Planning for your wedding can be a very stressful thing to do, especially when everything else in your life doesn’t exactly have a pause button. You are in luck though! Champaign Center Partnership has put together a helpful guide to get you down that aisle with ease. From décor to venues and everything in between, we have compiled a list of all of the must have essentials in Champaign Center to get you ready for your big day!
While this isn’t exactly a “pictures or it didn’t happen” situation as you will have a legal piece of paper stating that you did indeed get married, no one wants to put in the time and effort that it takes to put together a wedding and not have pictures to remember it. When you trust Veronica Mullen of V. Mullen Media with snapping pics of your intimate big day, you will be getting top quality photos at an affordable price as well as get to work with a fun and easy going person on top of it. With a simple to navigate website and a gorgeous portfolio readily available, you really can’t ask for much more when it comes to a wedding photographer!
Lodgings: TownePlace Suites by Marriott
While you and your fiancé are obviously the most important people who will be at the wedding, taking care of the people who are taking the time and spending the money to be involved in your special day is pretty necessary as well. Luckily, since no one wants to be the bride/ groom that reserves a dump for their loved ones to crash in on their wedding night, Champaign Center has a fantastic option for you to book for your wedding party. At the TownePlace Suites by Marriott you will be right in the middle of all of the action in the UIUC campustown as well as be treated to a 24 hour gym and onsite indoor pool.
Learn more about booking at TownePlace Suites Champaign Urbana/Campustown.
Rehearsal Dinner: Big Grove Tavern, Nando Milano Trattoria Hamilton Walkers
Take it from me, the night before your wedding is an emotional time. No matter how prepared you are for the next day, it is still the end of one phase of your life and the beginning of a new one. The best way to curb the anxiety of this monumental next step is to host a fantastic rehearsal dinner at one of the gorgeous restaurants located in Champaign Center. Whether you want it to be an intimate affair with your nearest and dearest at Nando Milano Trattoria or you want to the space to invite anyone and everyone associated with your special day at Hamilton Walker’s and Big Grove Tavern, there is a spot for you in Champaign Center.
Learn more about Big Grove Tavern.
Flowers: Fleurish
When you think of weddings, it’s almost impossible not to think of flowers. From bouquets, to centerpieces, to boutonnieres there are so many different ways flowers play into your big day and whether you like it or not they will be what leaves a lasting impression on your guests. With such an important element at stake, you will want to trust a petal pro like Fleurish , located in downtown Champaign, with the task of putting together your stems. With such a wide array of both traditional and exotic blooms to choose from, Fleurish will have no problem turning your violet vison into reality.
Bachelor/ Bachelorette Parties: The Axe Bar or Fire Doll Studio
We are going to pause our stressful wedding planning talk for a moment and discuss the part that every bride and groom is yearning for. No, I’m not talking about the wedding night but the bachelor and bachelorette parties of course. While Champaign has a very healthy bar scene in both downtown and campustown, Champaign also has unique options such as Fire Doll Studio and the Axe Bar to celebrate at. With Fire Doll’s event space, The Dollhouse, your friends and you can catch up on all non-wedding talk while making candles and then head on over to the Axe bar next door and get out all of your pent up wedding stress by throwing axes at targets. It’s the perfect pre wedding double whammy!
Gifts: Golden Weather Goods and Ten Thousand Villages
Whether you will be attending an upcoming wedding or planning your own and need a token for your bridal party, Champaign Center is going to have the perfect thing for you! If worldly handmade fare is what you are in need of to delight your party, then look no further than Ten Thousand Villages should be your first stop. With gorgeous pieces from around the world, you are bound to find a showstopper to express your gratitude at Ten Thousand Villages. If unique and independently crafted is the aesthetic you are looking to achieve for your party favors, Golden Weather Goods is the place for you. With a clean and elegant array of gifts to choose from, the recipient is bound to feel the warmth and light that radiates from Golden Weather Goods.
