SVM_Sauk Valley Weddings_012420

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Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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PUBLICATION

2020-2021

Weddings

Sauk Valley

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

We make dream weddings come true 815.622.8040 SelmiBridal.com

223 First Ave., Rock Falls

Your Hometown Team Helping you protect what you’ve worked hard for 225 First Ave., Rock Falls Auto, Home, and Commercial policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, or COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. Life insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. Fixed Annuities issued by COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. 0316-039

Terry Osborne

Katy Selmi

INSIDE

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

SAUK VALLEY WEDDINGS

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Love is in the air

Home, sweet country home

How about an old-school wedding?

Hearts of the Country

The owner of a bed and breakfast does more than just give guests a relaxing place to rise and dine, she goes the extra country mile to make them feel right at home

A Nelson business is having a party, and everyone is invited, thanks to a couple who turned their alma mater’s gym into a sports and event center

Pining for a rustic, rural setting for your wedding? A farm-turned-event venue near Deer Grove provides the perfect backdrop, inside and out

It’s a beautiful day for a wedding at Pine Creek Escape, where serenity and romance – like brides and grooms – go hand in hand

TIPS, TRICKS & TRENDS

Wedding trends for 2020................................................................. 34-40 The pros of hiring 2 pros to photograph your wedding....................... 41-42 Wedding dress trends: Glitz ‘em up, puff ‘em out, let ‘em breathe..... 44-47 Tips for getting your guests out of their seats and on their feet......... 49-50 You can have your cake and hang it, too........................................... 51-52 Let’s do brunch for your wedding instead......................................... 53-54 Love comes full circle with engraved wedding rings.......................... 55-56 The love boat: Making honeymoon plans? Consider a cruise.............. 57-58 Don’t worry, guys, it’s OK if you’re crashin’ the fashion rules............ 59-60 Add a little flair to your lapel, with customized boutonnieres............. 62-63

CHECKLISTS

Groom....................................... 61 The bride’s trousseau................. 64 Photography.............................. 65 Flowers..................................... 66

PAGE

WHERE TO SHOP Venues............................................14-15 Photographers..................................... 43 Dresses................................................ 48 DJ’s..................................................... 50 Wedding Cakes.................................... 52 Caterers............................................... 54 Jewelry................................................. 56

Reception.................................. 67 Music........................................ 68 Decorating................................ 69 Budget...................................... 70

Travel agents....................................... 58 Menswear............................................ 60 Flowers................................................ 63

SAUK VALLEY WEDDINGS Sauk Valley Media 113-115 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Publisher: Don T. Bricker General Manager: Jennifer Heintzelman Sales: Jill Reyna Page design: Rusty Schrader Articles and advertising are the property of Sauk Valley Media of Dixon/Sterling. No portion of Sauk Valley Weddings 2020-2021 may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. Sauk Valley Media cannot, and will not, be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this publication.

ON THE COVER Bride and groom Stacey and Justin Penaflor of Sterling are shown in a photo from Brett Paul Photography. Go to brettpaulphotography.com or contact him at bdpaul1@comcast.net or 815-762-2390 for more information.

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Index of

Advertisers Here’s where to find the wedding planning professionals, shops and services needed to plan your wedding day ACCOMMODATIONS Holiday Inn Express..........................24 Quality Inn & Suites.........................13

BEAUTY SALONS & DAY SPAS Polished Hair & Nails.......................42

BRIDAL GOWNS Alexis Kay Designs & Bridal..............17

BRIDAL SHOWERS Candlelight Inn..................................9 Deer Valley Country Club..................72 Palmyra Pub & Eatery.........................9

CAKES & TREATS Baker Street ...................................47 Woody’s Handmade Popcorn............45

CATERING SERVICES Baker Street.....................................47 Candlelight Inn..................................9 Creative Cuisine...............................48

Livengood’s Barn..............................45

Palmyra Pub & Eatery.........................9

McCormick Event Center....................8

Triple P BBQ............................ 36 & 37

Oak Lane of Oregon.........................12 Pine Creek Escape.............................7 The Loft at K’s Korner.......................11

COSMETIC DENTISTRY Exceptional Dentistry.......................23

CLOTHING & LINGERIE Lavendar ‘n’ Lace.............................40

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS First State Bank of Shannon Polo.....51

FLORISTS

Barn on the Hill...............................22 Brandywine........................................8 Deer Valley Country Club..................72

Byron Forest Preserve.......................40 Deer Valley Country Club..................72 Dixon VFW Post 540.........................28 Henrekin Pines...................................5 Hornbaker Gardens..........................31 Livengood’s Barn..............................45 Oak Lane of Oregon.........................12

Selmi’s Weddings & Events.................2

INSURANCE AGENTS Country Financial...............................2

INVITATIONS SBM................................................38

Amboy Community Center................42

Brandywine........................................8

Lundstrom Florist.............................27

The Happy Spot...............................38

CEREMONY SITES

Barn on the Hill...............................22

McCormick Event Center....................8

Large Marge BBQ.............................25

Palmyra Pub & Eatery.........................9

Amboy Community Center................42

Flowers Etc.......................................21

Sauk Valley Printing..........................46

Triple P BBQ............................ 36 & 37

RECEPTION SITES

Seno Formal Wear............................44

PHOTOGRAPHERS Brett Paul Photography....................19 Onsite Photography..........................16 Photos by Tara Marie........................26 Rick Jennisch Photography...............35

REHEARSAL DINNERS

Pine Creek Escape.............................7 Quality Inn & Suites.........................13 The Loft at K’s Korner.......................11

RENTALS Selmi’s Weddings & Events.................2 Midwest Tents & Events....................33 Big John Portable Toilet Rental.........29 Grummert’s Hardware......................39

TRAVEL SERVICES Quad City International Airport.........48 Travel Consultants............................44

TUXEDO RENTAL

Dixon Riverfront...............................39

Amboy Community Center................42

Dixon VFW Post 540.........................28

Byron Forest Preserve.......................40

Kaleel’s Clothing..............................43

Henrekin Pines...................................5

Candlelight Inn..................................9

Seno Formal Wear............................44

Hornbaker Gardens..........................31

Deer Valley Country Club..................72

Flowers Etc......................................21

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Step inside and start your happily ever after

“Nestled among the gorgeous pines, I could never have imagined how perfect the setting would be for our ceremony.” ~ Ivy Petersen

“This was my first time shooting here and, let me tell you, it’s definitely one of my favorites!”

“I can’t say enough good things about Henrekin Pines. I would choose them over and over again!” ~ Anna Pro

Danielle Marie Photography

Three Days | One All-Inclusive Price

At Henrekin Pines, we want your experience to be everything you’ve dreamed of. Get married in the Meadow in the Pines, under our Grain Bin Gazebo or indoors in the Pine Room. Our Country Chic Event Venue is one of a kind, offering: • Unique rustic yet elegant decor • A climate-controlled facility • Vendors of your choice • A farm family with a passion for serving you

henrekinpines.com 28650 Hahnaman Road Deer Grove, IL 61243 (815) 499-6169 event@henrekinpines.com

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

the

is in

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

B

efore she was old enough to say “I do,” Rebecca Jones watched as couples began their lives together at the former White Pines Wedding Canyon in rural Oregon.

She bussed tables, fine-tuned details and helped perfect the scenery, all while picking up a few extra bucks Sauk Valley

– and she was only 13.

More than 20 years later, she’s still helping couples plan their special day, but now she’s doing it as the owner of the of Pine Creek Escape. Jones bought the wedding venue and the nearby Pine Creek Cabins in May 2019 from her longtime mentor, Elizabeth George.

But before two people come together as one, something else has to come together: details – lots and lots of details.

That’s where that experience as a teen and all those years working with George come in handy.

Weddings

Venue

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It’s a grand canyon indeed, at Pine Creek Escape, where couples can say their I do’s at any one of six serene sites that offer a scenic backdrop of lush greens, grand trees, dramatic limestone walls, lily ponds and waterfalls.

Photo courtesy of Molly Moon Photography facebook.com/mollymoonphoto.com

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

The Difference Between a Special Occasion and an Unforgettable Occasion

Receptions • Meetings • Banquets Seating up to 400

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Photo courtesy of Photography by L D Nicklaus – ldnphoto.com

Whether you want to march down a tree-lined green space or your looking for something intimate yet grand, Pine Creek Escape’s Wedding Canyon will give couples their very own enchanted forest for a fairy-tale wedding they’ll never forget.

Photos courtesy of Molly Moon Photography facebook.com/mollymoonphoto.com

3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 “A wedding is like 300 details just coming together in one,” Jones said. “I’ve always been interested in detail, asking a lot of questions, and understanding the full process of something.

“We focus on executing every wedding to the same standard, if not better, than we’ve done in the past.”

There’s a lot of past to build on. Jones said she wants to continue the same tradition of excellence that customers have come to expect from the venue for the past 17 years.

“You have brides that are stressed out, you have moms that are stressed out, and there is a lot of people management,” Jones said.

“I probably wasn’t as patient or as understanding as I am now, but I’ve been able to take a step back and adjust from having more of an adult life.”

No matter what kind of wedding you’re planning, Pine Creek can go with the flow, offering several serene settings for a bucolic and beautiful wedding destination, some of which have been recently remodeled.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 124

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

The Perfect Fit for Your Special Occasion!

Where Dreams Spiral into Memories...

• Weddings, Birthday Parties, Receptions, Family Reunions, Graduations, Christmas Parties • Rustic atmosphere that can accommodate up to 300 guests • Handicapped Accessible • Climate Controlled • Bounce House Friendly • Ideal Venue for Friends and Family Gatherings

13030 galt road sterling, il 61081 815-626-2988

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Its website, pinecreekescape.com, offers plenty of pictures from each site to help couples imagine what The Cobblestone Canyon offers rustic and romantheir dream wedding can look like. tic surroundings, with ivy-draped limestone walls.

And while weddings are a specialty Jones also can The Enchanted Forest provides a host other events, such as graduasecluded setting nestled in a nearby “We use the natural tions, birthday parties, bridal and baby hillside area, surrounded by trees. The beauty of where we’re showers, yoga events, wine and beer Emerald Aisle is a jewel that delivtastings, concerts and more. ers classic elegance against a scenic located. George also continues to operate the backdrop. Juniper Falls is set in front We can nearby White Pines Resort with its of a ivy-covered limestone bluff with gift shop, restaurant and dina waterfall. The Grand Pavilion adds just stay cabins, ner theater. a touch of grandeur under a tent and true White Pines State Park, established gives guests a view overlooking a in the 1920s, is across the road from to ourpond. Couples can also exchange their Pine Creek. The 385-acre park attracts vows in The Gazebo, an ornate offerselves visitors and vacationers from near and ing complete with bronze fountains. and to far.

Pine Creek flows through the park “We use the natural beauty of where and separates the Canyon area and the the core of the natural we’re located,” Jones said. “We can cabins. just stay true to ourselves and to the beauty, rather than Jones’ portfolio doesn’t stop there. core of the natural beauty, rather than just chasing trends.”

She also operates the White Pines just chasing trends.”

Roller Skating Center, about a halfDressing rooms for the bride and Rebecca Jones mile west of Pine Creek. The rink, a groom recently were remodeled. A Owner, longtime local favorite, also can hold pair of rooms for the bride and bridesPine CreekEscape private events. maids can accommodate up to 10 With a little bit of everything on site, people, with plenty of mirrors, private and plenty of experience to work with, restroom and tables and chairs for Pine Creek’s staff have seen it all, and can do it all. the bridal party. The room for the groom is a little “Couples can be rest assured that when something smaller, but has a couch and bar area. comes up, we’ve dealt with it and we’ll take care of Plenty of extra special touches enhance the special it,” Jones said. “They’re not going to know it even day, such as a horse and carriage and a Rolls Royce, and more. happened.” n

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BOOK YOUR WEDDING The first full year of operation at Pine Creek Escape, 6797 W. Pines Road in Oregon, has been a success so far, with 2020 wedding dates filling up fast before the new year began. Book your wedding date and cabin adventure at pinecreekescape.com, or call 815-881-1180. Find Pine Creek Escape on Facebook for more information The White Pines Roller Skating Center is open from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Go to skatingfun.com to book a private event or for more information.

The Difference Between a

Special Occasion Unforgettable Occasion

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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WHERE TO SHOP AMBOY COMMUNITY CENTER 280 W. Wasson Road, Amboy 815-857-3814 Features: Full-service bar, full kitchen, tables and chairs.

Capacity: 250-300 Online: cityofamboy.org and Facebook THE BARN AT ALLEN ACRES 2206 Prophet Road, Rock Falls 847-687-3348 Features: Historic, rustic dairy barn and/ or country-themed farmhouse available for rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and the wedding night, vintage carriage for photos, plenty of acreage for tents, tables, dancing.

Capacity: 150 upstairs in the barn, where the ceremony is held. (Note: The second floor is not handicapped-accessible.)

Online: thebarnatallenacres.com and Facebook THE BARN ON THE HILL 7 E. Route 72, Leaf River 815-703-0628 Email: thebarnonthehillvenue@gmail.com Features: Tall pines, large shade trees, a lush lawn, and well-tended flower beds make an ideal backdrop for outdoor receptions and photo shoots. The barn’s sliding doors open to let in natural light, and thousands of tiny white lights strung from the beams create a comfortable, yet elegant, setting Capacity: Up to 250; patio seating 300 plus Online: thebarnonthehill.net and Facebook BARNACOPIA 2570 NorthWest Branch Road, Polo 815-238-1474 Features: Three levels that include overnight stays in attached silo; ‘50s and ‘60s diner with a jukebox and an ice cream parlor; a quaint chapel that seats at least 75, up to 120 extending out of chapel; a museum of local history; antique tractors and cars; handicapped-accessible and all in a rural farm setting.

Capacity: Up to 400 Online: barnacopia.com and Facebook BRANDYWINE BANQUET & EVENT CENTER 441 state Route 2, Dixon 815-284-8484 Features: Three banquet areas, customizable menus, three large wooden dance floors, building wide PA system with wireless microphones, free wi-fi, projectors and screens, two full-service bars, plus three on-staff event coordinators, all in a warm, elegant setting.

Capacity: 450 Online: brandywinedixon.com and Facebook CEDAR STONE RECEPTIONS 610 S. Division, Polo

815-946-2400 Features: Spacious seating and large dance floors with upscale décor. Managed by White Pines Resorts.

