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Carhop Crush | One Fine Day Salon and Photography | Southern Illinois Engagement

By Britni On May 28, 2013 In Engagement With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Carhop Crush | One Fine Day Salon and Photography | Southern Illinois Engagement

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Derek and Ashley have a love story that goes back to their younger teen years as a crush turned into something greater. View this beautiful country chic engagement session by One Fine Day Salon and Photography. Also read below about how the couple found love!

How they met:

I remember working at Dickirson’s Drive-In in McLeansboro. At the time, I was in the 8th grade and Derek was a sophomore in high school. I remember he had just received his license when I was working as a carhop. Derek and one of his friends would make ”laps” in McLeansboro. Every now and again they would stop by the drive-in and eat. I would get those love butterflies in my stomach. I had the biggest crush on him. We talked on MSN, but the first time I was ever around him was at a going away gathering. I never thought my two year crush would actually turn into reality. Four days after my 16th birthday, Derek and I planned to hang out. That same night he asked me to be his girlfriend. We spent 4 years together until I moved away to college. It was tough, but we knew if it was meant to be it would happen again. A year and a half apart and one night he calls me. It was like we had never been apart. We talked for hours. So here we are today, back together for a year and seven months. We have been engaged for 6 months and I cannot wait to marry this man. He is my best friend, my better half, and my soulmate. He makes me laugh and comforts me when I’m down. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him. I guess you could say he is my high school sweetheart.

About the Photographer:

Autumn Vinyard, owner of One Fine Day Salon and Photography, enjoys producing modern creative photography inspired by fashion and romance. She loves to get to know each bride and groom and bringing unique details into their portraits on their wedding day. Autumn loves smiles, laughs, and (most of all) romance between the bride and groom. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for just over two years. They reside in Harrisburg with their crazy cat Simba (who thinks he’s human).

View One Fine Day Salon Photography’s website and “Like” One Day Salon and Photography’s Facebook page!

Weck Events and Weddings | Southern Illinois Wedding Decorator and Coordinator

By Britni On May 20, 2013 In Ideas, Inspiration, Venues With No Comments Permanent Link to Weck Events and Weddings | Southern Illinois Wedding Decorator and Coordinator

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Southern Illinois has a true miracle worker residing in Belleville, IL. GiGi Weck, owner and event stylist of Weck Events and Weddings, can transform any space into something magical. Here are some images of her work at Four Points by Sheraton Fairview Heights.

About Weck Events and Weddings:

In 2002, GiGi Weck quit a full-time career as a firefighter paramedic in St. Louis County and Weck Events and Weddings was born. She says that she always enjoyed parties and the best way to get invited is to plan them! Her favorite part of the business is take a couple’s vision and making it a reality. Her couples and their families can enjoy the day without worrying about the details.

Weck Events and Weddings can offer as much or as little help as her clients need. This ranges from a day of coordinating to full service planning, design and decor. GiGi has her own inventory rentals such as chair covers, linens, vases, props, and is now offering floral design for the wedding party and reception.

One bit of advice that GiGi wants potential clients to know is that it’s more affordable to hire a wedding decorator in the long run. Many brides start purchasing items and eventually realize how much have been bought out of impulse and not necessity. Or that their overall look changes because they cannot find all the items they want. With the time and commitment needed to execute their vision, they are going to be the person in charge or directing where every detail needs to be placed. Most venues do not offer much time to prepare and cuts into time that brides and grooms should be enjoying a relaxing time with family and friends.

Working many years in the public as a firefighter paramedic, GiGi enjoys people! Her passion is being creative while also having the ability to troubleshoot and make quick decisions. One time, she had a groomsman pass out at the altar. With her medical training, GiGi was able to take charge of the situation and take care of the groomsman. Then they were able to get back to the ceremony.

GiGi really aspires to make each wedding unique and memorable. She loves what she does and wants it to be a great experience for her clients. She does not promise perfect; that is a set up for failure. Although things may happen unexpectedly, Weck Events and Weddings goes above and beyond to make each wedding remarkable. She’s been doing this for over a decade, and when she has worked for three sisters in the same family, she knows it is a sign of a job well done.

Be sure to visit Weck Events and Weddings at their brand new location at 321 East Main Street in downtown Belleville, IL!

