Kyle + Samantha | A Christmas Tree Farm Wedding

They wanted their wedding to be small, intimate, and full of family memories; so, when Kyle and Samantha decided to get married, there was no other place that would fit than Samantha's grandparents' Christmas tree farm south of Effingham, IL. As her mother said during the reception, today they all live hours away, but when they have to define home, that farm is where the entire extended family comes together and think of as 'home'.So on a beautiful fall day in the pasture beside her grandparents' house, Samantha walked down the aisle to Kyle and they began their life together....full of families and memories just like that farm.Kyle and Samantha, thank you soooo much for allowing me to be a part of your day! It was just perfect! The warmth and graciousness of your families could be felt by all of us involved, and there is no need to wish you blessings in your future, because with families like yours, there is no doubt that you will be blessed!Below are just a few of my favorites from their wedding day!Happy Friday!!Kelly

Samantha and her friends got ready in Effingham; so, I met up with them first to do detail pictures and capture the bride getting ready.

The ladies!

Samantha has a huge, audacious smile and laugh that just pulls you in.  I love this image of her!!!

But, you know me, I like the 'quiet', contemplative images as well!!!

We did a first look with Samantha and her dad....one of the most touching, sentimental moments ever.  There were many tissues needed.

And then I headed over and spent some time with the handsome Kyle!!

Kyle does a FABULOUS serious pose!!!  So distinguished!!!

We headed to the farm after a few family pictures and got ready for the ceremony!

The flower girls came down the aisle in a little car...there are some signs of road rage in this one's future!  LOL!!!

Kyle and Samantha seeing each other for the first time.....

...did not disappoint!  Maybe best 'first' look ever???

Samantha's grandfather married the couple, which just added to the sentiment of the day!!

High Five!  We are married!!!

But let's take a moment from celebrating to admire one of the most beautiful wedding bouquets EVER!!!

The reception was held in a tent just a few feet from the wedding ceremony site in the same pasture, and it had been decorated to the nine's!!!

A bit of cake fun!!

Samantha's dad gave a speech that was both touching and hysterical!  He had the crowd back crying and laughing at the same time.

There were games set up all around the tent area for the guests to enjoy!

And later in the evening an old-fashioned ice cream truck made an appearance as a treat for the guests!

At the end of the evening, the guests came together once more to celebrate the couple and send them on their way with a sparkler send-off too!

Kyle and Samantha, once again, thank you SOOO much!  Such a pleasure getting to know you, your relationship, your family....all of it!  I cannot wait to see where your life together takes you!  ~Kelly

Brody + Nikki - A Central Illinois Farm Wedding

After seven years of shooting weddings, I can honestly say that the weddings of those I know personally are often the hardest.  Not the shooting or being at the wedding..no not at all.  But afterwards, when you're editing or designing the album...it's so much harder to be objective when you know the couple personally!And I found this no more so than with the lovely Nikki and Brody's wedding!  Nikki went to school with my younger sister, and Brody was a family friend of my husband!  And I can honestly say that this was one of the hardest weddings EVER to design an album for!  I wanted EVERYTHING in their album!!They are smart, kind, witty, and the calm in the midst of the craziness that a wedding day can be!I hope you enjoy a few of my faves from their beautiful wedding and reception that was hosted on Nikki's family's horse farm!Blessings to you all! ~Kelly

I was at a photography workshop once and someone said, "Why do you guys shoot ring shots?  There's no emotion in a ring shot."  I replied, "No, not right then...but years down the road, should it get lost or should a great, great-granddaughter inherit that wedding album with that image, there is emotion.  It's emotion that comes years later."  Personally, ring shots are one of my favorite things to do on the wedding day.  I like a bit of color from their wedding colors, and also a bit of bling in...usually a bracelet or necklace of the bride.  In this image, her flowers are back about 9" from the wedding rings, and that's some of Nikki's jewelry 'pointing' towards the ring from the left.

Nikki and Brody will live in her childhood home on the horse farm, and this is Nikki's childhood bedroom, and once I saw the ribbons on the wall and the beautiful rocking horse, I knew this is where the wedding dress HAD to be.

Having a bit of wedding day fun with the dress reflection.  That framed newspaper has Nikki's picture in it.

To me this is Nikki, stunningly beautiful, but with the most ornery look in her eyes!  I adore my farm girls SOOO much!!!

A message from Brody threatened the make-up, but we were alright!

And here's the handsome Brody!  We took a few minutes on the HOTTEST of HOT days this summer to take a few portraits of this great guy!!!

I at first planned on doing their First Look in a grove of trees near the house, but one of Nikki's bridesmaids said, "No, do it in the stable...that is where they are at all of the time.  That is their place."  So, we did.

Then it was Brody's turn to tear up.  He was in awe of his lovely bride.

I love this image because you can almost see the hint of the happy tears in Nikki's eyes!

Nikki's mother passed away when she was younger, and I love how she was still honored during the ceremony.

No timid wedding kiss here!  These are two were SO happy to be married.  I loved it!!!

The three of us wandered the back roads of my home town, and I captured the first hour of these two being man and wife!

Brody being ornery off to the side....

...resulted in this beautiful smile!!

I have no idea what Brody was saying here!!!

We then headed back to the stable for there reception!!

A quick shout-out to one of my favorite DJ's, Clint McGraw!  Always a pleasure to show up at a reception and find him at the table!  Over the last seven years, we've had a few conversations like this:  "Clint!  I didn't know you were DJ'ing tonight!"  "Kelly, you were the one that referred me to this couple."  Sometimes I forget a year later when we're actually at the wedding.  But, in this case, Nikki knew both of us personally and Clint and I were thrilled to be there working together!

And sometimes, the guests are just troublemakers...like the one in the center, my ornery husband.

When the speeches began, we also got to sing Happy Birthday to Brody's wonderful mother, Cindy!

Nikki and Brody, thank you SOOO much for allowing me to enter your world and document your wedding day.  You are two lovely souls, and I cannot wait to see your family and relationship grow in the future!  Sooooo many blessings to you both in the years to come!!! ~Kelly