SVM_Weddings_2026-2027

2026/27 EDITION

Weddings

IDEAL VENUE FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY GATHERINGS

• WEDDINGS

• BIRTHDAY PARTIES

• RECEPTIONS

• FAMILY REUNIONS

• GRADUATIONS

• HOLIDAY PARTIES

HISTORIC BARN

Caterer of your choice or bring your own food. Handicapped accessible. Climate-controlled & Bounce House Friendly RENOVATED WITH YOU IN MIND

inside

A spray gun wedding

Brides who want to look positively glowing on their wedding day will have it made in the shade when they visit a Dixon woman’s business.

Candid camera

Photographer finds the magic in wedding photos when people least expect it, by blending in to the background to turn fleeting moments into lasting memories.

MORE table of contents, and an advertiser index, appear on page 6

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

PUBLISHER: Jennifer Heintzelman

SALES:

A ‘culinary architect’ gives catering clients the kind of service where their dish is her command.

Jacob and Allison Noble of Rock Falls are shown in photos taken by You in Photos by Nanc Inc., Sterling, and Amy Yonk from Onsite Photography, Rock Falls

“Every session is all about you — from the first click to the final image. I take pride in listening to your vision, paying careful attention to every detail, and creating photographs that reflect your personality, style, and the memories you want to cherish.” — youinphotosbynanc.zenfolio.com

For more information about You in Photos by Nanc Inc. ... Online: youinphotosbynanc.zenfolio.com Social media: On Facebook and Instagram Contact: 815-718-5136

Flowers are something Special

A Lanark florist who sees the world through Rosemary-colored glasses loves to help people find just the right flowers for any occasion.

Mane and wife

What do couples do when they want to slow things down on their wedding day? They add a little horsepower, and bring a carriage to the marriage.

A marriage made in Haven

Hearts of the country come together at an event venue near Oregon, where a mother and daughter duo love to help couples create magical moments.

Tying the knot may be a cause for celebration, but tangled up finances aren’t.

Ready, aim ... tan

A boost in confidence can be made in the shade, thanks to Caitlin O’Connor’s (right) skill in a profession where beauty is skin deep. Her talent with tans adds a little color to clients, courtesy of a spray gun and an eye for applying just the right shade.

a person’s wedding day, confidence often comes down to the smallest details.

The way a dress fits, the way makeup catches the light and the way someone feels when they see themselves in the mirror all make a difference.

For the owner of a local spray tan business, serving brides and wedding parties across the area and being part of that special wedding moment is what makes her work meaningful.

Caitlin O’Connor of Bronzed Era Spray Tans in Polo has spent the past two years helping people look their best through spray tanning. She works both at rented space at the Studio 112 beauty salon in downtown Polo and also does some appointments from her home in Dixon.

Her customers range from those who just want to show a little glow to clients who want a tan for special occasions, such as homecomings, proms and weddings, where timing, tone and subtlety matter.

“For weddings, it’s great to be a part of their day,” O’Connor said. “It’s nice to be a part of what they consider the biggest day of their life. I get to give them confidence. They feel so good, and it’s good to give them that.”

That sense of responsibility carries into how O’Connor approaches wedding appointments. She said weddings are different from everyday tans, not just because of the photos, but because of the pressure clients place on themselves to feel flawless. In the midst of busy timelines and last-minute details, her goal is to make the tanning process calm, controlled and one less thing for brides to worry about.

“I want it to be perfect because it’s their big day,” O’Connor said. “They’ve all been very laid back and easy going.”

Brides are often wearing white, form-fitting dresses, which means the type of tanning solution used is critical. Many spray tans contain a cosmetic bronzer that can rub off onto fabric, so for brides, O’Connor recommends a clear solution that eliminates the risk of transfer while still delivering an even glow.

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Having a tan, whether it’s for a wedding or any other occasion, gives one confidence, she said.

“It’s going to give you a glow,” O’Connor said. “It’s going to make your teeth look whiter. It’s going to make your eyes look brighter. You don’t need as much makeup and it evens out your skin tone. It’s just a re ally good accessory to have on the big day — or on any day — but especially when everyone’s taking pictures and everyone’s looking at you. You want that confi dence and you want to feel good.”

Managing expectations is a key part of her consul tations. O’Connor said many clients come in wanting a dramatic transformation, but natural results always look best, especially as a tan fades. She has to be realistic with her customers to ensure that they’re not getting something that could be troublesome after the big day.

“If someone with pale skin says they want to look Brazilian, if you get that dark, it’s not going to look natural and you’re not going to like it when it starts to fade,” O’Connor said. “It’s all about going a shade darker than what you are and adding a little sun-kissed glow. We want it to be natural.”

That philosophy is backed by advances in spray tan chemistry in recent decades. The active ingredient in spray tans, DHA (dihydroxyacetone), reacts with amino acids in the top layer of the skin to form brown pigments called melanoidins, creating a tan without exposure to UV rays.

The quality of modern solutions has come a long way, O’Connor said.

“Over the years, some people think spray tans are simply orange, but the DHA in the solutions has improved and the quality of it has gone up so much that the orange hues aren’t really a thing anymore,” O’Connor said. “If you look at girls in the ’90s, you’re going to see that orange color to them, but the quality has gotten so much better, thank goodness.”

O’Connor’s own journey into spray tan ning started with a look at her own skin. A self-described “a pale Irish girl,” she experimented with tanning products on herself before realizing the difference professional techniques could make.

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“It’s nice to be a part of what they consider the biggest day of their life.”

Advances in sunless tanning techniques have come a long way since the days of tans in a bottle that made people look more like they were kissed by an orange than kissed by the sun. When it comes to clients’ spray day, O’Connor wants to make sure they get the look they’re looking for, and will consult with her clients in order to achieve the right look. Natural is best, she advises. Too light and the results might be underwhelming; too dark and they might not look natural. “It’s all about going a shade darker than what you are, and adding a little sun-kissed glow,” she said. “We want it to be natural.”

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Sun

of a gun ... Spray tans are an effective and safer way to get a tan sans the sun.

“It’s going to give you a glow ... make your teeth look whiter ... make your eyes look brighter. You don’t need as much makeup and it evens out your skin tone,” says O’Connor.

“I would use [regular] lotions all of the time, and then I found out it’s not quite the same as using tanning lotions,” O’Connor said. “I was doing it on myself, and I just wanted to spread that love. I just loved it. I tried it on some girls at my job, and I thought, ‘This is wonderful.’”

Today, she focuses exclusively on spray tans, though she hasn’t ruled out offering tanning beds in the future to give clients another option. For now, she emphasizes the control and precision of hand-applied spray tans over booths, which may produce uneven or unpredictable results.

“Having a good, solid tan is going to give you confidence,” O’Connor said. “In the summertime, with shorts and a tank top, there’s no way I can do that without a tan, and I feel more confident.”

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Getting a spray tan? The wedding planning website, TheKnot.com, has some tips …

Before

Time for a cell off — If you only do one thing before your spray tan, it should be exfoliating your skin in the shower to help remove dead skin cells and ensure an even tan. Use a gentle exfoliating scrub or mitt to exfoliate your entire body in the shower the day before your appointment, focusing on the elbows, knees, and ankles.

Bare your skin — Remove your makeup and jewelry to allow for an even tan application and avoid unwanted tan lines. You should also skip the moisturizer and perfume. While well-moisturized skin after the tan can allow for a longer-lasting spray tan, you'll want to avoid applying any moisturizers, body oils or fragrances on the day of your appointment. These products can create a barrier on the skin and affect the absorption of the spray tan solution.

Hair today? Gone tomorrow — If you plan to remove unwanted hair, make sure to shave or wax 24 hours before your spray tan appointment. Shaving, waxing or any hair removal method can open up pores or cause razor bumps. Giving your skin time to recover will ensure a more comfortable and flawless spray tan application.

Beauty duties — Complete other beauty treatments first. Spray tans should be the last step of your beauty routine, excluding day-of hair and makeup. With that in mind, you'll want to make sure your spray tan appointment comes after your mani-pedi and any hair removal, as mentioned above.

A trial run — The last thing you should do is get your very first spray tan right before your wedding. Plan ahead to ensure you get the outcome you want; you want a tinge of color, not a tinge of regret.

After

Dress for success — Wear dark, loose-fitting clothing to avoid smudging or rubbing off your fresh spray tan.

Shower hours — For most spray tans, you'll want to wait 8-10 hours before taking your first shower, in order to give your tan enough time to fully develop and set into your skin (some tanning salons offer rapid solutions that take less time to develop; check with your spray tan technician for specific instructions).

Moisture? No ... — While a quick rinse in the shower is usually okay around the eight-hour mark, you should avoid prolonged moisture for at least 24 hours after your appointment, as it can cause your tan to streak or fade unevenly. ... Moisturizer? Yes — Moisturizing regularly is essential for maintaining your spray tan—but you'll want to wait at least 24 hours post-tan to do it. Opt for a moisturizer that's paraben- and fragrance-free.

Read the full article at theknot.com/content/bridal-spray-tan-dos-and-donts

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To help clients get the most out of their tan, especially for weddings, O’Connor walks them through a detailed pre- and post-care process. Preparation includes exfoliating 24 hours beforehand, staying well-hydrated and moisturizing properly. After the tan, moisturizing remains essential, while activities that can reduce the color’s intensity — such as swimming, hot tubs, massages, facials, shaving, manicures, pedicures, oils, and perfumes — should be avoided.

Spray tans are ideally scheduled two days before a wedding, allowing the color to settle while ensuring that everything else, such as beauty treatments and dress fittings, are completed beforehand. O’Connor sends clients preparation and aftercare checklists via text, along with aftercare accessories, to help extend the life of the tan.

O’Connor said one of the most rewarding parts of the job comes after the ceremony, when brides send her photos from their wedding day. Seeing clients confident in their dresses and comfortable in front of the camera reinforces the care she puts into each appointment, knowing the results of her work become part of how they remember one of the most photographed days of their lives.

“It looks good on anyone,” O’Connor said. “As long as you do one or two shades a little darker, you’re going to look like you’ve spent a couple of days in the sun, and you’re going to have a glow about you. It glows good for anybody.” n

Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

Bronzed Era

Spray Tans operates from a booth at Studio 112, 112 W. Mason St. in Polo. Find it on Facebook or Instagram, email bronzedera@outlook. com or call 715-204-9502 to schedule an appointment.

of a wedding day... the storytelling “I love

callie shrimplin Callie Jo Photo and Film

couple’s wedding is one of the most unforgettable days of their life, and an Amboy photographer wants to help them keep it that way.

Callie Shrimplin is the person behind the lens who specializes in putting clients’ weddings front and center, by preserving the moments and memories of a day when all eyes — including Shrimplin’s — are on the happy couple.

