Illinois Valley Weddings_January 2024

Weddings ILLINOIS VALLEY

JANUARY 2024

MAKING YOUR BIG DAY UNIQUE

Also:

• Colored wedding gowns • Brides share advice • Rental Pros 2 makes your big day easier • Tasty treats at Ottawa Bakery

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Contents

Illinois Valley Weddings

4

BREAKING FROM TRADITION Today’s wedding dresses come in many colors.

7

MOVE OVER, SUMMER Cold-weather weddings are also a popular option.

12

BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF ON YOUR WEDDING DAY Authenticity is key.

426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com

16

A VEILED LOOK This traditional wedding accessory is still popular with brides.

General Manager/ Advertising Director Jeanette Smith

19

Niche Editor Shannon Serpette

SUGAR RUSH ON YOUR BIG DAY Wedding desserts aren’t only about the cake.

22

OUTDOOR WEDDINGS Rental Pros 2 sets the foundation.

jmsmith@shawmedia.com

sserpette@shawmedia.com

Writers Courtney Jonsson Brandon LaChance Shannon Serpette Photographers Courtney Jonsson Shannon Serpette Designer Liz Klein

On the cover: Maya Quick and Buddy Ahlstrom of Spring Valley loved their wedding pictures shot outside the Roxy Cinemas in Ottawa.

PHOTO BY SHELBI CRONKRIGHT

Published by: est. 1851

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A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 3

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Breaking from Tradition

d

Today’s wedding dresses come in many colors Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette

While ivory and white wedding dresses are still often the top picks for brides, more alternative wedding dress colors are being offered for today’s brides. And some shops are shying away from white because it isn’t as flattering for some brides as ivory.

“We don’t do a lot of true white dresses anymore,” Holly Hoover, owner of Marien Mae Bridal in LaSalle, said.

The majority of their dresses are ivory because this color is flattering for a lot of brides and looks great in wedding photos. But Marien Mae, like many other bridal shops, offers some dresses in different colors for brides who want to

opt for a more unusual look.

Some brides choose to go with champagne or nude gowns, and the shop also offers other neutral colors like rum and mocha.

“These gowns go really well with venues in our area,” Hoover said, adding that they especially are great for outdoor pictures in the fall and winter.

For her own wedding, Hoover chose a colored gown rather than a white one.

“My dress was a peach color with ivory lace,” she said. “It was really flattering on my skin tone.”

For those who want a more daring look at their wedding, there are some black wedding

gowns being sold locally.

Renae Ramey, manager and bridal consultant at Sean Philip Bridals in Princeton, said that black wedding dresses are more popular than ever before for fall and winter weddings.

The store has two black wedding dresses on display, and the more popular of the two has been bought several times by brides who are eager for a bolder look, Ramey said.

The dramatic appearance of the black dress makes for unique and gorgeous wedding pictures, especially for outdoor pictures in the winter.

“These dresses really pop against the snow,” Ramey said.f

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Food • Drink • Bowling 4 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

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s While brides might not initially consider buying a black dress for their wedding day, Sean Philip Bridals in Princeton has two. These elegant dresses are ideal for a bold wedding day look. t Marien Mae Bridal offers this rum-colored sparkly dress for brides looking for something different than white or ivory.

s While Marien Mae Bridal in LaSalle doesn’t currently offer black wedding dresses, the shop does have this mocha wedding dress for those who want a more colorful dress. t This stunning black wedding gown is the best-selling black wedding dress Sean Philip Bridals in Princeton offers.

A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 5

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Move over, Summer* Cold-weather weddings are also a popular option

K

Story by Courtney Jonsson While some brides dream of a warm, sunny day for their wedding, others welcome a chilly fall or cold winter wedding day. Three local brides recently said “I do” in the fall and winter months and were delighted with how things turned out.

Maya Quick married Buddy Ahlstrom on Jan. 14, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Church in Ottawa and had the reception at the Knights of Columbus banquet hall in Ottawa. Both Maya and Buddy were originally from Ottawa and are now living in Spring Valley. A winter wedding was something Maya was looking forward to because of her fondness for the season.

“It sounded crazy at the time, but I love the winter and we ended up with a pretty beautiful day,” Maya said, adding that the weather was in the upper 30s and sunny.

