Weddings
JANUARY 2025
OFF INTO THE SUNSET
Also:
• Wedding traditions couples kept or skipped
• Advice from the brides of 2024
• Auditorium Ballroom adds a limo service
• Popular party favors
• Couples discuss businesses that went above and beyond
5 RECEPTION TRADITIONS
Do brides say ‘I do’ to wedding reception traditions?
8
ADVICE FROM COUPLES
Couples married in 2024 offer advice to engaged couples.
12
AUDITORIUM BALLROOM
The Auditorium Ballroom adds a limo to its line-up of services.
17 DOING A FAVOR
Wedding favors never go out of style.
20 A PIECE OF CAKE
Local businesses help weddings run smoothly.
Illinois Valley Weddings
426 Second Street
La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com
General Manager/ Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Niche Editor Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com
Writers
Brandon LaChance
Shannon Serpette
Photographer
Brandon LaChance
Designer Liz Klein
On the cover: Hallie Ligori and Drake Crawford, who are both from Streator, were married on Oct. 12, 2024, at Eastwood Golf Course.
PHOTO BY RHONDA JOHNSON
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Do brides say ‘I do’ to wedding reception traditions?
By Shannon Serpette
When KateLynn Swaney married Bryce Hinkelman at Starved Rock Lodge on Jan. 6, 2024, the couple, who reside in Cherry, decided to include some traditional wedding elements in their reception.
“We decided to have a seating chart, which I know can be a bit of a hot topic in the wedding world. I went back and forth on it, but in the end, I felt it was the best choice, especially since we were having a plated dinner. It just made everything run more smoothly,” KateLynn said.
One tradition KateLynn was ready to ditch was having a wedding cake.
“At first, I was planning to just have cupcakes, but my mother-inlaw convinced me to add a twotiered cake, with the top layer saved for our one-year anniversary. I’m so glad we decided to go that route. Our anniversary is coming up soon, and I’m really looking forward to that cake,” she said.
Hallie Ligori married Drake Crawford at Eastwood Golf Course on Oct. 12, 2024. The couple, who live in Streator, also opted to have a seating chart.
“We did a seating chart. It was very easy using Canva to lay it out. This was important to me because we had a lot of people, so it made
PHOTO BY MCCONVILLE STUDIO
KateLynn and Bryce Hinkelman of Cherry were married on Jan. 6, 2024, and their photos prove winter weddings can be just as beautiful as spring, summer, and fall weddings.
PHOTO BY SAMANTHA ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY
Alexis Ferracuti said one of her favorite things about her wedding day was getting to call Jeremiah Stearns her husband after spending ten years together.
Traditions
FROM PAGE 5
me feel better when everyone had a place to sit instead of everyone having to search for a seat,” Hallie said.
Mekenzie Ahlstrom and Dominic Smoode of Mark incorporated several traditional touches at their wedding reception at the Westclox Event Center on Oct. 19, 2024.
“A traditional element that we included in our wedding was having the traditional dances during the reception. We included dances like mother/son, granddaughter/grandpa/stepfather, daughter/mother, and, of course, our first dance,” Mekenzie said. “Another traditional element I included was a bouquet toss. This was something I debated about doing but ultimately decided to. I thought it was something simple yet fun to include.”
Alexis Ferracuti and Jeremiah Stearns of Earlville, who were married on Oct. 5, 2024, at a private home in Sheridan, also decided in favor of having a seating chart.
“It’s not popular, but it did allow us
to seat people with those they knew and would feel comfortable with. We had people from our lives separately and our lives together for the past ten years, so there were lots of different groups of humans under one roof. It made everyone more comfortable and encouraged them to join in,” Alexis said.
There were a number of traditions the couple declined to do, though, including the dollar dance.
“I just think this is outdated, and it makes me stressed to watch,” Alexis said.
Alexis also didn’t throw a garter or her bouquet.
“I think it’s sort of weird to take the garter off anyway, and catching a bouquet doesn’t mean you’ll be married next,” she said.
The couple also decided to skip the traditional wedding cake.
“We did cupcakes in lieu of a wedding cake for a first bite, but we did desserts of different varieties to represent things we love or people we love who might not be present. Banana bread for his nana, pineapple upside down cake for my dad, mini key lime pies for my aunt Fran, and then desserts for us and our favorite loved ones,” Alexis said.