Shrimplin owns Callie Jo Photo and Film, taking her cameras to weddings to document moments big and small, unexpected and candid, real and relatable.

More than just a profession, it’s a passion for Shrimplin, who’s a big believer that just because we live in a day when photos are a tap away on everyone’s cell phone, we shouldn’t lose focus on what photos have to say. Taking a picture is one thing, but telling a story? That’s where experience makes a difference. Her work isn’t just about documenting who was there or what happened, but about recognizing the emotion in small gestures and the fleeting expressions that often go unseen. There’s a lot going on during a wedding. Hundreds of guests, thousands of moments and a million things to remember — and no two moments are the same. Details can make the difference.

RUSTYSCHRADER/SVMPHOTOILLUSTRATION

“Photographers are a huge part of your wedding day, and it’s really the only thing that you have that you’re able to walk away from your wedding day with you besides your memories,” Shrimplin said. “Your DJ, food and decorations, all that’s gone, but photos and video are the things that you can take and re-look at 20 years down the road.”

That swift, hectic and happy emotional rhythm of a wedding day is what Shrimplin leans into. Her role, she says, is less about standing still and more about anticipating movement; it’s about reading a room, keeping her eyes open, watching for shifting expressions, and creating photos that speak volumes, in the language of love.

“My eyes are always moving,” Shrimplin said. “I’m always looking at the crowd, and

know on a wedding day when moments are going to happen. There’s surprises left and right, there’s emotions left and right. As a photographer, you really have to keep your eyes moving and be aware of your surroundings.”

That instinct leads her to seek out the unscripted moments during the event, whether it’s a grandparent wiping away tears of joy or a couple catching their breath between events. The trick to getting a good photo? Know when to step up and when to stand back.

She prefers to stay far enough away to preserve the honesty of the moment.

“You’re not going to get that candid moment if the person knows you’re near them,” Shrimplin said. “You have to look at them at a distance and catch them off-guard. Normally when guests see you with a camera, they stop and they pose, and you’re not going to get candid photos when they do that. Posed photos are great for reception photos, but you can really only have so many of those.”

“I love the storytelling of a wedding day,” she said. “Every wedding is different. Every couple is different. There are no two days that ever feel the same. I love watching the couples’ personalities unfold throughout the day. I love the creative part of it. I try to create something that they can look back on and it tells the story of their day picture by picture, from beginning to end. They freeze moments that you’ll never forget.”

“Photographers are a huge part of your wedding day,” says Callie Shrimplin of Callie Jo Film and Photo, and it’s a part she’s enjoyed playing since launching her photography business in 2018.

Shrimplin is not only capturing a new chapter in couples’ lives, but also writing a new chapter in her own. She plans to scale back from her full-time job at Ortho Illinois in Rockford to do more media work. She also hopes her photography work will reach new heights in the coming year: She rebranded her business from its former name of Callie Jo Photography in early December — to Callie Jo Photo and Film — to reflect her new foray into video, and she moved her studio from rural Amboy to downtown Dixon at the start of the year.

The video adds another layer and more texture to what she does.

Expanding her focus ...

When Shrimplin first started shooting wedding photos in high school, something “just kind of clicked,” she said, and she’s still clicking today.

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“With video, it’s great to hear that laughter come back to life, see the movement and relive the emotion,” she said. “I used to second-shoot a lot, and I’ve found there are a lot of fine photographers around the area, so my mindset is that if they choose someone else as their photographer, I’m still not out of the game and can still be booked as a videographer. I feel that video is something that people overlook, but the No. 1 thing I hear from past brides and grooms that have not had a videographer is that, ‘Man, I wish I really had a videographer.’

“It’s something that brings those moments back to life. When you look at a photo, you try to think of that moment and try to relive it, but video brings it back to life. You can relive that emotion.”

Her clients often stay with her even long after the wedding. They return for maternity sessions, newborn portraits, milestone photos and first-home celebrations. Some even plan their wedding date around her availability. And as her workload grows, so has the space she works from, with her move to downtown Dixon.

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Callie Shrimplin brings more than a camera to clients’ weddings: She brings experience, an eye for story-telling, and a love of taking wedding photos. From the smallest details to the biggest moments, every click of the camera can speak volumes, whether it’s a silhouette from across the room, wedding accoutrements up close, or a picture of a picture. Said Callie ...

The path to this point in her career began long before Shrimplin photographed her first wedding. She started shooting photos during her sophomore year at AshtonFranklin Center High School, entering 4-H photo contests and experimenting with anyone willing to stand in front of her lens.

Her sister Emily became her first model.

second-shooting weddings, and it was during that fledgling photo profession that she began to really enjoy weddings.

“It just kind of clicked for me,” Shrimplin said. “There was something about the wedding day and the storytelling, the emotions, the fast-paced environment that I just really fell in love with.” She launched Callie Jo Photography in 2018 but paused her momentum during college while studying for a healthcare career. She didn’t think she could make a career out of photography then, she said, but then she started to pick up the camera again, and her love for photography grew even more.

Callie Jo Photo and Film’s studio is located at 93 S. Hennepin Ave. in Dixon. Find it on Facebook or Instagram, or email calliejophotographyy@gmail. com for booking or more information.

“It was my sister’s senior year and my sophomore year, and I asked her: ‘Can I take your senior picture?’ She said, ‘Yeah, sure,’ and she was my model,” Shrimplin said. “At first I was just doing free shoots or super cheap ones with my sister as a model, and then I started doing seniors for my class, the year above me, and a lot from Amboy and families around the area.”

By her senior year, she was

“Eventually at the end of 2024, I wanted 2025 to be the year to put photography as my focus, and push healthcare to the side,” Shrimplin said. “It was a year of rebuilding and regrowing. It was my first year back into everything, and it’s been nothing short of amazing.”

She shot seven weddings in 2025 and has roughly 25 scheduled for 2026, including some video-only dates, with a few weddings already on the books for 2027.

Shrimplin says the past year has been transformative, not only in professionally but personally. Weddings have helped her see what she can build in her business and who she can become as a person. The loyalty of returning customers has given her the reassurance she once lacked. Now, with video expanding her offerings and couples increasingly planning their dates with her in mind, she feels the shift from part-time passion to full-time profession unfolding naturally — a change she once doubted she could ever make.

“Photography’s going to be my full-time thing,” Shrimplin said. “I just feel like the camera landed in my hands and I never really let go. Photography’s always been in my back brain, but I felt like I could never make a career out of it; last year really told me I can, and I’m super excited to make it my full-time career and really get out there because weddings are what I really love doing.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

In the time it takes Sarah Brennan to cook one of her unique culinary creations, she’s already thinking about how she can bring something new to the mix.

Even as she’s preparing a dish, she’ll find herself jotting down ideas or making an audio note — “What if I did this?” or “If I added a little of that ...” — ideas and inspirations that can make it onto the menu at her Lanark cafe or turn up on the table at a catering job.

By Cody

Brennan owns Hilldale Cafe and Catering, where she serves up a variety of lunches and desserts that treat customers’ taste buds to something different, recipes made with a mix of the familiar and a dash of something different that have helped her stand out among local dining and catering businesses. When it comes to catering, there’s no set menu. Instead, each job is a custom order, with Brennan working with customers to determine what they want. She’s done everything from weddings — a big part of her catering business — birthdays, bachelorette and divorce parties, and other gatherings.

HILLDALE

Brennan likes to work with customers to help them tell a story through food — finding what they, and their event, is all about.

“I’ll tell them to please be as candid as possible, because I want to know a little about them, especially when we’re doing a wedding,” Brennan said. “You’re trying to impress 200 people, but it’s not about those people, it’s about the two people who are getting married. I want to find out how I can express their love story over food. That’s kind of my magic, it’s digging those little details out.”

Brennan will send a short questionnaire to people in order to gauge what they want, or like.

“We may find out that a couple may not really eat meals, but really like dips,” Brennan said. “We did an entire dip bar of all different types of dips, like for chicken wings. They were appetizer people. That was one of the most fun weddings ever.”

When she sees couples’ idea wheels spinning as they figure out what they want, it’s “an amazing sign,”

Brennan said, as she prepares to paint an edible picture for them and tell their story through food.

“It’s finding what that person and what that event is all about, and showing their story through food,” Brennan said. “That, and through staging: It may sound a little cheesy, but it’s not just about catering, it’s about the total experience. I pride myself on stepping out of the box, but still creating memories and amazing events.”

As far as desserts for weddings go, bite-sized bars are becoming more popular, Brennan said. “A lot of people like bite-sized things, so they can have a variety instead of having one piece of cake. You can have a Mousse shooter or a brownie bite or a cookie bite.”

She’s also catered bachelorette — and even divorce — parties, events that tend to bring out a wilder, creative streak and allow her to “push the envelope,” as she puts it. But no matter the occasion, she keeps a careful eye on dietary needs, building menus that work around allergies without sacrificing fun or flavor.

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From sandwiches to sweets, Brennan loves to experiment with flavors that surprise and delight her customers.

“I love to see people’s reactions,” she

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What she loves most, she says, is the sheer variety of people she meets, each with their own quirks and personalities. Even familiar referrals can surprise her, turning into partnerships that are more enjoyable and dynamic than she ever expected. Getting to know each client is part of the thrill, and that curiosity is what often leads her into new culinary territory.

That spirit of discovery surfaced again not long ago when a groom asked her to create traditional Canadian desserts for his wedding, prompting her to research, test and taste her way through more than a dozen recipes before landing on a lineup he loved so much he asked for every single one.

“We did a wedding where the groom was flying family in from Canada, so he wanted traditional Canadian desserts,” Brennan said. “I had to figure out what they were and I had to do a practice run. The worst thing anyone can do is to do the practice run on the day of the event. We ended up coming with 14 different traditional ones and had a tasting with them. I asked him what he wanted, and he said he wanted every single one of them because ‘you nailed it.’”

Brennan works from her cozy cafe located in Lanark’s oldest building, giving it a historic flavor and a welcoming atmosphere where Brennan enjoys meeting and greeting people who enjoy eating — the kind of folks who speak the same language she does: Where “Mmmmm!” is universal.

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Time

Hilldale Cafe and Catering is located in Lanark’s oldest building. In a post on Hilldale’s Facebook page, Brennan said that when she made the decision to restore the building, “I knew I wasn’t just renovating a space — I was rewriting a legacy.”

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“I get to bake, I get to show my love through my food and through my creations,” Brennan said. “Food has always kind of been a love language to me.”

Whether it’s a grilled balsamic peach and feta cheese flatbread sandwich or cinnamon rolls with caramel apple flavoring, Brennan and her staff like to find ways to turn something good into something better, and she knows she’s succeeded when she’s passed the test.

