Attention brides to be! Are you making plans for autumn nuptials? If so, I have a great location for your fall wedding! It’s Southern Illinois, a fantastic area for your wedding ceremony, reception, and even the honeymoon. Whether you want an ultra formal church wedding with all the trimmings, a laid back biker ceremony, or anything in between, Southern Illinois has something for most every bride and groom. As a musician, I have played at many local venues, and have found that this area is chock full of storybook fall wedding destinations.
If a traditional wedding is your preference, Southern Illinois is full of magnificent, well preserved old churches. Some of them require that either the bride or groom be a member, while others are available for rent to nonmembers. Check out the Yellow Pages or get online for a list of churches in your area.
Giant City State Park, near Carbondale, with its bluffs, lush foliage, creeks and picnic areas, is a fall wedding favorite. The park has a restaurant, cabins, ponds, and 2 nearby lakes, providing a variety of locations for both the wedding ceremony and reception. One thing that I did not realize was those groups of 25 people or more need to contact the park office in advance. For more information, or to reserve a picnic shelter, go to the website.
Southern Illinois wineries are well known for hosting fall weddings. The vineyards and the scenery surrounding them are breathtakingly gorgeous! Most wineries have large indoor buildings for receptions, bandstands for a band or DJ, restaurant/catering facilities and much more. To get more information about Southern Illinois wineries, go to the Wine Trail website. There are a couple of wineries that are not on the trail, but are great wedding reception venues. Bella Terra Winery, near Creal Springs, and Walker’s Bluff, near Carbondale, are also wonderful fall wedding spots. Some of the wineries offer extras such as a children’s play area, hammocks, lawn games, cabins and more. I’ve been to most of the wineries in Southern Illinois and have never been disappointed.
I played music at a fall wedding ceremony at Field of Dreams, located near Carbondale, and was very impressed with the facility. There’s a building with a kitchen, banquet area, and a dance floor. A gazebo near the pond provides a romantic area for couples to exchange their wedding vows. To get more information, go to their website.
If you are looking for a bright, big, modern building to hold a wedding reception, the Williamson County Pavilion may be the venue for you. Just a few years old, the Pavilion has become well known as one of the premier event venues in Southern Illinois, with enough room to house any size wedding party. Visit their website at http://visitsi.com/wm-co-pavilion.html.
Southern Illinois is famous for its crowning natural jewel, the Shawnee National Forest. I think this would be a wonderful place to hold a fall wedding, with all the beautiful scenery and great facilities. Weddings in the Shawnee National Forest require a special use permit. You can check out all the Forest sites, amenities, and rules on their website.
Autumn in Southern Illinois is a magical experience. If you want a romantic fall wedding surrounded by gorgeous scenery, Southern Illinois just might be the perfect place!
Sources: Personal Experience, Giant City website, Shawnee Wine Trail website, Field of Dreams website, Williamson County Pavilion website, United States Forest Service website.