“We chose this date because I always feel like after the New Year, we hit a point where it would be nice to have something to go and do. Many of our guests said the same thing – that it was nice to have something to look forward to doing in the winter months.”

Maya thinks her off-season wedding was one of the reasons the event was so well-attended.

“We had 220 guests. Everyone told us to expect about

Buildings and business districts can make a great background for wedding photos, as shown

by Buddy and Maya Ahlstrom’s wedding pictures.

PHOTO BY SHELBI CRONKRIGHT

See WEDDINGS page 9

A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 7

Caleb and Jade Spears of Ottawa had their wedding ceremony on Nov. 4, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Church in Ottawa and had their reception at Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Course in LaSalle.

PHOTO BY DAVID POLLAK/ETHAN TAIRA PHOTOGRAPHY

8 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

Weddings FROM PAGE 7

75 percent to RSVP yes. However, I think our plan of having an off-season wedding worked in our favor, and we ended up with almost everyone that was invited,” she said.

No matter what time of the year you’re getting married, Maya said the most important thing is knowing what you want and making sure your celebration is a reflection of you and your values.

“Decide what’s important to you, and don’t be afraid to make your wedding unique. We immediately knew we wanted our wedding to be a big party.

We weren’t too concerned with following any traditions or rules. We wanted our guests to come and see our personalities shine through all our choices,” Maya said.

“We spent an entire year collecting disco balls to use in our centerpieces.

This was one of the most time-consuming aspects of our day, but well worth it. We still have people sending us pictures of disco balls anytime they see one and saying how it reminded them of our day. It is so special to have our ‘signature’ thing.

I strongly encourage all brides to find a way to let their true tastes show through their decorations and themes,” she said.

“Our reception broke a lot of traditions.

We didn’t do a cake cutting, and we didn’t worry about many formalities. To us and our guests, it was just one great big party, and everyone felt special.”

Another cold-weather bride couldn’t be happier with her experience of having a fall wedding. Jade Poundstone married Caleb Spears on Nov. 4, 2022, at a courthouse, so they could be legally married for insurance purposes. But the Ottawa couple decided to have a big wedding on their one-year anniversary, followed by a reception at Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Course.

“We were secretly celebrating our one-year anniversary,” Jade said. “Our close friends and family knew that we married in a courthouse last year when it happened. It wasn’t something we publicly announced on our wedding day. We still had the full matrimony ceremony at St. Patrick’s church since us getting married in 2022 was really just for legal

insurance purposes.”

While getting married in November in Illinois can be unpredictable as far as the weather goes, Jade said it all worked out.

“We actually lucked out – it was 65 degrees and sunny. It was truly a blessing from God, especially since it snowed and was a high of 20 earlier in the week.

We were happy there were leaves on the trees and that the grass was still green, making for prettier photos,” she said.

Courtney Jonsson and Charlie Preidis of Streator were married on Nov. 11, 2023, in Springfield. Approximately 90 guests attended her fall wedding. Like Jade and Maya, Courtney wanted to give her wedding and reception a uniquely personal feel. Guests who attended that day were in for a surprise.

“We chose not to have a wedding party, and instead, we drew names out of a hat at the altar to choose who would stand up by us,” Courtney said. “The DJ played ‘The Price is Right’ theme as we drew names. People were so surprised by our choice, but they had a ton of fun being called up there.”f

Finding the right venue If there’s one thing that stresses brides out even more than finding the right dress, it’s choosing and booking a venue for their wedding and reception. When Mollie Benner married Tyler McClellan on June 10, 2023, the Oglesby couple wanted to find the perfect venue for their big day. They selected the Auditorium Ballroom in LaSalle – just one of the amazing venues in the Illinois Valley area.

“We chose the ballroom as our choice of venue because it’s absolutely breathtaking. I have always loved this place.

When they started working on the venue, I knew that’s where I wanted to get married. Then I walked into the ballroom to tour it – I knew I had to have my wedding there.

It’s one of the prettiest places around. The staff were very warm and welcoming,” Mollie said.

“My favorite part of the venue was the space. The space is so nice. We had people outside, downstairs, and upstairs dancing. The ballroom really has something for everyone. It’s big enough so it’s not crowded,” she added.

