Judy Ramsey How long have you been with House of Colour? What made you want to get involved? I’ve been with House of Colour since July 2021. My daughter wanted me to do this “color thing” and I had no idea what that meant. I looked into it, and loved it, but even to get trained I had to go to Nebraska. I’m glad I made the trip though because I’ve been a representative of House of Colour ever since! How many people have you helped in that time? Despite the fact I’ve only been doing this for a year, I’ve actually helped well over 200 people. And a lot of those have been brides-to-be! W ..read more

How long have you been in the floral business? “We started roughly about 2 years ago. I had a couple internships during my college career with different floral companies in the Cedar Rapids area and the Des Moines area. I wasn’t certain we actually wanted to enter the floral business until we were able to partner with several businesses in the Cedar Rapids area.” What goes into providing floral services for a wedding? “We start with a complimentary meeting with any client that’s interested and that can be done over Zoom or in person. We’re just talking through their wants, things t ..read more

How long have you been in the bridal industry?What made you want to get involved? “I’ve been here a little over a year now. I was very interested in working with a small business so that I get to benefit the community around me, especially getting to work with the bride and groom through the entire process. My degree was in art history so I really focus on getting people to look their best through visual elements.” How many people have you helped find the right dress? “I have personally helped about 50 brides find their dresses. Since we started in 2019, we have helped 307 brides t ..read more

How long have you been hosting weddings? Did you always want to host weddings or did you recognize you had space for it and then changed to accommodate that? “We bought Eastbank in August of 2020 (which is quite funny because we were in the midst of a pandemic).” My daughter Ellie and I are business partners and she had worked for the previous owner of Eastbank. I had an opportunity to purchase the business and put her skills to work. It’s been an adventure for sure!” What are some of the advantages of having a full-service venue like yours? “Honestly, I would say the size, we can ..read more

My name is Allie Lanham.  I am the owner of the Hangry Lady here in Newbo City Market.  We make charcuterie boxes & boards.  Since expanding our shop recently, we’re also offering burrata boards, brunch boards on Sundays, giant pretzel boards, and cold pressed juices.  Outside of this, we do a lot of catering.  Grazing tables, charcuterie cups, wedding cakes, cupcakes, etc.  Anything food related is what we like to do here. How many weddings have you catered & what have those experiences been like for you? I’ve catered about 50 weddings thus fa ..read more

How do I choose the perfect flowers for my wedding day? When it comes to wedding flowers, there’s a lot to consider: what’s in season? What will compliment your wedding colors? Do you (or any of your guests) have pollen allergies? Don’t worry, though—an expert florist can help with all of that. Tiffany Landuyt, owner of Studio Bloom Iowa, offers her advice on how to pick your perfect floral. Book your florist early “I typically recommend reaching out about 9-12 months in advance of your wedding date.  However, if you’re planning your wedding during peak wedding season (which here in Iowa ..read more

How do I choose the perfect flowers for my wedding day? When it comes to wedding flowers, there’s a lot to consider: what’s in season? What will compliment your wedding colors? Do you (or any of your guests) have pollen allergies? Don’t worry, though—an expert florist can help with all of that. Tiffany Landuyt, owner of Studio Bloom Iowa, offers her advice on how to pick your perfect floral. Book your florist early “I typically recommend reaching out about 9-12 months in advance of your wedding date.  However, if you’re planning your wedding during peak wedding season (which here in Io ..read more

Hey Mr. DJ – how do I keep my wedding guests on the dance floor? While you’re thinking about the look of your wedding, don’t neglect the sound. A great wedding DJ can keep your event flowing smoothly from start to finish and help you avoid any musical miscues. Travis Hempstead of 11:11 Event Co. has been a wedding DJ in the Cedar Rapids area for over 10 years. Here are some of his top tips for maximizing the fun on your big day: Talk with your DJ in advance “You should be talking about timeline, music, wedding party names, special moments, all of that before the day arrives. Always meet wit ..read more

Hey Mr. DJ – how do I keep my wedding guests on the dance floor? While you’re thinking about the look of your wedding, don’t neglect the sound. A great wedding DJ can keep your event flowing smoothly from start to finish and help you avoid any musical miscues. Travis Hempstead of 11:11 Event Co. has been a wedding DJ in the Cedar Rapids area for over 10 years. Here are some of his top tips for maximizing the fun on your big day: Talk with your DJ in advance “You should be talking about timeline, music, wedding party names, special moments, all of that before the day arrives. Always meet wit ..read more

Howard & Danielle met in Iowa City in 2016. “We truly are each other’s best friends.” Danielle said. Our wedding day was a hot and humid day, but couldn’t have been more perfect. Our wedding colors were burgundy, navy, and champagne. “When I walked down the aisle with my dad to Howard, it was our first look seeing each other that day. It was so special waiting until the ceremony. Howard cried while holding our daughter at the alter. I think we both will share that moment in our hearts forever. Date: 8.8.2020 Photography: Michael Grobin Photography Venue: Decorah Fish Hatchery, Pinter ..read more