The wedding favor  team at Elegant Shower Favors.com  is pleased to help our Illinois couples with valuable information  regarding getting married in Illinois.

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The  information below is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

It is important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making your wedding plans.

Things you should know:

1. To be legally married in Illinios you must be 18 years of age and older.

2. Illinois has a one day waiting period for your marriage license and once you receive the license you have to get married within 60 days or your marriage license will expire.

3. We recommend that you visit the  local County Clerk’s Office of the city  you will be getting married in. Your marriage license is only effective in the county where it is issued, so the marriage has to take place in the county where you obtain the marriage license.

4. Both the bride and groom must be present to sign the application for the license in the presence of an officier at the county clerks office. It is important for both the bride and groom to bring the following legal documents to the County Clerks office:  

5. $ 15.00 for application fee in most Illinois Counties

6. Driver’s license or State Issued Photo ID

7. TWO documents with your name, one of which must show your current address, that prove your identity. ONE piece of documentation can be a bill or piece of mail. The other piece of documentation must be one of the following items listed below:

• Medical/car insurance card
• Car registration paperwork
• Credit card statement
• Bank statement
• Paycheck stub with imprinted information
• Public assistance card
• Voter’s registration card
• For couples getting remarried you must supply information regarding how previous marriages ended must be furnished in the application for a marriage license. This includes whether the former spouse died or was divorced and, if so, when and where the divorce was granted. A certified copy of the divorce decree(s) or certificate(s) of dissolution of marriage may be required by the clerk issuing the marriage license

http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/marriage_faq.htm#1

Before purchasing wedding favors, consider the location, style, and theme of your wedding. A formal affair in a hotel will require a more elegant gift, while home-baked cookies might be right at home for a casual backyard wedding.Decide on an “at the table” or “on the way out” location for your favors. If favors are large or colorful, placing them on the reception tables can take up precious table space or be distracting during the meal. Instead, many brides opt to place large trays (or a table) of favors in a hall or foyer where guests will exit. A tasteful sign — “Please take one favor per guest with our compliments and thanks!” — will let reluctant guests know that it’s okay to pick up the gifts.

For outside weddings in warm climates, you’ll need to avoid favors that could melt (chocolates, frosted cookies, etc.), unless these are placed in an air-conditioned space for pick-up as guests leave the reception.

Food favors will most certainly always be a favorite with guests, yet foods require special handling. Cookies, cakes, and other fresh foods will need to be packaged at the last minute to retain freshness; chocolates and candies may require cool temperatures.

Try bundling favors with multiple items that contribute to a prominent wedding theme, such as: Garden Theme — tulip bulbs, heart-shaped vase, decorated flower cookie; Tea Theme — white mug, tea bags, crystallized sugar; Beach Theme — shell-shaped chocolates in a miniature beach chair, with a pair of sunglasses.

Do take into account the age and gender of your guests. While women might love a silk pillow sachet favor, most men won’t relate — meaning you may be stuck with dozens of favors “left behind” at the reception.

When wrapping your favors, personalized stickers and ribbons are a lovely touch, but these are items that will be thrown away

Can we make a difference in the lives of those who suffer with a chronic and or terminal illness? Yes we can, at Elegantshowerfavors.com, we believe that it’s the little things that make a difference in the lives of those living with chronic illness’s such as cancer, immune system deficiency diseases, & autoimmune diseases. Elegant Shower Favors is now carrying Kate Aspen’s Pink Ribbon Collection of wedding and bridal favors. These favors are known as In Favor Of A Cure Favors and offer a perfect opportunity for all of us to help save lives. The Kate Aspen Company has graciously agreed to donate 10% of their net proceeds from the sale of these special favors to two national breast cancer charities. Elegant Shower Favors is also doing their share by donating goods (sports water bottles and cancer awareness braclets) to a local Illinois group of cancer survivors & family & friends, known as Kay’s Team. At the end of June, Kay’s team will be particiapating in the Walk for a Cure at the Kane County Courgars Ball Park. Their goal is to raise money for the American Cancer Society for research to help find a cure for cancer. We can all do our part by either particpating in a walk, donating  something to the walkers, sponsering a walker, or making a contribution to the American Cancer Society. We can all make a difference!

Have you ever dreamed of having your wedding outdoors ?  Illinois offers an abundance of outdoor wedding venues. Whether you are interested in a garden wedding, outdoor summer wedding or beach themed wedding-there is a place for you in Illinois.  The team at ElegantShowerFavors.com  has compiled a list of some fabulous venues to celebrate your special outdoor wedding. Our goal was to find first-class  facilities  with all the perfect ammenities and magnificent views to create a beautiful natural backdrop for your wedding day. Please feel free to add additional locations/ideas to this post and share your ideas for beautiful outdoor wedding venues with other readers.

• Morton Arboretum -located at : 4100 Illinois Route 53 in Lisle Illinois                                                                                      

Our historic as well as modern buildings are surrounded by colorful gardens and trees, which provides a picturesque setting for social events. From professional business events to dream weddings, please think of Morton Arboretum for your next occasion.

• Cantigny Park -located at : 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60187  6630-260-826030 668 5161668 5161
   

 Mingle with guests and take in Cantigny’s spectacular panoramic views as you enjoy the fine cuisine prepared by our experienced staff. Relax and let Cantigny make your dream wedding a reality.

• Galena Getaway Weddings -located in beautiful Galena, IL    877-Go Galena                                                                                                    

 A wedding in Galena and Jo Daviess County creates truly special memories. Located close enough for friends and family to attend, but far from ordinary, Galena’s rolling hills and stunning Mississippi River vistas abound with beautiful settings for your wedding day. 

