Naper Settlement’s Bridal Showcase has over 50 exhibitors
Century Memorial Chapel, a historic, nondenominational chapel located on the grounds of Naper Settlement, is the highlight of the 2014 Bridal Showcase, which features more than 50 exhibitors and will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Admission is free. For more information, call (630) 420-6010 or visit www.napersettlement.com/weddings.
“I am excited about our biggest show yet,” said Becca Atkins, Showcase coordinator. “Brides will have a large selection of vendors to choose from to get all of their planning complete at this year’s Showcase.”
Century Memorial Chapel was the perfect place for Kate Houlihan and Carl Schultz’s wedding ceremony on Sept. 7, 2013. Kate is a community relations specialist for the City of Naperville and Carl is the operations supervisor for Naperville Community Television, Channel 17. The two had their first conversation at the first City Council meeting of the year in January 2009. When they were considering ceremony venues, they wanted to exchange vows in the city where their relationship started.
“We knew right away that Century Memorial Chapel was the right place for us. We wanted a smaller, more intimate setting for our ceremony,” Kate Schultz said. “We love and appreciate history, and we wanted our ceremony location to reflect that. We also loved that the chapel was right across the street from where we met. Being able to exchange vows, and start our lives together in the shadow of where we first exchanged ‘hellos’ was truly special to us.”
Schultz said she highly recommends that brides take a look at the chapel and see it firsthand. “One of the best parts about the Settlement is how helpful the staff is,” she said.
The Naperville Bridal Pavilion, sponsored by the Naperville Convention and Visitors Bureau, will bring a little bit of the Riverwalk indoors to the Showcase for the second year. Hotels and restaurants include the Chicago Marriott Naperville, Courtyard by Marriott Naperville, Country Inn and Suites by Carlson, Best Western, NIU Conference Center, Hotel Arista, Maggiano’s and Meson Sabika.
“The Naper Settlement Bridal Showcase is by far our favorite show because we love the unique and intimate setting that allows us to spend quality time with each bride and her bridal party,” said Carmia Stanovich, Director of Sales for the NCVB. “The Naperville Bridal Pavilion is a one-stop shop for all wedding needs.”
The NCVB offers free services such as a welcome letter that is sent to out-of-town wedding guests, along with the Naperville Visitor Guide. Guests receive “goodie” bags if they stay at one of the 17 Naperville hotels. The NCVB also handles all the leg work for brides looking for a place to hold their reception or overnight accommodations in Naperville.
Showcase exhibitor Ken Overbey, owner of Sounds Abound, a Naperville-based DJ/entertainment company, said the latest trend is that couples are having their ceremonies and receptions in unique locations.
“We are seeing couples spending more on decor to make their wedding reception different by utilizing lighting and fabric to customize the room to their tastes,” Overbey said.
Music is an important part of the wedding day and Overbey said that Sounds Abound DJs meet with clients to make sure that the couple's vision is fully understood. A couple can access their own online planner where they create their “must play” and “do not play” lists.
“Communication is the key to understanding our customer's wants and needs. Having a fully staffed office and back-up systems in place, gives our clients the security and peace of mind that they deserve while planning the biggest day of their lives,” he said.
Photo booths are also a popular trend. Overbey said that families like the idea that their guests can take home a photo booth strip as a party favor and a visual remembrance of the day. The Sounds Abound showroom, located at 1701 Quincy Ave. in Naperville, has a demo area that features photo booths and Up Lighting.
Carol Sawka, owner of O’Cie Florals and a Bridal Showcase exhibitor, said the key to planning a successful event is working with professionals who appreciate you and with whom you feel comfortable.
O’Cie Florals specializes in wedding and special event flowers and has been at the 329 N. Center Street location in Naperville for six years. Sawka said that trends in wedding flowers are always evolving. She foresees that one of next year’s most popular colors will be coral paired with complementary colors like navy, mint and gray or with softer hues in a similar color palette such as pink or peach.
“Bride’s bouquets are still round, but cascades are starting to come back in a more natural form,” she said. “Shabby chic is changing, but the vintage look continues to be popular and bling is still big.”
When a bride has a tasting for her reception at a venue such as the Hotel Arista, Sawka will bring sample centerpieces, so the bride can see the flowers in the actual location before the big day.
She has this timeless advice for brides, “Enjoy the process of planning your wedding, because your wedding day goes by so quickly.”
Bridal Showcase exhibitors include: Abbington Distinctive Banquets, Artesa Baking, At Your Service Limousines, Inc., Barry Riskedal (Harp)/Jan Frank (Flute), Best Western Naperville, Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic, Champagne! Inc. Event Design & Production, Chicago Marriott Naperville, Classic Party Rentals, Cold Stone Creamery, Country Inn & Suites Naperville, Courtyard by Marriott Naperville, Dana DiGuilio Hair & Make Up, Floral Events, Greenstar Paperie, Hilton Garden & Residence Inn, Hotel Arista, Hyatt Lisle, It Works Global, Jenny Taylor Photography & Boudoirs, John Greene Realtor, Lorenzo's Formal Wear, Mark Black Photography, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Memorable Jaunts, Music By Design, My Chef Catering, My Travel Agent, Naperville Convention & Visitors Bureau, NLS Jewelry, Northern IL University/Naperville, Nothing Bundt Cakes, O'Cie Florals, Origami Owl, Photography by Scott Pfeiffer, R.B. Fine Art Studios, Satin Chair Rental, Service Ministries, Sheraton Hotel, Sounds Abound, Spare Wheels, Studio 10, Thia & Co, Tillie Creative Design, Total Image Hair & Airbrush Makeup, TransAcoustic Productions, Trudy's Flowers and Vanilla Bean Cakes Studio.
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