Tiffany marks 2 years on Elm City board

Congratulations to Tiffany, she was recognized for two years of service on the board of the Elm City Center at their annual board meeting on Tuesday.

Elm City Center provides work and independence for people with disabilities in Jacksonville. Tiffany also runs the Second Closet, a program through Prairieland United Way that provides professional and work clothes for those who need them to find employment. And, she runs the exchange program through the Jacksonville Rotary Club and is very active keeping the exchange students busy.

All her volunteer work is part of our efforts to be involved in civic life and to give back to the community.

Posted by Steve.

Jacksonville Bridal Expo January 30th

Model shows off wedding gown during bridal fashion show, Warmowski Photography
Girls in White Satin put together the bridal and prom style show at last year's wedding show in Jacksonville. Photo by Steve/WarmowskiPhotography.com

The annual Jacksonville Bridal Expo is coming up at Hamilton’s 110 North East on Sunday January 30th 2011. Besides us (of course) the event features a prom fashion show at 2 pm and bridal fashion show at 3 pm put on by Girls in White Satin. Over $1,000 in prizes will be given away, including a grand prize of airfare from World Travel.

Admission $5 in advance at various locations including A Head of Times Grand Salon & Day Spa and Ashley’s Petals and Angels www.ashleyspetalsangels.com ($8 at the door).

Tickets also available at American Rental and Party Center & Jacksonville Journal-Courier. Event put together by Jacksonville Main Street and is also sponsored by Hamilton’s Catering, World Travel, Casey’s DJ Service & Production Xpress.

Say you’re coming on our Facebook event page.

Tiffany Hermon Warmowski models bridesmaid dress, Warmowski Photography
Tiffany modeled bridesmaid dresses during last year's bridal style show in Jacksonville.

Posted by Steve. Warmowski Photography, husband-wife team of experienced photojournalists offering their talents to tell the wedding stories of couples in Jacksonville, Springfield, Quincy and all over Central Illinois and beyond. Studio located in the loft at the Transfer Company Shops, 611 E. State St., Jacksonville IL 62650 (across from Lonzeratti’s). Friend us on Facebook.

Rushville Bridal Expo January 23rd

Modeling wedding gown at bridal expo in Rushville, Illinois
Bonnie's Bridal of Macomb put on the style show at last year's Rushville Bridal Expo. Photo by Steve/WarmowskiPhotography.com

The Fourth Annual Rushville Bridal & Prom Expo is coming up — 1-4 pm Sunday January 23rd 2011 at the Virginia Community Building at Scripps Park in Rushville, Illinois. The event is sponsored by the Rushville Times. We will be on hand with more than 80 other vendors.

Tiffany Hermon Warmowski at trade show in front of booth
Tiffany in front of the Warmowski Photography booth at last year's show.

The show features a style show by Bonnie’s Bridal & Prom of Macomb at 3 pm as well as door prizes and food. We will give away at least two gift certificates as part of the drawing. Contact the paper for more info at 217.322.3321. The park is just west of the intersection of routes 24 and 67 in Rushville. Tell your friends you’re coming on Facebook.

The Virginia Community Building is a pretty place for a wedding as well. We photographed Carissa & Jim’s wedding there in the fall of 2009 (their ceremony was at Holy Family Church in Mount Sterling). Keep the location in mind if you’re planning an event in the area!

Dancing bride and groom, people watching from tables and from balcony
Carissa & Jim during their first dance at their reception at the Virginia Community Center at Scripps Park in Rushville. Photo by Steve/WarmowskiPhotography.com
Bride and groom from behind walk in park
Carissa & Jim wander into Scripps Park to take photos before their reception in Rushville.

Posted by Steve. Warmowski Photography, photojournalists offering wedding photography in Central Illinois. Based in Jacksonville, Morgan County; also available in Rushville, Schuyler County; Mount Sterling, Brown County; Macomb, McDonough County Illinois; and beyond.

Checking things out at WDBR bridal expo at Crowne Plaza

Showing products at bridal show
Showing off products at the Slumber Parties by Sara booth at the WDBR bridal show at Crowne Plaza in Springfield. Photo by Steve/WarmowskiPhotography.com

I stopped in at the WDBR bridal show in Springfield today, mostly to check out how fellow members of the Springfield Local Favorites were doing with their booths (above is Slumber Parties by Sara). Matthew Stevens of Stevens DJ Service said 23 of the 80+ vendors were members of the group. As mentioned before, Nelson’s Catering was collecting names for their veterans wedding give-away.

