A new blog post...

So it's been a while from the last post. As I'm sure many of you are saying; where did the Summer go? It seems like it was only yesterday we were waiting on sunny skies and warm temperatures to arrive and now we're seeing the nights getting shorter and cooler. It's definitely nice to see the Fall colors as well as the Fall weddings. With the cooler temperatures comes the wedding show season. Please stop out and see us this Sunday at the WBNQ/Double Tree wedding show. There are many vendors with a wide range of services there for you to enjoy. Please stop in our booth to say "hey".

On Saturday, September 26th we were blessed with the opportunity to work with Ali Blackburn and here wonderful family. The Blackburn's hosted their event at the Embassy Suites (always a first class venue) where Ali combined many unique touches to accomplish exactly what she was looking for in a reception. Lisa Reagan of Happily Ever After Events was on hand attending to every detail as well as helping the bride, groom and their families with anything that could have possibly be required to make their event flow smoothly. Michelle with Heaven on Earth took care of the floral arrangements as well as many beautiful centerpieces.

Really, really behind!!!

Well, it's been around a month and a half from the last time we've had an entry on our blog. We've been very busy with weddings, lighting events and talking with you, our beloved clients. Yes, it's true I've become quite behind with entering photos and blog postings but I'll do better in the upcoming weeks. What's so silly is that we get so involved in our productions, we simply forget to snap a few pics. to post. Thanks to all who have followed our blog, if you have any questions feel free to give me a buzz...

Scott

Club Cougar... Grrrrr baby, yeah!!!

The Country Club of Peoria was subject to many fun changes on Saturday, June 13th. Gary, Charlie and their staff worked tirelessly to ready the club to offer an experience like no other to Joe and Stacy. Beth from Save the Date drew from her years of experience and treated the bride and groom to a room full of beautiful draping, wonderful flower arrangements, unique lounge furniture as well as new, different style of chivari chairs. The club's executive chef filled food stations full of unique culinary selections with the bar service providing everyone's favorite cocktails. We lighted the dining area as well as the living area of the club in soft and medium lavender tones with a beautiful custom monogrammed gobo focused on the dance floor. The bride and groom's custom designed monogram was a centerpiece used to bring cohesiveness to the cake, save the date and thank you cards as well as the ceremony programs. Here's my favorite part of this particular blog entry... Stacy and Joe asked us to create a club like atmosphere for their guests to enjoy after their band Indigo finished playing. How could I have refused a request like this, after all we offer disc jockey services too! My staff and I took the concept and ran with it. We utilized many effects from our arsenal of lighting as well as incorporated our brand new, computer controlled LED panels. Oh My!! This was fun, cool, hip, exciting, awesome... (you see where I'm going here)! Stacy, Joe and their guests partied into the wee hours of the morning enjoying "Club Cougar" and all it had to offer. Food from many local, well known resturaunts was also brought in for the guests to enjoy while they partied. Man, after all of years I've been involved in the wedding bizz, I've got to say... this was one of the coolest events we've done!! After the party was over, we tore down, loaded out and got to bed at the same time most of us are leaving to go to church. It was a very long day and an even longer night but all the work done by my staff and I was totally worth it!

Certainly not to be forgotten, congratulations to Katie and Pete who were married on Saturday at Ewing Manor in Bloomington. We produced the wedding as well as provided disc jockey services for the event. A great time was had by all! Thanks Katie and Pete!

Colin worked the Pregler reception which was also a knock down, drag out good time. This was a good old fashioned party with a room full of fun loving guests. Thanks for having us!!

We also had the privilege of working with the Krug family on Saturday night. Their event was an outside ceremony and reception. Saturday's questionable weather forecast turned out to be right on par with light showers in the morning with a beautiful, cloudless sky in the afternoon. I think I heard somewhere that it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day!! Thanks guys!

June weddings, you've gotta love em'!!

June 7th was a great day in central Illinois to get married. Colin worked with Neal and Audra who were married at Lake Bloomington's Timer Pointe. The bride and groom also hosted a beautiful, well planned wedding reception on site for their two hundred friends and family as well. It was a beautiful Spring day with only a hint of rain in the area and a perfect day to begin a life long journey together. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Rushforth!