Capacity: 375 Online: whitepinesinn.com and Facebook CHAMPS BANQUET VENUE 9 E. Third St., Sterling 815-626-6003 Email:champs.banquetvenue@yahoo.com Online: Facebook Features: A rustic, yet modern facility with access to the outside patio, which seats 40. The venue caters food to smaller groups at about 20-30 people, but outside food service is available for larger groups.

There’s a full-bar service, and people can bring in live entertainment.

Capacity: 150 CHAPEL IN THE PINES 15165 Quigley Road, Sycamore 815-895-4797 Features: Ceremony options include the chapel, a gazebo or beautiful gardens on this seven-acre private estate that includes a vintage-inspired reception hall.

Online: chapelinthepines.com/ and Facebook Email: pinesinfo@gmail.com Capacity: 150 THE CLUBHOUSE RESTAURANT 99 Lake Carroll Blvd., Lake Carroll 815-493-2810 Features: Full service restaurant with space for receptions.

Online: golakecarroll.com/ THE CRYSTAL CORK WINE SHOPPE 219 W. First St., Dixon 844-843-2675 Features: Rent the wine cellar for private parties. Includes a private bar, wash room and is handicapped-accessible. Crystal Cork also offers a traveling bar.

Email: thecrystalcork@gmail.com Online: thecrystalcork.com and Facebook DAYS INN BY WYNDHAM 2105 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-626-5500 Features: Several large banquet space that is wheelchair accessible.

Capacity: 350 Online: wyndhamhotels.com/days-inn/ rock-falls-illinois/days-inn-rock-falls DEER VALLEY BANQUETS 3298 Hoover Road, Deer Grove 815-438-4653, ext. 13 Features: Five warm, elegant, spacious rooms, all with a view of the golf course, large ballroom with cathedral ceilings, outdoor gazebo, food, beverages, and whitegloved staff to serve them. The Angus Room seats up to 80, has a center room fireplace.

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Capacity: 450 plus.

Online: deervalleybanquets.com and Facebook DILLON HOME MUSEUM 1005 E. Third St., Sterling 815-622-6202 Features: Manicured, spacious grounds and fountain are a beautiful setting for museum home, built in 1858, and included in the National Register of Historic Places. Wheelchair accessible.

Online: sterlingparks.org/location/dillonhome-museum and Facebook DIXON ELKS LODGE 779 1279 Franklin Grove Road 815-288-3557 Features: Full-service food and bar, linens, tables, chairs, dishes, servers. Suitable for casual events, bridal showers and elegant receptions.

Capacity: 425 Online: dixonelkslodge.com and Facebook THE DIXON HISTORIC THEATRE 114 S. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-508-6324 Features: Host your special day in this historic theater.

Online: dixontheatre.com and Facebook THE FLIGHT DECK AT THE CHICAGOLAND Skydiving Center 1208 W. Gurler Road, Rochelle 815-561-3664 Ext. 211 Features: A out-of-the-ordinary event space as the skydiving center transforms into a banquet space from November through March.

Online: flightdeckbar.com/ and Facebook HENREKIN PINES 28650 Hahnaman Road, Deer Grove 815-499-6169 Features: Remodeled barn and event hall create the perfect setting for a rustic chic event in a tranquil setting. Facilities are ADA accessible and rooms are heat and air conditioned.

Capacity: 240 Online: henrekinpines.com and Facebook HENRY’S DOUBLE K 834 S. Jackson St., Mount Carroll 815-244-0180 Features: The large event room has a private bar and lots of table seating. There’s an area for live entertainment, a dance floor, house catering and service available and large parking area in the back.

Online: henrysdoublek.com and Facebook HICKORY GROVE BANQUET & CONFERENCE CENTER 1127 N. Seventh St., Rochelle 803-226-7838

Sauk Valley Weddings

Features: Able to accommodate a small intimate wedding or large affair as well as outdoor events.

Capacity: 350 Online: hickorygrovebcc.com/ KAPP’S BANQUET FACILITY 201 W. First St., Rock Falls 815-625-1963 Features: Indoor banquet hall near the Rock River.

Online: Facebook KEGGER’S TAP HOUSE 13464 Galt Road, Sterling 815-716-8969 Features: Banquet room for hosting special events as well as large menu of food and drinks.

Email: slaw@keggerstphouse.com Online: www.keggerstaphouse.com and Facebook KILBUCK CREEK 6752 N. Kilbuck Road, Monroe Center 815-393-3247 Features: Located among the secluded trees this venue provides for outdoor ceremony. Say your vows in the wedding Pergola as guests sit in the antique pews and enjoy a reception under the crystal chandelier in the gathering hall. Guests can stay in the log cabins.

Capacity: 250 Online: .kilbuckcreek.com and Facebook LATIN AMERICAN SOCIAL CLUB 2708 W. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-625-8290 Features: Room rental with a large dance floor, bar, food.

Online: Facebook LINCOLN WAY INN 409 N. State St., Franklin Grove 815-456-7700 Features: Scenic countryside serves as a backdrop for events with the option to use the indoor or outdoor venues. Enjoy modern amenities with a rustically elegant feel.

Capacity: 125 Online: lincolnwayinn.com and Facebook LIVENGOOD’S BARN 21647 Thomson Road, Chadwick 815-499-5934 Features: Two barns: The first is a midcentury two-story dairy barn that is handicapped accessible and climate controlled with rustic loft and dressing rooms. The second barn is a newly remodeled, climate controlled building. There are also spacious outdoors, with room for outdoor ceremonies and a scenic pond. List of vendors available.

Capacity: 225 Email:livengoodseventbarn@gmail.com Online: livengoodsbarn.com and Facebook CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 4

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WHERE TO SHOP 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 THE LOFT AT K’S KORNERS 13030 Galt Road, Sterling 815-626-2988 Features: Historic barn renovated for weddings, receptions and special events.

There’s a 1920s bar and ornate winding staircase. Handicapped accessible and climate controlled.

Capacity: Up to 300 Online: Facebook LOVELAND COMMUNITY HOUSE & MUSEUM 513 W. Second St., Dixon 815-284-2741 Features: Choose from a single room to the entire building for your wedding and reception. Full kitchen available. Dining hall includes raised stage for a DJ, small band.

Capacity: Dining room seats 200 Online: lovelandcommunityhouse.org/ and Facebook MAJESTIC PINES EVENT CENTER 11503 Three Mile Road. Thomson 815-902-6076 Features: Choose from several banquet rooms including a small room with a fireplace that would serve as a beautiful setting for a small wedding ceremony. There is a large outdoor patio outside of a banquet room. Building is wheelchair accessible.

Online: majesticpines-thomson.com and Facebook Capacity: 600 MAMA CIMINO’S 116 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon 815-288-4448 Features: Banquet room, beers, linens, buffet-style catering, some gluten-free food.

Capacity: 150 Online: mamaciminosdixon.com and Facebook MAXSON’S RIVERBOAT & RIVERSIDE RESTAURANT 1469 Route 2 North, Oregon 815-732-6761 Features: Have your special day aboard the The Pride of Oregon, an authentic Paddle Wheel Riverboat located on the Rock River.

For a land option the restaurant with its glass-enclosed dining room provides beautiful views of the river and an extensive menu and bar.

Capacity: 149 riverboat; 300 restaurant Online: maxsons.net/ MILLS & PETRIE MEMORIAL BUILDING 701 N. First St., Ashton 815-973-8397 Features: In addition to housing city offices and the library there are reception spaces available including a gymnasium and access to a kitchen.

Online: millspetrielibrary.weebly.com/ facility.html NAAMAN DIEHL AUDITORIUM 811 S. Clay St., Mount Carroll 815-244-3001 Features: Spacious rooms that are handicapped accessiblewith access to a state-ofthe-art kitchen. Space managed by Carroll County Farm Bureau.

Capacity: 130 Online: carrollcfb.org OAK LANE OF OREGON 3261 Daysville Road, Oregon 815-871-0948 Features: 1800s-era rustic dairy barn with housing for the bridal couple, dressing rooms, bathrooms, an air-conditioned banquet room, two bars, reception hall, caterer’s kitchen. Bartenders, tables and chairs, vintage mismatched dishes and flatware, provided as well as a list of preferred vendors, such as photographers and caterers. Choose from indoor or outdoor ceremony sites.

Capacity: Up to 180.

Email: oaklane2012@gmail.com Online: oaklaneoforegon.com and Facebook OLD FULTON JOURNAL BUILDING 408 10th Ave., Fulton 815-266-7619 Features: Building features various seating arrangements and outdoor space to stage a wedding march or buffet as well.

Capacity: 65 Online: Facebook PARTIES ON POPE 207 Pope St., Nelson 815-441-1446 Features: Room rental with tables, chairs and use of kitchen.

Online: partiesonpope.com and Facebook THE PAVILION AT EMERALD HILL GOLF COURSE 16802 Prairieville Road, Sterling 815-622-6204 Features: Outdoors, tent overlooks the fourth tee, covered walkway to the clubhouse, portable dance floor and bar.

Capacity: Up to 150 Online: emeraldhillgolf.com and Facebook THE POLO ROOM BANQUET HALL 712 N. Division Ave., Polo 815-946-2886 Features: Built in the early 1950s, underground, to take advantage of natural cooling. Famous for its down-home, local atmosphere. Includes full-service restaurant to provide catering and full-service bar and room for a band.

Capacity: 225 Online: thepoloroom.com and Facebook

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POST HOUSE BALLROOM 100 W. Second St., Dixon 815-288-0892 Features: Stately, elegant, historic, turn-ofthe-century former post office, constructed of Bedford stone, marble, granite, steel and terrazzo. Full bar available as well as options for a dance floor, tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, arch, PA system, projector screen.

Kitchen available. Handicapped-accessible.

Capacity: 250 Online: posthouseballroom.net and Facebook RAILSIDE BAR & GRILL 207 S. Butler St., Nelson 815-251-4633 Features: Warm pine interior, casual and cool. Food, full bar, banquet or table service.

Capacity: 150 Online: Facebook ROCK RIVER CENTER 810 S. 10th St., Oregon 815-732-3252 Features: Round or banquet tables, staff, room set up and tear down, linens and china table service, coffee service, beverage dispensers, a grand piano, and a food service tower. The 10th St. Catering in the center has a full service menu and can cater. Menus can be customized to suit tastes and price range. Wooden floors for DJ and dancing.

Capacity: 280 Online: rockrivercenter.org and Facebook ROCK RIVER SUPPER CLUB 3901 Dixon Road, Rock Falls 815-625-2387 Features: Three rooms, outdoor gazebo, three outdoor sites, full-service wedding and events coordinator on site; wedding packages; club memberships; bar, food, servers.

Capacity: 200 Online: rrgap.com and Facebook SALAMANDRA & THE GATHERING PLACE 105 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-0874 Features: Full-service Mexican restaurant and bar with a banquet room.

Capacity: 100 Online: Facebook SHADY OAKS COUNTRY CLUB 577 US Hwy 52, Sublette 815-849-5424 Features: Reception room overlooking beautiful grounds.

Online: shadyoakscc.com/ SHERIDAN’S WALTON TAP 906 Walton Road, Amboy 815-857-2381 Features: Delicious menu options with helpful staff.

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Sauk Valley Weddings

Capacity: 50 Online: Facebook SMOKED ON 3RD BBQ BISTRO & CATERING 14 E. Third St., Sterling 815-632-3773 Features: Restaurant available for private events and receptions.

Email: info@smokedon3rd.com Online: smokedon3rd.com and Facebook STARLIGHTS THEATER & LOUNGE 341 First Ave., Sterling 815-564-9430 Features: Host your event in a former vaudeville and movie theater that even served as a disco.

Capacity: 300 Online: starlightstheatre.com and Facebook STORYBOOK GARDENS 13501 E. Bethel Road, Rochelle 815-888-7962 Features: All inclusive wedding site from onsite salons for the bridal party to prepare for the big day to beautiful outdoor gardens for amazing wedding day photos.

Capacity: 300 Online: storybookgardens.club WHITE PINES LABRANCHE & WHITE PINES INN 6712 W. Pines Road, Mount Morris 815-946-2400 Features: Six different outdoor ceremony settings with dramatic backdrops of waterfalls and limestone bluffs. Indoor reception areas include a timber lodge. Handicappedaccessible. Rustic beauty and cozy log cabins can provide guest accommodations.

Capacity: 220 Online: whitepinesinn.com and Facebook WILLY’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 3210 W. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-626-0401 Features: Food and beverages, alcohol Capacity: 70-80 Online: Facebook WOODCOTE 2114 Lowell Park Road, Dixon 815-284-3306 Features:The stone and timber cottage in historic Lowell Park provides a quiet, private setting for a ceremony and reception.Access to a kitchen and there are ADA restrooms.

Capacity: 50 Online: dixonparkdistrict.com/woodcote/ VFW POST #540 1560 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon 815-288-5165 Features: Spacious room provides a great setting for a special day.

Online: vfw540.org/

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Home c untry

home

The owner of a bed and breakfast does more than just give guests a relaxing place to rise and dine, she goes the extra country mile to make them feel right at home STORY BEGINS ON PAGE 20

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Sauk Valley

Weddings

Accomodations

W

hether you’re looking for a scenic setting for a wedding full of country charm or a romantic getaway after the wedding, or even a place where your special wedding guests can get a little R&R before the big day, you don’t have to go far – just look for the House in the Country.

Tucked behind a row of trees between Milledgeville and Sterling, House in the Country Bed and Breakfast offers guests a peaceful getaway, overnight or for an extended stay, in a century-old Queen Anne farmhouse.

The beautifully restored, cheery yellow Queen Anne farmhouse, built in 1911, has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, living room, library, and parlor.

What’s available? Anything from “a single room” to “the main floor for a quiet work space” to “the whole house for a college mate’s wedding,” owner Christina Bystry said.

PHOTOS ON P. 21, STORY CONT’D ON PAGE 224

House in the Country ow ner Christina Bystry has worked hard to create an inv iting and relaxing atmosphere at her bed and bre akfast in rural Sterling.

“It’s an eclectic collection of comfort,” she said.

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House in the Country provides the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding, and guests who feel like stretching their legs and taking in some fresh country air can stroll the grounds.

home

All the comforts of

Guests at House in the Country will want for nothing during their stay – except maybe for more time. Owner Christina Bystry has gone to great lengths to make the house feel like home, including a rustic dining room table that seats eight, a comfy living room, restrooms with country charm, plush beds, and a library area where you can relax with a good book.

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3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 With new renovations in the works, Bystry also plans to allow guests to host “showers, retreats, weddings, and other small gatherings.”

The two-and-a-half-acre property is filled with adventures waiting to be had and memories waiting to be made.

