is a princess cut, vintage-style frame in white sometimes the metal can design until they are happy. gold. My band is a diamond art deco vintage-style band,” she said. be changed to add a pop After the design is done, “My husband got a band that he would be comfortable with, and of color, or colored accent it takes some lead time to we weren’t too concerned about matching. He went with a titanium stones can be selected. produce the piece. Generally, comfort-fit band.”

Another newer trend in enthere is about a four-to-fivegagement and wedding rings week turnaround for customis lab-created diamonds. ized jewelry.

For about the past 15 years, “The younger consumers Bruce said these diamonds That same system can help white gold has been the in engagements, they are the have the same hardness, and couples trying to find a wedwinner in metal chosen for you can’t tell the difference ding ring to stack with an en- ones who lead the trends,” rings for engagements and with a microscope. An added gagement ring or complement he said. weddings.

And it’s not a great idea to benefit is that the lab-grown an engagement ring.

When it comes to the diamonds are significantly “They don’t have to do the buy something that’s trendy stone choice, it’s hard to beat less expensive. unless you love it because, wedding ring at the time of “There has to be a decision the engagement,” Bruce said. sooner or later, it will be out of diamonds. Diamonds for enfashion. Buyers should always gagement and wedding rings made,” Bruce said, adding For couples who are are popular for a couple of go with the style they love. that the consumer has to wondering what’s trendy reasons – they are colorless “There’s a constant evodecide if they want the real in engagement rings, Bruce and highly durable. lution going on in jewelry,” thing or if they’d be happy can point them in the right “Sometimes people drift Bruce said. with a lab-created diamond. direction, although the toward a color stone (other The style of cut, metal, He said some only want younger people getting marthan diamonds),” Bruce said. real, while others who want and design elements may ried are usually the ones But when used for a wedcome and go in popularity. more bang for their buck setting the trends.

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There is a wide variety of already designed rings to choose from for brides who don’t want to customize a ring.

may prefer the lab-created diamonds.

Currently, for rings that are three-fourths of a carat or larger, Bruce is seeing about one-third of consumers go for lab-grown diamonds and two-thirds going for natural diamonds. There is nothing wrong with going for a lab-grown diamond, and these rings are by no means a second-rate choice, he said.

“We believe the consumer should understand the difference and make their own choice,” he said.

Experts have figured out how to take a natural or lab-grown diamond and add color by using radiation, which is safe, Bruce added. Diamonds that are enhanced in color are not more expensive. These diamonds come in a wide array of colors, including yellow, pink, blue, orange, and more.

That opens up the world of colored diamonds to every buyer, not just the wealthy.

“Colored diamonds can be affordable,” he said.

“They don’t always have to be the center stone. Blue

colored enhanced diamonds are popular.”

Those who have a family heirloom stone can come into Bruce Jewelers and choose a new setting or band for the stone.

“Diamonds are the ultimate recyclable,” he said.

“We’ll do a remount using their diamonds.”

Clients who are shopping for rings can rest assured that Bruce Jewelers is taking all the necessary precautions in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The business is doing its best to ensure its customers are protected, by putting an emphasis on wearing masks and social distancing.

And while people may turn to online shopping during pandemics, Bruce believes there’s no better customer service than you’ll find at a brick-and-mortar store.

Based on the number of people filtering in and out of his store on a daily basis, some customers believe that as well.

“We’re having a good holiday season,” he said.

Part of the reason for the

This band at Bruce Jewelers hasn’t yet had the center stone put in.

continued business is that jewelry is a multi-occasion type of gift.

“Weddings present several different gift-giving occasions,” Bruce said.

In addition to engagement rings, marriages lead to wedding rings, bridesmaid jewelry or gifts, and anniversary gifts. And while there might not be as many weddings taking place right now because of COVID, couples

are still getting engaged, and they need rings for that.

Another reason for the continuing business right now is that with increased downtime at home and fewer opportunities for diversions like travel and recreation, people are turning their attention to each other.

“I think they are reflecting on relationships,” he said.

“Our business is all based on relationships.”

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Tying the knot pandemic-style COVID-19 led to a complete change in wedding plans for Ladd resident Sarah Mann

By Shannon Serpette ll brides-to-be look forward to the moment when all the planning is done. They can sit back, take a breath, and wait for the big day to arrive.

Sarah (Ratajczak) Mann of Ladd, who became engaged to Nicholas Mann in the fall of 2019, had reached that stage in early 2020. Then it all fell apart.

“We had everything planned,” she said. “Then the end of March and COVID came, and our plans went out the window. The constant worry of when and if we would be able to even have a celebration lingered in our minds for eight months.”

