Hey folks!
So, I have been throwing around the idea of sharing my favorite vendors with you and I feel like today is the day to spread some love. I'm doing this without their knowledge, but I find myself repeating the same names over and over again every time I meet with a bride & groom. So, I thought what better way to refer my favorites than to blog about it! I'll be providing links to both their facebook pages and their websites where you can find all the contact information you need if interested in booking them for your wedding! So without further ado - here are my personal favorite wedding vendors in and around the QC area and why I love them.
xoxo - Crystal
Reception Venues:
Why I love them: Honestly, I absolutely love two things about this venue. 1. The suites they've put together for the bride and groom to get ready in are among the most photogenic places I've photographed in. Normally I am crammed in to a hotel room like a sardine and can photograph from about two possible angles, this is not the case at the Stern Center - they have room and there isn't a lot of clutter or random things on the walls. 2. The fact that everything is white in the main hall, again just another photogenic aspect. Dark reception halls sort of swallow up all the light and as a personal preference - I prefer reception halls with lots of ways to bounce light: such as the Stern Center.
Why I love them: Well for starters this is a location in which you can have all your portraits and your reception at one location. The golf course has some amazing hidden gems that are beautiful and most importantly, not in the way of golfers. Not to mention the hall itself is VERY photogenic, open floor plan, light color scheme, very elegant and classy - really one of my favorites!
The Watchtower Lodge in Rock Island, IL - Website , I'm not sure they have a facebook?
Why I love them: Now, I am going to completely contradict my last sentiment of adoring light decor to shoot with because the Watchtower lodge is actually pretty dark once the Sun goes down. That being said, it's all wood and very rustic. This is definitely a great location for a small, intimate, rustic wedding. The best thing about this location and probably why I really adore it is that you can have all your portraits done at one location, this is located in the middle of the Black Hawk State Historic Site and has lots of photogenic opportunities. And when the sun is up, they have huge windows that allow lots of beautiful natural light in. It is a smaller venue however, so if you have a large wedding and are expecting to house a lot of guests - this is probably not the location for you.
Eagle Point Lodge in Clinton, IA - Website, Also not certain they have a facebook either.
Why I love them: I have to say that I don't necessarily love this venue for their reception hall, however I love that the area is so full of photographic opportunity. It's a great venue for rustic weddings but also if you want everything kind of in one general location. It is a wooden reception hall so it can be a little dark, however it has so much space. This is one of those venues though that you need good decor with in order for it to all tie together as a great spot for a reception, without that I fear it may be bland on it's own. However it's the perfect blank slate for event designers or the DIY bride and that makes it a fabulous location.
Why I love them: I haven't photographed on the bottom floor yet but I have photographed on the second floor and what I love about this location is again it's another really photogenic spot, I love the open floor plan, love that it doesn't swallow up light. The only downfall I'd say is it's not photogenic from every angle - shooting towards the kitchen is a little less than to be desired but it's nothing that a good photographer cannot work around - I would make a suggestion on the grand entrance and have your wedding party enter where the guests enter as opposed to by where the kitchen is.
Post House Ball Room in Dixon, IL - Website, Facebook
Why I love them: This is another out of town venue, but I know I have some clientele in that area so I thought I'd include this location on my list as well. This is a smaller venue, so it's definitely for a wedding with a smaller guest count. That being said, it's very photogenic inside and out - I have loved photographing in this venue. So beautiful!
Why I love them: This is another out of town venue, but I know I have some clientele in that area so I thought I'd include this location on my list as well. This is a smaller venue, so it's definitely for a wedding with a smaller guest count. That being said, it's very photogenic inside and out - I have loved photographing in this venue. So beautiful!
Offbeat, Outdoor Options -
Quarters One Rock Island Arsenal - Website, No Facebook
Why I love them: Everything about this place is incredible, how could I not love them?! The history is amazing and the photogenic opportunity is endless. Beautiful location for an outdoor wedding. However heads up, if you are not familiar with the Rock Island Arsenal this is a military base - so there will be guards checking ID's at the entrance to the base.
