IDEAL VENUE FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY GATHERINGS
• WEDDINGS
HISTORIC BARN
• BIRTHDAY PARTIES
• RECEPTIONS
• FAMILY REUNIONS
• GRADUATIONS
• HOLIDAY PARTIES
Caterer of your choice or bring your own food. Handicapped accessible. Climate-controlled & Bounce House Friendly RENOVATED WITH YOU IN MIND
inside
They Rose to the occasions
When a husband and wife decided to open an events venue in Rock Falls, they aimed to bring a marriage of affordability and elegance to their business.
Getting hitched
They say you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink — but you can lead people to a horse trailer and let them drink.
A masterpiece of cake
Looking for someone who will give you tiers of joy? You’ll find it just up the Street in downtown Dixon.
MORE ... Table of contents and advertiser index appear on page 6
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
PUBLISHER: Jennifer Heintzelman SALES: Jill Reyna
Broc and Johnna Colville of Morrison are shown in a photo taken by Til Death Photos & Film, of Sterling.
“Ryan and I are a husband and wife photo-video team ... We specialize in capturing nostalgic moments and epic love stories. We believe that everyone’s story is unique and worth telling, especially when it comes to life’s biggest moments. While memories may fade and details may be forgotten, photo and video has the power to capture these special moments and preserve them forever.” — tildeathphotoandfilm.com/ For more information about Til Death Photos & Film ... Online: tildeathphotoandfilm.com/ Social media: On Facebook & Instagram Contact: tildeathphotoandfilm.com/contact#/
Wedding Ring
When you need to fine-tune your wedding reception, an Oregon DJ can help.
The perfect frame of mind
When couples fall in love with each other, they can call someone who’s fallen in love with photography to click and pick their picture-perfect moments.
Custom satisfaction
A new business in Oregon can custom craft a piece of jewelry that’s as precious as the metal and gems that it’s made from.
Puppy love
Do you want a fairy tail wedding? Experts have a few tips to keep your puppy from getting too peppy and your wedding from going to the dogs.
hosted wedding receptions and other celebrations since 2019.
Guadalupe “Lupita” Bonnell and her husband Robert own Mexicali Rose, a Rock Falls banquet venue that has
When Guadalupe “Lupita” Bonnell emigrated to the United States from the Mexican state of Baja California, she brought something with her that was instilled in her growing up in her hometown of Mexicali: the belief that one should not forget where they came from.
Lupita came to northern Illinois not long after meeting her future husband Robert in 1989 in San Diego, where the 20-year Navy veteran was serving at the time. When opportunity knocked 6 years ago, they decided to open the doors to a banquet hall. As they were planning their new business, their thoughts returned to their humble roots. They wanted a place that was high class without the high price.
The Bonnells own Mexicali Rose, a special events venue in Rock Falls where, as the couple likes to say, “versatile elegance meets affordability.”
Beyond the connection to Lupita’s hometown, the business also shares a name with a pair of Hollywood movies, one a 1929 romantic drama starring Barbara Stanwyck and the other a 1939 Gene Autry Western film, the latter of which was one of Bob’s favorites.
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A Rose by any other name would wouldn’t have the same backstory. The Rock Falls event venue can thank co-owner Guadalupe Bonnell’s roots in Mexico and a couple of husband Robert’s favorite flicks for its name.
The venue can hold up to 160 people, and has a dance floor, chandelier, full bar and kitchen — all to help couples celebrate as they usher in their lives together with friends and family.
Giving families a place where they can come together in a celebration of love takes a family itself.
Lupita and Robert often recruit family to help them arrange, decorate and get things in order for a stress-free reception. Their four sons — Paul, Robert David, Christopher and Victor — helped with designing, landscaping, and installing carpet, and Bob’s daughter Carolina helps with floral designs and decoration for events.
“I like when customers enjoy their time,” Lupita said. “I like when they’re not stressed over anything, because we can do everything for them. They can make their memories.”
The Bonnells work with clients to determine how they’d like things set up and what the venue can offer. The Bonnells can handle the decor, or clients can take care of it themselves if they prefer. The wide open white walls provide plenty of space for couples to add their own touches.
Bob likens it to a blank canvas, he said.
“It’s an unpainted area,” Bob said. “It can be designed by her for whatever she wants to do, or what customers are asking for. It’s basically a blank painting to start, and that makes it unique.”
Mexicali Rose opened in 2019, only to join event venues across the nation in struggling through the coronavirus pandemic the following year. The Bonnells took that challenge as an opportunity to expand and fine tune the plans and ideas they had for their new business.
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our enchanting venue is surrounded by 27 acres of towering pine trees, offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Whatever your wedding theme is, Mexicali Rose can accommodate it.
Co-owner Robert Bonnell likens the events venue to a blank canvas: It can be designed for whatever the customer wants.
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Affordable Elegance for Every I Do
With help from family, the couple set about working on the building, including remodeling work, installing new ceilings and removing an old walk-in cooler (used by the building’s former owner, Golden Meals). They were determined to be able power through the pandemic and hit the ground running once it was over.
Involving family in the remodeling also strengthened their resolve and “brought us a lot of memories,” Lupita said.
“Covid was a hard time,” she said. “We didn’t know what we were going to do. We were close to closing this place, but my husband and my children said that they wanted to stick with it. We closed that whole year, decided to remodel and gut it. My son gave me a lot of ideas to make it more contemporary.”
And the Rose isn’t done blossoming yet. The Bonnells are always thinking about ways to make it even better, and they plan to remodel its exterior.
In the three years since welcoming parties once again, satisfied customers’ word of mouth has helped bring more people through their doors, attracted by the flexibility it offers and its reasonable rental fees, Lupita said.
Keeping it affordable is a point of pride for the Bonnells, with their own upbringings in mind. They’ll work with clients to figure out what’s best for their budget.
“We are very reasonably priced,” Lupita said. “We’re working people. We work on their budget and are able to give them something that they can enjoy, and can afford without breaking their banks. Affordability is what they like.”
Consulting with customers will help them determine how far they can stretch their dollar without breaking their budget.
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“Her and I grew up meager in our youth,” Bob said. “More her than me, and my dad’s gas station [in Rock Falls] didn’t make a lot of money, so we know what a buck is. We offer something to the working class people that they can afford, and we offer something that is elegant.”
They’re also there to help their customers when something goes wrong and threatens to turn a couple’s big day into a big disaster. On one occasion, a couple’s outdoor ceremony was rained out, but the reception was ready to go at Mexicali Rose. After some quick thinking, the wedding ceremony moved inside and the wedding marched on.
“They came back here, and my wife said we’ll just move the tables, put everything there and they could get married there,” Bob said. “They were very happy. Things like that always come up, and we like to help them out the best we can.”
The Bonnells said they enjoy seeing couple’s faces when they walk through the door for the first time, and hope those same clients will remember the Rose for other parties, such as birthdays and graduations.
“At the end of the day, when you get a hug and they say, ‘Thank you, Lupita, for everything,’ it’s worth it,” she said. “When they recommend us, it means everything.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
he “I do’s” have been exchanged, the groom has kissed the bride, and the big celebration afterward brings everyone together to raise a glass and make a toast. Love is in the air and spirits are high — and if Lindsay Hardt is there, the spirits are on wheels, too.
Hardt is the driving force behind her Sterling-based business, Roaming Mare, a mobile bar that she’ll set up for weddings, special events and other functions. And if her trailer looks a familiar, that’s because you’ve probably seen ones like it — hauling horses down the highway, which is what it used to do before being upgraded and upscaled into a rustic-styled bar on wheels. It’s equipped with counter space, sinks and fold-out windows, all inside a white trailer with knotty pine accents inside and out, looking right at home at any special event.
She was inspired to put her shoulder to the wheels and start the business after hosting her own special event.
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“I had this idea when I was hosting a reunion, and I thought, ‘No one ever wants to be stuck behind a kitchen, always cooking and serving,’” Hardt said. “The host always gets stuck cooking and serving their guests, and never actually gets to enjoy their own party. So I thought, what better thing to do than to have a mobile bar that you can cater to any event?
“Who wants to be stuck doing all of that and serving their guests, and not actually being a part of the party? This would be a great idea to do it,” she said.
When it comes to serving wedding guests, Roaming Mare isn’t Hardt’s first rodeo. The licensed bartender has been on the clock at many wedding receptions, having worked for local event venues for nearly 20 years, and that’s helped her develop the skills it takes to be a top-notch tender behind the bar: mastering mixed drinks, slinging suds, and developing the art of conversation, all with a smile on her face. When it comes to weddings especially, she knows how important the day is for the happy couple, so she does her part to make sure they stay happy during the reception.
“I’ve been in the event planning business for years at different venues in the Sauk Valley area, and I just love doing events,” Hardt said. “I just love the people, meeting new people, making people’s days perfect, and I love the details of all of it. It’s just exciting, and something’s always different; it’s never the same thing twice, which I love.”
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business in the early spring of 2024. First, she to nail down the “mobile” part. A truck or a food trailer would have been fine, but how about something a little different — a horse of a differcolor? Hardt found it in Indiana, at a business remodels and customizes old horse trailers. Since starting Roaming Mare, she’s hauled her 6-foot-by-11-foot bar to weddings, private parties, community events and corporate functions. When you hire Roaming Mare, it’s BYOB: You bring your own beverages, and Hardt brings her bar. Customers supply the drinks they want Hardt can help plan the drink menu — and she’ll take care of the rest: drinkware, napkins, straws, ice, drink garnishes. She also needs a hookup for electricity; and if there’s a place to hookup for water, that helps, too.
“They don’t have to worry about bringing cups ice, all they have to be concerned about is providing the alcohol, and we talk about that ahead of time,” Hardt said. Hardt makes a point to contact clients on the day of the event to assure them that everything’s under control to give them one less thing to worry about on their big day, she said.
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CODYCUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
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“As soon as I show up, I’m ready to roll. I like getting to see what drinks they want to use. Some people are low-key — beer it is and that’s it. Some would really like to have old-fashioneds, margaritas or Palomas. Every event is customizable to their liking.”