Couples Married in 2024 Offer Advice to Engaged Couples
By Shannon Serpette
When planning a wedding, it’s easy to let stress take over, causing you to forget to look at the bigger picture and keep things in perspective when things go wrong.
Couples who made it through wedding planning and successfully married their partners in 2024 offered to share their best advice for future brides and grooms.
“The best advice I have to offer is to enjoy the moment. The whole wedding process is very stressful, time-consuming, and fast-paced. Take a moment, slow down, and enjoy planning with your spouse.”
Hallie Crawford
S Sof Streator
“Prioritize what matters most to you as a couple. For me, an absolute musthave was a videographer. I wanted to be able to relive the magic of the day again and again. To make that happen, I made the decision to cut back on other areas. Find the things you absolutely can’t live without and be willing to let go of some of the other stuff. Also, get the videographer. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched my video, and it makes me emotional every time.”
KateLynn Hinkelman of Cherry
See ADVICE page 10
During the many months of wedding planning, KateLynn Hinkelman of Cherry said she wanted snow for her January wedding. The snow came just in time, and she said it felt like a dream come true.
PHOTO BY MCCONVILLE STUDIO
“Some advice we have for planning couples is that there is no reason to stress over small things. The day will go on regardless and turn out just fine.”
Mekenzie Smoode of Mark
PHOTO BY MELISSA MATA PHOTOGRAPHY
Mekenzie Ahlstrom and Dominic Smoode of Mark were married on Oct. 19, 2024, at the Westclox Event Center.
Q“The only thing that matters is that, at the end of the day, you get to go home married to the person that you love. The rest of it is just side business. Don’t get caught up in the side business. At the end of the day, you won’t have eaten a ton, but you will truly know how lucky you are to be loved so well by so many good people, and you will remember how blessed you are to have found your partner. Together, you can get through anything.”
Alexis Ferracuti of Earlville
PHOTO BY SAMANTHA ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY
Alexis Ferracuti and Jeremiah Stearns of Earlville were married on Oct. 5, 2024, in Sheridan.
The Auditorium Ballroom Adds a
Story by Brandon LaChance
f you haven’t been inside the Auditorium Ballroom, you may want to check it out after reading this article. You wouldn’t believe the stories the building, built in 1910 at 109 Wright St. in LaSalle, could tell. It was originally a car dealership, used temporarily for sewing World War I uniforms, then turned into an elegant wedding venue known as the Auditorium Ballroom from 1918 until 1970.
After 1970, it was a furniture store in the 1980s and a gymnastics facility in the 1990s.
Then it sat empty, abandoned until Mike Bird bought the building in 2017.
“The intent wasn’t to purchase it to make the ballroom. I’m a developer by trade, so I buy buildings, develop things, and do construction,” said Bird, a 2003 LaSalle-Peru High School graduate. “The building was condemned by the City of LaSalle. I was working with the city on another project, and they asked me, ‘If you got a building for a dollar, but you had to develop it, and there is a time frame, would you be interested in doing it?’ I said sure, and that’s how it came to fruition.”
The building was in rough shape when Bird entered the picture, so he had to move quickly.
“The building was collapsing,
and the roof was caving. So, we had to come in right away before the ink was even dry. I got the keys on Christmas Eve and technically took ownership January 1. By May, I had tenants moving in. I wasn’t done with the building, but we had signed leases,” he said.
While construction was taking place, Bird found out about some of the stories the building could tell through people who lived through the memories. He then found newspaper clippings about events and special occasions held in his new location.
Without an idea of what he wanted to do with the
a Limo to its Line-up of Services
10,000-square-foot space, it became evident to Bird what the universe wanted him to do.
“While doing construction on the building, we had visitors who would come, see the project, and give us stories about them and the building,” Bird said. “It was about 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, and there was an older guy outside. Some of my workers waived me down and told me there was a gentleman with a yellow envelope who wants to talk to you.”
The man, who was in his late 80s, wanted to share his connection with the building.
“He said, ‘Back in 1943, I was
married upstairs.’ He showed me all of his wedding photos. I thought it was cool, and, at the time, it gave me goosebumps.
Exactly one week later, Bird was told again there was an older guy outside waiting to talk with him.
“I thought maybe the same guy had found more photos. I went out there and it was a different guy. He said, ‘Back in 1957, I was married upstairs.’ Then he told me about his wedding, and Louie Armstrong played in the ballroom in 1965,” he said. “It happened three weeks in a row.”