I made some videos of Stevens DJ Service and Specialty Cakes in their booths.

Also stopped in to see Girls in White Satin. They had a super busy day as they put on both style shows! You can also see them (and us) at the Jacksonville Main Street Bridal and Prom Expo Sunday January 30th at Hamilton’s 110 North East in Jacksonville.

And don’t forget to mark Sunday September 25th on your calendar for the Springfield Local Favorites 4th Annual Bridal Bash at The Northfield Inn and Suites.

Girls in White Satin in front of their bride dress booth at wedding show
Girls in White Sating at the 2011 WDBR bridal expo show.

Posted by Steve. Springfield Local Favorites is an organization of the top wedding vendors in Central Illinois. Warmowski Photography, husband-wife team of photojournalists, studio located at 611 E. State St, Jacksonville, IL 62650, wedding photography for Central Illinois and beyond!

Steve wins international award with lightning photo

Lightning flashes over tent at a wedding reception in Carrollton, Illinois
Lightning flashes in the distance as a summer storm passes by the wedding reception of Hannah Cunningham & Joe Reed in Carrollton, Illinois. Photo by Steve/WarmowskiPhotography.com

Steve has once again placed in the Wedding Photojournalist Association‘s contest with a photo from Hannah Cunningham and Joe Reed’s wedding summer 2010 in Carrollton, Greene County, Illinois (Image won 9th place in Great Natural Light).

Towards the end of the night he wandered off with a tripod to get an overall image of the tent the Cunninghams had put up on their farm outside of town. He captured the image by taking several long exposures of the scene. This one was eight seconds — long enough to capture the light from the tent and for a flash of lightning to illuminate the sky. Luckily the bolt was far off in the distance, so neither the guests nor my husband (standing in the middle of an open field next to a metal tripod) were at risk!

A little bit about the WPJA — the organization is a resource for brides and grooms around the world searching for the best photojournalists to capture their day. Not photojournalistic-style, as so many other wedding photographers say they can offer,  but experienced photojournalists using their talents to tell a couple’s wedding story. From the WPJA web site: We offer a new perspective on wedding photography – quietly capturing the real moments as they happen for the bride and groom. It is our goal to use photography to tell the story of your wedding day, not dictate it for you.

To be a member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association, a photographer has to submit a portfolio, not just pay their way into the organization. Our web site is periodically reviewed, to make sure the work are meeting the group’s high professional standards. Less than 5% of wedding photographer qualify for membership in the organization. The group also offers tips and ideas for planning via their on-line publication, Wedpix Magazine. See Steve’s profile on WPJA.com.

Before his career as a wedding photographer and business owner Steve worked at newspapers in Jacksonville, Decatur, Freeport and LaSalle-Peru, Illinois. He also interned at newspapers in Muskegon and Saginaw, Michigan, before graduating from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign (and working at the Daily Illini).

Steve has also won previously in the contest . . .

Posted by Tiffany. Warmowski Photography, husband-wife photojournalist team ready to make the best possible pictures at your wedding in Chicago, St. Louis, Central Illinois and beyond. Studio located at 611 E. State St. Jacksonville, IL 62650.

Nelson’s Catering to give away two free weddings to vets

Nelson’s Catering of Central Illinois will be giving away catering for the weddings of two veterans. To qualify the bride or groom have to be currently or previously serving in the military. You may enter the drawing at a Nelson’s Catering booth at one of the wedding shows in Central Illinois, including this weekend in . . .

  • Decatur Bridal Expo, Friday-Saturday 7th & 8th at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel
  • Springfield, WDBR Bridal Show at the Crowne Plaza Sunday the 9th
  • Peoria, Wedding of a Lifetime Bridal Show, Sunday the 9th at the Peoria Civic Center

You can also register at their offices at 3005 Great Northern Road, Springfield, IL 62711. Or during their monthly open tastings, in January on the 18th in Peoria and on the 25th in Springfield. The prize is up to a $2,500 value, drawing will be held February 1st. To get more details visit their website or Nelson’s Catering Facebook page.

And speaking of wedding shows, be sure to mark Sunday September 25th on your calendar for the Springfield Local Favorites 4th Annual Bridal Bash at The Northfield Inn and Suites.