• Shoreline Charters & Events Chicago, IL     474 N. Lake Shore Dr., Suite 3511   Chicago, Illinois 60611

  Our four charter vessels can accommodate a variety of wedding festivities, including bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, ceremonies and receptions and post-wedding brunches. The spectacular Chicago skyline provides a magical backdrop and our professional event-planning staff provides personalized guidance to assure that you and your guests will enjoy your private and unique wedding celebration.

• The Audbon Hall -16400 W. Buckley Rd.  Libertyville, IL 847. 247. 1111
  Offers a panoramic view of the marina, lake and beach. Elevated ceilings and spacious design makes the Audubon Hall the perfect setting for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, holiday parties or corporate meetings. The Audubon Hall also has spacious indoor and outdoor pre-function (cocktail) areas, and can comfortably accommodate a sit-down event of 50-350 guests or a cocktail event of 500.

• Brac Loch Banquets - Grayslake, Illinois

At Brac Loch Banquets, featuring a bright banquet facility with sweeping views that comfortably seats 165 people, we help create beautiful memories. We lavish attention on every single detail, giving you the time and peace of mind to lavish attention on your guests. We can even help you arrange and procure virtually everything you need for your event. Invite us to help you create your next event, and it will be, in the words of your guest, simply beautiful.

Elegant Shower Favors.com is an online business who is commited to helping couples find affordable & elegant wedding favors and gifts . They are also committed to helping couples start off their marriages with the knowledge and skills necessary to have a happy and fullfilling marriage.

Couples and marriage counsellors offer advice on staying Happily Married.

From a May 16, 2008 newspaper article from Press publications in Illinois–featuring couples who have been married more than 50 years—-

Frank and Helena Buchanan renewed their wedding vows for the third time in 60 years- their advice is to “try to understand each other and give things a chance”.

 Ralph and Jacqueline Zabawa say that “marriage works best when a couple has a lot in common” and when couples “cope with their problems. They also offer advice that couples need to talk things over and communicate as well as maintain a sense of humor.

Marriage counsellor Camella Broome EdS. LPC/1, LMFT/1 offers the following advice in her blog—

Strengthen the bond between you and your partner by remember “Four A’s”.  Sue & Rich of Illinois have practiced the “four A’s” throughout their 23 years of marriage and are still going strong–

1. Appreciation-appreciation means saying “thankyou” or leaving an email or note letting your partner know that you appreciate them for doing something thoughtful and for the little things that we sometimes take for granted. Appreciation is effective when it is specific. Sue & Rich of Illinois say  ”It’s important to let your partner know that you appreciate things he or she does like cooking, taking out the garbage, making lunches, mowing the lawn, changing the oil etc…knowing your spouse appreciates you ,strenghtens your bond and love for each other.” Sue says that “knowing I am appreicated makes me want to do even more for my husband, because I know he does not take me for granted.”

2. Apology- saying you are sorry to your partner is effective when you let your partner know that you are aware that you upset him or her and when you reassure your partner that you are taking responsibility for the problem or issue and are making a sincere effort to take corrective action. Sue & Rich say “Saying your sorry when you are wrong or offensive is showing your partner that you take responsiblity for your behavior, and that you care enough about them to correct the problem or issue”.

3. Attention-paying attention to your partner means you find ways to let him/her know that you are a good friend. You listen, give eye contact when your partner is speaking to you. Find ways to let your partner know that you “notice” him or her. Comment on the way you partner looks or ask questions about his or her day etc. Sue & Rich say “we talk to each other everyday on the phone and when we both get home from work. We don’t read the paper or check email while we are talking to each other-we give each other our full attention”.

4. Affection-showing affection to your partner is not just about physical intimacy-its also about small gestures like giving your partner a spontaneous hug or kiss, holding your partners hand, giving a back or foot rub, etc. Find ways to be affectionate toward your partner by offering “random acts of kindness”. Sue & Rich say ”our affection for each other is strong because we respect and appreciate one another”.

Understanding Wedding Favors
By Jeanette Shinn 

Unlike anything else in your wedding planning, wedding favors are your opportunity to provide a special surprise for your guests that says thank you for sharing your wedding day. Likewise, wedding favors are often a keepsake to remind the individual of the event long after the wedding day has passed. This is nice for everyone, but it can have a special significance for people within communities of faith who can use that favor as a symbol to remind them to pray for you as you build your marriage.

Fortunately, wedding favors needn’t cost an arm and a leg. Rather, most wedding favors range in cost from fifty cents to a few dollars each or even more, if your budget allows. There are no rules for wedding favors. Your wedding won’t be shut down if you provide chocolate at an outdoor reception in one hundred degree weather (not a good idea) and your guests won’t walk out if you neglect wedding favors altogether, but why would you do that? After all, you thought enough of them to invite them and they took time out of their lives to join in the celebration of your marriage, both of which are good enough reason’s to express your appreciation with a wedding favor.

In choosing your wedding favors, begin by finalizing your guest list so you have a pretty good idea how many wedding favors to buy. As nice as your wedding favors are, you aren’t going to want an extra seventy four golf ball bottle openers left over after your wedding has come and gone. Be sure, however, that you take into account the percentage that RSVP’s late or shows up without RSVPing. Yes, that’s bad etiquette, but that’s the way life works sometimes.

That’s it. Once you have figured out what your budget can afford based on your best estimate of how many people will take part in your wedding celebration it’s time to begin looking at the incredible variety of possibilities available for you to use as wedding favors. Have fun, explore, let your hair down and dream of how you want your friends and family to remember your wedding day and your gratitude as demonstrated through your choice of wedding favors.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_Shinn