Central Illinois Wedding Vendors We Love Working With At Pole Barn Chic

PBC’s Favorite Wedding Vendors Serving Central Illinois

When you’re planning a wedding, finding the right vendors can make all the difference between a stressful experience and a truly magical celebration. Over time, I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible wedding professionals who bring passion, creativity, and heart to every couple’s special day. Today, I’m excited to highlight a few of my favorite vendors — the ones who consistently go above and beyond to make every wedding unforgettable.

So let’s get into the blog.

We do not have a strict “must use” list. We have a preferred vendors list, but that is all that it is – preferred. To be clear, our couples are not required to use the vendors on our list and we get zero financial kickback from anyone, ever. We never have and this is something that continues to bring me pride.
The suggestions that I make as a wedding planner (and venue owner) are based on professionalism and interactions that we have personally had with the vendors that work with us. When I have interactions as they should be, I will promote and advocate for those vendors for sure. When I have a vendor that may cost you the damage deposit, you will know that, as well.

Photographer: Capturing Every Perfect Moment

A great photographer doesn’t just take pictures — they tell your story through light, emotion, and detail. My favorite photographer has an incredible way of blending into the background while still catching every candid laugh, teary-eyed moment, and joyful dance. Their editing style is timeless, with a soft romantic glow that makes each image feel like it belongs in a magazine.

Tip: When choosing your photographer, look for someone who makes you feel comfortable and confident — it shows in every photo.

By far, I have 2 favorite photographers.
Not only do these photographers take the time they need, but they have also DONE THEIR RESEARCH! These photographers looked up my property. They took the couple around the property and got the shots. They did not have the entire wedding party and family stand in the same spot and just rotate guests in the shoot.

They went above and beyond to get the perfect photos, and they still did the editing to even further enhance the pictures.

By far, my favorite photographers are:
Sara Warren Photography: https://sarawarrenphoto.com and
Brooktree Studios: Brooktreestudios.com

Florist: Turning Blooms into Art

Flowers have the power to completely transform a space, and my favorite florist never fails to create arrangements that feel both luxurious and natural. From lush garden bouquets to minimalist greenery designs, their work always complements the couple’s style and the season’s charm. Plus, their attention to detail — down to the smallest sprig of eucalyptus — is truly unmatched.

Pro tip: Bring your florist color swatches or fabric samples to help them match your overall vision perfectly.

Now the staff at the PBC Venue are certified florists. We went to the Michael Gaffney School of Floral Design, and we love it when we get hired to make centerpieces, arbor decorating, bridal bouquets, etc . However, if you would rather hire someone that only works with flowers on a daily basis, I would absolutely recommend Flourish Flower Company!!!
Erica knows her business! She is phenomenal at what she does, doesn’t mind hard work, and she’s a good person, genuinely. You can always feel confident when you work with her knowing all of your wedding flowers will look amazing!

Contact her today at: Flourish: www.flourishflowercompany.com

Caterer: A Menu to Remember

They say guests may forget the decorations, but they’ll always remember the food. My go-to caterer creates dishes that are not only delicious but beautifully presented. Whether it’s a plated dinner, buffet, or casual food truck, every bite is crafted with flavor and flair. From their signature hors d’oeuvres to decadent desserts, it’s a culinary experience your guests will rave about long after the wedding.
We have worked with lots of caterers, but the proof is in the pudding --- or leftovers.
For a great option, we strongly recommend these two caterers:

Hamilton’s Catering / hamiltonscatering.com and
Cured Catering / arlingtonsspi.com

DJ or Band: Setting the Mood

Music sets the tone for the entire day — from the ceremony to the last dance. My favorite DJ knows exactly how to read a crowd, transitioning seamlessly between romantic ballads and high-energy dance hits. The result? A packed dance floor and memories that last a lifetime.

Tip: Share a “must-play” and “do-not-play” list before the big day to make sure the vibe matches your style.

We have a DJ company that we can’t say enough about. We have worked with several different DJs and DJ companies, but we really enjoy Epic Entertainment.

Tony and David are amazing. They both know what they are doing & how to run a wedding. They both have mad emcee skills and keep the dancing flowing. DJ’s are also where you (usually) want to go for your photo booths, uplighting,

Epic Entertainment: epicentertainment-llc.com
DJ DH3: davidhaleiii@gmail.com

To see or hear any of their work you can find videos on facebook, or visit my TikTok page under Illinois Weddings.