Guests can relax on the large decks or snuggle up around a fire pit for summertime s’mores.

The home can accommodate up to 12 people in the four spacious bedrooms on the second and third floors. After a cozy night’s sleep, guests will wake to the fresh smell of breakfast and baked goods made

by Bystry herself.

Bystry’s hospitality is unmatched.

“I was leaving for work at 4:45 a.m., and she made me breakfast sandwiches the night before so I had something to eat on the way,” one guest posted on the B&B’s website.

She also works hard to create an atmosphere that’s a comfortable balance of old-world charm and modern amenities, decorating and furnishing the entire home with beautiful works of art and cozy fur-

The icing on the cake when you stay at House in the Country? The baked goods and meals owner Christina Bystry serves up.

niture.

“It’s an eclectic collection of comfort,” Bystry said.

Bystry also hides a pineapple or two into every room – “it’s the international symbol of hospitality,” she said.

Bystry said she didn’t originally plan to turn the house into a bed and breakfast.

“When I bought the property a year ago, I thought I would turn the barn into a reception area for weddings,” she said.

But since buying the property in 2017, Bystry has been relentlessly

improving it.

“I painted the veranda floor, installed new two new stairs, and will soon be designing and installing the skirting,” she said. She also added a 16-by-16-foot checker/ chess board and an L-shaped patio between two of her outbuildings.

She’s done most of the work herself, with the help of family and friends for the bigger jobs.

Bystry grew up in Coleta, then spent her early life living all over the world. She settled in Waterman for 21 years, until a “life-changing event” and a yearning “to be closer to some very special people” brought her back to Whiteside County.

She noticed immediately that a property she had her eye on for many years was up for sale. Retirement was in her near future and she “wanted to purchase a property that would provide an income,” so Bystry took the leap and created House in the Country.

The past couple of years have been an adventure, she said, but her favorite part of her B&B business is “the flexibility – as well as meeting the people who come to stay.” n

MORE INFO House in the Country Address: 20213 Hickory Hills Road, Sterling (3 miles north of Sterling, just down the road from the First Lutheran Church of Jordan).

Contact: 815-9700305 or houseinthecountry18@gmail. com Room rates range between $95 and $135 a night. Check in between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., check out by 11 a.m.

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Vexed by the venue? Put your style stamp on it The venue is the perfect size and free on the date you want STORY – but maybe the carpet clashLauren Kay, es with your theme, or the TheKnot.com walls drive you up the wall, or the light isn’t quite right.

We tapped our favorite wedding pros for clever hacks to the most common décor challenges.

1. The chairs are dated, and they don’t fit my color scheme or style.

The style hack, from Krystel Tien of Couture Events in San Diego: This is an easy fix – rent chairs that complement your wedding style or colors, like classic chiavari chairs or rustic wood benches. “We love to incorporate specialty lounge furniture and beautiful vintage pieces,” Tien says. If budget is a concern, select a couple of pieces that will have maximum effect, like king and queen chairs for the sweetheart table. “A few properly placed items can make a huge visual impact,” Tien adds.

Venue

2. The floors just don’t cut it The style hack, from Brooke Keegan of Brooke Keegan Weddings & Events in Newport Beach, California: If your budget allows, roll in some new carpet. Not in the cards? Keep your guests

looking up. Draw your guests’ eyes to focal points around the room, like hanging market lights or a giant floral installation. “Once you put down the band stage, the dance floor and a dozen tables, you’ve covered a lot of that [floor],” Keegan adds.

3. The venue is large and wide open, and you want an intimate feel.

The style hack, from Amy Zaroff of Amy Zaroff Events & Design in MinneapSauk Valley olis: Space is usually a bonus, but if you’re after a cozy atmosphere, a big room with high ceilings can present a challenge. “Creating spaces within spaces and points of interest throughout will help keep guests’ eyes front and center,” Zaroff says.

Hang long centerpieces low – just over the table – to bring their gaze down and to create a more romantic feel. Use furniture, flooring and fabric draping to define spaces throughout the venue.

Designing vignettes will make it feel smaller and more intimate, and show off your wedding style.

Weddings

4. Working with walls The style hack, from Brian Worley of yourBASH! in Santa Monica, California: While you can’t exactly redecorate, you can shift the focus.

“I like to transform a space with what I call “moving wallpaper” – we use projectors and add

moving images to the walls,” Worley says. This trick also doubles as a lighting feature, giving the space a unique look. If a dozen projectors aren’t in your budget, stick to lighting that masks the design. Uplighting and gobos can transform a space instantly – even old wallpaper can disappear amid a soft, colorful glow.

5. The drapes are patterned, and the venue won’t take them down.

The style hack, Annie Lee of Daughter of Design in New York City: “Buy yards of simple fabric and pin them over the offending drapes,” Lee says. It’s a quick fix – no sewing required – and it can really transform the venue. Have a bigger budget? Drape the whole space. Coordinate your fabric choices with your table linens, working in a texture or small pattern to keep things fresh and fun.

6. The venue’s hues give me the blues The style hack, Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events in San Francisco : “Don’t fight the design flaw – embrace it,” Hotchkiss says. “If the carpet is a green zigzag, pull that color into the napkins or the seat cushions.” Not for you? Try draping the walls with fabric or covering the floor with a sisal rug. If you’ve chosen a palette with a metallic or a neutral, make that hue more prominent in the décor and save the bolder color for details like your invitations or signature sip.

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Nelson business is having a party, and everyone is invited, thanks to a couple who turned their alma mater’s gym into a sports and event center The basketball court is back in session, thanks to Dave (center) and Tracy (right) DeVries, who have turned the former Nelson Elementary School gym into an event center that can host anything from a birthday party to a wedding to a community fundraiser.

The DeVries’ daughter, Liz Knebel (left), is their organizer and go-to wedding guru.

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Parties on Pope is located at 207 Pope St. in Nelson, in the former Nelson Elementary School gym. “We wanted to make sure it didn’t fall into disrepair,” owner Dave DeVries said. “We wanted to make it available and bring it back to good condition.”

Sauk Valley

Weddings

Venue

ome people give things the old college try.

When it came to preserving a piece of their hometown’s history, the DeVries family of Nelson gave things the old grade school try – and they succeeded with flying colors, turning a former school gym into a new sports and event center, Parties on Pope.

But before it was Parties on Pope, it was Nelson Elementary School – well, part of it, anyway. The nearly century-old school closed down in 2013 when Nelson and East Coloma school districts consolidated, and its main building was torn down in 2016. The only thing left was the gym – and an opportunity. It just took someone with an eye for real estate and a healthy amount of hometown pride to see it.

That’s where the DeVries become part of the story. They stepped in and purchased the property at 207 Pope St. in 2017.

The building has a special meaning to the couple, Dave said. The DeVries attended school there, as did as their children and parents. His great-grandmother also taught there.

But the journey from gym to event space wasn’t one the DeVries had always planned on taking.

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815.622.8147 | PhotosByTaraMarie.com

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3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 “It kind of came along,” Dave said. “It wasn’t something we intended to do.”

But once they decided to do it, the two rolled up their sleeves and put plenty of elbow grease – and some heart and soul – into the fixer-upper.

The DeVries are no strangers to seeing the potential in properties. They also own Xtreme Realty in Rock Falls. However, getting a community events center ready to open was a new experience.

“When we bought the building, I had visions of going in there and shooting baskets and putting my boat in there,” Dave said.

Ultimately, the DeVries decided to find a way to keep what was left of the school open to the community by converting it into an event space that can hold about 250 people.

Some of the features needed to be updated, but the DeVries were willing to put in the work to save the nearly century-old community pillar and return it to a condition that can be enjoyed by the community.

The DeVries live kitty-corner from the property and wanted to keep it a part of the community rather than let it become an eyesore.

PHOTOS ON P. 28, STORY CONT'D ON P. 29 4

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Though Nelson Elementary School – shown at left before it was razed, and above, during the demolition in 2016 in a photo taken by Amber Walker of Nelson – had fallen into disrepair in recent years and become too costly to maintain or refurbish, the school’s gym escaped the wrecking crew, and thanks to a Nelson couple it’s been transformed into a sports and events center.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

When they first bought the Nelson school gym (top left), the DeVries had planned on gradually making improvements, but when they needed to find a new spot for a nephew’s wedding party, the family crew kicked into high gear and gave the gym an overhaul (bottom left). And when the event center is booked, the gym is transformed again, into a wedding venue (above).

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 “We wanted to make sure it didn’t fall into disrepair,” he said. “We wanted to make it available and bring it back to good condition.”

When they first bought the building, Dave had planned on gradually making improvements. That changed when Arnie’s Happy Spot in Deer Grove burned down in July 2018, just a few months before his nephew’s wedding day.

“That’s what pushed us up from 3 or 4 years to 3 months,” Dave said.

But not to worry: he had plenty of help, courtesy of his crew of family members.

The DeVrieses’ 207 Pope St., Nelson children, and most 815-441-1446 of their in-laws, Online: Go to partiesonhelped transform pope.com or find Parties Parties on Pope into on Pope on Facebook. a wedding venue.

“For the next 2 months, we literally worked tirelessly day and night doing the floor and painting,” Dave said.

“Everything came together and they had a great wedding reception,” said daughter Liz Knebel.

Liz is the DeVries’ go-to wedding guru.

She’s there when vendors arrive to drop off wed-

ding supplies but also manages other aspects so the wedding parties can focus on getting themselves prepared. She has an idea of what does or doesn’t work for a wedding, which is why she gravitated toward the job. Plus, she’s an extreme planner.

“Since she was 3 she would plan everything for her siblings,” Dave said.

For $625, a couple can rent the space from a Thursday afternoon to noon Sunday. Throwing in another $100 for weddings with less then 100 people will get you a bartender for the special day; for parties with more than 100 guests, it’s $175 for two bartenders.

“We try to be affordable,” Dave said.

A kitchen is also available for a fee.

Weddings aren’t the only joyous occasion Parties on Pope caters to.

“We’ve done anniversary parties, adult birthday parties with alcohol, baby showers – there’s no limitation,” Dave said.

They’ve also hosted a craft fair and chili cook-offs The game room offers ping pong, foosball, and air hockey; and the gym can still be rented out for a basketball game.

Relay for Life, a community-based cancer fundraiser, is an important cause to the DeVries, and they’ve hosted several of their own fundraising events to help with the cause.

They even teamed up with the village to raise money for the Village of Nelson Park by bringing back the Halloween Fun Fair, an event that disappeared with the rest of Nelson School, Dave said.

“We keep trying to come up with new things and see what works,” he said. n

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The game room at Parties on Pope offers ping pong, foosball and air hockey; and the gym can still be rented out for a basketball game.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

earts

country

Pining for a rustic, rural setting for your wedding?

A farm-turned-event venue near Deer Grove provides the perfect backdrop, inside and out

OF THE

W

hat do you get when you put something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue together? A new wedding and events venue.

The old is Sandy Pines Elk Farm, a popular agritourism destination just outside Deer Grove that closed Sauk Valley

about 10 years ago.

The new is Henrekin Pines, the aforementioned venue that’s planted itself in Sandy Pines’ former home.

Something borrowed? Well, it might be the idea for the new business – it just depends who you ask.

The business plan came about from either an idea borrowed from a granddaughter’s wedding, or it was a stroke of inspiration that came on the seat of a lawn mower.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 And the blue? That’s where the sky comes in – as in “the sky’s the limit,” which is how the owners describe their approach to keeping the customers satisfied.

Jim and Sandy Henrekin opened the barn doors to their latest business venture, at 28650 Hahnaman Road, in June.

Henrekin Pines, a special events venue that can hold up to 240 guests – and more, if need be – sits at the foot of a 27-acre hill, nestled among trees and featuring a fully remodeled barn and attached event hall that offers a casual

atmosphere in the heart of farm country. Rustic and relaxing it’s a perfect place for private parties, corporate events or weddings. The heated and air conditioned venue features indoor, handicapped-accessible bathrooms, tables and chairs, dressing rooms, a bar, a mic and speaker set-up, a covered wagon for photo ops, and more.

And if you want to get married outside, there’s an arbor that’s the icing on the wedding cake: a scenic spot for the couple’s big day.

You could say the couple’s new business was something of a bit of preplanned destiny.

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Jim & Sandy Henrekin

4-Season Building • Seats up to 350 • Covered Patio Bride’s & Groom’s Rooms • Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Site events@hornbakergardens.com

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BEHIND THE BARN DOORS | INSIDE HENREKIN PINES TOP LEFT: An outdoor arbor is located high on a hill in the wooded property at Henrekin Pines.

BOTTOM LEFT & RIGHT: When it’s closed, a garage door blends in seamlessly with the walls of the banquet room; when it’s opened, it allows easy access to an outdoor patio area.

TOP: Henrekin Pines offers a dressing room big enough for brides and her bridesmaids.

BOTTOM: The Crystal Room features banquet tables and plenty of space for a wedding reception. In the adjoining room, behind sliding barnstyle doors, a bar area gives guests a place to raise a glass.

TOP: Henrekin Pines features rustic decor inside a former barn.

BOTTOM: Customers can bring their own liquor for a non-cash bar, or they can hire a catering service for a cash bar.

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3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 After the farm closed, Jim used the two buildings – now called the Crystal Room and the Pine Room – as horse stalls and an arena.

After he sold his prized stud, Obviously Preplanned, the stalls sat vacant for a couple of years.

The vacancy left open the possibility of a new project the two could complete together. “We’re both entrepreneurs, so we’re always thinking,� Sandy said. “We just thought this was a really nice fit for this building.� “After hours and hours of sleepless nights of designing all this– we designed it ourselves – we decided this is what we’re doing,� Jim said.

Jim said the idea to repurpose the existing structures and open Henrekin Pines came to him while he was mowing his yard, but Sandy suspects it was their granddaughter’s wedding in Missoula, Montana, that planted the idea in Jim’s mind.

That idea got a little help a few years ago when the couple hosted a wedding in their barn, back when it was still had dirt floors and housed horses, and let the wedding photographer used their home’s porch for photo shoots. Jim said the photographer liked the layout of the farm and the pine trees surrounding it – all 5,000 of them.

It’s a number Jim remembers only to well, because he and his father planted them– well, it was mostly Jim doing then planting, he said – back in 1962.

The family trees not only provide a special memory for Jim, but he’s hoping they can do the same for couples, too, providing the perfect backdrop their special day.

Rehab and design work took the couple about a year. “When we first started, we thought it’d be done in 2 months,�

Sandy said.