By the time of their wedding on Aug. 18, 2020, everything had changed for the Manns – the size of the wedding, the reception they were planning, and the location where it would all take place.

“Originally, we were having a private ceremony with only 10 to 15 people. Our reception had 250 people planned,” Sarah said. “We had to change our private ceremony to a somewhat bigger ceremony (30 people) and give up the dream of a reception and big celebration.”

That left a lot of people off the guest list that Sarah had been planning on including.

“We had trouble planning a guest list due to attendance requirements. It’s so hard when you have a big family and want everyone to be a part of it, but knowing they can’t be,” she said. “We couldn’t invite co-workers for fear of spreading COVID within our employment. The only friends we had were the See Pandemic page 10

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED/KENDRA POOLE AT KP PHOTOGRAPHY

The raging coronavirus pandemic led to a complete change in wedding plans for Ladd couple Nicholas and Sarah Mann. Sarah was thankful she was able to hold a socially-distanced wedding at Hegeler Carus Mansion in LaSalle.

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The historic Hegeler Carus Mansion made a fabulous photo backdrop for Sarah Mann’s outdoor wedding in 2020.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED/ KENDRA POOLE AT KP PHOTOGRAPHY

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Pandemic

small, COVID-friendly cookout for us instead,” she said.

Another aspect of planning FROM PAGE 8 her wedding that was different than it would be for a traditional bride was ordering ones who stood beside us in our four-person bridal party.” dresses for herself and her two bridesmaids.

The couple had originally “A hard part of planning planned that their large reception would take place the was getting dresses. We had month following the wedding. to order everything online, including my dress, in hopes it The reception, scheduled for Sept. 26, 2020, was canceled. all fit and matched. We didn’t get to have dress appoint“We then went a whole ments to try on,” Sarah said. different route with planOne of her bridesmaids, ning a ceremony at Hegeler Baily Schank of Ottawa, Carus Mansion, where we agreed the dress ordering procould social distance guests cess was difficult. outdoors,” she said. “Our “I would have to say ceremony was outside where our guests were masked and the most challenging part was getting the dresses. social distanced. We only Fortunately, she had only had a few who declined on two bridesmaids to find our dinner afterwards. We were able to have Garzanel- dresses for,” Schank said.

“I couldn’t imagine having li’s give us the use of their more dresses to match. Findentire restaurant.” ing the right color online The reception ended up was tricky just looking at a being completely shelved bepicture and hoping the color cause of COVID. description and reviews “We never got to have a matched what we needed.” reception. Our family had a

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Sarah’s maid of honor, Donna Turczyn of Peru, felt a lot of the stress, too, as she tried taking some of the pressure off of Sarah.

“It was definitely kind of hectic, lots of planning and replanning, and keeping Sarah calm and convincing her that the day she’s waited forever for would still be beautiful no matter the outcome,” Turczyn said.

Turczyn recalled how stressful the wedding invitation process was.

“I also made all of her invitations, which was an issue itself, because Sarah understandably didn’t want to send them until she knew what was going on and where the wedding was going to be,” she said. “So, every week, we were constantly watching the numbers and crossing our fingers. When the deadline for sending the invitations came, Sarah decided that the risk of a bigger wedding and reception wasn’t worth it and chose to do a smaller one.”

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But, for Turczyn, the worst part was the toll the turmoil had on Sarah.

“I think the most challenging part was watching my best friend stress every single day over what was going to happen, how many people she’d be able to have, who would she cut from the list, or wonder if she would even be able to get married,” she said. “Her sadness and worry was something I couldn’t help her with, and that was the hard part. I knew nothing I said would make her feel better, and I knew that the outcome was completely out of both of our hands.”

For Sarah, having to alter all her plans and give up her dreams of how she wanted her special day to be was hard.

“At first, I was heartbroken.

I didn’t get to have a bridal shower. We didn’t get bachelor or bachelorette parties.

I didn’t get to dance with my husband or my dad,” she said.

While nothing went according to plan, Sarah learned to adjust her expectations and focus on what really mattered. Her husband, Nicholas, liked the smaller ceremony because he wasn’t a fan of having a big production.

And while she didn’t get the huge reception she wanted, Sarah was grateful for all the support she received.

“Our families came together and did everything possible to give us the best day ever,” she said. “I wouldn’t have changed a thing, except more guests, of course. My husband and I were able to get married and have some important people in our lives witness.”

She and her husband were so appreciative of the help and understanding their loved ones gave them.

“The support we had from family, friends, and co-workers was amazing. Everyone was so understanding. Those that helped plan worked as hard as they could to make

my husband and I happy,” Sarah said.