More Advice b

A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 9

Say ‘I Do’ to this advice from recent brides “I really tried to focus on the fact that this was our party, and as long as we were happy with the food, music, decorations, our guests would see that and be happy as well. A big factor for me in planning was staying true to my style and tastes so I didn’t have that pressure to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ and spend an immense amount of money. Of course, planning a wedding is expensive no matter how you look at it. For me and my family, prioritizing what we wanted to splurge versus save on really helped.”

– Maya (Quick) Alhstrom These elegant settings were on the tables at Buddy and Maya Ahlstrom’s wedding.

PHOTO BY SHELBI CRONKRIGHT

“My biggest lesson learned was to read the contract in full and to not forget to factor in gratuity and sales tax onto your alcohol and food package price. When you’re providing for 260 people, this is a massive item to factor into a budget that I somehow forgot and scrambled to finance one month prior. Make sure you account for a lot of wiggle room in your budget.”

– Jade (Poundstone) Spears “Make sure to remember that it is your wedding. Your wedding is actually one of the few occasions that is all about ‘you,’ and not ‘them.’ Your guests are coming to support you and your spouse on this special day, and while you should definitely think about the comfort of your guests, make sure you don’t let them influence your decisions too much.

Make sure things are the way you want them to be and not what you feel is expected. If you don’t want steak, then don’t serve steak. Ultimately, it is your choice what you do on your wedding day.”

– Nikki (Rybarczyk) King “Wedding planning is more fun when you do it while you’re inspired. If you think you have to be planning your wedding every day, all the time, you’ll get burnt out and it won’t be any fun. I also learned not to sweat the small stuff. The tiny details you might be worried about won’t even be seen by your guests. To the partner who is doing the majority of the wedding planning, recruit help from your significant other. Divide up the tasks and give them things they can be responsible for. To the partner who is not doing the majority of the wedding planning, ask your partner what you can help with. Be genuinely interested in the process and be supportive.”

– Courtney (Jonsson) Preidis 10 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

Jade Spears, pictured with her husband Caleb, said that anyone planning a wedding should leave room in their budget for unanticipated smaller expenses that really add up.

PHOTO BY DAVID POLLAK/ETHAN TAIRA PHOTOGRAPHY

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A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 11

Being true to yourself Story by Shannon Serpette

W

hen Nicole “Nikki” Rybarczyk and Skyler King of Mendota were planning their outdoor wedding for Sept. 23, 2023, they agreed they wanted to have a ceremony and reception that felt authentic to who they were. By sticking to that vision, they were able to have a wedding day they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.

“Be true to yourselves, and you’ll have a great wedding,” Nikki said.

For Nikki and Skyler, that meant incorporating little things that showcased their interests or items that resonated with them. Their personalities came through in all those personal touches, like the two-player Marvel mini-arcade

12 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

Skyler and Nikki King of Mendota opted for an outdoor wedding ceremony – and the weather cooperated.

PHOTO BY JILL HOPPS

on your wedding day that was set up, a vending machine that dispensed custom button wedding favors, the comic-styled seating chart, and the LEGO wedding party on the groom sheet cake.

“Pick the things that are most important to you as a couple, and you can compromise on the rest,” Nikki said. “Depending on time frame and budget, you might not be able to do everything you want for your special day. So, pick the most important things, even if they are slightly expensive, and compromise by eliminating or going cheaper on the less important things.”

As they started wedding planning, the couple stayed open-minded, which See KING page 14

A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 13

Skyler and Nikki King enjoy their first dance as a married couple.

PHOTO BY JILL HOPPS

King

FROM PAGE 13

helped them design a memorable wedding day that fit their budget and expectations.

“Within the first two months of engagement, we had looked at a few ceremony/reception locations, bridal shows, and various vendors. We had initial ideas for what we wanted when we started planning, but we made changes to those as we looked into cost, availability, and even if they would work in our timetable,” Nikki said.

The Kings decided to have their outdoor wedding near a pond on private property outside of Mendota, and they booked their reception at Ophir Township Hall in Triumph.

No matter how hectic things get,

14 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

Nikki recommends taking a moment on your wedding day to appreciate how special the day truly is. That can be difficult with how busy and noisy the event can be, but you’ll treasure those small moments just as much as the big ones. One of those small moments became Nikki’s favorite memory from her wedding day.