So far, they’ve already hosted two weddings and a couple of their own private functions. “I always said if you want to be successful you need to do some-

HENREKIN PINES 28650 Hahnaman Road, Deer Grove 815-499-6169 henrekinpines.com Email: event@henrekinpines.com

thing that nobody else is doing,� Jim said. “We’re the only venue that I know of that has heating and air conditioning, that we can be open 12 months if we wanted to.�

The Henrekins said they can host all sorts of events, whether they be graduations, showers or corporate events, they just want to be able to provide the community with something unique. “We’ll do whatever they want to do,� Jim said. “The sky’s the limit. “I was born in Whiteside County and I love this county,� Jim said. “It’s been good to me and I’ve been good to it. n

 �

1300 S. 7th St., Dekalb, IL 60115

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ith the arrival of the New Year comes a fresh crop of accompanying 2020 wedding trends. The Knot Editors are seeing bold pops of color and serious statements touch everything from inventive ceremony aisle ideas to food and beverage to the invitation suite. The best reason of all? Couples are making each aspect of the wedding uniquely their own, meaning sentimental color palettes that extend beyond your Something Blue to inventive themes that reflect your one-ofa-kind love story. Welcome to a dazzling new decade. After all, it’s time for 2020 … weddings, that is.

1. Green Vibes

Sustainable weddings are on the rise and we’re here for it.

Consider “upcycling” your wedding, by committing to zero waste or a reduced carbon footprint. A lighter version of this 2020 wedding trend includes resetting a family stone or heirloom engagement ring, repurposing ceremony florals, sourcing locally grown food or hiring vendors who also prioritize sustainability.

2. Micro Weddings

This wedding trend is by invite only – think 40 people or less. But like any exclusive party, a celebration of this kind delivers big. The budget per guest is higher, which means your very nearest and dearest are treated to bespoke touches, elaborate meals (tasting menu anyone?) and tons of personalization. This style soiree is perfect for introverts or people hoping to celebrate with a smaller group of loved ones.

3. Magical Mysticism

If there’s one theme you need to know about 2020 wedding trends, this is it: mysticism is in. This spiritually charged vibe combines all the things: crystals, saging, palo santo, even aura photo booths. Don’t force this though, make it work for your unique couple style – send guests home with a rose quartz crystal, the classic stone for love, or ask your guests to pass around your wedding rings during your ceremony, imbuing them with good energy and well wishes.

4. Inclusive Menus

Couples are being more thoughtful about inclusivity when it comes to every aspect of wedding planning, reception menus notwithstanding. Eats are going to check all the boxes in 2020.

Vegetarian? No problem. Vegan with a nut allergy? We got you. Be considerate of all your guests by offering up a variety of cuisines and sips too (delicious non-alcoholic drinks are being crafted with care by mixologists too).

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riple P Catering

Cuisine ranging from down-home BBQ to Smoked Prime Rib‌ Additional Services Offered: Full Service Bar Plated Meals Dinnerware We use only the finest ingredients slow smoked in select fruitwoods.

All catering details are custom built for your event in mind.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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riple P BBQ offers more than meets the eye with its rustic and from-the-heart Catering & Event

Services. We will accommodate your wedding reception at a venue of your choosing or we can offer our banquet room (capacity 150) at our Rock Falls location to host your celebration. We even have a spacious patio should the season permit! Our Director of Catering, Sarah Coyle, begins the process by scheduling an appointment to discuss your needs and vision. From there, the excitement will grow as you dip into menu selections and all the details that are required to make your special day everything you hope for.

No need is too big or too small for our team. Whether your guest list includes 50 or 350, our hospitality team will be sure to prepare your menu selections to perfection. Our mouth-watering meat options include Pulled Pork, Fruitwood Smoked Brisket, Bone-In, Slow-Smoked Chicken, Pork Loin, Ribs, Smoked Sausage, and let’s not leave out our delicious Smoked Prime Rib! A couple of fan-favorite sides are Smoked Mac & Cheese and Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad with many more, classic BBQ options to choose from. You and your guests are sure to be satisfied!

To assist in the decision making for your wedding, we offer complimentary tastings for you, your spouse -to-be and anyone integral to your selection process. Bring your future In-Laws or your Maid/Matron of Honor to help sample the delicious items on our catering menu. Leave our restaurant not only satisfied by a little lunch or dinner on us, but confident that your guests will love the meal you’ve selected for them!

An important decision every reception requires is whether to have Full-Service or Self-Service Catering. Triple P BBQ offers worry-free, Full-Service Catering which allows you to leave all food-related task s to our team. We provide complete set-up and all equipment necessary to keep your menu warm & fresh. We are also sure to continuously restock food supplies throughout your dinner and even provide basic clean up afterwards. For smaller events, you may decide that Self-Service Catering is more your style. In that case, we offer customized packages for pick up or delivery. You will get the same mouthwatering dishes but our staff is not onsite to assist in any of the service details with this option.

We are also happy to offer both non-alcohol & alcoholic beverage options for your event. You can add Full or Select Bar Services to your package - complete with a Signature Drink - should you so choose!

While we offer a complete beverage menu, Sarah is sure to make your special day unique with any request you may have.

When we discuss your needs, we will make sure to include all the add-ons and extras you desire; chaffing dishes nestled in rustic, hand-made barnwood trays, plates, cutlery, napkins and more! We traditionally serve and display our service in the ever-popular rustic theme utilizing our handmade barnwood table décor and accents that are sure to please you and your guests.

Triple P is here for your bridal shower to the rehearsal dinner and on to the wedding reception. Looking forward, we can also cater your baby shower or gender reveal party should the time come!

We know you want everything to be perfect on your big day – we do too - and our hospitality team is here to exceed your expectations.

Call Sarah today at 815.306.8040…and let the planning begin!

Triple P Catering • 3312 West Rock Falls Road • Rock Falls Illinois 61071 sarah@triplepbbq.com

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5. Barrettes and Combs

Veils aren’t going anywhere, but tiaras have given way to the latest in hair jewelry – barrettes and combs. These wedding hair accessories are often adorned in pearls, rhinestones and colorful enamels. They’re great for holding back natural curls or creating a second style for your wedding reception.

6. Trending Hues

You probably didn’t start planning your wedding with a color scheme in mind, right? Settle on your vibe or style first (take our Wedding Style Quiz) and then find a way to add a serious pop to your celebration. Color is one of our favorite 2020 wedding trends. Expect to see a lot of neo mint, a.k.a. the new millennial pink; cassis, not quite pink, not quite purple; yellow, a mellow, rich hue with earthy undertones; and faded denim, a blue that equally 8. fresh and serene.

Edible Florals Frozen in ice-cubes, 7. It’s Lit tossed in salads, sprinkled on Good lighting is the surest way to get tops of dessert, edible flowers are those 2020 wedding decor trends noticed. a big wedding reception trend for From hanging installations to tube 2020. This pretty extra is perfect for lighting and LED bars, the options are floral-loving duos and an easy way to endless. Change up the feeling of your elevate virtually anything from infused party from dinner to dancing with a water to classic vanilla cake. Florals light show or add strings of fairy lights and weddings are synonymous so pair to a concentrated space, like above your your edible petals with dried flowcake table for maximum effect. And fret ers for a romantic effect (think: not, candlelight is still on trend for creatpressed in invites, or as ing an intimate and romantic vibe. confetti after “I do”).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 394

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to include many things, narrow in on one or two true statement moments, like hanging florals over dining tables, a neon installation that doubles as a ceremony altar or an explosive firework sendoff.

Your guests will be sure to remember a real standout detail, especially if it feels very “you guys.”

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12. Dressed To Impress

Black is taking a backseat to blue. Navy, teal and cobalt hued jackets are trending when it comes to tuxedos and suits, while accessories of all kinds continue to be the favored way to really personalize a look.

Unique wedding dress codes (think: white party!) are also on the rise.

13. The Cheese Hour

9. Table Remix

As far as wedding reception trends go, this one is budget friendly: instead of only ten-top rounds or a long farmhouse table, opt for more artful settings. Winding tables – multiple tables pushed together to create a design – add an extra element to reception set ups. Not enough room to snake your seating? Configure your long rectangular tables into a fun design (think: X marks the spot).

10. Self-Serve Refreshments

We’re not talking a cooler full of cold ones, this wedding trend dresses up the actual serving of a signature sip. An artfully created wall-mounted dispenser, a tricked out bar of pour-over drinks, or a slew of specialty garnishes allows guests to create their perfect cocktail. Bonus: you’ll need one less bartender to pull it off.

11. Statement Wedding Decor

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Think of this 2020 wedding trend as the savory twist on the Viennese Hour (traditionally an opulent dessert display following the cake cutting). Instead of tables of sweets, wheels of cheese, crackers, nuts and fruit are piled high. This lux charcuterie board can also check the box for end of night nibbles for your guests – win-win!

14. Charity Check

Instead of dolling out party favors at the end of the night (or in addition too!) thank your guests for celebrating with you by making a donation to a charity that means something to you as a couple. One of our favorite 2020 wedding trends is giving back, in all forms.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

16. Interactive Eats

Donut walls are giving way to more interactive (yet equally delicious) culinary moments. Conveyor belts doll out appetizers, while molecular gastronomy shows up at dinner. It’s all about the presentation and the flare factor. And flavors are getting an update too. Opt for a moment of fusion cuisine on your wedding reception menu (like: Mexican ravioli, pastrami egg rolls, or breakfast dumplings at the after party).

17. Spray-painted Stems

Greenery is still hip, but this year’s wedding decor trend is getting a colorful makeover.

Spray-painted greens, branches, and grasses are adding texture and pops of unnatural color (think neon, frosted pastels and metallics) to arrangements and bouquets. Dip dyed petals are also hot and a fun way to add an unexpected pop of color into the decor mix.

18. To-The-Max Fashion 15.

Personalized Paper

Your wedding invite can set the tone for your whole celebration– but it doesn’t have to. Lean into the wedding trends of 2020 with something that speaks to you as a couple, like using recycled paper and soy based inks for eco-friendly correspondence. Opt for a modern vibe by embracing bold colors, pattern and texture in your wedding invites. Or delight a more intimate guest list with a pop-up or acrylic invite that will really wow.

Our favorite 2020 wedding trends extend to fashion too, and this craze speaks to the classic loving crowd. Big ball gowns, exaggerated sleeves, embellishments and lace– a big departure from the sleek and sexy gowns of years past – are very now. There’s a regal undertone to these looks that feels uber romantic and classic without being expected.

More is more when it comes to the 2020 wedding dresses.

19. Spirited Sips

Mocktails aside, there are a few trending spirits for 2020. Gin is all the rage with no slowdown in sight – it’s perfect for mixing simply or for creating an elaborate, multiingredient cocktail. Mezcal is also trending with many new varietals to explore. Lastly, the addition of fizz (sparkling water, champagne, anything with bubbles really) continues to delight partygoers for its celebratory nature.

20. The New Amenity Basket

Think of this as the ultimate wedding trends #extra. Instead of treating guests to just mints and hairspray (psst, here’s what else to include in a wedding bathroom basket), make their trip to the loo more memorable. Stationing tarot card readers, magicians and champagne stations just outside restrooms ensuring the party doesn’t stop, even if you leave the dance floor. Want to really go all out? Stock up on dozens of tubes of drugstore lipstick and watch the ladies go wild. n

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Hiring a second photographer can help you see your wedding from a different perspective

Sauk Valley

Weddings

W

e get asked all the time: Do we really need to have a second photographer at our wedding? We understand – finding, booking and paying for one shooter is enough work. But before you brush off the idea of multiple photographers as unnecessary, know there are some very valid reasons for having more than one to capture your day.

Many couples admit that not spending more on photography is one of their biggest wedding day regrets – and we tend to agree. In most cases, you’ll want a second shooter for a number of practical reasons. For one, there’s the challenge of how to photograph your ceremony. There’s something so special about being able to capture multiple emotional moments throughout. You’ll want your walk down the aisle and your partner’s reaction to it, your vows and your parents’ reactions. You get the point – so much happens simultaneously at weddings and they’re all worth remembering, from getting ready to the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.

Advice

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Looking for a local photographer?

Turn to page 43 for a list.

If you’re wedding is on the larger side, you can hardly expect one shutterbug, no matter how swift and talented, to snap every memorable moment happening in every corner of the room. We think a second shooter is always worth it, even if you’re only inviting a small number of guests. For example, with two shooters, one can take your postceremony portraits while the other snaps photos of your guests at cocktail hour. Also, if you and your partner both love the idea of taking getting-ready photos, but you’re getting ready in two separate spaces, having two photographers snap your wedding prep at the same time will be a godsend.

Of course, there are a few tweaks you can make to your dayof timeline so a second shooter is a little less necessary. For instance, coordinate your getting-ready times so one of you and your wedding party can primp first, followed by the other and their crew. That way, one photographer can capture both scenes.

Just remember, stacking your getting ready sessions will add waiting time to your busy day, whether it’s on the front or back end.

If your budget is the sole reason you want to ditch a second photographer, we totally understand. One trick is to consider cutting down the amount of time you need a photographer.

Many photographers understand this factor, and can work with you to make sure they take all necessary photos first thing at the reception, so you can get on with the party.

Lastly, you can (and should) invite your guests to download The Guest app, the private photo-sharing app that automatically aggregates everyone’s iPhone and Android snaps in real time – it’s kind of like a hashtag, only 10 times better (think: no uploading, tagging and no separate camera apps). That means you can see all those hilarious, candid dance-floor photos your photographers didn’t capture. n

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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Glitter and glam, sleeves that poof, and dresses that put on airs – these are just a few of the wedding dress trends for 2020

Get your wish list ready. From bold botanical prints to romantic sleeves and fun party dresses, there’s no shortage of über-chic inspiration in this year’s wedding dress trends.

1. Floral Print Dresses

We’ll spare you the “Florals for spring?” bit and just get right to the point: These aren’t your average bridal

blooms. Bold floral prints made an appearance in several 2020 wedding dress collections, adding a burst of color to the classically white runways of Bridal Fashion Week. Whether they’re subtle and pastel, edgy and oversized or in the form of textural, 3-D embroideries, this cool-girl way to pull off florals adds whimsical visual interest to any wedding dress silhouette.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

of them in the 2020 wedding dress trends and collections. The best 2. Ball gowns thing about this attention-grabbing Calling all royal wedding fans: This silhouette? It’s actually surprisingly wedding dress trend is the one for versatile and works for most wedding you. If you’re looking to make an styles. Go full-on Grace Kelly with entrance, consider opting for a clasheavy satin or Elizabethan with bilsic ball gown—and we saw plenty lowy sleeves. No matter the details, this voluminous style is sure to turn a few 3. Ruffles heads.

