Taylor and Eric | Wedding @ The Carriage House, Altamont IL

Well I guess they say there is a first for everything and this blog is the first blog I have ever been THIS late on. Ever. I’m sorry Taylor and Eric 🙁 I think something happened to my brain over winter break and between that lapse and all the renovations going on at our house, I can’t believe I didn’t realize until now I never posted this blog. Let me tell you about March though… it’s been a bear you guys from travel delays to teasing weather, you just always gamble on March in Illinois and unfortunately for Taylor and Eric this meant a cold, blustery windy wedding day. The weather didn’t win though because Taylor and Eric made the best of it and had a fantastic day regardless. Take that Mother Nature! All joking aside, we couldn’t have been happier for these two making it through the day with their sanity because it really was just a miserable day outside and we also thank their wedding party for putting the couple first, toughing it through some outdoor photos so that Taylor and Eric could have their ideal wedding day. We started the morning at Stylez Salon where Brittany, Kaci and the team created some awesome looks for the bridal party and making them all as rain proof as possible. We headed over to the Carriage House to meet up with Janet and her kick butt staff who had turned the Carriage House into rose gold heaven. While the bridal party got dressed, Doug and I assessed the weather and tried to make the best predictions possible about how the day was going to go. Honestly, when things like this happen, we don’t have an empty mansion somewhere tucked up somewhere for a rainy day (although, Doug, that may not be a bad idea…. tax write off?) so you have to get creative. We completed as many photos as possible before the wedding and also got to see the couples adorable dog, Charlotte Fern again who had a prime bridal party position and also got to make a grand entrance into the ceremony. The couple exchanged vows with their family and friends and then it became the challenge of trying to get some outdoor, creative portraits in with the current situation. Having your ceremony/reception in the same place makes it a lot harder to do indoor photos because so many people are trying to talk to the bride and groom it becomes almost essential that you leave with the bridal party to accomplish any photos at all. As our choices narrowed down we called our gracious friends at the Firefly and asked if they would be willing to donate their covered porch for us to use, betting on at least one side of the building being a wind block. We bet right and even though the rain was fairly light the wind was absolutely horrendous but our couple and bridal party toughed it out so that Taylor’s dream of outdoor photos became a reality. I came prepared with muck boots and was able to take photos of the bridal party safely tucked under the porch of the Firefly. We are super appreciative to them for allowing us the space, they are some of our favorite people! Taylor had found some awesome clear umbrellas for the bridal party to make the best of it and we incorporated those on more than one occasion. The couple enjoyed a fun ride back to Altamont where they had their grand entrance and headed into their first dance as husband and wife. Niemerg’s catering served a delicious meal for the guests and the speeches by the bridal party were enjoyed by all. Taylor and Eric even included their love of baseball into the wedding day with “Divided House” cookies in addition to their amazing decor. We tell people all the time that it doesn’t matter if it rains on your wedding day or not (Doug and I got 7 inches the day we got married) because at the end of the day all that matters is that you married your best friend. We are glad we got this easy going couple for the early spring (or should I say end of winter, LOL) to kick off the season with. We loved working with you both and the adorable Charlotte Fern 🙂
We wish you both many years of wedded bliss!

-The Keys