Do I dare even attempt to put into words the beauty of this wedding? The photography by Ryan Timm Photography is to die for, the color palette is lustworthy, and the location…oh my gosh, the location! Allerton Park couldn’t have been a better or more breathtaking place for two landscape architects (hello, super cool career) to tie the knot. And with delightful details gracing every image in the gallery, this is one you will absolutely adore. See it all right here.
From the Bride… Matt and I graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in landscape architecture, and our graduation ceremony was held in the Rose Garden at Allerton Park. Our relationship began on U of I’s campus, and we were happy to get married where we fell in love with one another!
We wanted to provide refreshments following the ceremony so that guests were encouraged to stick around, visit and explore the historic gardens on such a beautiful day. My mom made her famous homemade Chex mix — she makes it almost everytime Matt and I visit home. The cookies were from one of my favorite bakeries in Chicago – Dinkles Bakery. We also had wedding party bus snacks from The Brown Bag Deli in Monticello. Matt and I met Harlene while searching out rehearsal dinner spots. Her spunk and love for the town really touched us — she stayed late that Saturday to make sure our bus had snacks, delivered curbside, and was welcomed by a bus full of chanting friends! It’s stories like meeting Harlene, trying her homemade chicken salad, and her telling us that we should have lots of beautiful babies that made our whole wedding planning experience and day more special.
Our overall goal of our wedding day was to make it us. We are both pretty laid-back, do our own thing, like to laugh and make others laugh. I love crafting. Matt has awesome dance moves. Our theme was sophisticated fun.The garden setting helped set the relaxed feel we wanted for our friends and family. We requested comfortable attire, and asked our guests to simply come enjoy the day on us. We chose details throughout the day to make it memorable and fun — ribbon streamers, a photo booth, a party bus and a huge dance floor. Matt and I knew we wanted to make our budget stretch as far as it could. I love the challenge of making something myself, and it makes the day so much more special. I designed our invitations, ceremony programs, menus, table numbers and place cards using scanned images of watercolors I painted. Matt was in charge of making our photo booth props. We even got our family in on the fun. :) We hand-painted our photo booth backdrop at my parents’ house (it has our little dog’s footprints through the stripes!). My friend in Arizona punched paper circles for days for us to use on the reception tables. Matt’s dad helped make table number holders. Table runners were sewn by my friend Olivia and my mom. We really packed in a lot of projects into one year! And I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Our family and friends mean the world to us, and having them help create the wedding of our dreams — a sophisticated but colorful and fun day — was one of the best parts.
Wedding Photography: Ryan Timm Photography / Ceremony: Allerton Park in Monticello, Illinois / Reception: Hilton Garden Inn Champaign/Urbana in Champaign, Illinois / Venue Coordination: Caitlyn of Hilton Garden Inn Champaign/Urbana / Floral Design: Stephanie Robinson, A Friend of the Couple / Wedding Cake: Jen Holhubner / DJ: Elite Entertainment / Paper Goods: Designed by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Mori Lee / Bride’s Necklace + Earrings: Ann Taylor / Bride’s Bracelet: From Her Great-Aunt / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Banana Republic / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: DIY by the Bride / Men’s Suits: Express / Men’s Ties: The Tie Bar