The basic rental will get you five hours of bar service for your buck, but if the event runs long, extra time can be arranged for an additional fee. Add-on options include additional bartenders, signage, bistro-style seating and a signature drink of her choice — she’s served summer sangrias in the summer and caramel apple sangrias in the fall.
If hosts want to decorate the trailer in a certain motif, that can be arranged as well.
Hardt’s first year has been a good one, and once word of mouth spreads about her mobile bar service, she expects things to really take off.
“I hope to be a part of people’s special days,” Hardt said. “I hope that people who want that intimate, customizable wedding package can have [the mobile bar], and it makes for a really cute photo op, too. People love going inside it and taking pictures of it. It’s just so versatile that is so different from a traditional venue where you can’t really change a lot of the things.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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arriages are like a work of art: Designed to be long-lasting and appreciated for many years.
Wedding cakes are aren’t all that different. They’re works of art, too, just not the kind that have to last for years to come. But even though they don’t last for a lifetime, the memories of a well-crafted cake can. No one wants to look back at their wedding and remember a reception that left a bad taste in their mouth. That’s why it’s important to have a mixmaster who knows what they’re doing, like Margie Wildman, who owns Baker Street in downtown Dixon.
Wildman and her staff serve freshly made baked goods, in-house roasted coffee, and deli sandwiches at Baker Street, and after they’re done making their daily customers happy, Wildman can be found starting work making couples happy, channeling her creativity into wedding cakes.
Wedding cakes are the centerpiece — both symbolically and literally — of the reception’s menu. The couple slices the cake together and shares the first bite together. Some cakes are grand and some are simple. Some have tiers that tower over the table and others keep a low profile. But they all have one thing in common: They’re distinctive and delicious.
Another thing a lot of wedding cakes have in common: Wildman has had a hand in making them: For more than three decades now she’s been whipping up wedding cakes that put the “sweet” in “sweethearts.”
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With so much importance placed on the wedding cake, Wildman’s task is not an easy one. From how it looks to how it tastes, there’s a lot that goes into making a cake. There’s the “Wow!” factor and the “Mmmmm!” factor, and Wildman strives to make sure her clients’ cakes live up to both. She’s turned hundreds of couples’ ideas into oneof-a-kind confectionery creations.
“When you do a wedding cake, all of your layers can be different,” Wildman said. “They don’t have to be the same. If there’s something you really want, we can do that. If they can dream it, I can make it.”
Wildman made her first wedding cake 36 years ago, and worked out of her home for the first 10 years before opening Baker Street to expand her culinary creations. Some of her most requested flavors of wedding cakes include triple chocolate, chocolate ganache, chocolate strawberry Bavarian, white strawberry Bavarian, cookie dough, and carrot cake.
Her creations can be short cakes or tall ones — the tallest she made was six tiers — and range in size from small to big — the largest one she made served 400 people at a ceremony in Chicago. Some are traditional and some have a char-
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Margie Wildman of Baker Street in downtown Dixon has seen her share of changes in trends since she starting making wedding cakes in the late 1980s. “Back then it was candy tables with bags, and then straight cake,” she said. “Today the dessert table is all over the place — cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, dessert shots, macaroons, cake pops. Weddings are about what you want.”
acter all their own. They can also be customized for customers’ dietary needs, with gluten-free and vegan cakes available.
Need help designing a cake or deciding on a flavor? Wildman offers consultations that come with a taste test.
“It’s very beneficial for them to try the cake,” Wildman said. “I’ve had people who may not like a certain kind of cake, like carrot cake, but when they try it, they’re like, ‘This carrot cake is real good.’ Some people may not know where to start, so I think this can ease their mind a little bit.”
In addition to wedding cakes, Wildman also makes cupcakes and other baked goods for dessert tables, which have been a growing trend in recent years, she said. It’s a contrast from when Wildman made her first cakes.
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“Back then it was candy tables with bags, and then straight cake,” Wildman said. “Today the dessert table is all over the place — cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, dessert shots, macaroons, cake pops. Weddings are about what you want.”
Wildman also has seen styles from many decades ago make a comeback, which include two- and three-tier smaller cakes with simple piping, and tabletop fountains underneath the stands that hold the cakes.
“Fountains under your cake was so 1980s,” Wildman said. “That’s coming back, and then the old-fashioned draping of decoration is really coming back, too. It’s like what their grandpa or grandma had, they didn’t have flowers on it, just straight up piping. It’s really making a huge comeback. It’s coming.”
Want to try some of Wildman’s baked goods, sandwiches or in-house roasted coffees? Baker Street is open mornings and afternoons Monday through Saturday. You can grab a seat and dine in, or pick up something for carryout.
Looking for a short cake or a tall order? Do you want something simple or simply magnificent? How about a creative cake that people will still be talking about even after the last slice is gone? Or maybe you want a dessert table, which have become more common at weddings in recent years. They’re all right up Baker Street’s alley.
Want to sample some of Wildman’s baked goods? Baker Street is open mornings and afternoons Monday through Saturday. Customers can dine in an environment that has a European look to it or get something to go.
Cakes, pies, cupcakes, muffins, scones, cookies, lemon blueberry biscuits and raspberry cream cheese danishes make up much of the baked goods selection. Hot and frozen coffees include espressos, cappuccino, mochas, lattes and hot chocolate; and sandwiches include paninis, chicken salads, croissants and breakfast varieties. Soups and apple pecan and garden salads also are served.
In a fitting testament to her talent, the wedding cake business has helped start many a relationships at Baker Street. Some of Wildman’s customers began as wedding cake buyers and became regulars. She’s even had some who buy cakes for anniversaries that are a throwback to their own wedding cake from years ago, she said.
With decades of deliciousness behind her, Wildman is proud of the part she’s played in countless couples’ big day and looks forward to sharing in many more. For her, being able to turn her talent for baking into a celebration of love is like the frosting on the cake.
“Every wedding is special,” Wildman said. “I take great pride in giving a premium product every time. Meeting with the bride and groom and getting to know them and their tastes. It’s very special.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
wedding
wedding
hen it’s time to get the wedding party started, guests like to hear music that has a familiar ring to it.
The nostalgic notes of the song the newlyweds fell in love to, the wistful melody of the music played during the father-daughter dance, the song that gets everyone off their feet on the floor.
That’s where Joe Ring can help. He’s the man behind the music at Ring DJ Service in Oregon.
When he’s hired to do a wedding, the goal is simple — keep people entertained — but doing it takes some skill.
He works with the wedding couple to plan out the playlist. There are family favorites and special songs to be chosen and details to nail down — but even the best-laid plans can use some fine-tuning once the reception gets underway. A good DJ has to be able to read them room and sleuth out what’s keeping spirits up and not bringing the party down. Music can make or break a mood, tapping into special memories and making new ones, and Ring wants his services to be unforgettable.
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How’s the crowd doing? What gets them out of their seats and dancing to the beats? Are they having such a good time that they forget the time? Those are the kinds of questions he asks when he’s on the job.
It’s not enough to just have a good ear for music, you have to have a good ear for listening, too.
“I enjoy getting to know people,” Ring said. “Part of the process is getting to know the people who I work with, and then walking through their lives and figuring out their formative events. Then I find the art and the people that they interacted with and were there during those periods of time. Typically, that’s how I find people’s favorite songs, because it touched them during a specific formative event in their life.”
Ring likes to craft his music lineup to what the couple wants, but if they get stuck, he’s more than happy to come up with some suggestions. When it comes to time for the tunes, Ring has found that celebrations tend to flow better if he sticks to playing music — the guests are there to hear music, not the DJ, but he can take up emcee duties if couples wish, he said. If there’s any lull in the fun — something
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Joe Ring, owner of Ring DJ Service, enjoys getting to know his clients to figure out their tastes in tunes, so that his services will be music to the ears. “Part of the process is ... walking through their lives and figuring out their formative events. Then I find the art and the people that they interacted with and that were there during those periods of time. Typically, that’s how I find people’s favorite songs, because it touched them during a specific formative event in their life.”
DJs try to avoid — Ring is more apt to shift the mood with music, rather than filling gaps with conversation.
He can also bring some extras to help set the mood, such as fog and light displays.
So far the DJ gig has been a good one for Ring. Before 2024 was even over, his 2025 weekends were filling up with bookings. If you’re looking to line something up, the earlier the better to get a date locked in.
Ring enjoys getting to know the people planning the event, learning their likes and dislikes. It helps shape a playlist favorite songs, what kinds of music will be played and when. You don’t want people just sitting cooling their feet; you want them tapping their toes and heading for the dance floor.
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No genre is off-limits to Ring, he can work with all of them.
“I try to leave no stone unturned when we’re setting up with a couple,” he said. “I’ll ask them about their high school or college friends, or this or that side of the family, and figure out what they are into. When that group is out on the floor, I can recognize that they like a certain kind of music.”
Born and raised in rural Oregon, DJ’ing isn’t his primary career; he raises Gelbvieh and Angus cattle with his brother Michael on the family farm as Ring Brothers Beef, and sells cuts of meat online.
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Joe Ring, Ring DJService
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While farming is in Ring’s roots, so is music. His father, Tim Ring, played bass guitar in local bands and in church and did some DJ’ing of his own. After Tim passed away, Joseph took over much of his father’s equipment, which helped amplify his own interest in music.
As Ring found out, having all that equipment opened the doors to being invited to DJ parties.
“You have the stuff, and then someone asks you if you can play at a party,” Ring said. “You do that for a while, and then someone else asks you to do a backyard wedding, and then you’re doing 20-30 a year.”
Ring began making music a business in 2020, which was a rough year for the wedding industry as the coronavirus pandemic derailed and delayed plans. With many couples being forced to rework their wedding plans that year, Ring wound up doing smaller weddings.
“People would cancel their 200-300 people weddings because of Covid, and then they would do a family get-together kind of wedding part with 40 or 50 people, and then they would have me do that,” Ring said.
A good DJ knows he’s done his job when party-goers aare on the floor and asking for more. Says Ring DJ’s Joe Ring: “Reading the crowd, reading the room and helping to facilitate their big day is what I really love about it.