If ever there’s 4. Airy Dresses a time to From streamlined indulge your ball gowns to sheer inner hopesheaths, light-as-air less romantic, gowns took over the your wedding runways and 2020 day is it – and wedding dresses. it doesn’t get Effortless fabrics like more romantic tulle and organza than this frilly, give off a gorgeous ultra-feminine ethereal vibe without detail. A ruffly any additional bulk, so skirt adds you can hit the dance dimension to a floor without stressing mermaid silhouabout tripping over ette, while a full your gown or feeling skirt of frothy, weighed down. Do cascading ruffles you know what we call is equal parts that? A serious bridal whimsical and fashion win. fashion forward.

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SAUK VALLEY TEAM UP WITH PRINTING

5. Puffy Sleeves

Hear us out before you totally write off this ’80s-inspired wedding dress trend. A far cry from the sleeves Princess Diana and other brides of the maximalist era of fashion wore, these ruffly and off-theshoulder versions are all about tasteful romance. If you love this detail but are worried about overdoing it, look for a slim silhouette with puffy sleeves and keep the rest of your accessories simple. Or, if you love this look but aren’t ready to fully commit, go for detachable ones you can take off for your reception or afterparty.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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7. One Shoulder Necklines 6. Pants

These sleek dress alternatives are comfortable, figure flattering and totally of the moment. Bonus: It’s basically impossible to put on one of these tailored ensembles and not feel like a badass.

For the 2020 bridal trends, lace details, 3-D floral embellishments and metallic beading gave classic white suits and jumpsuits a modern upgrade.

This unique silhouette flatters the upper body and gives off serious goddess vibes. The best part? This 2020 wedding dress trend also works for pretty much every wedding style—whether you go classic with heavy satin, Grecian with gauzy tulle or glam with one long sleeve.

8. Short Dresses

If you’re eloping, going for a super casual wedding style or just looking for a good excuse to show some leg and a killer pair of shoes, this 2020 wedding dress trend is for you. Opting for a long gown for the day of? A short, white dress is also perfect for all of your other wedding-related events like your rehearsal dinner or bridal shower.

9. Sparkle

Bring on the bling. While glitz and glitter is nothing new where bridal fashion is concerned, over-the-top sequins, tonal beading and metallic embellishments turned the Fall 2020 Bridal Fashion Week runways into a glittery affair worthy of Studio 54. Perfect for evening nuptials, this wedding dress trend is daring but sophisticated.

Pro tip: If you’re rocking a gown with lots of sparkle, keep your accessories minimal and let your glitzy frock do all the talking.

10. Tiered Skirts

If you’re on the hunt for a dress with some added flair but don’t want the hassle of a full skirt or long train, look no further than a gown with a tiered skirt. Made for twirling, a layered skirt adds pretty texture and movement – but not heft – to a ball gown or A-line silhouette. n

Looking for dress shops? Turn to page 48 for a list.

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Everybody

n w After you’ve marched down the aisle, it’s time to dance up a storm; here are some tips to get guests out of their seats and up on their feet

H

ere’s one wedding nightmare you might not think of until it’s too late: an empty dance floor. You’ve booked the band or DJ, planned your playlist and specifically carved out time for dancing – so why isn’t anybody on the dance floor? You don’t want to force people to get out there, but, like, seriously, why isn’t anybody dancing? Trust us, if you follow our advice, you won’t have to deal with this wedding reception dilemma. Your guests will find their way to the dance floor naturally and willingly (and that’s an understatement).

Here are the 11 best ways to ensure a packed and lively dance floor the entire night. Let the party begin!

1. Set the Mood Early

Cocktail hour is a great time to get the party going. Consider hiring specialty performers. Entertainment like a mariachi band, jazz trio, bluegrass group or barbershop quartet will energize the crowd postceremony and get everyone in the mood to celebrate. Look to your love story when deciding on specialty music: Hire a brass quintet if you met in marching band, an accordion player if you took an unforgettable trip to Paris together, or get a steel drummer in honor of your upcoming Caribbean honeymoon. The main idea is to make sure your guests aren’t noshing and drinking in silence.

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50

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 style. Trust us – it’s worth the money knowing your guests will be entertained all evening.

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2. Have enough space

Small dance floors are too cramped and big ones make people too self-conscious. Here’s a good rule of thumb: There should be at least three square feet of dance floor space for every two guests. So, if you have 150 guests, you would need a 15’ x 15’ dance floor; 200 guests would be about an 18’ x 18’ area; 400 guests calls for about 25’ x 25’ of space. Ask your reception site about adding on extra flooring if the standard seems too small. And one more thing—make your dance floor the focal point of the room, not tucked into a corner. By highlighting it, you send guests the message that dancing will be a big part of the evening.

3. Align your seating chart

Seat friends and family who love to dance closest to the dance floor. They’ll be more likely to get up and start moving early if they have easy access. And once they’re out there, others will follow (some people just need a little encouragement). As for your more elderly guests, do them a favor and keep them away from the speakers. They’ll appreciate it.

Mind your decibel levels too. You want your friends and family out there dancing, but you also want your nondancing guests to be able to enjoy themselves without having to yell.

Talk to your musicians about how they plan to handle volume and acoustics within your reception space.

4. Skip the iPod idea

You may have the most genius playlist in mind, but there’s a reason why DJs and bands are so common at weddings – they’re pros at reading and interacting with the crowd, and adjusting to their mood throughout the evening. They’re there to ensure everyone is dancing and having an amazing time (so you don’t have to). Besides, do you really want a friend or family member getting up to grab the microphone all night to announce your cake cutting and bouquet toss? Didn’t think so. If you do your homework, you’ll find a band or DJ in your price range who fits your

5. Don’t limit the genre

Even if you both truly love indie rock, there’s a good percentage of your guests who probably haven’t heard of Modest Mouse and won’t appreciate it like you will. A playlist made up entirely of ‘80s dance music, rap or country is the same story. Don’t get us wrong, including your favorite genre at your wedding is great, but it’s important to include a little mix of everything – that way there’s a little something for everyone. Your wedding is a celebration of your relationship – one that probably involves music – but it’s also a time to share with your extended family. Keep them in mind when developing your playlist. Throw grandparents a nod with Frank Sinatra and give your aunts and uncles a chance to dance to a little “We Are Family” (unless you’re truly averse). Seeing them enjoy the night will be well worth a few minutes of Sister Sledge.

6. Make music interactive

Let guests in on the fun by allowing them to request songs via the RSVP card. Or set up a poll on your wedding website and ask everyone to vote on your first dance song or the last song of the evening. You’ll have everyone looking forward to the voters’ choice song reveal.

7. Create a short do-not-play list

There’s no bigger dance floor turnoff than hearing your least favorite song (ahem, “Chicken Dance”). Put together a short list of please-don’t-play songs for your DJ or band to avoid. But at the same time, don’t micromanage. While your music pro should know which genres you like and dislike, let them figure out the best way to mix the music.

8. Keep your first dance brief

You may have fallen in love listening to “Free Bird,” but imagine how long nine minutes and eight seconds will feel alone on the dance floor. (And if it’s dragging for you, imagine how your guests will feel.) Pay careful attention to your favorite song’s length before com-

WHERE TO SHOP

D

mitting to it for your first dance. Time your song and practice dancing to it beforehand.

Even four minutes can kill you if you’re just rocking back and forth. If your heart is set on a certain (long) ballad, try to have it cut down to a reasonable length. Work with your DJ or band to come up with the perfect shortened version. Same goes for your parent dances too.

9. Keep things exciting

Surprise your guests with something unexpected, like introducing a never-seen-thatbefore act. Think live entertainers, like break dancers or flamenco dancers. Time it right so they make their entrance just as the toasts are wrapping up to get all your guests back up and moving on the dance floor and out of their food coma.

10. Serve snacks on the dance floor

Ready for this genius idea? Instead of breaking up the flow of your dance party, have your traditional cake-cutting moment earlier in the evening, say, right after toasts or your first dance, before the first course is served. That way, guests will already be seated and paying attention, while you’ll still be in focused, newlywed mode (not trying to get low during “Shout”). Then, once the party gets going, have your caterer pass perfect bites of cake around the dance floor, instead of serving plated slices at people’s seats or way in the back at a designated dessert table.

11. Dance!

Here’s the simple truth: The most fun weddings are those at which the newlyweds are having an absolute blast. Set an example for everyone by getting your happy selves out there as soon as possible. Your guests will notice and be more likely to join you when they see how much fun you’re having. And when in doubt, enlist your wedding party. Your reception will be a long, busy evening, so let your crew know beforehand how important it is to you that your guests dance, and ask them to lead the movement to the floor. That way, if you do get caught up talking to guests, they’ll have your back. n

isc jockeys

Sauk Valley Weddings

815 PRODUCTIONS DJ SERVICE Tampico 815-878-2066 Online: Facebook

IN TUNES MULTI-MEDIA DJ SERVICE 397 N. 30th Road, Lasalle 815-224-2405 Online: Facebook

LUXE PRODUCTIONS 7300 Edward Drive., Loves Park 815-988-5341 Online: luxeproductions.com/

SAUK VALLEY DJS 18th Avenue, Sterling 779-348-4530 Online: Facebook

ANYTIME EVENT SERVICE Clinton, Iowa 563-219-1513 Online: anytimeeventservice.com/ and Facebook

JETI ENTERTAINMENT WEDDING DJ SERVICE 4249 E. State St., Rockford 815-395-0415 Online:jetientertainment.com/

MIDNIGHT SOUND PRODUCTIONS 519 Route 2, Dixon 815-631-3843 Online: Facebook

SOUND SOLUTION DJ ENTERTAINMENT 1891 E. Water Road, Byron 815-262-5975 Online: soundsolutiondj.com

BLUE WATER DJ AND KARAOKE 308 Willett Ave., Dixon 815-994-3999 Online: https://bluewaterdjandkaraoke. com/ and Facebook

LASTING IMPRESSIONS MOBILE DJ SERVICE 1510 Reno Road, Sterling 815-564-9019 Online: Facebook

ROCK VEGAS EVENTS Rockford 815-290-9562 Online: rockvegasevents.com/ and Facebook

TWISTED MIC’S MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT 1518 Fifth Ave., Moline 563-349-7276 Online: Facebook

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

You

CAN HAVE

YOUR CAKE

AND HANG IT, TOO

Here are some sweet ideas to make your cake stand out, from quotable to naked

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2. Go For Chocolate

If you love chocolate, order it! It doesn’t have to be frosted in white buttercream to count as a wedding cake. Choose creamy chocolate buttercream, smooth ganache or opt for fondant or chocolate marzipan.

3. Give Every Table A Cake Let everyone have a turn at cutting the cake by placing small cakes at each table.

Order a variety of flavors and encourage guests to get up and try cakes throughout the room. Or top your cakes with numerals so they double as table numbers.

1. Leave it Naked

Resist the urge to frost it and show off the inside instead. For a summertime wedding, fresh berries work well; in winter and fall, ask your baker to fill the layers with seasonal fruits, like apples, pears, persimmons or blood oranges.

4. Create a Custom Cake Stand Stick to a simple cake design and add interest with a stand made to coordinate with your colors and theme. We’ve seen everything from plexiglass stands filled with plants to rustic wooden ones and even flower-covered tables.

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Helping turn your dreams into reality.

815-864-2125 • www.fsbshannon-polo.com

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 6. Make it sweeter

5. Feature your favorite quote Pick a quote from your favorite poem or movie and let it take center stage on your wedding cake. This also works well with song lyrics or excerpts from your written vows.

Take things up a notch by adding other confections to the cake, like truffles. Or turn the cake table into a dessert buffet complete with some of your favorites, like oatmeal cookies, or a nod to your honeymoon destination, such as key lime pie.

7. Get creative with shape

Square cakes look sleek and modern, but you could even go for a hexagonal- or petalshaped cake for a totally unique design.

10. Go small – or really big

7. Serve mini-confections

9. Suspend your cake

Hang your confection from the ceiling or above a table for a super-cool effect. Just make sure it’s out of the way of tipsy guests and really secure!

Have individual or minicakes served to guests as you would any other course.

Or display a large table of them stacked to look like one big cake, and then invite guests to help themselves.

WHERE TO SHOP AURELIO’S BAKE SHOP 517 Locust St., Sterling 815-626-2253 Email: yeyo971@att.net Online: Facebook BAKER STREET 111 W. First St., Dixon – 815-285-2253 Email: bakerstreet111@live.com Online: Facebook BELLA LUNA BAKERY 308 W. State St., Rockford 815-670-7028 Online: bellalunabakeryrockford.com/ and Facebook CAKES BY DOLORES 110 W. First St., Mount Morris 815-440-5752 Email: delores.wolber@yahoo.com Online: Facebook COUNTY MARKET BAKERY 210 W. Third St., Sterling 815-622-0180 1380 N. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-288-2112 Online: mycountymarket.com ERICA KOREN CAKERY 107 Buchanan St., Belvidere

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akes

Change the perspective and order a petite two-tier wedding cake, decorated to perfection (and then serve alternate desserts, like pies or sorbet). Or go big – really big. Ask your cake baker to create a seven- or nine-tier wedding cake (some of the layers could be Styrofoam) for a serious wow factor.

Sauk Valley Weddings

815-519-7287 Online: ekcakery.com and Facebook

815-625-6405 Online: kroger.com

Online: saralynnscakes.com/ and Facebook

FOLSOM’S BAKERY 319 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-622-7870 Online: folsomsbakeryorders.com/ and Facebook

LAS CANELITAS BAKERY 1523 Broadway, Rockford 815-398-7500 Online: Facebook

SULLIVAN’S FOODS 300 N. Madison St., Morrison 815-772-4696 101 E. State Route 64, Mount Morris 815-734-6868 Online: sullivansfoods.net and Facebook

HALO CUPCAKE 7969 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park 815-282-1225 Online: halocupcake.com HOMER’S DELI AND SWEETHEART BAKERY 241 Main Ave., Clinton, Iowa 563-242-3959 Online: sweetheartbakery.com and Facebook HYVEE BAKERY 901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162 Online: hy-vee.com and Facebook JACKIE’S DELISH DESSERTS Ashton – 815-593-0783 jackiesdelishdesserts@yahoo.com Online: Facebook KROGER 2301 Locust St., Sterling

MY GIRL’S CAKE SHOP 2722 E. 46th St., Davenport, Iowa 563-210-1417 Online: mygirlscakeshop.com/ and Facebook THE NOBLE CAKERY 201 N. Third St., Oregon 630-484-6969 Online: thenoblecakery.com/ OLDE TOWNE BAKERY 1824 Seventh St., Moline 309-764-8421 Online: otbmoline.com and Facebook POLLEN AND PASTRY Serves northern and central Illinois 815-471-9034 Email: letsparty@pollenandpastry.com Online: pollenandpastry.com SARA LYNN’S CAKES 3115 Oxford Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa 563-355-8972

SUGARJONES, INC 6336 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park 815-708-0801 3600 E. State St., Rockford 815-977-5199 Online: sugarjonesinc.com/ and Facebook SWEET DREAM DESSERTS AND CATERING 1969 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore 815-756-8150 Online: sweetdreamdesserts.com/ and Facebook WALMART BAKERY 1640 S. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-288-7770 4115 E. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-626-7200 Online: walmart.com

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Let’s do Wedding receptions and dinner time don’t have to go hand in hand. Start things off earlier with a late-morning matrimonial menu instead

53

Sauk Valley

Weddings

c atering Wedding waffles

Who doesn’t love a spread of craveworthy brunch fare?