Adam worked with Erin and Jason who were married on Peoria's riverfront in Tonti park with their reception immediately following across the street at the Waterhouse. This event was fun and very exciting with the bride and groom enjoying good food, drinks and their friends and family. Please check out the photos at Reichmanphoto.com. Thanks for having us Erin and Jason!

I had the pleasure of working with Nicole and Rick who traveled from Chicago to host their event at East Peoria's Embassy Suites. Nicole and Rick, who wanted something dramatically different for their wedding, chose to be married on the paddle boat, Spirit of Peoria. Then, everyone traveled to the reception and were truly blown away when they witnessed what this fun loving bride and groom had created for them. From the Kobe beef burgers with crab and lobster sliders, to the exquisite centerpieces trust me, no detail was left un-done. Rick and Nicole even included a jazz duo into the mix who played during the cocktail and dinner hours! We added our touch to the event by implementing a lighting package to accent the room's decor as well as add a tremendous amount of color and movement to the room. We also took care of the disc jockeying details as well. What a fun night for all!!

End of May... Already?

Where has the Spring gone? May 30th brought several wonderful events our way which our staff were honored to be a part of. Chad and Roxanna were married at Ewing Manor with their reception immediately following at ISU's Brown Ballroom. The bride and groom made their grand entrance into the ballroom on street surf boards, what a hoot!! It goes without saying that Chad and Roxanna's friends and family were amazed and cheering loudly for them as the skated their way the head table. Have fun in Negril guys! We were also pleased to work with the Pumphrey and Rinker families as they joined into a marital union. The bride and groom hosted their event at the Elk's Club in Clinton with only their best friends and family in attendance. Colin, their disc jockey for the evening, played all of their favorite songs while to crowd danced their way into the night. Adam, who had the pleasure of working with Charles and Abby Bowhall's event hosted at Bloomington's Chateau Hotel and Conference Center was amazed at how many people can actually fit on to a dance floor in such a small space! The bride, groom and their guests ate, drank and were quite merry while enjoying a fun reception located in the hotel's restaurant area! Thanks for having us Abby and Charles, good luck in the future! We were also privileged to work with the O'Neil and Meyer families as they hosted their event at East Peoria's Embassy Suites. This event was quite huge! Their event encompassed the ENTIRE ballroom! Beth Maxwell and her staff were on site taking care of the wonderful draping, linens, floral and overall decor for the event. Anyone who knows Beth's understands just how cool this event looked. Our staff and hers worked into the very late hours to pull this one off but man, what an awesome ending result. The first section of the ballroom was decorated for cocktails with the center two sections elegantly designed for the dining pleasure of hundreds of guests. The third section was for dancing and socializing while a wonderful band played all of the best music for a wedding reception. The lighting plan we designed was one that encompassed traditional elegance for dining to trendy/modern for dancing. The lighting tied in very well with Beth's floral, linen and overall design. This event was one to see; I've attached a photo for your review. Also, a huge thank you to the SLC staff as well as JD with Embassy Suites for helping us achieve such a fun, successful weekend.

American Cancer Society Gala...

We wanted to add a photograph of an event we did recently that was near and dear to our hearts. My staff and I were honored to be asked to be a part of the American Cancer Society's 2009 Gala. The theme was circa 1970's disco. Enjoy!

Memorial Day Weekend... and then some!

Hopefully everyone enjoyed their weekend while at family gatherings, cook outs and of course weddings! We did what we do best by starting our "crazy busy" weekend with a couple who had a traditional, yet "different" wedding reception. Ashlei and Zack hosted their event at the CAC or Contemporary Arts Center in Peoria. The CAC is a setting where Preston Jackson, an incredibly talented artist and performer showcases his work as well as many of the areas best artist's material. Janet Jackson, who's a incredibly talented artist as well, took control of the decor which added a unique touch to the room's appearance. I'm definitely not a photographer and usually forget to get a few shots of the room when it's lighted, but our great friend Pam captured the vibe with her spectacular eye for what is beautiful. Please check out the photos on her blog at PamCooleyPhotos.com and you'll see why we enjoyed being in the room with such a fun, dynamic crowd of people. Congrats Aslei and Zack!

