Family Focused Wedding at the Ravisloe Country Club | Emily + Kevin

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Emily and Kevin’s wedding at the Ravisloe Country Club was an all around fantastic day that was a long time in the making! These two began dating while they went to Eastern Illinois University together, back when they only knew each other through mutual friends. Emily had a crush on Kevin FOREVER prior to them dating. Since then the two have practically been inseparable. Their wedding is the culmination of the incredible relationship and love story the two have built together.

I was so happy to have been the one to take their engagement photos. So I was even happier to document their wedding day! Get ready as there are a LOT of highlights from the day!

Scenic view of Ravisloe Country Club with a Tuscan style with beautiful blue skies and white clouds.

Bride and Groom's Dior perfume and cologne sits on tiled floors

Getting Ready for Their Wedding at the Ravisloe Country Club

Emily and Kevin’s wedding day began with them preparing for the day with their wedding parties. There are two unique getting ready spaces at the Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride stands surrounded by her bridesmaids dressed in different colored oversized button ups inside beautiful white room with large windows.

Bride smiles towards bridesmaids who are dressed in different colored oversized button up shirts.

These individual getting ready spaces are just a small part of what makes this wedding venue in Homewood, Illinois the amazing space that it is. The two had SO much fun getting ready with their wedding party members. With most of them being the mutual friends they made at Eastern Illinois University it was practically a mini school reunion!

Chicagoland wedding photographer captures Groomsmen's hands helping groom put on cufflinks.

Groomsmen all get ready in room in filmy black and white photograph before wedding ceremony.

Groom stands in all black suit and black bow tie with rose boutonnière.

Groomsmen poses in moody lit room in all black suit.

Groom stands with groomsmen in all black tuxes on steps of Ravisloe Country Club between two cement urns.

Their loved ones mean SO much to them, and not just the close friends that helped make up their wedding parties. Family means a lot to both Emily and Kevin, so the two were incredibly thoughtful when it came to including them into their wedding day.

Groomsmen pose while adjusting their watches on the steps of Ravisloe Country Club during wedding portraits.

Groomsmen walk behind groom in a v-shape with Ravisloe Country Club behind them in the background.

Bride looks in the mirror as she puts on her long sleeved wedding dress before ceremony.

Bride puts on her earrings over a white table with her autumn bouquet on top.

Sadly all of Emily’s grandparents passed before the wedding day. She wore four rings throughout the day on her right ring finger. Each had their names and birthstones on them, so that they could be with her throughout the day.

Another detail that I adored was the handkerchief that was wrapped around Emily’s bouquet. This included notes from her parents and both sets of grandparents.

Bride's mother zips up her lacy wedding dress in front of gorgeous window before wedding ceremony.

Bride hugs her mom in front of beautiful windows before wedding ceremony.

Bride walks out front doors of Ravisloe Country Club with her bridesmaids following her before wedding ceremony.

Bride poses with her bridesmaids in different colored dresses in front of entrance at Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride leans into bridesmaid smiling while there are bridesmaids standing behind them holding their white bouquets in the air.

Springfield wedding photographer captures bottom half of bride and colorful bridesmaids dresses as they walk along brick path.

Once dressed and ready we had a little bit of time for Emily and Kevin to have some portrait photos with their wedding parties on the beautiful grounds of the Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride and bridesmaids smiling at each other and walk in parking lot with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Bridesmaids in different colored dresses all lean in to hug bride smiling and laughing with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

From there it was time for their private first look, which was SO magical! This was just such a wonderful way to start the day, and there were still so many more moments to enjoy.

Bride stands behind groom before surprising him with a first look with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Groom smiles as he turns around and sees bride for the first time with trees in the background.

Bride holding colorful floral bouquet hugs groom after first look with Ravisloe Country Club in the distance behind them.

Bride and groom smile and dance in grassy field with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Bride spins with her long sleeved dress in her hands.

Bride and groom embrace and hold each other in grassy yard with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Groom holds bride's arm as they look into the distance with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Bride puts her hand on groom's face while holding her bridal bouquet around his shoulder with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Bride with long sleeved lace dress spins with her arms in the air with Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Bride and groom sit on side steps with putting her face by groom's cheek against beautiful white wall.

An Outdoor Wedding Ceremony and Private Vows

It was THE perfect late spring day for Emily and Kevin’s wedding, so we were able to really enjoy the outdoor space at the Ravisloe Country Club for the ceremony!

Homewood wedding photographer captures ceremony set up in beautiful courtyard at the Ravisloe Country Club.