“I love to see people’s reactions. Watching people take those bites and giving me feedback is so empowering to me. It’s like having taste testers, and people are always amazing about being that.”

This past summer, she opened the doors to her new location in Lanark, where she moved her business after nine years in downtown Freeport. While the move has introduced a whole new audience to her menu, it’s also given her some other perks: Carroll County’s tax base was a better fit for her, and the new location also gave her a chance to hit the reset button after she struggled with her work-life balance in Freeport, where she also had a second job as a counselor.

While it may have seemed like a good problem to have — her business had become a growing success — trying to juggle a cafe, catering and counseling wasn’t a recipe for long-term wellness. That’s when the counselor in her kicked in, and last year she told herself she needed to turn the page and start a new chapter. Her nonstop schedule had delayed her honeymoon with her new husband Matthew for two years, but when they finally got a chance to get away, it gave her the time she needed to relax, rethink and reset.

“We grew and grew,” Brennan said. “I couldn’t be as creative as I wanted to be with the day-to-day business. I knew after a few more years of doing 100-hour weeks, I could not live my life. I sat on the beach in California and I thought, ‘Something’s going to have to give or I’m going to have to shut my doors. That’s not something that I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to run a business the way I wanted to, and that’s what I did — I created this. I wanted to be creative and I wanted to be me.”

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When it comes to catering, Sarah Brennan said she likes to tell clients’ stories through food, and her goal is to make sure every story has a happy ending.

Hilldale Cafe and Catering, 114 E. Carroll St. in Lanark, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Find it on Facebook and Instagram, go to hilldaledeli.com or call 815-616-8049 for more information. Email customerservice@hilldaledeli.com for catering requests.

It was a big decision, leaving the counseling job and dedicating herself to her business full-time, but for all the time that she had invested in building it up, she knew she couldn’t just turn her back on it.

“For what I poured into this, it has to be right. It has to feel right for me,” she said — and it does. It’s also felt right for customers.

Her cafe has attracted its share of repeat customers — some of them in the same day, who stop by early for a breakfast dessert and then pop back in again for lunch. A private room on the second floor is also available.

The business has also given her more time with her family. Brennan’s mother Denise Sorn and aunt Debbie Yoder — who are identical twins — help her out with the catering.

Like her cafe’s menu, Brennan’s catering jobs give her a chance to bring something special to the table.

“I like being around all different types of people,” Brennan said. “Not every caterer is remotely the same. Everybody has a different personality, even if I’m getting a referral from someone I’ve worked with 10 times, that person could be completely opposite and I could have way more fun with that person than I thought I could have. It’s nice getting to know different people.”

Brennan, whose business cards bill her as her cafe’s “chief visionary officer and culinary architect,” is enjoying her business’s new home in Lanark. She likes to think of HIlldale Cafe and Catering as more than just a place to eat, but a place where inspiration meets encouragement — whether she’s encouraging customers to try something new or they’re encouraging her — and where each plate is more than just a meal, but a reminder that creativity and connections are always worth savoring.

“I wanted to create a space where people come and feel empowered and feel welcomed,” Brennan said. “That’s my whole goal — and, of course, to leave satisfied and full.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

SPECIAL THE PERSONAL

By CODY CUTTER Sauk Valley Media

A Lanark florist who sees the world through Rosemary-colored glasses loves to help people find just the right flowers for any occasion, from roses of red to violets of blue

When it comes to saying something with flowers, it helps to find someone who knows the language.

Rosemary Flikkema speaks it fluently.

The Lanark shop owner understands the power of flowers and how to harness it. Whether she’s helping someone send a simple greeting or a message from the heart, she knows what it takes to turn petals into prose.

It takes a special touch — and that’s not just a phrase, it’s the name of her flower shop.

Flikkema is the florist who brings 33 years of experience and confidence to The Special Touch, helping customers turn a kind gesture into a lasting memory, using the colors from a palette of petals like paint on a canvas to create unforgettable art from the heart, neatly arranged and topped off with a special touches — a thoughtful note tucked into a bouquet, a ribbon tied just right, or a gift to go along with the flowers.

Her time in the business has helped Flikkema understand that a flower shop is a place where expressions of happiness and heartbreak can be wrapped up in the same careful hands, and she thinks about that when creating floral arrangements for most any occasion, from celebrations of love to celebrations of life. Every bouquet carries a story — a silent beauty that speaks volumes — be it a bride’s joy, a family’s farewell, or a simple thank you from one neighbor to another. It’s that meaning behind the work that helps keep Flikkema inspired.

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Want to add a splash of color to someone’s day?

Rosemary Flikkema, at The Special Touch, is happy to help.

SPECIAL cont’d from page 29

“For me, the best part is creating or designing an arrangement, and having people come back later and say, ‘Wow, those flowers are great,’ ‘They lasted a long time,’ ‘I’m so happy that we got them,’” Flikkema said. “That’s the perk to the job.”

More than just flowers, the shop also carriers gifts to go along with them.

“We’ve incorporated gift items because most of the time flowers go along with some sort of gift,” Flikkema said. “We have jewelry, clothing and little decorative items that people can use in their homes that maybe someone would say, ‘She’d like that.’ Or a husband can come in and say, ‘I need something; what can I give besides the flowers?’”

Customers can find concrete angels, wind chimes, pottery, candles and inspirational signs. In December, the place glows with Christmas decor that warms shoppers’ hearts when its gets cold outside. She even makes wine, cookie and dip baskets for customers who want to go beyond bouquets.

Still, flowers remain Flikkema’s pride and joy.

One thing that also hasn’t changed is flowers’ place in special occasions, especially weddings.

When it comes to weddings, Flikkema likes to be able to say “I can” to couples’ ideas for their “I do’s.”

If a bride has a particular variety in mind, or comes in with a picture and a question — “Can we get these flowers?” — Flikkema likes to answer “Yes.” She can find out whether they’ll be available for the special day and let the budget-minded bride know how much they’ll cost.

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The wedding trend lately? It’s all about the peony.

“One flower that’s been popular lately for weddings has been peonies,” Flikkema said. “Peonies are a flower that has a short time span in which it appears, but we can get ones that have a little bit longer of a period of time because there are growers out there who will grow them. It depends on their growing conditions. There still is a time frame on peonies, and I can’t get them in the winter.”

White or pink, it doesn’t matter, she said: “I think women who are choosing now like the big, full look of it,” she added. “They like the peonies. They’re showy blooms.”

Hydrangeas, she said, have become a year-round substitute for couples who crave the same lush fullness but want to stretch their budgets.

Navigating brides through timing and cost is something she’s learned can be as delicate as the flowers themselves.

“Usually I recommend that you talk to a florist when you find out when you’ll be married and have an idea what you want,” she said. “First of all, book the date. Not all florists can do multiple weddings on one day. Then give your florist an idea of what your color scheme is, and what it is you’re looking for. I can be looking out for that trend. The earlier you get them involved, the better they can look out for you as far as having what you want.”

Another change in wedding flowers: bouquets with a natural look.

“It used to be that everything was in a plastic holder for weddings, so that there was water for all of the flowers,” she said. “Now, the trend is that you don’t have that plastic, and just have it look as if they went out and grabbed a bunch of flowers. It’s a trend that’s lasted for quite some time. Most girls are liking the look of having just gone out and picked them.”

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A flower’s longevity, she said, is part science and part patience, a blend of good sourcing, careful handling, and constant attention to detail that ensures each bloom last as long as it can.

“You want to make sure your water is clean so that you don’t get any mold in them, because that will get up the stems and will kill the flower,” Flikkema said. “You really have to be clean about taking care of them.

“We are able to keep our flowers the freshest that we can so that people enjoy their longlasting look.”

Some flowers, she explained, are especially finicky. “Roses and hydrangeas require a special solution to be put in the water in order to open up the stem for water intake, otherwise they will clot,” she said.

Flikkema’s arrangements are guided by instinct, but also by geometry — a thoughtful blend and careful balance of artistry and precision that’s kept her business thriving.

“I fall back on one of the rules of thumb: When you have a container, you make your flower arrangement two-and-a-half times higher than the height of the container,” Flikkema said. “It gives you perspective, and it gives you height. The other rule of thumb is that you do things in threes; you want it to be a triangular effect because people’s eyes are able to follow things if they are in a triangle.”

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The shop doesn’t have its own greenhouse, but Flikkema gets her flowers from all sorts of places — California, South America, Hawaii and the Netherlands among them. She’s watched the flower landscape expand dramatically through the years, with the international market becoming much more prevalent than it used to be, she said, which has led to a greater palette of petals from which to choose.

“The ability to get an assortment of flowers has greatly increased over time,” Flikkema said. “At the very beginning, when I first got involved in flowers, there were certain flowers that you could get, but the types of flowers that you can get now have definitely grown, and the quantity also has.”

For all the joy and celebration that flows through her work, there’s also a somber side to the business: funerals, which Flikkema said she deals with “as gently as I can.”

“I know how hard it is, no matter when it happens,” Flikkema said. “We try very hard when the family comes in to give them all options, whether it be a traditional service or a cremation.”

One option is to incorporate cherished memories into the floral displays. “We try to help the family find something that’s special to that person,” she said. “I’ve put golf clubs in casket pieces, I’ve put hats in casket pieces, I’ve put rusty wire in casket pieces. If they have something that is a representation of that person, we try to incorporate it as best we can. “

Flikkema can deliver her special touch to communities throughout the area — Lake Carroll, Shannon, Forreston, Chadwick, Mount Carroll, Pearl City, Milledgeville — and for those wanting to send flowers outside the area, she can help them skip the wire services and the middleman markup.

“If you want to send to a funeral in Chicago, for example, I know of the florists there,” she said. “I can call them up and have them get this done for you and charge a minimum fee.”

When it comes to a busy time for blooms, Mother’s Day, surprisingly, outpaces even Valentine’s Day. It’s the busiest stretch of Flikkema’s year, when families call from near and far to send a reminder of love, and husbands and sons stop in for last-minute bouquets.

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“Most guys think of red roses,” Flikkema said. “We get a lot of red roses. Sometimes guys come in and are very set on wanting a dozen red roses. With some of them, I can tell them, ‘Why don’t we do three or four red roses and some other flowers that will be more longer lasting?’ Sometimes they’ll take that option. We let them know that, yes, most women want the rose, but if you put other ones in there, they’re usually just as happy, if not happier. Roses will last a good five to six days, but these other flowers will last two weeks.”

Flikkema wasn’t always a florist. In fact, her early life was more test tubes than tulips.

The Special Touch also carries a selection of gift items that can complement any floral arrangement.

She grew up in Arlington Heights and earned a degree in medical technology, a field she expected to spend her career in. But when she became a young mother, she felt a pull toward something that would let her stretch her creativity, and herself, a bit further.