Visit Weck Events and Weddings’ website! And be sure to “Like” the Weck Events and Weddings Facebook page. You can contact GiGi Weck at: affairs@weckevents.com

Photos courtesy of Britni Woodworth Photography.

Unexpected Love | One Fine Day Salon & Photography | Southern Illinois Weddings

By Britni On May 5, 2013 In Ideas, Inspiration, Real Weddings With No Comments Permanent Link to Unexpected Love | One Fine Day Salon & Photography | Southern Illinois Weddings

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Ryan and Kayla decided to give the digital dating world a try…and ended up finding true love. Their images are just as beautiful as their love story. Autumn Vinyard of One Fine Day Salon & Photography captured every lovely detail of their wedding day. Read more about how they met and view One Fine Day Salon & Photography’s gorgeous photographs.

: © One Fine Day Salon & Photography

From the Bride:

I was living in Carbondale with my roommate, Tonya, and her teacup pig, Sir Maxwell. After a series of unsuccessful relationships, I had resigned myself to be content on my own with my puppy, Charlie. He was the only man I needed in my life, after all. Tonya had other plans for me. One day she came in my room while I was doing my school work and asked if I would help her win a $25 gift card to Starbucks. “Sure, what do we have to do?” I said. “You have to set up a match.com profile for the three day free trial. You can cancel it before it charges you, though,” she said. I told her I would help but she would owe me a latte. We proceeded to fill out my likes and dislikes, when it came to religious matters I was very adamant that my views were up front. I was hoping that would scare off people and I could stay right where I was. Over the fourth of July my family had to take an emergency trip to Kentucky, on the way there I decided to look at who the Internet cupids had chosen– then I saw him. He had pictures with children who looked thrilled to be with him and a nice smile. I looked at his values and Christianity was there. I read about his self proclaimed weird sense of humor. I liked that he was candid, so I clicked ‘like.’ I wanted to weed out the dummies, so I made my profile picture and username the same as my Facebook. About 1 1/2 hours later I received a Facebook message. “Your name sounded familiar.. So just in case you aren’t actually a Match member, you can find me here if you’d like to talk. I would.” At this point, nerves kicked in, I wasn’t sure how to have a conversation anymore. So I went into operation women’s studies, playing the role of “over intense feminist” girl who scares everyone off. He just said he’s doing his own, so here it goes! I spent a good majority of my time detailing things about my past that would send most people running for the hills, but despite my best efforts he was still talking to me and my guard was coming down. It surprised me that I could get attached to someone I’d never met in person; that I could care what a complete stranger thought of my life. So we planned to meet for dinner before he left for a golfing trip with his friends in Alabama. I picked Mississippi Flyway since it was local and right by the Neighborhood Co-op where I needed to pick up some things. My plan was to drive separate, eat with him and go grocery shopping alone. But we fell right into conversation about life and how God had worked His way into both of our hearts. The next thing I know, he is escorting me to the co-op and we picked up snacks to take to my house where he met Charlie and we watched Music & Lyrics. He was away for his trip for the next few days and I missed him. I had never really been “that girl” before. When he came back we saw each other almost every day. I fell in love with him so quickly. I believe he is my blessing– my own personal miracle.

From the groom:

After deciding I had checked out all of my local options, I decided I was going to give online dating a chance. I know…not cool…but I wanted to expand my dating horizons. I met a couple of nice girls but distance was an issue and nothing really clicked. I had pretty much given up on the online scene when a really cute girl clicked “like” on my profile. After reading about her, I immediately clicked “like” too. There was a problem, though. If you’ve ever cruised around a dating site, you realize most profiles are people who haven’t a actually paid or haven’t even logged in for the past six months. Well, this girl was brand new but I didn’t want to just send an email to an inbox that would never be checked. So I started hunting. It didn’t take me long to find her on a free and much more commonly used social site. The sneak had used the same picture for her dating profile as she did on her social networking profile. Combining that with her first initial, last name and birth year cleverly hidden in her dating ID…I found her. Within a half hour we were emailing and within a day we were sending text messages. I was very intrigued because she was so different from every girl I had dated before. We met for our first date at Mississippi Flyway (R.I.P.) in Carbondale, IL on July 11, 2012. She tried her best to run me off, but it obviously didn’t work. In fact, it backfired. We were married at Dorrisville Baptist Church on March 9, 2013. We’ve hardly had a hiccup along the way. My only regret is that if she’d paid the $19.95 to that dating site we might have a TV commercial now.