“After the ceremony and the initial photos were taken, there was a small, 20-minute window before we needed to be at the reception,” she said. “We decided to go through the McDonald’s drive-up, with tin cans dragging out the back of the car, and got a Happy Meal. We parked by the lake in town and just enjoyed the moment. Not only did we get some very needed fuel before the reception, but we got to spend some time alone and actually process that we were now, in fact, married.”f

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A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 15

A Veiled

LOOK i i

This traditional wedding accessory is still popular with brides Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette Veils were once a traditional accessory that every bride had, and although they aren’t essential for wedding days now, most brides still incorporate them into their big day.

“I would say probably 80 percent of our customers wear a veil,” Holly Hoover, owner of Marien Mae Bridal in LaSalle, said.

Brides sometimes wear veils to please the more traditional, older members of their families, such as grandmothers and mothers. Other times, brides wear them because they appreciate that nod to tradition or simply because they like the dramatic look of a veil.

Many brides want to have something to wear in their hair – and if they decide not to use a veil, they turn to pearl headbands, tiaras, or sparkle clips, according to Hoover.

Occasionally, a bride will say she doesn’t want to wear a veil but change her mind when she tries it on.

“You see it in their face,” Hoover said.

The more popular veils today aren’t the blusher veils worn decades ago by brides – the short veils that cover the bride’s face as they walk down the aisle to their partner.

“They typically don’t use the blusher veil anymore,” Hoover said, adding that brides spend so much time and money on their makeup and hair that they want to be seen while walking down the aisle. “Cathedral-length veils are big right now. Short veils are still very popular as well.”

With a huge assortment of different looks and materials to choose from for today’s veil, selecting one can be daunting. That’s when an overwhelmed bride-to-be can rely on the expertise of the bridal shop where she’s buying her dress.

“We know what pairs well with their dresses,” Hoover said.f

16 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

Although some brides opt to go without them, veils are still a popular accessory sold frequently at Marien Mae Bridal in LaSalle.

This pearl veil is one of the most popular veils at Marien Mae Bridal, according to shop owner Holly Hoover.

A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 17

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W

ak aB ttaw The O

e’ve all seen them. Three- or four-tiered white wedding cakes topped with a cascade of fresh flowers and a little statue of the couple. This is what many people envision when they think of dessert at a wedding.

But at The Ottawa Bakery, located at 630 Court Street in Ottawa, wedding desserts aren’t only about the cake.

Holli Clark, the owner of The Ottawa Bakery, loves creating large dessert bars full of various desserts. These dessert bars feature multiple tiers and layers of tarts, eclairs, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and more.

“People remember the big displays. They talk about them forever,” Clark said.

When she was younger, Clark found a passion for baking through her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mom. She still uses some of their recipes today. The cookie recipe is from her great-grandmother, and the carrot cake recipe is from her grandmother. Because of this passion for baking, she opened The Ottawa Bakery in July 2015.

Through the years, Clark and her team have done many weddings and love putting together displays of decadent treats. The Ottawa Bakery supplies everything a couple needs for a beautiful dessert table for their wedding.

The team will set up the entire display at the venue and even pick up all the supplies after the event. The Ottawa Bakery travels up to two hours, so they can handle weddings outside the Illinois Valley.

Planning ahead is crucial for couples who want to hire The Ottawa Bakery for their wedding dessert needs. Clark said they only do two or three weddings per week, and availability can be limited during certain seasons.

The actual dessert menu does not have to be decided until a few weeks before the wedding. Couples can taste some of the desserts they would like in-store, or the team will prepare a box of desserts for the couple to try on their own.

If wedding guests have special dietary needs, The Ottawa Bakery does have some gluten-free and vegan options. The ca dairy- and gluten-free almond cookies are a nm ak crowd favorite. ew edd ing cake See BAKERY page 20 s for a y. bride and groom’s big da er

y

A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 19

Bakery FROM PAGE 19

In addition to wedding cakes, Ottawa Bakery offers a variety of desserts that work well for full dessert tables at wedding receptions.

20 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

For couples who want a dessert bar at their wedding reception, Clark recommends they order two to three bite-size pieces of dessert per guest.

“The more variety of desserts you have, the more people will take,” she said.

People enjoy trying a little bit of everything when there are many options, so it is important to offer enough so the table isn’t bare by the end of the meal. To ensure the busy couple gets to eat some of the desserts before the table is cleared out, Clark and her team will pack a little box full of all the desserts that were included at the dessert bar. That way, the couple gets to try everything, even if they don’t make it to the dessert table in time.

