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Real love stories, real couples, real weddings

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Carrie and Manny’s wedding day was one of uncompromising vision, and I was BEYOND excited to be a part of it! Not just because I got to photograph Manny’s proposal to Carrie back in 2022, or for the fact that I’ve known Carrie for around 15 years now! No, what I was most excited about […]

Whimsical Wedding at The Artisans Building in Springfield, Illinois | Carrie & Manny

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Elopements have practically been a part of the wedding industry forever, but recently their popularity has grown exponentially. More and more couples find themselves wanting a personal, intimate wedding day experience, and I for one am ALL for it! It also helps that Illinois itself is spoiled with stunning locations to celebrate an elopement at, […]

9 Picturesque Locations for Elopements in Illinois

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I think it’s safe to say that Julie and Tyler’s wedding day in the suburbs of Chicago was about as dreamy as a fall wedding can be! These two chose the incredible Morton Arboretum as their wedding venue, and it’s hard to imagine a more fitting choice for their day. From the gorgeous natural setting […]

Fall Wedding at the Morton Arboretum in the Chicago Suburbs | Julie + Tyler

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One of the largest factors in determining the look, feel, and vibe of your wedding day is of course your wedding venue! Picture in your mind how different a wedding in a forest compares to one in a modern banquet hall for example. Even with the same wedding vendors, colors, and the same guest count, […]

9 of My Favorite Mansion and Estate Wedding Venues in Illinois

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If there’s one thing you should know about me it’s that I LOVE my hometown of Springfield! Spending the majority of my life here, working my first jobs here, starting my small business here, and growing in the community has all deepened my love for this city that I’m lucky enough to call home.  Most […]

10 Fun Things to Do in Springfield, Illinois

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As much as I adore my warm and lively summers, part of me LIVES for the moodier vibes of the fall! This is partly due to my love of Halloween, but it’s also because I get to document moody engagement sessions like Merrian and Ryan’s! Taking their engagement photos at Allerton Park, which by the […]

Moody Engagement Photos in the Allerton Park Library | Merrian + Ryan

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This past October began with a bang thanks to Elaina and Clayton’s romantic wedding at Countryside Banquet & Catering in Washington, Illinois! You might remember these two from their artful engagement session. If so you’ve probably been excited to see the wedding day these two created. I’m so happy to say that these two absolutely […]

Moody Wedding at Countryside Banquet & Catering in Washington, IL | Elaina + Clayton

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Crafting the ideal wedding day takes a lot of effort, and more than that it’s a team effort! Your team of handpicked wedding vendors are the ones who’ll help you to bring your vision to life, and the ones who’ll elevate your wedding to the one of a kind experience you deserve. Central Illinois has […]

Central Illinois Wedding Vendors: Planners, Designers Who Can Elevate Your Wedding

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When you think of a wedding in Central Illinois, what image do you see in your mind? Is it a backyard celebration? Maybe a big get together at a rustic barn? While these are both definite realities of Central Illinois, and honestly pretty great in their own right, Central Illinois is actually home to many […]

9 Large Wedding Venues in Central Illinois That Aren’t Barns

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For Megan and Jordan’s engagement photos, we knew we wanted to maximize the moody and classy vibes throughout, and there’s one place that immediately came to mind when deciding on locations, the Illinois State Capitol Building in Springfield! The Capitol Building has been a favorite of mine for a while, and thanks to the impressive […]

Classy Engagement Photos at the Illinois State Capitol Building | Megan + Jordan