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wedding planning tips

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One of the great things about wedding venues is that there’s something out there for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a blank slate DIY space, an all-inclusive venue that takes care of everything from the get go, or anything in-between, chances are you can find it here in Central Illinois. Today we’re going to be […]

Central Illinois Wedding Venue Feature: The Artisans Building

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If you know me then you know that I absolutely LOVE my elopements! Between the creative freedom they make space for, and the intimate, more personal feel they have to them, elopements are such a genuine celebration of the love between two people that I just can’t get enough of! If you’ve ever been considering […]

Everything You Need to Know to Plan an Elopement in Illinois

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As a wedding photographer in Central Illinois, I am so grateful to have SO many wonderful locations for my couples to enjoy, both in terms of wedding venues and portrait locations. One such city that has plenty of both to go around is Peoria, IL, which I’ve actually covered before when talking about my favorite […]

9 of My Favorite Places for Wedding Portraits in Peoria, IL

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Elopements have been a part of the wedding industry for a LONG time. What started out as a secretive marriage where the couple would run off for a private wedding has now become a celebration where each couple is able to freely create the wedding day that they want, with hardly any limitations. Because of […]

How Many Hours Should You Book Your Elopement Photographer For?

A bride and groom hold hands as they walk and look at one another while outside of the Illinois State Capitol Building in their wedding attire

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It’s no secret that Illinois is home to some truly amazing wedding venues, many of which we’ve actually taken a look at before here on the blog! From my favorite mansion and estate venues, to the best large wedding venues in the state, we’ve seen many of the phenomenal spaces that Illinois has to offer. […]

9 of My Favorite Forest Wedding Venues in Illinois

A bride and groom sit together on a dock looking out over the water towards a dense forest near their wedding venue in Central Illinois

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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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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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In 2020, Covid practically made large scale weddings impossible for the better part of a year, which led couples to realize that they don’t actually have to do a large wedding. Elopements and intimate celebrations became MUCH more popular and commonplace, and that silver lining has brought about a total change in the wedding industry […]

A Look at My Wedding Photography Packages as a Springfield, Illinois Wedding Photographer

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If you know me then you know I am all about my Central Illinois weddings! And if you really know me then you know I LOVE providing resources for couples to help them plan the best wedding day possible! Today we’re combining these two loves as we’re going to look at some of my favorite […]

8 of My Favorite Wedding Venues in Peoria, Illinois

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Not too long ago I wrote my first wedding venue feature about the fantastic Destihl Brewery, and everything that sets it apart as a wedding venue. As I mentioned in that article though, there are a LOT of incredible wedding venues in Central Illinois that I feel deserve a similar treatment. That brings us to […]

Central Illinois Wedding Venue Feature | Wildlife Prairie Park + Taylor and Tyler’s Elopement

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Anyone that’s planning a wedding can attest to just how BIG of a decision it is to choose a venue for your wedding day! To help guide couples through this decision I’ve written articles in the past covering some of my favorite wedding venues in Central Illinois as well as Bloomington, Illinois. There are venues […]

Central Illinois Wedding Venue Feature | The Destihl Brewery

A bride and groom hug one another while exiting their wedding ceremony at their venue, The Barrel Room at the Destihl Brewery in Central Illinois

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Congratulations you must be engaged! This is such an exciting, crazy, and happy time in both of your lives!! As you begin to get into the thick of planning your wedding day you’re going to be making a LOT of decisions. One of the most important of these decisions is going to be choosing your […]

Questions You Need to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

large wedding party cheers around a couple kissing on a sunny day

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As some of you may know, and others may not, there are a TON of spectacular wedding venues throughout Bloomington, Illinois! From historic buildings with their original feel and style intact, to new and modern spaces with their own unique vibe to them, there’s something for everyone around Bloomington-Normal. Don’t believe me? Well sit down […]

My 10 Favorite Wedding Venues in Bloomington, Illinois

A bride and groom stand facing one another during their wedding ceremony at their venue, Reality on Monroe in Bloomington, Illinois

