Decor like never before

Emily Scobbie & Cliff Bumgarner, of Jacksonville, Illinois, were one of the first couples to use the MacMurray College dining hall for their reception. I, personally, spent 4 years eating breakfast, lunch and dinner in this dining hall. I walked into this building the day of Emily & Cliff’s wedding and I didn’t recognize the place. It looked AMAZING. The florist had draped fabric between the chandlers, the chairs were covered, the water glasses had hot pink napkins in them! The place had been transformed into an elegant, beautiful hall worthy of a wedding reception.

I know a LOT of work went into the decorating. And Emily’s mom, Joni, was the orchestrator of it all. The place was transformed and Joni, with help from family & friends, gave her daughter a wonderful wedding gift.

Emily & Cliff's reception decorations were amazing - and the result of a lot of work by Emily, her mom, Joni, and many others. Here is a view of McClelland Dining Hall all decked out for the party.
Emily & Cliff's reception decorations were amazing - and the result of a lot of work by Emily, her mom, Joni, and many others. Here is a view of McClelland Dining Hall all decked out for the party.
Emily & Cliff chose hot pink and yellow for their colors. Here you can see the menu cards and napkins set on the table ready for guest at McClelland Dining Hall, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL.
Emily & Cliff chose hot pink and yellow for their colors. Here you can see the menu cards and napkins set on the table ready for guests at McClelland Dining Hall, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL.

Something for everyone

A couple of weddings we photographed recently have had special places for the kids to be … well, kids.

Emily Scobbie & Cliff Bumgarner provided their littlest guests with a room with snacks, movies, games and lots of little things to do while the "big kids" have their fun in the ballroom at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Emily Scobbie & Cliff Bumgarner provided their littlest guests with a room with snacks, movies, games and lots of little things to do while the "big kids" have their fun in the ballroom at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Kiddos play games at Emily & Cliff's wedding reception at MacMurray in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Kiddos play games at Emily & Cliff's wedding reception at MacMurray in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Laura Herrel & Tim Gaber had a kids' table at their reception in Champaign-Urbana complete with personalized wedding cake cookies.
Laura Herrel & Tim Gaber had a kids' table at their reception in Champaign-Urbana complete with personalized wedding cake cookies.

Who's in charge?

Christy & Craig, of New Orleans, had 2 of their closest friends, Tim (Christy’s friend from high school) & Kevin (Craig’s college friend and roommate), officiate their outdoor ceremony in rural Jacksonville, IL. Neither Tim nor Kevin were ordained when they were asked by their friends to officiate the wedding, but by the day of the wedding, both had gone through on-line courses and were licensed to perform marriages in Illinois.

They were given no specific instructions by the couple as to what they should talk about – and each told personal and humorous (though not embarrassing) stories about their friend. The first-time officiants elicited both laughs and tears from the couple and those in attendance.

Tim (left) and Kevin were both first-time officiants and their friends' wedding in rural Jacksonville, IL. 17 July 2009.
Tim (left) and Kevin were both first-time officiants at their friends' wedding in rural Jacksonville, IL. 17 July 2009.

Favors – Christy & Craig

Christy Heaton & Craig Beebe, of New Orleans, La., offered fans to the guests of their outdoor ceremony in rural Jacksonville, IL. on 17 July 2009.
Christy Heaton & Craig Beebe, of New Orleans, La., offered fans to the guests of their outdoor ceremony in rural Jacksonville, IL. on 17 July 2009.
Four kinds of cigars were placed inside the door of the ballroom at Hamilton's 110 North East in Jacksonville, IL.
Four kinds of cigars were placed inside the door of the ballroom at Hamilton's 110 North East in Jacksonville, IL.
Cigar smoking became a social event for the guys outside Hamilton's 110 North East in Jacksonville, IL.
Cigar smoking became a social event for the guys outside Hamilton's 110 North East in Jacksonville, IL.