Waffles, omelets, pastries and local fruit, all washed down with freshly-brewed coffee, mimosas, Bellinis and Bloody Marys – we could go on and on. Say your vows at sunrise with a breakfast spread to follow, or have a brunchinspired reception any time of day.

Here are few tips for throwing a fabulous brunch reception your guests will be talking about forever.

Timing Is Everything

A typical brunch reception will usually take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you’d like it to be more of a breakfast, 9 a.m. is usually the earliest starting time to consider. Your guests’ stomachs may not be ready to handle heavy food right away. Serve juices, coffee and cocktails along with some light, fruity nibbles before moving onto the main course, to avoid overwhelming guests who may still be wiping sleep from their eyes.

Then, of course, comes coffee, dessert and wedding cake. Brunch is best served buffet style or as a seated meal (or a combination of the two). The other alternative is a cocktail brunch, where guests enjoy passed delicacies hors d’oeuvres style ( scrambled egg tartlets and mini French toast bites) and cocktails like mimosas, Bellinis, champagne and punch, as they mingle and celebrate.

Rusty Schrader/SVM illustration

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 Brunch Food Trends

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Festive Vs. Formal

Morning naturally sets a more mellow tone.

A brunch can still be festive (think brightly colored flowers and mimosas), but it probably won’t include a crazy dance party. Satisfy friends and family with a bountiful buffet and fresh juice bar. For a more formal atmosphere, go for fine china, champagne and a threecourse meal. Have a decadent raw bar if you really want to impress. Also consider the time of year. If your wedding day falls during leafturning season, choose an ideal space where windows frame fall’s colors. Planning a winter wedding? Consider a cozy brunch by a roaring fire. In springtime, a tented garden soiree or a restaurant’s rooftop are beautiful ways to celebrate in the newly warm weather. When choosing a brunch spot, remember to see it during the time of day you’re planning your reception – ask yourself, is it dark and depressing due to a lack of windows? Does the sun beat down during the day, making the room sweltering hot?.

Brunch Budgets

Serving brunch is one of the most cost-effective receptions you can have: They can range in price from $20 per head and up, depending on the menu and the site you choose. Your liquor costs will be much lower than an evening affair, and you won’t have to shell out money for a full live band (unless you want to, of course). Plus, reception sites are often less expensive to rent in the morning, midday and early afternoon.

One word: frittatas. According to James Beard, award-winning chef, and restaurateur Rocco DiSpirito, this Italian vegetable-and-egg dish is all the rage. “The frittata feels lighter yet substantial without being rich. It’s full of vegetables so it appeals to the health conscious and can be prepared with delicious cheeses and herbs.” Want to forgo the eggs altogether?

Grilled veggies are a tasty alternative. “Smoked things – not just salmon and sable, but tuna bacon and salmon bacon, smoked tuna and smoked meats, and even smoked vegetables – are great for late morning or early afternoon,” DiSpirito says. Southern-inspired comfort food, such as shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and homemade biscuits, are also making a comeback. Provide creative variations to satisfy any guests’ cravings for lunch: grilled chicken salad wraps, open-face sandwiches made on homemade dill sponge bread, caprese salad and smoked salmon wraps instead of the traditional bagels and lox. Also, you can never go wrong with food stations, a lively (and less crowded) alternative to the standard buffet that are definitely still trending. Consider an omelet, French toast, crepe or pancake station (with various toppings and syrups). Offer an espresso bar or made-to-order drip coffee station, with an option for hot chocolate and tea for noncoffee drinkers.

Tasty Tidbits

Keep in mind your health conscious guests

WHERE TO SHOP ARTHUR’S GARDEN DELI 2312 E. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-625-5566 Online: arthursdeli.com/menu2/ and Facebook

COTY’S UNIQUE COOKING & CATERING 216 W. First St., Dixon 815-973-5117 Email: cotymcginn@hotmail.com Online: Facebook

BAKER STREET 111 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-2253 Email: bakerstreet111@live.com Online: Facebook

CREATIVE CUISINE 1741 Industrial Drive – Unit 24, Sterling 815-626-7546 Email: 1creativecuisine@comcast.net Online: 1creativecuisine.net and Facebook

CANDLELIGHT INN 2907 N. Locust St., Sterling 815-625-2600 2200 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-626-1897 511 Riverview Drive, Clinton Iowa 563-243-3200 Online: candlelightinnrestaurant. com and Facebook CELEBRATIONS CATERING BY MINDY Ditzler 402 E. Mason St., Polo 815-631-1123 Online: celebrationspolo.com and Facebook

CUSTOM CATERING AND BBQ Scott Heeren, BBQ Pitmaster 224 S. Truman Ave., Lanark 815-821-4701 Email: customcateringandbbq@gmail.com Online: customcateringandbbq.com and Facebook HYVEE 901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162 Online: hy-vee.com and Facebook HOMER’S DELI AND SWEETHEART BAKERY 241 Main Ave. Clinton, Iowa

C

and think beyond simply pancakes, cheesy eggs, bacon and sausage. Consider more abundant healthful or vegetarian offerings, like fruit yogurt, egg-white omelets, gourmet pizza, poached salmon, vegetable tarts, grilled veggie sandwiches, whole-grain baked goods and salad nicoise. And to add a little flair, think beyond the ordinary. Instead of muffins and croissants, feature orange-scented scones and walnut banana bread. And just because it’s before noon doesn’t mean you can’t have a wedding cake.

You may opt for a lighter confection, such as tres leches, mille crepe, carrot, lemon, angel food or coffee cake. And the easiest way to lighten up a midday wedding dessert is to serve it with fresh fruit.

Think Drinks

Go light on the liquor, and if you’d like to serve it, consider offering it after some food has been eaten. Don’t forget morning favorites, like Bloody Marys, mimosas, screwdrivers, mint juleps, punch, tequila sunrise (grenadine, tequila and orange juice), Bellinis or champagne with a few berries dropped in. And, of course, include nonalcoholic breakfast beverages such as coffee (Americano, cafe au lait, espresso, cappuccino or Thai iced coffee), tea, (black, green, mint, spiced, chai, chamomile, Earl Grey and English breakfast), fresh juices, hot chocolate and fruit smoothies. For a Southern affair, think iced tea with lemon, peach tea, fresh strawberry or watermelon lemonade, and raspberry ginger ale punch. n

aterers

563-242-3959 Online: sweetheartbakery.com and Facebook LARGE MARGE BBQ INC. Sterling, 815-713-4417 Email: largemargebbq@gmail.com Online: Facebook MANNY’S TOO 305 11th Ave., Fulton 815-589-4800 312 Locast St., Sterling 815-589-2920 Online: mannyspizza.com and Facebook SALAMANDRA RESTAURANT 105 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-0874 Email: salamandradixon@yahoo.com Online: Facebook SMOKED ON 3RD BBQ BISTRO & CATERING 14 E. Third St., Sterling 815-632-3773 Email: info@smokedon3rd.com Online: smokedon3rd.com and Facebook

Sauk Valley Weddings

SOW BELLY’S 92 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon 815-288-1234 Email: ginabattaglia.sowbellys@gmail.com Online: Facebook SULLIVAN’S FOODS 300 N. Madison St., Morrison 815-772-4696 and 101 E. state Route 64, Mount Morris 815-734-6868 Online: sullivansfoods.net/ and Facebook SWEET DREAMS DESSERTS AND CATERING 1969 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore 815-756-8150 Email: sddcatering@yahoo.com Online: sweetdreamscatering.com and Facebook TRIPLE P’S BBQ 3312 W. Rock Falls Road, Rock Falls 815-625-7138 Email: greatfood@triplepbbq.com Online: triplepbbq.com and Facebook

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

comes full Want to have a hand in personalizing your wedding ring?

Here are a few tips

T

he custom of inscribing romantic poetry onto wedding rings began in the courts of medieval Europe. Today, engraving a message on the inside of the shank – even around the perimeter of the stone – is one of the easiest ways to personalize an engagement ring or your wedding bands.

How to Do It

Make the request to get your ring engraved by your jeweler when you order the ring. If the jeweler can’t do it, he should be able to refer you to an engraver. Be sure to doublecheck the spelling of the requested inscription before you pass it on to the engraver, and check it again when you receive it.

When to Do It

Engraving can be done as quickly as while you wait, or it can take up to one month. Ask your jeweler how long yours will take and plan ahead.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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Unique Ideas

If you can’t edit your sentiment down to a mere few words or want to use a stanza from a poem or song, consider engraving your message around the rim of the stone itself. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) can laser-inscribe a microscopic message or even a graphic.

The inscription is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen with a magnifying glass, so it can be a romantic secret between the two of you.

Inscribing a message on your diamond also serves as a foolproof “birthmark” should the stone ever be lost or stolen.

What It Costs

WORDS WITH A FAMILIAR RING TO THEM Popular and sentimental wedding ring engraving ideas

I love you Our love is eternal To my soul mate Always Forever Eternity Your first initials I thee wed All my love I marry you You have my heart My heart is in your hands Never to part To my wife/husband

Soul mates forever I’m always with you To have and to hold Your private nicknames for each other Here is my heart; guard it well!

No one but you God for me provided thee God unite both in love In thy breast my heart doth rest (Old English) Pour tous jours (For all days, 15th-century French)

The cost is usually based on the number of characters in the inscription, the font used, and whether it will be engraved by hand or machine. Machine engraving tends to be cheaper, on average $25 for 15 characters, while hand-engraving is usually pricier, at $75 for 8 characters, but adds a special hand-forged feel. The price of the inscription on the actual diamond varies depending on the carat weight of the diamond, but prices start at $15 for graphics or 15 characters.

WHERE TO SHOP ALBERT’S JEWELERS 128 Fifth Ave. S, Clinton, Iowa 563-242-8334 Online: albertsjewelers.net and Facebook BECKY BECK’S JEWELRY STORE 303 E. Hillcrest Drive, DeKalb 815-758-3800 Online: beckybecksjewelrystore.com/ BRUCE JEWELERS 631 S. Main St., Princeton 815-875-2289 Email: brucejewelers@frontier.com Online: brucejewelers.com and Facebook BUSCH JEWELERS 1960 Pawlisch Drive, Rockford 815-332-2222 Online: buschjewelry.com/

CLODIUS & CO. JEWELERS 252 S. Mulford Road, Rockford 815-227-1200 Online: clodiusco.com/ D & D JEWELERS 1739 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore 815-895-3377 Online: ddjewelers.com/ DAVIDSON JEWELERS 153 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline 309-755-9233 Online: davidsonjewelers.net/ DON’S JEWELRY 200 Main Ave., Clinton, Iowa 563-242-2663 Email: sheralyn@donsjewelryclinton.com Online: donsjewelryclinton.com and Facebook FIRST AVENUE JEWELRY 323 First Ave., Sterling

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ewelers

Joie sans fin (Joy without end, French) Mon coeur est a vous (You have my heart, French) Je t’aime (I love you, French) Mon amour (My love, French) Il mio cuore e il tuo per sempre (My heart is yours forever, Italian) Amore mio (My love, Italian) Vivo per lei (I live for her, Italian) Myn genyst (My heart, Old German) Mizpah (May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent from one another, Hebrew, Genesis 31:49) Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li (My beloved is mine and I am his, Hebrew, Song of Solomon 2:16) Semper amemus (Let us always love, Latin) Semper fidelis (Always faithful, Latin) Pari passu (With equal step, Latin) Amor vincit omnia (Love conquers all, Latin) Deus nos iunxit (God joined us, Latin)

Sauk Valley Weddings

815-626-8811 Online: Facebook

Online: jewelconnect.com/8155622426 and Facebook

FRANK JEWELERS 19 E. Stephenson St., Freeport 815-235-3169 Email: contactus@frankjewelers.com Online: frankjewelers.com and Facebook

ROGERS & HOLLANDS JEWELERS 7200 Harrison Ave., Rockford 815-332-3400 Online: rogersandhollands.com/

J KAMIN JEWELERS 250 N. Mulford Road, Rockford 815-226-0898 Online: jkaminjewelers.com/

TREIN’S JEWELRY 201 W. First St., Dixon 815-284-6626 Email: judy@treinsjewelry.com or linda@ treinsjewelry.com Online: treinsjewelry.com and Facebook

KAY JEWELERS Sterling Commons, 4204 E. Lincolnway, Suite C, Sterling 815-535-0437 Online: kay.com and Facebook QUINN’S JEWELRY STORE 426 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle 815-562-2426

VENIER JEWELERS 117 W. First St., Dixon 815-284-3034 Email: anthony_venier@me.com Online: venierjewelers.com and Facebook

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

T

the

hink setting sail on an ocean liner will be a mix of allyou-can-eat buffets and shuffleboard tournaments? Think again. The latest seafaring adventures have been upgraded to offer so much more, especially for honeymooners.

Here’s what you can look forward to when booking a cruise for you and your new first mate.

1. Planning a cruise can be less hassle

You’re in the middle of sending out save-the-dates, shopping for wedding rings and hiring a cake designer – and that’s just your side job. Now you have to book your honeymoon too? Give yourself a break by going on a cruise.

With this option, all you’ll have to do is pick your cruise line, your dream itinerary and a cabin – and you’re good to go. Because most tickets are offered as an all-inone package, you won’t have to deal with the fuss of coordinating transportation, vetting hotels, studying up on what you should do at different destinations and planning all your meals. Next up on your wedding to-do list? Take a deep breath and envision all those amazing times ahead.

