'House Hunters' Featuring Plainfield Couple Airs April 19

PLAINFIELD, IL — It's been a big year for Bridget and Jeff Biddinger: They got married, they bought a new house and they're expecting their second child. And, in the midst of all of that, they filmed an appearance on HGTV's hit "House Hunters."

The Biddingers' episode, set to air at 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, follows the ups and downs as the couple, formerly of Aurora, found their Plainfield-area dream home.

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It all started in March 2016, when the couple — engaged to be married and parents of 3-year-old Jake — put their Aurora home on the market. When a buyer snapped it up faster than expected, they moved in with relatives in Geneva while they hunted for their dream home.

"I told Jeff I was going to apply for 'House Hunters,'" Bridget said, adding that the couple didn't think they would win a spot on the show. But after a phone interview, they moved on to the next round of the audition process: a 15-minute video "tour" of their current home.

Despite a less-than-flawless audition tape (toddler Jake kept interrupting filming to play with his dad with a toy sword), the couple got a call in June asking them to be part of the show.

For their realtor, Donna Brooks of Baird & Warner, being on the show was a learning experience.

"It's nerve-wracking, fun and exiting," she said. She learned that prior to filming, the crew would remove any branding — from the real estate company's logo to logos or brand names on household appliances — by covering it up with tape. For privacy reasons, addresses were also covered up.

Brooks said she also learned that any off-camera noises could ruin a take. Because of the sound, "There was no air conditioning, and anytime anybody was mowing the lawn, we'd have to stop filming," she said.

"It was more work than I thought," Bridget Biddinger said. "There's only one camera, so we'd have to film walking up to the same house over and over again."

Despite the hard work and the stress of planning a wedding while searching for a new home, she said it was a great experience.

"It was fun," she said, adding that the California-based crew was great to work with. "We had such a good time."

The HGTV crew came to town twice to document the couple's search.

"We got married in the middle of filming," Bridget Biddinger said, and the couple moved into their new home shortly after their Sept. 9 wedding.

The Biddingers' episode of "House Hunters" — now in its 127th season — will air at 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 19.

To celebrate, the couple will host a viewing party at Tap House Grill in Lemont, 1243 State St., where Jeff Biddinger is the general manager. The restaurant will also offer food and drink specials, plus raffles.

The Biddingers can't spoil the surprise by revealing which house they picked, but they chose a home in Plainfield.

"We love our house," Bridget Biddinger said. "It's definitely the best house we looked at."

Top photo: An HGTV sound man with Bridget Biddinger (far right), husband Jeff Biddinger, son Jake and niece Charlotte.