Despite the ongoing stress and uncertainty surrounding the wedding, the ceremony was beautiful, Schank said.

“I thought the wedding and ceremony were great,” she said. “I am all about the small micro-weddings. I know that it wasn’t what Sarah had originally planned for, but many important people in her life were able to attend. That’s what I think matters the most in the end.”

Turczyn agreed the whole wedding day was amazing.

“Everyone really pulled together and made it the sweetest ceremony I’ve ever seen. And Sarah blew everyone away with how beautiful she looked,” she said. “Was it what we thought it would be? No. But at the end of the day, I got to watch my best friend marry her best friend and start her new life with the man of her dreams. And that’s something not even a pandemic could stop.”

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Taylor Paull shows off a small section of Sullivan’s champagne and wine selections couples can choose from to ensure guests have great alcoholic options at their reception.

One-stop shopping for small, backyard weddings Sullivan’s Foods and other grocery stores can be a source of wedding reception essentials Story and photos by Shannon Serpette

S

ome couples have scrapped their plans of having a big wedding and reception because of the coronavirus pandemic. Their new plans often include a more scaled-down affair, with a smaller guest list and a more intimate location.

Brides who are now only having 20 or so guests instead of the 200 they had first envisioned may not want to take

all their time doing extensive planning when it’s only their best friends or closest family who will be there for the event.

Still, other couples are opting to have a small gathering now for a tiny wedding, with hopes of having a large reception to celebrate their marriage within the next year, hoping the newly-released vaccine will get rid of the pandemic.

For brides who don’t have

much time or energy to plan a simple wedding, one alternative is going to stores that address several key aspects of weddings and receptions. Sullivan’s Foods in Princeton is one such store, where you can find a catering department, a huge wine selection, and a bakery.

“We do catering from the deli, hot and cold food,” Taylor Paull, manager at Sullivan’s, said. “We do cheese

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One of the most requested catering items for weddings and receptions at Sullivan’s Food is their fried chicken. trays, veggie trays, and fruit trays.�

Sullivan’s gets a lot of business by providing the food for weddings and supplying the employees to cater the events. “I personally helped the deli with a 200-person wedding when I first started here,� Paull said.

Sullivan’s lets you customize your menu, or you can go with packages. One package, the Taste of America menu, includes roasted sirloin or beef, rolls, baked chicken, and your choice of sides like mashed potatoes, cheesy hashed brown potatoes, green bean casserole, and more. They also offer a wedding meal featuring one of the superstars of their deli – their fried chicken.

Angie Bohm, the deli manager at Sullivan’s, said the chicken is one of the most requested items for weddings. “We have Italian beef that is also very popular that I make homemade,� Bohm said.

When taking food orders for receptions and weddings, she has noticed a decrease in the number of weddings.

Those that do take place generally don’t have as many guests as many weddings did pre-pandemic. “It’s been smaller lately,� Bohm said.

The last one she prepared food for was an outdoor, socially-distanced wedding that was going to have up to 75 people.

When hiring Sullivan’s to prepare food for receptions, the store can drop off the items or stay and serve it to guests, depending upon the COVID-19 restrictions at the time.

Once the meal has been planned, brides need to think about desserts and beverages.

The bakery at Sullivan’s can do wedding cakes, but they can also offer numerous other dessert options that may better suit a smaller reception. “We do a lot of cupcakes,� Paull said.

When planning for something to wash down that dessert, couples can look at Sullivan’s extensive wine selection instead of hiring someone to operate a full open bar for just a few guests. The wine is often listed at a good price at Sullivan’s because the store orders it in mass quantities. “We have a lot of wine,� Paull said.

If you don’t see the wine you’d like, Sullivan’s will try to order it for you. “We can bring in special wine,� she said. “We also locally carry August Hill wine, which we sell a ton of.�

Brides who aren’t picky about which brand of wine they serve at their wedding can often score a good deal by watching for sale prices on certain brands of wine at Sullivan’s.

And if you’re having a small wedding and only need a few flowers or a small bouquet for the bride, Sullivan’s, which doesn’t generally carry flowers, will work with you. “We can order flowers. We’ve done some vases.

We do have a vendor we can order flowers through,�

Paull said.

 ��� �  ­

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Putting your best face forward Airbrush makeup is going mainstream for weddings

O

By Tara Traughber

Once solely used as a tool of the rich and famous, airbrush makeup is no longer only for the elite. It’s now something that’s widely accessible for all brides and their wedding party. Fans of airbrushing say it can create long-lasting coverage that has a natural and lightweight feel.