We also celebrated wedding nuptials with Kimmie and Bradley who were also married on Saturday. Bradley, a major in in the United States Army and his beautiful wife Kimmie were welcomed into their reception with an Army Honor Guard presentation of the Saber Arch. Seeing this sent will send chills down your spine as the ceremony is a privilege to see. Oh, did we mention Kimmie's father was an Elvis tribute artist? How cool is it to have Elvis performing at your own wedding? Thanks Kimmie and Bradley!

Sunday night brought on an "all nighter" for our crew. For twenty years Sound & Light Creations has been a part of Clinton High School's "Project Graduation". The graduates (all ninety eight of them) were "locked in" to have one last night together as a class. It's really a very cool chance for the seniors to have fun dancing, gambling (with fake money of course) and then an auction to follow. Many gifts were on the auction block and had by the highest bidder. It was a great time for everyone; we are grateful to have spent twenty years participating in such a great cause.

Monday night brought on Johnson and Anastasia's wedding day. Now this was fun! The bride designed an event for her guests that induced them into being just as important to the day as the bride and groom. There was a scavenger hunt as well as an Xbox 360 on site. Everyone was moving about the room posing for photos, asking their disc jockey for the bizarre, obscure songs they could think of. Thank goodness for Verizon and their technology that is wireless Internet access! How many weddings receptions can you think of where this happened. Anastasia stayed with a "pop culture" theme with the decor as well as with the music she chose to hear during dinner and dancing. What a fun time... this is one we will remember for quite some time; good luck Johnson and Anastasia!! Thanks again for having us!!

Rain, rain and of course more rain!

Where to start?? Clinton May Days is a fun weekend for the fine folks of Clinton. The event has entertainment, games, rides as well as all of the fair food that you could ever desire. The only problem for this event was the three inches of rain that fell within a two hour period. Dancing and the movie were moved to the commons at the Clinton High School; I must say, it was a lot more warm and dry there than on the Clinton Square's stage. It was still a lot fun, hopefully everyone enjoyed themselves in spite of the rain.

Secondly... Reannon and Jeremy were married on the 16th at Bloomington's Crestwicke Country Club. The wedding was also on site with the reception immediately following. Reannon looked absolutely stunning in her gown with Jeremy as dapper as the day would allow. Now I must say, this was a party! Their friends didn't just come along to pretend to have a good time, they were serious about having a great time. Thanks again guys!!!

Last but not least... Lisa turned 50 today! Laura, Lisa's daughter (and one of our own) hosted a very nice birthday gathering at the Park today. We lighted the room in a warm lavender with white lighting trusses and a custom gobo. It was fun to see all of their friends and family share such a great day with Lisa. Happy Birthday Lisa!!!

Welcome to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum!!!

It's not often we have the change to "do what we do" at such an exclusive venue as the U. S. Cellular Coliseum! Megan and Lucas were married on May 9th and hosted a reception for their guests at what is one of the coolest places for a reception I think we've ever done. What's so interesting about this event is how unique the coliseum can be made to host such a formal event as a wedding reception. Tracy, with the Coliseum and her staff pulled out all of the stops to make this day something to think about if you're looking for a place to have an event. From the great tasting food, the cool use of the huge video wall to the awesome ambiance the building itself offered, this has got to be one of the best places in Bloomington-Normal to have an event. Megan planned her event very well by choosing to use custom linens, beautiful centerpieces and colorful floral arrangements. They also chose to add a very custom lighting package to their experience which (in my opinion) tied everything together. We took a few pics. of the event but haven't posted them but soon will. If you'd like info. about the venue, please feel free to give me a call.

If one is fun, two is better!

John and Becky did what we all would love to do... They went to Vegas and were married! Now I know we've all heard the saying "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". In this case I hope that is wrong as these are the two nicest people you will ever meet. Thanks for having us guys, good luck!

May has come!!

What a great way to start off the month of May with two very wonderful people uniting in marriage!! Genifer and Matt were married at the Makinaw Vineyards with a reception following at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington. It was small, yet quaint gathering of their friends and family who danced and partied late into the evening. Thanks to the Bride and Groom!! We wish you luck in everything you do!

Gateway to Love!!!