Nelson’s Catering is a fellow member of Springfield Local Favorites, an organization of the top wedding vendors in Central Illinois (SLF on Facebook). Warmowski Photography, husband-wife team of photojournalists, studio located at 611 E. State St, Jacksonville, IL 62650, wedding photography for Central Illinois and beyond!

Made with love – Erin’s mom made her daughter’s wedding gown

During my first meeting with Erin and her mom, Melissa, I learned that Melissa would be making her daughter’s wedding dress. I asked if I could photograph a fitting and they promised me they’d call when they were going to have one of the last fittings.

In July they called and said they were having a fitting at the beginning of August. I was thrilled to make the drive down to the Edwardsville area to photograph Melissa making adjustments to Erin’s dress and Erin, her sister, her aunt, and her future mother-in-law bonding over a love (and admiration) of sewing skills very few have anymore.

In addition to making her daughter’s dress, Melissa also incorporated lace from her own wedding dress into Erin’s. What an amazing gift to be able to give your daughter.

Erin's mom, Melissa, made Erin's dress from scratch and incorporated some lace from her own wedding dress into the elaborate, layered train. Here Erin and Melissa look at a drawing of the dress during a fitting a couple of months before the wedding.
Erin's dress hangs in the bride's room at the church the day of Erin & Greg's wedding.
Erin tries on her wedding dress during a fitting a couple of months before her wedding while her mom, Melissa, makes some adjustments and her sister, Hannah, holds a mirror.
Melissa and Hannah pin the hem of Erin's train during a fitting a couple of months before Erin's wedding.
Erin's train - on the dress made by her mom

Posted by Tiffany, of Warmowski Photography, who loves to photograph not just the traditional moments of a wedding, but the relationships that surround the day.

Park Grill @ Millennium Park

A bride called recently asking about our services and said she plans to have their reception at the Park Grill restaurant at Millennium Park. We have photographed there before, so I thought I’d post some photos. Anne & Anthony got hitched June 27, 2009. The Park Grill was the perfect spot for their reception.

Anne & Anthony arrive to their wedding reception at the Park Grill in Millennium Park in Chicago.
A young guest toasts the newlyweds at the Park Grill in Millennium Park, Chicago.
Anne & Anthony share their first dance during their wedding reception. at the Park Grill in Millennium Park in Chicago.
The Park Grill in Millenium Park, Chicago.
Anne & Anthony in Millennium Park on their wedding day.
Anne & Anthony walk through the crowds in Millennium Park, Chicago, on their wedding day.

Posted by Tiffany of Warmowski Photography, who loves to photograph weddings in Chicago, St. Louis, Springfield, London, Seattle – anywhere, really!

Reception & decoration highlights – Erin & Greg

Erin & Greg's head table was decorated with their monograms. The brown circle table cloths over the white led the guests eyes right to the happy couple.
Instead of a traditional guest book, guests wrote messages to the couple on small cards and tied them to the tree branch at the table outside the dining room.
Erin & Greg's cake had the wedding colors on alternating tiers and used flowers as the topper. It was also decorated with a monogram.
Place cards kept with the wedding colors. The cards were stuck in a patch of grass - which continued the "earthy" theme of the wedding.
Guests found favors at each setting - a potted succulent they were encouraged to take home.
The centerpieces were varied and included cake stands, coffee beans and candles. Instead of table numbers, each table was given the name of a type of tree.
Erin & Greg's wedding stationary was handmade by Erin & her mother, Melissa. The earth tones carried through from the invitation and wedding program to the centerpieces and other decorations.
Eucalyptus and fiddlehead were used in the bridal bouquet as well as reception decor.
Erin & her mom, Melissa, celebrate how well everything came together after the months of planning.

Posted by Tiffany/Warmowski Photography who really enjoys photographing all of the details you worked so hard on – but might miss during the excitement of your wedding day.

Outdoor photos at Pere Marquette State Park – Erin & Greg Guntren

Erin & Greg chose Pere Marquette as the site for their reception. The space is perfect and the service and food is very good.

When we first arrived to Pere Marquette, we used the available light that was left of the day and photographed the newlyweds on the grand porch outside the lodge.
The large porch overlooks a huge lawn and the Mississippi River. The weather was perfect for outdoor photos.
For a few minutes during the reception, the couple took an after-dark walk along the lit walkways near the lodge.
We spotted some ornamental grasses near the lodge and, with the help of the landscape lighting, took a silhouette of the couple.

Posted by Tiffany/Warmowski Photography. Warmowski Photography has photographed weddings & receptions at both Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Illinois, and Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton.