Jake + Samantha | Aqua and Coral Red Bud Wedding (Fort de Chartres & Hecker, IL)

I’m so excited! I’m going to be headed to Alabama on Wednesday to visit my mom and step dad. I’m in need of some R&R and sunshine and since they live 30 minutes from Gulf Shores it’s the perfect place for getting those two things. In the meantime, I’m blogging for the whole week in advance so that I don’t have to do it while on this mini vacation.

Jake and Samantha’s wedding was absolutely GORGEOUS on Saturday, April 12. The smell of the springtime air, the blossoms on the trees and the golden sunlight all made this day a perfect spring day for a wedding. Their ceremony was held at the beautiful St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud, IL. The classic church venue filled with all of their family and friends. Earlier in the week it was calling for slight rain and Sam and I had backup plans, just in case, for portraits. Fortunately, no need for plan B. Plan A ended up working out. The sun was out, the air was warm, and the whole bridal party loaded up on one of the most impressive party buses I’ve ever seen and headed to Fort de Chartres in Prairie du Rocher, IL. We did take some pictures in town before the ceremony but this is where Jake and Sam wanted everything to be taken at. It’s quite the location! It was built in the 1750s and there’s so much history there. I provided the link above if you want to check it out. It’s amazing. I gotta admit, I love working with fun bridal parties, especially bridal parties that want to do fun poses and get creative. Sometimes I mention poses or ideas and they stare at me like I’m crazy. But this bridal party was hilarious and kept coming up with their own ideas and stuff too. I have so many pictures that I love but cannot post them all.

The reception was held at the Hecker Community Center (my 3rd time there in 5 weddings this year LOL). It was so much fun. I think I danced way too much because the following day it took a while to get moving. Everything was sore! Sore means that I had a great time LOL.

Jake and Samantha, I have truly enjoyed every minute getting to know you two. Your love is inspiring and I’m sad that everything is over already. I want to thank you for allowing me to be apart of your lives and capturing your wedding day. I know good things are to come for you in the future and I hope to see you again soon.

Sam and her twin sisters Savannah and Sierra. Don’t ask me which one is which…. I already forgot LOL.

Have I ever mentioned that detail shots are one of my FAVORITE things to shoot????

Reading letters to each other before the ceremony…. WITHOUT seeing each other.

Adorable ring bearer and flower girl 🙂

I’m pretty sure Jake was tearing up here…. so sweet.

Here comes the bride!

Had to get a few pictures with their dog Henry! He’s adorable!

Love the fun ones!

I asked…. they agreed to do it! LOVE it.

My FAVORITE from the day! Hands down!

Look at those amazing dresses!

Last group picture taken at the square in Red Bud. We literally stopped traffic for like 30 seconds to get this LOL. Ended up being one of my favorites from the whole day.