The shop had been in town for a couple of decades before Flikkema purchased it from Patti Kloepping in 1992, and she began her creative journey through flowers. She added the gift selection after a few years of owning it.

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Get in Touch

The Special Touch, 504 W. state Route 64 in Lanark, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Find it on Facebook, go to specialtouchflowers.net or call 815-493-6366 for more information.

She also owns the entire building, which she’s turned into a mini mall, home to a few small businesses that share the spaces; the largest of which is Twice-Sold Tales, a used bookstore operated by the Friends of the Lanark Public Library.

“I needed an outlet,” Flikkema said. “I was newly married with twins and a 16-month-old, and after a while I was like, ‘I’ve got to do something out of the house.’ I needed to find something to do other than being a mom at home, and find something that was creative. Patti, at the time, had been looking for a way to sell, and so we came to an agreement.”

Even during her school days, flowers interested her, so The Special Touch was a good fit — and decades later, it still is.

“I’ve always been interested in flowers and plants, how they grow and where they come from,” Flikkema said. “It seemed like the right niche for me. I took a couple of courses for design, but a lot of it you learn on the job. You see what people are liking, and try and do something similar to what they like.” n

Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

By Sauk Valley Media

PHOTOPROVIDEDBYJAREDYATER

Carriage has two decades of experience in the driver’s seat of the horse-drawn carriages and wagons that he brings to weddings and other special occasions. “No matter who our guests are, it gets quiet as soon as we ride off ... softer spoken, and time slows down.”

nyone who’s been to a wedding is familiar with the wedding march: The ceremonial walk to the altar that culminates with the bride’s grand entrance — slow, measured steps down the aisle on her way to becoming a wife. A solemn and sacred celebration of a couple’s love. But what about the other wedding walk? The one that goes clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop … That’s the sound couples hear when they book a Dixon business to work its magic and bring a fairy-tale flavor to their wedding: A horse and carriage courtesy of Jared Yater.

Yater is the other person getting hitched at weddings, courtesy of his business, Mane Street Carriage, which offers horsedrawn carriages and wagons for clients’ special occasions.

On a day when it can seem like everything’s moving at a mile a minute, Yater’s Percheron horses will bring their steady temperament to the proceedings, giving the couple a muchneeded moment to sit back and relax. He’s seen firsthand how these “gentle giants” can ease people’s tension and steady their nerves, creating a moment where time seems to loosen its grip.

Yater’s path to his business stretches back nearly two decades, and grew out of years spent behind the reins. He worked for another carriage company before striking out on his own about 10 years ago, slowly building Mane Street Carriage into an operation that now serves weddings, funerals and other events.

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“It’s peaceful,” Yater said of carriage rides at wedding ceremonies. “It adds beauty. It’s majestic. The presence of them makes it feel a little more special for the bride and groom ... like a royal treatment.”

He’ll hitch up his trailer and haul his horses and carriage within about a 50-mile radius of Dixon, offering a flat fee and a flexible presence.

“I can take them in, I can take them out, I can take them for a little ride,” Yater said. “It’s about a two-hour window that we stay around.”

Part of the magic comes from the animals themselves, he said. Percherons are bred to serve — calm, powerful and eager to please — traits that serve a wedding well.

Yater raises many of his horses himself, bringing them home at about a year old and beginning their training slowly, teaching the basics long before they ever pull riders in a carriage.

“They’re working horses,” Yater said. “The No. 1 thing that makes them work is their temperament. The average Percheron draft horse has a great temperament for doing things like this. They’re gentle giants — that phrase gets thrown out there a lot, but they really are. They’re kind horses.”

That shared trust extends beyond horse and handler. Yater has found that wedding parties, even those not used to being around animals of their size, lean into the moment with a kind of reverence.

“I haven’t had a wedding party or guests not appreciate them and respect them as much as I do, so I don’t hesitate to work with a wedding party,” he said.

As the horses set the tone, Yater watches the transformation unfold. It often begins the instant the carriage moves.

“It’s interesting for me to watch how the presence of these gentle giants changes the feeling,” he said. “Horses slow us down. We have hauled brides and dads, the couple, just the bride, kids and a mix of all of the above. No matter who our guests are, it gets quiet as soon as we ride off. Immediately, the conversations change, become softer spoken, and time slows down.”

Yater’s vis-à-vis carriage is a face-to-face design that allows riders to sit opposite one another while he drives from a seat up front. Often, the bride and groom take a quiet loop for photographs, either before the ceremony or afterward, slipping away from the crowd for a few moments alone. No two rides are ever the same, he said.

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Wedding Expo 2026

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026 12PM-3PM

PHOTOPROVIDEDBYJAREDYATER

Yater raises many of his horses himself, and among the members of his team are Percherons, which are bred to serve. A combination of calm of power, the horses are eager to please, traits well-suited to their job. “They're gentle giants,” he said. “That phrase gets thrown out there a lot, but they really are. They're kind horses.”

During the rides, the atmosphere is intentionally subdued. There may be a bottle of champagne, soft conversation about how the day unfolded, and long pauses where no one speaks at all. Yater keeps quiet unless the couple engages him; he allows them to set the pace and decide when they are ready to return.

“I’ll let them tell me when they’re ready to go back,” Yater said. “I don’t want to rush them.”

The operation runs on upkeep, long hours and details that most wedding guests never see. Yater maintains multiple carriages and a dozen different wagon tops he designed himself, tinkering with new creations almost daily. There are decisions about shoe traction for different surfaces, harness care, carriage repairs and transportation logistics.

Four of Yater’s grandkids help where they can, from cleaning stalls and hauling manure to feeding horses and tagging along on grain runs, gradually learning the responsibilities that come with caring for animals and preparing for events.

For Yater, the tasks they take on aren’t just a job: “The grandkids are learning some valuable things too,” he says. What makes Mane Street Carriage stand apart, Yater says, is the feeling it creates — something each of his clients describe in different ways.

“It’s unique,” Yater said. “It’s peaceful. It adds beauty. It’s majestic. It’s hard to pinpoint one feeling because I’ve heard it all from brides and grooms, and family members. The presence of them makes it feel a little more special for the bride and groom. It looks like a royal treatment type of experience.”

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When people experience the gentle way of the carriage and the almost hypnotic rhythm of the clip clop of the hooves, it adds another layer to an already meaningful day. Every smile, every hushed crowd, and every bride gripping her husband or father’s hand a moment longer as they ride in the carriage becomes a reminder of why Yater does what he does: offering a respite during a rushed day and a special memory that they’ll carry with them for years to come.

As much as people guide themselves through their own life, it’s a welcoming change of pace to let someone else take the reins, if even for a short while.

“Everyone says something different,” he said. “I’ll get calls from families who want to have this for their daughter, or for their son for their wedding. It’s a beautiful experience for them, and they like and enjoy horses.”

After years of taking couples on rides, Yater has learned that the moment resonates not just with those in the carriage, but with the people watching.

“I’ve had many people say that they’re so majestic, and it’s beautiful to see the bride and groom ride in the carriage and ride off,” Yater said. n

Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

Whether you’re looking for a ride that’s regal or rustic, Mane Street Carriage can accommodate, offering both carriage and wagon rides that can bring a touch of class or country to your wedding.

To hitch a ride ... Find “Mane Street Horse-Drawn Carriage & Wagon Rides” on Facebook or call 815-440-6539 for more information.

Saying

• Fresh or Silk flowers to create custom Bouquets, Boutonnieres, & Ceremony/Reception Arrangements

With 16 acres of scenery, Honey Bee Haven offers plenty of places for picture-perfect moments like this one, taken inside a silo.

Don’t tell Krista Heng dreams don’t come true. She’s not only living hers, she’s making a living at it.

Krista and her mom, Karen Harmon, are helping couples make their wedding wishes come true at Honey Bee Haven, where the dream team runs an event venue that combines comfort and country class with all the amenities needed to make getting hitched go off without a hitch. Together, they’ve transformed a historic farmstead into a venue where their planning expertise, restored barns, landscaped grounds and personal backstories all help shape how couples experience their wedding day.

Located on a 16-acre farm site a few miles south of Oregon, Honey Bee Haven offers space to spare for weddings and special events. When clients come for a visit, the mother and daughter duo shepherd them through barns, trails and photo nooks throughout their spread, showing them a farm with charm. And on the big day, they guide each wedding with practiced calm and quiet intention.

Their hands-on guidance helps steady a hectic day, which gives couples confidence as their schedule takes shape and plans come together. Heng leads each coordination of the planning, while Harmon works behindthe-scenes, helping with setups and tending bar.

“We’ll sit down with our couples, create a timeline for the day and send it to vendors to get everybody on the same page and keep everyone on track,” Heng said. “On a typical wedding day, I’m walking around 10 miles, so I’m literally running around the whole time just trying to make everything come together the way that it should.”

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Krista Heng (left) said she and her husband Matthew had dreamed of someday owning a wedding venue, and when he passed away in 2023, she set out to make that dream a reality — and her mother was there to help: “I’ve always supported her dreams,” said Karen Harmon (right), “so I told her, ‘Let’s do it,’ and here we are.”

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But Heng wasn’t always walking around acres to keep a wedding day on course. She works full time as an accountant, balancing spreadsheets by day and bridal timelines by night. But a dream had been following her since 2017, when she married her husband Matthew in a rustic venue that sparked something that stuck with her.

That dream grew and she later became the de facto wedding planner for her friends, and then handled her younger sister’s wedding.

“I loved the whole wedding planning process for my own wedding,” Heng said. “It was always a dream of mine to own a wedding venue. It was on my husband and I’s dream board.”

After Matthew became sick and later passed in 2023, the spark of that earlier idea was rekindled, and then one night of idle Zillow scrolling changed everything. She found a listing for a property in Oregon, then known as Oak Lane of Oregon, and texted her mom.

Harmon, a full-time nurse, didn’t hesitate. “I’ve always supported her dreams,” she said, “so I told her, ‘Let’s do it,’ and here we are.”

They closed on the property in April 2024 and immediately began envisioning the venue’s new life, and its new name. Honey Bee Haven came up on an online name generator after Heng inputted some key words, including one that’s a nod to her future plans to both plant wildflower fields and eventually keep honey bees on the property.

Working together has only strengthened the mother-daughter bond, they said.

“I’m a full-time nurse and she’s a full-time accountant, so we’re constantly doing everything by phone, email and text messaging to get things going,” she said. “We really do complete each task together. We get along real well, and because we’re so different, we get along even better. We just mesh well. It’s easy for us, and we don’t have any difficulties.”

“We balance each other out really well,” Heng added.

