Capital_City_Wedding

Washington Park – a unique wedding venue

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Washington Park – a unique wedding venue
Springfield offers a wide range of venues for your wedding ceremony -from beautiful churches to lovely outdoor parks, from museums and historic sites to banquet halls and clubs, from formal to casual, large to small, and intimate to expansive.

Out of town

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Out of town
Rustic, peaceful and romantic are words that describe Clayville Historic Site. Located only 15 miles west of Springfield, Clayville's rural setting is perfect for your special day. Our 100-year-old, climate-controlled barn leads into an open pavilion, with side curtains for year-round use.

Great places to get married

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Great places to get married
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum's magnificent Plaza, the center rotunda of the museum, offers a spectacular backdrop for elegant receptions. Couples may choose to be introduced from our White House replica. Catering is available or couples may bring in outside catering for an additional charge.

Local catering options range from food trucks to plated dinners

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Local catering options range from food trucks to plated dinners
Sample menus items include a taco/fajita bar with margaritas on the rocks for the rehearsal, a wedding ceremony appetizer of our signature parmesan artichoke dip served with toasted pita chips and for the reception dinner a parmesan coated chicken breast topped with lemon, caper and mushroom cream sauce.

What’s new in wedding gowns?

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

What’s new in wedding gowns?
By Carley Lintz, CTW Features
While some bridal gown silhouettes never go out of style, every Fashion Week offers new takes on tradition. The 2019 Fall/Winter season was no exception; from glittery finishes to modern necklines, there are plenty of fresh looks for soon-to-be brides to draw inspiration from.

Fashionable flowers

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Fashionable flowers
By Michelle Oâ€™Neal-Babicky
Those brides who relish tradition and choose gowns reminiscent of the past may follow suit with this choice of wedding flower design. Soft blush and beige tone flowers lend themselves to this vintage feel and are likely to be trending for years to come.

It takes the cake

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

It takes the cake
By Michelle Ownbey
A cake is still a staple of most wedding receptions, but the options now are almost limitless. Couples today are experimenting with designs and flavors far beyond traditional white cakes, although classic elegance is also a popular option. Here are a few of the current trends:.

A twist on tradition

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

A twist on tradition
By Michelle Ownbey
As the owner of HJS Photography, Hannah Jean Schafer sees a lot of weddings. “Weddings of burlap and lace are happening every weekend and people are doing what they think should be done at weddings. I love it when couples just go for it!” Schafer suggests that couples find ways to spotlight their common interest and things they love.

Plan accordingly

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Plan accordingly
Your new fiancé may have spent weeks, or even months, deciding how to pop the question, but now is when the real planning starts. Before you dive into the deep end of Pinterest, though, you need a game plan to give you structure in the midst of chaos and prevent you from becoming completely overwhelmed.

Please, say thank you!

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Please, say thank you!
Months and perhaps years go into planning your special wedding day. Afterwards, guests talk about the happy couple, beautiful bride, proud parents, meaningful ceremony and enjoyable reception. Unfortunately, sometimes guests also talk about never receiving a thank you note for a wedding present.

How to set and enforce digital rules for your wedding

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

How to set and enforce digital rules for your wedding
Your wedding, your rules. But not everyone knows what you want – and don’t want – posted online. Want to set the social media boundaries firmly to ensure your big day goes off without a reveal that you don’t want? Think about your wishes, and then find a way to let guests know.

Great places to get married

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Great places to get married
Built in 1917, 210 Broadway has been reincarnated into a beautiful restaurant and bar, blending the old factory frame with timeless interior design. Arlington’s Upstairs offers a beautiful setting for wedding receptions, ceremonies and rehearsal dinners.

Should you purchase wedding insurance?

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

You’ve surely heard of insurance in terms of home insurance, health insurance or car insurance, but how about wedding insurance? Just as those types of insurance help protect you against paying tons of money out of pocket for unforeseen circumstances, wedding insurance can give you peace of mind for one of the biggest days of your life.

Hot registry trends for 2018

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Hot registry trends for 2018
Registries are certainly nothing new – according to many accounts, Macy’s invented the concept of gift registries in the 1920s. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then. Gone are the days where wedding registries only included gifts like fine china or kitchen towels.

Should we use a wedding planner?

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Should we use a wedding planner?
Miranda Davis and Julie Schumann own Simple Elegance Events & Entertainment, a full-service event and design consulting firm based in Bloomington. They believe weddings of all sizes need a planner. “I know what we do on the day of the wedding,” says Davis, “and I can’t image that stress being put on a bride, her mother, family or bridal party.