Their friends and family were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the soon to be newlyweds in the beautiful courtyard of the country club.

Groomsmen and bridesmaids make their way to the ceremony walking down a brick path with trees and grass in the background.

Bride is hidden behind a bush with her mom before walking down the aisle to the ceremony.

Groomsmen walk while the guests are seated in front of them. In the background is the White Ravisloe Country Club building covered in vines.

Guests watch as the Groom walks down the aisle with his parents. String lights are above them and the country club is on their left side.

The Bride walks down the aisle smiling with her father and her mother in a champagne colored lace dress.

Bridesmaids in different colored dresses lean into each other and smile emotionally as the bride walks down the aisle. Ravisloe Country Club covered in vines stands behind them.

Bride hugs her mom at the end of the aisle before wedding ceremony starts as guests stand around them.

Bride hugs her father and the groom hugs Bride's mother at the end of the aisle as guests stand watching during the ceremony with Ravisloe Country Club in the backgrounnd.

Homewood Wedding Photographer captures the back of the wedding party looking towards the seated guests as they stand lined up for the wedding ceremony.

The ceremony itself was just as wonderful as the gorgeous space it took place in, thanks in large part to the officiant, Marguerite. She did a fantastic job of weaving the different stories and values of Emily and Kevin through the ceremony, something everyone in attendance was talking about afterwards!

Wedding officiant makes her way down the aisle with a microphone in hand as guests look towards the front of the aisle.

Bride and Groom look at each other stand in front of Ravisloe Country Club that is covered in vines during wedding ceremony.

Woman in a blue flowy dress gives a reading during the ceremony at a microphone as the bridesmaids stand behind her.

Bride and Groom stand arm and arm as the officiant speaks during wedding ceremony. In the background you can see the windows and peach columns of the Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride and Groom stand arm in arm in front of the gorgeous entrance of Ravisloe Country Club smiling during wedding ceremony.

Groom stares lovingly at bride during wedding ceremony as she laughs in gorgeous black and white photo by Springfield Wedding Photographer.

Bride holds colorful bouquet up to her face as her and groom kiss during wedding ceremony in front of entrance of Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride holds up her bouquet in celebration as she and the groom make their way down the aisle after wedding ceremony. Their guests smile and cheer around them.

Black and White Photo of bride and groom walking down the aisle after wedding ceremony with guests cheering and clapping around them.

Bride holding a colorful bouquet and Groom in an all black tux smile as they walk arm in arm down to the end of the aisle.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen clap as they run towards the bride and groom standing on pavement at the end of the aisle.

One of my favorite moments to look for on wedding days is the wedding party celebrating the couple right after the ceremony. Emily + Kevin’s friends continued the excitement after the first kiss.

Bride holds grooms arm and holds a bouquet of flowers as she sticks her tongue out towards the camera for a silly candid photograph.

Black and White photograph of bride and groom kissing as their bridesmaids and groomsmen clap behind them.

Bride and Groom run towards their wedding party as guests file out of their seats after wedding ceremony. In the background is the gorgeous Ravisloe Country Club and gazebos.

Bridesmaids hugs groom in timeless black and white photo by Chicagoland Wedding Photographer.

Wedding Party stands in a line and poses for Chicagoland Wedding Photographer in front of the entrance of Ravisloe Country Club.

Since there was no first look before the ceremony, we quickly did group wedding party photos, sending the wedding party off to cocktail hour when we were finished.

Wedding party stands out on the grass. The bridesmaids look left and the groomsmen look right as the bride and groom kiss in the middle.

Wedding party smiles and squats around each other in the grass during wedding portraits.

Wedding party puts their arms up to make a tunnel as the bride and groom duck down to run through it.

Then the three of us snuck off for their private vows. This along with their first look were some of the only times the two truly had to themselves, which made it all the more special!

Bride and Groom stand on a sidewalk with the Ravisloe Country Club beyond a tree line as they read their intimate vows to each other.

Bride in a long sleeve sparkly dress gets emotional as groom reads his vows to her.

Chicagoland Wedding Photographer captures groom's hands holding book he wrote his vows in and bride's hands clasped holding her bouquet as she listens.

Bride and Groom hold hands as they run in the grass towards the camera smiling at each other with the Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Bride and Groom smile smile big at the camera as they stand in the grassy lawn with the Ravisloe Country Club in the background.

Bride and Groom run through the grass with trees behind them looking at each other.

Celebrating Their Reception at Ravisloe Country Club

Emily and Kevin’s commitment to having all of their friends and family present for their wedding wasn’t always the plan. The two actually debated whether to have a small wedding or not. But ultimately decided that it just wasn’t the right fit for them. Their people mean SO much to them. It just didn’t feel right whenever they considered some of their friends and family not being present for the big day.