Honey Bee Haven sits quietly on nearly 16 acres, the kind of place where the landscape does half the talking before anyone from the venue even speaks. The property opens in a long sweep of mowed trails, and farm antiques are scattered like quiet reminders of the land’s past. Couples often wander these paths, pausing beside rusted plows or weathered wheels that now serve as ready-made backdrops, not only for events but for photos.

At the center of the grounds is an open lot used for outdoor ceremonies, as well as an outdoor bar. Nearby stand two barns that anchor Honey Bee Haven’s charm. The older structure in the back, an 1800s barn original to the farm, houses a small chapel. It’s where wood beams speak to a time before electricity or sound systems were ever imagined. Many couples book the space for its intimacy; others simply appreciate knowing that if their outdoor ceremony gets washed out, “there’s always a backup plan,” Harmon said. “It’s really nice for our couples.”

Just across the way is the main barn, built around the turn of the 20th century and restored with a soft hand, modern where necessary but content to show its age. Downstairs, long tables stretch across an open floor where guests can mingle between the indoor bar and the grounds. Upstairs is the primary reception area, a lofted space with a bar and round tables filling the space. Elevator access makes it accessible for guests with mobility needs. Need cash for the bars? An ATM is available next to the firstfloor bar.

The venue feels like a small village when wedding weekends reach full swing. The yellow 1860s Victorian home on the property is an Airbnb large enough to sleep 25. With eight bedrooms spread across three floors, it becomes a hub for wedding parties; one night often reserved for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready, the next for everyone to unwind and crash after the celebration.

Many couples wander to the concrete silo in front of the back barn. Vines and young trees have claimed the interior, making it one of the venue’s most unusual and sought-after photo spots: a quiet, circular pocket of nature inside what once stored grain.

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PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

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Through the years ... A barn reborn

Whether it’s the outdoor bar, the fire pit coaxing conversation from guests, or rows of antique wooden chairs set out for a ceremony, the venue leans into its rustic roots. Ensuring the first impression makes a big impact on aspiring customers is important to Harmon, she said, especially from the grooms. Harmon says the venue’s ease and friendliness often surprise people. “My favorite thing is when the guys look at it and go, ‘This is really cool,’” she said. “The girls always have the vision, but when the fiancé is in agreement, it’s really refreshing.”

What couples don’t always see at first glance is how much of the venue reflects Harmon’s love of fussing over the small things. She has filled the front of the property with flowers and pops of color to brighten photo backdrops.

“I love being able to decorate and put flowers out,” she said. “We’ve put in tons of flowers and tons of plants to make it more attractive.”

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Couples often book Honey Bee Haven a year to 18 months out, usually as the first major step in their planning process. Heng sits down early to guide them through color schemes, the various vibes (rustic vs. formal), wedding party size, or head table layouts. Their wedding management package includes vendor coordination, day-of implementation, and bar staffing, plus whatever last-minute fixes are needed if something goes awry.

“When I start asking questions, the wheels start turning,” she said. “Then they can actually envision what their event is going to look like. We’ll be as involved as our couples want us to be. If someone forgets something, we’ll pull everything together to make it what they’ve dreamed of.”

In nearly two years of owning Honey Bee Haven, Heng sees couples shaping the venue’s story as much as she and her mother do. One pair who arrived imagining a winter wedding changed their minds after seeing how the barns and trees glowed in autumn light, Heng said. Others wander the mowed trails, drifting, Harmon says, “like butterflies—fluttering here and there.”

Every wedding weekend transforms the former farm into its own small village, with the Victorian house filling up, the smell of the fire pit filling the air, and music drifting across the acres.

For Heng, whose idea went from dream board to dream come true, the most rewarding part is simple.

“Being able to help people create magical moments for their special day is our goal,” she said. “We’re aiming to have an stress-free day, and will go above and beyond to make sure of that.” n

Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

Honey Bee Haven is located at 3261 S. Daysville Road in Oregon. Go to honeybeehaven2024.com, email honeybeehaven2024@outlook.com or call 815-994-1846 for wedding packages or for more information.

he “for richer or poorer” part of the wedding vows may have been written with the idea that couples will stand by each other no matter what their station in life becomes, but it’s also a reminder that with some forethought about finances, they can avoid putting that vow to the test.

Marriage is a commitment on many levels, not the least of which is a promise to share the financial burdens, and rewards, that couple’s will experience. Marriage nudges them to align their dreams and dollars in a shared journey shaped by honest planning.

It’s a journey, experts say, that should begin sooner rather than later — and definitely not when it’s too late.

Getting to that financial peace of mind was something John and Dawn Kirchhoff went through when they tied the knot 34 years ago. Over the years, they’ve succeeded well enough to where the Sterling couple now coaches couples toward steadiness through their financial planning business.

At the Kirchhoffs’ Thrivent Financial office in Sterling, the husband-and-wife planners sit down with soon-to-be newlyweds and unravel the questions that too often go unasked: how to budget together, how to balance goals and how to start building a resilient future.

They’ve learned that financial harmony rarely arrives by accident; it’s built through gradual conversations, realistic expectations and thoughtful early choices.

John and Dawn are among Thrivent’s few husband-and-wife advisor teams in the Chicago District, something they consider an asset. They don’t just talk about navigating finances together; they live it. Their marriage, their work and their six children all are reminders that partnership deepens when two perspectives, two personalities and two lived experiences sit at the same table.

Before becoming a husband-and-wife financial team 11 years ago, John was a teacher for almost three decades, and Dawn managed a major grocery chain in the Chicago suburbs. Their professional backgrounds put them in tune with guiding people, reading people and understanding the ways a couple’s individual strengths fill in each other’s gaps.

That dynamic has become a quiet superpower in the way they work with newlyweds on managing finances together.

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“Dawn really is much better at reading women and how they react to some of the things that we talk about,” John said. “I’m a typical guy who can be oblivious of some of those things, but it really works out well when you’re talking about investing. Dawn is much more conservative than I am, I have a little more tendency to be aggressive, so when we work out investment portfolios, we really hash it pretty heavily and it’s really at the client’s benefit that we spend so much time doing what’s best for them.”

Couples, they said, don’t always come together with the same financial outlook. There can be differences in age, outlook, spending habits — one splurges while the other saves. One approaches money matters with eyes wide open while the other has blind spots. There’s an individual independence that couples need to understand and come to terms with, and that can be a tricky transition. Finances can cause friction — money is one of the leading causes of arguments among couples — but candid conversations, and some professional guidance, can help them work through their differences.

“One thing I love about ‘From Me to We’ is [couples] haven’t thought about all of that. It’s not natural to ask financial questions while you’re dating, and a lot of the questions in the workbook really get them going: ‘Huh, I guess we should talk about that.’

“It used to be that you met someone in college and you got married after you graduated,” John said. “Some things have changed a little bit. People live on their own for a little while and have their own habits. When people are set in their ways, it can be difficult to change habits.”

Those early conversations — the ones that expose mismatched expectations, unspoken assumptions, or a simple lack of awareness — are where the Kirchhoffs believe a knowledgeable third party can step in and make a difference.

One of their favorite workshops they once participated in, “From Me to We,” now is a staple of their own work getting couples on the right — and same — track.

“We are in a lot of workshops, and one of them was ‘From Me to We,’” John said. “It’s about how do I – me – go from separate finances to ‘we’ and combined finances. It really kind of opens up people’s eyes to some of the things that they may or may not have thought about.”

“From Me to We” is a component that becomes a kind of marriage warm-up. Couples unpack what they learned growing up, who handled bills, what they valued, and what shaped their sense of needs versus wants. It offers couples a workbook filled with questions they’ve likely never asked each other: What values shape your spending? What habits do you want to keep? Which should you leave behind?

John and Dawn Kirchhoff of Sterling have been partners in their profession for 11 years and partners in life for 34, experiences in both that they bring to their job as financial advisors. The couple can help newlyweds and newlywedsto-be navigate establishing a financial partnership — “It’s all about communication,” says John.

“From Me to We” is a component that becomes a kind of marriage warm-up. Couples unpack what they learned growing up, who handled bills, what they valued, and what shaped their sense of needs versus wants. It offers couples a workbook filled with questions they’ve likely never asked each other: What values shape your spending? What habits do you want to keep? Which should you leave behind?

One section has couples sort through words representing their core priorities, each choosing three. Another challenges them to distinguish needs from wants, a shift that becomes more complicated once two lives merge. The conversations are sometimes surprising, sometimes emotional and often revealing.

“One thing I love about ‘From Me to We’ is they haven’t thought about all of that,” Dawn said. “It’s not natural to ask financial questions while you’re dating, and a lot of the questions in the workbook really get them going, ‘Huh, I guess we should talk about that.’ It’s values based, and their perception of where their values come from. We always add their faith and their finances together.”

The Kirchhoffs see this as the first critical step toward establishing a financial partnership — realizing that marriage is more than just pooling accounts. It’s the blending of priorities, habits, expectations and dreams. Those “a-ha!” moments, the Kirchhoffs said, are why outside guidance matters. It isn’t about controlling a couple’s choices. It’s about giving them a place to speak truths aloud, sometimes for the first time, and hearing each other without the judgment that can flare behind closed doors.

That same clarity is why Dawn and John tell couples not to have one partner taking over the finances.

“We discourage that,” Dawn said. “They both need to be involved in all financial aspects. It’s a trust thing, too.”

They show couples how to track spending with a simple analysis worksheet. They talk through Thrivent’s “Money Canvas” program, which helps couples map their budget, and its “What-If Tax” tool that analyzes whether filing jointly or separately makes better sense. There’s no cookie-cutter answer to filling separately or jointly, John said, but, for example, “We’ve had situations where students have extremely high student loan debt, and it’s better to file separately.”

Helping clients thrive ... John and Dawn Kirchhoff are located at 811 E. Third St., Suite C, in Sterling. Email john. kirchhoff@ thrivent.com or dawn. kirchhoff@ thrivent.com or call 815-535-3918 to schedule an appointment or for more information.

The early months of marriage are framed as a period of active adjustment. After a couple’s first planning session, they ask them to return in six months to reevaluate.

Life changes. Habits shift. Priorities move. The willingness to recalibrate, the Kirchhoffs said, is what aligns long-term goals.

“It’s about setting strong guidelines and saying, ‘This is what we agreed on,’” Dawn said. “Sometimes life messes that up, but then you reexamine it. We tell our clients this isn’t a one-and-done relationship.”

The Kirchhoffs like to celebrate the long view: the decade-later milestones, the houses bought, the kids raised and the surprises weathered with grace rather than panic.

“I enjoy seeing their futures 10 years down the road, going, ‘Wow, we created that,’” Dawn said. “That actually happened. They made it work.”

For the Kirchhoffs, the reason to seek guidance is simple: marriage changes the financial equation, and couples deserve a space to grow their shared identity with support, direction and patience.