Our (revised) dream wedding, debt-free

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Our (revised) dream wedding, debt-free
We are in the process of renovating a distressed home that we purchased from the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association eight months ago. We live debtfree, and therefore budgeted for a small garden wedding with about 20-30 of our closest friends and family.

Hiring a professional florist

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Hiring a professional florist
Michelle O’Neal-Babicky, owner of Petals and Co. in Rochester, loves weddings. She’s worked in the floral industry providing flowers for weddings since 1982 and founded Petals and Co. 21 years ago. She now averages more than 100 weddings each year, and O’Neal-Babicky says she is never finished learning.

Worth a thousand words

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Worth a thousand words
Your wedding day will pass in a flash, but your wedding photographs will last a lifetime and be passed on to future generations. How can you make sure photos of your special day will be everything you imagined? Select your photographer carefully, and seek your photographer’s advice.

Diet no more

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Diet no more
I wanted Michelle Obama arms when I walked down the aisle in my strapless dress nine years ago. I worked with a personal trainer and tried to eat healthily, with smaller amounts of beer and frozen yogurt, my standard treats. But I have never been a good dieter.

Washington Park – a unique wedding venue

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Washington Park – a unique wedding venue
Springfield offers a wide range of venues for your wedding ceremony – from beautiful churches to lovely outdoor parks, from museums and historic sites to banquet halls and clubs, from formal to casual, large to small, and intimate to expansive.

Great places to get married

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Great places to get married
Pinterest is a great resource for creative ideas to make your wedding day special. However, not all suggestions are easy, cheap or successful. One positive example is a “message in a bottle guest book.” This is something that can be done easily at a nominal cost, using things you likely have on hand.

Picking a venue and staying on track

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Picking a venue and staying on track
Location, cost, size, ambiance and amenities are all factors in selecting a venue for the ceremony and reception. In addition, it’s important to understand how much you will need to do versus what the venue will handle for you. Most people are planning a wedding for the first time and don’t fully appreciate the many details involved.

Wedding advice from a pastor

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Wedding advice from a pastor
One of the most important decisions a couple must make in planning the wedding is determining who will conduct your ceremony and where it will be held.

Finding the perfect gown

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Finding the perfect gown
“It’s flattering because ruching goes down and around and shows off a small waist,” says Fuhrman. “A corseted string style, which crisscrosses in the back, is also amazing for an hourglass figure.” Avoid a column, which falls straight and covers up your curves.

Using an officiant to lead

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Using an officiant to lead
Weddings in Illinois must be “licensed, solemnized and registered.” Couples often choose to have their wedding “solemnized” by someone with whom they have a personal relationship. For many, this is their pastor, priest, rabbi or other clergy member.

Finding the perfect gown

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

About Capital City Wedding 2017

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT

About Capital City Wedding 2017
Thanks to Karen Ackerman Witter of Springfield, who assembled and edited this year’s wedding guide, while writing many of the articles. Karen helped plan her daughter’s wedding, which took place on July 9, 2016, at the Washington Park Rose Garden with a reception afterwards at Illini Country Club.

Pick the perfect wedding photographer

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Pick the perfect wedding photographer
Your photo and video crews will be with you all day. Ask these questions to make sure you find the pro who will keep you smiling

Have a blast shopping for the dress

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Have a blast shopping for the dress
Your wedding dress should make you look stunning, not stress you out. Follow these tips for a fun, carefree time finding your gown

Picking flowers

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Picking flowers
Bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnieres – a lot of blooms go into your big day. But that doesn’t mean you have to stress. Here’s how to have fun picking flowers that fit your vision.

What’s love got to do with it?

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

What’s love got to do with it?
Premarital counseling is something that can sometimes fall by the wayside in the excitement of planning a wedding. It certainly can seem like a bummer compared to the thrill of dress shopping and planning the reception of the century. But it doesn’t have to be.

Great places to wed

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Great places to wed
You’ve found your perfect mate. Now it’s me to pick a venue for your big day..

Find the perfect place for you

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Find the perfect place for you
Indoors or out, set the perfect mood for your wedding by choosing an idyllic setting to tie the knot. Follow these five steps to finding your dream venue.

Catering considerations

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Catering considerations
Of course every couple wants their own wedding to be perfect. Even so, some of the best wedding moments happen when things go off script.

Make your ceremony memorable and meaningful

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Make your ceremony memorable and meaningful
Web search “how to personalize your wedding” and you’ll find hundreds of ideas, from the genuine to the genuinely goofy. Want to water a love fern together (yes, the infamous “How to Lose a Guy” love fern), write and recite a vows Mad Lib, have your dog be the ring bearer? It’s all there.