Bird knew venues were more consistent than other professional
endeavors where he would have to advertise heavily and hope people would attend. If he had bands, 500 to 1,000 people would stomp on the floor. The logistics of the Auditorium Ballroom also spoke to him, letting him know the character and the classification pointed toward it being a venue.
The ballroom averages 50 to 90 events per year. Most of them are weddings, but Bird also houses baby showers, birthday parties, bridal parties, and more. Every date in the next three years isn’t filled on the calendar, but there are
A stretched H2 Hummer limousine was bought in November to offer wedding parties to ride in style.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
The Auditorium Ballroom is a unique wedding venue. It offers a limo, a bridal suite, two 32-foot bars, a tuxedo return, and Starved Rock Cigars. The ballroom doesn’t provide food but welcomes catered food from any local eatery to help other Illinois Valley businesses.
Ballroom
FROM PAGE 13
bookings already taken in 2027.
“It’s definitely surreal. Looking back 15 years, I never would have thought I’d be an event coordinator and a wedding guy. I was ripping off roofs and putting on siding 10 to 15 years ago,” Bird said. “I still do, but not for customers, and the Auditorium Ballroom has more of my attention. I never thought I’d be voted No. 1 venue in the Illinois Valley for two years in a row. I didn’t think I was going to compete with some of the other venues in the area.”
The reasons the Auditorium Ballroom stays busy are easy to understand. Part of it is the attention to detail Bird puts into the venue. In November, he purchased a stretched H2 Hummer limousine for his bridal parties to travel in style.
“A lot of brides may be from the area but don’t currently live here. It comes in pretty handy to be able to take them to hotels and Airbnbs,” Bird said. “That’s kind of a niche no one has dipped into yet. We’re the first in the area.”
The auditorium offers an onsite bridal suite overlooking the ballroom filled with leather couches, five working stations, and a mini-bar with Starbucks and Pepsi products. There are two 32-foot bars, which
allow guests to get beverages quickly. The drink packages purchased are in effect upstairs, while the downstairs bar is a normal cash bar allowing guests to get any desired beverage, even if not featured on the drink package chosen by the bride and groom.
Another exclusive to the Illinois Valley is that the Auditorium Ballroom office serves as a tuxedo return for That Guy’s Secret, a clothing store in LaSalle, in order to make it easier for returns.
The ballroom doesn’t provide food but welcomes all guests to cater from any local eatery to help other local businesses.
“It’s cool to be part of people’s special day or special event. Usually, there is stress leading up to the event, and we try to mitigate that as much as we can. We try to focus on all the details and make sure it’s a great time at the ballroom. We actually care. We want people to have a good time. If they’re having a good time, their guests are having a good time, and maybe their guests want to have a wedding here because they’re having such a great time. The environment has to be for the present and the future,” Bird said. “I kind of feel like a fly on the wall. I’m at every wedding that I’m not invited to. It’s an honor to be part of the happiest moments in a lot of people’s lives.”
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
The building at 109 Wright Street in LaSalle was built in 1910 as a car garage. Since then, it has held sewing machines used for World War I uniforms, was the ballroom from 1918 until 1970, and served as a furniture store in the 1980s and a gymnastics facility in the 1990s. Mike Bird bought the building from the City of LaSalle in 2017 and has recultivated the historic elegance of the Auditorium Ballroom.
The Auditorium Ballroom offers a special feature not available anywhere else in the Illinois Valley – a bridal suite overlooking the wedding venue stocked with leather couches, five working stations, and a minibar full of Starbucks, Pepsi, and alcoholic beverages.
PHOTOS BY BRANDON LACHANCE
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Doing a Favor
Wedding favors never go out of style
By Shannon Serpette
Whether you’re having a small, intimate wedding or a huge ceremony with hundreds of people invited, it’s customary to hand out wedding favors. Even those working with a small budget will be able to work inexpensive party favors into their plans, and some couples choose to spend a bit more to thank their guests for attending their big day.
Sometimes, couples decide to keep it simple by offering candy or cookies as a party favor, while others opt for more practical and personalized favors that will continue to be used year after year. The good news is that anything goes when it comes to wedding favors, so you can choose classic options like customized champagne glasses or go with something more unusual like mini succulents or seed packets at a rustic wedding.