From the Photographer:

Ryan and Kayla are such a fun, sweet couple! I have known them both for several years, and was so excited when they found each other, fell head-over-heels, and then asked me to be a part of their wedding day! Ryan is a classy guy who absolutely loves family, being adventurous, and to laugh. Kayla has a kind spirit, she loves her pets, and loves her family. She can definitely keep up with Ryan when it comes to humor.

View One Fine Day Salon Photography’s website and “Like” One Day Salon and Photography’s Facebook page!

The cake was made by Stephanie at Creative Confections.

The Secret to the Perfect DIY Wedding |Julia of Baker-Builder | Southern Illinois Weddings

By Britni On April 28, 2013 In Ideas, Inspiration With 1 Comment Permanent Link to The Secret to the Perfect DIY Wedding |Julia of Baker-Builder | Southern Illinois Weddings

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Editor’s Note: Julia (of baker-builder.com) and her fiance are natives of Carbondale, IL and currently living in Chicago. They are planning their wedding long-distance and will be coming home for their ceremony. Julia is a baker, a blogger, and a lover of all things design. She will be contributing some helpful tips on wedding planning for I DO: In Southern Illinois.

The Secret to the Perfect DIY Wedding

(hint: don’t do it all yourself)

Without a doubt, the trend of the DIY wedding is hitting hard these days. Rustic accents, personal touches, mason jars, and dessert tables are replacing the bedazzled weddings that have been popular for so long. The only problem with this is many brides wonder if they will really have the time or skill to pull off a one-of-a-kind, rustic wedding as pretty as the ones in the pictures.

I love anything DIY. I even have a blog about it. I find myself to be pretty good at projects like this and even have a crafty, design-loving fiance, but there is no way that we would have attempted to do this wedding all by ourselves. The key to that great DIY feel is not perfect decorations or manicured nails, it’s the knowing that everything around you is personal and special to you and not from a box.

Pick what you know you can do (maybe the decorations and lighting) and let the people who love you help you with the rest. Have a friend who has a knack with flowers? Have them make the table arrangements. Maid of Honor a whiz at calligraphy? Ask her to help! People will be asking you constantly between now and your big day about what they can do, so don’t be afraid to get everyone’s hands on deck.

It can be easy to want to control it all, but letting people get involved is what makes a wedding so special. It’s not about it being picture perfect and it’s definitely not all about you. After all, your friends and family are the people who have been there for you and will continue to be there once you are married. They are the ones who will help you through the hard times in your marriage and watch your kids when you can’t take another minute. They are living, breathing pieces of your relationship, not extras in your perfect little wedding movie.

So, remember to let go. Remember that your guests won’t even notice that your napkins are monogrammed in gold. And above all, remember it’s all of these people who got you to where you are today.

- Julia (the baker)

baker-builder.com

The Boy Next Door | The Rasers Photography | Southern Illinois Engagement Session

By Britni On April 28, 2013 In Engagement With 1 Comment Permanent Link to The Boy Next Door | The Rasers Photography | Southern Illinois Engagement Session

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Amber and Nick have the sweetest love story. It is proof that the right person will be there at the right time. They also have a beautiful engagement session that goes hand in hand with their beautiful story. This is the case where their images and story speaks for themselves. Enjoy these amazing photos by The Rasers and read more about how Amber and Nick met, fell in love, and how he proposed!

© The Rasers Southern Illinois Engagement Session Southern Illinois Weddings

How they met:

Nick and I met in January 2009 because we were neighbors. Nick lived with 3 other guys in a house and I lived in a one-bedroom duplex behind him. I was finishing my Masters degree in Counseling and trying to focus on school to graduate and move to Florida. I right away thought of him as the cute neighbor and he and his roommates would check up on me often. We had a friendship first but that changed in April 2009 when we started spending more time together. After putting my dog Barley to sleep (one of the hardest moments of my life), Nick brought me over flowers and a card he made. I knew he was a special kind of guy

Our first date was at Whaler’s Catch in Paducah, KY. We have traveled there on our April 30th anniversary every year since and order the same thing, a BIG pot of seafood to share! I decided very soon that he was the one for me. He lived and worked 6 hours away from me for the first summer together, which was tough but we talked and texted everyday. I decided to stay and work on my PhD at SIU while Nick started his Masters in Horticulture. It has been an amazing experience so far and we look forward to the future!

How he proposed:

Nick had been planning a getaway weekend for us for sometime and is not necessarily good at surprising me with anything. I knew we were going to St. Louis and that was it. The weekend was July 2-4 and we left for our destination on Saturday morning. The first stop was to the Crown Valley Brewery in St. Genevieve where we did a tasting. Next stop was at the Cave Winery; the title pretty much explains it all. I definitely thought of friends that we would like to bring back because it was such an unique place!
After the winery, we found our way to St. Louis and to the Chase Park Plaza Hotelwhere I walked into a suite with Champagne! Already I knew I was in for a relaxing and memorable weekend. I found myself feeling a bit anxious because I knew this meant a real big step into my relationship. During the trip, Nick sneaked in a box from Larry’s cakes and I insisted on eating whatever dessert was in there, now! He just said this is for after our nice dinner.

Saturday night we just relaxed, had dinner at the hotel, and went to see Super 8, as our hotel had a movie theater in it! Because our bedtime is usually 10pm we were pooped at 11:30pm and crashed.

Sunday morning I had no idea what we were doing for the day. Nick said we would be walking a lot this morning and we found our way to the Missouri Botanical Gardens – One of the most beautiful places I have ever been! I loved that Nick had always wanted to spend time there and that we were first-timers together. We definitely did not have enough time to explore everything and will be going back someday!

After we rested at the hotel pool, until a storm developed and crushed Nick’s outdoor evening plans. We made it to our dinner reservation at Mike Shannon’s right by the arch at 630pm. The rain kept coming and Nick seemed unhappy. I found out that he had reserved a carriage ride for us at 8pm that evening. As we watched the radar, the rain looked like it would clear up, but the carriage place called and said they were canceling everything for the evening. Even the fireworks and band (Maroon 5) were canceled under the arch.

Nick must have done some quick thinking and after the rain cleared we walked to the arch and back to a park in front of the capitol building. Nick said “I think it’s time for dessert” and pulled out the Larry’s cake box…in it were two cupcakes that said “Will you Marry Me?” with a very sparkly engagement ring in the frosting of one. I immediately started crying and hugged and kissed him. I am pretty sure I never even said yes, but I am sure he knew the answer right away.

About the Photographers:

The Rasers are an award-winning husband & wife photography team with a creative, fun, and modern approach to wedding photography. With their unobtrusive documentary style they strive to document stories from creative and personal perspectives. The Rasers love to travel, and would love to be friends. Based in Southern California, they are available throughout the US and Internationally for weddings.

Visit The Rasers online at www.therasers.com.

She’s a Baker, He’s a Builder | Darrell Mankin Photography | Southern Illinois Engagement Session

By Britni On April 21, 2013 In Engagement, Ideas, Inspiration With 1 Comment Permanent Link to She’s a Baker, He’s a Builder | Darrell Mankin Photography | Southern Illinois Engagement Session

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Julia and Brian lived parallel lives until their early twenties. They grew up in the same town and had similar experiences while never crossing paths. Read more about how these two found each other and view some of their engagement photos by Darrell Mankin Photography.

Julia & Brian’s Love Story:

Our love story began before we even met. We were both raised in Carbondale, even born in the same hospital, shopped at the same grocery stores with our moms, and went to the same high school. Luckily for us, we were born five years apart, leaving plenty of growing space between us to delay meeting each other until our early twenties. I say we were lucky because it is that growing space that set us up for our true love. By the time we found each other, we had both dated all the wrong people, really began figuring out what we wanted out of life, and weren’t looking for the wrong kind of relationship. We came to each other through some of the most wonderful mutual friends (to whom we will always be indebted), with no expectations and only fun and friendship on our minds. It wasn’t long before we stopped just running into each other and actually started making plans. What would start out as dinner would turn into a long night of talking over cocktails, lots of bad dancing, and a whole lot of fun. In November of 2007, we decided to make it official and haven’t looked back since. Since then, we have lived in three different states, started and developed our careers, raised two really weird dogs, and kept each other sane through a lot of hard times. We’ve lived like we were married for so long, so when Brian surprised me one Sunday night last April and got down on one knee, I wasn’t exactly shocked, but I was happier than I had ever been. I knew right then and there that what we had would be ours forever and that we were the luckiest people in the whole world. Our wedding is set for June 1, 2013 at the Historic Bell Hill in Cobden, IL. With two hundred of our closest friends and family, we will tie the knot and continue our journey together officially as Mr. and Mrs. Leenig.