He’s also taken his talents to community events and local taverns, but weddings are his primary business, and for every wedding he’s done, he’s picked up at least one or two more, he said.
“I started out with a low price point, did it for a lot of mutual friends, and then friends of those friends, and ever since then I’ve picked up other people from the weddings I’ve done,” he said.
One of the biggest things experience has taught him is keeping a sharp eye during the events on what’s going on in the room, not simply being focused on playing music. It keeps him on his toes, and no one reception ends up being the same.
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“Reading the crowd, reading the room and helping to facilitate their big day is what I really love about it. It was something that I developed growing up. Reading emotions and being aware of the way people are interacting around them, I think drove that talent into me, and this is the way I’ve been able to channel that.”
Once couples get their wedding itinerary set in place, Ring will contact them to go over everything. It’s better for both the couple and the DJ to know how the music is going to take shape beforehand, to ensure there aren’t any lulls or awkward moments at the wedding, where perfection is paramount.
“What I would really need is when they have their whole schedule nailed down, I’d like to spend a phone call with them to walk through their day, point by point, and make sure we have background music lined up for each little piece during their ceremony — when they’re walking into it, or during cocktail hour — all of the little things.”
“You’re employing a person who can craft the vibe that you are looking for,” Ring said. “You’re saying, ‘I want you to use the skills that you have to create the vibe that I want.’ That’s what I’m trying to do, I’m trying to make them feel a certain way about their day. If you have the right DJ, he or she should be able to sculpt that experience with what you want that day.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
hile the wedding couple is focused on two words, a Sterling photographer is focused on a thousand — and that’s just in one picture.
It’s a passion that developed over time, and one that she’s grown to love.
Lana Scholl is the person behind the lens at Photography by Lana, and she loves to tell stories worth a thousand words with every click of the shutter, especially on that special day when two people say “I do.”
Like most people her age, she enjoyed taking photos with her phone growing up, but when she was gifted a basic digital single-lens reflex camera as a Christmas present, that’s when things began to click. She loved exploring the world of photography, and the more picture she took, the bigger her world became.
She attended Augustana College in Rock Island to study graphic design, but after taking some elective photo classes she shifted her major to photography. It was a combination that turned out to be a good marriage, bringing together her skill for graphic design with her eye for taking photos. Eventually, her friends took notice and began asking her to take photos for them.
If her years of experience has taught Lana School one thing, it’s that photography is all about capturing those fleeting moment in time that will never come again, and preserving them so they’ll never be forgotten. “You do not want to miss that moment, not at all,” she said.
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“I feel like photography chose me,” Scholl said. “I never in a million years dreamed of owning my own business or picking up a camera and getting paid for it. More people were asking, and, like brick by brick, it went to one thing after another. Everything fell in place and I realized just how much I love it.”
Today, she’s sharing her love with couples sharing their love, capturing special moments from the engagement to the wedding to the start of a family. Scholl, of Polo, owns a small private studio in downtown Sterling that she uses for photo work and various shoots.
Hiring a photographer can be one of the most important decisions a couple makes. The wedding day may come and go, but pictures last a lifetime, and with each passing year those photos become more and more precious, pulling people back in time to a special day and magical moments. That’s why Scholl wants to do her best to make sure a couple’s wedding photos keep couples and their families smiling for years to come.
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Framing and focus, lighting, a good eye for those unplanned special moments — a lot goes into capturing memorable wedding photos, and that includes being able to blend in and not make the couple feel self-conscious.
“You have to be paying attention, but you don’t want to be forcible to the point where they go, ‘Do I look okay?’ I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable,” Scholl said. “Sometimes I’ll start out with them holding hands and walking, and then it turns into something else, and that’s what my goal is. Some people need that direction.”
Sometimes it takes a little encouragement to get people in the mood, but eventually Scholl can get them feeling comfortable — like she’s not even there, like a fly on a wall.
“I’m looking at interaction, and I want them to be close together and touching,” Scholl said. “I’ll usually start them off with easy poses, and then understanding what looks good with them, or what they may be insecure about. Some people are more touchy than others. I’ll try to get them comfortable and tell them, ‘Hey, I like what you did just there, can you do that again?’ If you feel like going in for a kiss, go in for the kiss, or going in for a hug, then hug. I want them to get comfortable enough to get them to be themselves and not seem super-posed.”
Scholl works with the couples, wedding planners and venues to understand the needs of each wedding and where she’ll be shooting. Each location and each wedding is different. Couples have their preferences, members of the wedding party have their schedule, and each venue is unique, so Scholl likes to be prepared.
“I can work with the planner or the venue to help build a timeline that makes sense,” Scholl said. “Hopefully we can make it not too crunched together to help everyone enjoy their day. When you don’t leave enough time, and it’s rushed and the day flies by, I feel like they may not take a breath and just enjoy it.”
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Saying I Do?
• Fresh or Silk flowers to create custom Bouquets, Boutonnieres, & Ceremony/Reception Arrangements
LANA
While staged photos are one part of a wedding photo shoot — the perfect pose, holding hands and loving looks, wedding parties full of smiles — there are always those ‘A-ha!’ moments that come and go in an instant. That’s where having a professional photographer helps: having someone who can see those moments coming and know when to preserve them.
Paying extra close attention is important for photographers, especially in a ceremony’s most iconic moments. “You do not want to miss that moment, not at all,” Scholl said. Early in her photography career, Scholl did a lot of second shooting — an assistant to the primary photographer at an event — but eventually moved up to primary shooting. Scholl offers couples 8-, 9- and 10-hour packages with photo timelines, digital galleries and sneak peeks before photos are revealed. Each of Scholl’s packages also comes with engagement sessions, something she started offering after a couple years of going pro. The sessions are a way to not only capture another special moment in a couple’s relationship, but also to get to know them better, which helps later on during the wedding shoots.
Meeting new people and shooting pictures at all kinds of places has been a thrill for Scholl.
“I feel like every year I grow more and I love to see my photos progress and see how I’ve evolved as a photographer in four years,” Scholl said. “I like when I figure out something new in my abilities, or finding something else to try, or finding a different way to get kids to laugh at the camera.”
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SAUK
Most of Scholl’s wedding clients are from within a four-hour area, but travel’s not a problem for her. In fact, she’d like to get more into destination weddings, she said; she’s already been at a few places all over the United States, including one session in Virginia Beach last year.
Her photography work isn’t limited to weddings: She also does family and business photography, as well as newborn photo shoots. She’s had couples who have commissioned her for multiple steps in the family-building process.
“When they get married and come back to me to do maternity or birth photos, I can get to build these bonds with these couples that I never imagined,” Scholl said. “I have families and couples that I still talk to and reach out to me, and it’s just so touching.”
Weddings, though, are what she gets the most business from, and while they can be challenging, it’s a challenge she enjoys.
“On their wedding day, just getting to know how they interact with each other, and with their family and friends, and to just see the overwhelming love and support they have around them,” Scholl said. “As much as I love the ceremony and it being beautiful, getting to the speeches and hearing people talk about them, and how they grew to love each other, I as a photographer can feel connected to them and it’s really special and I feel so lucky that I get to capture that.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
ven with more than two decades in the business, Jennifer Brooks can’t say that she’s seen it all when comes to jewelry.
But even if she hasn’t seen it, she can make it.
Jennifer is one of the Brooks behind the counter and behind the name of Brooks Jewelers in Oregon, the city’s first jewelry store in nearly 40 years. The shop, which opened in September 2024, sells and creates custom jewelry as well as doing repairs, cleaning, inspection and appraisal, and engraving.
It’s the custom jewelry part of her job where she really shines though, just like the pieces she creates.
“I like the emotional payout,” Jennifer said. “I absolutely love it when someone comes to me [for a repair] and goes, ‘This has been in my family for years,’ and it looks rough where the mounting looks cattywampus and things are missing. Then you bring it back to them as new as you possibly can, and the look on their face — they get a real good look at it and there’s tears. I get hugs, it’s wonderful. It’s why I do it: all those memories wrapped in one.”
SATISFACTION cont’d to page 44
Jennifer Brooks works on a piece of jewelry at Brooks Jewelry in downtown Oregon. She brings 22 years of experience to the shop she and her husband own.
CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
cont’d from page 42
Jennifer is willing to tackle most any project, big or small and she enjoys the challenge, whether it’s turning people’s precious memories into precious metal, or translating someone’s vision in their head to the ring on their finger.
Most of the pieces in the store’s showcases — which range in price from $35 to $4,000 — are ones Jennifer has made. Don’t see what you like? Talk to the Jennifer or her husband Nick; they can either order it or have it made in the store.
The couple spends a lot of time in their workshop at the back of the store, both making and tending to pieces without having to send them elsewhere — it’s all done in-house which makes for shorter turnaround times, typically a day or two.
SATISFACTION cont’d to page 45
Nick and Jen Brooks opened Brooks Jewelers in September 2024, where they sell and create custom jewelry as well as doing repairs, cleaning, inspection and appraisal, and engraving.
SVM FILE PHOTO
SATISFACTION cont’d from page 44
Jennifer handles the jewelry, while Nick handles much of the store’s business aspects and engraving. Engravings can be done on a variety of surfaces, including slate, metal, mirror, glass, wood and leather. Personal touches can even be added, like having an inscription done on a piece of jewelry in a person’s handwriting.
As far as recent trends go in the ring scene, rose golds and micro diamonds are popular right now, as well as halostyle rings where the center stone is surrounded on all sides by smaller diamonds or gemstones, Jennifer said. She’s also noticed that rings with more flash, or “bling,” to them are becoming popular, but cautions that the more parts put on a
ring, the harder it can get to keep all those pieces on the ring.
“I’ll help people pick something that not only looks intricate, but is actually sturdy and stable,” she said. “It’s going to be worn forever, you want it to withstand some of that wear. The more bling you put in, the less stable the ring becomes. While some things may look real great, they aren’t so great in the long run.”
While not necessarily a new trend, the technology behind lab-created diamonds (LCDs) has improved in recent years to help the stone last longer. They were first introduced to the jewelry market in the 1980s, and are, chemically, still a real diamond and still made with carbon, but are less expensive than a diamond created naturally. The first LCDs wound up turning yellowish and weren’t as stable, but technological advances in the past few years have made it difficult for the naked eye to tell the difference between a lab diamond and the real thing, Jennifer said.