2. You can reign in your budget rather than reigning in your fun

There is nothing romantic about counting your pennies before, during and after every honeymoon adventure. Do the math and splurge up front instead. Most cruise fares cover just about every cost you need to be concerned about, from breakfast in the morning to dancing and standard dining at night. You can even purchase all-you-can-drink and specialty dining packages ahead of time rather than deal with those additional costs onboard. Just remember to put aside some cash for gratuities; tips are not covered as part of your original fare.

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 chefs. Too cozy to leave the cabin? Order room service. It’s usually available around the clock.

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3. Make multiple stops, with zero hassle

Can’t decide on that one perfect honeymoon spot? On a cruise, you can visit many bucket-list destinations without having to make maddening trips back and forth to the airport. Fall asleep in one port on one day, and wake up in another one refreshed and ready to go the next. Take note of the places you absolutely loved and plan to return to them for longer excursions on anniversary celebrations to come.

4. There’s always something for both of you

You were contemplating an afternoon at the spa. Your partner? Rock climbing. With a cruise, you can both be happy – as long as you can bear being apart for a few hours.

Wave machines, swimming, golfing, dance classes, yoga classes and art classes are just some of the things you might find to occupy your time on a cruise during the day – and that doesn’t even include the excursions available when you reach your destinations.

At night, there are dinners, entertainment, movies and dancing. Or if you really want to do nothing at all, well, that’s an option too.

5. The service is on point (and available 24-7)

Being treated like royalty won’t have to end with your I do’s. From the moment you board your ship, the staff of most cruise lines – no matter how large – will greet you with the personalized service you can look forward to for the rest of your vacation.

6. The food is even better than you can imagine

Sure, there are still all-you-can-eat buffets onboard. But now cruises offer so much more – from yummy burgers for a quick lunch to afternoon tea and cake to gourmet dinners prepared by some of the world’s top

7. You can travel outside of your comfort zone

Even regular globetrotters may think twice before embarking on an excursion for two farther afield, especially if there’s a language barrier. Rather than going it alone, navigate exotic waters on a cruise. The ship’s helpful staff will tell you what you need to know to be safe and to get around, whether you’re in Thailand or Turkey. Worried you’ll feel detached from the culture around you? Enjoy local dishes onboard or learn to cook them on your own. Some cruises even offer history courses if you’re visiting a legendary destination or can connect you with guides from the area for private tours far from shore.

8. Journey across oceans or down rivers

Nothing sounds more beautiful than seeing the sunrise and sunset miles away from land.

But if you’re up for a different kind of adventure, look into a smaller river cruise. These have been common in Europe, where you can float along the Danube past beautiful old castles or make your way down the Rhône to gaze upon the rolling French countryside. Now river cruises are setting sail in other faraway regions, as well. Take in the wildlife from deck while traveling down Africa’s Chobe River or visit rural villages and remote monasteries along Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River.

9. You can kick back in cool digs

Say “bon voyage” to the chintzy decor of days past. The newest liners are debuting chic contemporary interiors so you can surround yourself in comfort and high design.

Think Frank Gehry furniture, glass-backed infinity pools, Scandinavian-inspired spas and lounge areas decorated in muted tones and warm woods that will make you want to chill out for hours on end. n

WHERE TO SHOP BEACH GAL TRAVEL SERVICES 1510 Prophetstown Road, Suite E, Rock Falls 815-716-8722 Online: beachgaltravels.com and Facebook

com and Facebook Email: avril@destinationstravelservices.com

CAMELOT WORLD TRAVEL 3011 N. Perryville Road, Rockford 815-633-2200 Online: camelotworldtravel.com/ and Facebook

GULLIVER’S TRAVEL SouthPark Mall, 4500 16th St., Moline 309-762-8800 NorthPark Mall, 320 Kimberly Road, Davenport, Iowa 563-386-4400 Online: gulliverstravel.com and Facebook

DESTINATIONS TRAVEL SERVICES 4015 E. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-625-3500 Online: destinationstravelservices.

GATEWAY TRAVEL & CRUISE 343 Fourth Ave S, Clinton, Iowa 563-242-1025 Online: gatewaytc.com and Facebook

LINDSTROM TRAVEL 5970 Guilford Road, Rockford

TRAVEL TIPS

A travel agent can save you money and enhance your overall experience.

Gina McGinnis, director of national sales of Windstar Cruises, thinks using a travel agent is a must. “I always recommend booking a cruise via an agent, but this rings especially true for honeymooners. Agents do this for a living and often have insider knowledge on extra perks or discounts. They’ll be able to counsel you on a variety of cruise lines according to your specific needs, plus help with other details like pre- or post-cruise accommodations, flights and more – making it that much easier for you to relax and just enjoy.”

Don’t leave home without travelers’ insurance.

This is true for any trip, but especially one as important as your honeymoon. Weather patterns can be unpredictable, destinations can face unforeseen challenges and you might even find yourself having too much fun in port that you miss your evening departure. Check the fine print of the policy and ensure it covers the potential problems your cruise could face and you’ll have smooth sailing regardless of what happens. No matter how you chart your course, plan ahead with a pro for an idyllic honeymoon cruise and you’ll be glad you did.

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ravel agents

815-398-8888 Online: lindstromtravel.com and Facebook KDM TRAVEL AGENCY 3554 Shady Ridge Ct., Davenport, Iowa 563-324-3201 Online: kdmtravel.com and Facebook PICTURE PERFECT 1315 30th St., Rock Island 309-788-0500 Online: pictureperfecttravelqc.com and Facebook SCUBA ADVENTURES 1104 State St., Bettendorf, Iowa

Sauk Valley Weddings

563-324-8771 Online: scubaadventureqca.com and Facebook THE TRAVEL BUSINESS Moline – 800-962-1879 Online: thetravelbusiness.com and Facebook Email: info@thetravelbusiness.com TRAVEL CONSULTANTS OF DIXON INC. 735 N. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-284-6681 Online: travelconsultantsofdixon.com and Facebook

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Crashin’

the

rules

They say clothes make the man, but who says the man can’t make the clothes his own? There’s room for the groom to think outside the sox when it comes to wedding wear

E

ven if the last word you’d use to describe your fiancé is “clotheshorse,” chances are he’s secretly psyched to pull out all the stops on his wedding day. For most men, that means a sharp suit or tux tailored to perfection, a highquality dress shirt that fits just so, a polished pair of kicks and maybe even a cool new set of cuff links.

But all too often, the chance for Sauk Valley self-expression is missing from the timeworn groom’s uniform. While a guy can – and should – look to established rules of dress to guide his choices, he shouldn’t be afraid to flout them and show off a little personality. Below are some of the most commonly cited formalwear fashion rules that every groom should consider myths – not mandates.

Weddings

Menswear

Myth No. 1: You have to spend a million to look like a million

Of course you don’t want your fiancé to show up in a rumpled, ill-fitting suit he borrowed from his old roommate, but you also wouldn’t want to see him spend so much there’s nothing left over for your Parisian honeymoon. The middle ground, of course, is a tuxedo or suit rental, which is more economical if you’re not going to wear it more than once a year. The cost of a new tux or suit varies wildly – they can start around $500 and go way up from there – but a rental will only set you back about $200, on average. Even better news: Long gone are the days when a rental meant a boxy shape and limited color choices. Now guys can customize fit, neckwear, lapel styles and more. The result is a sharper, slimmer and more personal look – at a price tag that still allows for all the wine, cheese and baguettes you want on said honeymoon. Bon voyage!

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Myth No. 2: Don’t wear sneakers with a suit

To which we say: Why not? Sneakers, besides being the most comfortable of shoes, can be super-stylish too, and as more grooms embrace them, the more common they’ve become for wedding wear. They’re also an easy way to inject personality and a little fun into his getup. If your wedding is on the more laid-back and casual side, a trainers-clad groom is right on the money. (And if you’re having a more formal ceremony, he can always change into his sneaks for the reception.) A word to the men: Don’t just throw on your ratty old running shoes and call it a day; the sneakers you choose, like the suit or tux you pair them with, should be clean and tidy.

Myth No. 3: Black tie equals a black tux with a bow tie

Remember prom, when every boy showed up in his formal-dance best: black jacket with a shawl collar, black pants with a satin stripe, and a one-color bow tie with matching vest? When you’re 17, you don’t know better. Grown-up grooms have no excuse. These days, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a suit and tuxedo, as the most telltale features of the latter – satin-faced lapels, satin buttons and a satin side-stripe down the pant leg – have become ever more subtle. And though the satin bow tie might be etched in your imagination as the definitive tux-worthy accessory, there’s no real reason why a long necktie shouldn’t be worn if that’s what the groom prefers. All that said, it’s getting easier, and more acceptable, to bend the rules when it comes to a black-tie event. A gray, blue or even white tux all work for a formal wedding, and your fiancé shouldn’t feel limited to the traditional black-and-white look, no matter the time of day or night.

Myth No. 4: You shouldn’t wear brown with black or black with navy

The old rule: Pair brown shoes with navy suits, and black shoes with black pants. The new rule: Mix it up! And remember, it’s all about contrast. A lighter brown, like chestnut or camel, will positively pop against an ebony suit, while marking the groom as a bit

of a style rebel – in a good way. Shiny black shoes against a navy suit look sleek and modern (even menswear bible GQ is on board with this myth-busting move).

Myth No. 5: Bigger guys shouldn’t wear slim-fitting clothes

As far as fashion faux pas go, it’s an understandable one: the idea that the bigger you are, the more fabric you need to camouflage your shape. The unfortunate reality, though, is all that fabric only serves to make you actually appear larger than you really are. Contrary to what you might think, slim or modern fit suits are often flattering on a wide range of body types, even with a rental. For the slimmest silhouette, a well-cut suit jacket will make a man’s rounder, softer edges appear more angular and sharp. If your fiancé buys his suit or tux, a professional tailor can alter it to contour his specific proportions, resulting in a streamlined look with the most flattering fit.

Myth No. 6: Black-tie attire shouldn’t be worn before 6 p.m.

With respect to Emily Post, the decree that a formal event isn’t, in fact, formal if held during daylight hours is a fussy distinction that seems to be going the way of the ascot.

As you’ve no doubt heard many times during wedding planning, it’s your day and you’re allowed to do things your way. Just because your ceremony will be in the afternoon, doesn’t mean you can’t up the formality level.

As mentioned above, the distinction between a suit and a tuxedo can be hard to suss out for most people anyway, and chances are, the bride will be in a floor-length gown whatever the hour – a marker of formality if there ever was one.

Myth No. 7: Sock color must match pants color

That might have been true when he was a little kid and his mom dressed him in his Sunday best, but for the modern man, almost nothing makes a sartorial statement quite like a pair of flashy socks. Sporting a favorite team’s logo, wearing fun patterns like stripes or polka dots, or even forgoing socks altogether (with the right shoes, of course) are all acceptable, playful ways to stand out from the suit-wearing crowd. n

WHERE TO SHOP DUCKY’S FORMAL WEAR 1721 Fifth Ave., Moline 309-797-9889 Email: duckysqc@gmail.com Online: www.duckysformalwear.com and Facebook CHERYL-ANN BRIDALS & TUXEDOS 980 Main St., Dubuque, Iowa 563-582-6930 Online: cherylannbridals.net and Facebook JOS. A. BANK 7180 Harrison Ave., Ste 2, Rockford

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enswear

815-332-9922 or 320 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, Iowa 563-386-3336 Online: www.josbank.com/and Facebook

or 6250 Mulford Village Drive, Rockford 815-397-7949 Online: menswearhouse.com/ and Facebook

KALEEL’S CLOTHING & PRINTING 704 N. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-284-5033 Email: kaleel36@comcast.net Online: kaleels.com or Facebook

MILROY’S FORMAL WEAR 2600 Dodge St., Dubuque, Iowa 563-584-2041 Online: www.milroystuxedos.com/

MEN’S WEARHOUSE 4770 Elmore Ave., Davenport, Iowa 563-359-4238

MOMENTS TUX SHOP 4332 State St., Bettendorf, Iowa 563-888-1695 Online: www.momentstuxshop.com/

Sauk Valley Weddings

SAUK VALLEY CLEANERS 83 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon 815-288-1322 SENO FORMAL WEAR 4015 E. Lincolnway, Suite A, Sterling 815-625-8247 or 6274 E. State St., Rockford 815-397-5991 Online: senoformalwear.com and Facebook

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Groom’s checklist inscriptions. n If you’re going to tie the knot, you may have to get your blood tested. It’s the law in n Figure out where you’re going to have your ceremony and reception. The best spots some states. fill up fast, especially for summer and fall, so 6 to 8 weeks before decide your wedding size and start looking. n Get a sparkling smile. Cut down on n Organize your guys. After you ask your coffee and try a whitening toothpaste. best man to do the honors, make up your Want to really shine? Consider a progroomsman list. For crowd control, you’ll fessional bleaching with a dentist or want at least one usher per 50 guests. use an over-the-counter whitening n Get what you want. Crazy as it seems, system. people start buying you gifts immediately, and n Don’t be cheap. This is one registering may be the only way to keep your of the most important moments friends’ and relatives’ questionable tastes in in your life, so put some real check. thought into the matter and then buy your bride a wedding gift.

9 months before n Don’t be cheap, part 2. n Meet and greet suitable officiants. Priest, Search high and low for the perrabbi, justice of the peace, officially sancfect groomsmen gifts. These guys tioned Elvis impersonator – the choice is are going to put out come D-Day yours. to make sure you look your best. n Book the talent. It’ll probably fall to you Make sure you get them something to choose the band or disc jockey. Be sure to get references and hear music beforehand decent to show for it.

– and run it by your bride before you sign on n Don’t lose it. Pick up your wedding the dotted line. rings and put them in a safe place. While you’re at it, check the engraving carefully n Start drawing up your guest list. This is for typos. something you’ll probably want to get your parents in on, too.

2 weeks before THE KNOT

12 months before

6 months before

n Plan your honeymoon. If you’re leaving the country, now would be a good time to check or find your passport – or get them if you and your girl don’t have ’em – and see what kind of shots or visas you might need. n Who’s driving? Arrange for transportation to the ceremony and reception. Think limousine or horse and buggy.

While you’re at it, figure out where you’re going after the reception – airport? hotel?

– and make plans for getting there. FYI, tradition dictates that your best man drives you.

n Do something really romantic with your wife-to-be. But before you do, pick up your marriage license. n Have a good time, but don’t do something stupid. It’s your bachelor party and last chance to go crazy before you say “I do.”