Since there is a wide variety of options for wedding favors, there are plenty of places where they can be purchased. Non-personalized gifts, such as candy or cookies, can be bought anywhere. If you’re looking for personalized favors, you may want to consult with local florists, who often sell wedding favors, or any local business known for personalizing items.
In the Illinois Valley, giving out koozies as wedding favors remains a popular choice. That’s what KateLynn Swaney of Cherry opted to do for her wedding to Bryce Hinkelman, which was at Starved Rock Lodge on Jan. 6, 2024.
Hallie Ligori of Streator also chose this favor when she married Drake Crawford at Eastwood Golf Course on Oct. 12, 2024.
PHOTO BY MELISSA MATA PHOTOGRAPHY
Mekenzie Ahlstrom, who recently married Dominic Smoode, said while there were many little details to plan for the wedding, everything seemed to fall into place and felt perfect on her wedding day.
Favors
FROM PAGE 17
“We had koozies, and they were a hit,” she said.
When Mekenzie Ahlstrom married Dominic Smoode at the Westclox Event Center on Oct. 19, 2024, the Mark couple also selected koozies as one of their party favors.
“At each guest seat, we had a customized koozie along with a sugar cookie. We also provided customized cups for guests
for their drinks,” Mekenzie said.
One local bride who didn’t have koozies as a wedding favor was Alexis Ferracuti of Earlville. She married Jeremiah Stearns at Kiest Kamp, a private home in Sheridan, on Oct. 5, 2024.
“We did blankets in fall jewel tone colors to match our wedding party for the outside portion of the reception at night where we danced under the stars. We also did glow sticks and cute personalized napkins with our animals’ faces on them,” she said.
During the many months of wedding planning, KateLynn Hinkelman of Cherry said she wanted snow for her January wedding. The snow came just in time, and she said it felt like a dream come true.
PHOTO BY MCCONVILLE STUDIO
A Piece of Cake
Local businesses help weddings run smoothly
It’s no secret that wedding planning is incredibly stressful. But when a couple has the right team in place for their big day, it takes a lot of weight off of their shoulders. Fortunately for local brides and grooms, the Illinois Valley is full of caring business owners and employees who will go the extra mile to help a couple with their wedding dreams.
Four Illinois Valley brides who were married in 2024 shared how the local businesses they hired made their wedding experiences better.
KateLynn Swaney married Bryce Hinkelman on Jan. 6, 2024, with the wedding and reception taking place at Starved Rock Lodge. The bride, who was originally from Seneca, and the groom, who was from Ottawa, reside in Cherry and used several local businesses for their wedding. They were impressed by how skillfully the businesses provided services and helped their dream wedding come together.
“I had an amazing team of vendors that helped make the whole process from planning to the big day so much fun. The entire team at Marien Mae Bridal played such a key role in making my wedding day amazing. They’re truly a one-stop shop for all your bridal needs. From the moment I walked in for my dress fitting, they made me feel incredibly special,”
KateLynn said.
“And when it came time to pick out attire for the groom and groomsmen, they made the whole process so enjoyable
Story by Shannon Serpette
– something I didn’t expect. Normally, men don’t love the ‘dress-up’ part, but the team at Marien Mae made it so fun that my husband and the guys actually had a blast,” she said.
Finding a photographer they felt comfortable with was important to KateLynn and Bryce.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better experience with McConville Studio. My husband, who usually avoids being in front of the camera, was completely at ease thanks to Andrea and Phil. They brought such a fun, relaxed energy to the day with their jokes and lightheartedness, which made us feel so comfortable. Andrea really went above and beyond – helping us create a timeline, ensuring we stayed on track, fixing my hair for shots. She took so much stress off my shoulders,” KateLynn said.
Finding the right DJ was a key element to setting the overall tone for the reception.
“Our DJ, Pete, from Pete’s My DJ, absolutely nailed the music for both our ceremony and reception. He set the perfect vibe for the entire day. On top of that, he brought a photo booth that was a huge hit with our guests. It was so much fun looking through all the photos. He also recorded our private last dance, which I watched over and over again,” she said.
When Mekenzie Ahlstrom married Dominic Smoode on October 19, 2024, at the Westclox Event Center, the couple, who reside in Mark, also turned to local businesses to help with their special day.
Marien Mae was their stop for outfitting the wedding party.
BUSINESSES page 22
everyone gather together and experience the day as one big family.