“They’re cleaner, are less expensive and more environmentally friendly because they are grown in a lab instead of being mined from the earth, and so the clarity and color can be controlled a whole lot better,” she said. “I carry it because I know the younger generation today is more financially savvy and more ecologically minded.”
SATISFACTION cont’d to page 46
SATISFACTION cont’d from page 45
Jennifer has been a jeweler for 22 years, and recently felt it was time to take her talents to the next level and have a place of her own, she said. She attended Gem City College’s School of Horology, an accredited trade school in Quincy. During that time, she’s been involved in thousands of wedding jewelry decisions — sales, consultations, sizings, repair, cleanings, appraisals.
Custom jewelry is Jennifer’s specialty, and she’s already taken on several one-of-a-kind wedding projects since opening. She shares some of her creations on the businesses’ Facebook page each week.
For some customers, jewelry can be a link to a special person or cherished memory, and custom pieces can honor those parts of their life and keep them near and dear. Among the projects Jennifer has had a hand in: A bride who wanted to have her father’s ashes incorporated into a restored add-a-pearl necklace; a groom-to-be who wanted to propose to his fiancee not with a ring, but a horse-themed pendant made with stones from an old promise ring; and a woman who wanted her late husband’s wedding ring to be cut and flattened into a piece of a necklace.
“It’s very emotional and very cool that you can do little things that mean so much to people,” Jennifer said.
When it comes to customers, Jennifer has experience with both ends of the spectrum: the ones who know exactly what they want to the ones who aren’t even sure where to start. The best piece of advice she can offer is to have a price in mind beforehand; that way, she can narrow down the search to find pieces with the four C’s of jewelry — carat weight, color, clarity and cut — that will fit into another C: cost.
SATISFACTION cont’d to page 47
“Have your budget fixed before you start shopping, and tell the person you’re working with what your budget is,” she said. “It’s not a secret. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. That allows me to be able to give you the best deal for what you’re paying. We can find something in-budget.”
Working with customers, creating one-of-akind pieces, helping people honor the memory of a loved one through a piece of jewelry — for the Brooks, customer satisfaction is the jewel in their crown. If they can find something a customers likes, that they can afford, and that will bring them joy for years to come, then they’ve done their job.
“I hope that they always feel welcome, respected and that I have done everything that I possibly can to make their wish come true,” Jennifer said. “They’ll come in with an idea, and I hope to far exceed what they were coming in with.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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he groom’s best friend typically is the best man during a wedding, and the bride’s best friend usually is the maid of honor.
But what about the other best friend? You know, “man’s best friend?
Dogs, too, can be part of your special day, and it’s be coming increasingly popu lar. According to a survey by WeddingWire, a nationwide wedding vendor directory, 38% of couples included their pet in their wedding or engagement. Among the dog duties: ring bearers, flower girls, even best man.
Businesses have responded, too, with no shortage of wedding accessories — wedding collars, ring-bearer pillows for pets, leashes with some bling, and more. Happy couples can get their dog all decked out in dresses and tuxedos, and pet attendant businesses help couples handle their furry friend on the wedding day.
Dogs can also be a great way to take the edge off a bride and groom’s nerves on their big day, helping break the ice with people you don’t see very often, bringing some lighthearted levity to a formal occasion, and adding some fun to photo shoots.
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Vanessa Wahl of Rock Falls trains dogs to become more comfortable around their owners and other people through her business, O’So Sharp. Having a dog at a big event, such as a wedding, can be less stressful if a dog can be trained to adapt to the surroundings. “You’re going to be distracted on your big day, and you want your dog to be comfortable in a situation like that, where potentially they are around a lot of people,” Wahl said.
But before you and your partner start making plans to say “I do” with Fido, there are few things you should consider before putting a bow tie on your beagle or a tux on your terrier. Does your dog get anxious? Can it be a bit high-spirited? How does it handle crowds? Sure, every dog should have its day, but you don’t want your pet to distract from your day either. Some dogs just may not be cut out to be part of the wedding party, but for others, their paws just need a helping hand, some training to help them tweak their temperament.
That’s where people like Vanessa Wahl can help. Wahl, of Rock Falls, is a dog trainer who’s helped a lot of people and their pets through her business O’So Sharp, which focuses on general obedience and mild behavior modification. She’s a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen, Trick Dog, and Star Puppy trainer and evaluator, and an evaluator for Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs for people interested in Therapy Dog Certification.
One thing she stresses to clients is that pet training isn’t a one-way street. Her training philosophy is to also teach people how to understand their dog.
“I love helping people figure out that their dogs are not bad, they’ve just got to communicate better,” Wahl said. “Once they do, they’ll see this switch in their dog,
and go, ‘If I would have just done something a little differently,’ or think like a dog instead of a human. It’s really cool once they see that switch, and then dogs can behave so much better.”
Wahl, who’s also a standard poodle breeder, turned her love of dogs and training skills into a business in 2020. She didn’t know of a whole lot of private dog trainers in her area, she said, which led her take training certification classes and turn her talents into a part-time business. She offers beginner and advanced group sessions at the Rock Falls Community Building, and does some private training on a limited basis.
“It was kind of giving people more practical advice on how they can get the behaviors that they wanted,” Wahl said about starting out. “I found that everybody was focused on certain commands, versus here’s how you get your dog to mind. Without having to go, ‘No! Bad dog,’ how do you get it to naturally just mind and behave?”
PUPPY LOVE cont’d to page 52
PUPPY LOVE cont’d from page 49
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Beginner and advanced dog training classes are offered by Vanessa Wahl’s O’So Sharp Training at the Rock Falls Community Building. She’s also a standard poodle breeder.
O’So Sharp is named after Wahl’s maiden name; she married her husband Joshua in 2022. Through her business, she’s met people who’ve made their dogs part of their wedding plans. She’s heard of dogs being part of bridal parties, and some even being ring bearers, she said. If couples want their dogs to be a part of their wedding, making sure their pet can handle being around a lot of new faces is key. That’s where establishing a sense of obedience is an important safety measure, and it can make both owner and pet more comfortable, Wahl said.
“You’re going to be distracted on your big day, and you want your dog to be comfortable in a situation like that, where potentially they are around a lot of people,” Wahl said. “If you don’t have some of the basics down, this is a really good place to start to see if it’s worth doing for your wedding. A lot of people have pets but don’t get to go to as many places, so asking them to be a part of a big event like that would be kind of tough. If you start with a group class, you’re dedicating time with you and your dog, and it’s fun. We always have a good time in class.”
There can be a lot going on at a wedding — boisterous kids, revelry, music pumping and the dance floor jumping; and if the wedding is outdoors, there can be other distractions, too: a squirrel in a tree or a bird overhead. Getting a dog enrolled in group training can help them learn to deal with distractions like that, getting them acclimated to being around people and other pets, Wahl said. Training tips that Wahl provides can also help dogs master some tricks and tasks for the big wedding day, such as holding baskets of flowers or a ring pillow as they trot down the aisle.
Another benefit of training: Picking up on what your dog is saying, even when it’s not barking.
“If you’ve done some training before, you might learn some cues that you can pick up on if a dog is real uncomfortable or see certain people that they might not like, or whatever the case could be,” Wahl said. “Whoever you’re asking to help handle your dog for the wedding, it can help make them comfortable and make them aware of what things your dog might do, or cues they might have, to make it go as smoothly as you hope it will be.”
Group training classes are announced on O’So Sharp’s Facebook page and website a few months in advance; signups can be arranged online. Wahl, who works full-time as a commercial lender for Sauk Valley Bank, plans to have assistance during this spring’s sessions as she takes a short break for maternity leave.
The more you do for your dog, Wahl said, the more they’ll do for you.
“Be open-minded and be ready to tackle some things that you may not know that you’ve done wrong that may be affecting your dog,” Wahl said. “Have fun. Everything carries down through that leash.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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: bakerstreetcafeandcatering. com and on Facebook
Bezzie’s Bakery
Home bakery specializing in cookies, cakes and desserts
Freeport
Email: bezziesbakery@gmail.com
Online: bezziesbakery.com and on Facebook
County Market bakery
• 210 W. Third St., Sterling, 815-6220180
• 1380 N. Galena Ave., Dixon, 815288-2112
• 201 W. Blackhawk Drive, Byron, 815-234-2311
Online: mycountymarket.com and on Facebook
EK Cakery
107 Buchanan St., Belvidere
815-519-7287
Online: ekcakery.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Folsom’s Bakery
319 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-622-7870
Online: Facebook
Halo Bakeshop
7969 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park 815-282-1225
Online: halobakeshop.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Homer’s Deli and Sweetheart Bakery
241 Main Ave., Clinton, Iowa 563-242-4105
Online: sweetheartbakery.com and on Facebook
HyVee Bakery
901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162
Online: hy-vee.com and on Facebook
Kroger
2301 Locust St., Sterling 815-625-6405
Online: kroger.com
Krumpets
1016 Fourth St., Fulton 815-208-7143
Online: krumpetsbakery.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Las Canelitas Bakery 1523 Broadway, Rockford 815-398-7500
Online: lascanelitasbakery. com and on Facebook, Instagram
Le Cake Design Studio Bettendorf, Iowa 563-940-8225
Online: lecakedesignstudio.weebly. com and on Facebook, Instagram
Little Sweets Cake Design
133 First Ave W, Milan 309-230-8832
Online: littlesweetsqc.com and
on Facebook
Miss Ruth’s Sweet Treats 5911 Louis Court, Davenport, Iowa 563-349-9604
Online: Facebook
The Noble Cakery
201 N. Third St., Oregon 630-484-6969
Email: Barb@ TheNobleCakery.com
Online: thenoblecakery. com and on Facebook, Instagram
Oh So Sweet by Tiphanie 210 E. Second St., Davenport, Iowa 563-345-9866
Online: ohsosweetbytiphanie.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Olde Towne Bakery
1824 Seventh St., Moline 309-764-8421
Online: otbmoline.com and on Facebook, Instagram
CAKES cont’d to page 54
CAKES cont’d from page 53
Pollen and Pastry
Serves northern and central Illinois
815-471-9034
Email: letsparty@pollenandpastry. com
Online: pollenandpastry.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Rolling Pin Confections
Custom Cookies
Serves northern and central Illinois 815-590-0692
Email: tahopp@hotmail.com Online: Facebook
Sara Lynn’s Cakes 3115 Oxford Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa 563-355-8972
Online: saralynnscakes.com and on Facebook
Small Town Pastry
4572 Wyndham Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa
563-232-8060
Online: smalltownpastryia.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Sifted Sugar Cake Co.
