Looking Back: Marriage Advice from the Pros

In 2005, Cody and Tiffany Tolmen of Hunter Ryan Photo exchanged vows in front of their closest family and friends in Colorado. After 13 years, the Southwest Florida based husband-wife photography duo reflect on their wedding and offer words of advice for a happy marriage.

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Vendor Viewpoint – Arrowhead Golf Club

The wedding professionals at Arrowhead Golf Club dropped by the blog to discuss their gorgeous venue and the personalized wedding experience they offer. All images supplied by Arrowhead Golf Club.
Couples looking to host a wedding in the Chicagoland area have hundreds of options to choose from. What makes Arrowhead Golf Club so unique?

Arrowhead hosts one wedding per evening, which gives the couple an intimate and private experience at our venue. We have space for an outdoor or indoor ceremony and cocktail hour in addition to the indoor reception space. Our ballroom overlooks our golf course and has three balconies attached to enjoy. The grounds and stonework on the building are artistically designed so you are guaranteed beautiful photos at our facility any time of the year.

We have a wedding team that loves the planning process and is always onsite the day of the wedding to ensure everything goes exactly as the wedding couple imagined. We handle a lot of the planning for the couples as we provide calendars and resources to ensure a smooth planning process. Everything comes from in-house, so the only outside vendors would be a florist, DJ, photographer, videographer, or wedding coordinator as needed. You can check out our blog on our website to read about good organizational techniques and what Arrowhead does to help!

How is Arrowhead Golf Club adaptable?

Arrowhead has a charming and elegant ambiance throughout our facility. You can plan a classic crystal and rhinestone wedding, a rustic wedding, or a modern designed wedding and they will all fit right in. Our indoor and outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour location provide flexibility, even if mother nature doesn’t want to cooperate. The floor to ceiling windows help bring in the natural beauty so you don’t have to “dress up” the ballroom to make it look beautiful.

How does Arrowhead Golf Club cater to small, intimate weddings vs. big, boisterous ones?

We have a total of 7 private event spaces with 3 of the 7 rooms making up our grand ballroom. Since we only host one wedding each night, we mostly see weddings that average 140 – 200. However, we can hold up to 275 in our ballroom or break down our ballroom to hold a smaller, more intimate wedding. Our other private event spaces can be used for dinner receptions under 40 guests. All 7 of our rooms overlook the golf course so you are guaranteed a stunning view in any room you book.

Why does Arrowhead Golf Club enjoy hosting weddings?

It’s simple – we love making the biggest day of your life perfect. We’re all in the hospitality industry because we want to make others happy. We love getting to know our couples and their families and seeing everyone enjoy themselves the day of the wedding. Our long hours and day to day hard work mean something to someone and that’s what matters.

What are your tips for couples who are just starting the wedding planning process, especially those who are still trying to pick a venue?

Stick with what your gut tells you. Don’t choose a venue just because it costs the least, don’t stress yourself out looking at 20 different venues, and most of all ENJOY the process! Finding the right venue is one of the hardest parts of wedding planning, but this is supposed to be a fun time in your life, so find a way to enjoy every little bit of it!

Arrowhead Golf Club is nestled Between Danada Farms and Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton, Illinois. The stone and brick clubhouse overlooks the lavish green of manicured golf courses. By only booking one wedding per evening, Arrowhead Golf Club guarantees that each couple has the staff’s undivided attention. Each couple works closely with their own wedding specialist to coordinate every detail of their big day. For more information, contact [email protected].

Dreamy Bridal Gowns for Every Style

Picking a bridal gown can be tough. But don’t worry – we have you covered! These seven dreamy dresses are heavenly! With delicate 3D floral details, swoonworthy skirts, lacy illusion necklines and beautiful backs, there’s something for every style.

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What Order Should I Hire My Wedding Vendors In?

Weddings are the work of a giant team of creative professionals all working together to make your dreams a reality.  So, after you determine your wedding budget and choose your wedding style, the ultimate step in the wedding planning process begins:  hiring trustworthy, reputable wedding vendors to carry out your vision. But, who do you hire first? The big decisions will affect the small decisions so following the schedule will ease your stress in the end. To help you with the process we’ve outlined the best order to book your wedding vendors in from start to finish.

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Top 10 Questions to Ask a Reception Venue

Before scheduling an on-site visit with a Chicagoland reception venue, call or email to check availability, capacity and price point. You don’t want to fall in love, only to have your heart broken because it’s not available, won’t hold all your guests, or it’s way beyond the budget.

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