“With any marriage, it’s all about communication,” John said. “That’s huge.” n

Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

Aurelio’s Cake Factory

Bistro and Cafe

2907 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 Facebook

Bezzie’s Bakery

Freeport

Home bakery specializing in cookies, cakes and desserts.

Email: bezziesbakery@gmail.com

Online: bezziesbakery.com and Facebook

County Market bakery

• 210 W. Third St., Sterling – 815622-0180

• 1380 N. Galena Ave., Dixon – 815288-2112

• 201 W. Blackhawk Drive, Byron –815-234-2311

Online: mycountymarket.com and Facebook

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 Facebook, Instagram

Homer’s Deli and Sweetheart

Bakery

241 Main Ave., Clinton, Iowa 563-242-4105

Online: sweetheartbakery.com and Facebook

HyVee Bakery

901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162

Online: hy-vee.com and Facebook

Kroger 2301 Locust St., Sterling

815-625-6405

Online: kroger.com and Facebook

Las Canelitas Bakery 1523 Broadway, Rockford 815-398-7500

Online: Facebook, Instagram

Le Cake Design Studio Bettendorf, Iowa 563-940-8225

Online: lecakedesignstudio. weebly.com and Facebook, Instagram

Little Sweets

Cake Design

133 First Ave W, Milan 309-230-8832

Online: littlesweetsqc. com and 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 Facebook, Instagram

Olde Towne Bakery 1824 Seventh St., Moline 309-764-8421

Online: otbmoline.com and Facebook, Instagram

Pollen and Pastry

Serves northern and central Illinois; Bloomington studio open by appointment. 815-471-9034

Email: letsparty@pollenandpastry. com

Online: pollenandpastry.com and Facebook, Instagram

Rolling Pin Confections

Custom Cookies

Serves northern and central Illinois. 815-590-0692

Email: tahopp@hotmail.com

Online: Facebook

CAKES cont’d to page 54

CAKES cont’d from page 53

Sara Lynn’s Cakes

Open by appointment only.

3115 Oxford Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa

563-355-8972

Online: saralynnscakes.com and Facebook

Sifted Sugar Cake Co.

Davenport, Iowa

309-318-1155

Email: cakegirlrai13@gmail.com

Online: Facebook, Instagram

Small Town Pastry

4572 Wyndham Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa

563-232-8060

Online: smalltownpastryia.com and Facebook, Instagram

Sugarjones, Inc.

6336 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park 815-708-0801

Online: sugarjonesinc.com and Facebook, Instagram

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 — 815273-7739

Online: sullivansfoods.net and Facebook

Sweet Dream Desserts

1143 Penny Lane, Sycamore 815-756-8150

Online: sweetdreamdesserts.com and Facebook, Instagram

The Village Bakery

101 N. Third St., Oregon 815-732-3830

Online: thevillagebakery.org and

Facebook

Walmart bakery

• 2300 Sycamore Road, DeKalb — 815-758-6225

• 1640 S. Galena Ave., Dixon — 815288-7770

• 4041 Veterans Drive, Ottawa — 815-434-0120

• 5307 Rte. 251, Peru — 815-224-2396

• 2111 Claude Bailey Pkwy., Princeton — 815-875-4521

• 4115 E. Lincolnway, Sterling — 815626-7200

Online: walmart.com

3-Headed Monster

BBQ & Catering

Traveling truck based in Shannon. 815-297-BBQ8 (2278)

Online: Facebook, Instagram

Arthur’s Garden Deli

2312 E. Lincolnway, Sterling 815-625-0011

Online: arthursgardendeli.com, Facebook and Instagram

Back Road Bar-B-Q

900 Stony Point Road, Dixon 815-994-0599

Email: backroadbarbqllc@gmail. com

Online: Facebook

Baker Street

111 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-2253

Email: bakerstreet111@live.com

Online: bakerstreetcafeandcatering. com and Facebook

Basil Tree Ristorante

123 E. First St., Dixon 815-288-7555

Online: basiltree2008.com and Facebook, Instagram

Candlelight Inn

• 2200 First Ave., Rock Falls — 815626-1897

• 511 Riverview Drive, Clinton, Iowa — 563-243-3200

Online: candlelightinnrestaurant. com and Facebook

Celebrations Catering

402 E. Mason St., Polo 815-631-1123

Online: celebrationspolo. com and Facebook, Instagram

Creative

Cuisine

1741 Industrial Drive — Unit 24, Sterling 815-626-7546

Online: 1creativecuisine.net and Facebook

Custom Catering & BBQ

118 S. Broad St., Lanark 815-821-1774

Email: realcustombbq@gmail.com Online: Facebook

Hoffman House 7550 E. State St., Rockford 815-397-5800

Online: hoffmanhousecatering. com/weddings

Homer’s Deli and Sweetheart Bakery

241 Main Ave. Clinton, Iowa 563-242-4105

Online: sweetheartbakery. com and Facebook

HyVee 901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162

Online: hy-vee.com and Facebook

Manny’s Pizza

211 Main St., Savanna 815-273-4259

Online: mannyspizza.com and Facebook

Palmyra Pub & Eatery

628 Palmyra Road, Dixon 815-288-6300

Online: palmyrapub.com and Facebook, Instagram

Ralfie’s BBQ and Catering

Operates event space The 302, 410 Cherry Ave., for showers and rehearsal dinners. Rochelle 815-766-1668

Online: ralfiesbbq.com and 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 — 815947-3318

• 217 Chicago Ave., Savanna — 815273-7739

Online: sullivansfoods.net and Facebook

Note: Some locations require appointments made online or by phone. Businesses with an (*) are open by appointment only

Betty & Beau Bridal Boutique

20016 E. Grant Hwy., Marengo Online: bettyandbeau.com

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 Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

The Crystal Bride

207 W. State St., Geneva 630-397-5040

Online: crystalbride.com and Facebook, Instagram

Cloud Nine Bridal Boutique 4711 N. University St., Peoria 309-693-3830

Online: cloudninepeoria.com and Facebook, Instagram

David’s Bridal

• 713 S. Perryville Road, Rockford, 815-227-5950

• 5212 Big Hollow Road, Peoria, 309693-3772

Online: davidsbridal.com and Facebook

Genevieve’s Bridal Couture*

21760 W. Long Grove Road, Deer Park 224-802-2415

Online: genevievesbridalcouture and Facebook, Instagram

Great Hang-Ups

Upscale consignment shop and elegant formal wear rentals 613 S. Rockford Ave., Rockford 815-229-8500

Online: greathangups.com and Facebook

Hope’s Bridal & Prom*

930 E. River Drive, Davenport, Iowa 563-324-5219

Online: hopesbridal.com and Facebook, Instagram

Marien Mae Bridal Boutique & Events

749 First St., LaSalle 815-220-0844

Email: info@marienmae.com

Online: marienmae.com and Facebook, Instagram

Savy’s Chic Bridal Boutique*

313 First Ave., Sterling 815-677-9579

Email: hello@savyschic.com

Online: savyschic.com and Facebook, Instagram

Sean Philip Bridals

3800 State Road 16, Suite 115, LaCrosse, Wisc. 608-571-4998

Online: seanphilipbridals.com/ and Facebook

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 Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

Volle’s Bridal Boutique

53 S. Old Rand Road, Lake Zurich 847-438-7603

Online: vollesbridal.com and 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 Facebook, Instagram

Zazou’s Bridal Boutique

955 Washington St., Dubuque, Iowa 536-213-2049

Online: zazousbridalandtuxedos. com and Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

A.M. Floral Co.

120 N. Fourth St., Oregon 815-732-7031

Online: amfloralco.com and Facebook, Instagram

Beautifully Berkeley

Bouquets and Home

101 N. Main St., Stockton 815-947-3900

Online: beautifullyberkeley. wordpress.com and Facebook

Behrz Bloomz

2503 N. Locust, Sterling 815-625-5116

Online: behrzbloomz.com and

Facebook, Instagram

The Blue Violet

115 E. Main St., Morrison

815-772-8915

Email: thebluebioletfloral@yahoo. com

Online: On Facebook

Blythe Flowers

1231 La Salle St., Ottawa 815-434-0875

Online: blytheflowers.com

Cherry Blossom Florist

3304 N. Main St., Rockford 815-654-1188

Online: cherryblossomflorist.com and Facebook

Clara Joyce Flowers

Farm location: 13493 E. Blair Hill Road, Stockton

Email: support@clarajoyceflowers. com

Online: clarajoyceflowers.com and Facebook, Instagram

Clinton Floral Shop

1912 Manufacturing Drive, Clinton, Iowa 563-242-2651

Online: clintonfloralshop.com and Facebook

Colonial Flowers & Gifts

408 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle 815-562-8101

Online: floristrochelleil.com and Facebook

County Market

• 210 W. Third. St., Sterling — 815622-0180

• 1380 N Galena Ave., Dixon — 815288-2112

• 201 W. Blackhawk Drive, Byron — 815-234-2311

Online: mycountymarket.com and Facebook, Instagram

FLOWERS cont’d from page 55

Country Girl Floral & Gifts

411 W. Meadows Drive, Freeport 815-599-8552

Online: countrygirlfloral.net

Country Orchids

1019 Fourth St., Fulton 815-589-4045

Online: countryorchids.com and Facebook

Country Peddler

Floral & Gift

353 Chicago Ave., Savanna 815-273-5020

Online: countrypeddlerfloral.com and Facebook

Deininger Floral Shop

1 W. Main St., Freeport 815-232-6191

Online: deiningerfloralshop.com and Facebook

De’Vine Floral Design and Gifts

110 N. Columbia Ave., Oglesby 815-883-3373

Online: devinefloraldesign.com and Facebook, Instagram

Flower Fan-A-See

904 S. Clay St., Mount Carroll 815-244-1123

Online: flowerfanasee.com and Facebook

The Flower Bar

2428 Fourth St., Peru 815-410-5052

Albert’s Jewelers

128 Fifth Ave. S, Clinton, Iowa 563-242-8334

Online: albertsjewelers.net and Facebook

Becky Beck’s Jewelry Store

303 E. Hillcrest Drive, DeKalb 815-758-3800

Online: flowerbarperu.com and Facebook, Instagram

Flowers Etc.

