CAKES AND SWEETS

Corner Village Bakery
1100 W Garfield
Bartonville, IL
309-966-2305

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LeBakery
4700 N University St
Peoria, IL
309-693-9190

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Sweet Moments by Sophia
309-676-5086

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CATERING

Barrack's Cater Inn
309-692-3990
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Catering By Kate
309-251-7061
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The Catering Company
309-678-9000
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DRESSES & TUXEDOS

Country Bride
7320 N University
Peoria, IL
309-691-5151
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Dejure Formalwear and Bridal Palace
Peoria 309-685-0313
Morton 309-263-8155
Website

Ducky’s Formalwear
Metro Centre
4700 N University
Peoria, IL
309-692-6050
Website

Savvi Formalwear and Bobbie’s Bridal
Peoria 309-688-1411
Bloomington 309-664-0354
Website

Seno Formalwear
5201 W War Memorial Dr #532

Peoria, IL
309-692-0031
website

Hayloft Dress Shop
Mossville Rte 29
309-579-3141
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FLOWERS

Sterling Flowers
3020 N Sterling Ave
Peoria, IL
309-682-2320

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FURNITURE

Martin Furniture
1965 E Washington St
East Peoria, IL
309 694-4381
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HORSE & BUGGY RIDES

Carriage Classics
Peoria, IL
309-579-2833
Website

INVITATIONS

The Bronze Frog
7724 N Grand Prairie Dr
Peoria, IL
309-692-4707
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INSURANCE

Pekin Insurance
2505 Court St.
Pekin, IL
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JEWELRY

Potter & Anderson
24927 N Sherian
Peoria, IL
309-691-6575
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LIMOUSINE
Cassano Limousine
309-369-2655
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Deluxe Limousine
309-637-5466
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PHOTOGRAPHY

Elizabeth Rowe Photography
309-241-5015
Website

Event Pro Photography
309-689-0299
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Gregory Horne Photography
218 Tamarack Ave
Morton, IL
309-521-1810
Website

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed,
Something . . . Green?

If you have a hybrid car parked in your garage, recycle rain water to irrigate backyard plants and have replaced just about every bulb in your home with compact fluorescents, there's a good chance that you're environmentally conscious. But what if you've just gotten engaged and want to impart some of these green ways of thinking to the wedding? What can you do to be earth-friendly when tying the knot?

Wedding industry insiders say that the trend of going green with weddings is growing exponentially. David Cooperrider, a business professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, says that going green is one of the great business opportunities of the 21st century, and there is much potential for the wedding industry.

Going green for your wedding day doesn't mean you have to compromise on the elements that will make the day special. It just means you can take a look at the details and the bigger picture and develop strategies that will minimize the impact on the planet.

* Go local: From food to flowers, choose vendors that use locally grown and raised products. This reduces the amount of smog generated and fuel consumed to bring items in for your wedding. Many caterers are now collaborating with local farms and other vendors to offer organic, locally grown menu items. It pays to ask about availability.

* Go to your guests: Figure out where the greatest number of your guests reside and then hold the wedding nearby. For example, a couple from the Northeast who has relocated to the West coast, but has all of their family still in the east, may want to hold their wedding in the east. It is less expensive and more environmentally friendly for the couple to simply fly to the wedding, rather than having hundreds of guests drive or fly west.

* Be mindful of wardrobe choices: Choose items that really can be worn again. You could opt to forgo tuxes and ask groomsmen to wear a similar styled suit that they can add to their work wardrobe. Bridesmaids can wear a simple black cocktail dress so that they're not left with a taffeta creation that will only hang in the closet afterward. If you decide to go more traditional with wardrobe, find out if gowns can be recycled or donated so that they can be reused in another way.

* Choose recycled materials for wedding invitations and announcements: There are an increasing number of suppliers creating invitations from recycled materials. Some will do all the assembly for you; other less expensive items may be more hands-on. Cut down on further use of paper by creating a wedding Web site where you post directions, maps, party times, and other essential information so you avoid extra slip-in sheets with your invitations.

* Create car-pool options: Bus guests to your venue to save on gas. It is also a safer option for those who will be indulging in alcoholic beverages at the party since they won't have to drive on the return trip home. CAPTION: An outdoor wedding featuring locally grown flowers can save on the energy it would take to power a large reception hall.

 
RECEPTION SITES & HOTELS

AmericInn
9106 N. Lindbergh Dr.
Peoria, IL
309-692-9200
Website

Country Inn & Suites
309-589-0044
5309 W. Landens Way
Peoria, IL
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Countryside Banquet Center
659 School Street
Washington, IL

309-694-0900
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Embassy Suites
100 Conference Center Drive
East Peoria, IL
309-694-0200
Website

Itoo Hall
4909 W. Farmington Rd.
Peoria, IL
309-676-9725
Website

Knights of Columbus
7403 N. Radnor Road
Peoria, IL
309-692-9696
Website
Knights of Columbus
Pekin, IL
309-353-4000
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Landmark Banquet Facilities
3225 N. Dries Lane
309-685-8200
Website

Luthy Botanical Gardens
2218 N. Prospect
(in Glen Oak Park)
Peoria, IL
309-686-3362

Website

Monte Cristo Room
605 Ten Mile Creek Rd
Germantown Hills, IL
309-383-4417

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Par-a-dice
21 Blackjack Blvd
East Peoria, IL
309-699-7711
Website

Pekin Country Club
310 Country Club Dr
Pekin, IL
309-347-3144 ext 3
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Pere Marquette
501 Main Street
Peoria, IL
309-637-6500
Website

Sommer Park
Peoria, IL
309-691-8423
Website

Spirit of Peoria
225 NE Adams
Peoria, IL
309-363-6169
Website

Spring Hill Suites by Marriott
2701 W Lake Ave
Peoria, IL
309-681-2700
Website
Weaver Ridge Golf Club
5100 Weaver Ridge Blvd.
Peoria, IL
309-690-4044
Website

Wingate by Wyndham
309-589-0033
7708 N. Rt. 91
Peoria, IL
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WEDDING SUPPLIES
American Rental
921 E War Memorial Dr.
Peoria, IL
309-688-1412
Website
WEDDING VEILS

Bridal Veils by Nancy Shefts
6006 N. Big Hollow Rd
Peoria, IL
309-691-7227
Website