A good Stationer for your wedding stationary:

A good stationer is more than just a supplier—they’re an artist and a problem solver who understands how to bring a couple’s vision to life through thoughtful design and quality craftsmanship. The best stationers listen closely to their clients’ stories, translating personality and theme into cohesive paper details that set the tone for the entire event. From selecting the perfect paper stock and typography to ensuring impeccable printing and timely delivery, they balance creativity with precision. A good stationer also provides guidance on etiquette, timelines, and wording, making the process seamless and enjoyable. Ultimately, their work captures the emotion and elegance of the occasion—turning invitations, menus, and signage into treasured keepsakes.

The quality of work that Nicklaus Nelson produces at Organic Design Company is something straight from any of the high-end events that I have ever worked or attended. His business is legit and not a lot of people do this. Most couples that I see get their stationery from Canva or Shutterfly. While there is nothing wrong with this, you simply miss the experience of describing your love story and picking the material of on which to share it with guests. As we all know, the first thing you can make an impression with is your invitations.
 GET THEM DONE PROFESSIONALLY!

http://www.Organickdesignco.com

Why I Love Working with These Vendors

Simply, they are professionals that know what they are doing.

Couples will need to keep in mind that their damage deposit will be forfeited when their vendor damages our property.
None of the vendors that I have listed here have ever done anything to compromise a deposit. Not that ones I haven’t listed here have done anything wrong, but I know when couples hire these specific vendors, 99.99999% of all problems are eliminated.

Not naming vendors, but we have had the following problems occur at our venue from people going off this list:

A caterer drive their entire vehicle across our grass, thru our gardens and flowers so they wouldn’t have to walk. They could have eliminated the problem by bringing their own cart, like other caterers do.  Deposit gone.
We had another caterer take their food carts and run them over our flowers, ripping them up, along with the roots, and then smashing everything down, killing them. Deposit gone.
We had a band that came in (and brought in their own speakers, naturally). Rather than picking them up and carrying them, they pushed their speakers across our floor, leaving long scratch marks everywhere. Deposit forfeited.

We have had caterers not bring their linen and stain our tables. We had a caterer burn our tables by not elevating their hot plate – deposit isn’t coming back. We had a caterer show up with dirty pans and service utensils and ask where they were supposed to wash them --- at your restaurant, because as we explained several times, we don’t have a catering kitchen.
We have even seen “caterers” try to dump containers of grease in our grass, right off the sidewalk! No, no no!

Not deposit related, but once we had a DJ insist that we had to keep our lights on “for the photographer”, even though the photographer wasn’t complaining about it, at all. It was the first time we ever had that DJ at our venue, and he unnecessarily made decisions that didn’t affect his DJ’ing, at all.
The photographer was confused and members of the bridal party complained to me about it. Never have we had to keep the lights on for a reception, ever. I have no idea what this DJ was thinking.  

We witnessed a vendor play the wrong entrance song for the bride to walk down the aisle, a DJ forget to play a song as the couple exits the ceremony after the kiss (not awkward, at all).
We have watched caterers come with ½ the amount of food they were contracted to bring, set up for a single line buffet for 200 people, and once, we saw catering set up for a buffet, when it was supposed to be served to the guests.

We have also seen a florist forget all the boutonnieres for the groom’s side and one photographer that never looked up our venue. The poor bride got the exact same shots in the exact same spot for every single photo. What a massive disservice to the bride when the venue they had was so beautiful and unique.
Sadly, the person that came for that wasn’t a wedding photographer in any stretch of the imagination. She was a person with a nice camera. But there is a difference and that is another reason to do your research (or trust the wedding planner that owns the venue).

As you can see, vendors can make or break your wedding day and it’s important to hire the best of the best.

Each of these professionals brings more than just skill — they bring heart. They genuinely care about the couples they serve and take pride in creating joyful, stress-free celebrations. When your vendor team feels like family, your wedding becomes not just an event, but a true reflection of love and connection.

Choosing your wedding vendors is one of the most important parts of the planning process. Trust your instincts, do your research, and most importantly — choose people who make you feel excited and supported. When you find the right team, everything else falls beautifully into place.


Pole Barn Chic is locally owned and operated. We hope to encourage engaged couples to consider choosing a locally owned wedding venue. We go to great lengths to exceed expectations, and you will find that locally owned wedding venues have far less turnover and that leads to better communication! We love shouting out and supporting our locally owned wedding venue and wedding business colleagues. Here are a few locally owned wedding venues across the US:

The Ma Mansion: https://themamansion.com

Chapman Hill: www.chapmanhillevents.com

Topeka Social: http://topekasocial.com

Lone Star Oaks: https://lonestaroaks.com

Blueberry Hill Wedding Venue: www.blueberryhillweddingbarnelkinnc.com