Visit Julia & Brian’s blog: baker-builder to follow their adventures.

Wedding Vendors: Photography by Darrell Mankin. Catering by Ray’s of Kelso. Day-of coordinating by Weddings by Nancy.

About Mankin Photography

Darrell and Rhonda Mankin are freelance photographers from Southern Illinois. While attending Lithography School in Virginia, Darrell studied commercial printing and photography. He has worked in Public Affairs as editor and photojournalist. He talents also include graphic design as he has been involved in numerous album designs for local bands. Rhonda majored in photography as Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. She is a lifestyle and children photographer. Darrell, on the other hand, shoots weddings and everything else. They have been known to capture weddings as a team from time to time when Rhonda and their children are invited to the event. They currently reside in Marion with their two lovely daughters.

According to the talented duo, “Our photography is simple. We feel that there is too much superficiality in mainstream photography and we would like to convey a genuine and more natural approach. We explore the subtleties in human nature and try to represent people as they are.”

Visit Mankin Photography’s website for more information.

Vintage Rentals | Thrifty 31 Rentals | Carterville, IL

By Britni On April 19, 2013 In Ideas, Inspiration With No Comments Permanent Link to Vintage Rentals | Thrifty 31 Rentals | Carterville, IL

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Vintage touches are popular with wedding decorations but finding them can be quite the adventure. Luckily for Southern Illinois residents, Thrifty 31 Rentals does all the work for you. Here are just a few images of the accessories available to rent. Continue scrolling through the images to learn more about the business and be sure to check their website for more accent pieces!

About Thrifty 31 Rentals:

Based in Carterville, IL, Thrifty 31 Rentals offers one of a kind vintage rental pieces for weddings, events, parties, photo shoots, and more in the Southern Illinois area. Their unique collection of vintage accessories, rustic accents, and decor will add the perfect character to any event. They can help make any event special by providing the perfect pieces to add that vintage flair without having to spend lots of money or time looking for the items yourself!

All of their inventory is rented by piece. There is no minimum charge for a rental, so rent one item or them all! Check out their website Thrifty 31 Rentals for a current listing of their inventory, pricing, and quantities. Also be sure to “like” Thrifty 31 Rentals on Facebook to stay up to date on their latest news and specials!

From the Owner:

My name is Leah Wright and I own Thrifty 31 Rentals. I have always had a love for anything vintage or antique. I love yard sales and going to flea markets and decorating my house with my thrifty finds! After my house was full, I still wanted to go thrift shopping. I decided to start fixing up and reselling items on my Facebook page, Thrifty 31.

I started having several brides buy my items for their weddings, knowing that they would only use the items once. From there, I decided to start Thrifty 31 Rentals so several brides and other customers could enjoy my items over and over again.

The name, Thrifty 31 Rentals, comes from Proverbs 31:18, “She perceives that her merchandise is good.”

Contact Thrifty 31 Rentals on their website, by phone: (618) 525-5324, or by email: Thrifty31rentals@gmail.com. Also, be sure to “Like” Thrifty 31 Rentals on Facebook!

Bridal Party Gift Ideas | Dayshift Boutique

By Britni On April 10, 2013 In Fashion/Beauty With No Comments Permanent Link to Bridal Party Gift Ideas | Dayshift Boutique

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Finding the perfect and unique bridal party gift can be a challenge. The bridal party has taken time out of their life (and more than likely contributed for their part financially) so finding something special to show you appreciate their presence is a nice touch. Luckily, Dayshift Boutique in Carbondale has you covered. This eclectic shop showcases some of the most talented local artists. Not only can you find gorgeous jewelry for the ladies, you can find these clever customized leather flasks and wallets by Inblue for the guys. Be sure to read one for more information about the artist and the Dayshift Boutique!