Simple solutions to save on your wedding

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Simple solutions to save on your wedding
Couples in the midst of planning a wedding often ind themselves overwhelmed by the cost of such a meaningful yet expensive undertaking. The average wedding is as expensive as a new car or a down payment on a new house, so it’s no surprise many couples experience sticker shock when they irst begin to negotiate with vendors.

How to preserve wedding bouquets and arrangements

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

How to preserve wedding bouquets and arrangements
According to The Knot.com, couples can expect to spend 8 percent of their wedding budget on lowers. For the average wedding, that equates to roughly $2,000 for various arrangements and bouquets. That can be a considerable expense for fragile lowers with a shelf life of only a day or two.

How do couples merge their finances?

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

How do couples merge their finances?
Getting married means accepting change and combining two lives into one. After tying the knot, certain decisions and discussions are easier than others. Conversations about money may be one of the hardest topics for newly married couples to navigate..

The party after the party

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

The party after the party
Nowadays, many wedding guests are not ready to call it a night after the deejay plays the last dance at the reception. After-parties have grown increasingly popular, but planning an after-party is not necessarily as simple as pointing guests to a nearby watering hole.

Be smart about wedding beauty preparation

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Be smart about wedding beauty preparation
employ the services of a professional hairstylist and makeup artist. Professionals have the experience and tools of the trade to help you to look your best. From contouring to make your face seem slimmer to enlarging the appearance of small eyes, some tricks of the trade are best left to the pros.

How to negotiate with wedding vendors

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

How to negotiate with wedding vendors
Too often couples overlook haggling for better prices because they may be intimidated by the process or simply want to plan the most memorable day regardless of cost. Many vendors build some wiggle room into their prices, and the key for cost-conscious couples is to ind the right strategy to unlock that lower price.

Hot trends in wedding cuisine

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Hot trends in wedding cuisine
In the past, standard fare like prime rib and roasted chicken dominated wedding menus. But today’s weddings cater to people of various culinary tastes, and couples and their guests can expect more upscale and creative cuisine to be rolled out for wedding receptions.

Make your engagement photoshoot a success

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Make your engagement photoshoot a success
Engagement photos vary depending on the couple. Often reserved for save-thedate cards and now commonly used to spruce up wedding websites, engagement photos can range from formal shoots in which couples are dressed to the nines to more laid back shots featuring couples in more everyday attire.

How to build a wedding registry

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

How to build a wedding registry
Many once-popular wedding traditions have fallen by the wayside. But one wedding tradition that has withstood the test of time is the wedding registry. Couples about to tie the knot still build a wedding registry so their guests know what to buy them as wedding gifts.

How to decide between a band or deejay

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

How to decide between a band or deejay
Deejays are advantageous for various reasons. Thanks to the accessibility of digital music, deejays can often procure just about any song a couple desires for the reception. That’s a signi icant bene it for couples who want to hear the original versions of their favorite songs, and not a band’s take on those songs.

Long Bridge Golf Course

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Long Bridge Golf Course
Mid-April to the end of October, hold your ceremony in a climate-controlled tent that seats 275 and has an adjacent courtyard. Large bride’s room, turn-around drive at entrance for convenient dropoff and reserved upclose parking for bridal party. 1055 W.

Great places to wed

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Great places to wed
Lovely rooms for small weddings and spacious ballrooms with sea ng for up to 600 guests for larger ceremonies. Also offers an array of services, including a complimentary room for the newlyweds. 700 E. Adams. 217-789-1530. www.springfield.hilton.com.

The overly simplified wedding checklist

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT

The overly simplified wedding checklist
But every bride we talked with thought we should include a simple checklist of the “big stuff” that belongs on every wedding plan list – regardless of the scale of the event or how long you have to plan for it..

Slo-mo video booth

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Slo-mo video booth
Everything looks cooler in slow mo on. Maybe that’s the reason the slow-mo video booth is replacing the traditional photo booth at wedding receptions across the country.

2014 Capital City Wedding

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

The top trends for 2014

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

The top trends for 2014
By Julia Haskins
The rustic wedding theme is getting a cosmopolitan update in 2014, according to the experts. “People are tired of the shabby-chic thing, so they’re going for an old-world glamour kind of vibe,” says Sara Burnett, the editor of wedding-inspiration blog Burnett’s Boards.

Attack of the wedding photo!

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Attack of the wedding photo!
By Taniesha Robinson
A photo of a wedding party aligned in royal fashion around the bride and groom is a staple of wedding photography. Then there’s the classic black-and-white photo. These elegant images will always have a place in wedding albums, but lately another shot has made it to the roster: the action-packed, staged Photoshop photo.

What’s the groom say?

