April 3, 2025
You should know that I am a huge advocate for celebrating your wedding day the way YOU want to! Whether that’s with an intimate wedding, an elopement, or a huge get together with all of your friends and family, you deserve to have the wedding day that you’ve dreamt of. Nyah and Sam both knew this, which is why they combined the best of both worlds for their wedding.
Today we’ll be looking at their intimate wedding at the Sangamon County Courthouse, and October of next year is when they plan to have a huge wedding at the Artisans Building. I’m so happy that I get to be a part of both, and I can’t wait for you all to see the magic they created with this first outing!
Their Family Focused, Intimate Wedding at the Sangamon County Courthouse
Nyah and Sam knew they wanted to get married soon, but with Sam’s family living in Nigeria it was going to be hard to make that happen while having their full families present for the day. This is what led them to choose having two separate wedding days so that they could literally get the best of both worlds!
For their intimate wedding day they chose to keep things simple and sweet, starting with their ceremony at the Sangamon County Courthouse.
Even with it being a smaller gathering with their closest loved ones, the emotions that Nyah, Sam, and their guests were feeling were anything but!
The tears started well before the ceremony itself did, and it was so special to witness and document this amazing moment for these two.
Newlywed Portraits at the Illinois State Capitol Building
Following their intimate wedding ceremony in the Sangamon County Courthouse we took a few group portraits before heading over to “my office”. Aka the Illinois State Capitol Building! This is a favorite spot of mine for engagement photos, elopement portraits, and of course wedding portraits like Nyah and Sam’s.
We started outside for photos! It was cloudy that day which gave us some beautiful overcast lighting.
Big or small wedding- it’s always fun to focus on the little details. Just because you’re not paying thousands of dollars for centerpieces doesn’t mean there aren’t details to focus on.
Nyah & Sam equally shined in their fashion forward looks. It was fun to creatively look at each of their outfits & document them.
Right?? I mean wow that ring sam wore was so good.
Inside the Illinois State Capitol
If you want to photos inside the IL state Capitol be sure to read this blog post about how!
Don’t mind me playing with my flash when they were around the elevator!!
Once again, focusing on the details can be so fun! Very much loving that neck scarves are in right now.
The IL State Capitol Building is gorgeous both inside and out, which is why I’m always down to take portraits here. The stunning architecture provides such a classy and romantic setting to work with.
Nyah and Sam pulled off such a stylish and refined feel for their photos. Outfits do add to the vibe of your photos.
I mean come on!!!
After wrapping up the last of the portrait photos Nyah and Sam met up with their loved ones for a late lunch to finish off the day’s festivities.
Documenting Nyah and Sam’s intimate wedding at the Sangamon County Courthouse was a magical experience, and it has me even more excited for their wedding next October! Witnessing these two get to celebrate with ALL of their favorite people as they combine Nigerian and American wedding customs is going to be such an amazing day to be a part of.
Check out some of my other galleries on my blog!
And if you’d like me to document your wedding or elopement you can send me an inquiry today!
How to plan a courthouse wedding in Sangamon County
How to plan an elopement anywhere in Illinois
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All love is affirmed & celebrated here.
Rachael Marie Photography values inclusivity and will never discriminate against your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, body type, or abilities. You are wonderful, beautiful, and loved here.
For the people who would rather be living the moment than posing for it.
I'm Rachael (she/her) by the way.
I'll give you direction when you need it and space when you don't. I believe the best photos aren't always the ones where everyone is looking at the camera.
Sometimes they're the ones where your best friend is crying. Your grandma is laughing.
Your partner is looking at you when you aren't paying attention. And someone is absolutely losing their mind on the dance floor.
Those are the photos I want to make.
