Great news! The Jacksonville Main Street Bridal & Prom Expo has been moved up a week to Sunday January 22, 2012. The event, held at Hamilton’s 110 North East, was down in attendance last year due to conflicts with shows in Springfield and Quincy. Check back to our blog for more details as the date gets closer.
Speaking of bridal shows, it’s always maddening searching for information about downstate bridal shows (Illinois). Many of them are put on by TV and radio stations, and they put their airwaves to use in promoting the events. (Advertising drops off after Christmas, so TV/radio put on these shows in part to fill up all the open ad slots.) At the same time the sponsoring stations’ web sites have been lacking details on the events! So, we’re here to help you find resources as you plan for your wedding day. (If you want more information on photography, get in touch with Tiffany 217.473.5581 voice/text― she has lots of suggestions for other vendors including venues, banquet facilities, wedding cakes, dress shops, bridal bouquets and flowers, wedding DJs, limousines & transportation, and more.)
So, here’s a list of the 2012 Bridal Shows in Central Illinois (as complete as I’ve been able to find). Thanks to Girls In White Satin for doing the initial leg work! If you have additional information for me, post it on a comment on this blog, on our Facebook page or e-mail steve -at warmowskiphoto.com. Everything is listed by date, day of the week, city, description of the show and times (anything in italics is a guess based on the previous year). I’ll put in links when available, and will update this post as I get more information.
- January 6-7 Friday-Saturday Decatur Bridal Expo
- January 8 Sunday Champaign Elegant Bridal Expo at the at I Hotel & Conference Center 12-4pm
- January 8 Sunday Springfield WDBR at Crowne Plaza
- * January 15 Sunday Springfield “How To I Do” seminar/workshop 2-4pm at Northfield Inn & Suites by Magical Events (featuring Springfield Local Favorites vendors)
- January 15 Bloomington The Wedding Show at Marriott
- January 20-21 Friday-Saturday Peoria Bridal Bash at Embassy Suites East Peoria with Radio Peoria 5-8 pm Frdiay, 10-3 Saturday
- January 22 Sunday Jacksonville Main Street Bridal & Prom Expo at Hamilton’s 110 North East, noon-4 pm, $5 in advance$8 at door (prom fashion 2 pm, bridal fashion 3 pm)
- January 28 Saturday Quincy Y101 at The Ambiance 12-3
- January 26 Thursday Collinsville Gateway Convention Center 5-9 pm
- January 29 Sunday Springfield WNNS at the Prairie Capital Convention Center Everything Weddings Expo
- February? Sunday Rushville Times Bridal & Prom Expo at Virginia Community Building 1-4 pm
- February 25 Saturday Quincy KHQA Bridal Show at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center, 1-4 pm
- February 25 Saturday Mount Zion (Decatur/Mt. Zion) Expo by Secret Recipes
- February 26 Sunday Springfield Elegant Bridal at the Hilton
- February 26 Sunday Bloomington Your Dream Wedding WBNQ Double Tree Hotel
- March 4 Sunday Peoria Toast, Taste & Tour
- May 6 Sunday O’Fallon Regency Conference Center
- July 29 Sunday Collinsville Gateway Convention Center
- September 9 Saturday O’Fallon Regency Conference Center
- September 23 Sunday Springfield Local Favorites 5th Annual Bridal Bash
- * Sunday 14 October Jacksonville Girls In White Satin Extravaganza, annual end -of-season sale with $199 wedding dresses, $99 mothers dresses, $59 maids dresses, $49 flower girl dresses, and more.
* Asterisk denotes special event. Last updated 2 November.
As of now we’re planning to take part in the Jacksonville Illinois Main Street Bridal & Prom Expo on January 22nd 2012, maybe one of the Quincy shows, and the Springfield Illinois Local Favorites 5th Annual Bridal Bash, September 23rd, 2012 at the Northfield Inn & Suites. We like this show because the atmosphere is more relaxed. All the exhibitors are Springfield Local Favorites members, and we all cooperate. It’s not like a regular show where whoever can write a check for the booth is let in. SLF has standards for membership in the group, and we even have accountability standards. If you have a problem with a SLF member, you can come to the group to mediate. It’s a great way Springfield Local Favorites contributes to stress-free events.
Posted by Steve. Warmowski Photography, husband-wife photojournalist team available to tell the story of your wedding day. Member of Springfield Local Favorites, a group of the top wedding vendors in Central Illinois (on Facebook). New location for studio at 301 E. Court Street Suite B, Jacksonville, Illinois 62650. Hours by appointment, first floor of Hamilton’s 110 North East.