Couples who want a dessert they’ve seen on social media can count on The Ottawa Bakery. With a little research, Clark can replicate items.

“I don’t really have to follow the trends because couples are always bringing them to my attention.

Small heart-shaped cakes with the writing ‘Just Married’ are a hit right now. I’m not sure why. It must be a TikTok thing,” Clark said.f

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A Shaw Media Publication | Illinois Valley Weddings | January 2024 21

Even though Rental Pros 2 is located at 1150 38th St. in Peru, owner Greg Lazar will travel in a one-hour radius to bring the chairs, tables, tents, and canopies for your wedding. The tents and chairs are hand-wiped after every event, and they’ll be laid out according to the wishes of the bride and groom.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Rental Pros 2 sets the

FOUNDATION for a Great Outdoor Wedding Story by Brandon LaChance To save money or get married at a place that is meaningful to the couple, weddings are sometimes held outside at a family farm or in the backyard. Since 2000, Rental Pros 2, located at 1150 38th St. in Peru, has set up and taken down the foundation for the bride and groom’s special day.

“The market changes, so we always try to stay with what people want. We’ve updated the tent lighting. We’ve focused more on white chairs instead of the generic chairs. We’re the base of the wedding. How the wedding is dec-

22 January 2024 | Illinois Valley Weddings | A Shaw Media Publication

orated is up to the bride and the groom unless they have someone else handle the decorating,” said Rental Pros 2 owner Greg Lazar.

“Some companies will be more of a wedding coordinator or a wedding planner where they come and set up flowers and hang the tooling and the lighting. We try to stay with the hard goods. Around here, the weddings are at their parents’ farm or their backyard a lot of times.

They just want us to bring the tables, chairs, and tents – the hard goods – and they finalize the tooling and flowers. We’re the foundation, and they build everything around us.”

Rental Pros 2 can bring party canopies, tents,

tables, chairs, and lighting to your wedding. As Lazar and receptionist Jennifer Bauer put it, they’ll bring everything for an outside wedding minus the dance floor.

The rental business has three tent sizes – 20x20, 20x40, and 30x60. The 30x60 tent holds up to 150 people and with two of the biggest-sized tents, there is space for up to 300 people. Some clients put a patio or a dance floor underneath both tents.

“We work with the bride and the groom on the setup.

As long as they’re there the day of the setup, we’ll create it exactly how they want it,” Bauer said. “We can do any size that they need. It depends on what they want.

The cost depends on the size of tent and the quantity of tables and chairs.”

Although Rental Pros is based in Peru, the weddings it services don’t have to be as Lazar and the crew will travel.

“We travel up to an hour radius from our location in Peru,” Lazar said. “Sometimes we’ll travel a little

1 1

He’s going to get it,” he said.

“We’re starting to get a lot of repeat business. We did Jennifer’s daughter’s wedding and we’re doing her son’s wedding. There are times where we did the parents 20 to 30 years ago, and now, we’re getting their children or other family members,” he added.

Lazar is ready to handle the last-minute curveballs that go along with weddings.

Over time, the count or the foundation may change before the big day. Rental Pros 2 will take out or add a few chairs, manipulate the size of CONTRIBUTED PHOTO the tents, and maneuver the Rental Pros 2 provides chairs, tables, tents, canopies, and lights for hard goods in any way the any size wedding, whether you need a 20x20, a 20x40, or a 30x60 tent bride or groom wishes. to fit your wedding party. Owner Greg Lazar and receptionist Jennifer “I try to make it an easy Bauer will work with you to lay the foundation for your dream wedding. streamline. There are a couple of phone calls and then are handwashed, hand-wiped further as long as we’re not we’ll do it all for you,” Lazar

by Jennifer after they’re at an booked around our area. It said. “I think a lot of moms depends on the season. If it’s event. All of our white chairs and brides say that this was a heavy, prime June weekend get hand-wiped after every the easiest part of the wedwhere we’re tied up, we try to rental from my dad, Dennis ding planning. The easiest Lazar. He is retired, so we set vendor because we’ve been stay local. If it’s an off weekup a table and he hand-wipes end, we’ll drive an hour as doing it long enough that every chair after every rental long as we can pull it off. we have it streamlined from in case there is a little speck of setup to takedown. We know “All of our tents are pretty dust, cranberry sauce, or wine. what to expect.”f much new. All of our tents

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