Kendra Pagoria, a licensed esthetician and makeup artist living in Spring Valley, is one of the local professionals who offer airbrush makeup services for special occasions. Pagoria graduated from Bradley University with a degree in radio and television broadcasting and pursued a career in Los Angeles for a while.

“I found myself always more interested in the makeup department of the shows I worked on,” she said.

That prompted her to move back to Illinois and return to school. Pagoria now has 11 years of experience, including seven years of working in a medical spa.

The transition to makeup artist took place when, Pagoria said, “I started casually doing wedding makeup and, after about a year, I realized I could really stay busy doing something I loved.”

Those who have never had their makeup airbrushed may be unfamiliar with the difference between this type of application and the more traditional style of putting on cosmetics.

“Airbrush is an ultra-fine concentrated mist that absorbs directly into the skin, so it doesn’t merely sit on top of it, giving it longer durability,” Pagoria said.

The makeup is water-resistant and lasts longer because it contains a silicon base.

That can be a huge plus for brides who are getting married during the sometimes brutal Illinois humidity. It can also help guard against other sources of moisture, such as

SUBMITTED PHOTO/KENDRA PAGORIA

Spring Valley airbrush makeup artist Kendra Pagoria uses herself as a model to show off what airbrushed makeup looks like on the face. the sweating caused by dancing or when the inevitable tears start to flow.

“I have had so many bridal parties send me pictures at 10 to 11 p.m. and they are amazed at how well their makeup still looks after all the sweating and dancing,” Pagoria said.

Another benefit of airbrushed makeup being absorbed into your skin is that the makeup will not transfer.

“So, it will withstand all the hugging you will inevitably be doing on your wedding day,” Pagoria said.

A common concern for those new to this style of makeup is whether it will look orange and have a cakey look.

That concern has no foundation, according to Pagoria, who says airbrush makeup

gives a light and natural-looking coverage.

“Airbrush makeup feels lightweight and clean, yet gives amazing coverage. Airbrush colors are very buildable and forgiving. It is easy to mix colors for the perfect match but rarely do I even have to do that,” she said.

Lauren Uhlenhopp of Ottawa, whose maiden name was Kunkel before her recent wedding, hates cakey makeup looks and was nervous at the prospect of having someone else do her wedding day makeup.

“Kendra did a perfect job.

I didn’t have to worry about my makeup all day. It felt light and natural while providing great coverage,” Uhlenhopp said. “Kendra was really sweet, and I was very happy

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with the results.”

Another misconception Pagoria hears is that airbrush makeup will not work on all skin types. Pagoria said it can work with any type of skin.

She will adjust primers to accommodate the different skin types. The right primer and finishing powder are enough to combat excess oil.

“It glides onto the skin and covers imperfections all while giving you a healthy, beautiful glow. It is always my goal to have a bride still look like herself after I do her makeup, just an enhanced version of herself,” Pagoria said.

Airbrushed makeup doesn’t take long to do, making it a great option for hectic wedding days. Pagoria can finish a full face of makeup and lashes in 30 minutes or less when using the airbrush method.

She said most women prefer to use fake lashes for their wedding day to enhance their eyes.

“They are strikingly beautiful in pictures yet can still appear natural. They can take a beautiful makeup application to the next level. I always recommend the bride wear lashes, even if she has long lashes to begin with. The added thickness to them will still wow the crowd,” Pagoria said. “Fake lashes add that extra bit of glam.”

Pagoria said she loves doing airbrush makeup for weddings.

“It’s a happy and exciting day, and I love being in the atmosphere with all

SUBMITTED PHOTO/LEAH KUHN

Lauren Uhlenhopp of Ottawa and her mom, Beth Kunkel, both had Kendra Pagoria of Spring Valley airbrush their makeup for Lauren’s recent wedding. Kunkel also had Pagoria do lash extensions for the occasion.

that happiness, excitement, and love,” she said. “I love it when their own beauty shocks them. So many times a bride will say ‘Wow, I’m

beautiful.’ Women don’t say that about themselves nearly enough, and when she sees herself and really feels that, then I’ve done my job.”

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CALL 815-252-7817

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Women’s Health is our greatest strength.

We deliver high-quality healthcare from prenatal to senior health to meet your needs at any age.

As specialists in women’s healthcare, we pride ourselves on providing the latest services and procedures― personalized to help you thrive.

St. Margaret’s Health - Spring Valley Hazel Marie Boyle Women’s Health Center 600 East First Street | (815) 663-2300 Doctors Jennifer Maschmann, MD Norah Toraason, MD Craig Whatcott, MD

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