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YOU DID IT! You got engaged and now the time has come to start planning your wedding day! You’ve dreamt of this moment for what seems like forever. You have a vision of what your day is going to look like. Now the only question is how to make that dream a reality. While there’s […]

10 Nature Centered Wedding Venues in Illinois

Children dance together while under a tent during an outdoor wedding reception

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Have you ever wondered what an elopement is? Maybe you’ve heard of them before. They’re those things where a couple sneaks off to get married in secret without anyone knowing right? WRONG! They are now some of the most fun, creative, and thoughtful wedding experiences a couple can have! So what exactly is an elopement […]

What Exactly is an Elopement?

A man and woman kiss one another while in a courtroom for their elopement as guests seated in the background clap

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SPOILER!!! In this article I’m spilling how to pick the right Airbnb for your day. AND! I’m listing & linking 5 gorgeous Airbnbs in Central Illinois for you to book. You’ve found your person! Your best friend! You’ve gotten engaged and now it’s time to plan a celebration for this love you share with one […]

How to Plan an Airbnb Elopement

A bride and groom hold hands during their elopement ceremony as guests watch, the ceremony takes place outside their Airbnb with mountains in the background

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Time flies when you’re having fun! For anyone that’s ever been to or been a part of a wedding, you know just how true this age old saying is. Spirits are usually at an all time high for a wedding, and with all the activities that make up the day it can feel impossible to […]

5 Ways to Create Time With Your Family on Your Wedding Day from a Springfield Wedding Photographer

A bride smiles with her parents on either side of her while they stand in a field

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Something I will NEVER do on my blogs is gate keep any locations or ideas from any couples. It’s what led me to write blogs about how to craft a wedding timeline, or how to enhance a backyard wedding in Springfield. It’s with this in mind that brings us to today’s blog, my top 5 […]

My Top 5 Newlywed Portrait Locations in Springfield, Illinois

A bride and groom stand inside the botanical gardens at Washington Park and embrace one another while about to kiss

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As a wedding photographer, believe me when I tell you that your wedding day is going to FLY by! There is so much excitement, joy, and energy that goes into a wedding day that it is simply unavoidable. That’s why having a wedding day timeline to keep your day on track is so important. It […]

Tips on Crafting the Perfect Wedding Day Timeline

A bride and groom kiss one another in front of a pond with a fountain while their wedding parties surround them and cheer

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If you know me, or have been following me for a little bit now, then you know how much I LOVE my weddings in Springfield Illinois. If you’re new here then welcome, and by the way I love my weddings in Springfield haha! Being a wedding photographer in Springfield I’ve seen a lot of new […]

6 Wedding Trends I LOVE as a Springfield Wedding Photographer

A bride and groom walk hand in hand in an empty field with some silos in the background as they laugh and smile at the camera

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While there are plenty of incredible wedding venues in Bloomington-Normal, some of which even made my list of favorite venues of Central Illinois, there are just as many if not more stellar getting ready spaces in the city! But what makes a good getting ready space, and do you really need one for your wedding […]

7 Aesthetic Getting Ready Spaces in Bloomington-Normal

A groom stands with his arm resting on a fireplace and looks off into the distance

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So backyard weddings, especially in Springfield Illinois and the surrounding areas, have been on the rise in popularity and I am SO here for it! A backyard wedding is such an intimate and personal way to celebrate your marriage to the love of your life. There’s such a wide array of fun, unique, and creative […]

5 Magic Elements to Bring Your Backyard Wedding in Springfield Illinois to the Next Level

Guests of a backyard wedding in Springfield Illinois dance together under a tent with string lights

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Backyard weddings are becoming more and more popular as time goes on, especially in and around my lovely town of Springfield Illinois! This couldn’t make me happier as I absolutely ADORE backyard weddings. The vibes are so fun, so personal, and it’s so much better budget wise for the majority of couples. So if you’re […]

Must Have Vendors for Your Backyard Wedding Near Springfield IL

A man sits and plays an acoustic guitar during a backyard wedding in Springfield Illinois, he is one of the vendors of the wedding