Davenport, Iowa
309-318-1155
Email: cakegirlrai13@gmail.com
Online: Facebook, Instagram
Sullivan’s Foods
• 300 N. Madison St., Morrison, 815772-4696
• 101 E. State Route 64, Mount
Morris, 815-734-6868
• 103 W. North Ave., Stockton, 815947-3318
• 217 Chicago Ave., Savanna, 815273-7739
Online: sullivansfoods.net and on Facebook
Sugarjones, Inc.
6336 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park 815-708-0801
Online: sugarjonesinc.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Sweet Dream Desserts 1143 Penny Lane, Sycamore 815-756-8150
Online: sweetdreamdesserts.com and on Facebook, Instagram
The Village Bakery
101 N. Third St., Oregon 815-732-3830
Online: thevillagebakery.org and on Facebook
Walmart bakery
• 2300 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, 815758-6225
• 1640 S. Galena Ave., Dixon, 815288-7770
• 4041 Veterans Drive, Ottawa, 815434-0120
• 5307 Rt. 251, Peru, 815-224-2396
• 2111 Claude Bailey Pkwy., Princeton, 815-875-4521
• 4115 E. Lincolnway, Sterling, 815-626-7200
Online: walmart.com
3-Headed Monster
BBQ & Catering
Traveling truck based in Shannon 815-297-BBQ8 (2278) Online: Facebook
Arthur’s Garden Deli
2312 E. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-625-0011
Online: arthursgardendeli.com and on Facebook
Baker Street
111 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-2253
Email: bakerstreet111@live.com
Online: bakerstreetcafeandcatering. com and on Facebook
Basil Tree Ristorante
123 E. First St., Dixon 815-288-7555
Online: basiltree2008.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Candlelight Inn
• 2200 First Ave., Rock Falls, 815-
626-1897
• 511 Riverview Drive, Clinton, Iowa, 563-243-3200
Online: candlelightinnrestaurant. com and on Facebook
Celebrations Catering
402 E. Mason St., Polo 815-631-1123
Email: minkenkass@gmail.com
Online: celebrationspolo.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Creative Cuisine
1741 Industrial Drive — Unit 24, Sterling 815-626-7546
Email: 1creativecuisine@comcast.net
Online: 1creativecuisine.net and on Facebook
Custom Catering & BBQ
Scott Heeren, BBQ Pitmaster
200 S. School St., Lanark 815-821-4701
Email: customcateringandbbq@ gmail.com
Online: Facebook
Homer’s Deli and Sweetheart Bakery
241 Main Ave. Clinton, Iowa 563-242-4105
Online: sweetheartbakery.com and on Facebook
HyVee
901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162
Online: hy-vee.com and on Facebook
Lena’s Social Club OPENING 2025
104 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon 779-207-3981
Email: info@lenassocialclub.com
Online: lenassocialclub.com and on Facebook
Manny’s Pizza
211 Main St., Savanna 815-273-4259
Online: mannyspizza.com and on Facebook
Palmyra Pub 628 Palmyra Road, Dixon
815-288-6300
Online: palmyrapub.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Ralfie’s BBQ and Catering
Rochelle 815-766-1668
Online: ralfiesbbq.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Salamandra Restaurant 105 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-0874
Email: salamandradixon@yahoo.com Online: Facebook
Sullivan’s Foods
• 300 N. Madison St., Morrison, 815-772-4696 .
• 101 E. State Route 64, Mount Morris, 815-734-6868
• 103 W. North Ave., Stockton, 815-947-3318
• 217 Chicago Ave., Savanna, 815-273-7739
Online: sullivansfoods.net and on Facebook
Please note: It’s advised that you check with these shops before visiting, as some locations require appointments made online or by phone.
Caro Litza’s
3512 #B E. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-441-3185
Online: carolitzas.com and on Facebook
Castronovo Bridal Shop
722 N. Main St., Rockford 815-962-4731
Email: castronovobridals@gmail.com
Online: castronovobridal.com and Facebook, Instagram
Couture Bridal Outlet
400 River Ridge Drive, Elgin 847-450-3914
Online: couturebridaloutlet.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
The Crystal Bride
207 W. State St., Geneva 630-397-5040
Online: crystalbride.com/ and on Facebook, Instagram
Cloud Nine Bridal Boutique
4711 N. University St., Peoria 309-693-3830
Online: cloudninepeoria.com and on Facebook, Instagram
David’s Bridal
• 713 S. Perryville Road, Rockford, 815-227-5950
• 5212 Big Hollow Road, Peoria, 309693-3772
Online: davidsbridal.com and on Facebook
Great Hang-Ups
Upscale consignment shop
613 S. Rockford Ave., Rockford 815-229-8500
Online: Facebook
Hope’s Bridal & Prom
930 E. River Drive, Davenport, Iowa 563-324-5219
Online: hopesbridal.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Marien Mae
Bridal Boutique & Events
749 First St., LaSalle 815-220-0844
Email: info@marienmae.com
Online: marienmae.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Savy’s Chic Bridal Boutique
111 S. Hennepin Ave., Dixon 815-677-9579
Email: hello@savyschic.com
Online: savyschic-bridal-boutique. wedding and on Facebook, Instagram
Sean Philip Bridals
902 Main St., Princeton 815-915-8772
Online: seanphilipbridals.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and Pinterest
Storybook Ending
Bridal Salon
704 Sixth Ave., DeWitt, Iowa 563-659-3983
Email: storybookbridal@ iowatelecom.net
Online: shopforbridals.com and Facebook, Instagram
Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique
400 Bluff St., Dubuque, Iowa
563-581-9945
Online: vintagechicbridalboutique. com and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Volle’s Bridal Boutique
53 S. Old Rand Road, Lake Zurich 847-438-7603
Online: vollesbridal.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Unique Formal Wear
720 La Salle St., Ottawa 815-324-9406
Online: Facebook
Wolsfelt’s Bridal
1025 S. Lincoln Ave., Aurora 630-896-7166
Online: wolsfelts.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Zazou’s Bridal Boutique
955 Washington St., Dubuque, Iowa 536-213-2049
Online: zazousbridalandtuxedos. com and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
A.M. Floral Co.
120 N. Fourth St., Oregon 815-732-7031
Online: amfloralco.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Beautifully Berkeley
Bouquets and Home
101 N. Main St., Stockton 815-947-3900
Online: beautifullyberkeley. wordpress.com and on Facebook
Behrz Bloomz
2503 N. Locust, Sterling
815-625-5116
Online: behrzbloomz.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Cherry Blossom Florist
3304 N. Main St., Rockford 815-654-1188
Online: cherryblossomflorist. com and on Facebook
Clara Joyce Flowers
Farm location: 13493 E. Blair Hill
Road, Stockton
Email: clarajoyceflowers@gmail.com
Online: clarajoyceflowers.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Clinton Floral Shop
1912 Manufacturing Drive, Clinton, Iowa 563-242-2651
Online: clintonfloralshop.com and on Facebook
Colonial Flowers & Gifts
408 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle 815-562-8101
Online: floristrochelleil.com and on Facebook
County Market
• 210 W. Third. St., Sterling, 815-6220180
• 1380 N Galena Ave., Dixon, 815288-2112
• 201 W. Blackhawk Drive, Byron, 815-234-2311
Online: mycountymarket.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Country Girl Floral & Gifts
411 W. Meadows Drive, Freeport 815-599-8552
Online: countrygirlfloral.net FLOWERS cont’d to page 56
FLOWERS cont’d from page 55
Country Orchids
1019 Fourth St., Fulton
815-589-4045
Online: countryorchids.com and on Facebook
Country Peddler
Floral & Gift
353 Chicago Ave., Savanna 815-273-5020
Online: countrypeddlerfloral.com and on Facebook
Deininger Floral Shop
1 W. Main St., Freeport 815-232-6191
Online: deiningerfloralshop.com and on Facebook
De’Vine Floral
Design and Gifts
110 N. Columbia Ave., Oglesby 815-883-3373
Online: devinefloraldesign.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Flower Fan-A-See
904 S. Clay St., Mount Carroll 815-244-1123
Online: flowerfanasee.com and on Facebook
The Flower Bar
2498 Fourth St., Peru 815-410-5052
Online: flowerbarperu.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Flowers Etc.
1103 Palmyra St., Dixon
815-288-3335
Online: eflowersetc.com and on Facebook
Flowers by Julia
811 E. Peru St., Princeton 815-875-3819
Online: flowersbyjuliaprinceton. com and on Facebook, Instagram
Fresh Pressed Memories
Sterling-based business that turns wedding flowers into keepsakes — framed pieces, jewelry and other items.