1103 Palmyra St., Dixon 815-288-3335

Online: eflowersetc.com and Facebook

Flowers by Julia

811 E. Peru St., Princeton 815-875-3819

Online: flowersbyjuliaprinceton. com and 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

HyVee

901 S. Fourth St., Clinton, Iowa 563-243-6162

Online: hy-vee.com and Facebook

Lamps Flower Shop

3900 14th Ave., Rock Island 309-788-7658

Online: lampsflowershoprockisland.com and Facebook

Lundstrom Florist

1709 E. Third St., Sterling 815-625-0080

Online: lundstromflorist.com and Facebook, Instagram

The Main Flower Shop

232 E. Main St., Amboy 815-857-3545

Online: themainflowershop.com and Facebook

Mary’s Special Touch Floral

1882 N. Tonti St., LaSalle 815-223-1708

Online: marysspecialtouch.com and Facebook, Instagram

Merlin’s Greenhouse & Flowers

300 Mix St., Oregon 815-732-2969

Online: merlinsgreenhouseandflowers.com and Facebook, Instagram

Milan Flower Shop

208 W. Fourth St., Milan 309-787-1413

Online: milan-flower.com and Facebook

Petals By Peyton

552 First St., LaSalle 815-780-8251

Online: petalsbypeyton.com and Facebook, Instagram

Pollen and Pastry

Studio in Bloomington; serves northern and central Illinois 815-471-9034

Online: pollenandpastry.com and Facebook, Instagram

The Novel Bloom 218 Main St., Savanna

Online: beckybecksjewelrystore. com and Facebook, Instagram

Brooks Jewelers

113 N. Fourth St., Oregon 815-732-2374

Online: brooksjewelers.net and Facebook, Instagram

Busch Jewelers

1960 Pawlisch Drive, Rockford 815-332-2222

Online: buschjewelry.com and Facebook

Clodius & Co. Jewelers

252 S. Mulford Road, Rockford 815-227-1200

815-273-2325

Online: thenovelbloom.com and Facebook, Instagram

Rylee Jane Designs

Sterling 815-499-6169

Online: ryleejanedesigns.com and Facebook, Instagram

Sassy Stems Floral & Gift Boutique

201 S. Second St., Clinton, Iowa 563-321-0391

Online: sassystemsfloral2.com and Facebook, Instagram

Selmi’s Florist and Bridal 223 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-622-8040

Online: selmibridal.com and Facebook

The Special Touch

504 W. Route 64, Lanark 815-493-6366

Online: specialtouchflowers.net and Facebook

Valley Flowers & Gifts

130 E. Dakota, Spring Valley 815-664-5364

Online: valleyflowersandgifts.com and Facebook, Instagram

Wahl Flowers

1706 E. Fifth St., Sterling 815-631-4469

E-mail: wahl.flower@outlook.com

Online: wahl-flowers.square.site and Facebook, Instagram

Online: clodiusco.com and Facebook, Instagram

D & D Jewelers

1739 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore 815-895-3377

Online: ddjewelers.com and Facebook, Instagram

JEWELRY cont’d to page 57

Davidson Jewelers

153 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline

309-755-9233

Online: davidsonjewelers.net and Facebook, Instagram

Don’s Jewelry

200 Main Ave., Clinton, Iowa 563-242-2663

Email: sheralyn@donsjewelryclinton. com

Online: donsjewelryclinton.com and Facebook, Instagram

Frank Jewelers

19 E. Stephenson St., Freeport 815-235-3169

Email: contactus@frankjewelers.com

Online: frankjewelers.com and Facebook, Instagram

J Kamin Jewelers

250 N. Mulford Road, Rockford 815-226-0898

Online: jkaminjewelers.com and Facebook

Jewelry By Christopher

6140 E. Riverside, Loves Park

815-227-5500

Online: jewelrybychristopher.com and 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, 815-5350437

• Peru Marketplace — 5255 State Route 251 Ste. 111, Peru, 815-2233657

• Southpark Mall — 4500 16th St., Moline, 309-764-3131

Online: kay.com and Facebook, Instagram

La Raza Joyeria

2522 E. Lincolnway, Suite F, Sterling 815-535-8741

Email: larazajoyeria@gmail.com

Online: larazajoyeriail.com and Facebook

Luecke Jewelers

10 E. Main St., Freeport

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 Facebook, Instagram

Beautiful Leigh Makeup + Esthetics

Licensed esthetician who specialists in beauty details, providing makeup applications, brow, lash and skin services. She is based in Rockford with wedding services for the bride and bridal party, serving northern Illinois.

Online: beautifulleigh.com and 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 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

815-233-0013

lueckejewelers.com

Malcom Jewelers

5030 38th Ave., Moline 309-764-1213

Online: malcolmjewelers.com and Facebook, Instagram

Necker’s Jewelers

• 721 Sixth Ave., DeWitt, Iowa, 563659-3911

• 4009 E. 53rd St., Davenport, Iowa, 563-359-3941

Online: neckersjewelers.com and Facebook, Instagram

Quinn’s Jewelry Store

426 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle 815-562-2426

Online: jewelconnect. com/8155622426 and Facebook

Rogers & Hollands Jewelers

Cherryvale Mall, 7200 Harrison Ave., Rockford

815-332-3400

Online: rogersandhollands.com/ cherryvale-mall and Facebook,

Instagram

Soto’s Jewelry

3504 E. State St., Rockford 815-962-5515

Online: sotosjewelry.com and 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 Facebook, Instagram

Venier Jewelers

117 W. First St., Dixon 815-284-3034

Email: anthony_venier@me.com

Online: venierjewelers.com and Facebook

Zavius Jewelers

2636 McFarland Road, Rockford 815-654-4000

Email: info@zavius.com

Online: zavius.com and Facebook, Instagram

on her website. 309-445-7570

1033 W. 35th St., Davenport, Iowa

Online: glamourbeautystudiollc.com

Kori Laine Beautiful Bridal

Cosmetologist Kori Freeman is based in Rockford with an in-home salon and can provide event services onsite.

Online: korilainebeauty.com

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: Facebook

Merle Norman Cosmetics

Independently owned studios providing makeup tutorials, services and products.

• 105 E. First St., Suite 100, Dixon 779-396-2326

• 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 Facebook

Boulder Terrace Sound

815-501-4715

Email: Jeff@btsound.com

Online: btsound.com and Facebook, Instagram

Cara Mia Entertainment Dixon 779-333-2262

E-mail: caramia.ent@gmail.com

Online: caramiaentertainment.com and Facebook

Class Act DJ Service

815-579-0255

Email: andyfuzak@gmail.com

Online: aclassactdjservice.com

DJ Krazy Karl

Rock Falls

815-441-4629

E-mail: krazyone3d@gmail.com

Online: Facebook

DJ Shoker Rockford

B. Adams Photography

Byron

815-601-7659

Email: Brian@BAdamsPhotography. com

Online: badamsphotography.com

Kelly Cadenza Photography

218 N. Harrison St. Davenport, Iowa

309-236-1259

Email: cadenza.photos@gmail.com

Online: cadenzaphotos.com and Facebook, Instagram

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 Facebook

Hits DJ Service

Rockford 815-289-0276

Email: joe@hitsdj. com

Online: hitsdj.com and Facebook, Instagram

Jeti

Entertainment

Wedding DJ Service

4249 E. State St., Rockford 815-395-0415

Online: jetientertainment.com and Facebook, Instagram

Luxe Productions

Rockford 815-988-5341

Email: LetsDesign@

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 Facebook, Instagram

Holly Johns Photography Rockford

LuxeProductions.com

Online: luxeproductions.com and Facebook, Instagram

Mac Events

Rock Island

Online: maceventsindy.com and Facebook, Instagram

Massetone Entertainment

Quad Cities 563-340-2319

Email: Info@ massetone.com

Online: massetone. com and Facebook

Master Entertainment

1727 Second Ave., Rock Island

309-797-2702

Email: Kevin@masterdjonline.com

Online: masterdjonline.com and Facebook

Mixx Master DJ’s & Entertainment

Quad Cities 563-570-7881

Online: mixxmaster.com and Facebook, Instagram

Ring DJ Service

Oregon 815-757-3022

Online: Facebook

Rock Vegas Events Rockford 815-290-9562

Online: rockvegasevents.com and Facebook, Instagram

Sauk Valley DJs

Sterling Online: Facebook

Stranger Than Paradise

DJ & Karaoke 815-291-9897

Online: stpsoundandlighting.com and Facebook

Sound Solution

DJ Entertainment 1891 E. Water Road, Byron 815-262-5975

Online: soundsolutiondj.com and Facebook

Twisted Mic’s Music Entertainment 1518 Fifth Ave., Moline 309-738-4806

Online: twistedmics.com and Facebook, Instagram

815-621-7530

Online: hollyjohnsphoto.com and Facebook, Instagram

Jon Larson Photography

1140 E. Flagg Road, Oregon

815-757-2113

Online: jonlarsonphotography.com and Facebook, Instagram

Just Cause Photography — Suzanne Paul Ashton

815-440-7982

Email: suzannepual@ justcausephotography.com

Online: justcausephotography.com and Facebook

LAR Photography St. Charles 847-370-3289

Email: larphotography1@gmail.com

Online: lar-photography.com and Facebook, Instagram

PHOTOS cont’d to page 59

cont’d from page 58

Laura Renee Photography

Dixon

815-440-5563

E-mail: laurareneephotography1@ gmail.com

Online: laurareneephotography. com/wedding-work and Facebook, Instagram

Lifeworks

Photography Studio

6342 S. Westwood Ave., Rochelle 815-561-7131

Email: photo@lifeworksimaging. com

Online: lifeworksimaging.com and Facebook

Lizabeth 815 Photography

Poplar Grove

815-742-2559

Email: lizabethphotography815@ gmail.com

Online: lizabeth815photography. mypixieset.com and on Facebook, Instagram

MDR Photography —

Brooke Slusser

Davenport, Iowa

815-501-8846

Online: mdrphotography. net and Facebook, Instagram

Mindy Joy

Photography

Rockford 815-985-4005

Email: mindy@ mindyjoyphotography.com

Online: mindyjoyphotography.com and Facebook, Instagram

Onsite Photography

Rock Falls/Sterling

815-716-3282

Email: ayonk@photosbyonsite.com

Online: photosbyonsite.com and Facebook

Pam Cooley Photos

Peoria

309-219-3686

Email: pam@pamcooleyphotos.com

Online: pamcooleyphotos.com and Instagram

Photos by Tara Marie Sterling 815- 622-8147

Email: tara@ photosbytaramarie.com

Online: Facebook, Instagram

Photo FROG Studio

520 W. Second St., Davenport, Iowa

563-370-0151

Email: Ranae@photofrog.net

Online: photofrog.net and Facebook, Instagram

Rick Jennisch

Photography Studio 1815 Grant St., Bettendorf, Iowa 563-345-4006

Online: rickjennisch.com and Facebook, Instagram Slater Photography and Videography Davenport, Iowa

815-631-3438

Online: slaterphotographyandvideography.com and Facebook

Steveo Studios Rock Falls 815-622-8177

Email: steveostudios@yahoo.com

Online: steveostudios.webstarts. com and Facebook

The Eight One Five Collective Rockford

Online: Facebook, Instagram

Til Death Photo

Online: tildeathphotocompany. com and Facebook, Instagram

You in Photos by Nanc Inc.

