BOHO RAINY FALL WEDDING IN ILLINOIS

Dec 18

Could not WAIT to blog this one!

This wedding was just emotional top to bottom. Planning a wedding in 2020 was stressful for Amanda and Austin, who already had to weather years of long distance dating as well as the trials of being self-employed in a pandemic. However, the most important thing to them was family, their dogs and having an OUTDOOR wedding--rain or shine! It rained all day in rural Illinois that day but 5 minutes before the ceremony, the downpour paused and we were able to continue as planned. Austin's reaction to seeing Amanda in her wedding dress for the first time is something I will never forget. The love this couple has for one another is just so powerful and pure.

Amanda just has the most edgy modern styled paired with bohemian aesthetics that worked perfectly for an outdoor October ceremony and a clear tented reception. I loved the combo of black plates, blood orange napkins and sage menus--fall but with a modern twist! Seeing the rain wash over the clear topped tent during the party was an otherworldly and magical experience that made the whole event intimate and romantic. Amanda did her own incredible makeup which is a COVID-bride trend I am totally here for. Amanda also had a hair change after her ceremony, adding hair charms from Anthropologie to a stunning side braid. The whole vibe of the day was laid back, with dinner being hors d'oeuvres served all night instead of a plated meal and the couple's 3 rescue pups acting as ring bearers and flower girl. The dogs were also featured in craft cocktails served all night, such as "Bailey's Blueberry Stola Lemonade" and "Tuxy's Titos Madres" and adorable cocktail napkins featuring their sketched faces.

Emotional moments included the father + daughter dance--Amanda's dad is not in her life so her new father-in-law, Rob, stepped up and danced with his new daughter. There was not a dry eye in the place.

I feel this wedding gives me hope for all future couples planning weddings--a little rain cannot ruin your day and honestly, it can make it that much better. The proof is in the night portraits we took in the rain -- just plain magical and an amazing way to memorialize what the wedding day actually felt like--a lil dark, a lil rainy and full of love.