Online: On Facebook and Instagram
Email: freshpressedmemories@ gmail.com
Grimsley’s Flower Store
102 Jones Court, Clinton, Iowa 217-935-2197
Online: grimsleysflowerstore.com and on Facebook, Instagram
HyVee
901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162
Online: hy-vee.com and on Facebook
Lamps Flower Shop
3900 14th Ave., Rock Island 309-788-7658
Online: lampsflowershoprockisland.com and on Facebook
Lundstrom Florist
1709 E. Third St., Sterling 815-625-0080
Online: lundstromflorist.com and
on Facebook, Instagram
The Main Flower Shop
232 E. Main St., Amboy
815-857-3545
Online: themainflowershop.com and on Facebook
Mary’s Special Touch Floral
1882 N. Tonti St., LaSalle 815-223-1708
Online: marysspecialtouch.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Merlin’s Greenhouse & Flowers
300 Mix St., Oregon 815-732-2969
Online: merlinsgreenhouseandflowers.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Petals By Peyton
552 First St., LaSalle 815-780-8251
Online: petalsbypeytonreviews. com and on Facebook, Instagram
Pollen and Pastry
Studio in Bloomington; serves northern and central Illinois 815-471-9034
Online: pollenandpastry.com and on Facebook, Instagram
The Novel Bloom
218 Main St., Savanna 815-273-2325
Online: rivervalleydesigns.us and on Facebook, Instagram
Rylee Jane Designs
Sterling 815-535-0633
Online: ryleejanedesigns.com Facebook, Instagram
Sassy Stems
Floral & Gift Boutique
700 Main St., Savanna 815-273-7668
Email: sassystemsfloral@gmail.com
Online: sassystemsfloralandgiftboutique.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Selmi’s Florist and Bridal
223 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-622-8040
Online: selmibridal.com and on Facebook
The Special Touch
504 W. Route 64, Lanark 815-493-6366
Online: specialtouchflowers.net and on Facebook
Valley Flowers & Gifts
130 E. Dakota, Spring Valley 815-664-5364
Online: valleyflowersandgifts.com and on Facebook
Wahl Flowers
1706 E. Fifth St., Sterling Illinois 815-631-4469
Email: wähl.flower@outlook.com Online: wahl-flowers.square.site and on Facebook, Instagram
Albert’s Jewelers
128 Fifth Ave. S, Clinton, Iowa 563-242-8334
Online: albertsjewelers.net and on Facebook
Becky Beck’s Jewelry Store
303 E. Hillcrest Drive, DeKalb 815-758-3800
Online: beckybecksjewelrystore.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Busch Jewelers
1960 Pawlisch Drive, Rockford 815-332-2222
Online: buschjewelry.com and on Facebook
Clodius & Co. Jewelers
252 S. Mulford Road, Rockford 815-227-1200
Online: clodiusco.com and on Facebook, Instagram
D & D Jewelers
1739 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore 815-895-3377
Online: ddjewelers.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Davidson Jewelers
153 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline
309-755-9233
Online: davidsonjewelers.net and on Facebook, Instagram
Don’s Jewelry
200 Main Ave., Clinton, Iowa 563-242-2663
Email: sheralyn@donsjewelryclinton.com
Online: donsjewelryclinton.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Frank Jewelers
19 E. Stephenson St., Freeport 815-235-3169
Email: contactus@frankjewelers.com
Online: frankjewelers.com and on Facebook, Instagram
J Kamin Jewelers
250N. Mulford Road, Rockford 815-226-0898
Online: jkaminjewelers.com and on Facebook
Jewelry By Christopher
6585 Lexus Drive, Rockford 815-227-5500
Online: jewelrybychristopher.com and on Facebook
Kay Jewelers
• Machesney Crossing — 1289 W. Lane
Road, Machesney Park, 815-633-0713
• Northland Plaza — 2462 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, 815-754-4302
• Sterling Commons — 4204 E. Lincolnway, Suite C, Sterling, 815-535-0437
• Peru Marketplace — 5255 State Route 251 Ste. 111, Peru, 815-2233657
• Southpark Mall — 4500 16th St., Moline, 309-764-3131
Online: kay.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Necker’s Jewelers
• 761 Sixth Ave., DeWitt, Iowa, 563659-3911
• 4009 E. 53rd St., Davenport, Iowa, 563-359-3941
Online: neckersjewelers.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Quinn’s Jewelry Store
426 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle 815-562-2426
Online: jewelconnect. com/8155622426 and on Facebook
Rogers & Hollands Jewelers
Cherryvale Mall, 7200 Harrison Ave., Rockford 815-332-3400
Online: rogersandhollands.com/ cherryvale-mall and on Facebook, Instagram
Soto’s Jewelry
3504 E. State St., Rockford 815-962-5515
Online: sotosjewelry.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Trein’s Jewelry
201 W. First St., Dixon 815-284-6626
Email: judy@treinsjewelry.com or linda@treinsjewelry.com
Online: treinsjewelry.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Venier Jewelers
117 W. First St., Dixon 815-284-3034
Email: anthony_venier@me.com
Online: venierjewelers.com and on Facebook
Zavius Jewelers
2636 McFarland Road, Rockford 815-654-4000
Email: info@zavius.com
Online: zavius.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Alpenglow Artistry
Professional makeup and hair services bridal beauty team located in Rockford and serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. 815-501-1462
Online: alpenglowartistry.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Erica Mercado Makeup Artist
Traveling makeup artists based in Rockford. Specializes in natural to soft-glam looks for brides and special occasions and happy to be destination wedding makeup specialist.
815-394-9217
Online: ericamercadomakeupartist. mypixieset.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Glamour Beauty Studio
Professional makeup artists and licensed esthetician, her work with brides has been featured online and she includes a bridal look page on her website.
309-445-7570
1033 W. 35th St., Davenport, Iowa Online: glamourbeautystudiollc. com
Maggie Love Hair + Makeup
Professional hair stylist and makeup artist who provides onsite bridal services.
815-288-7900
220 W. First St., Dixon Online: maggielovehairmakeup.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Makeup by Kendra
Licensed esthetician/makeup artist specializing in airbrush makeup and fake lash applications. Located in Spring Valley, but will travel for on-location airbrush makeup for the
bride and bridal party on the big day, to make getting ready easy and comfortable!
815-780-7162
Online: On Facebook
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Independently-owned studios providing makeup tutorials, services and products.
• 313 First Ave., Sterling, 815-632-3362
• 4005 Progress Blvd., Peru, 815-223-3607
• 791 Middle Road, Bettendorf, Iowa, 563-441-5731
Online: merlenorman.com
815 Productions DJ Service
Tampico
815-590-8768
Email: Manager@815Productions. com
Online: 815Productions.com and on Facebook
Boulder Terrace Sound
815-501-4715
Email: Jeff@btsound.com
Online: btsound.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Class Act
DJ Service
815-579-0255
Email: andyfuzak@gmail.com Online: aclassactdjservice.com
DJ Shoker
Rockford
815-378-7644
Email: djshokerhotmix@hotmail.com
Online: Facebook
Flipside DJ Entertainment
3653 Mill Road, Cherry Valley 815-505-7656
Online: flipside-dj.com and on Facebook
Hits DJ Service
Rockford
815-289-0276
Email: joe@hitsdj.com
Online: hitsdj.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Jeti Entertainment
Wedding DJ Service
4249 E. State St., Rockford 815-395-0415
Online: jetientertainment.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Luxe Productions
7300 Edward Drive, Loves Park 815-988-5341
Email: LetsDesign@ LuxeProductions.com
Online: luxeproductions.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Mac Events
Rock Island
Online: maceventsindy.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Massetone Entertainment
Quad Cities 563-340-2319
B. Adams Photography
Byron 815-601-7659
Email: Brian@BAdamsPhotography. com
Online: badamsphotography.com
Dan Royer Photography Dixon
815-284-9832
Email: danroyerphoto@gmail.com
Online: danroyerphoto.com
Ever Beloved Photography Dixon
337-249-6956
Email: hello@everbeloved.com
Online: everbeloved.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Grot Imaging Studio —
Jim Grot 1119 Palmyra St., Dixon 815- 284-3211
Email: jim@grosis.com
Online: grotis.com and on Facebook
Holly Johns Photography Rockford
815-621-7530
Online: hollyjohnsphoto.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Email: Info@massetone.com
Online: massetone.com and on Facebook
Master Entertainment
1727 Second Ave., Rock Island 309-797-2702
Email: Kevin@masterdjonline.com
Online: masterdjonline.com and on Facebook
Mixx Master DJ’s & Entertainment
Quad Cities
563-570-7881
Online: mixxmaster.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Quad City DJ Company
Moline
309-764-1532
Email: QCSJCO@outlook.com
Online: qcdjco.com and on Facebook
Ring DJ Service Oregon 815-757-3022
Online: Facebook
Jon Larson Photography 1140 E. Flagg Road, Oregon 815-757-2113
Online: jonlarsonphotography.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Just Cause Photography —
Suzanne Paul
Ashton 815-440-7982
Email: suzannepual@ justcausephotography.com
Online: justcausephotography.com and on Facebook
Rock Vegas Events Rockford 815-290-9562
Online: rockvegasevents.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Sauk Valley DJs 18th Avenue, Sterling 779-348-4530
Online: Facebook
Stranger Than Paradise DJ & Karaoke 815-291-9897
Online: stpsoundandlighting.com and on Facebook
Sound Solution DJ Entertainment 1891 E. Water Road, Byron 815-262-5975
Online: soundsolutiondj.com and on Facebook
Twisted Mic’s Music Entertainment 1518 Fifth Ave., Moline 309-738-4806
Online: twistedmics.com and on Facebook
Kelly Cadenza Photography 218 N. Harrison St. Davenport, Iowa 309-236-1259
Email: cadenza.photos@gmail.com
Online: cadenzaphotos.com and on Facebook, Instagram
LAR Photography St. Charles 847-370-3289
Email: larphotography1@gmail.com
Online: lar-photography.com and on Facebook, Instagram
PHOTOGRAPHY cont’d to page 59
PHOTOGRAPHY cont’d from page 58
Laura Renee Photography
Dixon
815-440-5563
Email: laurareneephotography1@ gmail.com
Online: laurareneephotography. com/wedding-work and on Facebook, Instagram
Lifeworks
Photography Studio
6342 S. Westwood Ave., Rochelle 815-561-7131
Email: photo@lifeworksimaging.com
Online: lifeworksimaging.com and on Facebook
MDR Photography — Brooke Slusser
Davenport, Iowa 815-501-8846
Online: mdrphotography.net and on Facebook, Instagram
Mindy Joy Photography
Rockford 815-985-4005
Email: mindy@ mindyjoyphotography.com
Online: mindyjoyphotography.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Onsite Photography
Rock Falls/Sterling 815-716-3282
Email: ayonk@photosbyonsite.com
Online: photosbyonsite.com and on Facebook
Pam Cooley Photos
Peoria 309-219-3686 Email: pam@ pamcooleyphotos.com
Online: pamcooleyphotos.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Photos by Tara Marie
Sterling 815- 622-8147 Email: tara@ photosbytaramarie.com
Online: photosbytaramarie.com and on Facebook, Instagram
PhotoFROG Studio
520 W. Second St., Davenport, Iowa 563-370-0151
Email: Ranae@ photofrog.net
Online: photofrog. net and on Facebook, Instagram
Rick Jennisch
Photography Studio
1815 Grant St., Bettendorf, Iowa 563-345-4006
Online: rickjennisch.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Slater Photography and Videography
Davenport, Iowa 815-631-3438
Online: slaterphotographyandvideography.com and on Facebook
Andrea Canas
Dixon 815-716-3261
Email: andreaplansadventures@ gmail.com
Online:instagram.com/andreaplansadventures
Camelot World Travel
4001 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park 815-633-2200
Online: camelotworldtravel.com and on Facebook
Destinations Travel Services
15 E. Third St., Sterling
815-625-3500
Email: avril@destinationstravelservices.com
Online: destinationstravelservices.com and on Facebook
Gateway Travel & Cruise Clinton, Iowa 563-242-1025
Online: gatewaytc.com and on Facebook
Gulliver’s Travel
• Southpark Mall — 4500 16th St., Moline, 309-762-8800
• Duck Creek — 874 Middle Road,
Bettendorf, Iowa, 563-359-6500
Online: gulliverstravel.com and on Facebook
Lindstrom Travel 5970 Guilford Road, Rockford 815-398-8888
Online: lindstromtravel.com and on Facebook
KDM Travel Agency
3554 Shady Ridge Court, Davenport, Iowa 563-324-3201
Online: kdmtravel.com and on Facebook
Picture Perfect 1315 30th St., Rock Island
Steveo Studios Rock Falls 815-622-8177
Email: steveostudios@ yahoo.com
Online: steveostudios. webstarts.com and on Facebook
The 815 Collective Rockford
Online: the815collective.wixsite. com and on Facebook, Instagram
’Til Death Photo & Film
Online: tildeathphotoandfilm.com
You in Photos by Nanc Inc. 1400 First Ave., Suite C Rock Falls 815-718-5136
Online: youinphotosbynanc. zenfolio.com and on Facebook, Instagram
309-788-0500
Email: cruisemaster18@yahoo.com
Online: pictureperfecttravelqc.com and on Facebook
Scuba Adventures
1104 State St., Bettendorf, Iowa 563-324-8771
Online: scubaadventureqca.com and on Facebook
Travel Consultants of Dixon Inc.