Chicagoland Wedding photographer captures a a still life of the reception wedding table adorned with champagne glasses, wine, candle sticks and a bouquet of orange and blue flowers.

Table of photographs of family members who have passed. In the center of the table is a sign that says, "In Loving Memory" surrounded by white flowers.

Bride and Groom enter the Ravisloe Country Club reception room holding hands and smiling.

This turned their wedding reception at the Ravisloe Country Club’s indoor space into a massive party with ALL of their favorite people! The reception was more than just a party though, as just like with the rest of their wedding day, Emily, Kevin, and their loved ones put in the extra effort to make the day special.

Bride and Groom sit at the head table and share a kiss during the dinner reception.

Bridesmaids kneel down to help bride bustle her dress before the wedding reception.

Bride and Groom sit at the head table and smile at guests giving a wedding toast standing next to them.

Bridesmaid tears up and wipes her eyes with a napkin as they sit at the head table during wedding speeches.

Bride smiles as bridesmaid gives a toast. They are sitting at the head table seated around their bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Guests puts his hand on his face laughing as other guests laugh around him. They are seated at gorgeous head table adorned in beautiful white flower bouquets in the reception hall at Ravisloe Country Club.

Whether it’s the jaw dropping dessert table of candies from local stores, Emily’s father’s immensely moving speech, the Irish blessing from Emily’s siblings, or the emotional first dance between Emily and Kevin, it was an evening so full of love that trying to pick a favorite moment or memory from it is practically impossible!

Bride smiles as she holds a microphone standing next to the groom during their reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride hugs the groom as he puts his hand up and guests seated around them clap.

Bride and Groom stand in front of the head table and speak to their wedding guests during reception.

Bride and Groom look at their feet as they perform their first dance in the Ravisloe Country Club reception hall.

Bride and Groom dance together on the dance floor in the reception hall at Ravisloe Country Club. Guests watch from the side of the dance floor.

During their wedding reception, Emily & Kevin’s first dance was to “Banks” by NEEDTOBREATHE. I’ll never forget the way these two danced like it was 10pm in their kitchen. We could all feel the love in this moment-YES IT FEELS CHEESY BUT IT WAS TRUE!

Bride and Groom press their foreheads together during their first dance at wedding reception.

Chicagoland Wedding photographer captures a wide shot of the reception hall at Ravisloe Country Club focusing in on bride and groom during their first dance. From the ceiling hangs beautiful chandeliers and the dance floor is lit on the couple.

Bride in sparkly dress and her father dance in wedding reception hall at Ravisloe Country Club.

Groom watches the dance floor surrounded by guests during beautiful reception.

Father of the bride is hugged by bridesmaids during wedding reception.

Groom closes his eye and leans his head against his mother during their dance in wedding reception hall at Ravisloe Country Club.

Guest stands next to a chandelier as he videos the groom and his mom during their dance at wedding reception.

Chicagoland Wedding Photographer captures a wide shot of entire Ravisloe Country Club reception hall as wedding guests cheer on during the first dance.

Bride stands in a line with her guests clapping and cheering during wedding reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Groom walks with his mom onto the dance floor as they both pat their teary eyes.

Black and White photo of bride pointing to the crowd as she dances with groom on dance floor surrounded by chandeliers during reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Wedding guests craddle their baby with headphones on during wedding reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Baby’s first wedding!!

Two women in pink and green dresses help a grandfather get onto the dance floor during reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Once the dance floor opened up to everyone it was basically packed for the rest of the night. Everyone danced their hearts out that night. It was a picture perfect end to Emily and Kevin’s already perfect wedding day!

Wedding Guest women help grandmother in a blue dress onto the dance floor during reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride and groom squat down and kiss while they put on matching Chuck Taylor shoes during wedding reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride and groom hold their hands out to each other on dance floor at Ravisloe Country Club reception hall.

Guest in a cowboy hat dances with bridesmaid in yellow dress during wedding reception in Ravisloe Country Club hall.

Bride and groom kiss while showing off their wedding bands and friendship bracelets during reception at Ravisloe Country Club.

Bride and groom smile for a photo with Springfield wedding photographer after wedding reception.

I am SO happy to have photographed Emily and Kevin’s wedding at the Ravisloe Country Club. I absolutely adore these two, the relationship they’ve built together, and the incredible connection they share with their friends and family. If you’re looking to have me document your wedding day be sure to inquire through my contact page.