Bridal Showcase offers one-stop wedding planning

Century Memorial Chapel, a historic, nondenominational chapel located at Naper Settlement, is the highlight of the 2016 Bridal Showcase, which features more than 50 exhibitors and will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 at 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Admission is free. For more information, call (630) 420-6010 or visit www.napersettlement.org/weddings.

When Jackie Brennan and Joe Bruzek were planning their wedding in 2014, one of their first stops was the Bridal Showcase

“What I liked was the ability to talk with a variety of vendors face-to-face without having to make an appointment,” Bruzek said. “We were able to see the products and services they offered, which helped us make a decision and that made our wedding day run smoothly.”

From flowers to limos and all the other choices that have to be made for this important day, bridal experts are available to help. The most important part of planning your wedding day, besides choosing a date, is establishing a budget, said Monique Pirtle, owner of MLP Events, a first-time exhibitor at the Bridal Showcase.

“Knowing your budget will be crucial as you go through the process, especially when making the biggest selection of them all – the venue,” she said.

Pirtle is a Professional Wedding Planner and the State Manager for the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants.

“A wedding planner is an essential part of a couple’s wedding day. With a planner assisting the couple, they can enjoy a stress-free day taking in all the memories without worrying about the details and plans,” she said. “There are so many components to creating the most magical day of someone’s life and having a professional on hand to assist you with the details of the day makes things run very smoothly.”

Brittiny Gibson, catering sales manager at Arrowhead Golf Club, recently planned her own wedding, so she truly understands how many details are involved to create a dream wedding.

“One element that separates Arrowhead Golf Club from other venues is that we host only one wedding per night,” she said. “This allows us to provide the couple with our sole focus and deliver top notch customer service -- not to mention the food is amazing.”

The most popular choice for wedding receptions is the Exclusive Upgrade Package, which includes an array of unique options. All the wedding packages can be found on the Arrowhead website, which lists the offerings in more detail.

“It is incredibly rewarding to be a part of the planning process and to see their faces when their vision has come to life,” Gibson said. “There is nothing more fulfilling than witnessing the love they have for each other as they start their new journey together.”

A photographer is another essential part of the wedding day, capturing each moment, so they can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Wedding photographer Samantha Jensen of Alicia’s Photography said it’s important that couples feel comfortable with their photographer.

“I am involved with everything from their engagement session to creating a timeline for their wedding day,” she said. “We are building a relationship, so by the time I come to the wedding, we’re no longer strangers; we’re friends.”

Alicia’s Photography doesn’t stop when the wedding is over. They are a full circle photography studio from birth to weddings.

“We welcome you into our family and it becomes a lifelong relationship,” Jensen said.

Bridal Showcase exhibitors include A Perfect Pair Event Boutique, Abbington Banquets, Alicia’s Photography, Arrowhead Golf Club, At Your Service Limousines, Inc., Bagable Gifts, Blend Beauty Studio, Inc., Chef by Request, Chiro One Wellness Centers/Medulla Inc., CR Custom Designs, Dana DiGuilio Hair & Make Up, Edward Weiland Photography, Floral Events, Formally Modern Tuxedo, Greenstar Paperie, Hilton Garden Inn/Marriott Residence Inn, Hyatt House Warrenville, Jos. A. Bank, Kio Kreations, Kramer Photography, Light’s Camera Fun, Lorenzo’s Formal Wear, Mark Black Photography, MLP Events, The Morton Arboretum, Music By Design, Naperville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Northside Brass, Nothing Bundt Cakes, O’Cie Floral, Scott Pfeiffer Photography, Pinot’s Palette Naperville, R.B. Fine Art Studios/Photography and Video, Barry Riskedal (Harp)/Jan Frank (Flute), Satin Chair Covers, Service Ministries, Sounds Abound Entertainment, Spare Wheels Transportation, Studio 10 Naperville, That Special Touch Events, Total Image Bridal, TransAcoustic Productions, Viking Travel Service, Walden Floral Design Co., Weddings by Karolina and Whimsical Designs.

About Naper Settlement and the Naperville Heritage Society

Naper Settlement is a nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor museum set on 12 magnificent acres in the heart of Naperville, where history comes to play and the community comes to connect. For more information, visit napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.