CAKES AND SWEETS Corner Village Bakery 1100 W Garfield Bartonville, IL 309-966-2305 See Our Ad LeBakery 4700 N University St Peoria, IL 309-693-9190 See Our Ad Sweet Moments by Sophia 309-676-5086 See Our Ad Email CATERING Barrack's Cater Inn 309-692-3990 Website Catering By Kate 309-251-7061 See Our Ad The Catering Company 309-678-9000 Website DRESSES & TUXEDOS Country Bride 7320 N University Peoria, IL 309-691-5151 See Our Ad 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 Website FLOWERS Sterling Flowers 3020 N Sterling Ave Peoria, IL 309-682-2320 Website FURNITURE Martin Furniture 1965 E Washington St East Peoria, IL 309 694-4381 See Our Ad 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 See Our Ad INSURANCE Pekin Insurance 2505 Court St. Pekin, IL Website JEWELRY Potter & Anderson 24927 N Sherian Peoria, IL 309-691-6575 Website LIMOUSINE Cassano Limousine 309-369-2655 See Our Ad Deluxe Limousine 309-637-5466 Website PHOTOGRAPHY Elizabeth Rowe Photography 309-241-5015 Website Event Pro Photography 309-689-0299 Website Gregory Horne Photography 218 Tamarack Ave Morton, IL 309-521-1810 Website

Tips for Selecting the Reception Venue That’s Right for You Weddings can be a strategically complicated endeavor to pull off. Far more than putting on fancy clothes, strolling down the aisle and saying, “I do,” a successful wedding is a testament to a couple’s ability to plan and juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. One of the biggest tasks a couple must handle is selecting a reception hall that “fits the bill” and is ideal for their celebration. Since most couples choose a religious facility or house of worship based on where they attend services, or where they attended growing up, that decision is often much easier than choosing where the couple and their guests will go to celebrate once the ceremony is finished. Couples facing the dilemma of where to host their post-wedding party should ask these important questions when on the hunt for a reception venue. • When is the hall available? If you’ve already chosen a wedding date, this is undoubtedly the most important question to ask. If you haven’t pinned down a date yet, perhaps a favorite hall’s availability can help you determine when to walk down the aisle. Just remember that many houses of worship frown on picking a date and booking a reception hall without securing the ceremony first. • How much does it cost to rent your reception venue? Cost for the rental of a reception hall will vary from place to place, and with today’s tough economy, this should be the question you ask immediately after learning the hall’s availability. It’s also a good idea to have a number in mind with regard to the overall investment you’re able to spend on the reception celebration, with all costs factored in. Your overall reception costs will include any room rental fee, waiter/waitress fees, cost of food per person, any beverages (alcohol or otherwise), a cake cutting fee if there is one, etc. Be sure to find out in detail, what all is included in your rental fee alone. Some halls charge an extra fee for tables, chairs and linens. Also, be sure to state your preferences of round tables or banquet tables. • What is the capacity of your venue? Find out how many guests a given reception site can accommodate comfortably. Visit the site in person and get a feel for the room or rooms you would actually be renting. Ask where the bridal party head table will be located and make sure there is ample room for guests to move about with ease. Today, many reception sites feature a variety of room rental options, ranging from spacious rooms for several hundred guests to smaller banquet rooms ideal for groups under 100. Check out all of your options before you decide. • What are our options for catering? Some reception halls insist customers use their kitchen staff, while others allow outside caterers to come in and use their kitchens. Oftentimes, reception halls that require on-site staff do the cooking also have a requirement for a minimum number of guests, or a guaranteed food order. In addition, those that permit private caterers might charge extra to allow kitchen usage by outside vendors. Find out the answers to these crucial food-service questions. • What food service styles are available? There are many innovative options available today regarding food service for receptions. Food and drinks can be served cocktail style by white gloved waiters/waitresses, or food and beverage selections may also be set up in modern “big city styled” food stations. With food stations, guests are invited to visit a variety of strategically positioned food stations scattered throughout the room as they mix and mingle with other guests. Creative food stations can incorporate appetizers, main dishes or other clever themed choices, such as a sports-fan-inspired spread, including pizza, nachos, hot wings and ballpark-style hotdogs. Other reception food service options include traditional sit-down style service as well as buffet style. Couples should keep in mind that buffet style serving is often less expensive. Keep all of these factors in mind when inquiring about your food options. • How will drinks be served? Bar service can range from a full open bar (often the most expensive) to only certain drinks being offered at the open bar (i.e.: beer and wine will be served at the open bar with all mixed drinks paid for by guests). Another option is a cash bar, where guests pay for all of their own alcoholic beverages for the entire reception. Also, inquire about bartender fees for the event. • How late is the reception hall available to us? Most reception halls will stay open until around midnight before informing guest it’s closing time. Some halls, however, might close earlier, so make sure the party hours are spelled out in your contract. • What is the refund policy? This can be an important question to ask in the unfortunate case an emergency arises and the wedding is moved, or the couple calls off the wedding. Other key questions to ask: • Is there adequate parking, including handicapped parking areas? • Are there ample restroom facilities adjacent to the reception room? • How early can we get into the room to decorate and setup? • Who will we see to let us into the room if it’s locked? • Will someone be on-site to let our florist, caterer, baker, disc jockey into the room early? • Is there a dance floor? • Are there audio/visual capabilities in the room and enough space/electrical capability for a disc jockey? • Do you provide servers and bartenders? At what cost? Do you cover liquor liability? • Are we responsible for cleanup? • Does our rental fee include tax and gratuities? If not, how much are these fees? • What is the deposit fee? When is it due? When is the balance of the reception due? How can it be paid? • When must the contract be signed to guarantee us the reception room we want?

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 See Our Ad Countryside Banquet Center 659 School Street Washington, IL 309-694-0900 See Our Ad 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 See Our Ad 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 See Our Ad 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 See Our Ad 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 See Our Ad 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