Hallie Ligori, who recently married Drake Crawford, said her favorite part of her wedding day was seeing
PHOTO BY RHONDA JOHNSON
Businesses
FROM PAGE 20
“All the women at Marien Mae are seriously remarkable, patient and so kind. From finding my dream dress to picking out beautiful bridesmaid and other family member dresses, everyone who worked with me, my family, and friends was the best. Marien Mae also helped all my favorite guys look so nice on our special day,” Mekenzie said.
For food, Mekenzie and Dominic contacted two area restaurants and a cakemaker.
“Bernardi’s Catering in Toluca provided appetizers and a fantastic dinner,” Mekenzie said. “Fire on Fifth served up some great pizzas for our late-night snack. Kelsey’s Kakes is the best, and Linda was incredible to work with.”
Having gorgeous photos to enjoy for the rest of their lives was covered by a local photographer – Melissa Mata Photography.
“Melissa and her husband Rob went the extra mile to capture all the amazing details of our special day,” Mekenzie said.
When Hallie Ligori and Drake Crawford of Streator were married at the Eastwood Golf Course on Oct. 12, 2024, they noticed how much local businesses helped them through the overwhelming process.
“I had many local businesses that helped me tremendously through planning and everything else. Legends Men’s Apparel made it really easy to order all the men’s tuxes. The Eastwood made our event planning so easy, and Lily helped guide me through everything – even all my crazy DIY ideas. Lastly, Rhonda Johnson Photography did an amazing job capturing our day,” Hallie said.
Alexis Ferracuti and Jeremiah Strearns, who reside in Earlville, were married in Sheridan on Oct. 5, 2024. They relied on several local businesses to help them make their wedding vision come to life.
Alexis said Sue Kovash expertly altered
her wedding dress, even after she lost weight before her big day, and that TPM Stems created gorgeous floral arrangements and centerpieces for tables.
“Nobody else could have supported us the way that they did throughout the process meeting us over a year before the wedding date to start planning specialized flowers including a dark purple sunflower in memory of my dad,” she said.
For food, they hired Stone Jug Barbecue and were thrilled with the results.
“They were so easy to work with, and even when things got slightly off schedule worked with us to make sure everyone was fed and happy,” she said.
To satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth, they hired Ottawa Bakery, which produced desserts themed around people Alexis and Jeremiah love.
“Holli is always easy to work with, fun, organized, and kind, and this was no exception. They’re the best,” Alexis said.
She said Boomin’s DJ was the “most fun wedding DJ service I’ve ever seen.”
“We not only had amazing music and great service with Luke, but he made our entrances so fun and surprised us with a smoke machine entrance. Our photo booth, which we rented from them as well, was amazing and sent us every photo taken from the night so we have all of the memories. Luke was so organized, and I was able to give him the important details via website over a month in advance which we confirmed prior to set up, and he had two set-ups going – one inside for the reception and one outside under the stars for the dancing. I can’t say enough good things,” Alexis said.
Kendall’s Coffee made special drinks and labels for Alexis and Jeremiah.
“We have a lot of friends who are sober, so we wanted to make sure we had a special option for them, and it turned out to be exactly what we all needed. I even got a special coffee throughout the night because I was too busy to get to the truck during the hours we set, so she went above and beyond and sent me my normal order with a friend,” Alexis said.
They entrusted photos of their big day to Samantha Elizabeth Photography.
“Sam is not only one of the most talented photographers I know, but she so effortlessly led our gigantic wedding party through photos that it felt like a breeze. She coordinated and helped keep everyone on time, and truly went above and beyond to help keep my husband and I happy and stress-free throughout the day. And the photos are stunning,” Alexis said.
Manic Trends helped ensure that everyone looked picture perfect.
“Everyone in my wedding party was
thrilled with their hair and the fun, laidback service the girls from Manic Trends provided,” Alexis said.
Alexis hired Glow Official Esthetics to make sure her makeup would look great and last.
“Becka and I have been friends our entire lives so it was a no-brainer to hire her, but my makeup was flawless and lasted until the next day. She and I tweaked the makeup after the trial, and I loved how easy it was to talk about changes with her because she understood my vision,” Alexis said.
PHOTO BY MCCONVILLE STUDIO
All of KateLynn and Bryce Hinkelman’s wedding party had a spouse in the wedding party, which allowed their photographer to shoot this picture of each married couple kissing.