* No image to display: I have actually not photographed a wedding here, however I have been here and photographed indoors (but they were boudoir photos, so these are private to clientele) - but it's
beautiful! Trust me.
Bickelhaupt Arborutem in Clinton, IA - Website, Facebook
Why I love them: This is another beautiful outdoor location in which you can have all of your formals, creative portraits, and ceremony in one spot. Of all the outdoor weddings I have photographed, I have to say that this was probably my favorite location. That being said, there is not a lot of shade - be mindful on what time your wedding is and what month you're shooting in if you are interested in this location because it can be a scorcher (and your photographer just may almost pass out) :).
Why I love them: This is another beautiful outdoor location in which you can have all of your formals, creative portraits, and ceremony in one spot. Of all the outdoor weddings I have photographed, I have to say that this was probably my favorite location. That being said, there is not a lot of shade - be mindful on what time your wedding is and what month you're shooting in if you are interested in this location because it can be a scorcher (and your photographer just may almost pass out) :).
DJ's
Why I love them: This is the only DJ company that I recommend to potential brides, I just love working with them. They're extremely professional and fun - they also have knack for gauging their crowd and playing the right music to get people on the dance floor. They're very personable and so far I have genuinely loved everyone I have met from this company. I've worked with a lot of DJ's and I can safely say that these are the guys who stand out among their peers. You can't go wrong here.
Videographers
MI Studios - Website, Facebook
Why I love them: Because they're the be all end all of videographers in the Quad Cities, in my humble opinion. Honestly if you want your wedding day to look like a movie, MI Studios can provide that for you. I love working along side this company because they truly challenge me to be better at my own job. They're highly professional, exceptionally educated in their field of work, you're in great hands if you choose this company. Matt and his team know what they are doing and it's beyond evident in their work. I could go on and on about how amazing this vendor is. Five stars all the way.
Why I love them: Because they're the be all end all of videographers in the Quad Cities, in my humble opinion. Honestly if you want your wedding day to look like a movie, MI Studios can provide that for you. I love working along side this company because they truly challenge me to be better at my own job. They're highly professional, exceptionally educated in their field of work, you're in great hands if you choose this company. Matt and his team know what they are doing and it's beyond evident in their work. I could go on and on about how amazing this vendor is. Five stars all the way.
Make Up Artists
Why I love them: Okay, by now most people know that I have a personal connection with this vendor - but my love for her quirky personality aside - she's very talented and deserves to be on this list. Ashley is amazing at what she does with makeup. I have been a personal enthusiast of makeup for a long time and it truly amazes how much she knows about what to do with makeup. It's more than just putting makeup on a person, it's knowing what to do with their facial features, etc and she is extremely well educated in this department. Not only does she know what she is doing but she's also very personable and has a great personality that is easy to get along with.
*Special Note: A lot of brides overlook the makeup and I would say that this should be even higher on the list of importance. I did not have a makeup artist for my own wedding and I really feel like that's something I wish I'd have had. So don't overlook this as unimportant!
Floral
Melanie w/Melanie's Flowers by Design - Website, Facebook
Why I love them: Melanie is an extremely supportive vendor, so I like her because for one she has an amazing personality, is very empathetic and caring - this, to me, is almost as important as how talented she is with flowers. For me personally, I probably don't spend a whole lot of time focusing on flowers - I know when they look and when they don't, but I don't have a huge opinion on them. I know that she is great at what she does - but I also know she has an incredible personality and that alone is why I would book her myself.
Why I love them: Melanie is an extremely supportive vendor, so I like her because for one she has an amazing personality, is very empathetic and caring - this, to me, is almost as important as how talented she is with flowers. For me personally, I probably don't spend a whole lot of time focusing on flowers - I know when they look and when they don't, but I don't have a huge opinion on them. I know that she is great at what she does - but I also know she has an incredible personality and that alone is why I would book her myself.