1 week before

n Get ready to relax. Double-check the honeymoon reservations, start packing your bags, and pick up traveler’s checks. n Pay your officiant. Put his or her fee 3 months before in an envelope and give it to your best n Get ready for the freeloaders. Your out-of- man for post-vow delivery. town guests need a place to stay, so unless n You are expected to speak to the crowd you’ve got a couple dozen spare bedrooms, at your wedding reception. Sound sensidecide on a hotel and reserve a block of tive and intelligent, start coming up with that rooms. Let them know this in your invitations. impromptu toast to her family now. n By this time, the guest list should be n Rally the troops. Give your groomsmen finalized – i.e., it has the bride, groom and the rehearsal dinner low-down and make parents’ approval. Time to send out the invisure everybody’s got his monkey suit pressed tations. n Get dressed. So what will it be? Tails and and ready. By the way, get a haircut already.

The day before top hat or traditional Scottish kilt? Decide and buy (or rent), then pick out your groomsmen’s n Make her cry. Write a sweet little “I love getups. you” note (or other touching trick) and leave it somewhere she’ll find it on wedding morning, n Give a jeweler your finger to be meaparticularly if you won’t be seeing her before sured. Let your fiancée do the same, and the ceremony. then order your wedding rings. Decide on

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When it comes to customizing your wedding look, no detail is too small – including the boutonniere

Flowers

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hen it comes to the bouquet and boutonniere, there aren’t any rules. You can go with blooms that match your color scheme, or no blooms at all (like paper or broach bouquets). Succulents are always a popular choice since they add a natural, unique-looking texture, or a sprig of berries can also be a fun alternative to fresh blooms. Go for a style that matches your personality and you can’t go wrong. Check out some of the most unique boutonnieres we’ve ever seen to help inspire your own.

Sauk Valley

Weddings

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Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021 5. Sporty Details

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alternative.

If the groom is a sports enthusiast, incorporate his favorite pastime in his bout. Get creative with red string for baseball, orange roses for basketball or add some tees to the seasoned golfer’s lapel.

1. Legos

Lego figurines are small enough not to be distracting but speak volumes to the groom’s personality. This is a great way to infuse personalization into the ceremony (and his attire).

6. Wrapped In Twine

2. Non-Floral Alternative

With brooch bouquets on the rise, it was only a matter of time before they made their way over to fellas’ attire too. Pin a brooch or felt flower on his lapel.

Rustic wedding theme? Wrap the boutonniere in twine to give it a bit of texture and charm.

7. Themed Decal

Replace a traditional floral pin with a fun button, like this mini hand-drawn picture of a beloved pet. He’ll love that it’s both practical and personal.

If you’re having a destination or oceanside wedding, choose a bout add-in that speaks to your location. Keeping the color relatively neutral or tucking it behind a few small flowers is enough to let it be noticed, but doesn’t overwhelm the lapel.

4. Metallic Accents

8. Unique Florals

3. Hand-Made Artwork

Adding just a hint of gold turns a regular boutonniere into a one-of-a-kind accessory.

Spray-paint heartier floral elements, like leaves and seeds, for a pop of metallic.

Not a flower kind of guy? No worries. You don’t have to have a single petal on that bout if you don’t want to. Look to greenery, berries or fiddlehead ferns for a unique

WHERE TO SHOP BEHRZ BLOOMZ 2503 N. Locust, Sterling 815-625-5116 Online: behrzbloomz.com/ CHERRY BLOSSOM FLORIST 3304 N. Main St., Rockford 815-654-1188 Online:cherryblossomflorist.com/ COUNTRY FLORAL 101 N. Division Ave., Polo 815-946-3952 Online: countryfloralpolo.com/ COUNTRY ORCHIDS 1019 Fourth St., Fulton 815-589-4045

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9. Barley and Grains

Pay homage to a favorite craft brew with a few hops, barley and beer bottle cap.

10. Herbs

A small arrangement of lavender with seeded eucalyptus looks minimal and sophisticated at the same time.

11. Bout and Tie Coordination

If you want to get really stylish, coordinate the colors in your tie with the blooms in the bout. (Extra style points for a chic pocket square!)

12. Gun Shell Casing

The metallic casing looks modern, while lending a bit of masculinity to the lapel.

13. Heirloom Accessory

Wearing a family heirloom on the wedding day is a sweet tradition that holds high sentimental value. Have your groom pin a treasured object on his lapel for all to admire. n

lowers

Online: countryorchids.com/

Online: eflowersetc.com and Facebook

DIXON’S FLOWER SHOP/ WEEDS, FLORALS, DESIGNS & DÉCOR 732 N. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-288-3041 Online: dixonfloral.com/ and Facebook

HYVEE 901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162 Online: hy-vee.com and Facebook

THE FLOWER PATCH 120 N. Fourth St., Oregon 815-732-7031 Online:flowerpatchoregonil.com/ and Facebook FLOWERS ETC. 1103 Palmyra St., Dixon 815-288-3335 Email: flowers@grics.net

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RIVER VALLEY DESIGNS 218 Main St., Savanna 815-273-2325 Online: rivervalleydesigns.us/ and Facebook

LUNDSTROM FLORIST 1709 E. Third St., Sterling 815-625-0080 Online: lundstromflorist.com/

SELMI’S FLORIST AND BRIDAL 223 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-622-8040 Online:selmibridal.com/

POLLEN AND PASTRY Serves northern and central Illinois 815-471-9034 Online: pollenandpastry.com and Facebook

WILSON GREEN HOUSE & FLORISTS 103 N. Heaton St., Morrison 815-772-2126 Online: wilsongreenhouse.com/

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IN TUESDAY’S TELEGRAPH AND DAILY GAZETTE

To find out how to place your engagement or wedding announcement in our Celebrations page, call 815-632-2537 or e-mail celebration@ saukvalley.com

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The Bride’s Trousseau Store________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone/Email__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________Consultant_________________________________________________ Gown description_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Date ordered_______________________________________Date promised______________________________________________ Price________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fitting appointments (Bring proper undergarments and shoes) Date/Time____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date/Time____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date/Time____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date/Time____________________________________________________________________________________________________

❐ Headpiece and veil – Price____________________________

❐ Jewelry – Price_____________________________________

❐ Bra/Bustier – Price__________________________________

❐ Wrap/Cape – Price__________________________________

❐ Teddy/Body stockings – Price_________________________

❐ Other – Price _______________________________________

❐ Stockings/Pantyhose – Price__________________________

❐ Something old – Price _______________________________

❐ Garter – Price_______________________________________

❐ Something new – Price ______________________________

❐ Petticoat/Slip – Price_________________________________

❐ Something borrowed – Price__________________________

❐ Shoes – Price_______________________________________

❐ Something blue – Price______________________________

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Photography Checklist Of the Bride ❐ Bride Alone ❐ Bride with her Mother ❐ Bride with her Father ❐ Bride with Both Parents ❐ Bride with Maid of Honor ❐ Bride with Bridesmaids ❐ Bride Fixing her Make-up and Hair ❐ Attendants Receiving Flowers ❐ Parents Receiving Flowers

Of the Groom ❐ Groom Alone ❐ Groom with his Mother ❐ Groom with his Father ❐ Groom with Both Parents ❐ Groom with Best Man ❐ Groom with Groomsmen ❐ Groomsmen Getting Boutonnières ❐ Parents Receiving Flowers

Of the Couple ❐ Bride and Groom ❐ Bride’s and Groom’s Hands ❐ Bride and Groom Looking at Each Other ❐ Couple with Honor Attendants ❐ Couple with Wedding Party ❐ Couple with All Parents

❐ Couple with Bride’s Parents ❐ Couple with Bride’s Family ❐ Couple with Groom’s Parents ❐ Couple with Groom’s Family

At the Ceremony ❐ Guests Outside of Church ❐ Ushers Escorting Guests ❐ Bride’s Mother Being Seated ❐ Groom’s Family Being Seated ❐ Bride and her Father Entering the Church ❐ Groom and Groomsmen at Altar ❐ Attendants Coming Down Aisle ❐ Bride and her Father Coming Down Aisle ❐ Giving-Away Ceremony ❐ Altar During Ceremony ❐ Bride and Groom Saying Vows ❐ Ring Ceremony ❐ Flower Girl and Ring Bearer ❐ The Kiss ❐ Bride and Groom Coming Up Aisle ❐ Bride and Groom Leaving Church ❐ Bride and Groom Getting Into Car ❐ Bride and Groom in Decorated Car

At the Reception ❐ Couple Arriving ❐ Couple Entering Reception

❐ Receiving Line ❐ Couple in Receiving Line ❐ Parents in Receiving Line ❐ Buffet Table ❐ Cake ❐ Friends Serving Punch ❐ Couple Seated at Table ❐ Bride Dancing with her Father ❐ Groom Dancing with his Mother ❐ Couple Talking with Guests ❐ Couple Cutting the Cake ❐ Couple Feeding Each Other Cake ❐ Couple Toasting ❐ Bride Throwing Bouquet ❐ Groom Removing Bride’s Garter ❐ Groom Throwing Garter ❐ Couple Dancing

Other ❐ __________________________________ ❐ __________________________________ ❐ __________________________________ ❐ __________________________________ ❐ __________________________________ ❐ __________________________________

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Wedding Blooms Florist___________________________________________________Address______________________________________________ Contact person___________________________________________Phone/Email___________________________________________

COLOR

NUMBER NEEDED

UNIT PRICE

TOTAL

Bridal bouquet

______________

______________

______________

______________

Maid of Honor bouquet

______________

______________

______________

______________

Bridesmaids’ bouquet

______________

______________

______________

______________

Flower Girl’s bouquet

______________

______________

______________

______________

Floral headpieces

______________

______________

______________

______________

Mothers’/Grandmothers’ corsages

______________

______________

______________

______________

Hostesses’ flowers

______________

______________

______________

______________

Groom’s boutonniere

______________

______________

______________

______________

Fathers’/Grandfathers’ boutonnière

______________

______________

______________

______________

Groomsmen’s /Ushers’ boutonnière

______________

______________

______________

______________

Ring bearer’s pillow

______________

______________

______________

______________

Altar/Chuppah flowers

______________

______________

______________

______________

Aisle or pew pecorations

______________

______________

______________

______________

Reception room flowers

______________

______________

______________

______________

Head table centerpiece

______________

______________

______________

______________

Guests’ table centerpieces

______________

______________

______________

______________

Cake/Buffet table decorations

______________

______________

______________

______________

Total

______________

______________

______________

______________

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Getting a Good Reception Where it’s at Reception site______________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________Price:____________________________ Contact person:_____________________ Phone/Email:____________________________

The caterer Name: _________________________ Phone/Email:___________________________________ Cost_______ Per-person rate_______ Flat rate_______ Deposit______ Balance due_______

Reception style ❐ Formal

❐ Hors d’oeuvres

❐ Buffet

Cake and punch_______________________________________________________________ Estimated number of guests__________________

Catering services Number of wait-staff____________How long will they serve at the reception?_____________ Services they’ll perform________________________________________________________ What type of equipment does the caterer supply?__________________________________ What beverages will be supplied?________________________________________________ Will table service and linens be provided?_________________________________________ Who will provide cleanup?______________________________________________________

What’s on the menu?

Hors d’oeuvres________________________________________________________________ Soup/salad____________________________________________________________________ Main course___________________________________________________________________ Side dishes____________________________________________________________________ Breads/rolls___________________________________________________________________ Beverages____________________________________________________________________ Extras________________________________________________________________________

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Ceremony

Music

DJ/Musician(s) 1__________________________________________Phone_________________________ Price_____________________ DJ/Musician(s) 2__________________________________________Phone_________________________ Price_____________________

Musical selections Processional ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ceremony ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Recessional _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reception Entertainer(s) 1___________________________________________________________________ Phone __________________________ Contact person __________________________________________________________________ Price __________________________ Entertainer(s) 2___________________________________________________________________ Phone __________________________ Contact person ___________________________________________________________________ Price __________________________ Entertainer(s) 3__________________________________________________________________ Phone __________________________ Contact person __________________________________________________________________ Price __________________________ Entertainer(s) 4___________________________ Phone __________________________ Contact person _____________________ Price __________________________ Entertainer(s) 5_________________ Phone __________________________ Contact person _______________ Price __________________________

Musical Selections Couple’s first dance _________________________________________ Wedding party dance _______________________________________ Couple/Parent’s dance _______________________________________ Other requests _________________________________________________

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

Decorating Details Balloons Decorator __________________________

Phone ___________________

Address _____________________________________

Salesperson ________________________

Delivery Date/Time/Place __________________________________________________

Description ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rentals Store 1_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ Phone__________________________________________ Salesperson_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Items to reserve for ceremony/reception _____________________________________________________________________________ Pick-up/delivery date _______________ Time _ ___________________ Return Date _____________

Time ______________________

Deposit_____________________________ Cost _____________________________ Store 2_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ Phone__________________________________________ Salesperson_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Items to Reserve for Ceremony/Reception ___________________________________________________________________________ Pick-up/delivery date _______________ Time ____________________ Return date _____________

Time ______________________

Deposit_____________________________ Cost _____________________________ Store 3_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ Phone__________________________________________ Salesperson_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Items to reserve for ceremony/reception _____________________________________________________________________________ Pick-up/delivery date _______________ Time_____________________ Return date _____________ Deposit_____________________________ Cost _____________________________

Time ______________________

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Balancing the Budget

Stationery

Announcements Invitations Thank-you cards/notes Stamps Other

Attire

Bridal gown Headpiece and veil Shoes Jewelry, gloves Other accessories Groom’s tux Bridal dresses Trousseau Other

Photography

Engagement Wedding/reception Wedding album Parents’ album Additional prints Videography Other

Gifts

Groom’s gift Bride’s gift Groomsmen gifts Bridesmaids gifts Parents’ gifts (optional) Other

Estimated cost

Actual cost

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

Parties

Engagement party Bridesmaids’ lunch Bachelor party Rehearsal dinner

Ceremony

Church, synagogue Officiant fees Organist, soloist fees Janitorial fees

Flowers

Ceremony arrangements Bride’s bouquet Groom’s boutonnière Wedding party Family Reception flowers Host and hostess Reception arrangements Other Reception Facility rental Catering/food Beverages Table decorations Rentals (tents, chairs) Rentals (tableware, linens) Band, DJ, pianist Coat check, valet Tips and fees Janitorial Guestbook/pen Cake knife Unity candle Monogrammed napkins Mementos for guests Birdseed or confetti Other

Honeymoon

Travel clothes Airfare, tickets Hotel reservations Car rental Meals Souvenirs Other

Estimated cost

Actual cost

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

Estimated cost

Actual cost

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

Sauk Valley Weddings 2020 - 2021

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