Bridal Guide 2013 - Quad-Cities Online

Wedding venue
Novel places for tying the knot
By Lindsey Romain, CTW Features
The constantly morphing
landscape of weddings
means alternative options for
venues. While classic church
weddings and hotel ballroom
receptions are traditional
go-tos, brides and grooms
looking for a little spice are
opening the door to more
unique and economical
wedding-day locales.
Alternative venues also mean an opportunity to combine the
ceremony and reception. According to a survey from The Wedding
Report, more than 60 percent of ceremonies and receptions were
held in the same location in 2011. The same report also showed a
decrease in the popularity of some traditional wedding locales — places
of worship, country clubs and beaches — and the addition of new,
nontraditional categories like museums, art galleries and theme parks.
On-site receptions also cut costs for photography, videography and
car services, since transportation is not an issue.
“Simplification is always an advantage,” says Meg Keene, author
of “A Practical Wedding: Creative Ideas for Planning a Beautiful,
Affordable and Meaningful Celebration” (Da Capo Lifelong Books,
2011). “You reduce the stress and cost of decorating and paying for
two venues, and you don’t have to transport everyone from one place
to another.”
This trend toward on-site receptions and unusual venues means a
fun opportunity for couples and wedding planners alike. Here are some
picks for nontraditional ceremony and reception locations.
MUSEUMS OR LIBRARIES
The nostalgic sentiment of a favorite museum or the quiet
atmosphere of a library can be a great outlet for low-key couples.
“If a couple is really into art, they could get married in anything from
a photography museum to an aquarium,” says Wynn Austin, a wedding
and event planner in San Diego. Austin suggests looking for something
with a touch of sentimentality or a shared memory between the pair.
Off the (local) beaten path
Here’s a list of several out-of-theordinary
locations for weddings:
Black Hawk State Historic Site
/ Watchtower Lodge, 1510 46th
Ave., Rock Island. (309) 788-
9536, www.blackhawkpark.org.
With beautiful wooden floors,
two fireplaces and a balcony, the
facility can accommodate up to
250 people.
Celebration Belle, 2501 River
Drive, Moline. (309) 764-1952,
www.celebrationbelle.com.
The Celebration Belle can
accommodate up to 325 people
on one deck or 650 people on the
entire boat.
Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse,
1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island. (309)
786-7733, www.circa21.com.
Opened in 1921, this theater was
originally home to vaudeville
shows and silent movies.
Davenport public parks, (563)
326-7812. From the Duck Creek
and Credit Island lodges to the
beautiful gardens of Vander Veer
Botanical Park and the Stampe
Lilac Garden, Davenport offers
many resources to make your
day beautiful.
Rock Island public parks, (309)
732-7275. Rock Island boasts
many beautiful and popular
parks for your wedding and
reception, including Hauberg
Civic Center, Lincoln Park,
Longview Park and Sunset Park.
Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd
St., Davenport. (563) 326-7804,
www.figgeartmuseum.org.
The Figge, designed by British
architect David Chipperfield,
offers a pleasant and unique
atmosphere for your wedding.
Mississippi Valley
Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust
St., Davenport. (563) 326-
5338, www.mvfair.com. The
fairgrounds has a dance
floor and stage available for
receptions, as well as three rooms
from which to choose.
Modern Woodmen Park,
209 S. Gaines St., Davenport.
(563) 324-3000, www.
riverbandits.com. Die-hard
baseball fans can arrange to get
married on the field or to host
their rehearsal dinner and/or
reception at the self-proclaimed
most beautiful ballpark in
the Midwest.
Bride and groom: Michelle Bollaert
and Paul Bayer, Moline.
Wedding date: Aug. 13, 2011.
Where we got married: Christ the
King Church, Moline.
Where we had our reception: The
Rogalski Center Ballroom, Davenport.
What our cake was like: Our cake
had five tiers with white buttercream
frosting, pink ribbon at the base of
each layer, and flowers to match
the bridesmaid bouquets. It looked as
amazing as it tasted! Our cake topper
was a special figurine we found of a
bride and groom underneath
a cross.
What my gown was like: My gown
was ivory with a beautiful crystal
overlay and buttons down the back. I
added custom-made cap sleeves with
crystal beading to match the gown,
and wore a veil.
Song for our first dance: “You and I”
by Michael Bublé.
The most unusual thing about our
wedding: We had each bridal party
couple chose a fun song to enter the
reception with. Some of the song
selections were hilarious and our
bridal party busted out some awesome
dance moves as they came in!
My tip for brides to be: Try to savor
each and every moment of your
special day! It will be the most joyful
and fun day of your life, so relax and
celebrate with your family and friends!
8 • 2013 QC i do • The Dispatch, The Rock Island Argus and Quad-Cities Online®