735 N. Galena Ave., Suite 120, Dixon 815-284-6681
Online: travelconsultantsofdixon. com and on Facebook
Bell’s Clothing Store
603 LaSalle St., Ottawa 815-434-4854
Online: On Facebook
Boegel’s Mens Wear
412 Second St., Clinton, Iowa 563-242-3045
Online: jimsformalwear.com/stores/ ia/clinton/boegels-mens-wear
Castronovo Bridal Shop
722 N. Main St., Rockford 815-962-4731
Email: castronovobridals@gmail.com
Online: castronovobridal.com/ and on Facebook
Celebrate QC Tux rentals
3203 Devils Glen Road, Bettendorf, Iowa
563-284-2410
Online: qccelebrate.business.site and on Facebook
Cloud Nine Bridal Boutique
4711 N. University St., Peoria 309-693-3830
Online: cloudninepeoria.com and on Facebook, Instagram
David’s Bridal
• 713 S. Perryville Road, Rockford, 815-227-5950
• 5212 Big Hollow Road, Peoria, 309-693-3772
Online: davidsbridal.com, Facebook
Ducky’s Formal Wear
250 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb 815-908-5401
Email: duckysdekalb@gmail.com
Online: duckysdekalb.com and on Facebook
Ducky’s Formal Wear
1721 Fifth Ave., Moline 309-797-9889
Email: duckysqc@gmail.com
Online: duckysformalwear.com and on Facebook
Great Hang-Ups
Upscale consignment shop
613 S. Rockford Ave., Rockford 815-229-8500
Online: Facebook
Kaleel’s Clothing and Printing
704 N. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-284-5033
Online: kaleels.com and on Facebook
Marien Mae Bridal
Boutique & Events 749 First St., LaSalle
Amboy Community Center
280 W. Wasson Road, Amboy 815-857-2324
Features: Full-service bar, full kitchen, tables and chairs. Capacity: 250-300
Online: cityofamboy.org and on Facebook
Ashton Hill Farm
500 Wild Indigo Lane, Galena 319-849-8162
Features: Views of the Galena
countryside with indoor and outdoor spaces in a modern, elegant design.
Capacity: 300 Online: ashtonhillfarm.com/galenavenue and on Facebook, Instagram
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 wedding night, vintage
815-220-0844
Email: info@marienmae.com
Online: marienmae.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Men’s Wearhouse
• 4770 Elmore Ave., Davenport, Iowa, 563-359-4238
• 806 Wacker Drive, Dubuque, Iowa, 563-583-1385
• 4819 N. Rockwood Drive, Peoria, 309-688-6298
• 6250 Mulford Village Drive, Rockford, 815-397-7949
Online: menswearhouse.com/ and on Facebook, Instagram
Milroy’s Formal Wear
2600 Dodge St., Dubuque, Iowa 563-584-2041
Online: milroystuxedos.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Moments Tux Shop
4332 State St., Bettendorf, Iowa 563-888-1695
Online: momentstuxshop.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Sean Philip Bridals
902 Main St Princeton 815-915-8772
Online: seanphilipbridals.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok
and Pinterest
Selmi’s Florist, Bridal and Special Events
223 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-622-8040
Online: selmibridal.com or find Selmi’s Flower Shop on Facebook
That Guy’s Secret
105 Marquette St., Suite B, LaSalle 815-250-0928
Online: thatguyssecret.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Unique Formal Wear
720 La Salle St., Ottawa 815-324-9406
Online: Facebook
Wolsfelt’s Bridal
1025 S. Lincoln Ave., Aurora 630-896-7166
Online: wolsfelts.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Zazou’s Bridal Boutique & Tuxedos 955 Washington St., Dubuque, Iowa 536-213-2049
Online: zazousbridalandtuxedos. com/ and on Facebook, Instagram
carriage for photos, plenty of acreage for tents, tables, dancing. Capacity: 200 inside barn Online: thebarnatallenacres.com and on Facebook, Instagram
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 on Facebook
VENUES cont’d to page 61
cont’d from page 60
Barnacopia
2570 N. West Branch Road, Polo 815-284-8484
Email: event@saukvalleyevents.com
Features: The barn has three levels that include antique tractors and cars. Outdoor space includes a beautiful willow tree, patio and much more.
Capacity: Up to 400 Online: barnacopia.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Basil Tree Ristorante
123 E. First St., Dixon 815-288-7555
Features: Enjoy the delicious Basil Tree Catering of Italian traditions and more for your event in its private dining room.
Capacity: 50
Online: basiltree2008.com and on Facebook, Instagram
The Brauer Barn 9151 Edwardsville Road, Winnebago 815-519-2653
Email: thebrauerbarn@gmail.com
Features: A barn built around the 1900s is the setting for this beautiful event space featuring original hard wood floors and sliding door to access the outdoor space. Space is wheelchair accessible.
Capacity: 299
Online: thebrauerbarn.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Byron Forest Preserve: Jarrett Prairie Center
7993 N. River Road, Byron 815-234-8535
Features: Banquet rooms available with space for indoor or outdoor events and beautiful views from the wraparound outdoor observation deck. Online: byronforestpreserve.com
Candlelight Inn
• 2200 First Ave., Rock Falls, 815-626-1897
Features: Banquet room can accommodate 100 people or be divided for smaller parties.
• 511 Riverview Drive, Clinton Iowa, 563-243-3200
Features: Banquet room on the firstfloor veranda of the restaurant with views of the Mississippi River. Room can
accommodate 175 people.
Online: candlelightinnrestaurant.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Champs Banquet Venue
9 E. Third St., Sterling 815-626-6003
Email: champs.banquetvenue@ yahoo.com
Features: A rustic, yet modern facility with access to the outside patio, which seats 40. The venue caters food to smaller groups of 2030 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
Online: Facebook
Chapel in the Pines
15165 Quigley Road, Sycamore 815-895-4797
Email: pinesinfo@gmail.com
Features: Ceremony options include the chapel, a gazebo or beautiful gardens on this seven-acre private estate that includes a vintageinspired reception hall. It has inhouse catering. Offers elopements, ceremonies and receptions.
Capacity: 150
Online: chapelinthepines.com and on Facebook, Instagram
The Clubhouse Restaurant
29-11 Ironwood Blvd., Lake Carroll 815-493-2810
Features: Full-service restaurant with banquet space for receptions including an outdoor patio. Online: golakecarroll.com
The
Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe
219 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-3496
Email: thecrystalcork@gmail.com
Features: Rent the wine cellar for private parties. Includes a private bar and is handicapped-accessible. Crystal Cork also offers a traveling bar.