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

What’s the groom say?
The David’s Bridal survey echoed research from Mintel, which found that not only are men becoming more involved in wedding planning, they’re becoming nearly as stressed as women when it comes to planning a wedding, with 32 percent of men calling the process “overwhelming,” compared to 42 percent of women.

The new comfort zone

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

The new comfort zone
By Nola SarkisianÂ-Miller
With a range of necklines, sleeves, illusion elements and lace – lots and lots of lace – designers are showing off alternative looks that allow brides to take a few risks, with dress styles that are chic, youthful and luxurious, without having to settle on the strapless standby.

From civil union to marriage

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

From civil union to marriage
The couple separated for eight months in 2012 but got back together on Valentine’s Day. “I gave Jaime a briefcase full of office supplies and she got down on one knee and proposed,” said Brenda. “I wasn’t prepared. I still had my Garth Brooks night shirt on."

The overly simplified wedding checklist

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Great places to wed

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Great places to wed
You’ve found your perfect mate. Now it’s time to pick a venue for your big day.

Smart buy

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Smart buy
People love Moleskine notebooks for a lot of reasons: They’re sturdy, compact, kinda cool-looking. In short, they work. And their Passions Journal collection even made it stylish to document your interests (movies, music, books) in analog fashion. The latest entrée in the line is perhaps the most obvious: the Wedding Journal.

YOUR CAPITAL CITY wedding

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Copyright 2014. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher. This complete publication is available in digital form at www.capitalcitywedding.com.

Thinking of a destination wedding?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Thinking of a destination wedding?
You aren’t alone. The Associa on of Bridal Consultants reports that nearly eight percent of all weddings take place away from the bride or groom’s hometown, o en in an idyllic locale.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Tips for toasters

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Tips for toasters
Wedding days are typically steeped in tradi on. One of the more enjoyable wedding day tradi ons is a toast to the bride and groom. Once the recep on has begun, members of the wedding party will o en make the first toasts, followed by family and other friends.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Party plan

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Party plan
To set the right tone, consider crea ng a special playlist or hiring an instrumentalist (think guitarist or jazz trio) to play classical versions of your favorite tunes. Give guests something to look at, like a slideshow or elaborate wedding program.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Insta Glam

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Insta Glam
By Taniesha Robinson
On their wedding day, Jonathan Buckley and his wife, Brandi, stood on the grand staircase of San Francisco City Hall, where Brandi’s grandparents married nearly 70 years before.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Which dress your body type?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Which dress your body type?
Although there are no absolutes, most women don’t need a fashion expert to know that their par cular body type looks best in this or that style. However, choosing a wedding dress is not at all like choosing a business suit. Here’s a primer on where you might want to start, depending on your body type.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Think pink!

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Think pink!
By Nola SarkisianÂ-Miller
Biel’s rosy selec on puts her in the recent company of Anne Hathaway, whose Valen no gown for her September 2012 wedding featured pink hand-painted details, and Reese Witherspoon, who opted for a blush-hued Monique Lhuillier number for her 2011 nup als.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Something blue … for him

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Something blue … for him
Tradi on does not mandate something borrowed, old or new for your groom, but a blue embellishment will lend playful elegance to his a re. Here are a few chic selec ons..

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Visions of romance

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Visions of romance
By Nola SarkisianÂ-Miller
“A more posi ve outlook on the economy is driving the desire for richness and luxuriousness,” says Andrea Novella, sales and marke ng manager for New York-based Anne Bowen.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Civil union ceremony

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Civil union ceremony
It was June 2011 when Illinois joined the ranks of states sanc oning samesex civil unions. A bill to approve same-sex marriage is winding its way through the Illinois legislature as this publica on goes to press, but couples aren’t wai ng to express their commitment to one another.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The overly simpli ied wedding checklist

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The overly simpli ied wedding checklist
But every bride we talked with thought we should include a simple checklist of the “big stuff” that belongs on every wedding plan list – regardless of the scale of the event or how long you have to plan for it..

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

How much will this wedding cost?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

How much will this wedding cost?
A cri cal first step is to know exactly how much money will be available to pay for your wedding and where that money is coming from. If you and your fiancé are foo ng the en re bill then you should decide on that figure before you do anything else.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Great places to wed

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Plan now, so you can relax and enjoy your special day

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

It may surprise you to learn that roughly 50 percent of the adults in central Illinois are unmarried … which means poten ally there could be a whole lot of weddings in the coming year. Especially with civil unions commonplace and same-sex marriage likely to be approved in 2013.

YOUR CAPITAL CITY wedding

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Copyright 2013. No por on of this publica on can be reproduced without the express wri en permission of the publisher. This complete publica on is available in digital form at www.capitalcitywedding.com.