Sterling 815-718-5136

Online: youinphotosbynanc. zenfolio.com and Facebook, Instagram

Andrea Canas

Dixon

815-716-3261

E-mail: andreaplansadventures@ gmail.com

Online:instagram.com/ andreaplansadventures

Camelot World Travel

4001 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park 815-633-2200

Online: camelotworldtravel.com and Facebook

Destinations

Travel Services

15 E. Third St., Sterling 815-625-3500

Email: avril@

destinationstravelservices.com

Online: destinationstravelservices. com and Facebook

Gateway Travel & Cruise Clinton, Iowa 563-242-1025

Online: gatewaytc.com and 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 Facebook

Lindstrom Travel 5970 Guilford Road, Rockford 815-398-8888

Online: lindstromtravel.com and Facebook

KDM Travel Agency 3554 Shady Ridge Court, Davenport, Iowa 563-324-3201

Online: kdmtravel.com and Facebook

Picture Perfect 1315 30th St., Rock Island

309-788-0500

Email: cruisemaster18@yahoo.com

Online: pictureperfecttravelqc.com and Facebook

Scuba Adventures 1104 State St., Bettendorf, Iowa 563-324-8771

Online: scubaadventureqca.com and Facebook

Travel Consultants of Dixon Inc. 735 N. Galena Ave., Suite 120, Dixon 815-284-6681

Online: travelconsultantsofdixon. com and Facebook

Castronovo Bridal Shop

722 N. Main St., Rockford 815-962-4731

Email: castronovobridals@gmail. com

Online: castronovobridal.com and Facebook

Cloud Nine Bridal Boutique

4711 N. University St., Peoria 309-693-3830

Online: cloudninepeoria.com and Facebook, Instagram

David’s Bridal

• 713 S. Perryville Road, Rockford, 815-227-5950

• 5212 Big Hollow Road, Peoria, 309693-3772

Online: davidsbridal.com, Facebook

Ducky’s Formal Wear

250 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb 815-242-1812

Email: duckysdekalb@gmail.com

Online: duckysdekalb.com and

Facebook, Instagram

Ducky’s Formal Wear

1721 Fifth Ave., Moline 309-797-9889

Email: duckysqc@gmail.com

Online: duckysformalwear.com and Facebook

Great Hang-Ups

Upscale consignment shop and elegant formal wear rental. 613 S. Rockford Ave., Rockford 815-229-8500

Online: greathangups.com and Facebook

Kaleel’s Clothing and Printing

704 N. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-284-5033

Online: kaleels.com and Facebook

Marien Mae Bridal

Boutique & Events

749 First St., LaSalle

Amboy Community Center

280 W. Wasson Road, Amboy 815-857-3814

Features: Full-service bar, full kitchen, tables and chairs. Capacity: 250-300 Online: cityofamboy.org and Facebook

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 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 carriage for photos, plenty of acreage for tents, tables, dancing.

Capacity: 200 inside barn Online: thebarnatallenacres.com and Facebook, Instagram

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 Facebook, Instagram

815-220-0844

Email: info@marienmae.com

Online: marienmae.com and 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 Facebook, Instagram

Moments Tux Shop

4332 State St., Bettendorf, Iowa 563-888-1695

Online: momentstuxshop.com and Facebook, Instagram

Selmi’s Formal Wear

2900 E. Lincolnway, Sterling (Northland Mall)

815-200-1051

Online: selmibridal.com, and on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

That Guy’s Secret 105 Marquette St., Suite B, LaSalle 815-250-0928

Online: thatguyssecret.com and 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 Facebook, Instagram

Zazou’s Bridal

Boutique & Tuxedos 955 Washington St., Dubuque, Iowa 536-213-2049

Online: zazousbridalandtuxedos. com/ and 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 Facebook

Basil Tree Ristorante

123 E. First St., Dixon 815-288-7555

Features: Basil Tree provides catering and banquet space for its Italian traditions and more for your event in its private dining room.

Capacity: 50

Online: basiltree2008.com and Facebook, Instagram

Blumen Gardens

403 Edward St., Sycamore 815-895-3737

Email: eventrentals@ blumengardens.com

Features: Beautiful outdoor gardens and equally charming indoor space, a wedding suite to prepare for the day and team of wedding professionals to assist.

Capacity: 200

Online: blumengardens.com and Facebook, Instagram

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VENUES cont’d from page 60

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 Facebook, Instagram

The Bricks

125 Walnut St., Cherry Valley 815-544-5710

Features: A former factory remodeled and opened in 2021 as a beautiful event space complete with chandeliers, rustic and chic ambiance.

Capacity: 300

Online: thebrickscv.com and 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 wrap-around outdoor observation deck.

Online: byronforestpreserve.com

Candlelight Inn

• 2200 First Ave., Rock Falls — 815626-1897

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 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 20-30 people, but outside food service is available for larger groups. There’s 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 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 wheelchair accessible. Crystal Cork also offers a traveling bar.

Capacity: 48

Online: thecrystalcork.com and Facebook

Days Inn by Wyndham

2105 First Ave., Rock Falls 815-683-8565

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 a scenic golf course. Menus are customized to fit taste and budget and full-service staff will take care of all the details. The patio and gazebo provide a romantic location to say “I do” with family and friends. Capacity: 400

Online: deervalleybanquets.com and 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 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 receptions. Capacity: 425

Online: dixonelkslodge.com and Facebook

The Dixon Historic Theatre

114 S. Galena Ave., Dixon 815-508-6324

Features: Host your special day in this historic theater. Online: dixontheatre.com and Facebook, 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 Facebook

East of Yellowstone Lodge & Retreat

6685 S. Lost Nation Road, Dixon 447-777-9867

Features: A former Girl Scout Camp, the Crystal Lodge is the perfect mix of dazzle and rustic, with ample sunlight for a daytime ceremony and space for an evening reception.

Capacity: Receptions with seating up to 150 indoors; additional seating available outdoors with tent. Online: eastofyellowstonelodge.com and Facebook, Instagram

Ensign Jade Acres

7111 W. Dublin Road, Freeport 847-417-9496

Email: ensignjade@gmail.com

Features: 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 Facebook or Instagram

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 Facebook, Instagram

The Grove Event Venue

1667 Hoover Rd, Deer Grove 815-438-5282

Features: One of the newest venues in the Sauk Valley. Features a full bar and restaurant. Bring in your own food or we can cater.

Capacity: 250

Email: TheHappySpot1.0@gmail. com

Online: Facebook (“The Happy Spot-Deer Grove”)

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VENUES cont’d from page 61

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 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 of 27 acres of serene pine trees. 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: Indoor and outdoor spaces including a barn located on16 acres of grounds in this family-run business. 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 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 Facebook and 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 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: kskornerbarandevents.com and 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 a raised stage for a DJ, small band.

Capacity: Dining room seats 200 Online: lovelandcommunityhouse. org and 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 Facebook

Maxson’s Riverboat & Riverside Restaurant

1469 Route 2 North, Oregon 800-468-4222

Features: Celebrate 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. Wheelchair accessible.

Capacity: 143 riverboat passengers; sit-down dining capacity for 110; 300 restaurant

Online: maxsons.net and 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 Facebook

Mexicali Rose Event Venue

1409 Eighth Ave., Rock Falls 815-590-3110

E-mail: mexicalirosebanquethall@ gmail.com

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 Facebook, Instagram Mills & Petrie

Memorial Building

704 N. First St., Ashton 815-453-5048

Email: millsandpetrierental@gmail. com

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

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. Includes a rehabbed 124-year-old barn.

Capacity: 200

Online: themorafarm.com

Naaman Diehl Auditorium

811 S. Clay St., Mount Carroll 815-244-3001

Features: Spacious auditorium that is wheelchair accessible with access to a state-of-the-art kitchen. Space managed by Carroll County Farm Bureau.

Capacity: 130

Online: carrollcfb.org and Facebook

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Nicholas

Conservatory & Gardens

1354 N. Second St., Rockford

815-987-8858

Features: From the glass atrium to walkways among the ferns, discover the beautiful intimate spaces for ceremony and reception

Capacity: 112

Online: nicholasconservatory.com and Facebook, Instagram

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 Facebook, Instagram

Palmyra Pub & Eatery

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 Facebook, Instagram

The Event Center at The Classroom

207 Pope St., Nelson 815-380-2233

Email: info@theclassroomnelson.com

Features: Room rental with tables, chairs and use of kitchen.

Capacity: 250

Online: theclassroomnelson.com and Facebook

The Pavilion at Emerald Hill Golf Course

16802 Prairieville Road, Sterling 815-622-6204

Features: Outdoors, tent overlooks the fourth tee, covered walkway to the clubhouse, portable dance floor and bar.

Capacity: 150

Online: emeraldhillgolf.com and Facebook

The Polo Room Banquet Hall

712 N. Division Ave., Polo 815-946-2886

Features: Built in the early 1950s, there is plenty of space to celebrate a special occasion with a full-service restaurant, catering and bar available for use.

Capacity: 225

Online: Facebook

Post House Ballroom

100 W. Second St., Dixon

815-288-0892

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 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

Rivers Edge Experience

103 S. First St., Oregon 815-677-4343

Email: RiversEdgeExp@gmail.com

Features: The former warehouse has been converted into an event space, featuring rustic charms, steel beam lifts and a modern event venue. There is an additional exterior patio with views of the Rock River and a gazebo.

Capacity: 300

Online: riversedgeexp.com and Facebook

Rock River Center

810 S. 10th St., Oregon 815-732-3252

Features: Utilize supplies including round or banquet tables. Ample parking and guests can bring in catering services or for an additional fee use the kitchen.

Capacity: 100

Online: rockrivercenter.org and Facebook

Salamandra & The Gathering Place

105 W. First St., Dixon 815-285-0874

Features: Full-service Mexican restaurant and bar with a banquet room.

Capacity: 100

Online: Facebook

Shady Oaks Country Club

577 US 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

The Standard

214 E. State. St., Rockford 815-540-2263

Features: From the rooftop venue to the second-floor dining room, the venue offers charm, warmth and refined luxury.

Capacity: 260

Online: standardonstate.com and Facebook, Instagram

Starved Rock Lodge

One Lodge Lane, Oglesby 815-220-7335

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

Email: storybookgardensinquiries@ yahoo.com

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 Facebook

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 Facebook, Instagram

Union Event Space

112 N. Second St., Rockford 815-224-4093

Features: The historic building in downtown Rockford features a large open space, with room to host a ceremony and reception.

Capacity: 250

Online: unionrockford.com and 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: The 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