Saturday April 25th was a great day for a wedding! We spent a fun, exciting day with our bride and groom Matt and Emily at Peoria's own Gateway Building. The walls were washed in bright pink and orange along with cobalt blue linens provided by Beth with Save the Date. Let me say, this made for a spectacular, eye catching event! The posted pic. (taken with my phone) DOES NOT do the beauty of this room justice! Jeff and Julia Woods were also on hand capturing the love story of the evening. With any luck they will bless us with a few beautiful photos of the reception. Thanks for having us, have a great time in Cabo Matt and Emily!!!

Party at the Park!!!

We had the pleasure of celebrating the union of two wonderful, fun people yesterday. Taylor and Jerry, along with two hundred fifty of their closest friends and family gathered at Bloomington's Park Hotel and truly showed us how fun a wedding reception can be. As the doors opened and the guests found their way into the ballroom, it was obvious that we were in for an exciting evening of dancing and partying. Thanks to all who took the time to visit with us last night!

Ron & Tari Got Married...

Last night we spent some time with Ron and Tari; a bride and groom who know how to party! The couple were married on a destination wedding earlier in the month. A true, good ole' fashioned party followed with only the closest friends and family members of the bride and groom as guests. Thanks again to Ron and Tari!! Congratulations!!

New photos to share and congrats to Cyra and Mark!

Congrats to Cyra and Mark! The two were married on Saturday April 4th, a beautiful day for a wedding in Lincoln with a fun filled reception following. Thanks to the two for allowing us to share in your special day!

Also, please see our site which has been updated with photos from two recent lighting events we've produced. Todd and Jamie Reichman captured many stunning images of the event hosted at the Embassy Suites of East Peoria. The reception, on March 28th was full of many new ideas and fun concepts created by Beth from Save the Date. Also, The Country Club of Peoria played host to two absolutely fabulous events on February 14th and the 21st. The Peoria Ballet took center stage on Valentine's Day offering up an incredible dinner party for their guests (sorry, no photos of this one). February 21st brought Kathleen and Tyson's event to the club. The bride and groom selected red as their primary color, and lots of it! Wow, how cool! With the help of Beth Maxwell (of Save the Date fame) the country club took on the look of a hip, modern well established opportunity for fun and dancing. Style Me Pretty, an online publication also selected local, renowned photographers Jeff and Julia Woods' images of the event to be featured in their "Little Black Book" blog. How awesome is that?! What's so cool is, this is only April! I can't wait to see what else 2009 has to offer with upcoming events! We're also working on getting photos of the Heart and Lung Ball as well as the Cancer Society Gala posted as well. Two other events we were honored to be a part of! Have a great day!

Welcome...

Welcome to our brand new blog! This is particularly exciting for us as this is our first post... Where to begin? I think it's mostly important to thank the people who have supported us over the months by offering kind words of encouragement, advise and referrals to our beloved clients. Pam Cooley of Pam Cooley Photography, Nellie of Nellie Photography, Todd and Jamie Reichman of Reichman Photography and Schilling Photography all have been incredibly generous by allowing us to display their photographic art on our website for the world to see. We especially want to thank Jeff and Julia Woods of Woods Photography for giving us a priceless credit in their recent publication in the Style Me Pretty/Little Black Book blog: stylemepretty.com/2009/04/03/real-wedding-kathleen-tyson-february-red-iv/. The staff and management at the Embassy Suites, the Par-a-Dice Hotel, the Peoria Civic Center as well as the Country Club of Peoria have been overwhelmingly supportive of our concepts and have worked to accommodate our crazy requirements to produce the products that we offer. We absolutely love to work with Lisa Regan of Happily Ever After, as well as Miranda Kemp of After the Diamond. These two lovely ladies are a must to planning a fun, exciting and well managed event. And of course, we can't thank Beth Maxwell of Save the Date enough. Beth is the mastermind creator of many of the "who's who" events hosted in the Peoria area. Beth, her staff and our staff all share the vision of giving our client's an alternative to something dramatically different than the "normal" wedding experience. Beth truly offers her clients the opportunity to achieve the "wow" factor or simply bring an understated touch of elegance to their events. Bottom line... if you're planning an event, call Beth! O.k., I'm sorry for the long but necessary post. But, if you visit with any vendor noted in our blog, you'll see why it was so important to mention our favorite wedding pros. We consider ourselves very lucky to be in the Peoria/Bloomington wedding bizz and are humbled to be in the company of such a great collection of talented folks representing their specific trades. Thank you too all, Scott