Damian w/Milan Florists - Website, Facebook - Not sure how to link him?
Why I love him: As I said, I don't know much about flowers - but I know a good florist when I see one and he's amazing!
** Which of my brides have used Damian?!!? I know you're out there!
** Which of my brides have used Damian?!!? I know you're out there!
Chris Crow w/Moline Hyvee Florist - Not sure how to link to him?
Why I love him: He's a-mazing! That's why. I believe I have only photographed one wedding of his, but he did a fabulous job - do recommend!
Sheila Jung w/Ipomea Floral Design - Website, Facebook
Why I love them: This vendor is actually not local, she is based in Chicago - however she did do flowers on a wedding I photographed and was in the wedding as well. I have photographed DOZENS of weddings since I photographed this wedding and the flowers she did have still stood out as incredible. Plus, I don't know if this matters at all, but she's totally adorable.
Why I love them: This vendor is actually not local, she is based in Chicago - however she did do flowers on a wedding I photographed and was in the wedding as well. I have photographed DOZENS of weddings since I photographed this wedding and the flowers she did have still stood out as incredible. Plus, I don't know if this matters at all, but she's totally adorable.
Pick your own Bouquet Option
Miss Effie's Flower Farm in Donahue, IA - Website, Facebook
Why I love them: Why WOULDN'T I love them? I have been working with Cathy and Cliff for years now and I could not put together a vendor list without mentioning them. I absolutely adore this location - for a long list of options: flowers are incredible, the decor is so rustic and vintage, it's a completely Pinterest worthy location and the owners are incredible to worth with. This would ALSO work for an intimate outdoor wedding, I'm not 100% certain if this is still an option they have - but if it is and you're looking for a small quiet rustic location, I'd talk to them!
Why I love them: Why WOULDN'T I love them? I have been working with Cathy and Cliff for years now and I could not put together a vendor list without mentioning them. I absolutely adore this location - for a long list of options: flowers are incredible, the decor is so rustic and vintage, it's a completely Pinterest worthy location and the owners are incredible to worth with. This would ALSO work for an intimate outdoor wedding, I'm not 100% certain if this is still an option they have - but if it is and you're looking for a small quiet rustic location, I'd talk to them!
** Okay, so I suppose I know a little about flowers... seems I love a lot of florists?
Wedding Planners/Design
Tamara Wendt Design - Website, Facebook
Why I love them: She's so so SO good. I don't even know what else to say - I mean really, she's amazing at what she does. What more is there to say really?
Why I love them: She's so so SO good. I don't even know what else to say - I mean really, she's amazing at what she does. What more is there to say really?
Why I love them: I believe I have only worked with them on two weddings, however they did a fantastic job on both events and from what I have seen on their page - they do a good job.
Cakes
Why I love them: Katie is SO talented! I have only worked with her on one wedding but I sincerely hope to work with her on more. I adore everything I have seen from her and she's really supremely talented in her field of work.
- I don't know if I have worked with this company, but I requested referrals and I really loved the portraits of their wedding cakes.
**Brides! Who did your cakes? I have to admit - I do not know the names of so many talented cake vendors!
Favorite Local Wedding Site
Why I love them: I got to personally chat with Aubrey at Bride Meets Wedding and she was so personable, warm, and caring. The best thing about this site is that it's ALL local to Iowa/Illinois so this really a catch all for local vendors.
And most importantly, she has asked to feature a couple of our weddings on the site. Check them out:
Vendors I'd love to work with:
I've been so blessed in working with some of the areas top vendors, however - I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to photograph more barn themed weddings! Guys... these are the best locations!! Barns that have been made over in to wedding venues are literally among my top wants for weddings - I haven't been blessed enough yet to photograph inside one and I am dying to. Hook a girl up!!
THANK YOU!
Oi! I worked on this blog ALL day today, I hope this helps some local brides on finding the right vendors for them. I'm certain I'm probably missing some local favs, don't see your favorite vendor on the list? Comment below with your favorites!!
xoxo - Crystal B.
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