Rockford Life Magazine Says…

The location for your wedding and reception hinges on many variables - the date, the budget and the size of the guest list. Some couples want a casual outdoor wedding. Others want a formal church setting and elegant reception. Others may want a destination wedding. 

Bride-to-be Jessie Eikedahl had always dreamed of having her reception in her parents back yard. "They have a large, nice back yard," she says of her parent's home in Belvidere. "But when they started thinking about all the work it would be to have the reception there,'they vetoed the idea."

Instead Eikedahl, and fiance Matt Piske will be married in June at First Presbyterian Church in Belvidere and having the reception at Forest Hills Country Club in Rockford.
''We chose the country club because we wanted something different than a hotel reception and with the golf course there, we'll be able to have great outdoor pictures taken," Eikedahl says.

When choosing a reception location, there are many things to consider as Jennifer and Brian Wahl, who were married last November, found out. While they were planning their wedding they switched the date a few times, checked out quite a few locations and then on the spur of the moment contracted with a local facility. ''When we realized all the extra costs involved, we re-thought that option and were able to get our deposit back," Jennifer says. In the end, the couple chose DiGiovanni's in Roscoe because it was the right size and reasonably priced.
The Rockford area is home to many unique locations for both ceremonies and receptions. But the demand is great, and unless you are looking nine to 12 months in advance or for a non-traditional day, facilities are often booked up. Knowing what is available ahead of time, will help with the planning process. Here is a look at one area location that is a popular wedding site.

Wedding Canyon

Just west of Rockford, adjacent to White Pines State Park, is the Wedding Canyon. Four years ago, Beth and Dennis Henderson, owners of White Pines Inn located in the park, had the opportunity to create an outdoor wedding facility in the canyon across from the park. ''We always made do with what we had outdoors in the state park for weddings, but there were many limitations - no private dressing rooms, no rain back-up, no electricity, so I thought the canyon would just relieve some of that pressure and fix some of the problems," Beth Henderson says. "But the canyon has taken on a life all its own. We did 80 weddings last year and already have over 80 booked for this year."

The canyon features 30 foot limestone walls draped with ivy and vines. The area has been landscaped with ponds, waterfalls, bridges, and flower gardens. The canyon has dressing rooms for both the bride and groom, a tent which holds up to 275 guests as a back-up for a rainy day. The alter is decorated at the altar in the bride's color scheme with a choice of eight different ceremony sites - each offering a unique gazebo, arch or trellis and electrical service provided at each location.

Couples who desire a more rustic wedding can have a ceremony in White Pines State Park. There is no charge, but no services are provided. The only requirement is that park rangers need to be notified. Chairs and a trellis are available to rent through White Pines Inn, but set up and delivery are not included.

White Pines Inn, a full-service restaurant, can accommodate receptions with up to 275 guests. The outdoor weddings and receptions at the Canyon run mid-May through mid-October.

Henderson works with every wedding and is available by phone or emails from the time the wedding is booked through the wedding day. She has a directory of wedding vendors that she works with in-house to simplify the selection process. Other vendors may be used.

By Mary George
Rockford Life Magazine
Published February, 2007

 Copyright © 2007, Rockford Life Magazine