About Inblue:

Mary Lynn Schroeder is the owner, operator, and designer of Inblue. She makes leather wallets, cell phone sleeves, journals and flasks. The flasks and wallets are very popular items for groomsmen gifts. The journals come in different sizes, the largest of which is often used as a guest book at weddings. One of the reasons for the popularity is that all of these items can be customized. They offer a huge selection of different images that can be stamped onto the leather. They will also add text in the form of names, dates, song lyrics, lines from a poem, to name a few! The guestbooks usually have the couple’s name and the wedding date stamped on the font. The flasks or wallets can have initials or names of the groomsmen on them with stamped graphics. These gifts are fun and functional!

About Dayshift Boutique:

Dayshift Boutique represents over 75 Southern Illinois artists. Everything is made by the skilled hands of our region’s most talented artists and craftsmen. Many of our items can be customized for special occasions like weddings. We carry an eclectic mix of merchandise including fine art, clothing, jewelry, handbags, photography, home goods, kids stuff, pet items and much more! Please visit us in downtown Carbondale at 101 West Monroe Street.

If you have any questions, you can call Dayshift at (618) 529-3297 or email dayshiftshop@gmail.com. Be sure to “Like” Dayshift Boutique on Facebook!

Retro Picnic Wedding | Chrystal Nause Photography

By Britni On March 18, 2013 In Fashion/Beauty, Ideas, Inspiration, Real Weddings, Venues With No Comments Permanent Link to Retro Picnic Wedding | Chrystal Nause Photography

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It’s not difficult to fall in love with this retro summer picnic themed wedding. Lindsay and Tim had an office romance that eventually led to a lunch hour elopement. The couple decided to throw a huge celebration with whimsical touches to recognize their lifetime commitment. Chrystal Nause Photography captured these beautiful details to share with I DO: In Southern Illinois. View the lovely images and read more about how the couple fell in love.

The Couple (written by Lindsay)

Tim and I met in the workplace and knew very quickly that we were doomed. I mean ‘doomed’ in the best possible way, seeing as there was an instant and undeniable chemistry that would defy any company policy. Fortunately for us, our employer allowed office romance and we moved forward without hesitation.

Just a few short months later we were engaged and quietly slipped off to the courthouse to exchange vows. There were absolutely no bells or whistles the day we tied the knot, but we knew we wanted a wedding reception that would celebrate the commitment we had quietly made. As we began to make plans for our wedding celebration, we had a few key elements to consider. We knew we wanted it to be budget-friendly as well as a total reflection of who we were as a couple. We wanted it to feel like a summer picnic that infused a whimsical vibe.

Venue

We tossed around a few venue ideas and decided on Field of Dreams in DeSoto, Il. We chose this location due to the great price as well as a lot of freedom to utilize the space. We were able to use the indoor facility or outdoor area and were given virtually no restrictions on decorations, number of guests, alcoholic beverages, etc. The owners were extremely flexible and open to our vision for our special day.

Attire

Because we had already said our vows, we knew our ‘ceremony’ would be somewhat unique and therefore opted to not have a bridal party. Due to this the only attire I really needed to focus on was my dress. I wanted my dress to fit the theme and the feel of the day, which was fun and carefree. I found my dress on UniqueVintage.com for an extremely good price. I also purchased two crinoline slips to go under my dress to make it extra quirky. I was skeptical to order online, but the dress fit like a glove and made me feel vibrant and special and my wedding day. I also opted to have blue shoes and nails to match Tim’s attire as well as our wedding décor.

Décor

All of the décor was completed by Tim and I. We created a small business, called Deliciously Ordinary, where we ‘re-funkify’ old furniture and make a variety of other things. Our love for most things DIY lent itself nicely to completing each of our wedding details. We spent countless hours making paper flowers, giant pinwheels, invitations, personalized mad libs, our ‘kite guest book’, as well as all the centerpiece items. Each DIY project contributed to the whimsical vibe we were hoping to accomplish.

The Photographer

Chrystal Nause (owner + primary photography, Chrystal Nause Photography) resides in southern Illinois (Makanda, to be specific). Her photography has a classic flair with a touch of artistic sass, as she utilizes vintage cameras, plastic toy cameras, and retro lenses. She focuses on classic fundamental elements: beautiful light, flowing compositions, and strong connections with people. She combines both film and digital formats to tell each couple’s story, and loves to capture the smallest moments without being noticed. Her photographs evoke the fleeting memories and lasting emotions she captures.