Capacity: 48
Online: thecrystalcork.com and on Facebook
Days Inn by Wyndham
2105 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-626-5500
Features: Several large banquet rooms that are wheelchair accessible. Capacity: 275 Online: wyndhamhotels.com/daysinn/rock-falls-illinois/days-inn-rockfalls/overview
Deer Valley Banquets
3298 Hoover Road, Deer Grove 815-499-2911
Email: hello@deervalleybanquets. com
Features: Features a large, open banquet room with cathedral wood ceiling and a wall of windows overlooking our scenic golf course. Menus are customized to fit taste and budget and full-service staff will take care of all the details. Our upper patio and gazebo provide a romantic location to say “I do” with your closest family and friends. Capacity: 400
Online: deervalleybanquets.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Diamond D Farm
12060 Covell Road, Morrison 469-554-0782
Email: diamonddeventvenue@gmail. com
Features: Located on a family farm, find stunning scenery and rustic views for the perfect photo backdrops; ample space for large events and tents; rent the farm grounds or specific buildings. Online: diamonddevents.com and on Facebook, Instagram
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/ dillon-home-museum and on Facebook, Instagram
Dixon Elks Lodge 779
1279 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon 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 on 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 on Facebook, Instagram
Eagle Point Lodge
4101 N. Third St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-1260
Features: Located in Eagle Point Park, the lodge with a catering kitchen, tables and chairs, provides a place to host special events. Capacity: 250 on the patio; 299 in the lodge Online: cityofclintoniowa.gov and on Facebook
East of Yellowstone Lodge & Retreat
6685 S. Lost Nation Road, Dixon 447-777-9867
Email: lisa@ eastofyellowstonelodge.com
Features: A converted former Girl Scout Hall now has the dazzle of crystal bling, the rustic nature of antique timbers, and plenty of natural light with massive windows and window garage doors to let the outside in. Capacity: Receptions with seating up to 150 indoors; additiona seating available outdoors/with tent. Online: eastofyellowstonelodge. com, Facebook, Instagram
Ensign Jade Acres
7111 W. Dublin Road, Freeport 847-417-9496
Email: ensignjade@gmail.com
Features: Ensign Jade Acres is a venue located in a renovated, century-old barn that sits on seven beautiful acres with picturesque country views, with accommodations for indoor or outdoor weddings. Features bride and groom suites, outdoor courtyard, tables and chairs. Capacity: 160
Online: ensignjadeacres.com and on Facebook or Instagram
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VENUES
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The Flight Deck at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center
1207 W. Gurler Road, Rochelle 815-561-3664
Features: An out-of-the-ordinary event space as the skydiving center transforms into a banquet space from November through March.
Capacity: 400
Online: flightdeckbar.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Happily Ever After
Wedding Barn
1794 S. Klinger Road, Pecatonica 815-494-8850
Features: A rustic barn that is more than 100 years old set in the rolling fields just minutes from Rockford and Freeport. Choose from inside the barn or out in the beautiful grassy fields.
Capacity: 200
Online: happilyeverafterweddingbarn.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Henrekin Pines
28650 Hahnaman Road, Deer Grove 815-200-9625
Email: event@henrekinpines.com
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 have heat and air conditioning. Capacity: 240
Online: henrekinpines.com and Facebook, Instagram
Honey Bee Haven
3261 Daysville Road, Oregon
Contact: 815-994-1846
Email: honeybeehaven2024@ outlook.com
Features: Use the barn and 16 acres of grounds for special day.
Online: honeybeehaven2024.com and on Facebook
Hornbaker Gardens, The Barn
22937 Country Road 1140 N Princeton 815-659-3282
Email: events@hornbakergardens. com
Features: The beautiful botanical gardens and arboretum can serve as the perfect place for exchanging your vows, or host a reception at The Barn, a new climate-controlled facility with large windows overlooking the gardens, and a covered patio.
Capacity: 350
Online: hornbakergardens.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Kapp’s Banquet Facility
201 W. First St., Rock Falls 815-625-1963
Features: Indoor banquet hall near the Rock River.
Online: visitrockfalls.com/kappsbanquet-facility
Kilbuck Creek
6752 N. Kilbuck Road, Monroe Center 815-393-3247
Features: Located among the secluded trees, this venue has beautiful space outdoors and indoors for a wedding ceremony and reception. 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 choose to stay in the log cabins.
Capacity: 200
Online: kilbuckcreek.com and on Facebook and Instagram
Lena’s Social Club
OPENING 2025
104 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon 779-207-3981
Email: info@lenassocialclub.com
Features: Banquet room, beers, linens, buffet-style catering, including gluten-free food.
Capacity: 150
Online: lenassocialclub.com and on 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 on Facebook, Instagram
Livengood’s Barn
21647 Thomson Road, Chadwick 815-499-5934
Email: livengoodseventbarn@gmail. com
Features: Two barns — the first is a mid-century 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 room for outdoor ceremonies and a scenic pond. Capacity: 225
Online: livengoodsbarn.com and on Facebook, Instagram
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 on Facebook, Instagram
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 the banquet room. Building is wheelchair accessible. Capacity: 600 Online: Facebook
Manny’s Pizza
211 Main St., Savanna 815-273-4259
Features: Banquet room available to host special events with its in-
house catering menu.
Capacity: Savanna location: 250; Freeport location: 60 Online: mannyspizza.com and on Facebook
Maxson’s Riverboat & Riverside Restaurant
1469 Route 2 North, Oregon 815-732-6761
Features: Have your special day aboard 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 and on Facebook
McCormick Event Center
205 E. Third St., Rock Falls 815-284-8484
Email: event@saukvalleyevents.com
Features: One of the largest event venues in the Sauk Valley with four large rooms that can be booked individually or together. Largest room accommodates 200 and use all four to accommodate 600. On-staff event coordinators are available.
Capacity: 600 Online: mccormickevents.com and on Facebook
Mexicali Rose Event Venue
1409 Eighth Ave., Rock Falls 815-590-3110 E-mail: mexicalirosebanquethall@gmail.com
Online: mexicalirosebanquethall.com and on Facebook
Features: A versatile and affordable wedding and events venue. Featuring personalized design consulting; pressed table linens; round and rectangular tables; chiavari chairs and cushions; scenic backdrops, draping, and accent lighting; centerpieces with floral arrangements; cocktail bar and lounge with bartenders; catering kitchen with warming tray buffet. Capacity: 160
Online: mexicalirosebanquethall.com and on Facebook, Instagram
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VENUES
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Mills & Petrie
Memorial Building
704 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, handicapped accessible auditorium with access to a state-of-the-art kitchen. Managed by Carroll County Farm Bureau.
Capacity: 130
Online: carrollcfb.org and on Facebook
Off Shore Resort
4111 N. Riverview Drive, Bellevue, Iowa
563-872-5000
Features: Following extensive renovations, the space offers beautiful views of the Mississippi River with covered outdoor patios and indoor space. On-site chef, event coordinator and set up and set up, take down included in rental.
Capacity: 350
Online: offshoreresort.net and on Facebook, Instagram
Old Fulton Journal Building
408 10th Ave., Fulton 815-266-7619
Features: Building features various seating arrangements and outdoor space to stage a wedding and reception.
Capacity: 65
Online: visitnorthwestillinois.com
Out At the Farm
8229 11th St., Davis Junction 779-707-0996
Features: A rustic outdoor venue located in a forest on the Kilbuck Creek with an old barn, silo and stone pump house. Ceremony site on the creek. Capacity: 150, option for larger capacity with a tent Online: outatthefarm.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Palmyra Pub 628 Palmyra Road, Dixon
815-288-6300
Features: Private dining room with varied menu from casual to more formal.
Capacity: 40
Online: palmyrapub.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Parties on Pope
207 Pope St., Nelson
815-441-1446
Email: partiesonpope@gmail.com
Features: Room rental with tables, chairs and use of kitchen.
Capacity: 250
Online: partiesonpope.com and on 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: 150
Online: emeraldhillgolf.com and on Facebook
The Polo Room Banquet Hall
712 N. Division Ave., Polo
815-946-2886
Features: Built in the early 1950s, there is plenty of space to celebrate a special occasion with a full-service restaurant, catering and bar.
Capacity: 225 Online: Facebook
Post House Ballroom
100 W. Second St., Dixon
815-288-9236
Features: Stately, elegant, historic, turn-of-the-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.
Capacity: 250
Online: posthouseballroom.net and on Facebook
Prairie View Golf Club
6734 German Church Road, Byron 815-234-4653
Features: Clubhouse available for rentals, with views of the beautiful grounds.
Online: byronforestpreserve.com/ facilities/prairieview-golf-club
Railside Bar & Grill
207 S. Butler St., Nelson 815-251-4633
Features: Warm pine interior, casual and cool. Choose from banquet or table service.
Capacity: 150
Online: Facebook
Rock River Center
810 S. 10th St., Oregon 815-732-3252
Features: Utilize supplies including round or banquet tables, staff, room set-up and tear-down, linens and plates, table service, coffee service, beverage dispensers, a grand piano and a food service tower. The 10th St. Catering in the center has a fullservice menu and can cater.
Capacity: 280
Online: rockrivercenter.org and on 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 Highway 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.
Capacity: 50 Online: Facebook
Starved Rock Lodge
One Lodge Lane, Oglesby 815-667-4211
Features: From small ceremonies in the courtyard or cabin to larger events in the Great Hall or Sunrise Shelter the woodland backdrop makes a beautiful setting for indoor or outdoor events.
Capacity: 200 Online: starvedrocklodge.com
Storybook Gardens
13501 E. Bethel Road, Rochelle 815-888-7962
Features: All-inclusive wedding site with three reception locations. Extras include salons for the bridal party to prepare for the big day and beautiful outdoor gardens for amazing wedding day photos.
Capacity: 300
Online: storybookgardens.club and on Facebook
The Mora Farm
10816 Watson Road, Waterman 815-473-3763
Features: Family-owned farm with indoor and outdoor space for parties and beautiful space for photo backdrops including the stables and open landscape.
Capacity: 200 Online: themorafarm.com
Tycoga Vineyard & Winery
2585 195th St., DeWitt, Iowa 563-249-2704
Email: tycogawinery@gmail.com
Features: Say your vows under the pergola with the vineyard as a backdrop. Have an outdoor wedding and indoor reception.
Capacity: 250 Online: tycoga.com and on Facebook, Instagram
Willy’s Mexican Restaurant
3210 W. Fourth St., Sterling 815-626-0401
Features: Reserve the restaurant for your reception with full-service food and beverages.
Capacity: 70-80 Online: Facebook
Woodcote Cottage
2114 Lowell Park Road, Dixon 815-284-3306
Features: Stone and timber cottage in historic Lowell Park provides a quiet, private setting for a ceremony and reception. Kitchen access and ADA restrooms.
Capacity: 100
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: Facebook
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Photo Credit: Jodi Flynn Photography
Photo Credit: Jodi Flynn Photography
Photo Credit: Danielle Marie Photography
Photo Credit: Mitch and Rachel Visuals