Please visit her website for a recent portfolio, pricing, and contact information.

From the Photographer

After some brief email communication, I met with Linz and Tim for the first time at Longbranch Coffee House (which is like my business office because of their delicious coffee and snacks).

Linz and Tim told me about their office romance and how they had even snuck away on their lunch break to be married. Both were eager to show me photographs of their handmade wedding décor and fill me in on all of their plans that were in the works. They were definitely visually driven – and that is so exciting for me as a photographer. They were also very concerned with the photography suiting the vintage vibe of their 1950s picnic theme. My artistic and retro tendencies addressed this nicely.

Their carefree personalities, taste for adventure, and visual style were, quite simply, contagious. I knew that I just had to be their wedding photographer within the very first 5 minutes of meeting them.

The wedding day was gorgeous. The grass was a saturated green and the skies were a rich blue dotted with clouds. I have photographed several weddings at Field of Dreams, but Linz and Tim literally transformed the outdoor space into their own venue. There were handmade tidbits everywhere: pinwheels lined the ‘aisle’ they walked down, paper ‘lily pads’ led the way to the reception area, and there was a dessert flat bed with giant magenta balloons. We ended the day with an outdoor photo booth for their guests and an hour long ‘sexy fun time’ photo session with the couple. Simply perfect!

For more information about Chrystal Nause Photography, visit her website. And be sure to “Like” Chrystal Nause Photography’s Facebook Page!

Meant To Be | Engagement Session | Mallory Minor Photography

By Britni On January 28, 2013 In Engagement, Inspiration With No Comments Permanent Link to Meant To Be | Engagement Session | Mallory Minor Photography

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If you believe in fate, then you will love how Dan and Stefani crossed paths. Mallory Minor of Mallory Minor Photography captured their commitment to each other. Enjoy these beautiful photographs and read on to learn more about Mallory Minor Photography.

How they met:

Back in June of 2007, Dan and I both had just gotten out of relationships, and were living our lives, separately. I worked at a music store, and one of my friends decided she wanted to set me up with her boyfriend’s friend, Dan. So on my birthday, (June 11^th), Dan came in with my friend Kate and gave me a birthday card. I didn’t know his name, didn’t know anything about him, but here he was with a birthday card for me. He wrote in the card something to the effect of, “I think you would really like to hang out with me, so you should give me a call sometime.” He didn’t sign his name, didn’t leave a number, but I ended up going to a party as his house that night. We barely talked at all, but when I left, I got a text message from him. And the next day he called me. And then we hung out. And then we were inseparable. By the end of September 2007, Dan and I had gotten a place together- fast, I know. In May of 2009 we bought our house together, and in March of 2011, he proposed.

How did he propose? First, let me tell you how he planned to propose. We went on a cruise to the Bahamas in March of 2011, and Dan had bought THE ring. He took it with on the cruise, carrying it with him everywhere we went. He was trying to find the right time to propose to me. One of the first things we did on the cruise was attend a “Newlywed Game” show they were having. The host of the show called up an old married couple, a newly married couple, and a couple that were still dating. Well, the host and the “boyfriend” planned that he would propose to her on stage in front of everyone. And there we were, in the crowd, watching this go down. And I did the whole “look at how cute that was! I wish you’d do something crazy like that for me!” And ruined his plans of proposing on vacation.

The weekend after we got back from our cruise, late at night before we went to bed, Dan proposed to me! It was March 14, 2011- and it was perfect. I didn’t need a stage for him to propose on, or a public display. Proposing to me in our house with just the two of us there was perfect. So of course I said “yes,” and called everyone to tell them the news!

About the photographer:

Mallory Minor was born and raised in the small town of Bluford, IL. She has a passion for all things art and design. With a background and education in both graphic design and photography, Mallory also leaves an impression with her photo retouching, wardrobe, set design, hair and makeup. No matter what kind of photography session (wedding, enagement, maternity, senior, or family), Mallory Minor Photography will make every image a beautiful one. Mallory currently resides in St. Louis but continues to serve Southern Illinois for all things photography and design.

Visit her website and Facebook for contact information and availability.

The Blog

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Carhop Crush | One Fine Day Salon and Photography | Southern Illinois Engagement

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